Forrester Construction. Keep Building.

February 26, 2013 – Forrester Construction Company is pleased to announce that it has recently begun work on the addition to the Morrison-Clark Inn, located at 1015 L Street, NW, Washington, DC. Originally built in 1864 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Victorian era hotel will be expanded by 43,000 square feet, incorporating neighboring historic structures into the overall design.

The new addition to the inn requires preservation of a 1700s carriage house, one of the oldest buildings in Washington, DC, keeping the exterior intact while completely renovating the interior. The façades of a neighboring rectory and 1880s townhouse will also become part of the space and will be maintained during construction by external bracing and underpinnings. The hotel addition will be six stories with 56 guest rooms featuring high-end finishes, a central courtyard connecting the buildings and an expansion of the below grade parking garage.

For more than a year, Forrester provided preconstruction services assisting the owner and design teams in the development of multiple design packages and a variety of cost saving strategies. The Forrester team worked with Architecture, Inc., the architecture firm providing support for the core and shell of the building. Forrester also partnered with Forrest Perkins, the architecture firm outfitting the interiors.

“Combining multiple historic façades into one hotel is quite exciting,” says Vic Bonardi, Forrester vice president of preconstruction and design-build services. “Our preconstruction work will be highly beneficial during the construction process to ensure the project is delivered within the timeframe and budget outlined. This is a wonderful opportunity for Forrester to leverage its extensive experience in the preservation of DC historic buildings.” The project is scheduled to be complete by April 2014.

 

November 12, 2012 – Forrester Construction Company is pleased to announce that it has just completed the construction of the critically-acclaimed restaurant minibar by José Andrés, re-located to 855 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. This marks Forrester’s fifth construction project for José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup, having previously completed renowned restaurants Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya and America Eats Tavern.

minibar by José Andrés is the award-winning chef’s culinary testing ground featuring an avant-garde dining experience with seating for 12 guests. The restaurant, located in the former Zola Wine & Kitchen, replaces Andrés’ previous six-stool minibar location at 405 Eighth Street NW.

Forrester renovated the 3,750 square foot space in collaboration with Spanish architect and designer Juli Capella and DC-based architecture/design firm CORE. Unique design elements of the space include gold-leafed domed lighting installations fabricated from boats, upholstered doors and walls in the vestibule, a decorative spy mirror wall and custom fireplace in the dining room, custom millwork and mirrored wall finishes in the disco-style restroom.

Andrés says the new location for minibar features an elegant central kitchen that supports a greater exchange of ideas, innovation and productivity and will enhance the experience for diners allowing them to feel a part of the culinary performance. The new space provides an ideal environment for guests to enjoy a one-of-a-kind culinary journey. The restaurant began taking reservations in October for its November 7th opening.

Scott Forrester, Forrester’s principal lead, says rebuilding the restaurant for the celebrated chef has been rewarding. “Being involved in the renovation of a space that presents a new restaurant concept coupled with interesting design features is especially exciting,” says Forrester.

 

 

September 17, 2012 – Forrester Construction Company is pleased to announce that it has begun the construction of the $12 million Aquilino Cancer Center on the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital campus, located at 9905 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, with completion slated for summer 2013. This freestanding, three-story, comprehensive cancer center is the first of its kind in Montgomery County, Maryland.

At the center individuals affected by cancer will have access to the highest quality, personalized cancer care in a unique, academic-caliber environment. Services range from diagnostics to radiation and chemotherapy, as well as pain and symptom management, multidisciplinary clinics with a comprehensive care team, and clinical trials. The new LEED Silver, 51,000-square-foot building will include two linear accelerator vaults for radiation equipment.

Awarded by the joint venture of the RMJ Development Group and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital along with the Walker Group and AtSite, the Aquilino Cancer Center is among the growing number of healthcare projects led by Forrester Construction Company, strengthening the firm’s foothold in the healthcare and science and technology commercial construction industries. The architect of the project is AECOM Architects.

“Forrester is excited to be involved in this cutting-edge, community-based cancer center,” says Stephen Houff, Forrester’s Group Vice President for Healthcare, Science and Technology. “We’re proud to be building a center that caters to the needs of cancer patients in such a personalized way.”

About Forresterconstruction

Established in 1988, Forrester Construction Company is an award-winning Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 150 Contractor and Top 50 Green Contractor, offering clients preconstruction, general contracting, construction management and design-build services. As one of the top five locally-owned general contractors in Metro DC, Forrester has a proven track record of client satisfaction, construction excellence and efficient project delivery. Specialized in the commercial, public sector, healthcare, science and technology, education and cultural markets, Forrester has worked on such landmark projects as the Supreme Court, the Washington Convention Center and the National Institutes of Health. Forrester has been recognized with more than 170 construction industry awards in its 25 years in business, a milestone it will be celebrating in 2013.

