Archmere Academy – St. Norbert Hall Renovations

Before the renovation, one of the challenges that faced the educators at Archmere was the lack of control of the temperature in each individual classroom. Installation of the VRF system used to replace the original unit ventilator system allows for each classroom to control their own temperature. This VRF system was combined with energy efficient outdoor air units to greatly reduce the energy required for cooling and heating from the existing conditions. LED lights were utilized throughout to replace the original fluorescent tube fixtures. These more energy efficient fixtures were combined with occupancy sensors to reduce the energy required for building lighting. Motion sensors were also installed in each room to further cut down on lighting costs.

The addition and renovation to St. Norbert Hall required outstanding and precise timed teamwork. The project was constructed in four phases, and had to be carefully planned around student schedules and space needs. Education is paramount at Archmere, and the construction schedule had to cause as little disruption to learning as possible. With all the work being done in varying phases, there was a significant amount of coordination required to keep the students safe on an active job site. A detailed temporary barrier plan was developed and reviewed with subcontractors to ensure that the separation of students from construction was maintained. This plan had to be constantly managed and adjusted as the phases progressed to maintain a safe job site.