Summer 2017

Insights

Structure Tone | LF Driscoll | Pavarini Construction | Pavarini McGovern Pushing the Limits: How a Community Takes Shape

Boston Consulting Group, Page 6

What’s Inside: 4 Hudson Yards 12 Lean Construction 15 Amazing Spaces 29 Construction Tech The “new heart of New York” is taking Architect Sam Spata talks about what it A pictorial walk through some recent Our VP of information technology, shape in Midtown means to be “Lean” and notable projects Terry Robbins, weighs in on new tools in the field Bridge ParkBrooklyn On the coverOn and first row, left: Contents >>

3 A Message from Jim and Bob © The built environment is helping shape the future like never before Mike Verzella/courtesy of Structure Tone. First row, right: 4 Hudson Yards: A New Rising This emerging community on Manhattan’s is setting new precedents for urban development 6 8 6 Amping Up the Collision Coefficient at Boston Consulting Group’s New York Offices The results have changed company culture 8 It Takes a Village: Creating Connections at Havas Kings Cross Havas UK’s new London office is the latest example of their “village” model © 10 A Dose of “Vitamin N” at Tauck Tours’ New HQ Havas UK London Architecture - MCM Ltd. row, Second left: Connections to nature are essential for this Connecticut company 10 14 12 Lean Machine: Q&A with Sam Spata What is Lean project delivery? Industry expert Sam Spata explains 14 Big Data Making a Big Difference to Sustainability NRG’s New Jersey offices showcase the impact of green energy systems 15 Amazing Spaces A photo tour of some recently completed projects 19 From Darkness to Light © How one consulting firm achieved an open environment without compromising Connie Zhou. row, Second right: 20 30 confidentiality A Message from Jim and Bob 20 Global Standards, Local Color: Q&A with Willis Towers Watson’s Al Ronci It’s hard not to notice when you fly in an airplane, use your cell phone to hail (and pay for) a Tips for managing a global real estate portfolio ride or take an elevator to the top of a : We human beings are capable of creating

22 Interxion: Raising the Bar for Data Centre Construction © Long-time partnerships and creative thinking result in best practices Jeffrey Totaro. Third row, right: incredible things. Another amazing human achievement is underway in as a new city rises over the rail yards along Manhattan’s West Side. As we describe in this issue of 24 RealPage: A One-Stop Shop for Clients and Staff A massive campus has become a community STO Insights, this emerging neighborhood is the largest private development in the world and New York City’s biggest effort since Rockefeller Plaza. This new city within the city is 26 Bouncing Back in Park A new-and-improved bridge connects the community to the waterfront bringing people together like never before, through spaces to work, live, learn and shop.

© PennFIRST 28 Giving Back: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society And we’re seeing that pattern emerge in other ways as well, whether As we expand our ownership group toward an employee-owned A spotlight on one of the organizations we are proud to support . Bottom row: people are literally coming together under one roof as is the case in company, we will also continue to invest in our own workforce and 29 Game-Changer: Technology in the Field Havas’ new London “village” (page 8), or their approach to office de- workplaces to ensure our clients benefit from the most energetic, New technologies have created a culture of collaboration in construction sign and development creates a sense of unity and cohesion across innovative and collaborative professionals in the industry. ©

Julienne Schaer photographer,Julienne Schaer of courtesy the globe, as with clients such as Willis Towers Watson (page 20). 30 Making History The built environment has a tremendous impact on our lives and Penn Medicine’s newest hospital sets Philadelphia record As planners and builders, we’re working with our partners to push our evolution. It’s both the product and driver of change, and we 26 the limits of our industry like never before. We’re building data cen- take our role in that process seriously. We’re honored to build the ters to be faster and smarter, enabling businesses and communities amazing spaces that allow the human mind to invent new technol- to have the data reliability, speed and breadth they need to thrive. ogies, cure diseases, develop new products and solve community We’re incorporating new technologies into field operations, like problems. The future is always at our fingertips, whether with our mobile file-sharing and virtual reality, which are helping improve new clients or long-tenured relationships. And that’s exhilarating. project coordination in real-time. We’re building smarter and leaner, We’re proud to share that future with you.  as Lean expert Sam Spata describes on page 12. And we’re building ©Copyright Structure Tone, LLC, 2017 greener, with the integration of more and more green technologies Structure Tone Organization Insights is a publication of the Structure Tone corporate marketing department within buildings, as energy firm NRG’s new offices in New Jersey 330 W. 34th Street, New York, NY demonstrate (page 14). Top image: Spine 3D Editor, Alison Smith | Art Director, Sarah Lembo | Senior Proofreader, Kari Mullen The Structure Tone organization refers to a group of separate legal entities including Structure Tone, LLC, Structure Tone Southwest, LLC, Structure Tone International, Ltd., Pavarini North East Construction Co., LLC, Pavarini McGovern, LLC, and L.F. Driscoll Company, LLC, as well as their subsidiaries, joint ventures, divisions or affiliates. Each member company is an independent legal entity operating and providing services solely under its own name. Locations: Austin, Boston, Dallas, Dublin, Hartford, Houston, London, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Stamford, Woodbridge Summer 2017 | 3

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Phase one of the 28-acre development, shown here in Structure Tone’s purple, is now NY HQ shown here under way in yellow, has very close proximity to the eastern yard

