 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Community in mind
McGann Construction overcomes obstacles for YMCA
|
You need to upgrade your Flash Player
This is replaced by the Flash content. Place your alternate content
here and users without the Flash plugin or with Javascript turned
off will see this. Content here allows you to leave out
noscript
tags. |
When McGann Construction Inc. lost its plumbing contractor near the start of construction of the $6.2 million Northeast YMCA in Sun Prairie, the project’s time line was thrown into serious jeopardy.
The delay pushed back the underground plumbing and delayed McGann’s ability to finish the project’s concrete flatwork before the cold winter months, said Nic Bortz, project manager/estimator for McGann.
“The plumbing contractor went out of business right before he was scheduled to install the underground plumbing,” Bortz said. “[Job superintendent] Wally Brey did an excellent job of coordinating and rescheduling many of the subcontractors to overcome the delay and bring the project in on time.”
In addition to the plumbing snafu, McGann had to deal with tricky pool construction and frigid Wisconsin winter temperatures when building the 48,000-square-foot facility.
Bortz said the six-lane swimming pool had to be excavated and constructed after the roof system was in place because digging could not begin until the precast was set on the second floor.
Randy Handel, vice president of McGann, said low temperatures required expensive temporary heat.
Problems also arose as the weather warmed up and things got muddy. The company needed extra stone and gravel to keep equipment from getting stuck on site.
“Planning and communication are always a key,” Handel said. “And I really feel we excelled in this area.”
|
Project Essentials Project
name: Northeast YMCA
|
Still, tenting and heating the masonry work, along with some of the concrete flatwork, added “enormous expense and time” to the project, Bortz said.
Despite all of these obstacles, the company met its initial deadline. Started on Sept. 11, 2006, construction of the Northeast YMCA was completed just 364 days later, on Sept. 10.
“It turned out great,” said Pat O’Brien, president and CEO of the Dane County YMCA. “We’re really pleased with the results. The building has been very well-received by the Y’s members and is particularly appealing to families.”
Design features of the facility include 20-foot aluminum storefront glass windows and large windows in the second floor’s lifestyle center that let members look out over the pool and gym areas.
“Inside, the building is very bright with lots of natural light, which is great during these long, depressing Wisconsin winters,” O’Brien said. “You need as much natural light as you can get.”
The facility also features a teen center, family fun pool, locker rooms and staff offices.
— Caley Meals