GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 18, 2011 …Hendrick Construction won a $26 million contract to build a 111,000-square-foot aviation support facility for South Carolina National Guard helicopters.

The project, which is on the west end of the existing South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center in Greenville, S.C., features two helicopter hangars and a central support area to facilitate flight operations. The 30-acre site will house three South Carolina Army National Guard units with 70 full-time personnel and 145 part-time soldiers.

“We are very pleased to work with Hendrick Construction in building a first-class flight facility,” said Col. Paul Horry, South Carolina National Guard State Aviation Officer. “Our aviation soldiers and their families are excited about the move and the opportunities it presents. We all look forward to establishing close ties with the community, to include forging partnerships with business and education.”

The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center features a public airport with an 8,000-foot primary runway. The center provides a strategic central location in the Southeastern United States as well as inland protection from hurricanes and extreme weather.

The aviation support facility will feature two maintenance hangars that will house six CH-47 Chinook and four UH-72 Lakota helicopters. The central portion will include an engine shop equipped for aircraft maintenance and repair, men’s and women’s lockers, flight instruction and operations rooms, an emergency aviation operations center, and offices for administrative support.

“This project is particularly challenging because of its large size and location next to a busy airport,” said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. “We’re excited to work with the South Carolina National Guard and deliver this state-of-the-art aviation facility.”

Construction will begin this month and is scheduled to be complete in approximately two years.

If you build it...

Working in an operational amusement park is uniquely different than other construction sites. Beyond the challenges with the construction projects themselves, maintaining a safe environment for guests and normal operating hours for the park are critical concerns.  Surprises during construction often impact time and costs. But, a proactive team can identify items that require additional planning and coordination, and most issues can be eliminated when all of the stakeholders establish a clear and common goal for the success of the project.  In Hendrick Construction’s experience as a general contractor, we know that surprises can come from a variety of sources, and they are unique to each project. Below are examples and recommendations for avoiding common issues faced by amusement park owners and operators during the construction of new rides and attractions.

Owner/Contractor Review of Contract Documents

Once a general contractor is selected, review the plans with them in detail as soon as possible. Identify the scope of work as well as the collateral requirements needed to achieve the scope of work. Make sure to understand how the project’s needs translate to potential schedule and dollar impacts. With any new attraction, it is easy to assume that the design team has created the perfect project and the contractor will build it accordingly. But even though the design logic may be sound, there are often issues that affect park operation and public safety during construction. Utility tie-ins are an example. In order to get power or water to the new site, you may have to trench across an existing area that is designated to remain open. There may also be areas in the park that construction equipment needs to access that are not indicated on the plans. These issues can be very disruptive if not identified early on.

Site Investigation

If the new ride is in a green field site, there are often fewer hidden features below ground. Any

challenges should be identified with the phase I environmental assessment for the property. But

if the site was previously occupied by another attraction, the construction documents need

to be prepared with additional caution and attention to detail. For example, the plans need to precisely indicate where utilities are located, especially fiber optic, gas and power lines, which need to be marked with X and Y coordinates. The paths for these utilities can vary, and they are often not as rigid as water or sewer piping. The utility company should locate the depth and distance of the pipes from fixed monuments so they can be clearly marked and protected during construction. 

Municipal Services

Emergency procedures should be clearly defined in writing, including the specific address

of the worksite and whether emergency phone calls are routed through the park switchboard

or straight to 911. Additionally, local authorities should know how to distinguish between an

emergency with an employee or guest in the park and an emergency at the construction

site.  Depending on the size of the site, it’s often a good idea to have local fire, police, emergency medical services and OSHA agencies walk through and familiarize themselves with the area before construction. If you need to modify your emergency access route or evacuation

points, it’s critical for local authorities to be aware of the changes. These first responders also need to know what’s happening at the site, the duration of the project and number of employees, whether dangerous chemicals are involved, and whether they need to be

prepared for any special equipment or unique circumstances.

Identifying Existing Conditions

It is important to clearly identify how the area will be assumed by the contractor, including

descriptions of what items are to be left, the area’s cleanliness, and the location and status

of existing utilities.  Additionally, the full disclosure of existing hazardous materials is usually required, but identifying who is taking care of them and the associated costs is essential. This includes hazardous materials that have been disposed of improperly or other unidentified random debris.

Logistics

Create a marshalling plan that identifies the work area and all temporary facilities, construction entrances, storage and down yards, security fencing, access control points and delivery areas. Clearly identify all requirements and paths of egress to and from the site with signage for the public and the construction team that is easy to understand.  Work hours and restrictions should also be known by the contractor, owner and all of the suppliers.  Spell out issues such as parking, access to the site, use of the loading dock, work-hour restrictions, noise limitations, the location of electrical panels and utility tie-ins, and who is responsible for paying the utility bill during construction.

Utility Tie-Ins

If using the existing utility infrastructure, make sure to locate the tie-in points and have a plan for any cutting or patching that may be necessary. Identify any temporary utilities needed for construction and plan for the time required to get them to the site.  It is important to know when new utilities need to be online and compare that information to park schedule and season. Plan accordingly for necessary shut downs.  Allow time for ancillary items when tying in to the master system. For example, when the water tie-in is complete, the system may need to be chlorinated and flushed for 24 hours and tested before service can be restored to the public. Some equipment will need to be recalibrated if the power has been shut off.  Additionally, if services such as a fire line are disrupted, sudden pressure can build on the backflow preventer when the water is restored, which can cause the fire alarm to sound.  Therefore, it’s important to coordinate with emergency monitoring agencies and security systems during utility tie-ins.

Additional Considerations

Owners need to clearly identify the expectations for cleanup, site maintenance and other issues such as stone or mud on the parking areas and roads. A “clean site” means different things to different people. Identify how often roads, project signs and perimeter fencing should be leaned, and spell out what constitutes a tidy site.  New attractions can often be kept confidential for a long period of time. Make sure to get confidentiality agreements signed by all parties that view the documents or discuss the project. Do not post documents on a public plan room or Web site. Use either printed copies controlled by one agency in charge of distribution or private electronic plan rooms with pass codes.  Finally, it is important to consider how the project will affect the rest of the park and what work restrictions should be in place. Once the preliminary project schedule has been established, compare the activities in peak season and evaluate them for noises, smells and other hazards. Anything that could conflict with the enjoyment of the guests needs to be addressed with a specific plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is not intended to be a complete checklist, but rather insight into the level of detail a prepared owner needs to have prior to the start of a new project.  When building new rides and attractions in occupied amusement parks, it is important to be proactive and identify items that require additional planning and coordination in order to minimize delays and cost increases.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 30, 2010 … Hendrick Construction, Inc. finished a 14,000-square-foot expansion project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, upgrading lab space at one of the world’s premier research facilities.

The Tennessee project created 13 new labs to support scientific research conducted at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the world’s most powerful pulsed source of neutrons for the study of materials. Scientific understanding of the molecular structure of materials is critical to the development of stronger, lighter, and cheaper compounds for a variety of commercial, industrial and other applications.

“This was a tough project that was built to exacting specifications in order to provide a flexible research environment,” said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. “We’re excited to contribute to the growth of this important facility.”

The project required the installation of various instruments and controls, as well as complex chemical storage, electrical and ventilation systems. The labs will serve various needs, including X-ray, wet chemistry, magnetic materials characterization, protein crystallography and neutron optics. The flexible space was constructed to adapt to new research needs without additional capital investment.

The renovation project is surrounded by other operational space on the second floor of the Spallation Neutron Source Central Lab and Office Building. The project required careful planning and coordination to avoid disruption of ongoing operations and to ensure the work was conducted safely.

“The availability of these new labs will certainly enhance the ability of our neutron scattering user community to perform research at the SNS,” said Oak Ridge National Laboratory Neutron Sciences Director Ian Anderson.

