Code Red Consultants
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Experience: Service: Fire Protection & Life Safety Code Consulting

MBTA Wollaston Station Improvements

The MBTA Wollaston Station Improvement project involves a full station modernization with major accessibility improvements, state-of-the-art safety features, and enhancements to the adjacent site/parking lot. The renovation project, part of the $911 million investment committed to improve the South Side Red Line, is the first major upgrade since the Wollaston Station opened in 1971. Currently, the station is the only non-ADA accessible station on the Red Line. The goal of the project is to fully modernize the facility with accessibility and code upgrades to bring the building into compliance and make the Red Line 100 percent accessible.

Features to the station include three new elevators, two new escalators, two additional stairways, new bathrooms, energy efficient lighting, and additional customer paths to/from the station. New electrical, fire protection, security, flooding mitigation, and site utility upgrades will also occur to support the accessibility improvements.

Code Red Consultants was engaged early in the design process to evaluate the compliance of the existing station in accordance with Massachusetts State Building Code, NFPA 130, and Architectural Access Board Regulations. The means of egress from the station was evaluated in accordance with NFPA 130 and was found to provide an insufficient number of exits and egress width from the platform. The accessibility of the station was also largely non-compliant.

One of the most significant challenges was addressing this single exit from the platform, which is centrally located between two tracks with substantial site constraints as it is elevated above grade. Code Red Consultants collaborated with the architect Kleinfelder to provide an egress path that goes up and over the tracks as a second compliant egress. Our firm’s evaluation helped dictate and shape the additional stairs and egress paths, as well as accessible routes to the platform, required to bring the facility into compliance.

Location

Quincy, Mass.

Size

N/A

Cost

$33 million

Completion

2020

Photography Credit

Wikipedia Creative Commons

MBTA Wollaston Station Improvements

The MBTA Wollaston Station Improvement project involves a full station modernization with major accessibility improvements, state-of-the-art safety features, and enhancements to the adjacent site/parking lot. The renovation project, part of the $911 million investment committed to improve the South Side Red Line, is the first major upgrade since the Wollaston Station opened in 1971. Currently, the station is the only non-ADA accessible station on the Red Line. The goal of the project is to fully modernize the facility with accessibility and code upgrades to bring the building into compliance and make the Red Line 100 percent accessible.

Features to the station include three new elevators, two new escalators, two additional stairways, new bathrooms, energy efficient lighting, and additional customer paths to/from the station. New electrical, fire protection, security, flooding mitigation, and site utility upgrades will also occur to support the accessibility improvements.

Code Red Consultants was engaged early in the design process to evaluate the compliance of the existing station in accordance with Massachusetts State Building Code, NFPA 130, and Architectural Access Board Regulations. The means of egress from the station was evaluated in accordance with NFPA 130 and was found to provide an insufficient number of exits and egress width from the platform. The accessibility of the station was also largely non-compliant.

One of the most significant challenges was addressing this single exit from the platform, which is centrally located between two tracks with substantial site constraints as it is elevated above grade. Code Red Consultants collaborated with the architect Kleinfelder to provide an egress path that goes up and over the tracks as a second compliant egress. Our firm’s evaluation helped dictate and shape the additional stairs and egress paths, as well as accessible routes to the platform, required to bring the facility into compliance.

MathWorks Lakeside Campus

MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists, significantly increased its office space with the opening of its new Lakeside Campus, the company’s second campus in Natick, Mass. The new campus features 513,000 SF of office space on 31 acres, with amenities including a café, dry cleaning, barber shop, a fitness and wellness center, and a one-mile walking path. The four-story office building will house 1,000 MathWorks employees, with some moving from the company’s nearby Apple Hill corporate headquarters campus.

Code Red Consultants provided building, fire, and accessibility code consulting to the project team, and was responsible for developing and presenting the building’s code compliance approach to the Natick Building and Fire Departments. Due to the size of the building and anticipated number of employees in the facility, Code Red Consultants worked with the fire department to address concerns regarding the impact of a full building evacuation on responding fire departments. Through the use of Code Red Consultants’ life safety/egress drawings, the design team, led by architecture firm Gensler, was able to work with the building and fire departments to implement a partial evacuation strategy that ensured both the safety of building occupants and improved the site conditions for the responding fire departments in the event of a fire emergency.

