University of Minnesota: Shepherds Lab Renovation

A complete renovation of the 3rd and 4th floors, with a partial renovation of the 5th, the Shepherd Robotics Laboratory remodel will accommodate new research and classes in the subjects of robotics, vision, VR, and social computing. Set in the center of the bustling U of M Twin Cities campus, the building will remain open during construction allowing students and faculty to continue their day to day class work.

Challenges

Heavy pedestrian traffic in and around the building.  Because floors 1 and 2 are open and operational during the project, construction crews are prohibited from using building amenities, like the elevator. To get materials up to the top floors, we used an external elevator system and temporary pass through spaces.

Shepherd Labs renovation is a phased project. While strategic, phased construction has its own risk, like increased costs and complexity due to extended timelines, multiple permitting stages, and complex coordination requirements.