WELLESLEY — It is Game On for Albany Road Real Estate Partners via the Hub-based opportunity fund’s $86.2 million purchase of five first-class athletic facilities in suburban Boston leveraged by $61 million from Brookline Bank. The joint venture with ESG Associates secures 445,000 sf of arena space in an off-market transaction headlined by the gleaming complex here at Boston Sports Institute, a multi-tiered fitness center featuring hockey in its 153,000-sf constitution, an element of all the assets bought.

According to Albany Road President Christopher J. Knisley, the acquisition orchestrated sans brokers is part of a grander vision beyond its inaugural shot across the bow to “a somewhat fractured industry” whose ownership is still primarily individually held and operated. Given his firm maintains “it is no longer a mom-and-pop industry,” Knisley says the partnership “expects this aggregation strategy will generate opportunities to create and/or enhance new and existing revenue streams, and to reduce expenses through critical mass operating efficiencies” and branding of the endeavor.

“This is a unique and compelling opportunity that we are pursuing vigorously yet strategically,” Knisley tells Real Reporter in agreeing the transaction “is like nothing else” in the firm’s investment history which will reach 10 years this summer. Since buying a modest retail plaza in central New Hampshire, Albany Road has acquired over $1.6 billion of assets across the country, most recently via a $250 million fully discretionary fund that has been in business for the past year.

Fund III’s target assets did not match the latest endeavor’s unusual framework, leading to formation of a separate entity to acquire “the Northeast Athletic Facility Portfolio.” Star of the show would be the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, constructed in 2018, the two-story building at 900 Worcester St. also offering basketball courts, a pool, pro shop and outdoor fields to accommodate baseball, flag football, lacrosse and soccer.

The Foxboro Sports Center in namesake Foxborough is next in scale, that building turning 20 next year comprising 98,950 sf in a single-story format. Then would be the 90,000-sf Thayer Sports Center in Braintree, also on one level and tricked out as a shiny hockey rink that came on line in 2019. Rounding out the portfolio is the 58,100-sf Hobomock Ice Arena in Pembroke, and the slightly smaller Boch Ice Center in Dedham, a 15-yearold building totaling 44,250 sf.

Having its CRE footprint emerge across the country since 2012, Albany Road concentrated on many bread-andbutter asset classes including industrial, office and retail, but Knisley says Albany Road’s legacy of consistently delivering hefty returns is being challenged of late by intense competition driving up pricing for certain CRE staples, most notably the industrial realm in which the firm has been especially successful with generating aboveaverage results. The current environment is prompting Albany Road to consider alternative and specialty realms to achieve those aims, Knisley relays in detailing why they shifted into a field that has elements of an operating company.

Addressing that complexity is ESG Associates, aka Edge Sports Group, whose President Brian DeVellis launched the group a quarter-century ago as a full-service athletic facility consultant, developer and manager formed to respond to a growing demand for recreational programming from communities, schools and other private and non-private organizations. “Without the comfort and confidence we have in Brian DeVellis and his group, we would not have done this deal,” Knisley declares. “They are by far the recognized leader in this space, and we are very enthused and honored to have them on board as we expand this platform in new and exciting directions.”

The initial quintet of assets are focused on a hockey component, but as noted in the Boston Sports Institute, the holdings do come with basketball courts, swimming pools, strength and conditioning rooms and turf fields, as well as various physical therapy and medical practices plus concession and dining areas, pro shops and other retail units. The properties were purposefully assembled across the southern and western suburbs of Greater Boston, “a region known for its passion for youth sports in general, and youth hockey in particular,” outlines Knisley.

Sharing the passion Albany Road is expressing towards the joint venture is DeVellis. “We couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Albany Road on this new platform, given their reputation, strong track record and ability to recognize real estate opportunities ahead of trends,” DeVellis says in a statement to Real Reporter, adding, “This partnership will allow ESG to not only more efficiently manage and grow this portfolio, but to also pivot quickly to capitalize on future opportunities to create a growing eco-system of family oriented sports, recreation and entertainment centers.”

Further validating the concept was the lending community, according to Knisley, who observes that, “given the continuous cash-flow nature of the portfolio, coupled with the ability to enhance bottom-line net operating income, acquisition financing was sought after by a number of different lenders.” Ultimately, the borrowers gave their nod to Brookline Bank. “We are thrilled to further our relationship with Brookline Bank, given our strong history together and mutual respect for one another—we could not have asked for a better lender to join us on this exciting new platform,” says Knisley.

