ALABAMA STATE EDITION
231
65
72 Florence
2
Huntsville
20 Decatur
72
565 59
43
A Supplement to:
231
431
31
5
Gadsden
78 59 Anniston
20
Birmingham Bessemer
82 Tuscaloosa
65 280
20 82 Auburn
80
85
Selma
Phenix City
Montgomery
82
March 5 2014 Vol. XXVI • No. 5
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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Dothan
65 98
Mobile
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Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
Birmingham College ‘Miles Ahead’ With New Buildings By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Leon Moody, Miles College photo
To prepare for the new buildings, Hardin Construction demolished four houses and a building, which once served as apartments, along with a structure that housed the social work department.
Overseeing construction of three new buildings on campus has proven both challenging and rewarding for officials at Miles College near Birmingham, Ala. The $23 million capital improvement project includes a new residence hall, student activities and dining hall and a welcome and admissions center, as well as site improvements. “We coordinated the design and build from project conception,” said Stephen Watlington, project executive of DPR Hardin Construction. “Our efforts started with a design charette that was used to help the college determine their program or project scope. These meetings included faculty, students, advisors and design professionals. The mission of Miles College was to add to their students’ daily experience and create buildings that enhanced the experience of prospective students.” The new welcome center includes a reception hall and patio on one of the highest points on campus, where VIPs and prospective students can take in the entire football game day experience. Other features of the building include interview facilities for visiting prospects, a boardroom for school trustee meetings and display rooms for memorabilia. Recent construction has included the restoration of the original pedestrian entrance on the front of the main campus. A formal archway has been added, along with new lighting, landscaping and seating. The new four-story, 45,000 sq. ft. (4,180.6 sq m) student housing construction accommodates 204 beds and is situated next to the new welcome center. Down the hill from these buildings, and considered the new heart of the campus, is the new George T. French, Jr. Student Activity Center, which will include an SGA office, along with meeting space for sororities, fraternities and other organizations. Pedestrians will approach the entrance along a new walk that will eventually be part of a grand pedestrian walk that crosses campus. “This building includes a fantastic metal clad dome that stamps its signature on the campus,” said Watlington. “The facility houses student dining that’s capable of feeding a thousand students per meal time, an all hours café and grille, a theater, a fitness area, study rooms and other recreational opportunities. All of the facilities include state-of-the-art audio and video technology.” The overall project required about 30,000 yds. (27,423 m) of cut/fill. To prepare for the new buildings, Hardin Construction demolished four houses and a building, which see MILES page 2
Page 2 • March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Crews Encounter Several ‘Surprises’ During Site Work MILES from page 1
once served as apartments, along with a structure that housed the social work department. During construction, mobile cranes were brought in to erect steel and trusses, while track hoes and bulldozers were utilized for excavation. Forklifts, loaders, drills, saws and dump trucks were used on the project, which has not been without its share of issues. “Because the three buildings were placed on newly acquired residential property and the sites of aged, existing campus buildings, coordination of new utilities began and ended as a challenge,” Watlington said. “The water utility had to rework water and sewer for many blocks to bring adequate service for the new buildings. During site work, the project team had several surprises by finding undocumented and marked utilities including gas and fiber optic lines. Poor soils at the student activity center site created a schedule challenge, because we started the projects in November.” Although the project was affected by more than 45 days of weather due to a late fall start, the net impact to the schedule was less than anticipated. Managing three projects at once was a much bigger obstacle, particularly with work that was repeated in all buildings. “The most challenging scope to coordinate was masonry,” said Watlington. “It was impractical and financially inefficient to crew up to install brick veneer and precast on all three buildings at the same time. After a few painstaking work sessions, we worked out a building-to-building flow that met our deadlines without adding expense. The building varied in size and complexity, so we were generally able to start most redundant trades on the welcome center first.” Two of the new structures are wood frame, while the other is structural steel and deck. The exteriors are brick veneer, cast stone and stucco. Designers coordinated varying interiors for each building, which helped provide unique character for the finishes of each building, including flooring, wall finishes and fabrics. Watlington is especially pleased with the new 127-seat theater on campus. “One great feature is the college-driven desire that it be every bit a theater. This includes a ticket window, snack bar and real-deal screen. Acoustics are achieved by a stepped floor, carefully planned floors and purposefully placed acoustic panels. “The computer stations and study rooms are also designed for student purpose and comfort,” said Watlington. “The café is open all hours and the grill for the café is connected to the main kitchen. Planned recreation includes gaming areas and pool tables.” “The groundbreaking ceremony for the three new building took place in October of last year, said Dr. George T. French, Jr., president of Miles College. “Preparation and plans began at that time for construction. The buildings are being completed, with final touches here and there. “With the increased enrollment and the unfortunate task of having to turn students away due to the current limited space, these new buildings are a much welcomed addition to the see MILES page 6
Leon Moody, Miles College photo
During site work, the project team had several surprises by finding undocumented and marked utilities including gas and fiber optic lines.
