WEST NEWTON, MA – Erland Construction recently completed major renovations and a new addition to The Fessenden School’s William R. Elfers ’63 Center for the Arts in West Newton, Mass.
Revitalizing the center included renovating the entire arts wing, which houses a theatre, multipurpose common areas, art gallery and classroom space. Erland also installed an elevator to meet current ADA regulations.
A new 3,000-square-foot addition to accommodate Fessenden’s growing orchestra program and equipment was also constructed. The renovation and addition, designed by cbt Architects, creates a new environment for students to participate in the school’s robust visual and performing arts curriculum. The state-of-the-art space features the latest in arts equipment and technology, allowing students to tap into their imagination and creativity in a whole new way.
The existing building required various mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) upgrades including new air handlers and roof monitors. A sound data test was performed to ensure the new air handlers would not disrupt the school’s future performances. The school’s campus, as well as the existing space, remained occupied throughout construction. Erland worked closely with Fessenden and Riser11 Management to phase the project around the school’s needs; mitigating any disruption to their ongoing academic and summer program operations.
“This project has been extremely rewarding for us and we’re proud of what we’ve built for The Fessenden School and its students,” said Daryl Leland, Special Projects/Strategic Accounts Group Manager, Erland Construction. “Partnering with Fessenden and cbt Architects for a second time allowed us to apply the lessons learned from our previous project. Collectively, we were more proactive and could problem solve quicker because the trust was already there which was crucial in keeping the project on track.”