Location

Natick, Mass.

Size

513,000 SF

Cost

$250 million

Completion

2018

MathWorks Lakeside Campus

MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists, significantly increased its office space with the opening of its new Lakeside Campus, the company’s second campus in Natick, Mass. The new campus features 513,000 SF of office space on 31 acres, with amenities including a café, dry cleaning, barber shop, a fitness and wellness center, and a one-mile walking path. The four-story office building will house 1,000 MathWorks employees, with some moving from the company’s nearby Apple Hill corporate headquarters campus.

Code Red Consultants provided building, fire, and accessibility code consulting to the project team, and was responsible for developing and presenting the building’s code compliance approach to the Natick Building and Fire Departments. Due to the size of the building and anticipated number of employees in the facility, Code Red Consultants worked with the fire department to address concerns regarding the impact of a full building evacuation on responding fire departments. Through the use of Code Red Consultants’ life safety/egress drawings, the design team, led by architecture firm Gensler, was able to work with the building and fire departments to implement a partial evacuation strategy that ensured both the safety of building occupants and improved the site conditions for the responding fire departments in the event of a fire emergency.

Logan International Airport Terminal E Enhancement

Designed by AECOM and constructed by Suffolk Construction, the Logan International Airport Terminal E Enhancement project offers a new experience for international passengers in Boston. The project included 100,000 SF of new construction and more than 200,000 SF of renovations to the terminal area, including the revitalization and enhancement of nine existing gates to add additional passenger seating and the construction of a new wing known as “The Crescent” to accommodate larger aircrafts like the behemoth Airbus A380. All of the interior work was built while maintaining airline operations. Code Red Consultants worked closely with AECOM and Suffolk Construction to ensure that passenger safety was maintained at all times by developing comprehensive life safety plans throughout all phases of construction. These plans were reviewed hand-in-hand with Massport Capital Programs, the Office of Public Safety and Inspections, and Massport Fire Rescue to ensure all stakeholders were on the same page prior to construction commencing.

Location

Boston, Mass.

Size

100,000 SF new construction, 200,000 SF renovation

Cost

$175 million

Completion

2017

Photography Credit

AECOM

Logan International Airport Terminal E Enhancement

Designed by AECOM and constructed by Suffolk Construction, the Logan International Airport Terminal E Enhancement project offers a new experience for international passengers in Boston. The project included 100,000 SF of new construction and more than 200,000 SF of renovations to the terminal area, including the revitalization and enhancement of nine existing gates to add additional passenger seating and the construction of a new wing known as “The Crescent” to accommodate larger aircrafts like the behemoth Airbus A380. All of the interior work was built while maintaining airline operations. Code Red Consultants worked closely with AECOM and Suffolk Construction to ensure that passenger safety was maintained at all times by developing comprehensive life safety plans throughout all phases of construction. These plans were reviewed hand-in-hand with Massport Capital Programs, the Office of Public Safety and Inspections, and Massport Fire Rescue to ensure all stakeholders were on the same page prior to construction commencing.

Haverford College Magill Library Renovation/New Lutnick Library

Haverford College is working with Perry Dean Rogers Partners Architects on the renovation and expansion of Magill Library to create a center for campus life with a 21st century teaching, research, and academic focus. The library is an intricately complex and varied structure constructed over four eras (1864-1898, 1912, 1941, and 1967) and listed on the historic registry of the Haverford Township Historical Commission. The historic parts of Magill Library will be preserved while a major portion of the existing building will be demolished and replaced with a new addition. The Magill Library closed at the end of the fall 2017 semester and will reopen as the Lutnick Library when construction is complete.

