• University Place Promenade: Construction on the University Place Promenade project will transform University Place into a pedestrian promenade that connects a series of plazas. Not only will the promenade help improve accessibility to distinct buildings on campus, but the plazas will also serve as gathering spaces for students.

• Shaw Quad: This project will transform the existing quad into a more functional events space. Improvements include the installation of permanent tent tie downs to allow for quick set-up and break down, supplying power and data to tent locations, and the addition of an irrigation system to improve lawn maintenance.

• Haven Hall: All finishes throughout the residence hall will receive upgrades, including new flooring and fresh paint. The main entry lounge will feature a series of team rooms for students to use for group activities and group study. Furniture in all student rooms as well as all of the room doors will be replaced. Last but not least, group bathrooms on the first, second and third floors will be converted into individual bathrooms, while the group bathrooms on the fourth through 11th floors will be updated. A new single-occupancy bathroom will also be created on each floor.

• Dellplain Hall: Similar to Haven Hall, the group bathrooms at Dellplain Hall will eventually be converted into individual bathrooms. This summer, however, the project includes renovating the bathrooms on the residence hall’s long wing as well as the replacement of bathroom windows.
 

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School district officials determined in 2009 that significant renovations to the school’s facilities were needed in order to continue to deliver a superior learning environment for its students. Specifically, the East Hampton Learning Community looked to update its high school. This would include a renovation and expansion of the high school from the ground up.

The Challenge
At the beginning stages of the project, a few requirements were immediately identified. All renovations would have to adhere to a strict budget and would need to be completed within the allocated timeline — construction needed to be completed no later than 2011. School officials also faced perhaps a greater challenge: how best to renovate a building that not only needed to meet strict commercial building standards but also withstand the harsh environmental conditions it faced due to its geography. East Hampton High School’s location proved to be an important variable during the decision making process. None of the parties could predict Superstorm Sandy or the devastation that it would cause, but judging from past storms officials agreed that products and materials with proven track records of durability were essential.

Of the utmost importance was protection. East Hampton High School’s façade needed to be impact resistant to protect the students and faculty as well as the structural integrity of the building. Strong ocean wind, particularly during storms, proved to be a real threat as airborne projectiles could be seriously damaging.

Focused on a Solution
East Hampton Learning Community enlisted the help and expertise of Matt Antonucci of Beatty, Harvey and Coco Architect and contractor Edward Simonetti of Action Store Fronts.
After beginning its search for building solutions, project managers for East Hampton High School landed upon YKK AP. The company was able to provide a cost-effective solution to East Hampton High School’s challenge.

“Going with YKK was an easy choice for us,” Antonucci said. “They offer years of trusted experience in the industry, but more importantly they were able to offer us a creditable product we needed and at the right price. Being able to find all the products under one roof substantially reduced the bottom line of the project.”

YKK AP’s fenestrations systems’ ability to protect buildings and their occupants from the strongest of storms and hurricanes proved to be the deciding factor. ProTek product family meets International Building Codes and Federal Standards for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the General Services Administration (GSA). Additionally, the product line also meets the requirements of Miami Dade County (NOA) and Florida product approval and is engineered and tested in accordance with ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 as well as the South Florida “High Velocity Hurricane Zone” test requirements. Looking to put the safety of its student and faculty first, these were viewed as extremely attractive qualities by the architect and contractor.

The project architect and contractor ultimately decided on YKK’s YOW 225TUH Impact Windows System, the YHS 50 TU Storefront System, the Model 35H Entrance Door, and the YHC 300 OG Curtain Wall, products known for their ability to protect against high winds and projectiles.

Seeing Results
YKK AP’s ProTek products were selected, installed and completed within the allotted timeframe. Its products proved to be a viable solution for a school building that not only needed an aesthetic overhaul but also real, dependable protection from harsh environmental elements, including driving rains, high winds and projectiles frequently launched into flight from such forces.

In October 2012, East Hampton High School’s renovation was put to the test. Superstorm Sandy rolled through the region, leaving massive damage and destruction in its wake. Powerful, sustained wind gusts of up to 110 miles per hour and a 13-foot storm surge wreaked havoc on New York commercial structures. East Hampton High School, however, withstood the challenge and successfully weathered the storm — providing the ultimate validation in the selection of YKK AP’s ProTek product line. In an area that saw tens of millions of dollars in damages because of flooding and lack of structural integrity, East Hampton High School remained open to serve as a Red Cross shelter, providing security for 200 residents.

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For years, the district’s students have attended schools with poor conditions, lacking such basics as drinking water and sufficient wiring capable of supporting computers and air conditioning. In fact, almost 75 percent of the school buildings were built between 1946 and 1985, and 25 percent were built before World War II. Plus, the district only uses less than two-thirds of the space in the 183 buildings across 163 campuses.

With these factors in mind, the school board created a 10-year strategy that will affect all district buildings, hoping to link the district’s portfolio size with enrollment and place students in better learning environments. The plan includes renovating or replacing 136 school buildings, vacating 26 buildings, reducing the district’s portfolio from 163 to 137 school campuses and increasing the usage rate of the buildings from 65 percent to 77 percent.

