Photo courtesy Jacobsen Construction

This tilt-up concrete structure was built on an EPA-designated reformed Superfund site. Smelting plants processed lead and other heavy metals until 1958, which contaminated soil and groundwater in the area. Although remediation efforts have been ongoing for decades, each new project on the site still faces hurdles in protecting against toxic conditions. A geotechnical examination of the soil found hazardous toxins present, so the team put precautions in place to protect the construction crews and the building’s end users. These steps included using protective fabric liner in excavated areas, particularly where personnel worked in utility trenches replacing removed soil with flowable fill when backfilling plumbing lines and other utilities. Handwashing stations were installed immediately adjacent to high-hazard areas. Working closely with multiple environmental regulatory authorities, crews performed daily inspections of soil conditions. At a cost of $100-plus per cu yd, all contaminated soil excavated was disposed of at an EPA-approved site.

Delivery of a critically important air handling unit was pushed back nearly six months due to both a slow supply chain and a slight unit modification requested by the owner that unexpectedly reset the project’s place in line. This unit is responsible for preserving consistent temperature conditions throughout the warehouse, an absolute requirement for making the space fully capable of housing sensitive medical supplies and equipment. To overcome this timing change, the contractor worked closely with key subcontractors to resequence several scopes of work, which ultimately delivered the project on time and under budget.