In this two-phased project, the team completed the most critical piece, the classroom renovation, during the summer and finished in time for the start of fall quarter.

Updates to the classroom include new wood walls and ceiling panels, sliding chalkboard systems, upgrades to HVAC, LED lighting, and access control, as well as new stadium-style seating. The lab updates were completed in time for the start of the winter quarter and include custom impregnated epoxy stone counter tops, fume hoods, lab casework, epoxy floors, LED lighting, and mechanical upgrades.

Since the lab was under construction during the school year, loud noises had to be coordinated around classroom bell schedules and adjacent classroom instruction time to minimize disruption of daily routine.

Long Lead Item Communication

Diligent coordination of critical long-lead items helped the team meet the tight schedule. For example, the UW requires a specific countertop for consistency among all labs. GLY communicated the 15-20 week lead time early on and worked with the vendor to order the material as soon as possible.

Design-Build Mentality

Although this was a Design-Bid-Build delivery, we forged ahead with a D-B mindset and once part of the team, performed thorough coordination and constructability reviews to reduce or eliminate unwelcome surprises or delays, resulting in cost savings for the UW while maintaining the integrity of the design.

Renovation Work

Worked closely with the architect to ensure the complex lab layout met both code requirements and design intent. Multiple MEP coordination issues were resolved as the existing space was demolished and opened-up. GLY communicated early with the UW to work out a plan for the specific counter tops required to allow for an on-schedule completion.