Code Red Consultants developed a comprehensive code report, prepared life safety plans, and coordinated with the design team and Authorities Having Jurisdiction on all code compliance facets of the project. The firm discovered that the older portions of the library building were significantly deficient as related to code compliance. Code Red Consultants evaluated the existing building and helped the design team develop approaches to bring the facility into compliance with current codes. The design required structural adjustments to the remaining parts of the building to re-orient the library and accommodate the building program.

The new library will feature technologically robust spaces, active teaching and learning spaces, a Digital Scholarship Commons, a significantly enhanced Quaker & Special Collections area, collaborative group study rooms, and a café.

Location

Haverford, Penn.

Size

30,570 GSF Renovation, 32,380 GSF Demolition + Addition

Cost

$33 million

Completion

2019 (proposed)

Rendering Credit

Perry Dean Rogers Partners Architects

Haverford College Magill Library Renovation/New Lutnick Library

Haverford College is working with Perry Dean Rogers Partners Architects on the renovation and expansion of Magill Library to create a center for campus life with a 21st century teaching, research, and academic focus. The library is an intricately complex and varied structure constructed over four eras (1864-1898, 1912, 1941, and 1967) and listed on the historic registry of the Haverford Township Historical Commission. The historic parts of Magill Library will be preserved while a major portion of the existing building will be demolished and replaced with a new addition. The Magill Library closed at the end of the fall 2017 semester and will reopen as the Lutnick Library when construction is complete.

Code Red Consultants developed a comprehensive code report, prepared life safety plans, and coordinated with the design team and Authorities Having Jurisdiction on all code compliance facets of the project. The firm discovered that the older portions of the library building were significantly deficient as related to code compliance. Code Red Consultants evaluated the existing building and helped the design team develop approaches to bring the facility into compliance with current codes. The design required structural adjustments to the remaining parts of the building to re-orient the library and accommodate the building program.

The new library will feature technologically robust spaces, active teaching and learning spaces, a Digital Scholarship Commons, a significantly enhanced Quaker & Special Collections area, collaborative group study rooms, and a café.

Gillette World Shaving Headquarters

Gillette’s South Boston Manufacturing Center contains 26 interconnected buildings totaling 1.65 million SF located on the historic Fort Point Channel in Boston Harbor. The 40-acre multi-use campus is the headquarters for P&G’s Global Grooming Business, which includes Gillette, Venus, Braun and The Art of Shaving, including four of P&G’s billion dollar brands – Fusion, MACH3, Prestobarba/Blue and Gillette.

Code Red Consultants was retained by Gillette to provide code consulting services to develop a fire protection masterplan that addresses overall fire protection and life safety goals for the facility. The firm developed a Master 241 Program for the entire campus to address requirements pertaining to construction projects in the buildings. Other work included reviewing inspection, testing, and maintenance documentation from vendors associated with various fire protection and life safety systems to ensure compliance with Massachusetts State Building Code, NFPA, and P&G codes and standards.

Code Red Consultants worked with Gillette’s fire protection leaders to help ensure all testing forms, frequencies, and procedures are in compliance with the applicable codes. The firm’s consultants routinely provide training for Gillette’s staff on timely fire protection topics such as construction fire safety, fire protection permitting, hot work, and more.

Location

Boston, Mass.

Size

26 buildings, 1.65 million SF

Cost

N/A

Completion

Ongoing

Photography Credit

Code Red Consultants

Gillette World Shaving Headquarters

Gillette’s South Boston Manufacturing Center contains 26 interconnected buildings totaling 1.65 million SF located on the historic Fort Point Channel in Boston Harbor. The 40-acre multi-use campus is the headquarters for P&G’s Global Grooming Business, which includes Gillette, Venus, Braun and The Art of Shaving, including four of P&G’s billion dollar brands – Fusion, MACH3, Prestobarba/Blue and Gillette.

Code Red Consultants was retained by Gillette to provide code consulting services to develop a fire protection masterplan that addresses overall fire protection and life safety goals for the facility. The firm developed a Master 241 Program for the entire campus to address requirements pertaining to construction projects in the buildings. Other work included reviewing inspection, testing, and maintenance documentation from vendors associated with various fire protection and life safety systems to ensure compliance with Massachusetts State Building Code, NFPA, and P&G codes and standards.

