Challenge: Peak was challenged with constructing this facility on a site with unsuitable soils during heavy seasonal rain, which caused domino-effect delays. Additionally, the scope included a well and water conditioning equipment, no city water existed for fire protection and the township did not have a fire hydrant specification, and the electric service and switchgear were significantly delayed beyond the completion date. Furthermore, the offsite fire suppression pump station and well system, as well as an offsite septic field and construction were both under the direction of a separate general contractor.
Solution: The site’s unsuitable soils, coupled with the unseasonable heavy rains during the time of the building pad construction delayed the site progress. This subsequently delayed the tilt-wall slab construction which then resulted in a stockpile of steel bar joist and decking onsite causing a shortage of available space. The project team implemented soil cement to address the unsuitable and saturated soils to help improve time lost. They also centrally stockpiled the steel and bar joist in the center of slab so as not to impede with the tilt-wall construction, gaining more lost time. A local well driller familiar with the geology and the local JHA were brought into the fold to help mitigate any potential delays regarding the water conditioning equipment and the well was relocated to be adjacent to the water conditioning room. Initially, temporary 400 amp service was installed to relieve the electrical service and equipment delays, which met the schedule. Then the new alternate service was modified and installed as permanent service with a coordinated shutdown/switchover. The project team worked with the township to streamline an approved fire hydrant specification and the owner managed the offsite general contractor handling the fire suppression system to avoid additional delays. The project was successfully delivered and Peak was subsequently awarded the speculative tenant improvements.
