J&M Brown Company completes electrical renovation at Northeastern University’s Snell Library

Boston, MA J&M Brown Company (JMB), headquartered in Dedham, MA, has completed the comprehensive interior lighting and power renovations, as well as fire alarm system upgrades at Northeastern University’s Snell Library.

The lighting renovation project entailed the NECA contractor’s installation of more than 2,800 LED fixtures across 200,000 s/f of Snell Library’s four floors, including student study areas and conference rooms. The lighting package includes an array of custom-designed LED pendant lighting fixtures.

Lighting is controlled by an advanced, networked Lutron lighting control system. The system, comprised of 160 lighting control panels, more than 480 ceiling censors, and 195 wall controllers, is fully-integrated allowing for cloud-based, wireless control to achieve optimal lighting levels and concurrent energy efficiency management.

Fire alarm upgrades included JMB’s installation of 40 pull stations and smoke detectors as well as integration of 255 fire alarm sounding devices in the four-story, 400,000 s/f Snell Library.

Integral to the project was J&M Brown’s replacement of, and upgrades to, the facility’s electrical distribution system.

Project manager Ed Zipper and supervisor Larry Daley headed the J&M Brown project, managing a crew of IBEW Local 103 electricians. The three-phase project commenced in December 2022 and was completed as scheduled in September 2024. 

J&M Brown worked on the project team headed by GC: Columbia; electrical engineering firm, R.G. Vanderweil Engineers; and architectural firm, MGA Partners Architects, based in Philadelphia.

The phased project construction required temporary closures to sections of the library that were being renovated. J&M Brown worked in close coordination with general contractor Columbia and Northeastern University facility personnel throughout the project to ensure student and faculty access to the library and daily operations were otherwise not impacted.