UC 1819 Innovation Hub

UC 1819 Innovation Hub

• 4 stories, 103,000sf interior renovation of the old 1819 Sears Building located at 2900 Reading Road.
• The top 2 floors were fitted for tenant space, while floors 1 and 2 were designed for classroom and multipurpose/group gathering spaces.
• Extensive lead paint abatement was completed on all 4 floors before any other work could begin.
• The 1st floor also housed a high-end workshop/makers space, which gives students the resources needed to turn an idea into a tangible object. The 1st floor markers space is broken up into 3 distinct areas: a wood shop, a metal shop, and a prototyping area.
  • The wood shop area is made up of a variety of sanders, table saws, a wood lathe, and a CNC router; all of which are connected to a central dust collection system.
  • The metal shop is comprised of drill presses, cold saws, a sand blaster, welders, a metal lathe, a sanding and grinding station complete with a metal dust collection system, and a water jet cutter capable of cutting steel plate up to 6” thick.
  • The prototyping area includes equipment such as 3D-printers, large format printers, sewing machines, and laser cutters.
• Majority of the building called for polishing of the existing concrete and only conferences rooms and offices received carpeting. Many of the existing concrete columns, beams, and underside of deck were left exposed, giving the building an industrial feel.
• Other building elements included large interior glass storefront systems, large glass and wire mesh sliding doors, wood ceiling clouds, and fabric wall coverings.