WALBRIDGE UOM.

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WALBRIDGE
Walbridge touts is expertise in the education
sector by managing large-scale projects like
the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services
Center at Lawrence Technological University in
Southfield, Mich.

Walbridge Gets Schooled

A robust education sector has Walbridge putting its institutional expertise to use throughout Michigan.
The firm is currently managing the North Quad complex at the University of Michigan.
By Brooke Knudson Student Services Center at Lawrence Technological University

A ging institutions, higher standards of learning and

an overall trend toward more advanced facilities
for academia are driving new construction in the
educational sector. Detroit-based construction manager and
general contractor Walbridge is stepping up to the plate to
build several educational facilities for well-known universities.
“We have a very good reputation with higher education
and have worked with a lot of public universities,” says Bill
Lorelli, a project manager with Walbridge.
Thanks to government spending on new construction
and large endowments, Walbridge has kept busy working for
schools, including Wayne State, Lawrence
Walbridge – University of Technological University and the University
Michigan North Quad of Michigan.
www.walbridge.com
2008 revenues: $1.35 billion
HQ: Detroit Greening Education
Employees: 600+ Walbridge’s expertise in the education
Services: Construction manage- sector is easily recognizable on two proj-
ment and general contracting
Bill Lorelli, PM: “The university ects at the University of Michigan (U of
has been a solid owner for us.” M), as well as at the A. Alfred Taubman
in Southfield, Mich.
In 2006, the company completed a $13.3 million con-
struction contract for Lawrence Tech that involved build-
ing a 45,000-square-foot student services center in the epi-
center of the 120-acre campus.
The center, which will serve as a laboratory for the
school’s architectural program, features several innovative
environmental designs. Working in conjunction with lead
architect Arthur Smith of Southfield, Mich.-based
HarleyEllis-Devereaux, Project Manager Pat Hughes says,
Walbridge was charged with building a facility that incor-
porated all student services under one roof.
Numerous sustainable features helped earn the facility
LEED silver certification. The three-story building includes
a curved glasswall atrium that runs the length of the build-
ing. The center is oriented to maximize daylight, and was
constructed with 98 percent efficient glass, which help con-
trol solar heat.
A sustainable energy system also was installed to elimi-
nate the need for a boiler, furnace or gas lines. It also fea-

92 ■ WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM ■ FEBRUARY 2009