Cambridge, MA – Acentech Inc. provided consulting and design services for the newly completed Wilber School Apartments, a 75-unit, mixed-income, sustainably designed apartment building in Sharon, Massachusetts.
Developed by Beacon Communities Development LLC, a Boston-based housing developer, and designed by Cambridge-based architecture firm Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, the Wilber School Apartments project entailed the renovation of a historically significant, abandoned school building that was built in 1921, as well as the construction of a new 56,000 square foot addition. The energy-efficient project, located in the heart of downtown Sharon, is seeking certification under the LEED for Homes program from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Acentech was selected by Beacon Communities to implement effective sound isolating constructions for the project. During the architectural design phase, the goals for acoustical privacy were established between apartment units, both side-to-side and up-and-down. The firm maximized the sound isolating performance of constructions for floor/ceiling and wall assemblies in order to set a higher acoustical privacy standard that would satisfy future tenants, thereby minimizing complaints and maximizing lease renewals for the developer. The Wilber School Apartments project exceeded the applicable minimum sound isolation requirements that are mandated by the Massachusetts building code.
“Tenant turnover is a significant cost for landlords, and high on the list of issues that make tenants unhappy is poor sound isolation between apartments,” said Chris Savereid, president of Acentech Inc. “The enhanced sound isolation of Wilber School Apartments will result in better acoustical privacy between neighbors, and help to reduce tenant turnover.“
An incremental additional construction cost equal to about 2% of the base contract achieved the better sound isolation results at the Wilber School Apartments, compared to the construction costs of typical wood frame apartments. After construction was complete, Acentech visited the Wilber School Apartments and measured the as-built sound isolation. In all cases, the project goals were met, and in most cases, exceeded by noticeable margins.
Keith Construction served as general contractor for the project.
Acentech Creates Quiet at the Wilber School Apartments
Sound isolation between apartments is attractive to tenants of historic school building converted into mixed-income homes.