When fully built, Hudson Yards will offer 27 million sf of built space

simultaneously on such an active site is complex, The future is now it’s exciting to see it all taking shape.” All of the work under way now is only one phase of this incredible effort. Phase two will build out the HUDSON YARDS: A New City Rising It’s a remarkable venture, and one that is certainly Western Yard to include several residential towers, bringing Structure Tone into trailblazing territo- an office complex and a new K-8 school. And, of “The new heart of New York.” That’s the bold expectation set out on the website of Hudson Yards, ry—right in their own backyard. course, the blocks surrounding the Hudson Yards the massive mixed-use development under way along New York City’s far West Side. Now with site are actively redeveloping as well, including 3 more than half of the 28-acre site well into redevelopment, that vision is getting closer and closer to Hudson Boulevard, a 66-floor office tower devel- oped by Moinian; 441 9th Avenue, a 25-story com- becoming reality. One of the reasons we relocated mercial building by Cove Property Group; and 66 our office to Midtown was to be close Hudson Yards, also known as The Spiral, a 65-story, The opportunity to revitalize such a prime piece various stages of planning and design to build out “ tiered commercial tower designed by Bjarke In- to Hudson Yards—not only because of land in one of the world’s largest is actu- phase one, known as the Eastern Yard, including gels Group and developed by Tishman Speyer. De- this is an increasingly vital area of Hudson Yards is already starting ally the result of a serendipitous loss—New York’s two more commercial towers (50 and 55 Hudson velopment within the area between 10th Avenue failed bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, Yards), an Equinox hotel and fitness center (35 the city, but also because so many of to take shape as a city within a city. and West 33rd Street is also in the works, including “ which went to London. Already earmarked for Hudson Yards), a retail podium featuring Manhat- our employees are working there. We three office towers, a residential tower and public When it’s fully built out, it will rough- redevelopment, the site ultimately went to Relat- tan’s first Neiman Marcus store, a residential tower can literally watch the progress right spaces, all led by Brookfield. ly be the same square footage as the ed Companies and its partners, who envisioned () and , an art center, all from our office windows,” says Eugene central business district in Dallas. It’s a new neighborhood emerging above the active surrounding a public square with additional retail To say that this is an exciting time for development , Amtrak and New Jersey and art installations. White, Structure Tone senior vice president of in New York is an understatement. To many in the amazing,” says Tom O’Halloran, vice presi- Transit rail yards. business development. real estate business, it’s downright inspirational. dent of business development at Structure Tone. Structure Tone is heavily involved in this first “As someone involved in this industry for 20 years phase of development, building out tenant spaces and as a New Yorker myself, I take a lot of pride in Only the beginning That proximity has certainly been beneficial given in approximately 2 million square feet of the build- what’s happening in my city,” says O’Halloran. “To Breaking new ground Commercial spaces were the first take to shape, the unprecedented—and sometimes unexpect- Hudson Yards is, in fact, the largest private real es- ings so far. The firm built the stunning new offices see something as revolutionary as Hudson Yards starting with . This building, now ed—challenges of such a massive effort. “There tate development effort in the history of the Unit- of Boston Consulting Group in 10 Hudson Yards taking shape in front of me, and with my compa- completed, is already home to such notable firms are so many atypical components to this project, ed States. When completed, it will offer 27 million (see page 6 for more) and is now working on the ny’s involvement, is inspiring on so many levels.”  as Coach, L’Oreal USA, SAP, VaynerMedia and Bos- from the fact that most of this work is being built square feet of built real estate, from offices, hotels offices of Time Warner and in 30 Hud- ton Consulting Group. On deck for completion on top of a newly constructed platform above one and retail stores to apartments, art centers and a son Yards. “Class A tenants are certainly electing is , scheduled to open in 2019 of the world’s largest transit hubs, to raising an en- school—plus 14 acres of gardens, art installations, to move into these Class A buildings,” says Scott as the city’s second-tallest office building and tire city block, to the typical unknowns of an active parks and public spaces, including the end point Corneby, Structure Tone executive vice president. Above  the new home of Time Warner, Wells Fargo and a construction site,” says O’Halloran. “It’s a new fron- of the city’s famed . “Time Warner alone makes up 26 floors of 30 Hud- 30 Hudson Yards tier for the whole industry and it’s setting the bar number of other leading media, finance and com- son Yards. While building out all of these spaces merce organizations. Six more buildings are in higher at every turn.”

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Project Details Size: 193,295sf A central staircase Amping Up the Collision Coefficient Client: connects all six Boston Consulting Group floors and provides Architect: opportunities for at BCG’s New York Offices Gensler chance “collisions” Engineer: “Unlock insight.” “Challenge established thinking.” “Drive transformation.” Reading through the Lilker Associates mission of global firm Boston Consulting Group, it’s no secret that encouraging innovation is in their Owner’s Rep: DNA. It’s only fitting then that when the company looked to relocate their New York City offices, they Gardiner & Theobald Acoustical: targeted a location like no other: the first tower built in Hudson Yards. Longman Lindsey Services: Construction Management Sector: Workspaces range Commercial from casual seating Completion: to formal meeting November 2016 rooms

The new office also marked a new chapter in the Staying connected place before, so we were testing things out as we company’s evolution—one that reflects their drive Because many of the company’s employees are went,” says Hamilton. to be bold. From the fluid, neighborhood-style mobile throughout the week, working areas are working areas to the design intended to produce meant to easily shift from one user to the next, Construction within construction casual “collisions” between employees, BCG senior depending who needs them. To that end, dedi- But perhaps the biggest challenge in building out partner and New York managing director Ross cated offices are few and far between in favor of the space was doing so in a building—and on a Love has said, “We didn’t just change addresses; a hot-desking system, with available private areas site—that was still under construction itself. 10 we changed the culture.” to offer focus space when needed. To keep track Hudson Yards was the first to begin construction, of who is where, employees and visitors check in and with leases quickly being signed, tenant fit- No two spaces alike to a desk on a tablet, which they can also use to outs began as soon as physically possible. BCG’s Geared around a community concept, the work- reserve conference rooms and other spaces. The space was one of four being built out at the same place offers just about any type of working or whole idea of this fluid workforce is to increase the time, all while the base building was still finishing meeting space one could ask for. Sit/stand work office’s “collision coefficient,” or how often employ- up. Issues facing the base building construction stations dot the neighborhood areas of the firm’s ees casually interact throughout the day. And it’s team often trickled down to the tenant space six floors, while open lounge areas, quiet nooks, not just an abstract theory—BCG actually tracked contractors, meaning coordination and commu- large tables and various forms of seating fill the employee movements on a volunteer basis to nication were key. “With so many contractors on common areas. The office’s many meeting rooms, see how it worked. “Volunteers wore devices that site, we sometimes lost elevator access for days,” All photos these pages: both formal and informal, can be booked by an in- measured collisions through data on where they Hamilton says. “We just had to plan our work out dividual for a few minutes of private time or by a went, who they interacted with, how business the best we could and stay in constant communi- team working on a project for weeks at a stretch. units crossed. It’s unbelievable,” says Hamilton. cation with the base building owner to make sure we were always up to speed.” With these unique spaces come unique designs, That connectivity also means the office’s technol- © which, says Structure Tone project manager Derek ogy systems are critical. Each floor has its own IT The results of that challenging work, however, are of Structure ToneMolly Renneisen/courtesy Hamilton, did pose some challenges. “Every single room to house equipment, and the 126 individ- well worth the complexity. The new space is simply room is different. No finishes are the same, and the ual offices each have their own one-touch IT/AV stunning and is certainly turning heads throughout rooms are different shapes and different colors,” he systems. In addition, the “venture” and “immer- the commercial real estate industry. In fact, BCG has says. “We had to measure everything individually sion” meeting rooms are equipped with collab- had over 90 firms tour through the space for inspi- “We didn’t just change addresses; and we couldn’t really order many of the materi- orative screens, including a 24-by-6-foot Prysm ration. “We knew we were doing something special als in bulk. The company did, however, try to work touch screen canvas, that teams can use to brain- while we were building it,” says Hamilton. “But to with the same vendors to get the desired design storm and modify ideas on the spot. “Many of see how happy they are with the space in the end we changed the culture.” variety at a more competitive price.” these systems hadn’t all worked together in one is such rewarding proof. Everyone is just thrilled.” 

