New England Biolabs, Garden Expansion

SGH collaborated with the design team on the below-grade and terrace waterproofing, exterior wall assemblies, and roofing for the new building. Highlights of our work include:

• Reviewing the building enclosure design for airtightness, watertightness, thermal performance, condensation resistance, and constructability
• Helping establish performance criteria for the project specifications
• Participating in a design-assist process for the curtain wall and canopy glazing, helping select a curtain wall subcontractor, collaborating with the team to develop the design, and visiting the curtain wall subcontractor manufacturing facility to observe fabrication processes and quality control procedures
• Evaluating various roofing systems for the green roof spaces
• Consulting on the pre-patinated copper panels and helping the design team achieve an aesthetic that matches the existing building
• Developing details for the various building enclosure systems, including transitions between assemblies and expansion joints to isolate new and existing construction
• Performing infrared surveys to identify thermal anomalies in the roof assembly that could be associated with wet roofing materials
• Provided construction phase services, including reviewing contractor submittals, visiting the site to observe the enclosure’s installation to compare with the design intent, and helping the contractor address complex field conditions