Overview

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) contracted us to conduct a comprehensive Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA) for their portfolio of 22 Chapter Houses, which collectively encompass approximately 95,000 square feet. These residential buildings, located in and around the UPenn campus in center city Philadelphia, vary in size, ranging from two to four stories in height and containing between eight and twenty-seven bedrooms and two to five bathrooms. The majority of these Chapter Houses were originally constructed around the year 1900, with all having undergone renovation work in 1990.

The FCA involved detailed surveys of building systems, interviews with relevant UPenn staff, and a thorough review of pertinent documentation. The primary goal was to identify existing deficiencies within these properties and to propose a series of corrective projects intended for implementation over a ten-year period. This assessment provided UPenn’s facility planners and directors with the necessary information to make more informed decisions regarding building assets and future capital investments.

Our assessment team conducted detailed evaluations of critical systems and components within each of the 22 Chapter Houses, including foundations, basement construction, superstructure, exterior enclosure, roofing, interior construction, stairs, interior finishes, conveying, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical, fire protection, and electrical.

The report generated from this assessment included a detailed conditions summary for each individual facility, which was represented by a Facility Condition Index (FCI) score. It also detailed the specific conditions identified and the associated project costs for each facility, accompanied by detailed project reports outlining the deficiencies, recommended solutions, cost opinions, and scheduled year for execution. Project types were categorized as Capital Improvement projects, Capital Renewal projects, Deferred Maintenance projects, and Studies/Condition Assessments.

Immediate priority projects identified included the need to seal penetrations in mechanical spaces and the replacement of broken or corroded egress doors. Necessary fan and boiler replacements were noted, but the majority of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) system projects were projected renewals. In addition to these priority projects, other identified and recommended projects encompassed a broad range of improvements, ranging from woodwork refinishing to mechanical system studies.

With the FCA completed, we are pleased to have contributed to helping UPenn make more informed decisions in the maintenance and upkeep of campus housing, resulting in a better student living experience.