Construction Update: Healthy Materials and Challenges Met

“Everywhere you turn on this project, there’s a small challenge.”

 While workers put finishing touches on the new CMW Center, Sebastian took a walkthrough with Pezzuco Construction representatives Ron Pezzuco and Doug Valcourt to chat about materials and features of the soon-to-be-opened project at 1326 Westminster Street.

Providence-based architecture firm 3SIX0 designed the Community MusicWorks Center to be constructed out of mass timber, only the second building in Rhode Island to be using the material as the structure of a building. The building reduces carbon-emitting steel and concrete production by using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) as the structure. The CLT used in this project was made from gluing together 5 layers of spruce wood and was manufactured in Austria.

CMW, together with 3SIX0 and Pezzuco Construction, worked closely with Healthy Materials Lab, a design research lab at Parsons School of Design, with the goal of making a pioneering, healthy, low-embodied carbon center in the heart of the West End. All building materials and furnishings were evaluated to minimize the presence of toxins known to contribute to childhood disease.

The entire team, from planning to placement of each carefully considered element, has met any challenge in service of a healthy, light-and-music-filled place that our students, neighbors, and friends can call home.

Save the date: The Community MusicWorks Center Grand Opening Celebration is on Saturday, September 28, and we can’t wait to welcome you!

Video by Atomic Clock