Deeming the process “a fairly nuanced and complex transaction,” Knisley gave a shout-out to loan officers David L’Heureux and Joseph O’Leary “and the rest of the Brookline Bank team” for putting together the victorious lending package.

In terms of any Covid-related hesitations, Albany Road maintains the pandemic will only serve to inspire recreational pursuits going forward, and have other positive elements such as offering diversification from traditional real estate cycles and product types. According to Albany Road Vice President Tyler Savonen, the youth sports and recreation space “is the ultimate panacea to any remote, work-from-home concern that has dominated real estate since the onset of the pandemic. This portfolio, and this space, are insulated from that concern (because) what occurs at these facilities cannot be done remotely . . . Moreover, the demand for youth sports participation has remained stable during the pandemic, as it has historically during recessionary periods.”

As to growth projections, Knisley says the firm is presently getting its arms around the large assemblage of assets to begin the campaign, but adds he is hopeful the firm can double in dollar volume by year end from the initial $86.2 million commitment. The focus for now will remain metropolitan Boston and concentrating on hockey arenas given a perceived lack of development opportunities from competitors. “We expect positive things going forward with this,” says Knisley.

Located in a suburb of MetroWest Boston, the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Mass., is a 130,000-square-foot multi-use recreation facility with two hockey ice arenas, a synthetic turf field, track, pool, warm-up pool, sports rehabilitation area and strength training space. Located in a collegiate town, the facility provides ice and pool time for local schools, and can be rented out for private organizations and sports groups.

Designed by PDA Inc., Natick, Mass., in connection with design-builder Dacon Corp., Natick, Barnes Buildings and Management Group Inc., Weymouth, Mass., was the project builder and installer. Completed in July 2019, the project presented a number of challenges, including an increased condensation risk from the high interior relative humidity levels of the pools (60%) and ice rinks (48%), which is minimized via thermal insulation.

A variety of energy conservation measures were incorporated into the building to address the operation challenges of multiple high-energy demand environments. Loop systems with heat exchangers and circulation pumps reclaim thermal energy from the ice rinks to heat the pool. And, LED lighting and high-efficiency water heaters are used for ice resurfacing, along with an ammonia refrigeration system. Additionally, the facility’s 100,000-square-foot roof and electrical infrastructure is set up for a 900kW photovoltaic array to be installed at a later date.

To meet the functional and aesthetic project goals, an exterior wall assembly consisting of 58,000 square feet of insulated metal panels (IMPs) from Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, in a tri-color pattern of Smoke Gray, Polar White and Sandstone provides a weather enclosure, insulation, and an air and vapor barrier. The facility is a metal building system from Houston-based Metallic Building Co., built around the shell of the pool, which was used for the 2012 Olympic trials, that was shipped to the site.

Kevin Provencher, AIA, LEED AP, director of architecture at Dacon, says IMPs are an effective solution for multiuse facilities with variable environmental requirements. “Both ice rinks and natatoriums have high moisture loads, but the ice rinks’ temperature will be maintained at 55 F while the pools are at 82 F. It’s an ideal wall system for a facility with demanding environmental needs.”

To hide the rooftop equipment, a parapet on the gable end of the building above the pool starts low at the eaves and grows to 3 feet at the peak. An accent band made with Metl-Span’s 7.2 Rib single-skin panels starts near the top of the building and continues horizontally from the windows.

More than 75% of the roofing is Metallic Buildings’ double-lock standing seam roof system in Galvalume. Metl-Span’s CFR IMPs in Galvalume are used for the roofing above the pool. The IMPs start approximately 35 feet from the roof peak so the top section is the standing seam panels. At the transition, the roofline drops 1 foot. The interior skin on the roofing and wall IMPs in the pool area are coated with Flurothane IV, a finish formulated to withstand corrosive environments from Minneapolis-based Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings.

“Our client wanted a strong visual impact on the north façade facing the state highway,” Provencher adds. “When passing other commercial buildings, commuters notice this vibrant design featuring vertical and horizontal panels.”

