Photo courtesy of Turner Construction Co.

There were more than 200,000 hours of work with no lost-time accidents.

To complete the $43-million renovation and expansion of the landmark Riverside Convention Center, workers logged more than 200,000 hours of labor with no lost-time accidents.

Prior to the contract award, the project team evaluated safety programs, previous safety violation citations and other statistics from all the potential trade partners. The team then conducted safety orientation programs—including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and drug testing—and issued safety manuals to all subcontractors performing work.

Formal site-safety meetings were held on a regular basis as well as safety discussions during weekly job meetings. Best Projects judges appreciated that pre-planning safety meetings were held prior to every major task or high-risk activity, and that ladders were used—with accompanying permits—only when it wasn't feasible to use other methods to complete a task.

In addition to the renovation, the program called for more than 65,000 sq ft of new flexible meeting space. LED lighting, recycled materials, occupant sensors and drought-tolerant landscaping are among the sustainable features.

After gutting the building, the design-build team discovered hazardous materials in the parking structure, transit storm drain, subterranean piping and in the mastic glue under floor tiles. The team reworked the schedule to safely abate the materials and replace the building's mechanical system with no delay to the schedule.

Key Players

Contractor Turner Construction Co.

Owner City of Riverside

Architect DLR Group

Structural Engineer John A. Martin & Associates

Civil Engineer MSA Consulting

Landscape Architect AHBE

MEP Engineers Southland Industries; Morrow Meadows

Subcontractors XL Fire Protection; Raymond Group; Bagatelos Architectural Glass; RPG Enterprises