sweetwater office expansion
DESCRIPTION
Sweetwater Sound, the top online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the U.S., continues to grow at an explosive pace. After completing a new $25 million, 150,000 square feet corporate headquarters project in 2007, Sweetwater had a need to expand their existing sales floor and warehouse facilities due to overwhelming growth. The new 132,000 square feet addition includes a warehouse expansion of 50,000 square feet and a two-story office addition of 82,000 square feet. The office addition includes employee training rooms, a 3-room conference center and a music academy for individual musical instruction.TRANSCRIPT
A R C H I T E C T U R EE N G I N E E R I N GINTERIOR DESIGN
2015 BCA AwardsExcellence In Construction
Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
New ConstructionOver $6 Million
Project Overview Project Uniqueness
Significance & Community Impact
BCA Member Involvement
Job Safety Record
Images
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Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
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2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction
Contents:
Project Scope
Sweetwater Sound, the top online retailer of musical instru-
ments and pro audio equipment in the U.S., continues to
grow at an explosive pace. After completing a new $25 mil-
lion, 150,000 square feet corporate headquarters project in
2007, Sweetwater had a need to expand their existing sales
floor and warehouse facilities due to overwhelming growth.
The new 132,000 square feet addition includes a warehouse
expansion of 50,000 square feet and a two-story office ad-
dition of 82,000 square feet. The office addition includes
employee training rooms, a 3-room conference center and
a music academy for individual musical instruction.
2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction
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MSKTD and Associates provided architectural, civil and
structural engineering, and interior design services while
RE Dimond provided the mechanical, electrical, and
plumbing engineering services for the project. Russ Berger
Design Group was a consultant to the design team, offer-
ing expertise in acoustical design for the conference center,
music academy, training rooms, and other sound sensitive
spaces. Weigand Construction Company served as the
general contractor.
I Academy of Music
Type of Construction
Type IIB (Unlimited Area)The east concourse is a two-story volume space, built with conventional steel framing to tie into the existing concourse. The
warehouse and office portion of the building is a pre-engineered metal building with conventional steel to frame the second
floor and mezzanine levels. The exterior envelop consists of mostly corrugated metal paneling, curtain wall window framing,
and sandstone veneer. The low sloping roof has a white, PVC membrane with several large (5’x10’) translucent fiberglass sky-
lights. The perimeter of the roof deck at the concourse is wrapped with a composite metal panel parapet that aligns with the
existing building.
Scheduling
Design began in the fall of 2012
Design complete in May 2013, Project Bid during May 2103
Construction began in June 2013
Warehouse construction completed in November 2013
Construction complete on June 1 2014 (Construction Duration: 12 months)
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Size of Structure
132,000 Square Feet
Dollar Value
$13,000,000.00
Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction
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Project Uniqueness
After achieving a LEED platinum certification on the orig-
inal building project in 2007, the owner, Chuck Surack,
wanted to continue the design of this new building addition
using the same environmentally conscious design strategies
that promote sustainability, health, and efficiency. One of
the challenges for the design team was to reuse about 2,000
square feet of existing glass, salvaged from another build-
ing, in the new building design.
The design of the south façade of the building expansion
makes use of all the salvaged glass, which saved on material
cost and kept the previously used glass from reaching the
landfill. The exterior windows and skylights throughout
the office allow controlled admission of natural light, which
reduces artificial lighting and promotes a stimulating and
productive environment for the building occupants.
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In addition to providing a great working environment, Sweetwater offers a wide range of amenities including a private health
club and racquetball court, a full service kitchen and dining room, coffee shops, an indoor sports simulator, and many profes-
sional services within the building. Now the building has something rather unique to any building or place of employment
with the addition of an 18 feet tall spiraling slide. The slide was fabricated by Natural Structures, a company from Oregon that
also provided the slide for Google’s headquarters office. The new slide is conveniently located at the entrance to the sales floor,
allowing the sales staff to make a quick descent to the first floor dining area. Like many of the other building amenities, the slide
is also open to Sweetwater’s visitors and is adjacent to the children’s music academy.
Sweetwater’s business involves sound, which requires several spaces within the building to have specific levels of sound quality
and containment. MSKTD collaborated with Russ Berger Design Group, a nationally known firm specializing in acoustical
design, to design the conference center, music academy and employee training rooms. At any time, one room could be used
to demonstrate a new electric guitar amp while a department meeting is being held in an adjacent room, so sound privacy is
very important to all daily operations. Specialty framing products, finish materials, and slab, wall and floor isolation details are
all unique construction materials and methods used to achieve good acoustical performance. Ongoing, clear communication
between the designers and contractors in the field addressing very specific construction details is what allowed this aspect of the
project to be a success.
Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
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Significance & Community Impact
Sweetwater values the local music community in the same
way they value their employees and customers, so many of
the new spaces within the office expansion are intended to
be enjoyed by all and are open to the public. Sweetwater
now can provide a state-of-the-art conference center that
can be used for a variety of events of different sizes for or-
ganizations within the community.
In addition to generously supporting numerous musical
education programs in the local community, Sweetwater
offers individualized music education through their Music
Academy, which is located off the main concourse, adjacent
to the dining area. With over 500 students in the Music
Academy program, the building receives many visitors
throughout the day. Now parents have a relaxing and en-
joyable place to spend time while waiting for their child to
complete their music lesson with the adjacency to the din-
ing room and recently added coffee bar.
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2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction
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As a growing business, Sweetwater continues to provide valuable job opportunities that support the local community in many
ways. Chuck Surack recognizes the importance of strong local businesses, so he wanted to involve as many Fort Wayne and
surrounding companies as possible when expanding his business. With a world-wide presence, Sweetwater will continue to
prosper and grow, providing many more opportunities that expand and strengthen our local community.
Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction
BCA Member Involvement
Contractors
Architects / Engineers
Associates
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Brooks Construction Company, Inc.
Central Indiana Hardware Co.
Hanna Bros. Drywall & Painting
Hightech Signs
L-A Electric
LeMaster Steel Erectors, Inc.
Midwest Caulking, Inc.
Momper Insulation
Old Fort Supply Company
C.L. Schust Company
Strahm
Tile Interiors, Inc.
Weigand Construction Co., Inc.
Fluid Dynamics, Inc.
GME Testing
MSKTD & Associates, Inc.
Carson Boxberger, LLP
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Job Safety Record
Does your company have a written safety and health program?
Does your company have a mandatory substance abuse program?
Did your company conduct jobsite safety inspections on this project?
Did your company have toolbox safety meetings on this project?
Number of OSHA Lost Work Activity Days on this project
Number of Restricted Work Activity Days on this project
Number of OSHA Recordable Injuries or Illnesses on this project
Were there any fatalities on this project? If yes, please explain
Did you conduct post-accident investigations on this project?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
0
0
0
No
N/A
Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
2015 BCA Awards I Excellence In Construction I Office Expansion
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I Office Expansion / Slide
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I Fermata Cafe Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana
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I Office Expansion Sweetwater I Office and Warehouse ExpansionFort Wayne, Indiana