Springfield Technical Community College: Goodbye to 'the shuffle'

Springfield, Mass., the site of America’s first armory, served as the center of U.S. military munitions manufacturing and research until 1968, when the historic site and buildings were deeded to Springfield Technical Community College. One of those buildings is now the STCC’s Campus Center, which unites student services covering enrollment, academic advising, student life, and a learning commons in a 170-year-old, 764-foot-long structure.

Previously, students had to navigate six departments in five buildings to access basic services in what was known as the “STCC Shuffle.” The college, a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, found that many prospective students just gave up and never registered.

A project team led by Ann Beha Architects worked with the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Commission to develop a design for new windows, which made up half the exterior, to enclose the previously open-air building while bringing in daylight and controlling solar heat gain.

Consigli Construction (CM) shaved four months off the project schedule by 3D printing mockups for sections of the 203 custom windows. The contractor reused, recycled, or salvaged >90% of C&D debris and remediated a brownfield.

Ancient brick-lined drains were replaced with modern storm structures and separated from the sanitary system. An asphalt parking lot was turned into a 20,000-sf greenspace that forms a new unifying campus quad.

Carefully selected hardscape and softscape materials were used to treat roof and surface runoff. Rain gardens were planted to enhance on-site water management.

An archeological team was on hand to monitor all excavations. Work was paused to allow them to photograph and measure dishes (dated 1810) and a vegetable cellar. Conservation experts helped determine the exterior paint color of the building and fenestration.

STCC has instituted a Green Cleaning Policy for maintenance operations. The project is targeted to achieve LEED Silver certification.

SILVER AWARD WINNER

BUILDING TEAM Ann Beha Architects (submitting firm, architect) Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (owner) RSE Associates (SE) Altieri Sebor Wieber (MEP) Consigli Construction (CM) DETAILS 100,100 sf Total cost $42.7 million Construction time May 2016 to December 2018 Delivery method CM at risk