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Faraj Yeretsian brings new building methods to Armenia

Managed construction of AUA's new building

Enhancing education begins with a strong foundation

by Nyree Abrahamian

Published: Thursday November 13, 2008

Faraj Yeretsian, construction manager for the American University of Armenia's new Paramaz Avedisian Building. Nyree Abrahamian

Yerevan - At the opening ceremony of the American University of Armenia's new state-of-the-art Paramaz Avedisian Building on November 1, Edward Avedisian, chair of the AUA Building Committee, spoke very highly of the project's construction manager, Faraj Yeretsian, to whom he said the project owed much of its success. Mr. Yeretsian gave his all to the project over the three years of construction, and while he had much to give, he learned a lot from the experience as well.

Born and raised in Beirut, Mr. Yeretsian came to Yerevan in 1979 to study civil engineering at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute (now the State Engineering University of Armenia). In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles and worked there for over a decade as a contractor, mostly for the building and remodeling of schools and universities. He moved back to Lebanon in 2002, and while he was working on a project at the Lebanese American University, he was offered the position of construction manager for the huge building project at the American University of Armenia.

The Paramaz Avedisian Building is a five-story, 108 thousand sq ft edifice of honed and rustic tufa, basalt, and glass curtain wall, designed to accommodate the latest in video, computer, and telecommunications equipment.

It was a difficult decision for Mr. Yeretsian. The political situation in Lebanon was stable at the time, and he and his family were settling in very well there. One of his main reasons for taking on such an immense project in Yerevan so soon after his move back to Lebanon was a personal one. "I was happy in Lebanon, but because the project was for an educational institution, and because I've always felt indebted to Yerevan Polytechnic, I decided to take it," he said. "I thought, if I succeed, in a way I will repay my debt. It meant a lot to me that it was an educational institution. I wouldn't have accepted the offer if it was for any other kind of project."

And it was that passion for contributing to a cause he truly cherished that kept the construction manager going through the most difficult days on the jobsite. Though he moved to Armenia in October 2004, building did not begin until March 2005. The bulk of the work was finished by the November 1 opening ceremony, though Mr. Yeretsian says that there is still about a month and a half of work to go in order for the building to be completely ready.

The new building includes large classrooms with central cooling and heating systems and wireless Internet connections, a video conferencing room that will give new opportunities for distance learning and international conferences, a café, a bookstore, a gym, and exhibition space.

Unique challenges

When asked about the challenges he faced working on a project of this magnitude in Armenia, Mr. Yeretsian laughs, "There are always problems in construction, wherever you are, but to be honest, this has been one of the most difficult projects I've ever worked on. We used a lot of new systems and design elements. The biggest challenge was that builders here were not accustomed to the kind of work that brings a building up to code in the United States, and I was not accustomed to the way things work here. But we managed to overcome that."

The Paramaz Avedisian Building, designed by Ronald A. Altoon, will soon house all seven departments of the American University of Armenia. The old building, which was not designed to house a university, will be used for administrative and nonacademic purposes, Mr. Yeretsian says. "The design was based on a University of California design, so it meets California construction codes. California schools have one of the highest standards for construction and I think we managed to keep that," he says.

Post-tensioned concrete

Both California and Armenia are earthquake zones, so the most important design element is the cutting-edge technology used to make the building structurally sound. "The building is designed and even over-designed to withstand any earthquake," says Mr. Yeretsian. It is the first structure in Armenia to be built with post-tensioned concrete, a method for overcoming concrete's natural weakness under tension. "At first, we didn't have the materials, the tools, or the knowhow to undertake this kind of project," Mr. Yeretsian says, "but luckily we were able to organize ourselves well, and we brought in whatever we didn't have here."

They had a Russian-speaking instructor come in from the United States to train the structural contractors in the new methods that were introduced. "I'm happy to say that the result we had here working with post-tensioned concrete were equal to or better than the results I've had anywhere else," he says.

A great deal of glass

The Paramaz Avedisian Building is also notable for its energy-efficient design. It has an unusual low-velocity ventilation system and the best electrical system available today. A great deal of glass was also used in the building, making it more energy-efficient for heating in the winter.

For Faraj Yeretsian, the experience of undertaking such a huge building project was as rewarding as it was challenging. "I know that if I decide to work on another project in Armenia, it will be easier," he says, "because I've made the right contacts and know what to expect."

While he naturally feels more inclined to work on educational development projects, versus commercial or residential, Mr. Yeretsian doesn't see his move to Armenia or the years of hard work he put into this project as a heroic or patriotic act. "I was here for a specific project," he says, "and I hope I did my job well. Now it's time to move forward."