No Time to Miss a Beat: Expanding Berklee College of Music's Campus on a Tight Schedule

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

Wise Construction proudly completed a renovation for Berklee College of Music, converting a 100-year-old building just outside the gates of Fenway Park into a high-performance music and dance school. We were eager to play a role in Berklee’s evolving campus needs, especially with the challenge of completing the entire project ahead of the Fall 2025 semester. With a fast-track schedule and no room for delays, the team delivered on time—ready for students, faculty, and performers to step into a new academic year.

The building, formerly home to a retail pharmacy on the first floor and medical administrative offices above, now serves a completely different purpose. Spanning 39,000 square feet over four levels from the basement through the third floor, the space was fully gutted and rebuilt. Features within the basement include high-performance classrooms and a dedicated audio/video capture room, while the first floor boasts a bright lobby, lecture-style forum, and rehearsal rooms for graduate-level programs, and a core-and-shell space prepped for a future retail tenant. The second and third floors house instructional and practice dance studios, faculty offices, instrument storage, and additional classrooms. All four floors also received newly renovated and added restrooms to support the increased occupancy and use.

An interesting and specialized design element during construction took place in the five professional dance studios: two studios were directly stacked on each of the second and third floors, with a fifth studio positioned on the third floor above staff offices. Each studio required a carefully engineered sprung floor system composed of layered MDF board, plywood, and Styrofoam, vented and elevated to provide both cushioning and durability. These floors were not only essential for dance performances but also played a role in the broader acoustic strategy that defined the entire building.

From the earliest stages, the most critical design priority was acoustics. With performance and rehearsal rooms on nearly every floor, the space had to be engineered to prevent any sound bleed or vibration between adjacent rooms. The number one concern was the acoustical considerations within the design elements of the space, and our team ensured we delivered this element without a worry. Achieving that goal required a thoughtful construction approach. After framing, all walls and ceilings were built with double-layered assemblies and included vibration isolation ceiling barriers. Every penetration, whether for piping, conduit, or fire protection, was sealed with acoustic caulking. To fully enclose and isolate each room, STC-rated doors and frames were installed, with sound ratings ranging from 30 to 50. These solid-core doors, each weighing around 300 pounds, had a 20-week lead time and were delivered and installed with great care as the final piece of soundproofing for the rooms.

Within the basement was an audio/video capture room, which encapsulated the importance of the acoustic design elements. This space serves as the technological heart of the school, connecting to all AV systems throughout the classrooms and forum rooms above. It enables the capture and preservation of student performances and instructional content, a functionality required for a modern music educational environment.

Another major component of the project was the complete overhaul of the building’s MEP systems. Although the existing infrastructure remained in place, every feed throughout the building was removed, upgraded, and reworked to meet the performance-driven demands of the new space. To manage this complex coordination without slowing down the schedule, the Wise team relied heavily on our in-house VDC team. Using 3D laser scans and augmented reality, the VDC team, composed of Matthew Emond, Neil McCann, and Shubham Khatavkar, captured the entire building after demolition. These scans were used to build a fully coordinated 3D model, which was then overlaid onto current construction conditions using Revizto. This process allowed for real-time clash detection, identification of conflicts, and proactive resolutions, helping us reduce rework while keeping us in line with the schedule.

Part of the upgrades included integrating the newly installed domestic water line into the building’s systems. This upgrade was essential to support the increased plumbing demand brought on by multiple new restrooms across every floor. In addition, the team supported the implementation of a G-COD recharge water system, further enhancing the building’s sustainability and long-term efficiency.

With Berklee’s academic calendar top of mind and the need for a facility that supports a dynamic academic program, our team approached the schedule with careful planning and strategic execution. To stay on track, we implemented second shift and weekend work, reaching a peak of 70 workers on site daily. We coordinated trade partners and phased work thoughtfully to ensure maximum progress could be made each day without disrupting others. Every decision was made to drive efficiency and maintain momentum.

To accelerate progress even more, we implemented our innovative logistics. By utilizing a clear area at the rear of the building, we opened a bay of windows on floors one through three and used a lull to lift in large equipment and materials. This access point was essential for delivering everything from drywall and piping to the massive 300-pound acoustic doors. Through this process, we streamlined interior access, reduced delays, and avoided disrupting local traffic around Fenway Park.

Looking back on the project, Project Executive Brenden Lydon said it best, “Collaboration and clear communication were at the heart of this project’s success. Working side by side with the client, design team, and trade partners, we created not just a space ready for the first day of classes, but an environment that will continue to inspire students and faculty for years to come.” With teamwork, precision, and a clear focus on what mattered most, Wise delivered a high-performance space on an ambitious schedule that was followed. Now, Berklee College of Music is ready to support the next generation of artists, musicians, and creators within a new campus space.

A big thanks to our project collaborators:
Berklee College of Music
Cumming Group
Samuels & Associates
Gensler
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
Vanderweil Engineers
Code Red Consultants, LLC
Acentech Acoustics
HLB Lighting

Wise Project Team:
Brenden Lydon
James Murnane
James Sebastian
Dan Peciaro

No Time to Miss a Beat: Expanding Berklee College of Music’s Campus on a Tight Schedule