Revolution Warehouse

Introduction

The Revolution Warehouse renovation project was undertaken to better meet the current and future needs of the organization. The project involved renovating the existing 7,000 square feet of space that the organization was already occupying in two long span bow-truss buildings that were formerly used as a soda factory. Additionally, an adjacent recently vacated space of approximately 5,000 square feet was also renovated to create a flagship location for the organization. The goal of the design was to create a highly functional and flexible space that served as an iconic headquarters for the organization and a hub for its activities, showcasing the breadth and impact of the organization’s work.

The design focused on creating urgently needed spaces for the community served by the organization. The emphasis was on creating a highly functional and flexible shop space, engineered for the future of construction, a welcoming and contemporary office space to support staff and social services, and bold, collaborative environments for trainees to learn, build, and come together. All of these spaces were designed with a focus on functional, welcoming aesthetics. The design mixed industrial materials with pops of color to create a unique palette.

The floor plan and organization of the building were re-organized to run east-west, resulting in a larger and more flexible main shop with direct access to sidewalk dock doors. New openings in the building’s exterior west wall and skylights allowed for natural light in the building. New mezzanines were added to take advantage of the building’s height and spacious structure, creating unique overlooks for trainee community-building and office break-outs.

Most importantly, the project design aimed to maintain and cultivate the vibrant culture of the organization, creating spaces that foregrounded building trust and collaboration within its community and in the construction industry at large. The Revolution Warehouse renovation project was a great success, and the space now serves as a flagship location for the organization, showcasing the breadth and impact of its work while providing urgently needed spaces for the community.

1. The Mechanical Scope:

The mechanical scope of the project involved a comprehensive upgrade of the building’s HVAC systems. This included providing detailed demo drawings indicating the existing HVAC ductwork, which served as a starting point for the design of new systems. New HVAC units were installed, along with a new ductwork distribution system. The project also included the installation of new heating and ventilating units, as well as new toilet exhaust and general exhaust systems. The design also included the utilization of local controls for improved energy efficiency, and a new gas distribution system was installed to ensure safe and reliable operation of the building’s heating and cooking equipment.

2. The Electrical Scope:

The electrical scope of the project involved a complete upgrade of the building’s electrical systems to meet the current and future needs of the organization. This included providing detailed demo drawings indicating the existing lighting fixtures and equipment, which served as a starting point for the design of new systems. The project also included a low voltage/data design, which involved the installation of new cabling and data outlets to support the organization’s IT and communications needs. The project also included the installation of new electrical power outlets and circuits, as well as emergency battery units to ensure reliable power supply in case of power outages. A fire detection and alarm system were also installed, along with fire alarm speakers and strobe locations to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants.

3. The Plumbing Scope:

The plumbing scope of the project involved a comprehensive upgrade of the building’s plumbing systems. This included providing detailed demo drawings indicating the existing plumbing fixtures and piping, which served as a starting point for the design of new systems. A complete sanitary drainage and vent system were installed, along with new domestic hot and cold water systems. Riser diagrams were also developed to clearly show the layout and operation of the new plumbing systems. The project also included the installation of a re-circulation system to improve the efficiency of the hot water system, and the selection and specification of new plumbing fixtures. This ensured that the building’s occupants have access to safe and reliable water supply, as well as proper drainage and sewage systems.

Key Features

• Providing engineering services for permit and construction documents
• Renovation of 12,000 sq ft warehouse for office, classroom and workshop
• Creating functional and collaborative spaces for the Revolution Workshop community
• Maintaining and cultivating the vibrant culture of the organization
• Upgrading existing systems as per the requirement of the organization

Roles

• Provide demo drawings for existing HVAC, lighting, plumbing systems
• Installation of new HVAC, lighting, plumbing systems
• Utilization of local controls for energy efficiency
• Fire detection and alarm system installation
• Re-circulation system design
• Engineering services for permit and construction documents
• Renovation of 12000 sq ft warehouse space for office/classroom and woodworking space.

Summary

The project at Revolution Workshop involved the renovation of an existing warehouse building to better meet the current and future needs of the organization. The project combined two adjacent spaces, a total of 12,000 sq ft, which were formerly used as a soda factory. The renovation aimed to create an iconic headquarters for the organization that would act as a hub for its activities and showcase its impact. The design focused on creating functional and flexible shop space, welcoming and contemporary office space, and collaborative environments for trainees. The design aimed to maintain and cultivate the vibrant culture of Revolution Workshop by creating spaces that foreground trust and collaboration. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were upgraded and the building was reorganized for maximum efficiency, with new openings for natural light, mezzanines for overlooks, and direct access to sidewalk dock doors.