357 Park Place is a major adaptive reuse project in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, converting a former middle and high school building into a mixed-use residential community. The existing building was originally constructed in 1915 and is being transformed into a large multifamily development with residential units, community/recreation amenities, and supporting spaces. The developer proposed a conversion of the former school building into apartments, with the site totaling approximately 2.98 acres and the proposed residential program including more than 150 dwelling units and 200,000sqft of combined building area.

Engineering Fire Protection, LLC provided fire protection and fire alarm design services to support the reuse of this large existing building developed by the Goldman Group. EFP’s scope included due diligence survey work, public water supply analysis, fire sprinkler system design, fire alarm system design, coordination with the AHJ, and construction-phase support. The design documents were developed in multiple progress phases for project coordination and permitting.

A key part of EFP’s value was tailoring the fire protection and fire alarm design to the existing building conditions. Because the project involved a large historic school building with complex layouts, high ceilings, existing shafts, gymnasium spaces, and multiple residential floors, EFP performed extensive field survey work to understand the actual conditions before developing the design. The fire protection drawings show sprinkler coverage throughout the basement, sub-basement, residential floors, gymnasium areas, and common spaces, while the fire alarm drawings document notification, detection, elevator recall, and system monitoring throughout the converted building.

During the early due diligence and hydrant flow testing process, EFP identified an abnormal public water supply condition. Rather than immediately recommending costly infrastructure upgrades, EFP worked closely with the city utility team to investigate the issue and perform a valve sweep. A closed city valve was ultimately located and opened, restoring water supply to a satisfactory condition and avoiding the need for a fire pump or water tank.

Through careful survey, code coordination, water supply investigation, and practical system design, EFP helped the project team reuse existing infrastructure where appropriate, reduce unnecessary construction cost, and move the adaptive reuse project forward with a coordinated fire/life safety strategy.