777 South Broad Street is a five-story mixed-use development project consisting of 146 residential units atop street-level retail on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. The residences include one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 830 to 1,400 sq ft.
The project utilized a combination of structural steel and wood-frame structure. The steel frame was built to support the ground-level retail, lobby and other public spaces, while the wood frame was used for the framing of the three stories of apartments above.
The primary pre-construction challenge was meeting the owner’s budget. The change from conventional stud framing to a panelized wood-framed structure created a savings in labor costs.
However, it posed a significant challenge in finding a subcontractor. The framing scope was initially split between the purchase of the panelized wood panels and trusses and the installation of framing but eventually was combined into a single package.
INTECH also found more cost-effective versions of the desired light and plumbing fixtures, similar to the original design, that maintained a LEED rating. The project is pursuing LEED Silver certification.
Key Players
Developer/Owner: Dranoff Properties
Contractor/Construction Manager: INTECH Construction
Architect: JKR Partners LLC
Civil Engineer: McClymont & Rak Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato
MEP Engineer: Paul Yeoman, Inc.
