Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Georgetown University

  • 03/01/16

Project Snapshot

PROJECT: Asset Management
INSTITUTION: Georgetown University
LOCATION: Washington, DC
COMPANY NAME: The Refinishing Touch
WEBSITE: www.therefinishingtouch.com

Asset Management

When it comes to dormitory renovations, a higher education facilities manager has the ever-increasing responsibility to take cost-efficiency, downtime, resident disruption and sustainability into consideration. With The Refinishing Touch’s award-winning furniture asset management services, Georgetown University was able to check all four of these requirements, and then some, off of the to-do list.

THE CHALLENGE

The university sought to update its popular building, Harbin Hall, by upcycling various assets including love seats, armchairs, lounge chairs and sofas. Specifically, the scope of work included the refinishing and re-upholstery of these pieces, using fabrics from The Refinishing Touch’s exclusive Touch Textiles division. Most importantly, the desired project needed to fulfill several objectives including budget, project deadlines and building upon Georgetown University’s focus on sustainability.

THE SOLUTION

The process of transporting furniture in and out of the facility is not only a waste of both parties’ time and money but also creates unnecessary carbon emissions. With that in mind, our experienced production crew went to Washington, DC to implement our ISO 9001:2008-compliant furniture asset management solution. The project was completed on-site using non-toxic lacquers with low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), maintaining indoor air quality and ensuring safety. This solution allowed the project to be completed well before the deadline while also minimizing disruption to students.

By investing in The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, Georgetown University reduced its total expenditure an estimated 55 percent — lowering the cost for the project from $36,526 to $16,241 — and completed the project on site in less than a week and a half.

Asset Management

IMPACT ON LEARNING

Through the work of The Refinishing Touch, Georgetown University was able to successfully extend their sustainability initiatives quickly and cost effectively. Recent research by The Princeton Review found that two-thirds of students and parents said that a university’s commitment to the environment would make a difference in application and attendance. With that in mind, Georgetown University is actively promoting a healthy learning environment, while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact — Mission Accomplished!

Editor’s Review

Studies show that students who live on campus earn better grades. But students also expect all the comforts of home in their residence halls. If universities can’t offer housing that lives up to student expectations they may look for off-campus housing that does, and see their GPA suffer accordingly. By upcycling residence hall furnishings Georgetown University has shown their commitment to student success by offering them updated residence facilities, while also displaying attention to both sustainability and budgets.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

Digital Edition