Built on an aggressive 21-month schedule, the $45.4-million multi-family residential development features more than 160 apartment homes in three mid-rise buildings. The community prioritizes simplicity, functionality and affordability without compromising the quality of the living space. Amenities were limited to a dog park, bus stop, EV chargers, a grill area, detached garages and a stand-alone trash/recycling building. Due to the site conditions, a well for irrigation was not possible, nor was using town water an option. Instead, the team designed a system of three 10,000-gallon concrete tanks to collect and store rainwater from the building roofs.

The proximity of the city’s fire department headquarters presented multiple construction-phase challenges. Along with requiring close coordination and communication for utility connections in the streets that could not be closed for any amount of time, groundwater was contaminated with chemicals from fire-fighting foam that had been used during training exercises. All deep sewer work and other construction below the water table was required to include groundwater treatment prior to discharge, while saturated excavated soil was stockpiled for testing.

Photo by Michael Nesbitt, courtesy AvalonBay Communities Inc.

Hard granite encountered during construction had to be blasted to make way for underground utilities and building foundations. The project safety plan required all other construction activities to be halted during blasting events, with fire department crews on site as an added precaution.

All subcontractors were prequalified for compliance with the owner/general contractor’s minimum jobsite safety requirements. As the wood-frame structures took shape, the team implemented a fire elimination and security program that included application of spray-on fire inhibitors, surveillance cameras and other measures in accordance with national fire protection standards. All external safety observations were captured in a technology-based management tool, facilitating frequent and effective information analysis to understand trends, risks and hazards at the project. The findings were used to influence performance goals, training, planning and safety-related conversations with trade partners.

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