Original Article: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/energy-efficient-sports-hub

Boston, known for its dense saturation of academic institutions and leading sports teams, possesses an ironic gap within its metro-suburban landscape – that of a professional grade practice facility. Enter the sports ecosystem, a mixed-use concept where community and consumer value chain are new business partners.

Identifying a unique opportunity, Edge Sports Group (ESG) conceptualized the Boston Sports Institute (BSI), a US$23.3M, 130,000ft2 mixed-use recreation facility. Utilizing a public-private partnership model, ESG is a long-term lessee that constructs, manages and owns facilities, while the town retains land ownership, priority scheduling for schools and dedicated community hours.

As a holistic concept centralizing sports medicine, tutoring services and quick dining, BSI encompasses six sports arenas. Most notably, a competitive pool repurposed from the 2012 trials where Ryan Lochte qualified for the Olympics. Other areas include a warm therapy pool, two NHL hockey rinks, a suspended track and indoor turf field. In July 2020, BSI was one of seven buildings in the US to receive the MBCEA award for excellence in metal architecture, #1 for the education and recreation category.

Efficient design

A well-planned design strategy for any building correctly configures interaction, energy use, business growth and long-term interest. For mixed-use sports facilities the difference is in maintaining multiple high energy, temperature and humidity-controlled environments. From a design perspective, creating symbiotic environments within extreme temperature conditions is an architectural paradox. Spanning ice to warm water, energy is the lifeblood of these buildings.

Dacon Corporation, the design builder of BSI, centered the facility’s architecture and material selections on managing environmental demand. To reduce operating costs, thermal energy extracted to keep rinks frozen is reclaimed to heat the pools via loop systems with heat exchangers and circulation pumps.

Additionally, to eliminate excessive condensation, high interior relative humidity levels of the pools (60%) and ice rinks (48%) are addressed by vapor barriers, thermal and window insulation. During construction careful consideration was given to minimizing glare in the competitive pool as a potential safety hazard. Windows are strategically positioned high on the north side using solar geometry, thereby limiting direct sunlight on the water’s surface to a few hours per year. Chloramine gas, a corrosive byproduct of chlorine disinfectant that settles near the water’s surface, is exhausted through the roof via vents cut into the base of the swim team benches running along the pool deck.

Additional energy efficiency measures include LED lighting, high-efficiency water heaters for domestic use and ice resurfacing, plus a state-of-the-art ammonia refrigeration system. The resulting program reduces Energy Use Intensity (EUI) from baseline 192.1 kBtu/ft2 to 169.2 kBtu/ft2, representing a 12% reduction in natural gas and electricity use.

The 100,000ft2 roof and electrical infrastructure is prepared for a 900kW photovoltaic array that will contribute to the town’s overall environmental goal to reduce electrical grid demand and carbon emissions. Exterior Metl-Span panels provide weather enclosure, insulation, air and vapor barrier in a single product, fulfilling both functional and aesthetic requirements. Encompassing a full range of human diversity, facility functions are expanded for maximum use via a movable bulkhead, chair lift and drop-in stair for the pools and private, gender-neutral changing spaces. Elevators and accessible walkways ensure fluid access throughout the facility, welcoming all ages and abilities.

BY WEB TEAM ON 13TH AUGUST 2020

The Boston Sports Institute by BARNES buildings & management group earned Metallic’s 2019 Building of the Year award for the Community / Recreational category. This is a well-deserve award given the magnitude of this project and the extraordinary recreation features and inclusions that take this project over the top.

Project Overview:

This project consists of four buildings to house two ice rinks, a field house, a pool and the building entry. Buildings A&B have a DoubleLok Standing Seam roof. Building C has a CFR roof. Building D has a metal deck. Buildings A, B and C have IMP, mixed multi-color vertical and horizontal panels.

Why was metal selected for this project?

Cost effectiveness, design compatibility and flexibility, durability and sustainability

Describe the project goals and how metal was used to achieve those goals

The goal was to create clear spans for the ice rinks, pool house and field house with mezzanines for viewing stands, a running track and other facility requirements while creating space below for locker rooms, a heated pool and mechanical rooms. This was achieved utilizing multi-span and gable symmetrical buildings and a gable unsymmetrical building with an attached single slope building. Two jack beams were utilized, one to carry framing over the heated pool and the other to carry the framing over the entry between the rinks and the pool and field house.

