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Project Details
Renovations usher in a new era for this iconic Delaware recreational facility.
Premier: The famed country club can trace its roots back to the 1880s.
Notable Functionality: Building purpose was to serve a new segment of clientele.
Pandemic Delays: Maintaining a strict schedule was imperative.
Few country clubs in America can match the history and prestige of the DuPont Country Club. Founded in 1920, the club can trace its roots back to the 1880s as a recreational club for DuPont Company employees. The DuPont Country Club is located on 525 acres in the beautiful Brandywine Valley in Delaware. Facilities include the Brantwyn Mansion, the 28,000 sq. ft. DuPont family home, which was purchased by the club in 1990. Brantwyn is the childhood home of Delaware’s former governor, Pete DuPont.
The club hosts some of the premier golf and tennis facilities in the country. DuPont was the original host of the McDonald’s LPGA golf tournament from 1986-2004. Club members enjoy 45 holes of golf and 25 tennis courts at the Tennis Center on Black Gates Rd. Throughout the years, the club has welcomed celebrities and officials. The golf courses have been played by some notable players such as Betsy Rawls, Nancy Lopez, Julie Inkster, and even actor Bob Hope. The tennis courts have welcomed Wimbledon greats Margaret Osborne DuPont, Billy Jean King, and Venus Williams.
When Rockland Sports took over the club in June 2018, CEO Robert Wirth immediately initiated a $21 million capital project to build a state-of-the-art fitness and aquatics center.
“We want to serve a whole new segment of the population and bridge the gap between our fitness and country club services. This 19,000 square foot facility is the largest fitness center in a country club anywhere in the country.”
Robert Wirth, Rockland Sports
The EDiS Company was one of five companies that Rockland considered for the job. EDiS Company is a regional builder in the Mid-Atlantic. Headquartered in Wilmington, DE, their work spans from southeastern Pennsylvania throughout Delaware to Maryland’s eastern shore. Founded by the DiSabatino family in 1908, EDiS provides construction management, general construction, design-build, interiors, and BIM services for projects large and small. EDiS has also been a Butler Builder® since 1981.
When Wirth first met with the team from EDiS Building Systems, he was impressed with EDiS’s solid reputation and ability to do great work. “I can’t say enough about EDiS and its people. They were working with us constantly to find ways to achieve our goals by doing something faster, cheaper, and better. They were true partners in the process. The initial design was way over budget, so EDiS introduced us to Butler® building systems and showed us how we could achieve our design’s essence while saving Rockland a considerable amount of money. Everyone I met from EDiS was personable and professional. I can see why the company is so successful. It is full of first-class people.”
“Once we understood the budget constraints, we immediately turned to a pre-engineered solution by Butler to help us save money and to achieve our schedule. The architect felt satisfied that his design was not compromised in any way.”
Chuck Aungst, Division Manager, EDiS Building Systems
The structure was designed with the Butler MR-24® Roof System, supported by the Thermal Bridge System (TBS) insulation package for added energy efficiency. The MR-24® roof system is the industry’s first and finest standing-seam metal roof system with more than 50 years of proven in-place weathertight performance. Using an exclusive 360-degree Pittsburgh double-lock seam, the MR-24 roof system acts like a monolithic steel surface covering the entire building and providing superior protection. The roof includes multiple roof-top units mounted on IF curbs. The edge of roof is a custom parapet solution with wide gutters. The structural steel supports a flat panel wall system and extensive glass throughout. Beneath the roof, EDiS used the Sky-Web® fall protection and insulation system for added safety and to give a superior finish along with the acrylic-coated purlins.
Aungst noted building information modeling (BIM) is used by EDiS to avoid costly delays in the construction process. “BIM helped us identify areas where ductwork was necessary, therefore we could achieve the maximum amount of clearance inside within a minimum amount of height for the building. We not only saved on structural steel, but we eliminated potential clashes that would have meant costly delays.”
One of the biggest challenges was the two-phase approach to the project. The pool was completed first to accommodate the summer swimming season. Work on the fitness center had to be completed just 15 feet away from the occupied pool. EDiS created an ‘occupied job site’ plan to ensure the safety of the patrons and workers throughout construction.
Michael Freda, Vice President of EDiS Company, noted that the Butler system was a key ingredient to meeting the schedule.
“Despite all of the delays and issues around COVID, we were able to maintain our schedule because the building went up so well.”
Michael Freda, EDiS Company
Wirth is excited about the future. “Ironically, COVID has sparked a resurgence in the game of golf. Utilization rates are way up because long-time golfers are playing more golf, and new people are coming into the game. What better way to get ‘socially distanced’ than getting out on our 200 acres of golf courses. And our new fitness and aquatic center adds a whole new dimension to the country club experience.”
EDiS Building Systems
www.ediscompany.com
Photography by Daniel Jackson Photo
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