American Commons Lot 12

KBS was selected to construct this one-story, 9,000 SF, wood-framed retail building.  This structure has six white-box spaces for interior build-out for future tenants.  This project was completed in April of 2005.

Address:
5526 East Park Boulevard
Madison, WI

Challenges:
The primary goal for this project was to finish with a marketable commercial building that would be convenient for future tenant build-outs in this highly visible American Center development.  The challenges encountered in accomplishing this goal were spread between interpreting the architect's intent, abiding by the requirements established by the American Center Development, and incorporating the Owner's need for flexibility. 

The Architect established the base design concept for the building.  KBS was then able to coordinate construction details that were not included in the contract drawings with the architect to ensure that the architectural character of the building was maintained during construction.  Construction details included flashing between the masonry and EIFS, blending the metal standing-seam roofing with the EPDM roofing for the equipment flat roof.  KBS was also able to take advantage of a higher ceiling height in one of the commercial spaces that wasn't initially planned without additional cost to the Owner. 

The American Center Development has an established set of guidelines that need to be followed for all construction projects.  These guidelines set a benchmark for all structures to incorporate materials and finishes that are acceptable to the development.  KBS coordinated with the Development to ensure that all materials and construction practices followed their guidelines including plantings, lighting, aluminum window and door color, standing-seam metal roof color, stone ballast type and color used on the rubber flat roof, and brick manufacturer and color.  Another challenge was the ability for KBS to keep communication open with the development's engineer so that their roadwork could be completed without our construction activities disrupting their schedule. 

The Owner's need for flexibility during the project granted its own challenges throughout the project.  The Owner and KBS communicated with two known tenants during the project to include upgrade options to their spaces.  These two tenants both upgraded their standard 4-ton roof-top HVAC unit to a 5-ton roof-top HVAC unit.  One tenant requested a 40-gallon water heater beyond the standard 6-gallon water heater and KBS had it installed per the tenant's direction, so that the location worked best for their future build-out floor plan.  This tenant also upgraded the drive-up window to their own specifications and chose to use spandrel glass in some of their windows.  Also, since the interior demising walls were weight bearing and rested on the slab-on-grade concrete; KBS left large portions of the concrete slab out to give the Owner and known tenants additional time to coordinate plumbing locations that worked best for their future build-out.  Once these locations were established the plumbing was adjusted and the concrete slab was filled in.

The completed American Commons Lot 12 project is a commercial space that is a highly visible structure in a newly expanding development. 

American Commons
Lot 12