Code Red Consultants worked with Gillette’s fire protection leaders to help ensure all testing forms, frequencies, and procedures are in compliance with the applicable codes. The firm’s consultants routinely provide training for Gillette’s staff on timely fire protection topics such as construction fire safety, fire protection permitting, hot work, and more.

College of the Holy Cross, Center for the Arts and Creativity

Designed as a new gateway to the College of the Holy Cross campus, the new Center for the Arts and Creativity will provide dedicated spaces for the fine and performing arts as well as spaces and technology to support creative interactions between the arts and other disciplines. Currently under construction, the four-story facility features a 400-seat proscenium-style concert hall and theater, a 200-seat flexible experimental theater space, theatrical support spaces, multimedia teaching rooms, a café, an art gallery, and several outdoor amenities.

Code Red Consultants’ services included development of a comprehensive code report, preparation of life safety plans, and coordination with design team members and Authorities Having Jurisdiction on all code compliance facets of the project, including the three-story atrium at the center of the building. The firm’s consultants utilized performance-based design with fire and smoke modeling to design the atrium smoke exhaust system. The modeling allowed for a smaller exhaust system and less make-up air than would be required utilizing prescriptive calculations in the code. This approach resulted in less costly exhaust fans and a lesser impact on the architectural design of the building.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro is the design architect and Perry Dean Rogers is the executive architect for the project.

Location

Worcester, Mass.

Size

84,000 SF

Cost

$92 million

Completion

TBD

Rending Credit

Diller Scofidio + Renfro

College of the Holy Cross, Center for the Arts and Creativity

Designed as a new gateway to the College of the Holy Cross campus, the new Center for the Arts and Creativity will provide dedicated spaces for the fine and performing arts as well as spaces and technology to support creative interactions between the arts and other disciplines. Currently under construction, the four-story facility features a 400-seat proscenium-style concert hall and theater, a 200-seat flexible experimental theater space, theatrical support spaces, multimedia teaching rooms, a café, an art gallery, and several outdoor amenities.

Code Red Consultants’ services included development of a comprehensive code report, preparation of life safety plans, and coordination with design team members and Authorities Having Jurisdiction on all code compliance facets of the project, including the three-story atrium at the center of the building. The firm’s consultants utilized performance-based design with fire and smoke modeling to design the atrium smoke exhaust system. The modeling allowed for a smaller exhaust system and less make-up air than would be required utilizing prescriptive calculations in the code. This approach resulted in less costly exhaust fans and a lesser impact on the architectural design of the building.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro is the design architect and Perry Dean Rogers is the executive architect for the project.

Boston Medical Center Campus Expansion

Boston Medical Center’s campus redesign project consists of various renovation and addition projects to the Menino and Moakley Buildings as well as renovations to the Yawkey Building to accommodate services from the East Newton campus. Providing services directly to Boston Medical Center, Code Red Consultants prepared construction fire safety and NFPA 241 programs, performed smoke control special inspections, conducted firestopping and fire door inspections, and provided healthcare regulatory compliance consulting services.

Within the individual projects, Code Red Consultants also served as the code consultant to architect SmithGroup (formerly TRO) on the Menino project, which consists of a 75,000 SF addition to the existing building plus a substantial renovation to approximately 275,000 SF on the basement and five floors of the building. An IPD team project, Code Red Consultants developed a comprehensive code compliance approach for the project and created life safety drawings for the 20+ phases of construction to illustrate continuous compliance with the Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Code Red Consultants also served as the code consultant to Tsoi Kobus Design for the renovation of the Yawkey Building’s fifth floor, transforming it from an outpatient medical office space to an inpatient hospital floor. Serving in various capacities, Code Red Consultants maintained a weekly on-site presence for a five-year duration of the project.

Location

Boston, Mass.

