The Science of Renovating Occupied Buildings

Tackling a major renovation project on a building that is in use is no small feat.

The ongoing renovation of the Clark Science Center will impact hundreds of thousands of square feet spread throughout several buildings, each housing ongoing research projects, specialized equipment and dozens of occupants.

The 18-month project began last winter and is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2012. While the project encompasses Sabin-Reed and Burton halls, people in other areas of campus may become aware of it as the work intensifies this summer. (See below.)

The renovation follows the opening of Ford Hall, which relieved crowding in the existing science buildings and allowed the remaining departments opportunities to consider ways to shift lab, office and classroom space to better serve instructional and research needs.

Work on Sabin-Reed and Burton halls will address numerous aspects of the buildings, from roof replacements to new electrical wiring and sprinkler systems, and upgrades to ventilation hoods and access for people with disabilities. New windows will be installed in Burton Hall and the corridors in both buildings will be made over with new signage added. All of this will occur while some faculty members move offices and labs.

With the approach of summer, project manager Chad Siebel has rolled out extensive spreadsheets and detailed instructions to coordinate the activities of the people who staff and maintain the buildings and the construction company.

“Information updates are emailed, posted online and often explained in person and at town meetings to be certain that everyone is aware of the next step,” said Siebel, of CSL Consulting in Burlington, Mass. “There are so many different ways people get their information that it is important to reach them wherever they are.”

Siebel is managing the project with Peter Gagnon, capital construction director at Smith, and oversight by a Renovations Operations Committee comprised of faculty members Donald Baumer, Mary Harrington, Tom Litwin and Robert Newton.

What to Anticipate This Summer

If you travel College Lane

College Lane will be closed to automobile and pedestrian traffic from May 23 to 26 so that a crane can install the structural steel that will support the generator on the roof of Sabin-Reed. The road will also be closed approximately six other times throughout the summer for the generator installation, roofing work and exhaust fan work.

If you work in Bass, Burton, Sabin-Reed and McConnell halls

Power to the buildings will be shutdown from 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, through noon on Sunday, Aug. 14. During that 10-day period, air conditioning, office and bathroom lighting and convenience power outlets that serve such items as computers, printers and desk lights will not have any power supply. The computer servers will be affected, too, so that the sciences Web pages will temporarily redirect users to a page that notifies them about the shutdown. Emergency lighting, refrigerators and freezers for research will remain on.

If you work in Burton and Sabin-Reed

The corridors of both buildings will be redone throughout the summer, meaning that you can expect objects crowding the space. Work on the roofs will also mean you’ll hear construction noises.

If you work in Burton Hall

Building-wide window replacement will require occupants to vacate their office space for a three-day period when the construction company works on their office. The schedule of replacement will begin on the third level on May 23. View the full schedule.

If you work in Sabin-Reed Hall 

You’ll need to box your office supplies and remove wall hangings so that movers can transport your items to your new space. View timeframes when faculty will move out of existing spaces and into new spaces as well as packing and unpacking of items.

If you work in Ford Hall 

The 10-day power shutdown to the sciences buildings will result in the loss of wireless computer service to Ford.