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Project Details Size: 167,000sf/10 floors Havas’ “village” Client: concept brings Havas UK 1,700 colleagues under one roof Architect: MCM Architecture Engineer: Troup Bywaters + Anders Owner’s Rep: JLL Services: Construction Management Sector: IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Commercial Completion: Creating Connections at Havas Kings Cross January 2017 Visit the London Twitter feed of global communications group Havas and the company description is just one word: “Reimagine.”

That simple but powerful message was certain- to be manufactured and delivered presentations that live up to their cli- Havas’ UK chairman and Europe tively rethink our businesses, to re- ly a driving force behind the UK group’s reloca- in sequence as there was only one ents’ and employees’ expectations. CEO, Chris Hirst, agrees. “Making shape how we work and to reshape tion to a new London headquarters, a “village” way into and up the building,” he But maintaining the exposed ceiling such a significant move has enabled how we think about ourselves. And that brings together 25 different agencies and says. “We had to take special care design without sacrificing acoustics us to both individually and collec- that’s what we needed to do.”  1,700 colleagues under one roof in a diverse, re- to ensure that loading out did not was tricky. The solution was to apply imagined community. impede subsequent deliveries and architectural foam sheeting to the that everything was loaded into concrete soffit and hang the MEP “As part of my role, I was shuttling between agen- position to suit other programmed services from a unistrut subframe to cies, literally going across town from agency to works without preventing progress.” maintain a uniform finish. agency,” says Mark Whelan, Havas UK group chief creative officer. “While that was inconvenient per- sonally, the bigger problem was that to try to en- Into the great wide open Function follows form courage interaction between these agencies was Maintaining the open, industrial feel With all of these design and con- logistically just very difficult.” of the design while ensuring the struction challenges solved, per- office was equipped with the latest haps the most successful result of So the firm set out to develop a new headquar- technology was also a challenge. the new workplace is the effect it’s ters that brings those agencies together and, Approximately 60% of the floor having on employees. quite literally, reimagines what an inspiring and plate is open-plan office area with functional workplace can be. Within a palette of exposed high-level services. To en- As people started us- warm timbers, concrete and patinated steel, gen- sure these services were aligned, the Above  eral floors are made up of open-plan work spaces team held coordination workshops ing the space, moving up The Forum accommodates large, high-tech meetings and work sessions “ with break-out meeting areas, quiet rooms, civic floor by floor with all services and and down the staircas- All photos these pages: corners and collaboration spaces. Other floors architectural trades, ensuring in- es, having spontaneous marks throughout the entire project so that the feature client and presentation spaces as well as a The story of stairs terfaces with services, feature bulk- quality was of the highest level. The team also held breakout meetings, the commercial kitchen and communal café. From the The new office’s ten staircases help drive that in- heads and ceilings were reviewed multi-trade design coordination workshops to en- quality of the work has open hot-desking to the feature linking staircases, teraction, both with their statement aesthetics and addressed early on. The use of sure everyone understood the expected results. making connections was at the core of the design. and physical locations. Organized so that no stair- 3D cloud surveys interpreted with risen. People have literally © case connects more than two floors at one spot, Havas UK London Architecture - MCM Ltd. “The staircases were particularly complicated,” says REVIT CAD drawings ensured that upped their game to meet “We talked a lot about adjacencies. You have a the layout literally forces people to walk through Su Millar, Havas’ building services director. “Each clashes were addressed before they the standard of the build- media business next to a creative business, a data shared common areas to continue going up or panel weighed several tonnes and they all had to were encountered. ing, and I didn’t anticipate business next to a content business,” says Whel- down. With 50 tonnes of steel to be considered, be manually winched up to the 10 floors in stag- an. “What’s happened as a result is you’re literally building these staircases was no simple task. The The team faced the same challenge that. It’s a fantastic out- gered groups. It was punishing work but the engi- bumping into people. That deliberate planning of structural connections, welds and physical and in the Forum. This double-height, come,” says Mark Whelan. neering was superb, and the end result is brilliant.” bricks and mortar leads to human interaction.” logistical installation were crucial to the design, 200-person auditorium allows Ha- Above  performance and finish. The project team worked vas to host large, technologically Complicated is right, says Structure Tone senior The office’s ten staircases have become statement pieces, both aesthetically and together to create samples, mock-ups and bench- impressive meetings, events and project manager Mark Kermack. “The stairs had functionally 8 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 9

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Even the A DOSE OF “VITAMIN N” conference rooms offer a glimpse of the AT TAUCK TOURS’ NEW HQ outdoors The year was 1925, when entrepreneur Arthur Tauck took a group of friends on a tour of the back roads of New England. More than 90 years later and his commitment to helping people experience the outdoors continues, both through Tauck Tours’ business and now its new corporate headquarters.

A natural connection Dealing with data Nestled within 60 wooded acres in Wilton, Connecticut, the 55,000sf office Building out the office’s data center and UPS room posed a similar centers on what Tauck considers the most nourishing ingredient to a healthy space crunch. Given the specialized use of that space, the data center’s workplace: “Vitamin N” (aka, nature). With its lodge-like setting—complete design included both a pre-action sprinkler system and a gaseous fire with large stone fireplaces and wood features at every turn—the building suppression system, meaning twice the amount of fire suppression gives employees the feeling that they are actually in a vacation property, equipment occupied utility corridor spaces. What’s more, as construc- conveying the sense of calm and comfort they bring to their customers. tion began, the team realized the electrical panels were much larger than anticipated and wouldn’t fit into the UPS room and data center as Designed by Perkins Eastman, the space draws from the values Tauck designed. “We had to work hand-in-hand with our electrician and the has embraced since the company’s founding: wellness, collaboration, engineer in almost a design/build situation to redesign the UPS room heritage and nature. The glass exterior and office walls allow light to fill so that all the gear would fit,” says Jaus. the working spaces, and the interior design elements focus on the col- ors of autumn leaves and earthy textures. With eight different terraces The limited space options for data center services also affected the and access to nature trails, employees are encouraged to take in all the role of the central double-sided fireplace in the office’s “living room” “Vitamin N” they can. In fact, to celebrate the new space, the company area. The fireplace is just above the data center, making it an ideal bought each employee a new pair of trail running shoes and built a chase for the data conduit that feeds the entire office. However, the special cubby into each desk to store them. fireplace’s free-floating design left little room on either side, making adding the conduit a tight fit. “There really wasn’t any other space we Leaving no trace could sacrifice for the conduit, so we worked with Tauck’s IT team to While the new office certainly radiates the history and legacy of the Tauck drill some pilot holes within the fireplace and test this solution—and it brand, modern comfort and functionality was still central to the office worked,” says Jaus. design. As such, integrating the needs of a modern office into this serene, Now with all systems go, Tauck employees are getting their daily dose natural setting—without disrupting it—did come with some challenges. of “Vitamin N” in a modern work environment that reflects exactly what a travel company strives for. “It really does make you feel like you are in There were a lot of systems to fit into very limited a different place,” says Jaus.  space,’’“ says Robert Jaus, Pavarini Northeast’s superin- tendent for the project. “The space above the ceiling is packed with MEP equipment, so we needed to have Project Details some very detailed coordination drawings to ensure ev- erything would fit together.” Size: Services: 55,000sf Construction Management All images these pages: Jaus and his team started with the HVAC contractor. The existing Client: Sector: The “Lodge“ steel beams had slotted holes that drove the locations for where the Tauck Tours Commercial offers views of ductwork had to be installed. They sent those drawings to the sprinkler Architect: Completion: the surrounding fitter, who fit that system in around the HVAC. Then came the electri- Perkins Eastman January 2016

