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In the spring of 2008, Commodore Builders was selected as the construction management partner for the phased renovation of Boston Architectural College’s facility at 951 Boylston Street. Formerly the Institute of Contemporary Art, the building hadn’t been updated since the 1970’s and was in need of major architectural, accessibility, and systems upgrades.
The first phase of the work consisted of building new ADA-compliant restrooms and entrance ramps, on an aggressive schedule, to ready the facility for festivities surrounding the AIA convention which took place in Boston this year. The second phase, completed in October, included major renovations to the second and third floors to convert them from former gallery space to functional studios, classrooms, and faculty offices. A major connecting stair in the center of the building was removed and in-filled to provide more usable floor space, and the attic space was demolished to expose the original heavy timber construction above the third floor. New fire protection, HVAC, and electrical systems were installed throughout the building, including a Convia modular lighting system on the second and third floors. An auditorium was also constructed in the basement level of the adjacent building at 955 Boylston Street.
Several sustainable elements were incorporated into the project, including recycled rubber flooring, low-flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals, efficient lighting systems, and a state-of-the-art Building Management System. The third phase of this project, which will include the renovation of the Boylston Street entrance and the first floor, is currently in design development and is scheduled to begin construction in the March of 2009.
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