Project File: Minimizing down time

From the start of this two-year, $14 million systems and structural renovation of Nicolaus Copernicus Hall at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), the architect focused on minimizing its presence while maximizing the ongoing use of the 181,000-square-foot building.

The building is one of CCSU's most active, housing the School of Technology. It includes classrooms, faculty offices, a mentoring center and labs for technology education.

The renovations strengthen the overall steel structure and add new systems for air conditioning, HVAC, electrical distribution, telecommunications, interior lighting, emergency lighting and security.

To keep this building open during renovations, the architect is working floor by floor, carefully coordinating its work schedule with CCSU. Room assignments are updated and regularly posted so students and faculty are kept informed of the periodic room changes. The project is scheduled for completion in January 2004.

The architect for this project is Mitchell Architectural Group (Newtown, Conn.).