Boston, MA – Broadway Electrical Co., Inc. of Boston has recently completed the 3.5 million dollar core electrical construction of 131 Dartmouth Street in Boston. The multi-faceted electrical project scope for the new, 12 story, 600,000 s/f commercial office building included installations of power, fire alarm, and building security systems, as well as site and facility lighting. Broadway also provided electrical construction of the three-level, below-grade parking garage.

Broadway Electrical’s power installations for 131 Dartmouth Street consist of an 8000 amp primary power service at 480 volts which is fed from an interior NSTAR vault. Emergency power is provided by a 1,000 KW weatherproof-enclosed, diesel-powered generator located on the facility’s roof.

131 Dartmouth is equipped with a bi-directional, voice-activated fire alarm communications system. This advanced system is integrated into the main core of the facility and provides direct communication capabilities to the Boston Fire Department. At the heart of the fire communications system is a radio repeater antenna, which enables Boston fire departments’ handheld radios to be used as a means of signaling. The feature provides for 100% signal and communications capabilities even from remote sub-basement levels of the facility. The system’s simplified design features an antenna riser that runs up the main core of the building with a head end unit amplifier. This system is engineered to require limited maintenance.

A card reader gate access system installed in the parking garage complements the sophisticated card access building security system, designed and built to provide optimum tenant privacy. The security system for the facility features intercoms and fire alarms located throughout the facility’s stairwells.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Broadway’s project scope was the installation of the lobby area lighting. Twenty large, specially designed wall sconces are among the custom fixtures featured here. These fixtures, mounted at each of twenty columns in the lobby, incorporate glass rods in the 5-foot body of each fixture. The light source is directed upward through the glass rods to create a unique illumination effect as they dramatically accent the architectural detail of the building’s interior. The lighting was designed by Lam Partners of Boston and built by Winnona Lighting.

Exterior façade lighting highlights the building architecture, and is accomplished through wall sconces at the ground level. Flood lighting illuminates upward onto the building to accent various parapets and roof areas of the structure.

Broadway’s project scope also encompassed the renovation of street lighting in front of the facility on Dartmouth Street, as Boston is upgrading street lights throughout this area of the city for energy, aesthetic, and maintenance reasons. Broadway installed four period-style street lanterns per the City of Boston lighting department’s guidelines.

During the course of construction, Broadway’s three project foremen supervised a field staff of 22 journeymen and apprentices from IBEW Local 103. In meeting the aggressive project schedule demands, Broadway commenced construction in January 2001 and completed electrical installations in twenty months.

Broadway provided electrical construction services in tandem with other key members of the project construction team, including the architectural firm, Arrowstreet, Inc. of Somerville, MA; general contractor, Suffolk Construction of Boston, and electrical engineer, AHA of Lexington, MA.

The commercial structure is now equipped to accommodate retail space on the first level and office space on the upper floors. Several prominent companies now occupy space at the newest commercial facility in this prime downtown Boston location.