Size

Various Campus Projects

Cost

$300 million

Completion

2019

Photography Credit

Dave Pires

Boston Medical Center Campus Expansion

Boston Medical Center’s campus redesign project consists of various renovation and addition projects to the Menino and Moakley Buildings as well as renovations to the Yawkey Building to accommodate services from the East Newton campus. Providing services directly to Boston Medical Center, Code Red Consultants prepared construction fire safety and NFPA 241 programs, performed smoke control special inspections, conducted firestopping and fire door inspections, and provided healthcare regulatory compliance consulting services.

Within the individual projects, Code Red Consultants also served as the code consultant to architect SmithGroup (formerly TRO) on the Menino project, which consists of a 75,000 SF addition to the existing building plus a substantial renovation to approximately 275,000 SF on the basement and five floors of the building. An IPD team project, Code Red Consultants developed a comprehensive code compliance approach for the project and created life safety drawings for the 20+ phases of construction to illustrate continuous compliance with the Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Code Red Consultants also served as the code consultant to Tsoi Kobus Design for the renovation of the Yawkey Building’s fifth floor, transforming it from an outpatient medical office space to an inpatient hospital floor. Serving in various capacities, Code Red Consultants maintained a weekly on-site presence for a five-year duration of the project.

The Auerbach Center at Boston Landing

Located at 40 Guest Street, The Auerbach Center at Boston Landing is the new world-class practice and training facility of the Boston Celtics. Code Red Consultants provided building and fire code consulting services for the six-story, 160,000 SF mixed-use building, which includes 5,700 SF of ground-floor retail, 190 parking spaces across one level at grade and two levels above grade, and two stories of shell space designated for offices and laboratories. The top two floors house the 70,000 SF practice facility for the Boston Celtics, featuring two NBA regulation basketball courts, a locker room, hospitality space, kitchen facilities, offices, and common areas. A 40-foot glass wall enclosing the practice courts offers prime visibility of the basketball practice facility from the adjacent Massachusetts Turnpike.

Code Red Consultants completed a performance-based analysis to remove fireproofing from steel trusses located above the Celtics practice court. The effort included creating a computational fluid dynamics analysis to evaluate severe case fire scenarios within the double height basketball court to determine the temperature and radiant heat flux to which the steel trusses would be exposed. This study was used to win approval of a state code appeal allowing the desired fireproofing to be removed.

Boston Landing is a 15-acre mixed-use development in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston that includes the new world headquarters of New Balance Athletics, Inc. and the Boston Bruins practice facility. In addition, the development includes a commuter rail station, additional office buildings, retail and restaurant space, a hotel, and a sports complex.

The project team for the Auerbach Center includes NB Development Group, Elkus Manfredi Architects, and John Moriarty & Associates General Contractors.

Location

Boston, Mass.

Size

160,000 SF

Cost

$70 million

Completion

2018

The Auerbach Center at Boston Landing

Located at 40 Guest Street, The Auerbach Center at Boston Landing is the new world-class practice and training facility of the Boston Celtics. Code Red Consultants provided building and fire code consulting services for the six-story, 160,000 SF mixed-use building, which includes 5,700 SF of ground-floor retail, 190 parking spaces across one level at grade and two levels above grade, and two stories of shell space designated for offices and laboratories. The top two floors house the 70,000 SF practice facility for the Boston Celtics, featuring two NBA regulation basketball courts, a locker room, hospitality space, kitchen facilities, offices, and common areas. A 40-foot glass wall enclosing the practice courts offers prime visibility of the basketball practice facility from the adjacent Massachusetts Turnpike.

Code Red Consultants completed a performance-based analysis to remove fireproofing from steel trusses located above the Celtics practice court. The effort included creating a computational fluid dynamics analysis to evaluate severe case fire scenarios within the double height basketball court to determine the temperature and radiant heat flux to which the steel trusses would be exposed. This study was used to win approval of a state code appeal allowing the desired fireproofing to be removed.

Boston Landing is a 15-acre mixed-use development in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston that includes the new world headquarters of New Balance Athletics, Inc. and the Boston Bruins practice facility. In addition, the development includes a commuter rail station, additional office buildings, retail and restaurant space, a hotel, and a sports complex.

