Recognition Honors Reconstruction of 100-Year-Old Factory Building Designed and Built by Thomas Edison
WEST ORANGE, N.J., – The International Concrete Repair Institute has awarded its “Repair Project of the Year” honor to Prism Construction Management and its work on Prism Capital Partners’ Residences at Edison Lofts in Edison Village. The industrial-to-residential redevelopment of the Thomas Edison Invention Factory and Commerce Center in West Orange included the reconstruction of a 100-year-old, cast-in-place concrete building originally designed and built by Thomas Edison
The Prism Construction Management team led the extensive repair effort of the building, which today houses 300 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, including 21 penthouse duplex residences, and a full suite of lifestyle amenities. It represents the last factory structure remaining at the Thomas Edison complex, which is on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
Time had taken its toll on the factory structure, with issues including spalling concrete, corrosion due to lack of concrete cover on bars, cracking, and leaking joints, among others. Repairs included hand-applied and formed repairs to the concrete spalls, a leveling and façade coat as well as selective parapet replacement. Sika concrete products were utilized in the repairs.
“Today’s new residential buildings are not constructed of cast-in-place concrete due to the higher cost and longer project duration, even though concrete is a much stronger material and will hold up better than a traditional wood structure,” noted Stephen Torell, senior project manager for Prism Construction Management. “This reconstructed building will likely stand for another 100+ years.”
In addition to the concrete work, repairs to the Edison Lofts building included replacing and replicating the eight- and10-foot windows that define the façade. A total of 2,450 windows were replaced to meet new energy standards and let in abundant natural light to the new homes. Prism’s redevelopment also involved the use of spray-foam insulation on the inside of all exterior walls to seal out all air infiltration and its approach goes well above and beyond the minimum requirements, creating a much tighter and energy-efficient envelope.
“Restoring this iconic structure has been a central focus of our redevelopment of Edison Village,” said Prism’s Eugene Diaz, principal partner. “We are pleased to accept this award from the ICRI and congratulate all of the members of our Construction Management team for their incredible work.”
Edison Village encompasses 21 acres in the heart of the West Orange Redevelopment Area and is the largest, non-waterfront adaptive-reuse redevelopment project in the State of New Jersey. The entire project has been created to meet LEED green building standards. Prism recently completed Phase 1, which included the total reconstruction of the historic factory complex as well as the development of 18,400 square feet of retail, a 630-space parking structure, and The Mews at Edison Lofts, a boutique collection of 34 one- and two-bedroom homes.
Upon completion, Edison Village will feature a collective total of up to 610 new residential units both rental and for sale, integrated into an urban landscape with retail stores, restaurants, parks and open green spaces in addition to vast on-site amenities.