Getting ready for Phase 1B

The preparation for construction of Phase 1B has begun with the demolition of 10 Dog Lane (the former “Phil’s” building).  The demolition of 4 Dog Lane (the former location of Storrs Automotive) will begin soon as well.  Once both buildings are demolished and some other site preparation work is completed, the construction of Phase 1B will begin.

Demolition of 10 Dog Lane has begun.

Phase 1B will be a building built adjacent to the parking garage.

Phase 1B will consist of one building which will be adjacent to the parking garage.  The building will feature commercial businesses on the first floor with residential units on the upper floors.  The residential units will be part of The Oaks on the Square.  Lease negotiations for the commercial spaces are underway, including the lease for the UConn Co-op’s new satellite location.

Meanwhile, construction of Phase 1A continues with façade, roof, and interior work on 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane and interior work on the parking garage.

One Dog Lane

Nine Dog Lane is at left. Eleven Dog Lane, Storrs Automotive's new home, is at right.

Phase 1B will be adjacent to the parking garage, obscuring the blank wall seen above.

Work Progressing

With the erection of the pre-cast components complete, work on the interior of the parking garage is progressing, including underground utilities and placing the main level concrete slab.

Across the street, work on the interior finishes of both the residential and commercial levels continues.  In front of the buildings, the realignment of Dog Lane is underway.  The current focus of this work is on the utilities.

1 Dog Lane

9 Dog Lane

Reaching the Top

The final piece of pre-cast for the parking garage has been installed.  The large crane will be dismantled and will leave the site.  The focus for the garage will now be completing the mechanical and electrical components for the scheduled August opening.

Workers guide the final pre-cast piece into place.

This crane's work is done.

 

Meanwhile, the work on 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane continues.  The interior spaces are progressing as are the exterior finishes, including the first floor commercial spaces.

The utilities work on Dog Lane is on-going.  The street remains closed to through traffic during the day, and local traffic is restricted to alternating one lane to accommodate the work.

The facades of 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane are taking shape, while the utilities work on Dog Lane continues.  In the background, UConn's School of Fine Arts and South Campus are visible.

Exterior Work Continues

The exterior work on the buildings in Phase 1A of Storrs Center - 1  Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane - progresses while the construction of the parking garage continues.  Work on the sidewalks along Storrs Road is also underway.

9 Dog Lane

Rendering of 9 Dog Lane
Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects

1 Dog Lane - as seen traveling south on Storrs Road/Route 195

Rendering of 1 Dog Lane - as seen traveling south on Storrs Road/Route 195
Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects

Construction of the parking garage is progressing steadily.

A few snapshots. . .

1 Dog Lane

The precast installation is progressing.

Another view of the garage under construction

Garage Progresses

Delivery of the pre-cast material for the parking garage has begun.  The pieces are produced off-site and delivered ready for placement.  Here, a large piece can be seen in transit:

The pieces are modular for ease of installation.  (In the photo below, One Dog Lane is in the background.)

The pieces are lifted into place by a crane, seen below at left.  In the foreground, a pre-cast section of a stairwell is visible.

The first two pieces have been placed:

The delivery and erection of the precast materials will continue over the coming weeks.  As noted previously, there may be traffic delays in the area as the delivery vehicles navigate the site.  Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians in the area should proceed with caution.  Please note that Dog Lane is closed to through traffic during the day.





Traffic Alert: Materials Delivery

On Monday, February 13, delivery of the pre-cast materials for the parking garage will begin.  This will increase truck traffic on Storrs Road and may cause traffic delays on Dog Lane (which is currently closed to through traffic).  Residents, visitors, and workers are advised to proceed with caution through this area.  While every effort is being made to manage traffic flow, there may be delays as the construction vehicles navigate the site.

Please remember to drive slowly through the construction area and maintain a safe distance between yourself and oversized vehicles.

Interior Work & Garage Construction Continue

Interior work on both 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane continues.  A tight roof and temporary heat allow for work to progress uninterrupted on the residential spaces and on the first-floor commercial spaces.  In the meantime, exterior work continues, including completing the window installation as well as ongoing brick work and trim work.

9 Dog Lane

Work on the parking garage is also progressing, with the foundations now clearly visible.  Recently, a new construction entry to the site was created off Route 195 in anticipation of the delivery of additional materials for the garage. 



The beginnings of the parking garage.



Reminder: Job Fair - Jan 12

The next local job fair for people from the area interested in potential job opportunities in the construction of the first phases of Storrs Center will be Thursday, January 12 from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Mansfield Community Center.  Read more. . .

Construction Continues

The first building of Storrs Center, 1 Dog Lane, now has a roof membrane in place, and the installation and pulling of electrical wires has begun.  The interior framing is complete, and the installation of mechanical components has begun.  The second building, 9 Dog Lane, is following a similar schedule, and activities are sequenced to track a week after 1 Dog Lane.

1 Dog Lane

Meanwhile, work on the foundation for the parking garage continues.  Soon, work will begin on a temporary curb cut along Storrs Road (Route 195) to allow for better access to the garage site for the construction vehicles.  While the work is underway, sidewalk access between the Marketplace (Store 24 building) and Storrs Commons (Chang’s Garden) will be temporarily affected, although the sidewalk will remain open.

Garage Work, Framing Continues

The blasting of the future site of the parking garage is now complete.  Excavation is underway, and the foundation work will begin soon.

Across the street, the framing of TS-1, the building at the corner of Dog Lane and Storrs Road (Route 195) is nearly complete.  In fact, the roof trusses are now visible.

With TS-1 now at its full height and the installation of steel studs in the first floor commercial spaces underway, it is easy to imagine how the finished building will look.

Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects.

Framing Continues; Garage Site Work Begins

The framing of the upper floors on building TS-1 (at the corner of Storrs Road and Dog Lane) continues.  The framing of the upper floors of DL-1/2 is also underway.

Framing of the upper floors of building DL-1/2 has begun on Dog Lane.

The first floor of both buildings will house commercial uses, including restaurants, services, and offices.  The floors above will be The Oaks on the Square, residential units of varying sizes at market-rate rents for all ages.

The building DL-1/2 will have commercial uses on the first floor
and residential units on the upper floors.
Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects.

Meanwhile, the site work for the parking garage has begun.  Before the garage can be built, the site must be cleared and prepared.  Work on the precast for the garage is underway off-site. Once the location is ready and the foundation is built, the precast pieces will be delivered for assembly on-site.

Garage Bid Announced

The Town of Mansfield recently announced a request for bids for the construction of a 660 space, multi-level parking garage in Storrs Center.  Bids will be accepted by the Town of Mansfield, Connecticut, at the Office of the Director of Finance, 4 South Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT 06268  until 2:00 p.m., Aug 23, 2011, at which time they will be publicly opened and read – visit the Town’s website for the full announcement: www.mansfieldct.gov.

The Town recently awarded the precast contract for the garage to Blakeslee Prestress, Inc. in Branford, CT.

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Work on the first phase – Phase 1A – of Storrs Center continues with the foundations of buildings TS-1, DL-1, and DL-2.  (See the post from July 15, 2011 for a concept plan of these buildings).

The structural steel erection will begin next week at TS-1.  All of the work will be inside of the construction fence, but residents may notice an increase in truck traffic with the steel deliveries.

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Have questions about Storrs Center or the Mansfield Downtown Partnership?  Visit the Partnership’s website for more information, including a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions.