Boston, MA – The Boston Chapter of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), a non-profit association dedicated to serving the facility management profession, has recognized Tufts University School of Dental Medicine’s Vertical Expansion, which was designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, at IFMA Awards of Excellence 2010.
The ARC-designed project won the “Best Practice Awards: Medium Project,” given annually by IFMA to projects ranging between 50,000 and 150,000 square feet. This award is presented to the individual or team whose facility management program, project, system, innovation, or idea has had a substantial and positive effect on the success of their organization.
The building, located at One Kneeland Street in Boston’s Chinatown, officially opened late last year after an ambitious 22-month vertical expansion development in one of Boston’s most densely-populated neighborhoods. The five-story, 95,000-square-foot vertical addition was added on top of the existing 10-story Tufts University School of Dental Medicine building. The building also recently received LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
“We are very excited to receive the IFMA award on behalf of our project team,” said Rob Quigley, AIA, a principal at ARC who led the design team for the project. “Both this IFMA award and the Silver LEED Certification are a tribute to the ongoing efforts of the entire project team and to Tufts University’s commitment to sustainable and innovative design.”
The original building, built in 1972, was designed to be a 16-story structure; however, the building plan was revised and only 10 floors were constructed at that time. The top five floors recently added include two new clinical patient floors, an expanded simulation laboratory, teaching facilities, a continuing education conference center and administrative offices.
Designed to integrate contemporary forms and materials within the framework of the existing pre-cast concrete building, the expansion’s transparent glass exterior facade not only results in a dramatic new image for the School of Dental Medicine but also provides the added benefit of incorporating significant day-lighting strategies for the building’s interior, all of which are designed to save energy and add to the sustainable characteristics of the design.