United Lens Company announced it will be beginning a renovation to its main facility this spring. The renovation, a joint effort with Tighe & Bond and Ironclad Services, Inc., is estimated to cost $15 million and will bring vital updates to United Lens Company’s current utility system.
“Our company has seen a lot of changes and additions over the past hundred years, and as a result we [sic] found ourselves spending an enormous amount of time and money just trying to keep the facility patched and operational,” said Max Lannon, Director of Engineering, who described the renovation as “so extensive” that it was actually compared against the construction of an entirely new facility — a plan which was rejected due to cost and impacts to the production line.
Tighe & Bond, environmental specialists with a century of industrial experience, were chosen as the engineering firm for the project. After conducting a facility assessment, Tighe & Bond developed a Capital Improvement Plan that consisted of various equipment and system improvements; the engineers also provided United Lens Company with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services.
The upcoming renovation project includes the construction of a new utility system building; this will be an extension to the 200,000 square foot United Lens Company facility located at 259 Worcester Street. The proposed building will have enhancements to the HVAC, compressed air, and deionized water systems. Additionally, substantial updates will be made to the electrical infrastructure, as well as new roofing for the primary production building.
Ironclad Services, Inc., the project’s general contractor, will oversee construction of the proposed utility building. According to Ironclad, this renovation will take two years to complete and will not impact United Lens Company’s day-to-day operation or services.