KBE Building Corp. Awarded $79M Project at University of Connecticut

STORRS, Conn. — The University of Connecticut has chosen KBE Building Corp. to design and build a new $79-million, multi-story residence and science, technology, engineering and math building at its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut.

KBE will serve as design-builder and constructor for the 210,000-square-foot building, which will contain a STEM educational component and 727 student beds, including 23 that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new building will be located west of Sherman Field and adjacent to the existing Hale and Ellsworth dormitories.

The project is the first project awarded under the University’s Next Gen building program, and it is pursuing LEED Silver certification. Field construction will commence in November, with completion slated for summer 2016.

“KBE has 19 design-build projects completed or currently underway — it’s an excellent delivery method that provides benefits to everyone on the team — the owner, the design team and the constructor,” said KBE principal owner and CEO Mike Kolakowski. “We were recently chosen as design-builder for the new Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse project in Torrington, Connecticut, a landmark project that has been four decades in the making. Now we”re looking forward to working with our outstanding team of designers and consultants for our latest project at UConn.”

The design team for the new STEM residence hall will be led by JSA, who previously teamed with KBE on the Kellogg House residence hall design-build project at the University of Virginia. JSA will be supported by structural engineer DiBlasi Associates; civil engineer BL Companies and mechanical, engineering and plumbing work will be performed by WSP. Newman Architects, PC with BVH Integrated Services were selected by the University of Connecticut as the design architect and engineer during the bridging documents phase and will serve as the university’s design consultant during the completion of design and the construction phase.

KBE has completed six university residence halls as design-builder and constructor, providing nearly 2,000 beds for students at Western Connecticut State University, Wesleyan University, the University of Maryland, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the University of Virginia and the University of Connecticut. KBE has completed eight projects at the University of Connecticut, including:

• Design-builder and constructor for the 138,000-square-foot, 450-bed Garrigus Suites Residence Hall
• General contractor for the LEED Gold-certified, 20,000-square-foot renovation and addition to McMahon Dining Hall
• Construction manager at risk for the 130,830-square-foot addition and 99,870-square-foot renovation to the university’s Student Union

The STEM residence hall is part of Gov. Dannel Malloy’s Next Generation Connecticut initiative, designed to greatly expand educational opportunities, research and innovation in the STEM disciplines at the school during the next decade, with the overall goal of creating an infrastructure that supports Connecticut’s most important industries, including high-tech manufacturing.

One of the most ambitious state investments in economic development, higher education and research in the nation, NGC will transform the university into a top public research institution that fuels Connecticut’s economy through new technologies, highly skilled graduates and the creation of high-wage jobs.

“By building the very first component of the NextGen initiative at UConn, we”re helping reinforce that Connecticut remains in the vanguard of many technologies, especially precision manufacturing,” said Kolakowski. “That goes hand-in-hand with our 2014 philanthropic focus on informing and engaging the public with the state’s rich history — and its continued success — with technical education and careers.”

Renderings courtesy of Newman Architects.