Special Features

Building A – Mezzanine and two-ice rinks

Building B – Running track, mezzanine level, artificial turft field, vertical and horizontal IMP

Building C – Mezzanine and pool building; vertical and horizontal IMP with special coating on interior skin

Building square footage: 101,842

Finishes: Embossed finish on IMP

Insulated Metal Panels: CFR Roof Panel and Mesa Wall Panel

Roof System:  DoubleLok

Green Attributes: Recycled content in steel, IMP and insulation

Accessories: Roof curbs, snow fence and acoustical panel at cooling tower

The plan for the Boston Sports Institute project consists of four buildings: an ice rink, field house, pool and entry. Clear spans provide uninterrupted space for the rink, pool house and field house, while mezzanines wrap shoes areas and offer patrons viewing stands as well as a running track. Below the mezzanine space was provided for locker rooms, a warm pool, offices and other support spaces. The 101,842-square-foot building was erected on a constrained site where workers only had access to three sides of the building.

http://www.digital.metalconstructionnews.com/July2020#&pageSet=12&contentItem=0

Sports facilities are unique environments that face varying environmental conditions from both within and outside the structure. In evaluating building materials, client and builder seek proven solutions for meeting environmental requirements, codes and long-term durability without forsaking the art of design.

Enter the new Boston Sports Institute (BSI), a 130,000 square foot multi-use recreation facility in Wellesley, a suburb of Metro West Boston. A collegiate town and activities hub for surrounding residential communities, Wellesley lacked a professional grade sports facility. Featuring two NHL ice arenas, a synthetic turf field, indoor track, repurposed 2012 Olympic trial pool, warm-up pool, sports rehabilitation area and strength training facility, this $23.3 million complex was completed in July 2019. Centered on a public-private partnership model between the town and the management company Edge Sports Group, BSI prioritizes ice and pool time for local schools who previously traveled to professional facilities. It is also rentable for private organizations and sports groups.

“We were committed to using insulated metal panels from the earliest design stages, both for its performance and design flexibility,” states Kevin Provencher, AIA, LEED AP, Director of Architecture at the design builder Dacon Corporation. “We have a lot of history with this type of product on a variety of building types. It is an effective solution for multi-use facilities with variable environmental requirements. Both ice rinks and natatoriums have high moisture loads, but the ice rink’s temperature will be maintained at 55 degrees Fahrenheit while the pools are at 82 degrees. It’s an ideal wall system for a facility with demanding environmental needs.”

Provencher says insulated metal panels (IMPs) provide a total wall system that incorporates a continuous insulating layer with control layers for weather, air and vapor barriers.

“It helps that we partnered with a quality metal building builder,” Provencher says. “Collaboration was key to this project’s success. Selecting the right details and sharing responsibility eases the burden on the designer.”

Barnes Buildings & Management Group Inc. of Weymouth, Mass., a Metallic Building Company dealer, installed the insulated metal panels from Metl-Span as well as the engineered metal framing system. Tony Barnes oversaw the erection of the metal framing and challenging installation of 58,000 square feet of insulated metal panels. Tim Allison, the Vice President of Project Management at Barnes, oversaw project administration.

“We have a mixture of panel types in multiple colors that run in two orientations,” Allison says. “When we have just one type of panel and one color, we simply unwrap the bundle and install continuously. With multiple colors, you must spread out bundles so we can access the panels in the order needed. With this site, we didn’t have much room, so it was tricky. We paid close attention to the drawings and details to ensure correct installation.”

Allison says Barnes Buildings erects a lot of structures using engineered metal framing systems and IMPs. He’s noticed an architectural trend is using mixed colors and panel orientation to provide a unique aesthetic that is almost impossible to match with other building materials.

Metl-Span’s Smoke Gray, Polar White and Sandstone were installed to create an eye-catching aesthetic. “Our client wanted a strong visual impact on the north façade facing the state highway,” Provencher says. “When passing other commercial buildings commuters notice this vibrant design featuring vertical and horizontal panels. Tim Allison and Marty Barnes provided valuable input, influencing the final outcome.”

