School building powers R.I.’s future

After years of relative scarcity, new commercial construction was more visible in 2016 in Rhode Island.

New structures were finished or are rising at Brown University, Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College and the University of Rhode Island.

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A sampling of some prominent works in progress:

1. Brown is constructing a School of Engineering and Research building on Brook Street to house 20 laboratory modules and specialized space for nanoscale and biomedical engineering. This is an $88 million project, begun in late 2015. The architect is Kieran Timberlake of Philadelphia. Project manager and builder is Shawmut Design and Construction of Providence.
2. Bryant has unveiled its latest signature building, part of a wave of new construction. The Academic Innovation Center, a $31.5 million project is designed for instruction and features movable furnishings and advanced technology. The architect was EYP Architecture and Engineering of Boston. The general contractor was Bond, which now has offices in Providence, as well as Greater Boston.
3. PC is completing the Arthur and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies, a 64,000-square-foot facility that will house the School of Business. The $30 million building includes a glass atrium entrance, classrooms, computer labs and interview suites. The architect is Symmes Maini & McKee Associates of Cambridge, Mass. The general contractor is Dimeo Construction Co., of Providence.
4. Johnson & Wales completed the first building constructed on the former Interstate 195 land in downtown when it opened the $42 million John J. Bowen Center for Science and Innovation at the corner of Friendship and Chestnut streets. The 71,000-square-foot, three-story building was designed by Providence-based Edward Rowse Architects and Architectural Resources Cambridge, out of Cambridge, Mass.

Major renovations have been completed at several hotels, including the 137-room Hilton Garden Inn Providence, the 272-room Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel and the west tower of the Omni Providence Hotel. The latter was a $15 million investment to bring a contemporary tone to the hotel.

In new construction, site work has begun for construction of a Homewood Suites by Hilton, bounded by Memorial Boulevard, Exchange Street and Exchange Terrace downtown. The $20 million hotel will include 120 guest suites aimed at business travelers. The architect is ZDS Architectural Design Services of Providence.

New construction is expected in 2017 at the site of the Fogarty Building, which is slated to be razed to make room for a mid-rise, 154-room Marriott Residence Inn. And developers are seeking final approvals for two additional hotel projects on the western side of Interstate 95, including a five-story Holiday Inn Express, with 91 rooms at 371 Pine St.

In other major projects, construction has begun in East Providence on the Kettle Point development. The first project, an 88,500-square-foot building to house University Orthopedics, had a groundbreaking in November and site work is continuing. The medical office building will be among several buildings on the 40-acre site overlooking Narragansett Bay. The development company is Michael Integlia & Co., based in Providence. General contractor is E.W. Burman Construction Co. •