Merrimack’s Project on Schedule – Pro Con Architect and CM

North Andover, MA – The expansion of the Volpe Athletic Center on the campus of Merrimack College is continuing on schedule. Pro Con Inc of Manchester, N.H. is the architect and construction manager for the project, which includes a new practice ice arena and a new home for the college’s sports medicine and athletic training programs.
“The final phase of the project’s steel framing is nearly complete,” stated the project manager for Pro Con Inc.  “The exterior and interior masonry work is underway and the air conditioning and dehumidification units are expected to be placed on the rooftop by the end of January. The project remains on-schedule for a mid-June completion date.”
The Volpe Athletic Center Expansion Project is a critical piece to attaining key goals outlined in the College’s 10-year strategic plan, the Agenda for Distinction.
The 83,000sf expansion includes a new ice arena that features an 85 x 200-ft ice surface with mezzanine seating and large locker rooms with generous space for changing, equipment storage and athletic training facilities. The expanded entrance lobby will house the college’s bookstore and a concession stand – all designed to enhance the student experience. The new arena will allow Merrimack College to expand its partnership with a local youth hockey club by providing the club with a permanent home and will complement the college’s existing ice arena, the Lawler Center, the current home for Merrimack hockey games and practices.
The new home for the college’s sports medicine and athletic training programs will consist of state-of-the-art classroom space, team locker and shower rooms, a weight training facility and offices. These additions will provide health science majors with real-world opportunities that combine classroom work with internships and relevant clinical and professional experience.
Pro Con Inc began construction for the project in September 2012 and has scheduled a summer 2013 completion date.