Alabama 05 2014

By Cindy RileyCEG CORRESPONDENT

Overseeing construction of three new buildings on cam-pus has proven both challenging and rewarding for officialsat Miles College near Birmingham, Ala. The $23 millioncapital improvement project includes a new residence hall,student activities and dining hall and a welcome and admis-sions center, as well as site improvements. “We coordinated the design and build from project con-

ception,” said Stephen Watlington, project executive of DPRHardin Construction. “Our efforts started with a designcharette that was used to help the college determine theirprogram or project scope. These meetings included faculty,students, advisors and design professionals. The mission ofMiles College was to add to their students’ daily experienceand create buildings that enhanced the experience ofprospective students.”The new welcome center includes a reception hall and

patio on one of the highest points on campus, where VIPsand prospective students can take in the entire football gameday experience. Other features of the building include inter-view facilities for visiting prospects, a boardroom for schooltrustee meetings and display rooms for memorabilia. Recent construction has included the restoration of the

original pedestrian entrance on the front of the main campus.A formal archway has been added, along with new lighting,landscaping and seating. The new four-story, 45,000 sq. ft. (4,180.6 sq m) student

housing construction accommodates 204 beds and is situat-ed next to the new welcome center. Down the hill from thesebuildings, and considered the new heart of the campus, is thenew George T. French, Jr. Student Activity Center, whichwill include an SGA office, along with meeting space forsororities, fraternities and other organizations. Pedestrianswill approach the entrance along a new walk that will even-tually be part of a grand pedestrian walk that crosses cam-pus. “This building includes a fantastic metal clad dome that

stamps its signature on the campus,” said Watlington. “Thefacility houses student dining that’s capable of feeding athousand students per meal time, an all hours café and grille,a theater, a fitness area, study rooms and other recreationalopportunities. All of the facilities include state-of-the-artaudio and video technology.”The overall project required about 30,000 yds. (27,423 m)

of cut/fill. To prepare for the new buildings, HardinConstruction demolished four houses and a building, which

Birmingham College ‘Miles Ahead’ With New Buildings

ALABAMA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

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see MILES page 2

Leon Moody, Miles College photoTo prepare for the new buildings, Hardin Construction demolished four houses and a building, which onceserved as apartments, along with a structure that housed the social work department.

March 52014

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• March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Crews EncounterSeveral ‘Surprises’During Site Workonce served as apartments, along with a structure that housedthe social work department.

During construction, mobile cranes were brought in toerect steel and trusses, while track hoes and bulldozers wereutilized for excavation. Forklifts, loaders, drills, saws anddump trucks were used on the project, which has not beenwithout its share of issues.

“Because the three buildings were placed on newlyacquired residential property and the sites of aged, existingcampus buildings, coordination of new utilities began andended as a challenge,” Watlington said. “The water utilityhad to rework water and sewer for many blocks to bring ade-quate service for the new buildings. During site work, theproject team had several surprises by finding undocumentedand marked utilities including gas and fiber optic lines. Poorsoils at the student activity center site created a schedulechallenge, because we started the projects in November.”

Although the project was affected by more than 45 days ofweather due to a late fall start, the net impact to the schedulewas less than anticipated. Managing three projects at oncewas a much bigger obstacle, particularly with work that wasrepeated in all buildings.

“The most challenging scope to coordinate was masonry,”said Watlington. “It was impractical and financially ineffi-cient to crew up to install brick veneer and precast on allthree buildings at the same time. After a few painstakingwork sessions, we worked out a building-to-building flowthat met our deadlines without adding expense. The buildingvaried in size and complexity, so we were generally able tostart most redundant trades on the welcome center first.”

Two of the new structures are wood frame, while the otheris structural steel and deck. The exteriors are brick veneer,cast stone and stucco. Designers coordinated varying interi-ors for each building, which helped provide unique characterfor the finishes of each building, including flooring, wall fin-ishes and fabrics.

Watlington is especially pleased with the new 127-seattheater on campus.

“One great feature is the college-driven desire that it beevery bit a theater. This includes a ticket window, snack barand real-deal screen. Acoustics are achieved by a steppedfloor, carefully planned floors and purposefully placedacoustic panels.

