Framingham State University
Framingham, MA – Barr & Barr is currently managing the Framingham State University (FSU) Hemenway Hall and Annex upgrade project that is over $53 million and on schedule to finish August of 2015. These two facilities combined with the new Hemenway Laboratories addition will make the largest academic building on campus.
Both Hemenway Hall and Annex are over 55 years old and home to the university’s family and consumer sciences program. They are currently undergoing 120,000sf of selective interior renovations which will provide a fully accessible and substantially improved teaching environment for their students.
This project will include a new 68,000sf, four-story addition which will create more laboratory and research space. The new addition will join the existing facility by a new four-story atrium, which will create a better flow for entering and exiting the building.
Barr & Barr helped to save FSU 15% of project cost through its Value Management program.
Some examples include:
- Eliminating smoke evacuation system by reclassifying the Atrium — saved $460,000.
- Eliminating the basement level to more cost-effective space — saved $800,000.
- Utilizing ductless hoods for laboratory space — saved $47,000.
The main focus of this program is to help clients keep the integrity of their projects while being able to offer other, and in many cases better, solutions that are more cost-effective and create substantial savings.
The project is pursuing LEED Silver through the use of recycled and locally extracted and manufactured materials, low-VOC building products, low-mercury fluorescent lighting, public transportation access, bike racks, storm water collection, and extensive natural daylight.
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This project is taking place within two occupied buildings that house over 4,000 students on a daily basis. One of the tougher challenges has been working around the students and making sure their routines and classes were uninterrupted by construction. The utilization of summer breaks was absolutely imperative. However, due to the expansive nature of this project it demanded that some work be in place prior to the 2014 summer start.
Through the use of detailed logistics plans and extensive research and planning Barr & Barr stated the benefits to FSU of being able to stage the exterior of Hemenway Hall during the spring session of 2014. This set the stage for the project to take off seamlessly once summer break hit.
The team utilized this time to do all the heavy mechanical, interior upgrades and exterior renovations at the Hall. The outside of the building received new windows, brick repointing/replacement and replacement of exterior louvers. The inside of the facility underwent the replacement of all new unit ventilators, chilled water lines, fire alarm system as well as newly renovated hallways, ceilings and bathrooms.
The schedule was maintained and +/- $1 million worth of unforeseen renovations and changes to the original contract scope was added without impacting the schedule.
