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Properties Magazine - August 2000
The Rebirth of Alcoa Building 53
—By Linda Bloom
![Exterior View [photo]](./images/alcoa11-pmag.jpg) Building, 53, Alcoa Forged Products
Business Center, has experienced a renaissance. Built in 1953, and used to store business records, old computer
parts, and dies (steel block with product impressions), it has been reborn as a state-of-the-art office building. Located on
the sprawling Alcoa Cleveland Works Plant Site at Harvard Avenue, this former industrial building was retrofitted to
meet the contemporary needs of the customer, ![Pillars [photo]](./images/alcoa09-pmag.jpg) while maintaining the industrial integrity of the building and its history.
Now, the five-story building houses
Alcoa, Inc, Executive, Business, Information Technology, and Aerospace Forged Products offices. Beginning in late May, more than 150
Alcoa Forged Products employees moved into their new office spaces. With their former office building, Building 118, running short on space
and customer accommodations, the new offices offer additional room for growth and a welcoming atmosphere. The Alcoa Forged Products Business
Center makes use of the same open environment philosophy used at Alcoa's
North American Corporate Center in Pittsburgh, with its wall-less floorplan encouraging a participative, teamwork approach.
The building is now home to a main conference room and the Cleveland Works
carpenter shop (main floor), instructional facilities for welding, hydraulics and
apprentice programs (second floor), Alcoa Wheel Products (third floor), Alcoa
Forged Products Aerospace and Industrial Products group (fourth floor), and
division business and services departments (fifth floor). The vacated spaces in
building 118 will soon be home to enlarged locker rooms, the purchasing department and Cleveland Works human resources.
The renovation project began in October, 1999. John Dewine is a Construction
Executive for Infinity Construction, general contractor. Infinity Construction
expertise came strongly into play throughout the project. Dewine said that he
and on-site superintendent Chris Zidek were constantly challenged. “Chris and I
had to dissect some things and solve some riddles." Infinity used their
considerable experience and researched new innovations in the construction
industry in order to do this kind of cutting-edge project. The results allowed
them to provide the completed product on time, on budget, with a phenomenal
degree of finish. During the project, there were extensive discussions with
building designers and Alcoa staff. "Understanding their process allowed us to
help them anticipate what we were going to create for them, as far as confusion and problems. We all thought it through," Dewine recalls.
George Nemeth, Vice President of Infinity Construction was involved in the
original proposal process, and comments on the efforts required to secure the
sale with Alcoa. “The efforts of our lead Estimator, Dave Semler were
instrumental in securing the project and attaining the goals of the team. In order
to get this project off the ground, we proposed a menu of cost saving solutions
that Alcoa could pick and choose in order to achieve their budget goals while maintaining the desired design intent.”
The heating system, raised access floor system, and indirect lighting system,
are all state-of-the-art, some done for the first time in the area. There is a
cafeteria on each floor. Each floor has a voice data network, including
voice/data/computers/copiers. There is indirect lighting with five levels of dimming controls that can be set at various brightness levels.
![Raised Floor Access [photo]](./images/alcoa10-pmag.jpg) Tate, one of the original manufacturers of
large raised access flooring systems in the country, York, one of the larger air conditioning producers and Honeywell
integrated component provider, participated. These three put a proprietary system together specifically for this
project. The air and ductwork is run underneath the raised access floor, rather than above the ceiling. There is very little
ductwork, with all integrated systems run through the raised access floor. If
conventional design and construction methods had been used, the work above
the dropped ceiling would have been far more extensive. Use of the raised access floor allowed for higher finished ceilings and a more spacious
appearance to the finished space. The construction system also provided an
economy of labor versus conventional construction. It’s believed that this is the
first time that this unique system has been used in the Cleveland area.
A lot of sophistication and a lot of devices were part of the mix, like cutting edge
smoke deflection systems, pressurized stairways, etc. There are smoke
detectors, heat detectors, sprinklers—three stages of different alerts. The
original sprinkler system was retained, and updated. Existing elevators were reconfigured and new lifting methods were installed.
Dewine recalls, "Every day there was a process of gathering information,
communication, decision making and then research." To maintain the industrial
integrity of the building, "There was a lot of talking, planning, trying to not wear
Alcoa's hat, having Alcoa not wear ours, but playing for the same team,
understanding their needs. We were a guest of their facility to try to make their environment better." Dewine recalls.
John Dewine shares, "I like to think that I have an appreciation for what the
people who inhabit the building have to go through. What everybody is commenting on is the smoothness of how the process went." Dewine
experienced "enormous self gratification, not in an egotistical way, just personal
gratification. All of us at Infinity feel a great sense of accomplishment. From the
initial project pricing to the eventual cost evaluations with Alcoa and the
Architect, and then throughout the construction sequence, the project was a
collaborative effort, and a great tribute to each firm’s unique abilities. "
DCI Design Collective Inc. architect, Joe Volpe, and Ronette Pierce, interior
designer, were an integral part of the project. Their challenge was to "make
coherent space," working with building limitations. Alcoa Forging Division
President, William Christopher, wanted to maintain as much of the original
industrial character as possible. He also wanted to create a fun atmosphere that
would attract young, vibrant people. Exciting, not "humdrum," features were part of the marching orders.
![Curved Brick Wall [photo]](./images/alcoa13-pmag.jpg) Curved brick walls tie in with existing
brickwork. Infinity's role was to create a template, strike the arc, cut individual pieces of plywood, put it up to the brick,
making sure that it was the right radius that the DCI wanted. Curves are a dominant theme in the building, breaking
up and creating a more interesting space.
Since the building is located in an
industrial complex, defying dirt, grease, and grime was part of the mission. Accordingly, Pierce employed grays and
blacks throughout, adding touches of red, yellow, royal blue, turquoise, and an
historic Alcoa blue. Playful elements, yellow and black stripes, red doors, a play
on common industrial symbols, exaggerate the factory aspect of industry. When
asked how to integrate proprietary aspects into a design project, Pierce states, "It just kind of comes to you."
Open offices with work stations, a departure for many of the employees,
accustomed to offices, have shorter panels, with red fabric to diffuse a "tunnel
effect." They also provide a view to the windows that wrap around the floors. In
the lobby, Alcoa history is documented in silk-screened wall hangings recommended by DCI and thematically displayed on various floors.
![Office Enclosure [photo]](./images/alcoa12-pmag.jpg) A sound masking system is also in place
to enhance employee comfort. An acoustic ceiling further reduces the sound level and deflects the effects of hard
surfaces like brick and glass. This is a big change for employees often formerly accustomed to factory steam hammers
banging and a sterile environment. Employees are very happy with their changed work environment and beautiful
space. Alcoa Forging Division President, William Christopher, is very pleased with the outcome and feels that they have accomplished their goal.
“Our industry is quickly learning to accommodate new technology with prudent
proven construction methods” says Infinity President Charles Izzo. “It’s all about understanding and respecting each of the project team member’s ideas and goals, and then assembling a group of professionals dedicated to making it all a success. It’s the kind of proces and project that Infinity is working to develop
as the focus of its corporate goals and objectives. We are proud and
appreciative to have had the opportunity to work with Alcoa and DCI on such a unique project.”
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