The University of Rhode Island has been a longstanding client for over two decades. As part of our blanket contract with the University, BTGA has designed numerous interior renovations, water infiltration and masonry repairs, classroom upgrades, and ARRA-funded fire/accessibility code renovations for over a dozen buildings on campus equaling more than $14M in work. The Fire Code work was a three year effort that required the coordination of multiple contractors working in many buildings throughout the school year. Minimizing the impact of this work on occupied areas was a focus that required planning and coordination for the duration of construction. We worked with URI to leave each building better that we found it by looking for design opportunities that could be achieved within the Fire Code budget.

To create a Commons that replaced an aged and under-utilized lounge for URI’s popular College of Nursing, BTGA developed layered spaces to allow multiple groups to work within different acoustic and lighting environments and levels of privacy at the same time. The space, with its modest budget, turned into a Commons with a quality that is not typically found on campus, and acts as a recruiting tool as well as a comfortable retreat. As blanket architects to URI, BTGA has consulted on the investigation and repair of its Ryan Center & Boss Arena exteriors. During 2010, water testing and structural demolition led to recommendations for roof and masonry changes. Masonry flashing problems at the Boss Arena were diagnosed and corrected in 2010. BTGA also obtained testing and reports by various consultants on leaks and structural slab cracking at the Ryan Center. After a failure of the existing membrane roof at Mackal Field House, BTGA was consulted to diagnose & specify a new roofing system. A “green” TPO membrane roof was installed with added insulation to meet current energy code standards. Requirements included coordinating with FM Global standards as well as a study by our structural engineers to justify not only the roof load, but a new sprinkler system as well. At Rodman, BTGA water-tested solid granite walls to identify leak paths in the front of the building. Recommended repairs successfully resolved leaks in the tower areas. URI classroom buildings vary significantly in age and building type, each requiring its own solution. Chafee Hall, constructed at the end of the 60’s, presented the largest challenge. BTGA designed interior renovations to all of the large lecture halls and the public spaces and worked to soften the hard edges of the original concrete architecture while keeping within budget.