© cian, and finally the plumber. “The penetrations in the structural steel woodsy campus Connie Zhou Engineer: really drove where everything could go. So it was important that we Southport Engineering took a very organized approach to both locating and phasing the addi- tion of each service.” 10 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 11

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents How did you become such a strong Where are you seeing Lean What is the role of construction in the supporter of Lean? catching on most? Lean approach? My Lean journey began two decades ago when Without question, Lean has been adopted most First, let’s remember that Lean is holistic and in- I was introduced to Total Quality Management. I successfully in the life sciences sector, primarily tegrates design and construction. That said, each was most impressed with TQM’s bedrock respect healthcare and higher education research facil- individual primarily contributes their specific ex- for the individual. But TQM never really caught on ities, since hospitals and labs were already using pertise, albeit in a collaborative way. For construc- in our industry. My “aha” moment came in 2008 as what are essentially Lean principles in their op- tion, this expertise includes logistical knowledge part of a multi-billion-dollar project team in Sac- erations (efficiency, patient value, etc.). The West regarding means and methods, constructability ramento. Lean processes were introduced, and Coast had the most necessity early on with con- and site safety that the designers need to under- I learned that a project is properly considered a struction cost escalations, so Lean caught on there stand from the earliest stages. “network of commitments,” and that the key to first. Now we’re seeing that geographic concen- success is reliability. That resonated with me. I’d tration of Lean in the west gradually make its way What advice would you give a client had some successful projects by that time, and the east. It’s taken a while, but it’s coming. or project team considering using a one aspect they had in common was the reliability Lean approach? of my project teams. So, I became a strong sup- What challenges are there to adopting a First, understand that you are buying into both porter of Lean because I see in it the best prospect Lean approach? a culture and a system. Lean project delivery is for reliable project delivery, every project, every Adopting Lean means adopting change, which is a process, wrapped in a system, inside a culture. team, every time. always difficult and often overwhelming. That’s Second, consider how you will implement this why I developed The Lean Progression©. It outlines change—through a single pilot project, through How is Lean different from integrated the culture and system of Lean in five inter-depen- a subset of your organization as a test “studio” of project delivery? dent levels: Theory, Vision, Process, Tool and Habit. sorts or all-in throughout the entire organization. The short answer is that you can do Lean without Practicing Lean requires new learning, and people Each has its advantages, depending on your goals. IPD; you can’t do IPD without Lean. Integrated need to understand why. That’s where hard num- Third, you’re not alone. There is a Lean communi- Project Delivery was a direct outgrowth of Lean, bers can help. Research by the Lean Construction ty of practice out there, ready to help. Contact the invented by Lean practitioners in response to sky- Institute and Dodge Analytics demonstrates that Lean Construction Institute to get started. Finally, LEAN MACHINE: Q&A with Sam Spata rocketing healthcare construction costs in central Lean projects are twice as likely to be on budget pick the right consultant to facilitate your Lean California. IPD is a multi-party contract that man- and three times as likely to be on schedule. Those journey with training and hands-on coaching.  dates a project delivery culture of respect, trust and are powerful reasons for embracing Lean. transparency. Lean, on the other hand, is the proj- ect delivery system. In other words, IPD is a con- An architect by trade, Sam Spata has spent the last 20 years tractual obligation; Lean is the method to meet it. of his career focused on helping the design and construction industry learn how to be “Lean”—officially. As a proponent of the Lean project delivery approach, he helps guide project teams in how to actually apply Lean theories to reduce waste, improve workflow and enhance value. Here Sam explains how Lean has evolved and what it means for modern design and construction.

How is the Lean approach different from How did this approach come into shape? other building design approaches? A number of people can legitimately claim to have Culturally, Lean respects the distinct contribu- been “present” at the creation. I got to tions of each individual involved in development, know best is Greg Howell, co-founder of the Lean design and construction. Everyone is entrusted Construction Institute (LCI). In the early 1990s, The Lean Above  to use their specific expertise in discovering and Greg was among a few who saw the success of approach Sam Spata eliminating wasteful processes while delivering manufacturing approaches like the Toyota Pro- was inspired by value to their customers in a collaborative way. duction System as having potential in the design the manufacturing Those who build bring that knowledge upstream, and construction of buildings and infrastructure. principles embraced and those who design bring that knowledge In the Toyota system, small, incremental improve- by Toyota in the downstream. Lean is a new way toward the old ments on every process build up over time into a 1980s “master builder” concept but in this iteration, the competitive advantage. They tell their workers, if “master” isn’t a single person, but rather a team you see something wrong, pull the cord, stop the working to make best-for-project decisions. line and fix it. Then after a root cause analysis and changes to the system, the problem never arises Lean is both a system and a culture. As a system, again. Greg and others adapted this approach to it’s been adapted from manufacturing to make develop a “Theory of Lean” for our industry. About project delivery of buildings and infrastructure a decade after founding LCI, that theory led to the more efficient. But as a culture, Lean is focused invention of Integrated Project Delivery which, in on respect and relentlessly identifying and elim- turn, accelerated the development of the Lean inating waste from the process so that the cus- tools, habits and processes we use today. tomer gets value.

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Project Details A solar array on NRG’s green roof Size: helps power the 130,000sf building Client: Boston Properties/NRG Architect: HLW International Amazing Engineer: AMA Consulting Engineers Owner’s Rep: Cushman & Wakefield Services: Construction Management Spaces Sector: Commercial

Big Data Making a Big Difference to Sustainability Businesses are doing more and more to make their work environment as healthy, productive and sustainable as possible. Yet meeting an increasingly higher bar can be a challenge, especially for organizations with expansive buildings and campuses. One company in New Jersey is helping to show how combinations of sustainable approaches and modern data management technologies can make a big difference.

