Offices and R&D Completed 2010 135,000 square feet $20,000,000
THE CHALLENGE L-3 KEO needed to expand their Northampton, MA, manufacturing plant and headquarters but did not know how to proceed. The company researches, develops, and manufactures systems for submarines and other defense platforms, so a state-of-the-art facility was a must. LEED certification was also a goal.
THE ODG APPROACH First, we helped the company define program requirements for the expansion. An unusual requirement was a clear, long-distance sightline for testing periscope optics. We assembled a team of consultants that identified the best option: a brand-new facility just up the road from the existing one, on a hilltop. In the designphase, O’Connell Development Group assembled, engaged, and oversaw the architecture and engineering teams, met with city officials, obtained right-to-build permits, and negotiated all agreements on behalf of L-3 KEO. To realize the project, O’Connell Development Group handled construction management, turning over a finished building on time and on budget.
RESULTS The new facility allowed L-3 KEO to operate more efficiently and thereby to expand their business. The LEED-certified building hosts one of the largest arrays of rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panels in western Massachusetts, generating over 200 kilowatts per year.
