Last Days of CA at Tufts University

As Tufts University Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) nearing completion, the last days of CA are a thrilling yet delicate time where every single detail matters.

Coming from Spain, I was excited to experience my first CA phase of a project in the United States. It is really interesting because you are seeing how the building is getting dressed with all the finishes and equipment. On the other hand, it can also be an intense moment where you have to make sure everything is executed properly, as it was designed.

The Science and Engineering Complex is integrated between two existing buildings and the landscape. The reflection of the sky and vegetation in the curtainwall makes the building dynamic and aesthetically pleasing.

The combination of ceiling types in the SEC building make the spaces unique where users can experience different environments. Below is an example of a metal ceiling and wood slat ceiling with light fixtures integrated.

The open laboratory spaces are ready to be fit out with furnishings. The glass partition enables daylight to penetrate deep into the space and enables the laboratory users to enjoy the amazing views. 

Between the lab suites on all the levels, a shared living room looks onto the atrium providing natural light and helps orient occupants within the building.

Robinson Stair, the only area in the building where you see curves, is a great example of intervention between old and new of this renovation project. The geometry of the curves makes the stair clean and elegant, while the existing brick in specific zones reminds you of the historical context.

The view from the conference room provides an interesting relationship between the spaces of the building and the glazing allows you to experience the atrium as a large painting.

The Atrium is the heart of the intervention which mitigates between old and new. It will be, without a doubt, the most enjoyable space in the complex. We are excited to see the large space with unusual scale filled with people experiencing new the area while have a coffee meeting colleagues and friends or just contemplating a work of art.