$79M project even closer to completion
STORRS, Conn., Sept. 15, 2015 – The already high-profile Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) residence hall at the University of Connecticut received even more attention at a topping-out ceremony on Sept. 14.
Hosted jointly by UCONN and the project’s Design-Build Team Leader, KBE Building Corporation (KBE), the traditional ceremony was held in celebration of the latest milestone for the $79 million construction project.
In the week leading up to the ceremony, all project subcontractors were invited to sign the building’s last two precast planks. During the ceremony, KBE staff members placed the final two planks, which were attached to an American flag and a live potted evergreen to symbolize pride and the building coming to life, respectively.
Making History at the University of Connecticut
The STEM residence hall is part of Governor Dannel Malloy’s Next Generation Connecticut (NGC) initiative, designed to greatly expand educational opportunities, research, and innovation in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines at the school during the next decade, with the overall goal of creating an infrastructure that supports Connecticut’s most important industries, including high-tech manufacturing.
One of the most ambitious state investments in economic development, higher education, and research in the nation, NGC will transform the University into a top public research institution that fuels Connecticut’s economy through new technologies, highly skilled graduates, and the creation of high-wage jobs.
Project Highlights | STEM Residence Hall, University of Connecticut, Storrs
- multi-story residence hall with STEM component
- $79 million, 210,000 s/f project
- pursuing LEED Silver certification
- substantial completion scheduled for summer 2016
Design Team
Newman Architects was chosen by the University of Connecticut as the Bridging Design Architect and the University’s Design Consultant during the Construction Phase. BVH Integrated Services is also serving as Engineer during the Bridging Documents phase.
The design team for the new STEM residence hall also includes Architect of Record JSA Inc. from Portsmouth, NH, who previously teamed with KBE on the very successful Kellogg House residence hall design-build project at the University of Virginia; Structural Engineer DiBlasi Associates; Civil Engineer BL Companies; and Mechanical, Engineering, and Plumbing (MEP) Engineer WSP.
A high-resolution rendering of the University of Connecticut’s new STEM residence hall is available below, courtesy of Newman Architects (Bridging Design Architect and the University’s Design Consultant during the Construction Phase).
Photos taken at the event are available below:
http://impactmarketing.net/press/KBE-Building-Corp-UCONN-STEM-Res-Hall-Topping-Out-Plank-Signing.jpg
Credit: Peter Morenus, Photographer, University of Connecticut Communications
Caption: KBE Building Corporation staff members and subcontractors sign the final precast plank before it is placed atop the STEM residence hall on Sept. 14.
http://impactmarketing.net/press/KBE-Building-Corp-UCONN-STEM-Res-Hall-Topping-Out-Signed-Plank.jpg
Credit: Peter Morenus, Photographer, University of Connecticut Communications
Caption: The final precast plank, attached to an evergreen and an American flag, is placed atop the STEM residence hall at UCONN’s Storrs campus on Sept. 14.
http://impactmarketing.net/press/KBE-Building-Corp-UCONN-STEM-Res-Hall-Topping-Out-President-Herbst.jpg
Credit: Peter Morenus, Photographer, University of Connecticut Communications
Caption: University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst speaks at the STEM residence hall topping-out ceremony on Sept. 14.
http://impactmarketing.net/press/KBE-Building-Corp-UCONN-STEM-Res-Hall-Topping-Out-Simon-Etzel.jpg
Credit: Peter Morenus, Photographer, University of Connecticut Communications
Caption: KBE Building Corporation Principal and SVP of Procurement Simon F. Etzel, Jr. speaks at the University of Connecticut STEM residence hall topping-out ceremony on Sept. 14.
About KBE Building Corporation
Located in Farmington, CT, Norwalk, CT, and Columbia, MD, KBE Building Corporation is a full-service, single-source commercial construction company strategically positioned to serve the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Founded in 1959 and incorporated in 1966, the firm provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the retail, educational, senior living, federal, corporate, hospitality, health care, and institutional markets. KBE has managed more than $4 billion in construction volume during the past two decades and is ranked among Engineering News-Record magazine’s top 400 construction companies nationally. Learn more at www.kbebuilding.com.
Media Contact: Jonelle Lawhorn | KBE Director of Marketing
t: 860.284.7431| c: 860.836.7517 | f: 860.284.7831 | e: jlawhorn@kbebuilding.com