The Salisbury University Perdue School of Business determined there was a need to create an outstanding Center for Entrepreneurship in the heart of historic Salisbury, at the University’s downtown campus. The project objective was a Design/Build 5,853 GSF renovation for the Center, within a historic masonry building. The program required spaces for academic, collaborative, display, and maker-space functions. In addition, a new 3-stop elevator and shaft were to be constructed in the center of the building. Simultaneously, a 5,000 GSF public gallery/corridor adjacent to the space was to receive a complete renovation with new finishes and custom light fixtures. Harper & Sons, Inc was selected for this amazing project through an extensive 2-step Technical and Price Proposal process, demonstrating the firm’s experience with previous Design/Build projects.
The design objective of the center was to create a unique space, filled with access to technology, encouraging collaboration and attracting outside investors, while honoring the simplistic “start-up” environment. The original space was three (3) separate, 4-story masonry “row” buildings, historically used for merchants and offices. The floor level of each building, owing to the sloped topography, was several feet higher than the other. The building had an existing elevator to service 2 levels. The building also had an interior, public corridor with multiple tenants connecting the streets on both sides of the building. The design team embraced the stepped buildings, and integrated a long, ramped “tunnel” with large openings, to conduct the flow of occupants through the space.
Harper & Sons and the design team held extensive in-person and remote design meetings with staff from Salisbury University, and the funding provider, University of Maryland. The entire team traveled and visited multiple entrepreneurship/collaborative work centers in the Washington DC area for inspiration and note key design elements. Unique design documents were developed and adjusted to meet the University’s program, including highly innovative sliding, overhead, and frameless doors which invite occupants to network and interact to encourage entrepreneurship. The overhead doors, while full-glass, include a swinging walk-through door, to help visibility from passer-by, and still allow for the “start-up in a garage” feel.
Design and construction challenges included pre-demolition investigation, and building a free-standing elevator shaft through the center of the historic building. This included adjusting the foundation location several times during design, to accommodate obstructions on upper floors. When constructing the elevator, the roof cap had to be opened, and crane hoisted the elevator jack over the building, and lowered it through the building, before reinstalling the cap.
During the design, it was determined that the existing buildings had undersized first floor framing members, deteriorating masonry foundation walls in the basement, and water infiltration from the adjacent alleyway. There additional structural and waterproofing designs and repairs were included into the project, and added to the value of the completed project.
As if these challenged were not enough, within a month of commencing construction, the COVID-19 pandemic took place, in which University-mandated pandemic protocols were in effect. While observing these, not one construction day was lost to the shut-downs. However, all future progress meetings were held remotely, and were orchestrated by Harper & Sons, Inc and the design team.
The project has been utilized extensively by the School of Business, local entrepreneurs, and private investors, and will likely be a hub of activity for the University and the region for many years to come.
Services: Design-Build Renovation
Quick Notes
- Location: Salisbury, MD
- Joint Client: Salisbury University/University of Maryland
- Renovations SF: 10,853
- Design: George Miles & Buhr
