From the project’s start, we continually implemented a variety of creative solutions to minimize construction inconvenience to neighbors and keep the project progressing. Proactive and consistent communication was key to keeping neighboring businesses and residents informed about nighttime concrete pours and other activity affecting them.
To ensure access to the hospital and existing area businesses without disruption or congestion, just-in-time delivery was implemented for all materials, with most deliveries made between 4-5 a.m.
Early in the process, we used soil nail and gunite to shore up and stabilize the adjacent restaurant building and sections of the alley so foundation excavations could be installed and backfilled.
Aertson’s highly complicated structural concrete component included 36 sloping columns, multiple transfer beams and a concrete framed trellis at the top of the building. This requires approximately 30,000 cubic yards of concrete. We completed 93 nighttime elevated slab concrete pours, each averaging 30 truckloads of concrete for each pour. These late night into early morning hours concrete pours required unique noise-reduction techniques to lessen the disturbance for neighbors.
Working with our concrete subcontractor, Charter Construction Inc., our team fabricated and installed insulated “skirts” around the troweling machine blades and an insulated mobile wall panel system around the pump truck. Mufflers on the gas-powered machines were changed to reduce noise and back-up alarms were set at the lowest level allowed by OSHA.
Access around the building was a challenge due to multiple insets and different levels. To overcome this, we strategically installed two tower cranes to perform the concrete structure work. Scaffolding and mast climber platforms provided access for the exterior skin work.
Our ability to understand Buckingham Companies’ needs and represent them while maintaining open communication and a team approach with all parties — subcontractors, Metro and State permitting, suppliers, and retail and residential neighbors — resulted in a successful project awarded an Excellence in Construction from ABC Tennessee.