ARC honored by IFMA for Tufts vertical expansion design project

The Boston Chapter of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) has recognized Tufts University School of Dental Medicine's Vertical Expansion, which was designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, at IFMA Awards of Excellence 2010. The ARC-designed project won the "Best Practice Awards: Medium Project," given annually by IFMA to projects ranging between 50,000 and 150,000 s/f. The building, located at One Kneeland St. in Boston's Chinatown, officially opened late last year after a 22-month vertical expansion development in one of the city's most densely-populated neighborhoods. The five-story, 95,000 s/f vertical addition was added on top of the existing 10-story Tufts University School of Dental Medicine building. The building also recently received LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The original building, built in 1972, was designed to be a 16-story structure; however, the building plan was revised and only 10 floors were constructed at that time. The top five floors recently added include two new clinical patient floors, an expanded simulation lab, teaching facilities, a continuing education conference center and administrative offices. The general contractor for the project was Shawmut Design and Construction. "We are very excited to receive the IFMA award on behalf of our project team," said Rob Quigley, AIA, a principal at ARC who led the design team for the project. "Both this IFMA award and the Silver LEED Certification are a tribute to the ongoing efforts of the entire project team and to Tufts University's commitment to sustainable and innovative design." Designed to integrate contemporary forms and materials within the framework of the existing pre-cast concrete building, the expansion's transparent glass exterior facade not only results in a dramatic new image for the School of Dental Medicine but also provides the added benefit of incorporating significant day-lighting strategies for the building's interior, all of which are designed to save energy and add to the sustainable characteristics of the design.