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Building Statistics

Part 1

Building Name

The Pennsylvania Academy of Music

Location

42 North Prince Street, Lancaster PA (Urban Setting)

Building Occupant

The Pennsylvania Academy of Music

Occupancy Type

Music school and conservatory

Size

65,000 square feet of new construction (not including small portion of old building not being demolished

Stories

3 above grade, 4 total stories

Primary Project Team

Owner - The Pennsylvania Academy of Music
General Contractor - Benchmark
Architect of Record - Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects
Associate Architect - Hickey Architects (Lancaster, PA)
Landscape and Site Architect - Derck & Edson Associates
Structural Engineer - Robert Silman Associates
MEP Engineer - Cosentini Associates
Acoustical Consultant - Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D. (New York, NY)
Lighting Consultant - Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design
Noise Control & AV Consultant - Hoover & Keith

Construction Dates

April 14, 2006 to First Quarter 2008

Delivery Method

Design-Bid-Build

Architectural
Features

Architectural Features include demolition of existing building on site but retaining some parking, rerouting some parking, rerouting an adjacent road and its utility lines, and building a new strcutre that includes a 364 seat recital hall, smaller performance spaces, classrooms, practice rooms, library, and offices. The building is a contemporary light stone structure with a three-story curving glass atrium. The building on the south side overhangs the sidewalk and has square two-story columns creating an outdoor space on the sidewalk.

Major Model Codes

BOCA 1996, ADA, NFPA, ASHRAE 90.1, NEC

Zoning

Commercial. No major zoning issues to work around.

Historical Aspects

Not applicable to this project

Building Envelope

Roof includes a lead-coated copper fascia on the parapet, a vinyl tile outdoor patio area, and impervious membrane roofing material. The walls are stone veneer over steel columns. The atrium has a 47' curving glass window with aluminum frame.

Part 2

Construction

The Design-Bid-Build contract was awarded to Benchmark Construction and construction began on April 14, 2006. Construction is expected to last until the first quarter of 2008.

Electrical

There is 12.47 KV electrical service to the building. A 30 KVA UPS system in conjunction with a 250 KW emergency generator are used to keep the communications, safety, and lighting systems online. Both 480Y/277V and 208Y/120V electrical distribution systems are used within the building.

Lighting

The lighting system consists of both direct and indirect 120V light fixtures. The system primarily uses incandescent lamps, though there are some fluorescent, compact fluorescent, and HID sources used. The recital hall space is controlled by a DMX512 control system designed for theatrical performance.

Mechanical

The mechanical system utilizes twelve air conditioners and eight air handling units. The HVAC system utilizes a variable air volume system to distribute the air throughout the building. The boiler and heating systems are gas-fired.

Structural

The foundation system of the building consists of 8" slab on grade supported by 3' piers and 5' caissons. The columns of the building are all steel and are either W8 or W10. The composite decking system used throughout the building is a 2" steel deck with a 3.5" concrete slab on top. Lateral loads in the building are taken by shear walls that surround the recital hall at the heart of the building.

Transportation

A single, freight-sized elevator is located just off of the lobby. The large size elevator is primarily needed to transport pianos and other large pieces of equipment throughout the building.

Telecommunication

The telecommunications systems in the buidling include CATV, standard PBX voice system, fiber optic data interconnections, and an integrated security and video surveilance system. Additionally, there are audio and video recording and broadcasting capabilities within the building.

Acoustical

The recital hall has triangular plaster triangular planes along the walls and ceiling that scatter and distribute sound produced on stage. The walls behind the stage as well as the ceiling above the stage are hard wood panels that project sound toward the audience. The recital hall is surrounded by massive shear walls for increased attenuation and sound isolation. Additional sound traps and attenuation systems are located in the mechanical system.