This summer the footing and foundation work has been underway on our building, and is now mostly complete. You can read about the installation of footings here. Our staff and community have enjoyed seeing the project begin to physically take shape on the site. In addition to the pouring of concrete, waterproofing work has been completed around the basement in the north wing. Styrofoam insulation has been added around the entire foundation of both wings and soil has been back-filled around it, nearly completely hiding the footings.
Many visitors at the site have asked about the stepped down levels on the footings around our basement. The purpose of this design is to compensate for the elevation of the footings around the basement in comparison to the footings around the remainder of the building. To make up the difference, the footings are stepped down to provide more support for the foundation wall in the transition.
Another interesting feature of the foundation are the cutouts that serve as space for the 3-inch underslab insulation that will extend over the foundation and provide a thermal break between the foundation and slab. This isn’t possible over 100% of the foundation as the support posts for the structure need to sit directly on the foundation wall. But where possible, this design helps to reduce thermal bridging of cold air in the winter which is critical to maintaining a highly efficient building envelope.
The only remaining foundation work still to come is to pour the concrete connection between the north and south wings known as the ecotone.
A timelapse of foundation and footing work is available here from Reelife Documentary Productions:
Jessica Schultz is Communication and Capital Project Coordinator for the Hitchcock Center. She guides on-going media relations, website and social media, publications, marketing planning and photography. She also supports the Executive Director and building committee in planning for a new environmental learning center.
Share this page with friends!
Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax