Project Size (sf): 4,500, 10,000, 9,000 | Owner: State University of New York | Architect: Architecture +, CS Arch | Location: Albany, NY | Project Type: Renovation
Lecture Hall Phases 3, 4, & 5
Phase 3:
SUNY Albany has approximately 50% of their campus classrooms and lecture areas in their Lecture Center. When they decided to renovate the center, significant phasing was put into place to allow the University to continue to schedule classes while the building was being renovated. AOW was selected to complete lecture rooms four and five. This was 4,500 square feet of existing classrooms that were demolished and upgraded. Work also included asbestos abatement and necessary temporary partitions to keep students and staff safe while construction continued.
Some classroom specific finishes done by AOW were visual display boards, glass projection screens, and fixed audience seating. The glass projection screens, specifically, were a challenge because of their size. They needed to be hoisted over the Academic Podium and placed into the hallways so they could then be installed. A custom curved metal ceiling was created and installed for a unique touch to a traditional lecture hall.
Brand new air handling units were installed and also had to be hoisted two levels up to get it through an access door. These units had to be moved and installed in pieces due to their size. Extensive coordination was required between the Owner and AOW to schedule electrical shutdowns without disrupting the power on campus.
Phase 4:
AOW was the successful bidder for Phase 4 of the Lecture Center. The existing lecture hall was outdated and in need of modernization to meet both HVAC and educational needs. This project included 10,000 sq ft of interior renovation of two separate lecture halls, as well as adding new group study rooms and renovating the 2 toilet rooms. The project added new glass protection screens in the lecture halls, metal decorative ceiling panels, university-style seating, and audio-visual systems.
The updated visual systems included a motion-detecting camera for teleconferencing, a clear 4K visual display, and microphones above the students to improve the professor’s ability to hear questions.
There were multiple challenges that AOW faced with this project. The first half of the work was required to be done at night to limit disruptions to students and staff. Another challenge was the installation of the oversized glass protection screen. The screen had to be hoisted over the railing to be brought into the lecture hall area. Despite these challenges, AOW completed the project successfully in conjunction with other contractors.
Phase 5:
This project was a complete 10,000 sq ft interior renovation of lecture halls 18 and 19, as well as adding new group study rooms to the Gallery. The updates were necessary to elevate the space for the school’s audio-visual and HVAC needs. The lecture halls were given new finishes, which included: AV video walls, metal decorative ceiling panels, university seating, state-of-the-art audio visual systems, lighting, carpet, painting, and other finishes to update the space.
The same audio-visual systems were installed in the space. The group study rooms were given aluminum tube steel projecting into the gallery with acoustical wall panels and wood ceilings to give it a sharp aesthetic look.
This project posed some challenges. The installation of the new video wall was also a challenge, as each monitor is on its own wall bracket, and the edges have to align with the adjacent screens. The new air handling units had to be specially designed and constructed in pieces to fit through a GWB access door in the main stairwell. This required additional coordination to consider the size and weight of each piece. Once in the space, the HVAC contractor assembled the pieces into a fully functioning air handler