Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School
The Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School project involved renovating the existing 75,000 square foot historic school building and constructing a 45,000 square foot ground-up classroom addition, which effectively doubled the enrollment capacity of this site. The project also involved a variety of site improvements, namely a multi-purpose soccer field (satisfying a major community priority), new parking/loading areas, a playground within a newly created courtyard area, and various fencing, sidewalk, and other frontage improvements to enable students’ ability to take advantage of the shaded front yard space. JRS Architects took a clean modern approach to the design of the new middle-school wing with modern finishes and a sleek commercial glassline to seamlessly integrate with the existing masonry façade of Highlandtown Elementary School. Expansion of the PreK and Kindergarten programs was another key goal of this project, creating vibrant interactive learning environments with multiple flexible teacher’s stations and private kiddie restrooms in each home room.
Prominent new features of this “21st Century Schools” project included advanced lighting controls with occupied sensor modes, which adjust as outdoor lighting conditions change, “One Screen” smart boards with integrated pointers and teacher microphone system in every classroom, A/V boxes hidden above dummy ceiling tiles, and all new internet service tying into BCPS’s citywide emergency response network (with repeaters in each classroom). CAM also established dedicated vocational-tech (R&D) rooms with reeled power chords, eyewash stations, and an equipment storage room, allowing students to experiment with robotics and other power tools to gain exposure to engineering and related trades. Additionally, the job provided new art classrooms with extensive casework, drying racks, and kiln rooms, as well as a new music room with acoustical wall panels, deflectors, and an instrument storage area.
In order to satisfy the MSA’s Owner Controlled Insurance Program on this CMaR project, CAM deployed a cloud-based workforce visibility platform known as “Eyrus”. This software aided our team’s efforts in the field by monitoring all personnel that enters the site, while also serving as a manpower enforcement tool by tracking subcontractor attendance and labor hours on-site. This program enhanced the safety and security of this project by only allowing personnel to enter the LOD of the property if they had attended a safety orientation, passed a background check, and received a badge. CAM was able to accurately report on Local Resident and New Hire contributions to this project and efficiently manage the Certified Payroll Reporting process via GPS microchips placed in the hardhat of every employee. CAM, ownership, and all subs had access to a custom reporting dashboard on PC, mobile, or tablet, which allowed all parties to quickly retrieve project data and successfully meet these workforce development goals.
Notably, we launched within the peak of Covid, just a few months after the government shut down all non-essential businesses, and most other industries were fully working from home. CAM’s project management team had to get creative in order to keep the project within budget and maintain a tight schedule in the face of long material delays and the unavailability of a wide swath of common materials (metals, woods, plastics, resins, glues, chip-dependent products). This conversation began early during pre-construction, and we worked hard to pro-actively communicate with our architectural and engineering partners to convey the challenges we were seeing in real time. We worked diligently to identify alternative, substantially equivalent products, when possible, and served as a conduit between subcontractors’ suppliers and MSA/BCPS, as well as their design team. In some cases, adjustments were made to more readily-available materials and components. In instances where substitutions were not possible (ie: switchgear – with specialized breakers being imported from New Mexico), CAM had to exercise patience and find a way to work under suboptimal conditions (via temp services, generators, etc). Despite the building not having permanent power in place until 2 months prior to final delivery and occupancy, we were able to finish in time for the ribbon cutting and welcome the new student body population into the facility following the New Year’s holiday.
NDMU – University Academic Building – OT Labs
This project consisted of the conversion of approximately 5,000 square feet of unfinished storage space into Occupational Therapy Labs, within a partially-below grade level of NDMU’s University Academic Building. This suite will be utilized as hands-on learning environment for students aspiring to enter the Home Healthcare and Physical Therapy subsectors of nursing. The goal of this program is to train young professionals who will be assisting elderly/injured patients seeking to return home after stay in a hospital or outpatient rehab center. In addition to the collaborative teaching and admin areas, CAM’s fit-out included a new handicap-accessible restroom, laundry room, medical beds, and kitchen, to simulate the environment they would encounter in a typical assisted living facility or independent residence.
The existing gravel floor had to be leveled to create a suitable sub-base for a newly-poured concrete slab, and a new exterior entrance required tapering existing pavers to interface at the proper elevation to meet ADA. Significant MEP modifications were required, tapping into existing water and sanitary lines (below-grade), routing electrical back to panels in the adjacent mech. room, expanding existing IT/security systems, adding new VAV boxes and ductwork, and retrofitting the shell sprinkler system. Work had to be competed with time-of-day considerations, reserving certain activities for off-hours given the occupied nature of building and classrooms directly above.
The Lofts at Pontiac Mills
The Rhody Award-Winning Pontiac Mills Development is the adaptive reuse of more than 20 separate, historic, textile mill buildings into a mixed-use complex comprised of both office/retail and residential rental apartments. You can view a before/after video of the development at the link below.
https://www.preserveri.org/2021-award-videos
This historic textile mill complex was the original producer for Fruit of the Loom brand of cloth. Approximately 135 apartments and 50,000 SF of office/retail space will be developed within the existing mill complex, along the banks of the Pawtuxet River in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Work on the development began in 2016 and will encompass the renovation of approximately 200,000 SF, with first occupancy in 2018 and all phases completed by 2019/2020. The estimated cost for the entire project is $35,000,000.00. The project has been approved as an historic structure/complex from both the State of Rhode Island and the National Park Service. Pontiac Mills, originally built in 1863, has been declared a Nationally Registered Historic District, and it will utilize various state and federal tax credit programs.
Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) – Accessibility Survey
MICA commissioned GWWO Architects to perform a facilities assessment that resulted in a digital project planning deliverable. GWWO hired CAM to perform an integral part of to the scope, Order of Magnitude Cost Estimation and with detailed feedback and analysis.
Our team supported GWWO throughout the project and completed a detailed PDF analysis of the facilities, which was incorporated within GWWO’s assessment.
LSOP Mainstreet Renovation
The renovation to the “Main-Street” facilities at the Little Sister’s of the Poor – St. Martin’s Home campus required CAM to raise the existing roof structure within the middle of an occupied facility, and provide a new library, salon, community store, coffee shop, formal dining facility, and common areas. In addition, our team renovated all main corridors within the facility and completed a full mechanical and electrical system extension and upgrade.
In similar nature to the previous phases, the building remained occupied and fully functional throughout the project.
The Ridge at Ruxton – Subdivision & Private Residence
Historic restoration and an adaptive re-use project of a registered Historic property, were the focal points of The Ridge. This late nineteenth century Beaux Artes Mansion was designed by Baldwin & Pennington and was built by John Stack & Sons. Originally a 28-room residence that was later turned into a school for handicapped children, CAM returned The Ridge to a private residence and won numerous awards for our efforts.
This project required removal of lead-based paint and asbestos, installation of a heating system, and the design and installation of the home’s first air conditioning system, which were installed with no disruption to the historic interior fabric of the home. The project also included restoration of the plaster walls, ceilings, and crown moldings, restoration of the interior shutters, and a complete restoration of a two-story tower, replete with brick, terra-cotta, metal cornices, lead coated copper, slate roofing, etc.
Pontiac Mills Commercial Space
The Pontiac Mills Development is the adaptive reuse of more than 20 separate historic textile mill buildings into a mixed-use complex comprised of both office/retail and residential rental apartments. This historic textile mill complex was the original producer for Fruit of the Loom textile and garments.
Approximately 135 apartments and 50,000 SF of office/retail space will be developed within the existing mill complex along the banks of the Pawtuxet River in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Work on the development began in 2016 and will encompass the renovation of approximately 200,000 SF, with first occupancy in 2018 and all phases completed by 2019/2020. The estimated cost for the entire project is $35,000,000.00. The project has been approved as an historic structure/complex from both the State of Rhode Island and the National Park Service. Pontiac Mills, originally built in 1863, has been declared a Nationally Registered Historic District, and will utilize various state and federal tax credit programs.
Robert Poole Building
The Robert Poole Building is home to The Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE) and The Independence School, a project within the 21st Century School Buildings Plan. Our team partnered with the Maryland Stadium Authority, Baltimore City Public Schools, & JRS Architects to provide pre-construction & construction services to this historic building.
This project renovates the original historic building and demolishes several later, outdated additions, replacing them with two new additions. Construction began in August 2016, and was completed for the start of school in August 2018. Key features include 72,044 sf of renovated space including the Media Center and CTE Labs, with another 63,852 sf of new construction. The new portion of the building contains a state-of-the-art Gymnasium, Art & Music Classrooms, and a Collaborative Learning Stair.
A dedicated entrance for community space leads to 1,980 sf featuring a large meeting room, career readiness room, food pantry, and a laundry center. In addition, there are two new greenhouses available for student use.
Thoughtful design allows for the building to maximize daylight in instructional areas, including the new collaborative learning areas, while there is a clear circulation path for wayfinding and security.
The renovated facility will gracefully transform an iconic building in the Hampden neighborhood into a true 21st century school.
Youth Education and Rehabilitation Center
The Youth Education and Rehabilitation Center (YDC) is a 81,000- square foot facility that houses 60 detainees and is located on Greenmount Avenue in Baltimore. Located at the northeastern corner of the Correctional Complex campus, the facility comprises new construction and renovated areas formerly occupied by the Baltimore Pre-Release Unit. The new construction was in place of the main facility of the Baltimore Pre-Release Unit, which was demolished for this project. The area that was renovated was part of a former warehouse building.
The YDC is a dedicated pre-trial facility for youths that provides the extensive support services required of a juvenile population, including a full educational program operated by Baltimore City Public Schools. The facility also includes medical and mental health as well as athletic/recreational spaces geared toward the specific needs of a youth population.
The pre-trial center will provide educational and service benefits to its occupants. This new center will provide the mandatory sight and sound separation from the adult population, while allowing the occupants to take part in an educational program operated via Baltimore City Public Schools. Before this facility, the youth population was detained with hardened criminals, as they awaited trial without the ability to take part in educational and rehabilitative services.
The educational wing separates the school from housing, which will increase a sense of normalization for the youth population. With spaces like state-of-the-art classrooms, a full-sized gymnasium, art-room, media center, and collaboration centers, this facility will focus on educating and rehabilitating rather than just housing its occupants.
The building offers the ability to provide a full assortment of medical servicing capabilities. The facility includes a medical infirmary, full dental clinic, exam rooms, isolation rooms, psychology and behavioral health services and dialysis, and a spacious waiting area within the medical wing. This medical/health wing was designed and constructed around the specific needs of a juvenile population.
The facility achieved LEED Gold certification. A few of the integrated sustainable features include urban site selection and site density, reduction of water usage, a highly efficient building envelope, high-performance HVAC systems, efficient LED lighting sources, and recycled or readily renewable materials and finishes.
