Warfel is excited to begin construction of Swarthmore College’s new Dining and Community Commons project. A multi-phased expansion and renovation undertaking, this Living Building Challenge project consists of new construction of a 35,000 sf dining hall, as well as the renovation of a 33,000 sf existing dining facility into a student commons building. In June 2020, the project entered the initial construction phase, consisting of demolition, underground utility, and infrastructure work. The sustainably-designed addition is anticipated to conclude in Spring 2022.
The project supports Swarthmore’s environmentally conscious design and construction goals. It incorporates high-performance systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and radiant flooring. Environmentally-responsible materials selections for the building and its interior includes natural, recycled, and recyclable materials. A construction waste management program makes the most of the diversion of construction materials from the waste materials from this project.
Specific elements to meet the client’s energy efficiency goals include:
- Designed to achieve Petal Certification under the Living Building Challenge; an aspirational, performance-based sustainability certification program.
- Hybrid Steel and Mass Timber structure, which pays homage to the existing Sharples Hall structure while advancing goals for carbon footprint reduction.
- Building-mounted photovoltaic (solar) arrays which will support the larger project imperative to offset all energy use with renewable energy sources.
- Fully electric, high efficiency kitchen utilizing advanced demand control ventilation to drive down the carbon footprint.
- Mechanical systems which utilize DOAS units, radiant ceilings and floors, and operable windows to achieve a highly efficient, comfortable and flexible conditioning system.
- Infrastructure for a Central Geothermal Plant and distribution piping that will eventually serve the entire campus.
During the summer of 2022, a transition phase will allow the college to learn and adapt to new operations prior to the final renovation phase. This final renovation will begin in Fall 2022, with planned completion of late summer 2023.
The design team is led by DLR Group, Langan Civil Engineering, ML Baird & Co., PC, Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architect Inc., Rayford Law, David N. Fixler Architecture Planning Preservation, O’Donnel & Naccarato Structural Engineers, Ricca Design Studios, and International Consultants, Inc.
