Erland Construction Completes The Fessenden School’s William R. Elfers ’63 Center for the Arts Updates

West Newton, Mass. - Erland Construction recently completed major renovations and a new addition to The Fessenden School’s William R. Elfers ’63 Center for the Arts in West Newton, Mass. Revitalizing the center included renovating the entire arts wing, which houses a theater, multipurpose common areas, art gallery and classroom space. Erland also installed an elevator to meet current ADA regulations. 

A new 3,000-square-foot addition to accommodate Fessenden’s growing orchestra program and equipment was also constructed. The renovation and addition, designed by cbt Architects, creates a new environment for students to participate in the school’s robust visual and performing arts curriculum. The state-of-the-art space features the latest in arts equipment and technology, allowing students to tap into their imagination and creativity in a whole new way.

The existing building required various mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) upgrades including new air handlers and roof monitors. A sound data test was performed to ensure the new air handlers would not disrupt the school’s future performances. The school’s campus, as well as the existing space, remained occupied throughout construction. Erland worked closely with Fessenden and Riser11 Management to phase the project around the school’s needs; mitigating any disruption to their ongoing academic and summer program operations.

“This project has been extremely rewarding for us and we’re proud of what we’ve built for The Fessenden School and its students,” said Daryl Leland, Special Projects/Strategic Accounts Group Manager, Erland Construction. “Partnering with Fessenden and cbt Architects for a second time allowed us to apply the lessons learned from our previous project. Collectively, we were more proactive and could problem solve quicker because the trust was already there which was crucial in keeping the project on track.”    

About Erland Construction
Over the past 42 years, Erland Construction has successfully grown into the Northeast’s leading open shop construction management and general contracting firm. The Company is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts and has specialized expertise for new construction and renovations in major market sectors including academic, advanced technology/life sciences, senior living, residential, corporate, commercial, and hospitality. For more information, visit www.erland.com.

About The Fessenden School
The Fessenden School is an all-boys independent day and boarding school serving more than 500 students in Pre-K through Grade 9 in West Newton, MA. For more than 100 years Fessenden has been committed to the education of boys, and its facilities, curriculum, and programs are designed with the necessities of boys in mind. The Fessenden School cultivates each boy’s talents and develops in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community. The school's core values of honesty, compassion, and respect underscore a strong academic, athletic, and arts program.