Nichols College

Additional Info

Award Winner : Vanguard Modular Building Systems, LLC

Architectural Excellence : Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts needed modular dormitory buildings that would compliment the surroundings and the existing brick buildings that dotted the campus. To achieve this, Vanguard Modular Building Systems provided approximately 15,000 square feet in three residence halls. These residence halls can accommodate up to ninety-seven students. The buildings ranged in size from 3,900 square feet to 5,800 square feet. Each building was configured with student rooms around the perimeter surrounding common areas that included bathrooms, a laundry room, a lounge area, a resident advisor office, and a mechanical room. All building exteriors were resided in vinyl with newly painted trim, exterior windows and doors. This achieved a uniform, esthetically pleasing design and color scheme. Site improvements included landscape design, paved walkways and exterior campus lighting.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : All three buildings were “re-used” which eliminated the need to manufacture new buildings; thereby achieving a very cost effective solution. The existing rooftop units, which were gas fired, were reused on two of the buildings and new gas fired units were installed on the third replacing all electrical roof top units. Vanguard installed all new exterior doors and hardware and provided new insulated windows on two of the three buildings. Exteriors were completely resided in vinyl with building wrap underlayment.

Design Firm Name : James Conway Engineering, Inc.

Occupied Date : 9/21/2007

Production Start Date : 7/2/2007

Project Location City : Dudley

Project Location State Name : MA

Technical Innovation : The buildings, which were previously used as classroom and lab space, posed some redesign challenges. The buildings were set on poured concrete footings and tied into new sewer and waterlines. Vanguard completely gutted each building, addressed the necessary structural changes and window and door relocations, and then reframed all walls creating the desired design layout. All ductwork, sprinkler systems, electrical feeds and fire alarm systems were redesigned. This made all systems virtually 90% new upon completion. We installed new exterior siding to give all three buildings, which were from two different manufacturers, the same appearance. The power for two of the structures was tied into an existing dormitory building which required that the transformer be upgraded and new service was fed underground. Overhead lines to a mast kit from the street achieved the power to the third building.

Total Square Feet : 14880

Category : Renovated Reuse: Greatest Renovation: over 10,000 sq. ft.