Continuing a Delaware Legacy Building DuPont Country Club’s New Pool and Fitness Center When the DuPont Country Club embarked on a journey to add value to their memberships with new offerings, they engaged EDiS Company as their Construction Manager to bring their new state-of-the-art fitness center and pool to life. Designed and constructed to exceed member expectations and serve the community, EDiS Company’s primary goal was to build them a facility that would reflect the quality and 100-year legacy for which the DuPont Country Club is known. To reflect this legacy accurately, the original design for the fitness center called for materials that would match the historic building adjacent to it. While kept in impeccable condition, the neighboring building had been constructed with costly materials. The initial design for the new fitness center was considerably over budget. To solve the dilemma, the EDiS Estimating team studied 11 different cost-saving scenarios until they found one that achieved the same look with reduced cost. Every system, finish, and use of space was analyzed and economized so that the owner had the most cost-effective solution while still receiving quality materials and craftsmanship. For example, the project team suggested the client use an EIFS system instead of an architectural metal paneling system because it was nearly identical in aesthetic, yet cost less. For the fitness center’s
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Photography by Daniel Jackson Photo
glass system, a storefront system was chosen instead of a curtain wall system as it was similar in design and aesthetic but kept costs in line. Collaborating with the equipment designer helped EDiS find value in the indoor flooring for the fitness center. The pool decking was switched to a brushed concrete, and the gutter system switched to a stainless steel. When all was said and done, EDiS saved the client almost $650,000 in alternative systems. Successful communication on this project can be attributed in part to frequent meetings between the EDiS team, Rogers McCagg Architects, and all subcontractors. This allowed the project design and construction team to stay in sync with the client’s needs, and the clients and partners to remain updated throughout the project. Frequent and transparent communication allowed the team to solve challenges quickly, which was essential to the project’s success. Construction was completed in two phases: the Phase One focus was on the pool, which the client requested be completed by early summer to accommodate their members. After finishing the pool, the EDiS team turned to the fitness center in Phase Two. Extraordinary planning, excellent communication, and a true team effort has added to the DuPont Country Club’s legacy for years to come.
