Meticulous analysis and planning resulted in a decision to erect an onsite, concrete batch plant for construction of Easton-Bell Sports Inc's $31-million, 813,000-sq-ft office and automated warehouse center. In addition to reducing fuel, emissions and time, the operation enhanced quality by eliminating water additives required for transporting the concrete product.

Patented concrete flooring and pavement required less stone, cement and chemicals, with resulting reflective qualities leading to reductions in lighting costs. Custom fixtures reduced shadowing, increased quality and further curtailed energy consumption.

Among other activities, project team members participated in an extensive site selection process for the facility. The project's general contractor, Peak Construction Corp., provided expertise on numerous critical criteria, including transportation, zoning, municipal incentives, construction costs, operating expenses and access to public utilities, all of which were incorporated into a building model providing operating comparisons.

Peak also referenced internally managed historical cost and schedule information to generate guaranteed maximum time and cost proposals validated during a competitive bidding process.

Easton-Bell Sports Inc., Rantoul, Ill.

Key Players

Owner Rantoul 57 Development Inc., Deerfield, Ill.

General Contractor Peak Construction Corp., Des Plaines, Ill.

Designer Heitman Architects Inc., Itasca, Ill.

Structural Engineer KJWW Engineering Consultants, Naperville, Ill.

MEP Engineer Sun Mechanical Systems Inc., St. Charles, Ill.

Civil Engineer Spaceco Inc., Rosemont, Ill.