Situation:
When MIT needed to expand their Central Utility Plant (CUP), they turned to BOND, their long-standing construction partner of nearly 50 years. BOND completed preconstruction and construction management services related to the installation of a new Deaerator and 100,000 pound-per-hour-boiler, as well as the construction of a 5,000 SF addition to house the new equipment. The project also involved the demolition of an existing boiler, Deaerator, and condensate polisher. BOND’s extensive knowledge of the MIT campus and unique blend of construction management expertise and civil & utility technical capabilities were key contributors to the project’s success.
Challenges:
- Located on a tight urban site within an active campus requiring consideration for vehicular and pedestrian traffic
- Completed within an active CUP that remained online 24/7 during construction
- Situated adjacent to an active CSX rail line
- Extremely challenging installation of major equipment within the constrained space of an active plant
Solutions:
- Coordination of work in split shifts and during off-peak hours to maximize productivity in the small building footprint
- Development of a detailed pre-task analysis and coordination plan that included daily morning meetings to coordinate team work schedules
- Utilization of in-house laser scanning and Building Information Modeling services to develop critical pick planning and equipment rigging plans
- Completion of a robust traffic management plan with the City of Cambridge to coordinate deliveries and major rigging activates during off hours and on weekends to limit impact to campus and city streets
- Major shutdowns scheduled early during preconstruction to minimize campus and plant disruption
Results:
- Completed within an aggressive 9 month schedule and on budget
- Provided a more reliable district energy source for the MIT campus and its future building endeavors
- All equipment safely delivered without incident and with minimal disruption to surrounding areas
- Existing CUP remained operational throughout the project with no unscheduled shutdowns to services