School of Data Science Work Crew Commended for Safety with 'Battle of the Belt'

The firm overseeing construction of the new home for the School of Data Science says the workers assigned to the project continue to achieve the company’s highest marks for safety, as the building remains on schedule to open its doors in April 2024.

Building a 61,000-foot structure at the lowest topographical point in the City of Charlottesville requires close coordination between architecture teams, University facilities, construction management, city officials, and many others. Gilbane, a global construction and facility management services firm, reports that, to date, there have been no safety incidents in the 123,000 man-hours logged at the site.

Gilbane, which oversees a dozen or more projects in the Charlottesville and Richmond areas, holds monthly safety audits where crews compete for the “Battle of the Belt,” an award for the highest quality of safety. The belt, made of red leather with three brass plates and reminiscent of those won by boxing titleholders, currently resides with the crew working on the School of Data Science, and they’ve held it for eight of the 10 months they’ve spent on the project—a testament to their commitment to employee and site safety. 

Image

Gilbane boasts a 98% average for no safety incidents across all of their work sites, according to the company's website. Patrick Albrecht, project manager at Gilbane for the School of Data Science, attests, “I have found that prioritizing job site cleanliness and anticipating work hazards well in advance are two contributing factors to safety and productivity." He added: "Our core value, Gilbane Cares, means the safety and well-being of everyone on our project sites is our highest importance."

The new School of Data Science building sits at the intersection of Emmet Street and Ivy Road and will serve as a gateway for the University of Virginia’s new Discovery corridor, which will also soon feature a new hotel and conference center, the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and a new arts center. 

The School of Data Science’s new home will feature four stories with a total capacity of 1,873 people. It includes a two-story Capital One hub for presentations and events, a fourth-floor terrace looking across to Central Grounds, interactive classrooms and meeting spaces, and a data sculpture installation. It faces a picturesque pond that will manage storm water overflow for the City of Charlottesville. The intersection will also feature improved traffic flows with new bike lanes and a future tunnel under the railroad bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

Phil Bourne, founding dean of the school, admits a lot of data science has gone into the building project. “From data and methods in modern architectural design, to maintaining supply chains and safety,” he said. “We intend to apply data science to ourselves, within and for the building, especially as we think about a sustainable future and our relationship with the communities that surround us.”