Skanska was selected as the design-build general contractor for EF Education First's new North American headquarters, which includes 261,727-SF of general office, educational and restaurant space and 64,700-SF devoted to a three-level above-grade parking garage for 125 vehicles. 30,000-SF of public space on the ground and second floors, includes a 14,000-SF, 440-seat restaurant with outdoor seating. The project also incorporated a winter garden and landscaped and hardscape spaces sited both onsite and in nearby parkland. Visitors and parkland users have access to 31,000-SF of outdoor space. The design and construction teams used BIM/VDC to collaborate on a number of innovations to improve quality, efficiency and schedule for both the core and shell and the fitout. Raised floor open plenum space allowed expandable plug-and-play electrical and data wiring. Plumbing was prefabricated on racks. Crews also prefabricated the stair traversing the 150' high atrium, allowing eight floors to be installed within a two-day window. The curtain wall was unitized, enabling speed of envelope completion and establishing quality assurance. The project, a key development parcel in the city of Cambridge, is energy-efficient and marked by signature architectural elements. Substantial public benefits were gained by integrating the project site with passive and active recreation amenities at North Point Park. The project enhances public access to the Charles River basin, facilitates new permanent and construction-related job opportunities, and continues EF's substantial transportation demand management (TDM) program to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips and promote the use of alternatives modes of transit.