“The computer stations and study rooms are also designedfor student purpose and comfort,” said Watlington. “The caféis open all hours and the grill for the café is connected to themain kitchen. Planned recreation includes gaming areas andpool tables.”

“The groundbreaking ceremony for the three new buildingtook place in October of last year, said Dr. George T. French,Jr., president of Miles College. “Preparation and plans beganat that time for construction. The buildings are being com-pleted, with final touches here and there.

“With the increased enrollment and the unfortunate task ofhaving to turn students away due to the current limited space,these new buildings are a much welcomed addition to the Leon Moody, Miles College photo

The overall project required about 30,000 yds. (27,423 m) of cut/fill.

Leon Moody, Miles College photoDuring site work, the project team had several surprises by finding undocumented and marked utilities includ-ing gas and fiber optic lines.

see MILES page 6

MILES from page 1

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 •

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• March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 • Page 5

• March 5, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 •


New Facilities Set to Accommodate Continued Growth Miles College Campus. ”

Because Miles College has experiencedfull dormitories, it’s had to arrange a contractwith a local hotel for student residentialplacement assistance more than once.

“It’s been challenging, said French.“While the hotel isn’t far away from cam-pus, it is still considered off campus for ourstudents. It’s our aim to make access to theMiles College campus as convenient as pos-sible. The new facilities will significantlydecrease our student housing issues and weare very pleased with these improvements.”

The new facilities should help significant-ly in accommodating the growth of the col-lege, with the Teresa E. Snorton residencehall housing female students. It is handicapaccessible, providing housing units for stu-dents with special needs via individualrooms. The majority of the units will accom-modate up to four students in a suite consist-ing of two adjoining rooms with a bed anddesk for each student. Each of the rooms inthe suite has a sink with mirror and a sharedcloset space. The entry area of the suite has asitting area and a bathroom.

“The welcome and student enrollmentservices center will serve as the new admis-sions office, for students who are interestedin enrolling in Miles, as well as studentswho’ve been accepted to the college and areworking to get their paperwork finalized inpreparation of attending classes,” saidFrench. “This building will also serve par-ents and other special guest wanting to learnmore about our institution.”

Several thousand attended the dedicationceremony of the new buildings, includinghundreds of high school students, alums,Board of Trustee members, CME Bishops,community leaders, political officials, stu-dents, faculty and staff.

A historically black college founded in1898, Miles is located in Fairfield, Ala., justa few miles outside Birmingham’s city lim-its. A private liberal arts institution of theChristian Methodist Episcopal Church,Miles is the area’s only four-year institutionthat’s deemed a member of Historicallyblack colleges and universities (HBCU).During the planning stages of the SouthernChristian Leadership Conference, whenmembers were deciding what test city toimplement the Civil Rights Movement, itwas proposed they travel to Birmingham,because the students at Miles College werealready engaging in civic protests and boy-cotts against segregated public facilities.

In 2006, the school purchased a new 41-acre campus adjacent to the existing campus.Previously landlocked, this acquisitionenabled Miles to double its land size. Theschool has continued to grow, however, andbecause of rising enrollment, the new dormi-

tory and other facilities are considered longoverdue. Raising funds for construction wasa concern, as was the site location, whichwas occupied by a parking lot, as well ashouses, not owned by the school. But, over-all, school officials have described the proj-ect as a relatively smooth experience.

“There were no really big issues thatcaused problems or delays,” saidJuandalynn Givan, director of sponsoredprograms of Miles College. “Propertyacquisitions went well. “Working with theCity of Fairfield proved to be very benefi-cial. It was built around stakeholders andrelationships with regulatory agencies thatcould assist in the development of the proj-ect.”

The last few weeks of the project haveinvolved installation of kitchen equipment,check out of systems, and punch out of fin-ishes. For Dr. French, completion of thethree new buildings is extremely rewarding.

“The future is now, and now is always thebest time for progress,” said French.

(This story also can be found onConstruction Equipment Guide’s Web site atwww.constructionequipmentguide.com.)CEG

Leon Moody, Miles College photoOverseeing construction of three new buildings on campus has proven both chal-lenging and rewarding for officials at Miles College near Birmingham, Ala.

Leon Moody, Miles College photoAlthough the project was affected by more than 45 days of weather due to a late fall start, the net impact to the schedule wasless than anticipated.

MILES from page 2

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 5, 2014 •

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