How-Nor Office Building
Work included design, interior demolition, complete renovation, and tenant fit-up of an existing, 53,000-square foot, three-story masonry structure. The project was accomplished by a “fast track” method of construction over a 90-day period to accommodate the State agency’s requirements.
Located at the very busy intersection of North Avenue and Howard Street, removal of debris and delivery of new materials presented challenges for this renovation project. Constructed in the early 20th century, this landmark building includes both masonry details and historic windows typical of the period
CAM was both construction manager as well as developer for this important adaptive re-use project.
Albin O. Kuhn Library at UMBC
This 7-story 120,000 square foot, concrete-framed tower abuts the existing library with floor tie-ins at the 1st and 2nd levels. Construction included a 25,000 square foot renovation of selected portions of the existing library and moving all documents into the new tower.
The building exterior consisted of a complex system of pre-cast and curtain wall with granite accents. The interior has extensive millwork, terrazzo floors and ornamental stainless steel and glass rails. The building was completely internet ready with in-slab raceways to accommodate any future data cabling modifications.
This project required phased construction and significant pedestrian traffic control to allow continued safe and uninterrupted functioning of the existing library during construction.
Boyle Buick Renovations
This project involved extensive additions and renovations to the existing Boyle Buick flagship site. The exterior façade and entryway were improved with exterior column accents. Renovations were also made to the offices, engine bays, and waiting rooms.
All business operations continued without interruption during construction. As the owner stated, “keeping operations going is critical to auto dealerships”. The owner enjoyed our open-book delivery method and hands-on construction management approach.
“They were sensitive to our needs and worked with us to minimize the impact to our ongoing operations. In my business that is very important.” Chris Boyle- Owner
BCPS Board of Education HQ
Partial demolition, reconstruction and total renovation of a four-story, 300,000 square foot historically significant, former Baltimore Polytechnic Institute masonry structure for new administrative offices for the Baltimore City Public School System. The project was fully funded by CAM Construction Company under a Lease Agreement and in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, returned to the City of Baltimore after completion. The center of the building was demolished and reconstructed, a new plaza entry was completed and all existing historic masonry was totally restored making it difficult to distinguish the original home to Baltimore’s engineering students from the new infill addition.
1712 Thames Street – Celie’s Waterfront Inn
Celie’s Waterfront Inn on Thames Street project consisted of the renovation of a row home in the historic district of Fells Point, which, at the start of construction, was in a total state of disrepair.
The plans called for the total gutting of the interior of the house. A new stair was constructed to provide access to the second and third floor suites and access to the new roof terrace. Entry to this stair is provided by a separate, gated entrance on the side of the building.
The second floor suite is 1,200 square feet, with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and bath. The third floor suite is 800 square feet, with one bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bath. Both of these suites are accented with exposed brick walls that required major re-pointing. The roof terrace was constructed using wood decking surrounded by a wrought iron railing.
The ground floor contains retail space with an exposed brick wall, and the exterior façade was restored to reveal a store front that differentiates it from other structures in the area. At the rear of the retail space is a terrace secured by the construction of a privacy wall and brick pavers to provide an inviting patio.
This unique project transformed a building with limited use to a modern retail and residential structure.
Highlandtown Elementary School
At first thought, renovating a 24,000 sq. ft. building and adding a 50,000 sq. ft., three story, masonry bearing addition to an unoccupied school would not appear to be challenging to a firm which had constructed more than 70 other schools. However that changed, with the acceptance of an alternate to reduce the aggressive 18 month project schedule to 12 months – with a caveat that all work must be completed on time regardless of unforeseen conditions.
While gutting the structure of its existing finishes and equipment, it was found that the concrete topping installed under the wood floors was unstable in areas; roofing tar had bled through structural cracks in the concrete roof, a roof parapet wall was found to be unsound; deteriorated plaster on the exterior walls was judged to contain mold or provide an environment for its future growth; unidentified lead paint was present on the window sills, panels and trim; a City water line leak caused the lower level to flood and created a cave-in under an embankment where the foundation for the boiler room areaway was to be built; and the scheduled main switchgear location did not meet code only after installation of the equipment which then needed to be relocated.
Among the many unanticipated challenges was the instance where, after the new interior masonry walls were completed, the School system realized that several additional drinking fountains were required outside the gym; necessitating cutting of the concrete floors and newly completed walls to install plumbing for these fountains.
The interior first level courtyard is filled with a stone base and shredded rubber mulch to create a safe play yard for the children. These materials needed to be shot into place after all of the surrounding walls had been constructed.
This important brick masonry building could not be re-constructed for a reasonable cost in today’s economy and the design of the new addition so closely matches the brick work of the historic structure that the casual observer is challenged to ascertain where the existing structure ends and the new addition begins. Despite the magnitude of unforeseen conditions, its location directly adjacent an occupied community center, and the quantity and complexity of delays, the school was finished on time for the beginning of the school year.
