Innovation in construction usually calls to mind design technology and advanced building materials. In a tight real estate market where efficiency in all its forms is paramount, close collaboration between the architect, consultants and the general contractor can make for an innovative and seamless construction process.
Last summer, CDM Smith, a global engineering and construction firm, was facing an accelerated design and construction project to prepare for its global headquarters relocation from 50 Hampshire St. in Cambridge to 75 State St. in Boston. The firm desired a more current, collaborative and engaging space that would appeal to its multigenerational workforce, but it needed to design, build and move into its new headquarters by March 1. To meet this challenging seven-month schedule, CDM Smith engaged Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA) to design and Structure Tone to renovate the new six-floor, 123,000-square-foot headquarters.
From the start, the team was committed to meeting the tight schedule, and close collaboration between MPA, Structure Tone, consultants and the internal team at CDM Smith made the success of this project achievable. MPA outlined a conceptual schedule that featured an accelerated design phase, and Structure Tone advised that construction deadlines could be met if the project implemented a prefabricated wall partition system in lieu of stick-built construction.
By using a prefabricated partition system, the demolition and construction work would involve only the floor, ceilings and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP). Early partition drawings were prepared by MPA and submitted to the partition manufacturer, allowing fabrication to commence before final construction documents were completed. By submitting early drawings for the construction permit, accelerating the construction phase and having MEP consultant TMP Consulting Engineers collaborate directly with the design team and subcontractors, CDM Smith would be in its new space on schedule.
Flexible And Environmentally Friendly
Prefabricated wall partitions provide flexibility and easy reconfiguration, and substantially accelerate project sequencing and speed of construction. The system uses a metal frame and wall components that clip to the ceiling and sit on the floor, eliminating the time and expense of erecting dry wall, as well as construction waste and any waste from future renovations.
For this project, Strategic Workspaces designed the wall system, and the manufacturer, DIRTT, began fabricating it as soon as MPA finished drawing the design. MPA, Structure Tone and Strategic Workspaces collaborated closely on the design schedule, and wall components started to arrive on site within four to five weeks after they were ordered. CDM Smith valued the flexibility the partition system provided, as well as the added assurance that the approach would deliver the project on time.
For CDM Smith’s new headquarters, Strategic Workspaces provided approximately 5,000 linear feet of DIRTT prefabricated walls, translating to nearly a mile of walls prefabricated with electrical and audiovisual integration in custom sizes and finishes. The walls were partially assembled offsite to allow for minimal site disruption and rapid final site construction. Six floors of DIRTT walls were installed in five weeks, averaging 1,000 linear feet installed per week. While a typical 123,000-square-foot project would take six months, the contractor was able to complete this project in three months utilizing DIRTT prefabrication.
Nearly complete, CDM Smith’s new headquarters features workstations and bench seating in an open plan setting, glass-front offices, conference rooms with audiovisual technology to enhance collaboration, huddle and focus rooms, a design-build center, automation lab and a multipurpose room for training and all-staff meetings. The wall system was used for all spaces except the kitchen on each floor.
To improve acoustical privacy and reduce sound distraction in the open office environment, acoustical consulting firm Acentech was engaged to design and specify a sound masking system. Most of the private offices are located on the interior, preserving natural light and views for those in open plan workstations. Flexibility was considered in the design of private offices and in furniture selection, enabling offices to double as meeting spaces. Overall, the quantity of meeting space increased by more than 133 percent in the new headquarters.
“The team did a remarkable job of delivering this project on time and on budget,” said Timothy B. Wall, president and COO of CDM Smith. “The success of this project is the result of great people working together exquisitely toward a team goal, understanding their individual and team roles and having clear expectations of the strategy. Another team could have used the same design and not achieved the same outcome. Staying true to CDM Smith’s passion for client and team partnership, we are proud of the project teamwork that brought our new company headquarters to successful fruition.”
Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal at Margulies Perruzzi Architects.
