Some segments of the commercial real estate business are recovering faster than are others. Multi-family properties, government work, medical facilities and university expansion projects are hot right now. Just ask Rosemont, Ill.-based McShane Construction Company.
McShane recently completed a two-story, 51,500-square-foot addition to the College of Arts and Sciences located on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind.
Such work isn’t rare. Colleges are spending big dollars today on expansion projects. Part of the reason? To attract students today universities need modern facilities. Colleges today are building everything from high-tech labs to student housing that’s more luxurious than any apartment you’ve ever called home.
The Valparaiso project is a good example. According to a press release from McShane, the classroom and office addition for the school’s College of Arts and Sciences, certified as a LEED-Silver facility by the U.S. Green Building Council, features an attractive masonry, aluminum, precast and glass exterior that incorporates aluminum cladding, generous window lines and an entry featuring an intricate metal panel.
The expansion included a lobby space, offices, teacher’s lounge and flexible office and classroom areas that feature high-tech audio visual equipment. The contemporary interior finishes include acoustical tile, concrete floors and exposed steel elements offering a modern appeal that supports numerous sustainability aspects.
Green building is a growing field, too. And McShane’s Valparaiso project is, again, a good example. Sustainable elements featured in the new facility include an energy-efficient HVAC system, recycled and low-VOC materials and certified wood products, among others. During construction, McShane implemented a material waste recycling center on the job site to ensure that excess materials used during the construction process were broken down or reused.
“McShane Construction utilized careful scheduling and construction practices to safeguard the students, faculty and visitors on the site while construction was underway since the Christopher Center Library remained open throughout construction,” said Jeff Raday, president of McShane Construction Company, in a written statement. “We are pleased to have delivered another successful construction project within the university’s growing campus.”
EHDD Architecture provided the architectural services, while KJWW Engineering provided the structural engineering and MEP consulting services.
— Dan Rafter