Power company NRG is using its the building syncs power supplied “It’s all tied to the weather fore- ly in many areas, in many different new Princeton headquarters to from traditional utility power with cast,” says Structure Tone account phases. The building itself is new, showcase and test how integrated power generated onsite by the executive Michael Farrell. “The so coordination between the base power systems, comprised of the rooftop and parking solar arrays, control system has the ability to building contractor and the Struc- traditional and alternative forms of the combined heat and power unit, analyze the weather and pull from ture Tone team was critical—particu- energy that it recommends to its battery storage and traditional fuel whichever power system will be larly with the diverse power systems. own customers, can work to create and gas turbine generators, activat- most efficient and cost effective “Managing site logistics was tricky at a more efficient office environment. ing each depending on the condi- during peak hours.” times,” says Farrell. “While they were Through a master control system, tions of the day. installing the solar array on the park- While comprised of standard tech- ing lot, for example, we had to find nologies available today, a power other places for our materials and system and microgrid like NRG’s isn’t crews. There was lots of coordination.” very common in the workplace, mak- ing it a unique project for the team. NRG’s new building—recently cer-

“The microgrid’s control system is cut- tified at the LEED Platinum lev- All images this page: ting-edge technology that continued el—was completed last year. So far, to develop during the project,” says the new building is proving to be Houghton Farrell. “We worked very closely with the productive, efficient showcase Mifflin Harcourt’s NRG’s engineers, HLW, AMA and oth- space the company was hoping

© new Boston offices ers to finalize the microgrid’s control for. “NRG’s lobby has a huge display Jeffrey Totaro, Photographer celebrate the infrastructure while maintaining the system of real-time data indicating company’s history schedule. It was a big team effort.” how much power the building is and culture using and where it comes from. It’s Above  The project also had to contend with both educational and fascinating,” NRG’s new office has become their showcase space for alternative energy construction happening concurrent- says Farrell. 

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Take a look at some of the notable—and inspiring—projects we recently completed. #STOamazingspaces Left: WebMD, Left and previous page: Houghton Harcourt, Mifflin © John Baer/Building Images Photography.John and following New York, page: Gensler Right © 2017

Neil Alexander. Carpenter Right: Technology, © Mike Verzella/courtesy of Structure Tone © Jeffrey Totaro, Photographer

Above  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, MA Above Carpenter Technology, Philadelphia, PA Above  WebMD, New York, NY Above Gensler New York, New York, NY

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Gensler’s new NYC space is inspired by its Theater District Natural light and location bright colors help create an open feel

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT Today’s open-plan, light and bright workplace trends can be a challenge for companies who deal in highly confidential projects. With its new San Antonio offices, however, a large management consulting and technology firm faced that challenge head on, embracing a modern, open office without sacrificing discretion.

With the help of Carson Design and Structure Tone Southwest, the firm now has over 22,500sf of bright, modern, open working space in San Anto- Project Details nio’s Weston Center, complete with state-of-the- Size: art technology systems. The rebuilt space includes 22,500sf both open and private offices, collaboration areas, conference rooms and privacy booths, as well as Client: extensive MEP renovations and upgrades to ac- Large management consulting and commodate the firm’s sophisticated IT needs. technology firm Architect: The highlight feature of the space is the clear-fin- Carson Design ish, cypress wood veneer surrounding the con- ference room windows, which help infuse light Engineer: throughout the space. TTG Goetting Owner’s Rep: CBRE This was a total shift from their

All photos this page: The biggest challenge, however, was in making Services: former dark, corporate environ- that transformation happen in just a short 16 Construction Management “ weeks. Relationships made all the difference, says ment. It’s very bright with lots of Sector: natural light and pops of color, and Jones. “We expedited the flooring, the LED light fixtures and the 22 new air system boxes thanks to Commercial ©

Heinsight Photography there are many more places to sit our relationships and purchasing power. By com- Completion: and share ideas than they had be- municating with the design team and the owner February 2017 fore,” says Mark Jones, Structure Tone South- early on, we could find reasonable solutions that west regional vice president. made that tight schedule work.” 

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents GLOBAL STANDARDS, A Workplace Transformation Toolkit LOCAL COLOR: helps the company blend corporate standards with local with Willis Towers Watson’s character Q&A Al Ronci

Managing a global company’s real estate portfolio is a complicated job. How can you ensure an efficient and consistent approach without sacrificing local needs and character? It’s a matter of interpretation, says Al Ronci, head of global real estate and workplace solutions for Willis Towers Watson. Here he shares some of the strategies that help his firm keep advancing workplace design to new levels.

How many offices does Willis Towers What is consistent about that approach provide a globally consistent experience for our Do you often use the same project teams What are the next challenges facing Watson have worldwide? across all offices, and what is more colleagues and clients. in many locations or do you use different workplace design, in your opinion? Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, subject to the needs or preferences of the teams for each project? On the other side of every challenge there is op- broking and solutions company that helps clients particular location? What are the challenges? We realized that in order to successfully progress portunity. When we talk about how our workplaces around the world turn risk into a for growth. We often use the phrase “global standards, local Considering every one of our 550+ unique offices our vision to bring our people together and refresh might change in the future, we hear many opin- We have 40,000 employees serving more than 140 color” when we talk about our approach to work- that together serve markets all over the world is our spaces, we needed to find a way to combine ions—which are often contradictory. Will there be countries from around greater than 550 offices— place transformation. At the top we have that an enormous task. We are meeting the challenge specialist expertise with local office knowledge. more agile working, or less? Will more employees some of them large, some small and all with their global mission to create a great experience for our with a strong global vision, a defined project Within the approach set out in our Workplace be working from home, or heading back into more own unique situation, make-up and personality. colleagues and our clients, and to help us realize transformation process and a mixture of the best Transformation Toolkit, there is clear guidance on traditional-style offices? What about business that vision in a consistent way we have created in-house and external expertise. Our Workplace establishing an organization for change for each hubs? Although each of these questions could Does Willis Towers Watson have a a Workplace Transformation Toolkit. The toolkit Transformation Toolkit helps us deliver consisten- project. We allocate names and responsibilities potentially have a huge impact on the general prevailing philosophy or approach to not only sets out how our offices should look, cy in both approach and outcome, and our cen- to specific roles, and each individual understands direction of workplace design, I don’t see us ever office development? feel and work, but also how we go about making tralized organization structure helps us efficiently exactly what they need to deliver to the project. second-guessing the future—only continuing to As a relatively new company created from a merg- the change happen; it describes the whole end- manage our resources. One of our biggest chal- Some are experts from central teams (typically real anticipate the needs of our business occupiers as er of equals, one of our priorities is to combine our to-end process, start to finish, and even into the lenges is actually around managing expectations estate, external advisors and IT project managers), they emerge. For me, there are, however, two par- strengths by bringing our people together. For day-to-day management of the new space. When because we can’t change our offices fast enough and some are from the local office (e.g., HR, com- ticular trends that pose challenges to design. The Above  my team, Real Estate & Workplace Solutions, this the toolkit is passed to local offices, it is their inter- for our colleagues. Our people seem to really like munications and change management and local first is to accommodate possibilities from techno- Al Ronci means driving the consolidation of our offices. Our pretation that brings that local color to our global their new workplaces and word spreads. business leadership). It is an efficient way to de- logical change as an enabler to workplace design philosophy is to create modern and efficient offic- workplace standards and guidelines. ploy our experts across a number of concurrent from the business side, but also as an expectation es that work as hard as our colleagues do, though How does your design and construction projects and also access invaluable local knowl- from our occupiers who want to enjoy the same our approach is about more than just saving dol- What are the benefits of managing real team help work through those challenges? edge and secure local ownership and buy-in. functionality at work that they do at home. This is happening right now. The second challenge lars and optimizing space. We recognize that this estate corporately vs locally? When we select our design and construction for me is making sure we create workspaces that is our unique opportunity to provide a great work Aside from the cost benefits reporting and gover- teams, we look for partners who are willing to in- What are your favorite components of attract and help us retain the best talent for our experience for our people through inspiring de- nance advantages that centralized management vest time getting to know us and what we are try- Willis Towers Watson offices? businesses; I think we are on the cusp of seeing sign, workplace technology and introducing spac- can bring—which are significant—I would also ing to achieve. We want them to understand our Actually, the users. After we have transformed a this become a key priority for us all. es that support activity-based working. Right now, highlight that a more corporate approach allows global vision and how we are bringing it to life in workplace, there is tremendous uplift in occupier we are just over a year into a multi-year program us to better align and coordinate our resources. a way that works for each of our unique office lo- energy. It’s a great buzz to know that excitement to consolidate and refresh. We are learning les- We’ve found success comes easier when every- cations. That’s not to say we don’t want to be chal- is the end result of the team’s hard work, and also What does the office of the future sons, but each successful consolidation tells us we one is marching in the same direction and to the lenged by our designers. If there is a better way that by creating a great experience for our people look like to you? are headed in the right direction. same tune. The trick is to make sure that local to achieve the desired result, new technology that we make a significant contribution to Willis Towers My experience tells me our offices are ever-evolv- needs are listened to and accommodated where could help us or even a funky idea inspired by the Watson’s success. ing. We expect that there will always be another we can, but balance them against our focus to city we are working in, we expect to hear about it. tomorrow—and that’s what makes for an interest- ing journey, don’t you think?  20 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 21