“This is a historic moment in Baltimore — one around which we should all rally. Never before have we planned to make such a significant investment in the lives of Baltimore’s children,” said Bishop Douglas Miles, co-chair, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) in a statement. “Two generations — 40 years — is a long time to wait. This is long overdue, and I am glad that all segments of the community agree that this represents an opportunity to provide the new and/or improved buildings needed to transform the education atmosphere for children.”

The development of the plan started in early 2011 when Baltimore City Public Schools contracted Jacobs Project Management to assess the conditions of the buildings within the district. The Jacobs report was released in spring 2012 and rated the district Facility Condition Index at 60 percent, which means it has a portfolio of “facilities in very poor condition” and the average educational adequacy score for the district was rated at 55 percent, aka a “failing grade,” according to the report. It also showed that Baltimore City Schools was only using 65 percent of its available space, particularly among middle and high schools.

The school board will vote on the plan in January. Once approved, it — along with the financing proposal — will go to Maryland’s General Assembly, in which lawmakers will vote during the 2013 session on if Baltimore City Public Schools will receive future capital funds as a block grant and get a new school construction authority to oversee the finances of the 10-year project.

If it is passed, the plan recommends four school program closures by the end of the 2012-2013 school year, allowing for the district to start reducing excess capacity. These schools programs are Baltimore Rising Star Academy, Garrison Middle School, Patapsco Elementary/Middle School and William C. March Middle School.

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The building, originally constructed in 1953, will now offer students a high-tech, 21st century learning environment in the midst of the historic building.

“This is a beautiful building,” said Bruce McLaren, associate dean of the Scott College of Business. “We had a chance to save it, and so we were able to preserve the historic parts of the building as well as build a 21st century learning environment for our business students.”

Indianapolis-based architecture firm, Schmidt Associates completed the $20 million restoration with the future on their minds and history at their hands. They faced the challenge of creating a space for student learning and technology innovation, while preserving the many traditional deco elements of the building. Some important features that were preserved in the renovation of the historical courthouse include the judge’s library, a walnut paneled courtroom, a mural of the signing of the Magna Carta and elaborate finishes on the elevator doors.

“The level of finishes in this building is extraordinary,” said Bryan Duncan, ISU director of capital planning and improvement. “The marble and limestone finishes throughout the building are probably the main feature you notice.”

Not only are the design approaches aesthetically pleasing, but the design also matches the forward thinking curriculum of the university.

“The building is cleverly designed so the technology supports innovation, and I think that’s the way that it has to be,” said Brien N. Smith, dean of Smith College, in a statement.

The design focused on not just what architects were going to bring into the building, but what students have been carrying with them to class for the past couple years.

“Today’s college students travel everywhere with their iPad, laptop and smartphone, so we integrated cutting-edge technology into this historic building to provide power and data at everyone’s fingertips, and wireless access throughout to deliver the global access that students expect,” said Sarah Hempstead of Schmidt Associates. “In the short time the building has been in use, instructors are already seeing a renewed interest and energy from students who are more engaged with their studies.”

The building is a testament of “old meets new,” and shows how history can be preserved, despite the changes of school design and technology. The building is on the National Record of Historic Places, but the renovation is not conflicting with the preservation of history, instead it is helping to redefine the building.

“The completed renovation is beyond my original expectations,” said Dan Scott, namesake of the Scott College of Business and generous gift provider to help make Federal Hall renovations possible. “I thought it was going to be amazing when this all started, but it has turned out even better than I expected.”

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The school was unable to host a track meet for the last two years due to the track’s poor condition, making it unsuitable for athletes, according to Brad Boll, business manager for Beloit Turner School District.

The project was completed in two phases, starting last fall with the installation of new lights, a scoreboard, press box and sound system. The track improvements were completed this summer including expanding the track lanes to include eight lanes with nine sprint lanes, instead of the former six lanes; creating more space between the track and concession area; eight layers of rubber and glue being applied to the asphalt track surface in the coming weeks; new sod inside the track, and seeding around the outside is underway.

“In spring, the school will have at least four home track meets, starting April 16 against Parkview,” Boll said in a statement. “That’s a big deal for athletes who were not able to run at home in front of their parents and friends.”

Athletes will be able to wear their “home” jerseys for the first time in two years, thanks to the district’s commitment to bettering the facility. The renovations were almost nonexistent if it wasn’t for the persistence of the Beloit Turner School District. When voters were asked to vote on two bond referendums back in April 2008 — a $6.1 million referendum to improve district buildings and $2.5 million to upgrade the track facility and buy additional land — the upgrades to the track fell short of voter support.

Although the bond didn’t receive enough support, the project continued to stay afloat and under budget from what was requested in the referendum, as the district borrowed $600,000 through a state trust fund loan and paid a remaining $600,000 by using money from the district’s fund balance, according to Boll in a statement.

The new track facility has district officials pleased, as well as students in the area wanting to experience the new facility first-hand. The district had 200 students on a waiting list for this upcoming fall school year, according to Superintendent Dennis McCarthy in a statement.

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