Pembroke, MA – Acella Construction Corporation announced the completion of work on Riverview School’s new Cohen Center for Fitness and Recreation.
Riverview School is an independent, coeducational boarding/day school, located in East Sandwich, and educates students age 11-21 with complex language and learning challenges that include autism, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities.
Gymnasium
Acella’s work at Riverview School included demolition of the existing gym and ground-up construction of a new, $11 million, 40,000sf state-of-the-art wellness center. Specifically, Acella completed asbestos abatement work and installed an elevator, gymnasium, gymnasium divide curtain, scoreboards, climbing wall, basketball hoops, operable bleachers, meditation room with sensory lighting, a cycling room, basketball court, volleyball court, TRX room, and custom wall graphics. Overall, the new Cohen Center expands the school’s wellness programming.
Some of the more challenging elements of the project included the gymnasium roof, which was comprised of 85 foot trusses. Meticulous planning was involved to coordinate delivery and installation due to their size, as was incredible accuracy in their placement by the steel erector.
Additionally, the new building is located on a hill on the school’s campus. Water infiltration of the new foundation was of top concern throughout design. Acella ensured the waterproofing and damp-proofing of the entire foundation, and managed stormwater runoff throughout construction of the project.
Acella’s project manager, Mike Towle, worked in collaboration with Jennifer Hocherman, AIA, LEED AP at architectural firm SV Design, Siemasko + Verbridge, and with the engineering firm Souza, True & Partners, Inc. Additionally, Acella coordinated with Glynn Electric, Lundy Plumbing, Enterprise Equipment Co. Inc., and Professional Fire Systems Inc.
