The arrival of Hurricane Ike during construction of the five-building corporate administrative campus resulted in a six-week disruption in permanent power to the jobsite.
The loss of power delayed material delivery and postponed the start of interior construction, which requires conditioned air to prevent mold in drywall and damage to millwork from moisture in the air.
The lack of permanent power also delayed commissioning, a process that tests and certifies that mechanical systems such as fan coil boxes, chillers, air handlers and the UPS system are meeting specifications. The lift stations in a nearby sewage-treatment plant shut down with the loss of power and flooded the site, including the retention/detention pond that was stocked with a thriving bass population.
Delays caused by the storm were mitigated by owner provisions that allowed for a 24/7 schedule to make up lost time. As a result, the owner was able to occupy a portion of the campus ahead of schedule.
Key Players
Submitted by: SpawMaxwell/Tellepsen
Owner: FR-Enclave, Houston
General contractor (joint venture): SpawMaxwell Co., Houston; and Tellepsen, Houston
Construction manager: Transwestern, Houston
Architect: Kirksey Architecture, Houston
Civil engineer: Walter P Moore, Houston
Structural engineer: Haynes Whaley Associates Inc., Houston
Landscape architect: TBG, Bellaire
MEP engineer: I.A. Naman + Associates Inc., Houston
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