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Project Details In addition to Size: building construction, 58,000sf the greenfield site Client: involved extensive Interxion civil and site work Architect: Gilligan Architects Engineer: Ethos Engineering Civil and Structural Engineer: Downes Associates Owner’s Rep: Linesight Planning Consultant & EIS Manager: Anthony Marton Services: Preconstruction, Construction Management Sector: Mission Critical Completion: December 2016 INTERXION: Raising the Bar for Data Centre Construction When you’ve worked with a client for nearly 20 years, you get to know what they are looking for. Our Mission Critical team has developed just that kind of relationship with European data centre leader Interxion, making it a fairly seamless process to build the company’s data centres across Ireland and the UK.

Not that it’s an easy, one-size-fits-all house area for administrative offices Structure Tone also took on the had to undergo an independent approach. Although Interxion has de- and the civil infrastructure required role of BIM manager for the proj- commissioning process, led by DLB veloped an engineering “bible” of sorts to accommodate the new building ect, working with an outside ven- Associates. “DLB’s agents said this that establishes specific criteria for on its greenfield site. dor to coordinate all the individual data centre was one of the best they building their facilities, each project models into one federated model had ever commissioned due to the As the design took its final form, has unique circumstances, limitations on a weekly basis. With that under- persistence and can-do attitude of Structure Tone led the effort to sub- or surroundings that require some cre- standing of the full picture, the team the Structure Tone team and our mit the project to the local council ative thinking and institutional knowl- was able to prefabricate significant partners. That was quite a compli- for its environmental permitting, edge to find the best path forward. portions of the work. “We actually ment!” says Monks. including a detailed environmental had 99% of the chilled water pip- “The data centre industry in Ireland Case in point is Interxion’s newest impact statement proving the fa- ing prefabricated off site, thanks to continues to thrive, and Dublin has Dublin, Ireland facility. The 58,000sf, cility would not negatively impact BIM,” says Monks. “That definitely become a strategic location for busi- Tier 3 data centre is located in a its surroundings. “The project was helped us complete the project well nesses looking to interconnect mis- blue chip industrial park on the out- granted permission on the first pass, ahead of schedule.” skirts of the city. Interxion returned which I think is a first for this part of sion critical services in Ireland and to Structure Tone’s Dublin team to Dublin,” says Jason Monks, Structure Between the thorough understand- across Europe,” says Tanya Duncan, lead the project, from planning and Tone senior project manager. “Most ing of Interxion’s “engineering bi- managing director of Interxion Ire- “The project was granted permission feasibility, to construction, through projects fail the first time since they ble” and comprehensive involve- land. “After working with Structure to commissioning, including all civil, submit the bare minimum in the ment in every step of the project, Tone on our first two data centres structural and architectural construc- hopes nothing will raise a red flag. the team was able to successfully in Dublin, they played a crucial role on the first pass, which I think is a first tion elements. The work includes not But we engaged with the local au- tackle another potential challenge: in ensuring that this state-of-the-art only the data halls—and their asso- thority during preconstruction to building the data centre to Level facility would meet the many tech- for this part of Dublin.” ciated UPS units, generators, chillers, find out what criteria we needed to 5 commissioning standards. Be- nical requirements which are essen- coolers, fire suppression systems, meet to get the project approved on cause Interxion required a Level 5 tial in the mission critical sector.”  etc.—but also a three-story front-of- the first try.” commissioning, the whole facility

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Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents case is going to be a centerpiece, let’s make it an iconic conversation starter since it’s the first thing you see when you walk in,” Seaton says. Designed by HGA Architects, the resulting intertwined sets REALPAGE: of stairs was special ordered, which meant added lead times and communication from all sides.

“There was only one vendor in the country who A One-Stop Shop for Clients and Staff could bend the tube steel, which bends on two different axes and totals over 120,000 pounds,” Da- The Dallas area has seen a wave of office relocations and expansions in recent years. Topping the vis says. Supporting that weight involved driving a list as one of the largest is web-based property management company RealPage, who moved into a 27-foot pier—which is no easy task in an existing building. To solve the space challenge, the team new headquarters in the Lakeside Campus in Richardson, Texas. used a spider crane, which essentially folds up to fit through a 3-foot doorway and then unfolds to full size to lift the massive pieces of steel.

Steel was also central to the so-called “floating” meeting rooms, which appear suspended in mid- “Floating” air thanks to large steel beams anchored into the meeting rooms are existing floor plate and cantilevered over the lob- The custom cantilevered over the by space. Again, the spider crane was critical. “We double-helix main lobby don’t often have to install large amounts of steel in existing buildings,” says Structure Tone South- staircase includes west superintendent Bobby Moore. “The spider over 120,000 crane certainly came in handy, and I think we’ll be pounds of steel seeing more of this use of interior steel in down- town remodeling.”