Archbishop Borders School at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
CAM was selected as the Construction Manager at Risk for this multi-phase renovation to the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School; now renamed the Archbishop Borders School. This is the only multi-lingual Catholic school run by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and was created following the consolidation of Baltimore’s Catholic Schools to serve the culturally diverse population in the East section of Baltimore City.
Throughout construction, the school classrooms were used for Sunday School classes, necessitating close coordination between construction activities and the Church. The lower level Great Hall, now used as the Cafeteria for this K-8th school, remained in use by Church committees nearly until the school year began. With its new servery, the school now provides lunches for all of its students.
Despite the modest budget allowed for the first phase of renovations, CAM was able to renovate the majority of the existing restrooms, provide several new restrooms, re-roof the school building, provide all new finishes, and create the needed emergency exit platform and staircase for the Kindergarten classes.
The existing wood closet cubbies were completely restored, and the original hardware was refurbished for use by the faculty. New white boards and tack boards were carefully installed over the existing slate chalk boards and trimmed out using moldings that match the original. The classrooms are differentiated by complex, yet cost-effective, patterned, vinyl tile floors, and the newly epoxy-painted hallway floors include colored accent circles to match the classrooms.
The new Administrative Suite was created at the main entrance to the school, with offices for the Principal, Vice Principal, Business Manager, and a welcoming Reception Area. The large fixed window at the Reception Area has been designed and installed to accommodate the planned multi-story elevator addition.
Phase 3 work included complete renovations to the 2nd floor administrative wing, new covered entry for students, modifications and enlargement of the covered entry to allow for student drop off at the new entry, refurbishment and new finishes, new windows and lighting at the gymnasium, new windows, and a new restroom at the lower level cafeteria.
Current work includes construction of the new playground.
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
The project was awarded as a total gut and rehab of the 220,000 square foot school, originally contracted as being vacant. Due to the wishes of the faculty and students, the building was later continuously occupied throughout construction. This major renovation project is located on a tightly congested urban site, completely surrounded by adjacent academic buildings, major thoroughfares and the students and staff who were on site throughout the project.
Work areas include the gymnasium, auditorium, natatorium, classrooms, cafeteria/kitchen, academic labs and tech science classrooms, administrative offices and support areas. The existing HVAC and plumbing systems have been completely replaced, modifications were made to the existing sprinkler system, the existing roof was removed and a new roof installed. A new main entry and administrative wing was created from the former basement by removing the existing wall on Orleans Street and installing a new curtain wall and high efficiency window system providing natural light to the feature lobby with its substantially upgraded finishes and a massive Fritz tile floor highlighting the school’s colors.
New interior masonry walls have been constructed, extensive laboratory and science casework has been installed, and the technology upgrades enable the school’s curriculum to meet the needs of Dunbar’s health professional partnering agreement with Johns Hopkins Hospital. Hazardous materials removal, originally to be contracted by the owner, was added to CAM’s contract, with little if any extension to the contract completion. Work was completed directly adjacent occupied classrooms with no interruption to the curriculum.
The newly renovated school contains more than 50 laboratories, classrooms, and collegiate-style lecture halls for 900 students and faculty, a newly created health suite, resource center library, café, with full commercial kitchen, department offices and meeting spaces and storage areas – most of which have finishes highlighting the school’s colors and spectacular views of the City. Of particular interest is the placement of the offices, curved walls, and exposed beams which are used as architectural elements and feature flooring and ceiling details.
The contractual change from a vacant to occupied environment was accommodated by CAM’s forces installing temporary partitions, a covered interior walkway which re-routed internal passageways, a temporary fire alarm system, temporary power and temporary lights. Despite many owner initiated changes and additions to the contract, once again CAM’s work was completed on time with temporary occupancy granted ahead of schedule to allow for the faculty and staff to set up for the school year.
This school is of such great importance to the Baltimore City Public School System that the ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Governor Martin O’Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Mayor Sheila Dixon, Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of the School System, and both national and local heads of the teacher’s union. The keynote ribbon cutting address was given by John’s Hopkins Hospital’s famed pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Cardin. The change to the school is so substantive that many of the alumnae attending the ribbon cutting ceremony literally could not find their way around the school they had once attended.
Villa Julie Infirmary Renovations
This 2-phased project was broken up into a ramp and canopy project, which offered additional indoor/outdoor amenity space to elderly residents, as well as interior office renovations. It entailed the construction of a multi-level enclosed porch addition, replete with exposed wood ceiling, screened in fencing, fans and lighting systems. New and replacement roofing work was done to the existing building, in addition to various improvements to the nurses station, as well as upgrades to the basement corridor, as utilized by residents and the Sisters of Notre Dame in their caretaking functions. CAM self-performed some of the carpentry and wood decking work, which yielded cost savings to the owner.
