Space Planning and Renovation Update
This will be the first in a series of monthly articles in which the Club will provide an update on the Club’s long-range planning and renovation project.
Our long awaited renewal project is underway. The architect and construction manager for the architectural scope of the project have been selected. RMJM Hillier of Princeton, NJ is the architect that was chosen from the evaluation of seven proposals. They are a large diversified firm with a deep pool of talent. Bob Hillier ‘59, founder and principal, teaches courses at Princeton and enjoys a long relationship with the university. Bob has committed himself to be an active participant in our design process. Vanguard Construction was selected from a field of three qualified candidates. Vanguard knows the Club from the work they managed in 2003 for last renovation of the bedroom suites and the creation of the business center. They have since added to their repertoire of high end hospitality work in Manhattan with projects at the Carlyle, the Adour restaurant at the St. Regis as well as work at the Harmonie and University clubs.
Schematic design work is now being finalized in an exciting plan for the areas that will be changed. The ground floor, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors will have significant renovations. There will also be changes to the 2nd floor lobby and minor renovations to the James Madison Room. The space plan of January 2006 has evolved and other opportunities have surfaced in project planning. This revised schematic plan was presented and well received at the Renewal Town Meeting on February 11. A number of good comments and suggestions were made by members and noted for the design development stage. The plan presented a beneficial change for our 5th floor that had been earmarked for new Club offices. The Club recently secured more space in the adjacent building for much needed office expansion. This opportunity has allowed the renovation of the 5th floor to become a totally guest room floor with all new more spacious bedrooms and baths with the addition of extra rooms. The 4th floor is likewise now slated for a major renovation that will provide increased revenues with totally flexible meeting room combinations that also include a “Green” rooftop terrace opening off the west side rooms.
With the evolution of both the engineering for our major HVAC project and construction planning, we have re-scheduled this major work to start in the fall of 2008 to provide for better integration of design, construction and logistics for the Club and the members with less impact on operations. We also now have the opportunity to get competitive bidding for the work and anticipate significant savings.
We are very excited with the start of this long awaited project. Demolition work is now scheduled to begin the first of May for the third floor. Again, we ask you to share in our excitement, and also again, ask for your patience as we all embark on this new journey into the promising future of our great club.