Building 21 renovation praised for restoration; board asks for traffic, circulation and security details

Designers presented a renovation plan for Building 21 that aims to restore historic window and door openings, add childcare and workforce training spaces, and upgrade building systems; the Project Review Committee commended the restoration while pressing for additional traffic, circulation and security detail ahead of the planning board meeting.

John Snyder (presenter) said the design restores former openings where possible, uses a concrete repair system on degraded exterior plaster and reinstates canopies that reference original details. The project will retain some glass‑block stair windows, raise certain window sills to accommodate program needs (notably for an infant room), and remove a structurally degraded sky bridge that appears to be forcing into the building. Snyder described measures to address acoustics — purple‑colored walls on his floor plan denote sound‑rated partitions, and the building’s concrete floor structure (8‑inch slab from basement to first floor; 7.5‑inch slabs between upper floors) provides favorable sound transmission characteristics; on‑site acoustic testing was scheduled.

Snyder described tenant access and security: the daycare tenant will have two dedicated exterior entrances and card‑access control for parents and staff; other building tenants will use a corner tenant entrance with card access and controlled elevator lobbies that secure upper floors. The basement level will have card access for the Ascend workforce‑training program. Snyder said the project is coordinating security systems between the daycare vendor (First Learning) and Southworks’ security vendor to produce a consistent building‑wide package.

Board members raised operational and circulation concerns. Andy Rollman asked for a traffic/trip generation study and a site diagram showing how different uses will enter the building, how loading and move‑ins will be handled in this phase, and how rooftop mechanical equipment will be screened. Rollman also requested a landscape and parking plan. Peggy Tully pressed for a clear bus/drop‑off circulation scheme for school‑age children and specifics on retaining‑wall height and playground safety fencing; the design team said the retaining wall that creates the playground grade will be rebuilt and the playground fenced (elevation roughly 8–10 feet reported by the architect). Chair Max Fedefer asked the team to describe the flow between the Ascend training area and upper workspaces so the committee can understand movement between the basement and upstairs program areas.

Staff (Nikki) noted that the project will need trip‑generation inputs for Seeker and that the PRC should receive the additional diagrams and studies in advance of the full board review. The committee did not vote on the project; presenters agreed to return with the requested materials at the month‑end meeting.