There are several unique details to BSI, including a parapet on the gable end of the building above the pool. It starts low at the eaves and grows to 3 feet at the peak to hide rooftop equipment. Barnes Buildings also installed an accent band near the top of the building, a single skin metal panel that continues horizontally from the windows. The 7.2 Rib panel from Metl-Span is 36 inches wide with ribs that are 1-1/2 inches deep.

The roofing for more than 75 percent of the building is a double lock standing seam from Metallic in bare Galvalume. The roofing above the pool is a bare Galvalume insulated metal panel, Metl-Span’s CFR system. It starts approximately 35 feet from the roof peak, so the top section of roofing is standing seam. At the transition to where the IMPs are above the pool, the roofline drops 1 foot. The interior skin on the roofing and wall IMPs in the pool area are coated with Valspar’s Flurothane IV, a finish formulated to protect in exceptionally harsh environments where chemical corrosion protection is needed.

“It’s all things we’ve dealt with on other projects, but there’s a little bit of everything on this one,” Allison says. “It’s a special job and a visually appealing project. The IMPs are ideally suited for our New England climate. When used as walls and roofing, they provide excellent continuous insulation on any building.”

Architect: PDA Inc., Natick, MA

Design Builder: Dacon Corporation, Natick, MA

IMP Installer: Barnes Buildings & Management Group, Weymouth, MA

Completion Date: July 2019

Metl-Span
www.metlspan.com
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What underlies the value of play?  While some speak of the enchantment of winning, today’s social and economic motivators indelibly integrate teamwork, achievement and self-discipline with business profitability. Propelled by technology, activism and cultural changes, sports has become a powerful entertainer – a content creator and media draw. Enter the sports ecosystem, a mixed-use concept where community and customer-centric value chain creation are new business partners.

Edge Sports Group (ESG), led by Brian DeVellis, foresaw a unique opportunity within the MetroWest landscape in creating the Boston Sports Institute (BSI), a professional grade facility encompassing sports functions and related commercial businesses in a communal environment. Utilizing a public-private partnership model, ESG is a long-term lessee that constructs, manages and owns the 130,000 s/f building, while the town of Wellesley retains land ownership, priority scheduling and dedicated hours. With 102,000 s/f of ground floor area and 28,000 s/f of mezzanine space, DeVellis’ holistic vision centralizes sports medicine, tutoring services and quick dining alongside two NHL hockey rinks for skating, sled and ice hockey, a suspended track, an indoor turf field, therapy pool and competitive repurposed pool from the 2012 Olympic trials. The fifth sports facility project for ESG after previous developments in Worcester, Essex, Bedford and Braintree, BSI continues the sports ecosystem business model.

A well-planned design strategy for any building correctly configures interaction, energy use, business growth and long-term interest. For mixed-use sports facilities the difference is in maintaining multiple high energy demand, temperature and humidity-controlled environments spanning rinks, natatoriums, turf fields and public areas. From a design perspective, creating symbiotic environments within extreme temperature conditions appears paradoxical. However at BSI, operating costs were reduced by extracting thermal energy to keep the rinks frozen and reclaiming it to heat the pools via loop systems with heat exchangers and circulation pumps. Additional energy efficiency measures include LED lighting, high efficiency water heaters for domestic use and ice resurfacing, plus a state-of-the-art ammonia refrigeration system. The resulting program reduces Energy Use Intensity (EUI) from baseline 192.1 kBtu/ft2 to 169.2 kBtu/ft2, representing a 12% reduction in natural gas and electricity use. Additionally, the 100,000 s/f roof and electrical infrastructure is prepared for a 900kW photovoltaic array that will contribute to the town of Wellesley’s overall environmental goal to reduce electrical grid demand and carbon emissions.

Managing demands from multiple interior environments was a key factor in Dacon’s overall design and material selections. The exterior wall assembly was based on a tricolor pattern using Metl-Span panels which provided weather enclosure, insulation, air and vapor barrier in a single product. This approach encompassed the best overall value to fulfill the client’s functional and aesthetic requirements. The high interior relative humidity levels of the natatoriums (60%) and ice rinks (48%) presented an increased risk for condensation across the boundaries of adjacent spaces, adding a level of complexity to interior wall construction necessitating thermal insulation, window insulation and vapor barriers. Careful consideration was given to minimizing glare in the competition pool, a potential safety hazard and hinderance to competitive swimming. Anticipating the solar geometry, windows were strategically positioned high on the north side, limiting direct sunlight on the water’s surface to a few hours per year. For any pool, chemical management is a necessary component for both the comfort and health of swimmers and spectators. Irritating chloramine gas, a corrosive byproduct of chlorine disinfectant that settles near the water’s surface, is removed from swimmers’ breathing zones through vents located at the base of team benches running along the pool deck. The gas is then exhausted through vertical ducts that discharge through the roof. To guard against corrosion all exposed metal parts are stainless steel with wall and ceiling surfaces finished with epoxy.

