16C — April 12 - 25, 2013 — Pennsylvania — Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
P roject of the M onth Target Building Construction embraces unique demands of constructing a state-of-the-art facility The new Green Tree School — Out of the ground and rising to proud heights in Phila. Y ou only have to stand at ground level to feel the emotions stirring
as Green Tree School’s new building takes shape and its promise emerges for its student body of 200 special needs boys and girls. Since 1957, Green Tree School has educated and nurtured children with spe- cial needs and their families in Germantown, 85% of who live at or below the poverty level. Working primarily with students with emotional disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and preschool de- velopmental delays, Green Tree School engages them in academic instruction, vocational training, music, movement, occupational and physical therapies, individu- al counseling and life skills coaching. These students typically experience signifi- cant difficulties in traditional school settings. Soon they will join, learn and grow together in one magnificent educational fa- cility, no longer separated in four aging buildings at multiple locations in the Ger- mantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. The approved design incorporates 53,100 s/f of floor space plus a par- tial basement. The grounds include a parking lot with 88 parking spaces and various outdoor recreational areas. The unique demands of constructing a state-of-the- art facility has been whole- heartedly embraced by the staff of Target Building Con- struction. Dealing with the weather has been challeng- ing, due to frequently wet conditions throughout the second half of the winter season. From project start, Target Building Construction has effectively lead the charge in our role as Construc- tion Manager, coordinating trades to maintain safety, schedule and logistics. Bi- weekly progress meetings at the site have been a valuable tool for communication be- tween The Green Tree School and Omni Vest Properties, Target Building Construc- tion, the design firms and subcontractors. Site-work and stormwater drainage efforts were our two main concerns as we started construction and readied
General Contractor. ................... Target Building Construction Architect...........................................Kramer+Marks Architects MEP Engineer............................................Holstein White Inc Structural Engineer:. .......................... MacIntosh Engineering Civil Engineer:............................................................... Stantec P roject T eam
pace. Recently, a special white ceremonial girder that was autographed by students and faculty was bolted into the structural steel to cel- ebrate the completion of this important phase. The newGreen Tree School building will include: • Classrooms, Learning and Vocational Skills centers and Sensory Rooms, utiliz- ing interactive equipment to stimulate the students’
senses. • Support areas including a library, art studio, music studio, movement spaces, industrial and culinary arts rooms, a gymnasium and a stage. • Specially designed kitch- ens and bathrooms to de- velop and reinforce life skills training. • Safe areas including Safe Time-Out spaces, Qui- et Rooms, Single-Student
rooms, Secure Rooms and De-escalation and Therapy rooms. • A therapy suite, rooms for teacher resources, a food service lunchroom and an administrative suite. Green Tree will be able to expand its range of services to directly target the specific developmental challenges Green Tree’s community faces. n
the site for foundations and masonry packages. Dealing with additional rock on site required us to close down East Washington Lane for ten days. We worked with the City of Philadelphia officials and set up detours with 72- hour notice to commuters. Our next focus has been structural steel — in concert with the foundation and masonry work, steel erection has progressed at a rapid
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