Eyes on everything That all-hands-on-deck approach paid off. Real- The RealPage team agrees. “We’re seeing the proof With so many moving parts happening at once— Page was able to move in on time and settle into of how much people like the space in how they and the move-in deadline fast approaching—the their striking new space, which was even featured are using the work café, the fitness center, the Structure Tone team decided to boost their man- in local business media. And for the construction conference rooms, and how people are starting power by dedicating more experts to each com- team, the experience cemented a bond that the to feel comfortable to leave their desks and work ponent of the job, from the steel installation, to team still draws on today, says Moore. elsewhere,” says Seaton. “We didn’t have that flex- the kitchen and fitness center renovations, to ibility before.”  bringing in mission critical team experts for MEP consultation. “As we got each design revision, we This was a complex job, but the made sure someone was dedicated to each area to teamwork and camaraderie that we With four floors and 400,000sf renovated by Struc- spaces and break rooms, with a central commu- expedite the changes and make sure everything “ built to get it done was awesome, Below  ture Tone Southwest, the new office aims to help nity area that houses the work café, fitness center stayed safe and on schedule,” says Davis. “We had The campus fitness center has become one of its most Project Details the company meet the same goal for its employ- and other amenities. “We needed to figure out over 450,000 man hours with no safety incidents. and it made it even more fun.” ees that it does for its customers: to be a one-stop how to make a 420,000-square-foot floor plate popular amenities Size: We had eyes on everything.” shop for their needs. In other words, while their more intimate,” Seaton says. 400,000sf/4 floors clients can come to them for anything related to Client: managing rental properties, their employees can Men of steel RealPage come to the office not only to work, but also to eat And they needed to do it fast: The project team Architect: in the full-service dining areas, exercise in the fit- had only a quick six months to fit out the extensive HGA Architects ness center or take a break in the game room. complex to meet RealPage’s move-in date. “It kind Engineer: of turned into a design/build project,” says Struc- HGA We centered the office on the ture Tone Southwest project manager, Ryan Davis. “We had to coordinate as often as possible with Owner’s Rep: concept of ‘work, live and play.’ It’s “ the owner, the design team and our subs to work All Images these pages: Cushman & Wakefield almost like a planned community, through design changes quickly, work through Services: connected through neighborhoods RFIs in real time and look ahead at the next phases Construction Management and a very open and collaborative to head off any challenges.” Sector: environment,” says Sandy Seaton, vice pres- One of those challenges was installing all the steel

Commercial © ident of real estate and workplace solutions for the design required within an existing building. Kevin Bowens, Photographer Completion: RealPage. The steel was particularly crucial for two signature September 2016 features: the unique monumental staircase and That neighborhood environment includes over the 16 floating conference rooms. 2,000 work stations of varying shapes and sizes, The double-helix staircase that winds three floors 155 private offices, conference rooms, break-out together is one of a kind. “We thought if this stair- 24 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 25

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents Project Details Size: 450ft BOUNCING BACK IN Client: Corporation Engineer: BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK Arup Services: It’s not often that a company known for building high rises gets to work Construction Management on a piece of public infrastructure. But that was exactly the case when Sector: Infrastructure Pavarini McGovern joined the team working to modify Brooklyn’s Squibb Completion: Park Bridge. April 2017 Squibb Park Bridge first opened in March 2013 and was an instant hit with the surrounding neighborhood. An efficient pedestrian overpass from to Brooklyn Bridge Park, the bridge gives residents and visitors a scenic The Squibb Park connection to the park over its 450ft timber and steel zigzag Bridge connects with a playful underfoot bounce. But after some structural Brooklyn Heights instability concerns arose in 2014, the bridge was closed un- til retrofits could be made to safely reopen it to the public to Brooklyn without sacrificing its whimsical aesthetic. Bridge Park In 2016, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBPC) hired top engineering firm Arup to design and oversee modifications to the bridge, and Pavarini McGovern as the construction manager to execute the plan. Pat Kirshner, VP of capital proj- ects for BBPC, was excited to see Pavarini McGovern win the assignment since the two had successfully teamed on the Sea Glass Carousel when she worked for the Battery Park Conservancy. “I appreciated Pavarini McGovern’s enthusi- astic and attentive approach,” she said of the carousel proj- ect—another undertaking which was intricate, peculiar and dear to the community. Kirshner was confident that Pavari- Above  ni McGovern would supply a team with both the skill and Adjustable scaffolding was used to support and reposition the sensitivity to bring the Squibb Park Bridge back into use and bridge before connections were strengthened make it the neighborhood jewel it was meant to be. ronome. “We had nine people bouncing together at funda- After thorough performance testing and review, Arup devel- mental frequency,” said David Farnsworth PE, principal at oped a solution to address the bridge’s stability issues: Pava- Arup. The team took measurements first while the dampers rini McGovern would have to make several modifications to were disengaged, and then again while engaged. Once fi- the existing structure. First, PMG installed special scaffolding nal adjustments were made, the bridge retained approx- below the two main spans to support the bridge above Fur- imately 10% of its former bounce—just enough to put a

All photos these pages: man Street and allow realignment of the bridge structure. spring in your step. With the scaffold in place, the bridge’s own support cables were de-tensioned. Next, the team carefully repositioned The bridge is open once again, and public response has the bridge into its ideal geometry using adjustable supports been very positive. The long-awaited reopening coincided attached to the scaffolding. They stiffened crucial timber-to- with the first warm weather of the year, helping people ac- © Julienne Shaer, photographer, Bridge Park Brooklyn Courtesy steel connections, reconnected lateral bracing and installed cess Brooklyn Bridge Park at just the perfect time. In a morn- tuned mass dampers to reduce the vibration of the bridge ing visit to the bridge, Kirshner stood at its center with a con- as pedestrians walk across it. Once these modifications were tented smile, watching the people walk by. “The best thing is complete, the cables were pulled back into tension and just seeing people use it,” she said. clamped into place at each truss connection to keep the The bridge has undergone regular monitoring to test the bridge in the right shape. efficacy of the improvements and is fitted with vibration With the bridge once again carrying its own weight, the sensors which will signal an alert if it vibrates too much. But PMG team removed the scaffolding and put the tuned mass the outlook is clear: Arup and Pavarini McGovern have made dampers to the test. The dampers reduce vibration by ab- this bouncy bridge safe. As development continues in the sorbing energy as the bridge moves. To confirm they were area surrounding Brooklyn Bridge Park, the bridge will con- working, the team placed accelerometers on the bridge tinue to enhance residents’ quality of life as a vital pedestrian while test walkers marched across it to the beat of a met- shortcut with quirky Brooklyn charm.  26 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 27

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents This year’s race honored Chris Gallo of KPMG (third from right)

