Thomas Jefferson University Alumni Hall Renovation
Watson served as a key delivery partner in the Turner Construction Company / Watson Organization Joint Venture on an approximately $80 million, multi-phase renovation of Thomas Jefferson University’s Alumni Hall.
Alumni Hall sits at 1020 Locust Street on Jefferson’s Center City Philadelphia campus, in the heart of the university’s academic and clinical district.
The project encompassed extensive interior laboratory and research-facility renovations, specialized teaching space, and critical infrastructure upgrades, all within an active academic and research campus.
Watson led critical scopes of work to meet the University’s highly specialized requirements while minimizing disruption to ongoing academic and research operations, bringing proactive planning, hands-on field leadership, and disciplined project controls to deliver the project safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
Project Scope & Highlights:
As part of a faculty relocation program, Watson renovated approximately 5,000 square feet of interior space to relocate the Pharmacy, ENT, and Medical Media departments, keeping institutional operations running without interruption.
The project also delivered a 6,000-square-foot Teaching Laboratory with seating for up to 250 students — a modern learning environment built with the technology and specialized equipment collaborative, hands-on instruction required.
A major component of the renovation was approximately 40,000 square feet of new research laboratory space, including BSL-3 laboratories and vivarium facilities. These highly specialized environments were designed and built to the most stringent safety and regulatory standards, equipped with state-of-the-art biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, and advanced air filtration to ensure safe containment.
Key Achievements Led by The Watson Organization, Inc.
- Phase 2 Conversion:Repurposed former teaching space into a large-scale Teaching Laboratory with expanded capacity, improving functionality and operational efficiency.
- Phase 3 Demolition: Led demolition of half of the existing structure to deliver five new, fully equipped biological research laboratories.
- Specialty Laboratory Spaces:Directed construction and coordination of three autoclave rooms, BSL-3 (BSO-3) laboratory spaces, and a cold room — all delivered under heightened safety, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
- Major MEP Coordination (BIM & Field Conditions): Directed one of the largest and most complex MEP packages Watson has handled, using BIM coordination and real-time field verification to resolve system clashes while holding to critical design and engineering height constraints.
- Level 6 Air Handling Unit Replacement & Vivarium Expansion: Led demolition and reconstruction of one of the facility’s oldest solid-concrete air handling units, repurposed the space into a modern vivarium, and built a new connecting bridge between existing and new vivarium spaces on the sixth floor.
- Level 3 Laboratory & Sterilization Upgrades: Led the demolition and installation of two steam sterilizers, dry-heat sterilizers, and upgraded biochemical laboratory spaces, alongside expansion of the BSL-3 area.
Project Impact:
The completed Alumni Hall renovation demonstrates Watson’s ability to lead highly technical, mission-critical scopes within a collaborative joint-venture environment. Through a commitment to quality, safety, innovation, and community engagement, Watson is proud to have supported Thomas Jefferson University’s mission of delivering state-of-the-art academic and research environments that advance education and scientific discovery.
