The renovation, restoration and expansion of Packard Hall on the Tufts University campus was completed this spring, in time to serve as the backdrop for commencement activities on May 17. Packard Hall is a historic structure, built in 1856, and has served the university as a dormitory, dining hall, library, an office building and even an animal barn. The newly renovated building will house the university's Political Science Department, and includes faculty offices, conference space and support space.
Tufts University president Lawrence Bacow praised Linbeck, the project's Waltham-based construction manager, saying, "Packard Hall is an icon of Tufts' Academic Quad and the second-oldest building on our Medford campus. Its wonderful restoration and renovation have truly given it new life, and the faculty who are about to move in are very excited. This is Linbeck's third major project here in recent years, and all have been very successful."
The project's architect is William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. of Boston. Principal Douglas Johnston said, "We are very proud to have worked so collaboratively with Tufts University and Linbeck on this project. There was a common sense of purpose between the client, the design team, and the construction team such that we each truly understood the importance of this historic piece of the Tufts campus to the universities' future as well as its past. Linbeck's experienced and dedicated team made a complex knitting of old and new a seamless success."
Linbeck vice president Thomas Herbert said, "Linbeck is honored to have had the opportunity to serve as construction manager for this very important project for Tufts University. The partnership between the Tufts team, the William Rawn Assoc. team and Linbeck created the foundation for another successful project by these three parties." William Rawn Assoc. and Linbeck had previously completed the Tufts University Sophia Gordon Residence Hall, a LEED Gold Certified project and the first LEED Certified building on the Tufts University campus.
The Packard Hall project involved the reconfiguration of all architectural spaces in the 10,800 s/f building and installation of new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems. An addition to Packard Hall provides elevator service, an additional egress stair, and connects through a link to the building on each of its four floors. Slate was installed on the roof, restoring it to its original appearance and returning the original feel of the building to the exterior.