Boston University, Sumner M. Redstone Building & Law Tower Renovation
Through the recession and beyond, colleges and universities in the Greater Boston area have kept the development and construction industry steady. Boston is called “The Hub” for many reasons, but at its core the heartbeat of the city’s economy is intertwined with higher education.
Skanska has been a leader in this field, with more than half of our revenue coming from higher education projects in 2014. We have seen this boom from all angles, whether it’s construction, project management or development.
The Greater Boston area is home to more than 50 colleges and universities, and is in the top 10 for highest number of enrolled, full-time post-secondary students per capita in the nation. When working with colleges and universities, construction companies in particular must remain nimble during the pre-construction phase understanding the many factors that go into a higher-education institution’s decision-making process.
At Skanska, our goal is to be a true partner, not just a contractor. From the onset, Skanska teams focus on creating a collaborative environment and developing alignment with our clients to understand the project’s mission while identifying areas of risk and vulnerability to our client in real-time.
Kerim Evin
An in-depth pre-construction process allows our teams to provide detailed budget numbers and accurate schedules, thereby mitigating the biggest risks and front-end exposures for colleges in the construction process. Our teams have delivered this not only for our clients in Massachusetts, including Harvard University, Boston College and Boston University, but have also done this around the country for such schools as the University of Florida, Duke University and Texas A&M.
In addition to identifying and planning for the most complicated construction challenges, establishing the safety protocols that must be incorporated when working near the campus population is critical.
Attracting A New Breed Of Student
It’s important for any developer or construction team to remember that it’s not just what you build or how long it takes, it’s how you execute it. The projects we build are at the heart of an active campus where the education process reigns supreme. Sensitivities to students, their learning and their safety are paramount at all times.
As the competition heats up to recruit students, colleges and universities are looking at all aspects of their campus life to attract this new breed of student. In addition, urban housing shortages in Boston are driving the way colleges and universities approach student housing projects.
We have seen a growing trend as higher education projects focus on the high expectations for state-of-the-art amenities, modern design and a continued need for student housing in Boston and the surrounding areas. It is important for the construction industry to look at ourselves as advisors and partners to these institutions while they seek to differentiate their campus from others.
Life on campus has become more social and interactive than ever before. This environment is leading colleges and universities to invest in capital improvements, renovations, retrofits and new development of recreation centers and multi-functional common areas for students, faculty and alumni.
Skanska sees this new standard of an on-campus lifestyle as more than just the “sticks and bricks” buildings of the past.
More than ever our job goes beyond the building process. It is our job to become collaborative partners who take a leadership role during the preconstruction phase to help protect our clients from the risks of an often unpredictable process. Our success is determined by our ability to remain focused on the mission of providing our clients with the best campus experience during, and long after, construction is complete.
Kerim Evin is executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building.
