Gold Hard Hat Award

Outstanding Design-Build Project

When the design-build team of Starker Construction Co., Locust Architects and Martin/Martin embarked on the development of the 84th Avenue Medical Office Building, they had less than eight months to design and construct the new 18,000-sq-ft kidney dialysis center and doctors’ offices.

Best practices were initiated from the beginning, with teamwork and communication quickly established among the developer, tenants, architects, consulting engineers, contractors and major subs. The result was an uncommon level of synergy that created a successful project.

A streamlined process was established to address time constraints. Consequently, the foundation and structural frame were determined quickly in anticipation of a long lead-time for steel. This allowed detailing and fabrication to begin while design continued. While construction continued at a rapid pace, Starker Construction worked closely with the medical staff to meet their needs and understand the changing technology and equipment to be placed in the building.

Once the tight schedule was established, Starker then faced difficult soil conditions with an excavation that extended more than 13 ft deep. The soil had to be excavated, treated, replaced and compacted.

Because of the schedule, this took place during the winter, so extra provisions were implemented to ensure that the treated soil did not freeze. In a two-steps-forward, one-step-backward motion, the team covered the ground each night with a protective dry layer of dirt, only to scrape that layer away the next morning and continue moisture treatments and compacting. The process took 10 weeks to complete.

The finishing touches were completed four months after receiving the building permit. The finished product is a testament to the interdependence, cooperation and commitment to a common vision by the design-build team.

84th Avenue Medical Office Building
Westminster

Silver Hard Hat Award

Outstanding Design-Build Project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is embracing the concept of design-build as its preferred method of project delivery for the large number of quality facilities in the restructuring and growth of the U.S. Army.

The Brigade and Battalion Headquarters was the first Fort Carson project awarded under this method, using a design-build competition process. Requirements included a facility based on program and performance specifications, including LEED-silver certification, and anti-terrorist-force protection.

The team of Hensel Phelps Construction and RNL devised innovative solutions by arranging program elements around a lobby/courtyard that allowed each brigade its own entry, offices and classrooms, without interfering cross-traffic from other brigades.

The design responds to the architectural context of Fort Carson, with traditional red brick, yet reflects the contemporary nature of today’s Army.

The facility features SCIF/BOC/NOC spaces with unique construction, sound and acoustical requirements. The building is now the national prototype for Brigade and Battalion Headquarters.

Working collaboratively with the Omaha District Office, Hensel Phelps and RNL built a team relationship with the Corps using partnering sessions and a process of “over-the-shoulder” design and construction document review.

To meet the demanding schedule, the team added other key design-build partners and issued multiple fast-track construction packages. The project broke ground in November 2006 during one of the worst snow years in recent history. This, combined with major owner changes affecting both the building and site, required the construction task program to be restructured. Even with these challenges, turnkey delivery of the facility was accomplished on schedule.

Fort Carson Brigade & Battalion Headquarters
Fort Carson

Bronze Hard Hat Award

Outstanding Design-Build Project

Park School District wanted teachers and students to be working and learning in the new Estes Park Elementary School classroom addition in an assertive nine-and-a-half-months. Design-bid-build was estimated to take 14 months; CM/GC was estimated at twelve-and-a-half months. In order to achieve design, permitting and construction within the desired timeframe, Estes Park chose an integrated design-build delivery.

The project was fast-tracked so that teachers would have time to move in and prepare their classrooms for the start of school in August.

A highly planned and coordinated effort between design and construction allowed foundations to be poured even as architects finalized the classroom design.

Classroom additions to the existing two-story building removed emergency egress from the second floor. With a unified focus on the district’s goal, The Neenan Co. integrated means and methods with design and municipalities to develop an innovative egress solution that enabled the project to progress on schedule though the school year versus waiting until summer to complete the work.

The elementary school design reflects the energy of children through an inspirational color pallet, bold blocks of color, changes in texture and undulating lines. Advances in technology include a computer lab addition, CAT6 data lines with the ability to have 24 computers in each room and wireless Internet throughout the school.

A decade ago, classroom storage was eliminated from the scope because the bids were too high. This time, the design-builder retained the entire budget contingency and gave it back to the district in scope additions, including the upper cabinets promised 10 years ago.

Estes Park Elementary
Estes Park

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