MHA Diabetes Education Center
Built in 1927, the historic Oriental Theatre needed substantial updating and renovations to bring it into modern times while keeping its history. As the theater was in operation, a wave of construction phases were master planned to minimize business disruptions. Phased restorations included the addition of a women’s restroom on the main floor, larger men’s restroom, a family restroom, janitor’s closet, retail store space, storefront, new projection, sound equipment, new seats for Theater C (West House), acoustical wall treatments, floor repair, a new concession stand, improvements to the Main House (new seating, flooring and balcony), East Theater, ceiling plaster restoration, and acoustical, branding display, and lighting renovations. The restoration preserved the original “temple of Oriental art” design brought forth by architectural firm Dick & Bauer in 1927. The east Indian “palace” aesthetic is still very much evident upon walking into the theatre and creates a lasting impression for all who visit. It could not have been done without the combined talent of the owner, owner representative, designer, and Altius Building Co.
Description
Gold Award
General Contractor, Health Care, Over $5 Million
MHA Diabetes Education Center
New Town, ND
Consolidated Construction Co., Inc.
Owner: Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation (The Three Affiliated Tribes)
Designer: NTP/RML Architects
To combat diabetes risks with members, the MHA Nation established the MHA Diabetes Education Center, a community-based health monitoring and instruction facility offering wellness, fitness, and nutritional mentoring services. Features include a world-class demonstration-style teaching kitchen with internet broadcast capabilities, fitness areas, indoor track, flexible meeting spaces, offices, yoga studio, and community gardens. Poor soils meant a planned basement was not feasible. Instead, rammed aggregate geopiers reinforced the foundation and cost management allowed for a detached storage building. Much of the project was done during a brutal North Dakota winter. The building shell was erected and enclosed but plumbing and first-floor slabs could not be executed due to frozen ground. The Consolidated Construction site superintendent creatively re-sequenced the project so the second floor was constructed during winter, with plumbing, slab and first-floor construction taking place in spring. The project was completed on time, on budget, with zero recordable worker accidents, injuries, or OSHA violations.
