Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston College Schiller Institue
Scope/Solutions
The new facility at 245 Beacon Street is Boston College’s home for the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, supporting collaboration between the sciences and humanities curriculums with laboratory and creative work spaces, classrooms, a vivarium, and gathering areas. The design features classic gothic elements, while achieving contemporary performance. SGH consulted on the building enclosure design for the project.
SGH consulted on the design of the building enclosure materials and systems, including below-grade waterproofing, stone-clad walls, punched windows, curtain walls, and clay-tile roofing. Highlights of our work include:
- Reviewing the proposed designs and providing recommendations to improve building enclosure performance
- Helping the project team achieve the Gothic architectural style using a combination of traditional materials (e.g., clay tile and copper roofing and ashlar granite cladding), along with contemporary systems to achieve modern performance, such as precast concrete accents and thermally broken aluminum curtain walls and windows with high-performance glazing
- Developing details to integrate the various building enclosure systems, including facade movement joints and tie-ins to adjacent campus buildings
- Visiting the window manufacturer to observe fabrication and quality control processes
- Observing construction of roofing, window, and masonry cavity wall mockups and establishing standards for the project
- Collaborating with the design and construction teams to create and implement details with complex geometry
- Providing construction-phase services, including reviewing contractor submittals, visiting the site to observe construction to compare with the project requirements, and witnessing water testing of windows to evaluate as-built performance
Project Summary
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Building Enclosures
Markets
Education
Client(s)
Payette Associates
Specialized Capabilities
Facades & Glazing | Roofing & Waterproofing
Key team members

Additional Projects
Northeast
Three-dimensionally Printed Glass Testing
In 2017, SGH collaborated with the MIT Media Lab on an exhibit for Milan Design Week. Looking to advance their research with a new geometry, MIT retained SGH to perform additional testing on 3D-printed glass samples in 2024.
Northeast
Brandeis University, Carl J. Shapiro Science Center
The Carl J. Shapiro Science Center project consisted of 155,000 sq ft of new construction, 40,000 sq ft of renovated space, and infrastructure upgrades. SGH provided structural design and building enclosure design consulting for the new construction and renovation project.