A.M. Best Company
Corporate Expansion
Tewksbury, New Jersey
As part of a design-build team, Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor (PS&S) provided full architectural* and engineering services. In addition to the traditional architectural, structural, plumbing, fire protection, HVAC and electrical design of the building, PS&S provided integrated site analysis and master planning for the entire 59-acre site. PS&S also provided the topographic survey, wetlands delineation, geotechnical investigation, wastewater treatment design, civil engineering and landscape architecture.
The project consisted of a four-story office building linked to the original three-story headquarters by a two-story pedestrian link (exhibitions gallery) and two-story cylindrical tower.
Designed to harmonize with the existing construction, the office building matches the original in footprint and exterior materials, while all structural and mechanical systems and other internal aspects depart from the original and respond to current office standards and construction codes.
Responding to the owner's pride in its own 100-year history, the tower was designed to house the original wood-paneled office of the company's founder, a boardroom/conference room, and contains additional exhibit space and display cases for items of historical company significance.
The use of pre-cast concrete was based on the owner's desire that the building express permanence and solidity.
The project included a wastewater recycling system, designed entirely by PS&S, to serve the entire building. Recycling 80% of the waste water for reuse and discharging 20% of the water into the ground, the system reduces water demand on the wells.
The project also included design of storm water detention basins in series to provide storm water management and water quality treatment within the site's constraints, which included extraordinary value wetlands and steep slopes.
Problematic site conditions included loose, uncontrolled fill that was unsuitable to support foundations. PS&S developed geotechnical recommendations for drilled and cast-in-place caissons that transferred heavy foundation loads through the problematic fill materials to the underlying competent load bearing bedrock. The use of high capacity caissons optimized foundation costs.
*Architectural services are provided by Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Engineering, P.C., Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Architecture, P.C., PS&S California, Inc., or Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor Architecture and Engineering Connecticut, P.C.