Recently completed Studio Theatre project sets the stage for D.C. performing arts
Forrester Construction recently completed work on Studio Theatre located in Washington, D.C.. This $8 million project spanned over nine months and was completed on time and within budget. Forrester proudly worked with internationally recognized design group Charcoal Blue, and equally impressive local architect Hickok Cole.
Studio Theatre, located in the Logan Circle Neighborhood at 1501 14th Street NW, had three buildings that became joined together through the years as the theater expanded, totaling 53,532 square feet. The primary scope entailed renovation of the Metheny Theatre in the North Building into a black box space. This space included a completely new audio visual and theatrical lighting system, as well as a new tension wire grid. The scope also included renovation of the third-floor offices in the North Building, several restrooms, and various public space areas throughout all three buildings. This project also included extensive restorative work on the exterior facades along 14th and P Street. The building was transformed with a major pop of color along 14th Street.
Forrester Construction has considerable experience in cultural and art related projects. Notable projects in this industry include prominent D.C. theaters such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Ford’s Theatre. Forrester has also worked on several Maryland theaters including Adventure Theatre, Round House Theatre, and The Puppet Co. Theatre.
As a seasoned general contractor in the cultural market, Forrester is experienced in the intricate details and nuances that arise with these projects. Theater projects often require specific focus on technological components, artistic elements, and in many cases, proper historical preservation.
Forrester has won numerous awards for work on Ford’s Theatre including the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Forrester’s work on Ford’s Theatre also received the Engineering News Record (ENR) Mid-Atlantic Cultural Award of Merit, the Associated General Contractors of Metro Washington (ABC Metro) Award of Merit, and Washington Building Congress (WBC) awards for metals, structured steels, finishes, and electrical systems.
Similar Forrester award winning projects include Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts Imagination Stage, the Robinson Nature Center planetarium and auditorium, The Hamilton event amphitheater, Wakefield High School black box theater and auditorium, and The Burgundy Farm Country Day School performing arts theater.
Select Relevant Awards
- 2018 AGC of DC | Burgundy Farm Country Day School Design-Build | Design-Build Award
- 2018 Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Burgundy Farm Country Day School | Architecture | Award of Excellence
- 2016 Design Arlington | Awards | Wakefield High School
- 2012 Washington Building Congress | The Hamilton | Electrical Lighting Systems
- 2012 NAIOP DC | MD The Hamilton | Award of Excellence
- 2012 ENR MidAtlantic Construction | The Hamilton | Best Retail/Mixed-Use Development Project & Best Project
- 2012 Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Metro Washington DC | The Hamilton | Interior Merit Award
- 2012 Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington | The Hamilton | Best Restaurant Interior Build-Out | Award of Excellence
Forrester Construction Honored as Top-Performing U.S. Construction Company by ABC
ROCKVILLE, MD, March 10—Forrester Construction of Rockville was ranked 134 on Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2022 Top Performers list, which ranks its commercial and industrial contractor members that build long-lasting high quality construction projects, based on work hours. Additionally, Forrester ranked in three more ABC categories:
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- #71 of the Top 125 General Contractors
- #20 of the Top 20 Government Contractors
- #18 of the Top 20 Religious Contractors
“I am proud to be a part of an organization that values relationship-based building and providing the highest level of customer service. Our commitment is to always add value for our many repeat clients with the continued support of our subcontractor partners. We are also very proud of our approach to, and recognition for, our Safety and Quality record. We believe that planning our projects in an organized, safe manner, with an up-front focus on building in quality, enhances our ability to provide on-time delivery of our projects. We really appreciate the support we enjoy from our subcontractor partners in our initiatives to be a best-in-class contractor for project delivery.”
– Don Free, Forrester’s Vice President of Preconstruction Services, Estimating, and Purchasing
As an ABC Top Performer, Forrester Construction demonstrated world-class safety performance by achieving Diamond Level in 2021 in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System, which makes the top-performing contractors more than six times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average, according to ABC’s Safety Performance Report.
The listings highlight contractors that have earned ABC’s Accredited Quality Contractor credential for their commitment to corporate responsibility in quality, safety, talent management—including inclusion, diversity and equity—education and community relations; those that won national Excellence in Construction,® Safety Excellence and Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Excellence awards; and those that hold designations awarded to diverse companies to help procure work from government and private entities.
“Forrester invests in and attributes its successes to its people, and its value proposition gives their employees purpose, delivers quality to their clients and strengthens their bottom line,” said Michael Bellaman, president and chief executive officer of ABC. “Congratulations to Forrester Construction for raising the bar in developing people, winning work and delivering that work safely, ethically and profitably.”
Through STEP, AQC and other robust ABC programs, ABC Top Performers demonstrate they:
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- Sustain and grow their businesses, financially and economically
- Offer market competitive compensation, benefit and retirement packages
- Commit to world-class safety
- Commit to workforce development, education and creating career opportunities
- Commit to an inclusive and diverse work environment
- Develop opportunities for their employees to achieve their career dreams
- Cultivate committed leadership
Published as a supplement to Construction Executive magazine, the ABC Top Performers lists identify the Top 200 Performers, Top 125 General Contractors, Top Trade Contractors, Top Electrical Contractors, Top Plumbing/HVAC Contractors, Top Specialty Contractors and Top Performers by Market, all of which have earned the elite Accredited Quality Contractor credential. The Top Performers with Special Designations hold one or more special designations. The Top Performers were ranked by size based on the number of hours worked in 2020, as reported in their 2021 STEP applications. New to this year’s rankings are lists of top-performing companies in 18 market segments, such as government, health care, infrastructure, military, retail, religious and sports complexes.
View the 2022 Top Performers lists at abc.org/2022topperformers.
CONTACT
sbensimhon@forresterconstruction.com
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