ST. LOUIS, MO  Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis, Missouri, -based general contracting and construction management firm, completed the renovation of John E. Simon Hall, one of the largest academic buildings on the Danforth Campus and first home of the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Tarlton's scope of work on the 80,000-square-foot building included architectural upgrades and a new instructional room in the Kopolow Business Library; the reconstructed Reuben C. Taylor Experimental Laboratory for cutting-edge behavioral research; expansion of May Auditorium to 356 seats for classes and lectures; construction of new faculty lounges, as well as classrooms; and extension offices for the Weston Career Center and Management Communication Center. New features include an undergraduate lounge and business programs office; a more spacious Grand Hallway; expansion of a seating area at Einstein Bros Bagels; an entrance on the north side of the building with a new stairway to the lower level; three new lower-level pooled classrooms; three seminar rooms; six new group study rooms; new restrooms; and a shower room. In addition, the Tarlton team performed major upgrades to the landmark building's signature cupola with a new smoke evacuation system.

To minimize disruption to Olin students and faculty, the extensive renovation was scheduled in stages throughout the last two summers. Excellence in project management was necessary to complete a large volume of work in the short time frame. The Tarlton team met challenges that included replacement of original HVAC equipment with newer equipment providing enhanced energy efficiency. Because the original HVAC served not only several areas under construction, but also occupied areas of the building not under construction, temporary equipment was installed to provide conditioned air to all habitable spaces. The building had no freight elevator, and a crane was used to deliver materials in and out of the lower level, where a significant portion of the work was carried out.

"Simon Hall has been a central hub for business undergraduates on the Danforth Campus since it was dedicated in 1986," said Olin Business School Dean Mahendra Gupta. "The renovation has brought a level of quality that fosters 21st century learning and collaboration. The building's upgrades echo state-of-the-art advancements offered in many adjacent Olin buildings, including the national award-winning Knight Hall and Bauer Hall."

The Tarlton construction team comprised Matt Pfund, Project Executive; Sondra Rotty, Phase 1 Project Manager; Andrew Nelch, Phase 2 Project Manager; Nick Eshelman, Project Engineer; and Eric Nichols, Project Superintendent. Project architect was Mackey Mitchell Architects. Engineering services were provided by Ross & Baruzzini Inc.  

Simon Hall adds to Tarlton's long-standing body of work in new construction and renovation for education. The firm was recognized with one of the construction industry's highest honors, a 2015 Alliant Build America Award, for its work on the $90 million, LEED Gold Olin Business School Expansion (Knight Hall and Bauer Hall) at Washington University. In September, Tarlton completed a renovation of the newly opened Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, a college preparatory school for young women from diverse backgrounds, while work continues on Tarlton's renovation of Lafferre Hall at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.