Alongside environmental, financial, health and safety considerations, BSI’s design encompasses the full range of human diversity. The practice of sport is a human right, as such thoughtful consideration was given to expand facility functions for maximum use. With a movable bulkhead, chair lift and drop-in stair, the competition pool can be transformed into courses for water polo, competitive diving, youth, recreational and adaptive swim. Large view windows emphasize transparency between sports areas contributing to an awareness of activity throughout the facility and provide parents observational viewing. In addition to traditional locker rooms, a family locker room is available with private, gender neutral changing spaces. On the second level, suspended above the soccer/lacrosse turf field, is a two-lane track for jogging and rehabilitative walking. Elevators and accessible walkways ensure fluid access throughout the facility. This is a true community center that welcomes all ages and abilities.

Financial, perceptive, cultural and aesthetic elements all interplay in sports facility design. Within the sports ecosystem model, alignment of short and long-term goals are vital components to success for the town and lessee. While community facilities are symbolic of cultural values and ideals, they can also be profitable business models when employing a sports ecosystem as the facility framework. Critical design features of structure, materials, light and color contribute to success. Outside of financial prospects, it must not be forgotten that play is an essential community value for physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Walking the line between potential and reality, it enables human beings to develop capabilities, tolerance and inclusion, creating healthier communities.

October 18, 2019 – Construction Design & Engineering

Lauren Nowicki is the director of marketing for Dacon, Natick, Mass.

Dacon’s work on the new Boston Sports Institute in Natick received Metl-Span’s Building of the Month Award.  This 130,000sf professional grade facility encompasses sports functions and related commercial businesses in a communal environment.  Managing demands from multiple interior environments was a key factor in overall design and material selections.

The exterior wall assembly was based on a tricolor pattern selected by the client using Metl-Span panels which provided weather enclosure, insulation, air and vapor barrier in a single product.  This approach encompassed the best overall value to fulfill the client’s functional and aesthetic requirements.

Each October, the Metl-Span Awards are given based on a voting panel comprised of architects, insulated metal panel installers and internal stakeholders.  Voting selection consists of overall building aesthetics and incorporation of insulated metal panels into the building design.  This year there were 30 submissions. “We were delighted to receive this recognition.  Metl-Span panels offer a comprehensive, creative and practical solution to our clients’ building needs.  Our clients are consistently pleased with the outcome from using these panels,” states Kevin Quinn, CEO of Dacon.

highprofile | November 5, 2019 

Project Connect organized a fundraiser volleyball tournament Friday, Dec. 6 for The Ellie Fund.

The night of volleyball began at 7 p.m. and ended at 2:30 a.m. The tournament consisted of 21 teams playing, with three divisions.

Project Connect is a local nonprofit based out of the South Shore, founded by Jazna Stannard and Sierra Gonsalves. They focus on community development and engagement by bringing corporations and individuals together. For this particular event they brought the Greater New England volleyball community together to raise money for the Ellie Fund. The Ellie Fund is a nonprofit based out of Needham. They provide assistance to breast cancer patients, such as supplying them with food, transportation, and child care. Their impact is seen all over New England since they not only assist Massachusetts residents, but also those that receive treatment in Massachusetts.

The night was fueled by free waffles for everyone, complimentary of East Bay Grille, pizza from Rosie’s Pizzeria in Braintree, and KIND Snacks. And a special thank you goes out to the new Thayer Sports Center for donating their facility for the night, as well as all of the local businesses that donated their services for the raffle!

Wicked Local Braintree | Posted Dec 18, 2019 at 7:51 AM

https://braintree.wickedlocal.com/news/20191218/project-connect-hosts-volleyball-tourney-to-benefit-ellie-fund