Frederick County Courthouse Multi-Service Center
CAM Construction was selected to construct the new courthouse for Baltimore County. Additions to the structure included new courtrooms as well as judge’s chambers. The project also included the historical renovation of the John Hanson House and the Phillip Thomas House. The John Hanson House served as a residence to John Hanson, our nation’s first president, elected in 1781 under the Articles of Confederation.
Essex Elementary School
This project included the construction of a replacement school immediately adjacent to a fully occupied and functioning school. The phased construction culminated with the total demolition of the existing building. Other elements included new water service and utilities to the facility, new parking lot, and recreation fields, and extensive play equipment along with other site amenities. CAM meticulously dismantled and reconstructed the existing school’s entrance portico to remain as a permanent reminder of the old school after demolition.
The new school featured an exterior with multiple brick colors and patterns, radius standing seam roof, and architecturally exposed structural steel columns.
The project was accomplished with virtually no change orders. The replacement of unsuitable materials at the building pad, and the removal of an unidentified underground septic system were the only extra costs.
The project was so well received, it was utilized as a prototype for future county schools.
Anne Arundel Community College – John A. Cade Fine Arts Center
The John A. Cade Center for Fine Arts building is an award winning three story, 64,000 square foot structural steel frame building with oversized brick, pre-cast concrete veneer and window wall system. The building design consisted of three projected clerestories tangent with the radiused section of the building. The Clerestories were designed to allow natural light to be introduced into the Art Galleries below.
The project’s site was challenging. There was approximately 30,000 cubic yards of earth to be moved, along with a stream crossing with wetlands mitigation which were required for installation of a new road connecting the two sides of campus, as well as a 450 space parking lot.
Major challenges included close coordination of some of the major systems installed into the new building such as the teleconferencing/data system, photo labs, sound modules and meeting auditorium.
State of the art instruction computer labs as well as classrooms with Audio Visual components were constructed. Beautiful terrazzo floors and ornamental iron accent the interiors, while the exterior feature many unique angled walls and an outdoor amphitheater.
“CAM’s staff minimized the potential for problems, and helped keep this project on track, on budget, and a success.” Fred Schram, Dean for Administrative Services
Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department
The Abingdon Fire Station is a three-story masonry, load-bearing structure with grade access at both the first and second level. This structure required extensive site work due to the extremely sloping and wooded site. The upper level floors of the building are pre-cast concrete plank with concrete topping, and the roof structure consists of wood trusses with asphalt shingles.
The building has an apparatus bay that contains 10 truck areas serviced by electronically operated overhead doors. An administration area, computer center, control room, and living quarters are all incorporated in the three-story building. The fire station also has a large assembly room with a full service commercial kitchen that is housed on the lower level.
Abingdon Elementary School
This project involved two additions as well as extensive renovations to the existing Abingdon Elementary School. The east addition was approximately 26,000 square feet and included classrooms, multi-purpose areas, special education labs. The west addition was approximately 7,000 square feet and included special education, speech therapy, student counseling areas as well as a main vestibule entrance. Renovations included improvements to the kitchen, receiving line, cafeteria and dining areas.
The construction was broken down into three phases. Extreme caution was maintained throughout construction since the school was occupied. Temporary partitions and egress protection had to maintained through the existing main entry as well as through the food service facility during the term of construction.
Obviously, mechanical electrical and other utilities had to be maintained during the occupancy of the building.
In addition, the project also included improvements to the existing bus loops and the addition of a parking lot. The project was successfully completed and the additions were seamlessly blended with the exiting structure.
“We are so pleased with the results. Your perseverance even helped to complete the project ahead of schedule. Our students, teachers and community members are very appreciative of all of your hard work and expertise. We will get to enjoy the fruits of your labor for decades to come.”
Ms. Carol Strine
Assistant Principal Abingdon Elementary
Morgan State University – New Communications Center
This 82,500 square foot, three story facility includes a partial basement with an exterior structure designed to incorporate three different construction materials – brick fascia at the lower floor and foundation, transitioning to metal panels and the aluminum window wall system at the upper floors. Particular attention was paid to the transitions between the separate façade systems such that water infiltration could be eliminated. The metal wall panels are backed by structural studs and Dens-Glas sheathing system. A few of the challenges on the exterior skin were the coordination and installation of the fin wall system, the storefront and canopy and the building structure. Coordination and installation of the sun shade and brackets also required expert installation in that the system is installed behind the metal wall panels. The building has been designed with composite systems, eliminated bar joists, speeding erection and making the project less sensitive to weather delays.
Also included in this contract was the new pedestrian footbridge connecting Bannecker Hall to the new Communications Center. The heavily wooded, steeply sloped site required great care on CAM’s part to minimize impact to the environment while still completing the connection between the two structures and the campus itself. At its highest point this more than 400 foot long bridge is 80 feet above the valley below with two girder trusses spanning 125 feet.
The lower level of the new Communications Center was designed to house the future telecom data infrastructure for the entire campus. The floors above include lecture halls, classrooms, a production studio, as well as the campus radio station. All of these rooms included critical consideration for sound attenuation systems for the mechanical equipment surrounding these spaces. CAM’s project manager and field superintendent successfully coordinated the installation of a myriad of sound attenuation systems that permeated nearly every subcontractor on the project. The studios have sound absorption doors, walls, glass, and floor systems as are found in a professional studio environment. The classrooms, faculty offices and another graphic design studio are located on the second and third floors and each have their own set of special requirements.
Fifth District Volunteer Fire Station + Ten Oaks Ballroom
The project consisted of the construction of a new fire house that contained an 8,350-square foot engine bay, an 18,000-square foot support center, and a 12,500-square foot community hall. Construction is brick, with block back-up using shaped brick, hinged brick, and tile in-lays. Special features include a full-service kitchen and dining room for fire department, a dormitory, and a recreation area.
