ABC's National Excellence in Construction program is the premier competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation. Winning projects, selected from entries submitted from firms across the nation, are judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and cost.
NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Jonesboro, Arkansas
This new project resulted in a $400-million investment in the region to serve communities in Northeast Arkansas, Northwest Tennessee and Missouri. It is one of the largest healthcare investments made in the state of Arkansas.
Design changes to the project included a massive upgrade to a large amount of healthcare equipment, upgrades to finishes, additional med gas outlets, changes to electrical and low voltage systems, revised room layouts and completion of previously shelled-out spaces. In many cases, the revisions required changes to in-wall and overhead mechanical, electrical and plumbing which needed to be carefully coordinated in order to avoid rework and minimize cost and schedule impacts.
The use of BIM allowed Hoar Construction to seamlessly incorporate these changes by inputting the changes into the model and revising layout of items where interference occurred. By comparing installation progress with information in the model, they were able to limit the amount of previously installed work that had to be relocated by rerouting the newly revised mechanical, plumbing and electrical to avoid items that had already been installed. This not only resulted in less rework for the subcontractors, but it also resulted in improved efficiency and lower cost for the owner. Earl Swensson and Associates served as architect.
Abroms Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, Birmingham, Alabama
AEIVA's two-story, fully built-out structure was designed by the late Randall Stout – the last completed project prior to his death in June 2014. Its dramatic angles and slope configurations achieved the wwner's desired effects of a hip, creative space in keeping with the artistic vibe of the neighborhood and the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts across the street. Those same design elements also provided construction challenges, as the various angles and slope configurations for the desired architectural effect of the building made for a challenging project.
Hoar tackled more than a few challenges to complete this project. The exterior skin was a combination of brick, curtain wall, translucent panels and patina"d zinc panels. The owner required 21-foot vaulted ceilings in the main lobby with perimeter heating trenches and no ductwork. The art zone did not allow for wet pipes to cross over nor overhead objects to be below 12 feet, requiring intense MEP planning. There was only four feet of accessible interstitial space between the first and second floors throughout the project and only one point of access between the first floor mechanical/electrical/boiler/CER rooms and the second floor. Each of these constraints proved to be difficult for the project team, but they handled them in stride, detailing solutions to these complexities with precision and hard work.
Hoar Construction also received an award for The M2 Apartments (Residential: Multi-Family and Condominium category).
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