Contact Us Today and Discuss Your Requirements

January 24, 2012 – The Mid-Atlantic chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) recently honored Forrester Construction Company and EYP Architecture & Engineering design-build team with a 2011 Merit Award for the Naval Consolidated Operations Center at the historic Washington Navy Yard. Recognized in the Rehabilitation / Renovation / Restoration category, the prestigious award celebrates the region’s highest achievements in design-build and innovation.

The design-build team created first class office and support space for the 280,000-square-foot, four-story Naval Consolidated Operations Center (originally constructed circa 1940), successfully accommodating a diverse group of Naval operations tenants, each with varying adjacency and security needs. Physical and technical security informed all decisions related to the renovation project, with secure features that included a blast-resistant exterior envelope and Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) space with electronic surveillance to suppress data leakage. The new building envelope, which includes new roof systems and thermal insulation, dramatically increases the energy efficiency of the complex.

To house the planned increase in building personnel, the team transformed 50,000 square feet of found space by in-filling existing light wells, while maintaining tenant access to natural daylighting. The team also developed the levels of security, unique programmatic spaces, and quality of finishes, ultimately modernizing Naval Consolidated Operations Center’s structure, envelope, HVAC, telecommunications, security, and individual tenant spaces, all while preserving the building’s original exterior.

Commented EYP Project Executive Robert Gudz, PE, CEM, LEED AP, “We are extremely proud of this transformative modernization project, and are thrilled for the prominent recognition from such an important industry organization.” Added Forrester’s Vice President of PreConstruction and Design Build Services Victor Bonardi, AIA, LEED AP, “This is another excellent example of how Design Build Teaming produces project success and client satisfaction through communication, cooperation, and collaboration on a highly complex, building renovation project.”

At Naval Consolidated Operations Center’s 2010 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Commanding Officer Captain Hugh Hemstreet said of the Forrester / EYP team, “The partnership between all team members was great. It made this unique and challenging project a success.”

Forrester Construction

Forrester Construction Company: Established in 1988, Forrester Construction Company is an award-winning Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 200 Contractor, Top 50 Green Contractor, and Top 100 Design Builder, offering clients preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, and design/build services. Forrester is ranked as one of the top four largest locally owned general contractors. For additional information, visit our website.

About EYP Architecture & Engineering

EYP Architecture & Engineering: EYP is the expertise-based, integrated architecture and engineering design firm that specializes in education, government, and historic preservation projects. EYP Energy is a division of EYP that delivers comprehensive energy and sustainability services. Located in Albany, Boston, Greenville, New York City, Orlando and Washington, D.C., the firm ranks among the largest A/E firms in the nation by Building Design & Construction magazine and recently ranked in The Architect 50, Architect Magazine’s annual ranking of top architecture firms.

Contact Us Today and Discuss Your Requirements

December 2, 2011 – President Barack Obama and Former President Bill Clinton were given a construction tour of 815 Connecticut Avenue, which is located just one block from the White House. Presidents Obama and Clinton tour a 45-year-old B+ Class office building being converted by Forrester Construction to a trophy green facility in order to support the owner’s vision for a high-performance, sustainable facility.

Presidents Obama And Clinton

The purpose of the visit was a press conference announcing nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next two years. These investments are part of the Better Buildings Challenge, and will save billions in energy costs, promote energy independence, and, according to independent estimates, create tens of thousands of jobs in the construction sector. The Challenge is part of the Better Buildings Initiative launched in February by President Obama, and is spearheaded by former President Clinton and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to support job creation by catalyzing private sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades to make America’s buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade, reducing energy costs for American businesses by nearly $40 billion.

The construction tour included a visit to the building’s MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) penthouse to observe the mechanical upgrades, and the 12th floor to view the old and new exterior facades currently under construction. Forrester Construction representatives assisted with the tour explaining the energy efficiencies being put in place to this 200,000 SF, 12-story building along with the construction processes and worker participation. The project includes a complete mechanical refurbishment of an occupied building including replacing the existing DX cooling towers, hydronic pumps, chillers, hydronic heaters, outside air dampers, cooling coils, and all necessary piping for the system to operate, as well as replacement of the existing masonry and precast concrete building façade with a new unitized curtainwall system and storefront system, replacement of the building core toilet rooms and electrical closets, main lobby renovation, new rear lobby with porte-cochere for valet drop-off, new fitness center and new plaza.

The building is managed by Transwestern, Project is managed by DRI Development Services. Project Design Team is VOA Architects, KCE Structural Engineers and Loring Consulting Engineers.