Towson University | Burdick Hall Expansion
Burdick Hall Expansion at Towson University was a transformative campus recreation project delivered by Lewis Contractors as Construction Manager at Risk. The project consisted of a 94,500‑square‑foot, multi‑level addition that significantly expanded and redefined Towson University’s Campus Recreation Services facility, connecting seamlessly to previously completed renovation phases and creating a centralized destination for student wellness, fitness, and community engagement.
The expansion introduced a comprehensive suite of new recreation and wellness amenities, including open fitness and training areas, group fitness studios, cycling and boxing studios, a climbing center, an indoor running track, multi‑activity courts, aquatics, locker rooms, a café, and associated support spaces. Exterior improvements extended the building’s presence into the surrounding campus with new pedestrian walkways, plazas, and outdoor courts that strengthened connectivity and campus flow.
Constructed on a highly constrained, mid‑campus site, the 94,500 SF addition presented significant logistical and technical challenges. A dense network of active campus utilities—including steam, sanitary, stormwater, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure—ran directly through the project footprint, many at substantial depth and with incomplete documentation. Lewis Contractors coordinated closely with the University and design team to locate, protect, reroute, and phase critical utilities while maintaining uninterrupted campus operations. Excavation and foundation work required constant adjustment to resolve conflicts between new structural systems and existing underground infrastructure.
As Construction Manager at Risk, Lewis Contractors led comprehensive construction planning, phasing, and logistics in an occupied academic environment. The team coordinated complex utility tie‑ins to active campus systems, sequenced work to minimize disruption, and maintained safe pedestrian and service access throughout construction. Integration with Burdick Hall Phases II and III—also delivered by Lewis—was carefully managed to ensure the expanded facility functioned as a cohesive, unified building rather than a collection of additions.
Sustainability was a central project objective. The completed expansion achieved LEED Gold certification, reflecting coordinated efforts in systems integration, material selection, construction waste management, and indoor environmental quality. Despite the site constraints and infrastructure complexity, Lewis Contractors delivered the Burdick Hall Expansion at Towson University with minimal disruption, creating a long‑term asset that supports student health, engagement, and campus life.