It’s always exciting to acquire a new project, but it’s even better when one successful project leads into a second job for the same great client.
DeSalvo Construction recently completed the East Liverpool City Hospital’s Pharmacy Renovation project and its Metsch Harker Professional Building Window Replacement project. Both jobs had similar challenges – fast-paced schedules, a fully occupied facility, extended procurement times for materials, and unforeseen existing conditions.
This blog takes a closer look at what we did to complete both projects on time and within budget.
Pharmacy Renovation Project
From the moment of award, we hit the ground running. We quickly scheduled a pre-construction meeting with the owner and design team to develop a phased schedule that would allow us to complete the project on time while the pharmacy continued to operate. Our team worked closely with the hospital’s facility staff and pharmaceutical staff to develop a sequencing plan that would minimize the number of phases and prevent disruptions as much as possible.
To stay on schedule, we immediately:
- procured long-lead-time items, such as specialty doors.
- selected the fire protection, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing subcontractors.
- expedited the submittal of shop drawings, product data, samples, and mock-ups to the design team for review and approval.
Confident in our preconstruction planning, we mobilized to the project site to install temporary walls and negative air machines as required per the hospital’s infection control representative. We also completed and submitted a construction monitoring form daily.
Of course, even the most well-planned projects can be full of surprises. Once demolition began, we discovered a myriad of unforeseen issues – existing materials that may contain asbestos, a structurally unsound concrete deck, and steel that required fireproofing in newly exposed areas. Our superintendent and project manager worked swiftly with the entire project team to create solutions for each barrier while remaining on schedule.
After addressing these challenges, we began to lay out the wall and ceiling framing systems as well as the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) rough-in only to discover another hurdle – there was not enough room in the ceiling space to accommodate the new piping, wiring, and ductwork.
We immediately notified the design team and presented potential action plans for approval. MEP was nearing completion as we prepared the roof for the new openings. The construction team set & flashed roof curbs, installed rooftop equipment, set & glazed aluminum storefront framing, hung gypsum board, and placed the final faceplate over the last new light switch.
The project was nearly complete. We finished the remaining items on the punch list, removed temporary walls, and cleaned up. The work passed all inspections, and the client was completely satisfied.
We were done with the pharmacy project, but we weren’t done at East Liverpool City Hospital just yet. The hospital asked us to look at a project to replace the existing curtainwall system at the adjacent Metsch Harker Professional Building with a more cost-efficient option.
Window Replacement Project
What a way to showcase our experience and expertise in the construction industry – a design-build project!
We immediately met with the owner to discuss the scope of work and review existing conditions. Next, we engaged the architect we just worked with on the pharmacy project to provide the professional services required to obtain a building permit.
Even better, we were able to significantly reduce project cost by eliminating the originally desired aluminum curtainwall system and replacing it with a series of components including metal framing, commercial aluminum clad windows, and Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems.
Through our collective efforts, we delivered another project that exceeded the owner’s expectations.
