Every commercial construction project has its hurdles. Some projects face minor bumps in the road, while others encounter seemingly insurmountable challenges. Regardless of the obstacle, navigating these complexities is crucial for ensuring your project’s feasibility and profitability. As a developer or project owner, you’ve likely heard horror stories of unforeseen roadblocks derailing commercial construction projects entirely. Perhaps you’ve even experienced such a setback yourself.
This is precisely why preconstruction services have become invaluable in today’s commercial construction landscape, especially in rapidly growing urban environments like Nashville. Here at Crain Construction, we’ve built our reputation on setting your project up for success from the beginning. We take a proactive approach, identifying potential issues and crafting solutions – some of which you might not even realize are necessary.
Our preconstruction team plays a central role in this philosophy. Over the years, they’ve tackled intricate and seemingly impossible challenges across hundreds of projects. In this article, we’ll delve into a few real-world examples of how our preconstruction team transformed potential roadblocks into stepping stones for successful projects.
From Impossible Deadlines to Innovative Solutions: The BNA Hilton Hotel
Roadblock: We recently celebrated the grand opening of the stunning Hilton Hotel at BNA Airport. Due to its proximity to the existing airport infrastructure, minimizing disruption was paramount. This presented a particularly significant challenge: meeting an incredibly tight deadline for the exterior façade. The exterior finishes were primarily comprised of architectural precast panels and glass systems. Traditional construction sequencing would involve installing the precast panels first, then framing the glass system, and finally, the glass itself. However, this wouldn’t meet the project’s aggressive timeline.
Preconstruction Process & Solution: During the preconstruction phase, our team collaborated extensively to identify solutions that would allow us to achieve the project’s milestones. We devised a novel approach for the BNA Hilton Hotel: installing the glazing systems directly at the architectural precast manufacturing facility.
Outcome: This innovative solution meant that the precast panels arrived on-site with the glass systems already in place. This significantly streamlined the installation process, allowing us to achieve a deadline once thought impossible.
Overcoming Site Limitations: The TownePlace Suites Hotel
Roadblock: The TownePlace Suites on Charlotte Pike faced significant site-related challenges. The project involved building over a century-old, 14-foot diameter sewer/storm line. These unforeseen conditions drastically impacted construction costs, jeopardizing the entire project’s feasibility.
Preconstruction Process & Solution: Beyond exploring cost-saving recommendations and potential scope reductions, our preconstruction team presented a bold and creative solution: adding another floor of hotel rooms to the building to offset costs with the prospect of increased revenue.
Outcome: By increasing the number of rooms, we significantly boosted the project’s potential revenue stream, making it financially viable. This innovative approach transformed a seemingly insurmountable obstacle into an opportunity for greater profitability.
Preserving an Opportunity & Optimizing Functionality: The Turnip Truck Grocery Store
Challenge: The site location for the Turnip Truck grocery store on Charlotte Avenue offered an ideal combination of factors: a vibrant neighborhood and a unique 1940s structure. However, the existing building presented a logistical hurdle. A traditional loading dock at finished floor elevation, a common feature in grocery stores, simply wouldn’t work on this particular site. This posed a significant challenge to the store’s daily operations.
Preconstruction Process & Solution: Our preconstruction team, working closely with the owners and the architectural design team, devised a solution that addressed the grocery store’s logistical needs. We designed a unique loading dock system that accommodated delivery trucks and an efficient material lift system within the building itself.
Outcome: This innovative solution allowed Turnip Truck to capitalize on the perfect location while ensuring a smooth and functional back-of-house operation.
Building a Strong Foundation with Preconstruction
Preconstruction services are a foundational component of successful commercial construction projects. If you’re a developer who values a collaborative partner who will proactively identify and resolve challenges before construction begins, we encourage you to connect with our team at Crain Construction. We’re here to help you turn potential roadblocks into stepping stones, setting your project up for a smooth and successful journey from the beginning.
