Situation:
Under the Chapter 149A construction management at risk delivery model, BOND was hired very early in the preconstruction phase of Bridgewater State University’s new residence hall to provide full design and construction phase services. Keeping in mind that the University required 500 new beds for academic year 2013, BOND and designer Perkins+Will developed a plan that would meet MSCBA and BSU’s budget and schedule expectations. BOND provided multiple pricing iterations as the project’s design evolved, ensuring that the MSCBA received the best value for its budget.
Challenges:
- Active campus alongside an active MBTA commuter train station
- Existing site soil conditions required an unconventional foundation system
- Large majority of the Weygand Hall construction was to be completed while school was in session
- Work within an established budget and provide the University with a residence hall that fulfilled required program and maximized use of quality materials
- Provide efficient and dependable mechanical systems that are environmentally friendly
Solutions:
- BOND was hired early in the preconstruction phase to provide full design and construction phase services
- Utilization of BIM 360, a tablet-based quality control program, to ensure that all building materials were installed properly and efficiently
- Ensuring quality installation prior to fabrication, the team created mock-ups for installation of every building element
- BIM coordination was integral to the schedule. All MEP/FP were modeled in 3-D to identify and resolve conflicts and clashes prior to structural erection
- Maintaining a safe pedestrian detour route for the numerous members of the campus community that made use of these adjacent facilities throughout the construction period
- Develop a 3-tiered trade BID procurement strategy that used early drawing package; releases to provide budget certainty and allow available monies to be allocated to finishes and material upgrades
- Geopiers Soil Densification System used to accommodate existing soil conditions – eliminating the need for costly pile installations
- Install geo-thermal system to provide dependable, environmentally friendly mechanical system
Results:
- Budget and schedule were maintained without compromising quality
- Savings of $1M by using alternative procurement strategies
- Energy efficient building supporting sustained student use on the event of a power failure