WTS Academic Building
Glenside, PA
Project Details
Location
Glenside, PA
Client
Westminster Theological Seminary
Square Feet
30,000
Delivery Type
Partners
Ayers Saint Gross
Reese Hackmann Engineering
DCI Engineers
Wilkinson APEX Engineering Group
Jonathan Ceci Landscape Architects
Project Type
Project Overview
With a steadily-growing student body, WTS found themselves quickly outgrowing their Glenside campus. This new academic building is the first step in a campus-wide expansion plan intended to modernize and advance the seminary's academic offerings.
The lower level of the new facility consists of several classrooms, including a state-of-the-art video studio. On the ground floor, a café, lounge, and kitchenette provide ample space for students to gather. Collaborative learning spaces take up the remainder of this floor. The upper level consists of administrative facilities, including offices and board rooms. Each floor includes extensive technological capabilities, emphasizing WTS' mission of engaging students, pastors, and professors across the globe.
Due to the age and distinctive style of the facilities already on campus, the owner wanted a conscious design that would blend the new building with the older architecture. Burkey worked with the owner and architect throughout the preconstruction process to create a design that would fit the budget and reach the aesthetics the seminary was looking for.
“There is so much I could say to recommend Ben Ross, Eric Burkey and the team at Burkey Construction. The Burkey team rescued us when we were faced with either getting an inadequate, low quality building or substantially overspending our budget. Compared to a large well-resourced competitor, Burkey’s pre-construction team delivered far greater ingenuity, cost optimization and deeper design coordination to put the project back on track. We are deeply indebted to them for both their integrity and skill. ”
Chun Lai, Westminster Theological Seminary
