"There are miles and miles of conduit for a system like this," says Proctor. "It's state of the art and one of the most advanced [prisons] in the country.

The drain pipe for each cell has a clean-out valve accessible only behind the security wall, with hooks to catch contraband flushed down toilets. Guards can capture contraband and identify the cell it came from.

To accommodate the complex design, the team used BIM 360 to virtually build the project before starting field work. The team coordinated construction and layout of precast modules, concrete, structural steel, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire protection and security infrastructure. Spotting possible conflicts in BIM also saved the team a lot of rework.

"It really helped with [the subcontractors] and so much conduit. BIM 360 works with multiple softwares so the subs could use what they were trained on. We could integrate everyone's model into one and spot problems before they arose," Proctor says.

Montalbano also credits hands-on interest by Sheriff Marlin Gusman. Because the project required demolition of the old jail, parts of which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, inmates have had to live in a temporary tent city on site. Gusman advocated for a smaller, more advanced jail, claiming higher security features would make a safer facility for both inmates and guards.

"He's been very involved since the start, and he's really interested in [building] a better and safer facility for the citizens of New Orleans," says Montalbano.