The season of giving is upon us.
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, a time when we embrace the spirit of appreciation, sharing our gratitude, and giving back to our community and educational institutions.
Giving to an alma mater can take many forms, and most colleges and universities offer various ways to contribute, including annual fund donations, endowments, capital campaigns, and matching gifts. But giving back is not always financial. Alumni can also serve on advisory boards, participate in alumni networks, volunteer to mentor students, and offer internships.
“As a proud alumnus of Central Connecticut State University, I believe in giving back monetarily and by actively supporting students through workshops, job fairs, and internships. But the most rewarding part is using my educational foundation to give back to an institution that means so much to me,” said James LaRosa, CEO of LaRosa Groups.
When Central Connecticut State University (Central) needed renovations and a new space for the physics department, LaRosa Groups answered the call. CCSU is the largest university in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Founded in 1849, it is also the state's oldest publicly funded university and the alma mater of three current LaRosa team members.
Discover how LaRosa Groups is redefining industry standards to meet the growing demands of this university through the renovation and expansion of the Elihu Burritt Library.
CCSU Elihu Burritt Library: A Historic and Modernized Center of Learning
Elihu Burritt (1810-1879), for whom the library at Central Connecticut State University is named, was a self-educated scholar, linguist, philanthropist, social activist, diplomat, and early advocate for world peace. He was so eager for knowledge and regularly walked 45 miles to and from the American Antiquarian Society's library in Worcester to borrow books, which were quite precious at the time. Burritt eventually authored 27 books and articles.
The CCSU Elihu Burritt Library opened in 1972 and was designated a Literary Landmark in 2012. The American Library Association sponsors this designation, which encourages communities to maintain special locations linked to a deceased literary figure or author or his/her work.
But there was no air conditioning in the library stacks, and the physics department required additional space for classrooms, labs, and faculty offices. LaRosa Building Group was chosen in a bidding process to oversee the renovation of the library stacks and the construction of a new 15,000-square-foot three-story building adjacent to the library to house the physics classrooms and offices. The $18 million project launched in the summer of 2023, completed in the Fall of 2024, and celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 15, 2024.
Overcoming Challenges to Complete a Vision
A construction project is never without challenges, and this one was no exception. Here are some of the challenges faced by the LaRosa team during the construction process:
Asbestos Abatement: Unexpected challenges are standard in renovation projects. The team found Asbestos in the library stacks, leading to unexpected delays as additional change orders and approvals were needed.
Delivery delays: Delays in receiving the rooftop AC unit impacted the project timeline significantly. “We could not complete the project without a conditioned space,” explained Rome Santilli, Senior Project Manager at LaRosa Groups and fellow CCSU Alumnus.
Weather Worries: The weather wreaked havoc on the construction schedule. Frigid winter temperatures just compounded the delays the team experienced during a very rainy fall. Erecting a mass timber building in the winter added an additional layer of complication.
“The project involved underground steam and chilled water heating and cooling systems tied to the campus power plant. We would prepare the trenches for piping and then experience a torrential rainstorm. The trenches would fill with water, the pipes would float, and we would need to redo all the prep work,” explained Project Superintendent Mark Barlow.
Fortunately, a warm February allowed the roof installation to proceed quickly. “There was a week of warm weather which allowed us to install the roof in record time,” added Santilli.
Site Logistics: The project involved an occupied renovation and new construction. The combination necessitated working on an active campus adjacent to a functioning library, so noise, pedestrian traffic, parking, and material staging were major challenges. Thankfully, constant communication, proper planning, safety protocols, staging areas set up remotely, and collaboration with the CCSU staff were extremely effective in ensuring the project's success.
“Minimizing the noise was probably the biggest challenge. The new construction consisted of piles hammered about 50 feet into the ground. We shut down at certain times for classes and testing to help accommodate the operations of the university,” explained Barlow.
New Technology: The LaRosa team utilized BIM (Building Information Modeling), a 3-D coordination software for MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) coordination, streamlining installation and ensuring everything was compatible to work and fit in the ceilings of the new buildings.
CCSU Elihu Burritt Library: A Favorite Project of the LaRosa Team
Despite the challenges, this project was a favorite of Rome Santilli, whose wife works on campus and proudly shares her husband's role in the project, which is now the focal point of the campus.
“Besides being an alumnus, I am fascinated with the new timber-style construction we used. And our excellent relationship with the Department of Administrative Services added an indisputable layer of work satisfaction. The confluence of these three factors makes the library one of my professional highlights,” he explained.
The library was also a favorite of Mark Barlow. However, his choice was based on the innovative approach to construction by integrating new technology into the library addition.
“For this project, we used mass timber construction consisting of solid wood columns, beams, and floors instead of steel and concrete or the traditional stick frames. That is a relatively new technology for this region. In addition, the AV system we installed incorporated state-of-the-art technology such as book theft protection, shooter detection systems, security locking devices, and cameras tied to the building management system,” he added.
Project Superintendent Mark Barlow was singled out as a project favorite at the ribbon cutting by the Chief Architect with the State of Connecticut, David Barkin, who stated, “I can't stress enough how important it is to have an effective superintendent on the job. If you have a good super, nothing is going to happen. It's all about coordination.”
The LaRosa Building Group team is an expert at occupied renovation and new construction on college campuses and other public project sites.
“You can count on the strength of our expertise and the talents of our team to give you excellent construction project results,” added LaRosa.
Let us help you with your next project. Schedule your free consultation today.
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