Harper was selected as the CM At-Risk to renovate the 13,543 SF, 100-year-old Cudd Hall dormitory on the Converse University campus. The renovation of Cudd Hall serves Converse University by creating a safer, more accessible, and enjoyable living environment for students. The restored dormitory is now home to many students of the University’s Nisbet Honors Program, an invitation-only program.
The scope included structural repairs and modifications to the existing wood frame, a new elevator, and all new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems. The renovations also included a new custom staircase with common spaces, a coffee bar, a student lounge, and study rooms. The exterior renovations included restoring the front porch, back terrace, and the original masonry point-up.
Harper had a unique approach to designing and utilizing contract drawings for this project. Due to the old age of the building, most of the dimensions in the existing drawings were not accurate anymore. Harper maintained open communication with the architect and consultants to host multiple site walk-throughs to discuss design gaps and worked as a team to design-build new drawings. Our attention to detail provided quality control and assurance, ensuring that each piece of equipment was installed correctly and did not cause any issues with its surrounding equipment. To support the mechanical system performance since the exterior of the building was not completely sealed, Harper installed mineral wool insulation into the exterior cavity and crawlspace.
Award:
“The way Harper has been able to restore the unique design details that speak to Cudd’s long standing history and the quality of the work to ensure that it still stands proud many years from now is a testament to the true craft and care that your team pours into every project, big and small alike.”
