“Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina on September 27, 2024. Our campus was struck with historic flooding that destroyed many of our facilities and deeply damaged others. The Swannanoa River, which creates the southern border of our campus, escaped its banks, flooding sports fields and the first floor of all buildings.” – ACA Website
Within days of flooding PBI was contacted to be involved with the restoration process through the school, remediation company and a local GC. Over a couple week span we worked with the school on design, quoting and procuring materials to meet a rigid completion date of the end of December. With an overall footprint of 120,000 square feet, spread over three buildings – flooring began arriving early November and installation on the 18th. Flooring included Carpet Tile, LVP, Cove Base, Porcelain and Ceramic Tile, 16,000 + sqft of Hardwood Gym Floor, Rubber Tile and Interior Turf.
Substantial completion was December 31st with students able to return on January 7th – 101 days after their last classes prior to the flooding. PBI could not have met this strict timeline without Fuse Partners – Ardex, Johnsonite/Tarkett, Mapei, Mohawk, & Roppe.
Nancy Thiel, founder and principal of Thiel Architecture + Design, is a licensed architect and an interior designer. With 40+ years’ experience working with luminaries in the architecture world, including Michael Graves, Robert A.M. Stern, and Rockwell Group, where she served as a studio leader, Thiel’s extensive portfolio includes single-family homes and multi-story residences, hotels, restaurants, retail, fitness clubs, offices, theaters, schools and shopping centers. She is a member of the AIA, holds NCARB certification and is a LEED accredited professional. Prior to her career in architecture, Thiel was a dancer and choreographer.
Thiel Architecture + Design is an award-winning multi-disciplinary architecture, interior design, planning, and product design firm with offices in CT and NY. The firm’s work focuses on high-end residential design as well as hospitality, contract, and retail projects. Thiel Architecture + Design’s work has been featured in Interior Design, Architype, New York and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, Connecticut Magazine, Archello, and Fast Company magazines. In 2022, the firm received a Connecticut AIA Excellence award for Interior Architecture. Thiel earned a BA from Penn State University and her Master of Architecture degree from Syracuse University.
