Beverly, Ma Windover Construction, an award-winning construction management firm building spaces that create positive and memorable experiences, is undergoing rapid growth in the higher education sector, doubling its portfolio in the past year. Higher education projects now make up 50 percent of Windover’s annual revenue compared to 5 to 10 percent a year ago.
“We are proud to establish a strong reputation in the marketplace for being a trusted advisor for higher education clients,” said Stuart Meurer, President of Windover Construction. “Being recognized for our expertise in managing technically complex projects is meaningful to our business and Windover is proud to gain a foothold in a space where Greater Boston really excels – education.”
Windover’s growth in higher education is demonstrated by four consecutive projects underway this fall at the Babson, Curry, and Endicott College campuses.
Babson College (Wellesley, Mass.) – Preconstruction is underway for Babson College’s Weissman Foundry, the school’s newest academic center that will encourage innovation and entrepreneurial education for student-driven projects. The 9,800-square-foot contemporary structure will feature a combination of makerspace and flexible classrooms equipped with the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, the center will feature a kitchen for cooking demonstrations and events, flexible office space, and a conference room. Construction is slated to begin Jan 2018. William Rawn Associates is the project architect.
Curry College (Milton, Mass.) – Set to break ground in late November, Windover is performing the preconstruction with CBT Architects for a 22,000-square-foot science building addition and renovations of two adjoining structures. Designed to promote innovation and collaboration, the new Science and Integrated Learning Commons will support the school’s dedication to co-curricular programming in sciences and mathematics. The three-story facility will feature makerspaces, flexible gathering spaces, laboratories, support spaces, and a café. Renovations of the current Science Building will include new classrooms, faculty offices, and additional lab space. The project will be targeting LEED® Silver certification.
As well, Windover is currently in the planning phase of a second project on the Curry College campus which will be a 20,000-square-foot field house, breaking ground in spring of 2018. Following a design-build approach, Windover is working with Architectural Resources Cambridge in the preconstruction of this facility which will house the support spaces for the college’s athletic programs including locker rooms, fitness and training spaces, field viewing area, and offices.
Endicott College (Beverly, Mass.) – The Endicott College Academic Quad project includes two new state-of-the-art buildings surrounding a dramatically landscaped quadrangle located at the heart of campus. The new facilities, totaling 106,000 square feet, will be home to the school’s arts and sciences, education, communication, and hospitality departments along with graduate school programs. It will feature classroom space, offices, collaborative spaces, dining and social spaces, as well as a new 1,050-seat auditorium and an adjacent parking structure adding 162 new parking spaces. This is Windover’s 15th design-build project on the Endicott campus. Windover is collaborating with Bergmeyer Associates on this project.
“Our teams truly enjoy engaging with our clients in school communities. When you create a connection with those who you are building for and understand why you are doing it, the building process becomes far more meaningful,” Meurer said.
Windover began building its higher education portfolio in 2008, establishing itself as a trusted partner with colleges in its own backyard such as Montserrat College of Art and Endicott College. Since then, Windover has quickly gained a foothold in the higher education market, seeing a rapid increase in projects. This momentum is sustained through Windover’s ability to provide innovative solutions for clients and sophisticated planning and construction techniques, all under a trusted advisor pledge of client dedication that goes beyond the building phase.
