With tenant space scheduled to be occupied in a matter of months, the biggest challenge to the 640 Memorial Drive project team was the schedule. From the demolition of existing conditions to the turnover of the new building, the construction phase allowed for just over six months of work. Early collaboration with the project’s general contractor, Turner Construction, and architect, KlingStubbins, gave Cannistraro the opportunity to add its BIM expertise and trade contractor means and methods into the equation. BIM enables careful examination of all of the details required for constructability, thereby allowing the team to prioritize work flows and eliminate inefficiencies on-site. One specific example is the rigging and installation plan used for sequencing the chillers. The logistics involved with safely maneuvering and installing four chillers into the basement required careful pre-task planning and the use of specially-designed rails (see sidebar). In addition to the use of BIM and prefabrication, the 640 Memorial Drive project was another opportunity for Cannistraro to implement lean methods into the construction process. Field personnel utilized total station technology to automatically lay out hanger and sleeve locations in less than half the time it normally takes for hand measurement. Using the “Last Planner” system, Cannistraro took an extended construction schedule and compressed it to daily task plans. This short-interval planning technique helped facilitate the delivery of prefabricated assemblies, manage workloads, increase onsite productivity and provide accurate snapshots of progress at any given point in time.
For years industry experts have forecasted that technology would soon change the way AEC professionals deliver construction projects. The 640 Memorial Drive project illustrates how today’s leading builders grow and adapt to construction technology in order to deliver efficient, practical 21st-century buildings. s
Opposite page: This 3D model for 640 Memorial Drive shows the chilled water return header as it will appear in the field. Above: The chilled water return header is prefabricated and delivered to the site. Below left: Chillers are rigged into the basement mechanical room at 640 Memorial Drive (see sidebar). Below right: Cannistraro foremen use the Total Station Layout system in the field.
The Professional Contractor
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