The Christman Co.

Owner:

Central Michigan University

Architect:

Neumann/Smith Architecture

Scope Of Work

This project involved the construction of two new student housing buildings for CMU's graduate school. Hoping to emulate apartment living to attract the students who might otherwise choose to live off-campus, each unit includes private bathrooms, kitchens and laundry facilities-with a mix of one, two and four-bedroom units throughout the two structures, with 164 beds total between the two buildings. Christman became involved with the project with estimating and document review when DD was 90% complete and provided full construction management services, including procurement and project management, throughout the remainder of the project.

Neumann-Smith designed the structures to emulate the Gothic architecture present on campus and also worked with Christman to ensure LEED sustainable features incorporated into the design were properly integrated. Each building was designed to be three-story, brick and limestone clad, with shingled roofs; site work included an expansion on the existing parking lot and the construction of a bio-swale. The interior of the housing structures includes high-end finishes such as maple cabinets, granite countertops, tile floors, and a main staircase with stainless steel handrails.

Located on an urban site in the flow of an active college campus, the challenge was working amidst heavy traffic and limited space. Christman began the construction management process by working with Neumann-Smith to develop bidding documents and to administer the bid process, creating a strong dynamic and a cooperative, team atmosphere. Christman worked with the designer, CMU, and other team members to proactively meet each challenge and complete the project on time and on budget.