 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS
ARTICLES :: COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
ABVI-Goodwill Call Center
Rochester, New York - ABVI-Goodwill wanted to consolidate existing call centers into one main facility, while also accommodating future growth. To that end, it rehabilitated the western two-story portion of an existing office/warehouse structure to meet its needs. The project also included a 1,800-square-foot addition on the north side, consisting of an entrance lobby, an elevator, a stair, offices and a conference room.
In order to establish an open floor plan for the workstations, the original building underwent significant structural modifications, including new partitions, finishes, ceilings, walls, doors and windows. The roof over the two-story portion was replaced, adding appropriate insulation and roofing membrane, while the addition was coordinated with extensive exterior renovations to create a new and greatly improved exterior facade for the building. The site also features substantial landscaping and a sidewalk that creates a safe and pleasant pedestrian pathway from the call center to the next phase of expansion planned for the southern end of the building.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Building of America Network Team Members
“Sustainability remained a central focus throughout the development of the project,” said Steve Rebholz, principal for SWBR Architects, the project’s architect. “ABVI-Goodwill has made a strong commitment to the sustainability of our environment.” The project utilized the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) NC Version 2.2 system for sustainability and will achieve LEED certification. Innovative features used on the project include water-efficient landscaping, 20 percent water use reduction, light pollution reduction, photovoltaic panels (on-site renewable energy), natural light, use of regional and recycled materials, low volatile organic compound (VOC)-emitting materials, and a roof design that reduced the heat island effect. Furthermore, 90 percent of the existing walls were maintained and reused, and more than 75 percent of the construction waste was recycled.
According to Lynn Sullivan, CFO and executive vice president of administration for ABVI-Goodwill, one of the unique features of the new facility is that it was built to facilitate accessibility for individuals that are blind or visually impaired. Interior finishes and lighting were selected to be “low-vision friendly,” lighting is indirect to reduce glare, and finishes provide visual contrast to support wayfinding. Another unique aspect is the supervisor hub, which was designed to allow the supervisors to have full view of call center employees at all times, resulting in easy interaction between both groups.
The dilapidated condition of the existing building presented challenges on the project, according to John C. Pilato III, Esq., vice president of J.C. Pilato Inc., General Contractors, the project’s general contractor. The original building, constructed in the early 1900s, had endured numerous additions and renovations that blended various construction methods and materials. “Some of these methods and materials were appropriate in the given situation; others could have been better,” said Pilato. The challenges were overcome by working with the architect to remove unsound structural elements and incorporate new green building products that would integrate with the old.
Other challenges on the project included unlevel flooring and integration between buildings; upgrading individual HVAC units into high efficiency units; and working with low ceilings, which meant the ductwork had to be installed in the ceiling space and on the roof of the facility. “The owner, design and construction team worked together to find solutions to all challenges encountered along the way,” said Rebholz.
In addition to consolidating the call centers into one facility, the new ABVI-Goodwill Call Center provides employment opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, eliminates vacant buildings and land, creates landscape beautification, provides much-needed community services, and provides an overall improvement to the neighborhood.
— Stacey Nathanson
Click to view larger image |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
