This project is a commercial renovation of the cellulose manufacturer, National Fiber's main office.  The office space is an extension of the existing cellulose factory.  National Fiber has been producing cellulose insulation and hydro-seeding mulch in Belchertown MA since 1978.

Both the company's factory and office space were housed in an existing brick building.  National Fiber's office space was confined to a small area in the front portion of the building that allowed for little natural light and air.

Our design expanded the office space and tightened the building while creating more opportunities for daylighting and ventilation within the existing building.

The company will be featured on WGBY, New England's Public Access Channel on Monday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 8th, at 7:30 pm.

National Fiber wanted to utilize the existing space they were in and decided to renovate, rather than relocate their offices.   

We subdivided the existing building by adding a two hour firewall.  This allowed for the smaller office space in the front to keep a single stair to the second floor and helped to achieve a tighter division between the factory and the offices.  

The design also created a corridor that runs along side of the offices from the front entry to the factory.  This corridor keeps drivers and workers from tracking cellulose and other debris into the office space.  A metal track-off mat at the entry also helps to keep debris outside the building.  To create an opportunity for the staff from the factory and office space to blend we designed the addition of a break room and deck.

Finally, the redesign of the front entry completed the transformation of these offices.   

National Fiber is committed to using recycled materials to create energy efficient and comfortable buildings.  Cellulose is made from materials that are recycled.

We designed their office space with these principles in mind and of course, used cellulose to insulate the building.  National Fiber has employed an experimental technique, which applies the cellulose directly to the brick.  We will be monitoring the building to see how this application works.

Other design features include the existing beams, which were left exposed in the offices, bringing the character of the building into the space.  Additionally, a fan in the upper level was replaced with windows and lower windows were upgraded to create more daylight while using better performing windows. 

Lighting in the two main spaces use two overhead fluorescent lights which can be adjusted to either up or down lighting or combinations of either.  These fixtures allow for the space to be lit in whatever manner is most comfortable for the workers.  The natural light in the space from the addition of new upper windows makes the need for the overhead lights less essential.  A comfortable work environment can be achieved without the use of overhead lights at many times.

National Fiber uses a gas furnace with an HRV.  

Integrity Construction was hired after a selection process with National Fiber.  The project came in on budget with a construction cost of $230,000.  The new office space is 2,600 square feet, which brings the cost to $88 per square foot.

A blower door test was done once the project was completed. 

Blower Door Results:

CFM50: 950

 CFM50/sf of shell area: 0.17

2.08 ACH50

Natural ACH: 0.12

Lighting data was also taken after the renovation in all of the spaces.  The addition of the upper floor windows creates enough light in the spaces for work to be done without the use of overhead lighting.  These windows also illuminate the lower space.