4 Key Considerations on Healthcare Renovation Projects

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By Jillian Boeker Hospital and medical facility renovations continue to boom and, while hospital executives and staff entertain a vision of the outcome of a construction project, how to get there is the responsibility of the general contractor, as well as the superintendent on the jobsite. This responsibility includes working closely with facilities liaisons and staff to ensure operations – whether patient care or research – are not impacted. Owners rely on their contractor particularly on four key aspects: infection control, water infiltration protection plan, communications and scheduling and install verification. These elements are, of course, interwoven with safety – … Read more

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5 Ways 2020 Changed the Way We Build

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By Rachael Farr At the onset of 2020, construction firms felt optimistic for the year ahead. Demand for construction was high, and industry challenges seemed predictable. Construction leaders were confident, until COVID-19 spread across the nation. While “pandemic” may have been Miriam-Webster’s 2020 Word of the Year, it was “flexibility” for construction teams. In many ways, the pandemic changed building by accelerating innovation, requiring a greater reliance on technology and adding a new dimension to workplace safety. General contracting and construction management firm Robins & Morton was among the many companies that had to quickly develop procedures and protocols in … Read more

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From the Field: 5 Big Challenges to Mountain Building

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By David Hanen Everyone is fascinated by mountains, with their rugged, majestic heights and sweeping vistas, but mountain construction projects face challenges of weather, transportation, labor and resources that don’t always arise in the flatlands. Here are some down-to-earth issues a savvy construction manager must consider when planning a high-altitude project. Expect harsh, unforgiving weather Mountain weather conducive to building projects is no guarantee at any time of year. Summers are brief, with monsoon rains and snowfall not unheard of; and winters are long, with extended periods of bitter cold punctuated by frequent bouts of heavy snowfall. That means if … Read more

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Insights: Using Lean for Fast-Track Project Success

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By Matt Nicholson Any successful project starts with a good plan. In construction, as the projects we work on become increasingly complex, the necessity of detailed planning has never been more evident. It’s important to live by the principles of Lean construction — meaning looking for ways to maximize value and minimize waste in every stage of the building process. The older methods of construction design result in an inherent amount of waste, so it’s crucial for contractors to stay ahead of the curve and constantly look for ways to be more efficient in the way they work. In Turner … Read more

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Multi-Trade Prefab Shaves Time, Cost for Clinic

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The University of California, Davis had clear construction goals for its new on-campus health clinic requiring an innovative approach. The 4,000-square-foot clinic, site utilities and site improvements had to be finished in seven months in time for the university’s open enrollment scheduled for November 2020. The budget for the primary care clinic was fixed and perhaps at odds with the timeline. And, just as construction started, the nation was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For The Boldt Company and Design-Build partner Boulder Associates, the solution was a highly collaborative environment that made extensive use of prefabrication. This allowed … Read more

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