The Christman Co.

Architect:

David W. Osler Associates Inc., Architects, Rafael Moneo

Client:

Cranbrook Educational Community

Scope Of Work

The addition to the Cranbrook Academy of Art is the first new studio building on this landmark art campus in more than 60 years. It provides new space for students working with fiber, metal and clay arts. In addition, the renovations to the Academy’s first studio - originally built in 1928 - have returned the building to its Arts and Crafts roots, including the original drafting studio of visionary Finnish  Eliel Saarinen. Between 1926 and 1943, Saarinen designed the Cranbrook Educational Community, including the art academy, Cranbrook and Kingswood schools, the Art Museum and Science Institute. This complex of buildings on 315 beautifully landscaped acres is generally regarded as one of the world’s architectural wonders.

The new building was designed by internationally known Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, whose unique designs incorporate assembly details not common to the construction industry.

The location of the new building (situated on the side of a hill and attached to the existing Cranbrook Art Museum) required extensive pre-construction planning by Christman for site access and construction phasing. Other pre-construction services included multiple estimates, value analysis and scope reduction sessions to balance the challenging design solution to the available budgeted funds.

Forgotten buried retaining walls and tennis courts challenged the foundation work and construction from very early in the project. The addition of a retaining wall after the building was  created scheduling challenges for completing site work and utilities before the start of the school year, but was successfully managed by Christman.