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State Teachers' Retirement System Undergoing a Unique Expansion and Renovation

While Ohio's educators are busy preparing today's students for tomorrow's workforce, more than 100 investors at the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) are planning ahead for the teachers' future.

The STRS Ohio is a $53 billion pension fund providing services to almost 400,000 teachers and retirees. With more than $260 million being traded on any given day, these financial experts don't leave anything to chance. So when it was time to expand and renovate their facility, STRS Ohio called in a battery of other experts.

Design Group Inc., a local architectural firm, was hired to draw up the designs, and another local firm, M. Engineering, was chosen to work up the electrical drawings. Gilbane Building Co. was tapped as the construction manager; and Dynalectric was chosen to install the electrical and data communications systems. Patricia Jackson, of Jackson A&E, serves as the owner's representative.

Scheduled for completion in July 2000, the project, at 275 E. Broad St. in the heart of downtown Columbus, is not an ordinary, run-of-the-mill renovation. "They have their own investment analysts and trade on a daily basis in the financial management end," explained Dan Konczal, vice president of Dynalectric. "There are a lot of data and communications lines that have to be tied in when they make the move to the new building."

All of the new offices have Cat-5 data wiring and Coaxial cable installed at the desktop. "That's fairly unusual," said Kevin Williams, project engineer for Gilbane Building Co., but necessary for the investors to keep up with financial news over a live video feed. "The data center is definitely on the level of a corporate headquarters," he added. "It is all wired with the newest and best technology for data. They have video at the desktops for each investor and top-notch mechanicals."

Much of the office lighting is on a computerized system with automated features such as dimmers. As the sunlight increases, the lights will dim. "The security system is unlike anything any of us have ever seen in Columbus," Williams noted, "and includes plasma screen monitors for the security cameras." He added, "They have the latest access systems, both integrated and automated."

To accommodate the increased building size, one of Dynalectric's first tasks was to install a new 3,000-amp switching gear in the basement of the new building. "We had to upgrade the electrical service because they were virtually doubling the size of the facility," Williams said.

A cellular floor duct system was installed throughout the building. The system, which offers electrical access every five feet on center, is covered until an access point is needed. "The system gives the occupants the ability to rearrange the offices without having to worry about where the outlets are, and eliminates the need to run overhead conduits," Konczal explained. The data cells and communications wiring were handled in the same manner. "The new building offers a lot of flexibility," said John Petrillo, project manager for Gilbane Building Co.

The project includes a five-story parking garage, which takes up half of a city block. On top of the garage is a 200,000 square foot, three-story addition, which includes a connector over the road to tie back into the original building. Meeting rooms and conference rooms are over the street on the upper floors. The investment center, finance and member benefits departments will take up the three floors of the new building. "With the addition, SRTS Ohio will be able to consolidate its staff in one location," Petrillo said. Plans call for renovation of portions of the older building to house an expanded childcare center and fitness center.

One of the challenges faced during the renovation was making the contractors' presence scarce during the day, so that the staff could continue to function. "They didn't want to know we were there," Williams said. "To accommodate that request, most of the construction has been completed during second shift."

The electrical portion of the project, coordinated by Dynalectric's general foreman, Dondi Hatcher, included installing a fire alarm system, Lucent data cables, power, lighting and communications capabilities for the entire building. "Dynalectric has done a good job for us," Williams said. "They've installed all the major electrical systems, data and telecom systems." Konczal gives credit to Hatcher, who, he says, is "very capable and well-liked by everyone - which helps get the job done."

By all accounts, that cooperation has resulted in a successful project. "This has the potential to be an award-winning building when it's completed," Petrillo said.

Dynalectric President Gene Belew agreed. "They've used some very good futuristic thinking. It's very progressive."

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