Skanska USA announced the topping out of the East Campus Residence Hall Complex at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, the first phase of three planned phases of a major expansion.
Phase One of the expansion includes the construction of two new resident buildings on campus that total 260,000-sf of space and 767 beds, providing students with a comfortable living environment. The buildings will house incoming first year students and will be designed to foster community building with communal bathrooms, open lounges and added gathering space for students to network and study together.
The project consists of extensive site development, which includes landscaping and site finishes, walkways, fire lanes, and utility infrastructure that will include connections to the central utility plant. The utility plant controls the university’s steam distribution, chilled water and electricity. In addition, office space for the University’s Office of Residential Life will be part of Phase One.
The topping out ceremony was not a traditional topping out because a ceremonial last steel beam was not raised. A hybrid panelized wall system, which is often used for hotel construction, has been installed in place of the traditional steel beams used in most buildings in order to save time and money. For example, hybrid wall paneling for one floor of the building, which is approximately 30,000-sf, is built in two weeks.
So far, Phase One is 45% complete, and is on schedule for construction completion in September 2013. In addition, 66% of all work has been awarded to local Delaware subcontractors in an effort to contribute to the state’s economic recovery and boost job creation.
The architect is ABHA Architects from Wilmington, Delaware. +
Related Stories
| May 21, 2014
Gehry unveils plan for renovation, expansion of Philadelphia Museum of Art [slideshow]
Gehry's final design reorganizes and expands the building, adding more than 169,000 sf of space, much of it below the iconic structure.
| May 16, 2014
BoA, USGBC to offer $25,000 grants for green affordable housing projects
The Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program will offer 14 grants to developers of affordable housing in North America who are committed to building sustainable communities through the LEED for Neighborhood Development program.
| May 16, 2014
Toyo Ito leads petition to scrap Zaha Hadid's 2020 Olympic Stadium project
Ito and other Japanese architects cite excessive costs, massive size, and the project's potentially negative impact on surrounding public spaces as reasons for nixing Hadid's plan.
| May 15, 2014
Biking to work up by 60 percent, according to Census Bureau report
Many U.S. cities are seeing an increase in bicycle commuters, according to new a U.S. Census Bureau report. While bicyclists still account for just 0.6% of all commuters, some of the nation's largest cities have more than doubled their rates since 2000.
| May 14, 2014
Construction growth looking up: Gilbane Spring 2014 Economic Report
Construction spending for 2014 should finish 6.6% higher than in 2013, with nonresidential work contributing substantially.
| May 13, 2014
First look: Nadel's $1.5 billion Dalian, China, Sports Center
In addition to five major sports venues, the Dalian Sports Center includes a 30-story, 440-room, 5-star Kempinski full-service hotel and conference center and a 40,500-square-meter athletes’ training facility and office building.
| May 13, 2014
J. Vinton Schafer & Sons initiates leadership transition
J. Vinton Schafer & Sons, Inc., a Quandel Enterprises Company, announced today that Ronald E. Knowles, P.E., who has served as president of the firm for 20 years, has transitioned to chairman and CEO, and the company has appointed Warren L. Hamilton as its new president.
| May 13, 2014
Kevin MacClary named VP of Foulger-Pratt Contracting
Foulger-Pratt Contracting, Rockville, Md., has promoted Kevin MacClary to VP.
| May 13, 2014
China Construction America acquires Plaza Construction
China State Construction Engineering Corp., China’s largest construction company, has made a significant investment in a U.S. construction firm closing the deal for an undisclosed amount to acquire Plaza Construction.
| May 13, 2014
Karl Kreutziger named President of Driver SPG
C.W. Driver– a premier builder serving California since 1919 – has promoted Karl Kreutziger to president of Driver SPG, the company’s Anaheim, Calif.-based construction affiliate.
