Construction is well underway at Mellishwood, with significant progress taking place on site despite a challenging winter season.
Crews are currently focused on earthwork and concrete operations, laying the groundwork for the structure. Once these phases are completed, framing is anticipated to begin toward the end of the month, marking an exciting milestone as the building will soon begin to take shape above ground.
Winter conditions added an extra layer of complexity to the early stages of construction. Snow, freezing temperatures, and difficult ground conditions made sitework and concrete placement particularly challenging. Even so, the construction team has continued to move the project forward with careful coordination and planning.
One of the most unique aspects of the project is the site itself. The north side of the property projects out toward a steep hillside that drops down to the Ottauquechee River, requiring significant engineering and site stabilization measures. To ensure long-term structural stability and resilience, the project includes the construction of a large foundation wall nearly 20 feet in height. This wall is designed not only to stabilize the hillside but also to help the building withstand 500-year flood conditions.
The steep terrain required extensive excavation work, which was further complicated by the limited space available for staging and construction operations. The site is relatively small and remains congested, particularly because two of the four properties on the parcel are still occupied by tenants during construction. Careful coordination has been necessary to maintain safe access and minimize disruption.
Despite these challenges, the project continues to make steady progress. As winter transitions into spring and framing begins, the Mellishwood project will soon move into a new phase of construction, bringing the vision for the building one step closer to reality.
Stay tuned for more updates as the project continues to develop.
Architect: Banwell Architects
Construction Manager: Ingram Construction
Site contractor: Fenoff Excavating
Concrete: Jeff Carter Concrete Works
