Education Restoration/Renovation

PCA Designs MMA Renovations

 Shawmut CM

Buzzards Bay, MA – With 582 hungry cadets pulling into port after completion of their winter sea term, construction crews scurried to get the campus ready for active duty.

The re-opening of the Mess Deck Dining Hall expansion and Company 2 Dormitory renovations  of the Mass. Maritime Academy Campus marked the completion of seven phases of design and construction that began in 2012. With only one small phase left for winter break 2016, the total work completed will result in renovations to the six dormitory buildings, including the addition of over 300 beds and a 200-seat expansion to the dining hall.

Prellwitz Chilinski Associates (PCA) initially worked with the Mass. State College Building Authority (MSCBA) and the Mass. Maritime Academy (MMA) on master planning to add capacity to the six-building complex. The original five-phase construction plan started to take shape by summer 2012 with the first phase of renovations.

Every summer and winter break since then has been utilized to implement another phase of work. Midway through the dormitory work, the mess deck scope was added, including two additions and major interior renovations.

Although scope was added, there was no change in the schedule. Shawmut, the construction managers for all the phases, worked hand-in-hand with PCA to develop plans that worked around this very active campus. With as many as four phases of work under construction simultaneously, the team pushed to get the additional work done concurrent with the original plan.

Although sitework will continue into spring, this turnover will mark a real turning point in construction. This will be the first time in over two years that construction will truly be wrapping up for the residence halls and dining areas. With over 300 new beds, completely renovated bathrooms, and upgraded common areas, the dorms are feeling new again and ready for the next wave of growth.