But work also began during Houston’s rodeo season—the busiest period at NRG Stadium—which usually attracts more than 2.5 million attendees. To remain unobtrusive, the project team developed a detailed logistics plan that included enclosing the construction site with 8-ft fencing and black screening.

Two 20-ft temporary access doors were fabricated and painted to match the curtain wall, blending seamlessly into the building’s exterior. The result was zero incidents or complaints and a work zone that remained virtually unnoticed by the public.

Photo by Andy Phan

With limited as-built documentation, overhead MEP systems had to be uncovered and evaluated in real time. The team utilized 3D scanning technology to map existing infrastructure and identify conflicts. When clashes arose, crews coordinated closely with the design team to make strategic mechanical and architectural adjustments.

However, the stadium’s original design did account for future expansion, so there were structural provisions in place for a mezzanine addition. With this in mind, the team completed that scope within the existing framework, avoiding major structural rework.

In addition to resolving conflicts early with the help of 3D scanning, the team also developed a navigable virtual walkthrough for the client months before completion. This immersive model allowed key stakeholders, including the general manager and coaching staff, to visualize the new space and make informed decisions regarding furniture, equipment placement and operational flow. These insights enabled smoother sequencing in later phases that contributed to the project’s early delivery.

Photo by Andy Phan

With worker safety remaining top of mind, the project team implemented Turner Construction’s Building L.I.F.E. (Living Injury Free Every Day) program, which emphasizes personal accountability and proactive engagement. According to the contest entry submitted by Turner, “This program fosters a mindset shift, ensuring every worker not only understands protocols but takes ownership of safety outcomes. Through tools like Critical Safe Behavior observations, we actively engaged with workers to better understand their scopes of work as well as identified safer and more efficient methods.”

The project team also utilized SafetyNet, a leading-indicator tracking system that monitors real-time safety trends such as near misses, positive interventions and observations. “This data-driven approach empowered our team to identify and resolve potential hazards before they became incidents,” says Turner. As a result, the project team achieved its goal of zero recordable incidents over the course of more than 21,000 total worker hours.