Leon Moody, Miles College photo
The overall project required about 30,000 yds. (27,423 m) of cut/fill.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 • Page 3
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Page 4 • March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 • Page 5
Page 4 • March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 • Page 5
Page 6 • March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
New Facilities Set to Accommodate Continued Growth MILES from page 2
Miles College Campus. ” Because Miles College has experienced full dormitories, it’s had to arrange a contract with a local hotel for student residential placement assistance more than once. “It’s been challenging, said French. “While the hotel isn’t far away from campus, it is still considered off campus for our students. It’s our aim to make access to the Miles College campus as convenient as possible. The new facilities will significantly decrease our student housing issues and we are very pleased with these improvements.” The new facilities should help significantly in accommodating the growth of the college, with the Teresa E. Snorton residence hall housing female students. It is handicap accessible, providing housing units for students with special needs via individual rooms. The majority of the units will accommodate up to four students in a suite consisting of two adjoining rooms with a bed and desk for each student. Each of the rooms in the suite has a sink with mirror and a shared closet space. The entry area of the suite has a sitting area and a bathroom. “The welcome and student enrollment services center will serve as the new admissions office, for students who are interested in enrolling in Miles, as well as students who’ve been accepted to the college and are working to get their paperwork finalized in preparation of attending classes,” said French. “This building will also serve parents and other special guest wanting to learn more about our institution.” Several thousand attended the dedication ceremony of the new buildings, including hundreds of high school students, alums, Board of Trustee members, CME Bishops, community leaders, political officials, students, faculty and staff. A historically black college founded in 1898, Miles is located in Fairfield, Ala., just a few miles outside Birmingham’s city limits. A private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Miles is the area’s only four-year institution that’s deemed a member of Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). During the planning stages of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, when members were deciding what test city to implement the Civil Rights Movement, it was proposed they travel to Birmingham, because the students at Miles College were already engaging in civic protests and boycotts against segregated public facilities. In 2006, the school purchased a new 41acre campus adjacent to the existing campus. Previously landlocked, this acquisition enabled Miles to double its land size. The school has continued to grow, however, and because of rising enrollment, the new dormi-
tory and other facilities are considered long overdue. Raising funds for construction was a concern, as was the site location, which was occupied by a parking lot, as well as houses, not owned by the school. But, overall, school officials have described the project as a relatively smooth experience. “There were no really big issues that caused problems or delays,” said Juandalynn Givan, director of sponsored programs of Miles College. “Property acquisitions went well. “Working with the City of Fairfield proved to be very beneficial. It was built around stakeholders and relationships with regulatory agencies that could assist in the development of the project.” The last few weeks of the project have involved installation of kitchen equipment, check out of systems, and punch out of finishes. For Dr. French, completion of the three new buildings is extremely rewarding. “The future is now, and now is always the best time for progress,” said French. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG
Leon Moody, Miles College photo
Overseeing construction of three new buildings on campus has proven both challenging and rewarding for officials at Miles College near Birmingham, Ala.
Leon Moody, Miles College photo
Although the project was affected by more than 45 days of weather due to a late fall start, the net impact to the schedule was less than anticipated.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 • Page 7
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Page 8 • March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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