The project team for the Auerbach Center includes NB Development Group, Elkus Manfredi Architects, and John Moriarty & Associates General Contractors.

Blueprint Medicines Lab/Office Interior Fit-Out

Code Red Consultants served as the code consultant for Blueprint Medicines’ new 100,000 SF headquarters at 45 Sidney Street in Cambridge, Mass. Featuring a mix of lab, office, and amenity spaces, the project included renovations to portions of the existing building on each of the five floors. Code Red Consultants consulted to The Richmond Group (design/builders) to review existing conditions in the building and prepare an existing building code analysis that identified any retroactive upgrades triggered in the existing building based on the proposed scope of work. Additionally, Code Red Consultants assisted The Richmond Group and TRIA, the project architect, in developing a control area strategy in accordance with the Massachusetts State Building code based on the presence of regulated chemicals utilized in the laboratory spaces within the building.

Location

Cambridge, Mass.

Size

100,000 SF

Cost

N/A

Completion

2018

Photography Credit

Ben Gebo Photography

Blueprint Medicines Lab/Office Interior Fit-Out

Code Red Consultants served as the code consultant for Blueprint Medicines’ new 100,000 SF headquarters at 45 Sidney Street in Cambridge, Mass. Featuring a mix of lab, office, and amenity spaces, the project included renovations to portions of the existing building on each of the five floors. Code Red Consultants consulted to The Richmond Group (design/builders) to review existing conditions in the building and prepare an existing building code analysis that identified any retroactive upgrades triggered in the existing building based on the proposed scope of work. Additionally, Code Red Consultants assisted The Richmond Group and TRIA, the project architect, in developing a control area strategy in accordance with the Massachusetts State Building code based on the presence of regulated chemicals utilized in the laboratory spaces within the building.

Billerica Memorial High School

Designed by Perkins + Will and currently under construction by Shawmut Design and Construction, the new Billerica Memorial High School will accommodate more than 1,600 students from grades 8 through 12 as well as a 200-student pre-k program. The new $175 million high school will be one of the largest in the state, spanning upwards of 325,000 SF. Code Red Consultants served as the code consultant on the project and worked closely with the design team as well as Billerica building and fire officials throughout the design of the project.

This groundbreaking project will be one of the first to be designed and constructed under the new 9th Edition of 780 CMR, which is based on the 2015 International Building Code. In addition to the classrooms, the building also features a three-story atrium under a heavy timber roof in the commons area where Code Red Consultants provided CFD fire/smoke modeling. The performance-based design for the atrium reduced mechanical exhaust rates and lowered make-up air requirements beyond what would have been required using prescriptive code calculations. This atrium approach reduced construction costs and architectural implications on the building design. During construction, the firm will also provide third party special inspection services for the atrium smoke control system.

Location

Billerica, Mass.

Size

325,000 SF

Cost

$175 million

Completion

2019

Rendering Credit

Perkins + Will

Billerica Memorial High School

Designed by Perkins + Will and currently under construction by Shawmut Design and Construction, the new Billerica Memorial High School will accommodate more than 1,600 students from grades 8 through 12 as well as a 200-student pre-k program. The new $175 million high school will be one of the largest in the state, spanning upwards of 325,000 SF. Code Red Consultants served as the code consultant on the project and worked closely with the design team as well as Billerica building and fire officials throughout the design of the project.

This groundbreaking project will be one of the first to be designed and constructed under the new 9th Edition of 780 CMR, which is based on the 2015 International Building Code. In addition to the classrooms, the building also features a three-story atrium under a heavy timber roof in the commons area where Code Red Consultants provided CFD fire/smoke modeling. The performance-based design for the atrium reduced mechanical exhaust rates and lowered make-up air requirements beyond what would have been required using prescriptive code calculations. This atrium approach reduced construction costs and architectural implications on the building design. During construction, the firm will also provide third party special inspection services for the atrium smoke control system.