GIVING BACK: GAME-CHANGER: Technology in the Field The National Multiple Sclerosis Society By Terrence Robbins, vice president, information technology, Structure Tone In the modern age of building construction, the process has always been fairly linear. The client expresses There’s nothing like a shared cause to bring people together in ways they might not have expected. their requirements. The architect designs the building. The engineer designs the infrastructure. The That’s certainly Structure Tone’s experience when it comes to supporting the National Multiple construction manager leads construction with the assistance of specialized subcontractors. Sclerosis Society. But today, with new technologies job with less need for time-consum- reality programs, which have the For decades the Society’s New York City-South- could help make the Race Against MS even more and innovations emerging what ing trips to the office or trailer to re- potential to bring project collabo- ern New York Chapter has worked to improve the successful, so a decade ago they started reaching seems like daily, the construction view plans or check on RFI respons- ration to even greater levels. From process is becoming more collab- es and the status of submittals. the earliest stages of design, the quality of life for people affected by MS in the five out to clients, partners and industry leaders. To- We’ve seen many donors from boroughs of New York City and surrounding coun- day, the event routinely sells out and raises over orative than ever, reducing design entire project team can see the de- This mobility and flexibility has ties. Through a number of fundraising events and $500,000 each year for the chapter. the real estate and AEC community change iterations, identifying con- sign intent and details take shape “ certainly changed the process and drives, the organization works with the communi- attend the race and disclose to one struction conflicts earlier in the and work together to solve any de- behavior of a project team. Project ty to raise funds for critical MS research. Structure of our committee members that they building process, avoiding risk and sign issues before construction even staff can spend more time actual- Tone helps organize the chapter’s annual Race saving clients time and money. begins. The client and project team supported the event because a sister, ly observing the project work and Against MS at Belmont Park, which brings the can immerse themselves in the de- mother, father or spouse had been The advent of mobile devices has communicating with subcontrac- greater New York real estate community togeth- sign, experiencing the new space revolutionized the way we work. tors, the owner and the design er for an afternoon of thoroughbred racing, food, living with MS. It touches so many as it will exist after the construction Thanks to mobile devices, construc- team. Their days are less administra- drink, auctions and more. more people than we know,” says Struc- All images this page: is complete. This enables the client tion managers and their teams can tive and more focused on their area to better understand the functional ture Tone executive chairman Jim Donaghy. review plans, document progress, of expertise. We’ve even found that use of the space and make educat- Above  I remember going to the Race complete paperwork and answer seasoned professionals who were ed decisions around potential con- Terry Robbins Against MS as an attendee more than “My favorite part of supporting the MS Society is calls and emails, among dozens of reluctant to rely on the computer struction options. © “ that it touches my family and the families of our Mike Verzella/courtesy of Structure Tone other responsibilities, right on a job have fully embraced the mobile en- to challenging design issues and 25 years ago. It was always a nice way site. And while the laptop provided vironment. The intuitiveness of the While builders and designers will more alignment from the very be- to give back and spend time with oth- friends and colleagues,” says Ray. “There is still no cure. The race event and others like it work toward some of those abilities, laptops were apps in our industry has made it always rely on the fundamentals ginning across the entire design ers in our industry,” says Ray Donaghy, se- a world without MS, and that’s so much bigger never conducive to field work— easy for all levels of a crew to learn of their respective crafts, technol- team. And with the entrepreneurial nior vice president of client relations. As the Structure Tone team became more involved than any of us.” they’re bulky and require a surface and use them to do their jobs more ogy has undoubtedly opened the spirit of both technology develop- with the organization, they also began to realize to rest on while you use them. With efficiently and effectively. door to a much more efficient and ers and construction professionals, Because Ray’s mother is living with MS, the event their own network was more connected to MS Plus, he adds, the race is a really good time. “In my the development of mobile appli- effective culture of collaboration we know the bar will only contin- The next frontier is the rapid devel- and the organization haven taken on new mean- than they had ever known. opinion, it’s the most fun of any of the Society’s cations, anyone can take their work in construction. We’re seeing few- ue to raise higher. We’re excited to opment of augmented and virtual ing. The Donaghy family knew Structure Tone events,” he says. “And all for a great cause.”  into the field, literally working on the er change orders, faster solutions be part of it.  28 | Summer 2017 Summer 2017 | 29

Back to Previous Next Table of Cover page page Contents MAKING HISTORY Penn Medicine’s newest hospital sets Philadelphia record

When complete, the foundation will support a 17-story tower

Record Setting Numbers It isn’t even completed yet and the Penn Medi- The epic effort was managed by a joint venture be- 14 straight hours of placement cine Pavilion is already breaking records. From Fri- tween LF Driscoll and Balfour Beatty, who are part- 6,540 cubic yards of concrete day, July 7 to Saturday, July 8, 2017, construction nering together as part of the PennFirst integrated 650 concrete trucks crews poured the building’s concrete foundation, project delivery (IPD) team designing and build- making it the largest single concrete placement ing the Penn Medicine Pavilion. The PennFirst IPD 4 pump stations in city history. team combines the celebrated architectural and 120+ personnel engineering design expertise of HDR, Foster+Part- Over the course of 14 straight hours, crews con- 950 tons of reinforcing steel ners, BR+A and Southland Industries with the tinuously placed approximately 6,540 cubic yards construction management expertise of LF Driscoll of concrete onto the site, requiring more than 650 and Balfour Beatty. Team members from each firm Concrete Placement Key Team concrete trucks, 4 pump stations and over 120 are working together and with Penn Medicine’s crew members, site managers and safety support Owner: clinical, facilities and patient experience experts personnel. The concrete covers the more than to ensure the entire process is a collaborative ef- Penn Medicine 950 tons of reinforcing steel that forms the build- fort that brings each firm’s talents and knowledge ing’s foundation. Construction Management: to the table to maximize efficiency, reduce waste LF Driscoll To supply this volume of concrete, the concrete and, ultimately, provide the best results. Balfour Beatty subcontractor, Madison Concrete Construction, The Penn Medicine Pavilion will house inpatient Concrete Construction: engaged three different suppliers, who each pre- Madison Concrete Construction care for the Abramson Cancer Center, heart and pared a special high-strength design mix at 6,000 vascular medicine and surgery, neurology and Site Support: psi that included fly ash to meet the building’s neurosurgery and a new emergency department, JPC Group, Inc. LEED certification requirements. The logistics of including 500 private patient rooms and 47 op- the site also posed a challenge—its tight urban lo- PennFirst IPD Team: erating rooms. According to Penn Medicine, the Penn Medicine cation made staging difficult and required the clo- new facility is the largest capital project in Penn’s Foster+Partners sure of several streets to accommodate hundreds history and “Philadelphia’s most sophisticated and HDR of concrete trucks. ambitious healthcare building project.” BR+A In the end, the placement was not only success- The new facility is expected to be completed in LF Driscoll ful, but also made concrete-placement history, Balfour Beatty 2021. To check out a time lapse of the concrete surpassing the record set last summer by the pour, visit https://vimeo.com/224887776  All photos these pages: Southland Industries W/Element Hotel project in Center City Philadel- phia, which required 5,850 cubic yards of concrete.

 © Above PennFIRST The 6,540 cubic yards of concrete are enough to fill a Goodyear blimp

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