Erland Construction, Inc. has won the Project of the Year award from Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) New England Chapter for its work on the Pike's School's new Dahod Center for Community and Creative Learning project. Standing out as the most deserving in the New Construction Under $10 Million category, this project was honored for its innovation and teamwork.
On April 15 the project team - consisting of members from the Pike School, owner's representative Diversified Project Management, architect CBT, and Erland Construction - gathered at the Annual Chapter Awards Program luncheon to accept this prestigious award.
Erland completed the new creative learning center in September of 2008 and it has completely transformed the main entrance of the school with its large glass curtain wall façade that showcases artwork done by students. The center provides a new 280-seat theater with high-end finishes, like book matched interior wood, and serves as a connector to two existing buildings on campus. The project also included extensive renovations to classroom space and the existing arts facility.
One of the prime objectives of the new Dahod Center for Community and Creative Learning was sustainable design. Although the school opted not to obtain a LEED certification, the project team was asked to follow the LEED checklist to make the project as green as possible. Reuse of the site for construction, erosion control during construction, stormwater design, and reduction of light pollution by using full cut-off lights outside contributed to that end. The new building also has dual-flush toilets and low-flow aerators on faucets to reduce water use; HVAC equipment that uses ozone-friendly hydrofluorocarbons that contain no chlorine; energy recovery wheels that reuse heat energy exhausted from the building; and an occupancy-controlled ventilation system in the theater that cuts energy use when no one is present.