 
The SNS, completed in 2006, creates pulsed neutron beams in order to study the structural details of molecules. When fully operational, it will harbor 25 state-of-the-art scientific instruments and be used by scientists and engineers from universities, industries and laboratories around the world.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory. The facility is managed for DOE by a partnership of the University of Tennessee and Battelle. Scientists and engineers conduct basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions that strengthen the nation’s leadership in key areas of science; increase the availability of clean, abundant energy; restore and protect the environment; and contribute to national security.

Black Bear Saloon, Mattie’s Diner Open in Uptown Entertainment District

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2010 … Hendrick Construction, Inc. has completed two restaurants at NC Music Factory – one of Charlotte’s hottest entertainment districts.

Black Bear Saloon, which opened in April, is a 7,500-square-foot sports bar with 25 plasma TVs, an outside patio and a stage for live music. The restaurant is in a renovated historic structure at the NC Music Factory site, and it features the original hardwood floors, support columns, roof trusses and brickwork.

“Black Bear Saloon is a fantastic addition to the entertainment mix at NC Music Factory,” said Noah Lazes, president of the ARK Group, the developer of NC Music Factory. “They are a seasoned operator with multiple locations in the New York area, and we are honored to welcome them. Black Bear provides another excellent dining option with an extensive menu, as well great happy hour and evening entertainment with live bands and DJs.”

The restaurant features American-style cuisine, and it offers a full lunch and dinner menu. Black Bear Saloon partner Todd Kosakowski said the NC Music Factory was an ideal fit for the restaurant.

“We work well with live entertainment, and we have restaurants in similar locations in New York and Connecticut,” Kosakowski said. “We’re excited to be part of a permanent entertainment venue in Charlotte that attracts people from across the region.”

The second restaurant Hendrick Construction recently completed is Mattie’s Diner, a 1940s-era eatery open 24 hours. The 800-square-foot silver diner was relocated from New Jersey. Hendrick Construction built a 500-square-foot expansion that includes a prep kitchen, restrooms and storage area.

 
The diner, which is owned by Matt King and Steve Estes, caters to the late-night concert and club crowds at NC Music Factory.

“There’s really nothing like this in Uptown,” King said. “It’s a great fit for the Charlotte community, and the location can’t be beat.”

Lazes said Mattie’s Diner is a great addition for NC Music Factory.

“Every good entertainment district needs a 24-hour silver diner, and we are thrilled to have an original here,” Lazes said.

Hendrick Construction’s other NC Music Factory projects include The Fillmore Charlotte and Butter NC.

Rural Hall, N.C., Aug. 4, 2009 … Hendrick Construction, Inc. was awarded a $5 million contract to expand Rural Hall Elementary School in north Forsyth County and upgrade the facility with new technology.

Hendrick Construction will add almost 33,000 square feet of classroom space and replace an aging wing built in the 1950s. The wing houses third, fourth and fifth grade students, as well as a computer lab, an art room and a distance learning center that allows students to communicate with classrooms in other schools.

“The new addition to Rural Hall Elementary will create new classrooms updated with the latest technology,” said Principal Sharon Holmes. “We were one of the first schools in North Carolina to provide distance learning, and this will allow our students to continue communicating with classrooms throughout the state, country and world.”

Hendrick Construction will upgrade the distance learning center with state-of-the-art equipment, including monitors, microphones and Web cams. The technology resembles an interactive television show. It gives students an opportunity to discuss classroom topics and current events with students in all 50 states, as well as Europe and Australia, in real time.

Construction is scheduled to be complete in March 2010. Hendrick Construction will coordinate its operations with the school when classes resume.

“We will work on this addition when school is in session, which presents special challenges,” said Bryan Fowler, project superintendent for Hendrick Construction. “Safety is always our top concern, but we’re eager to showcase our can-do philosophy and provide new, state-of-the-art classrooms that will enhance the learning experience.”

Hendrick’s other school projects include the new 39-classroom Berewick Elementary School near Lake Wylie in Charlotte, and a 12,500-square-foot addition to Carl A. Furr Elementary School in Cabarrus County.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that Hendrick Construction, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., maintained a safety record that has earned the company recognition in the General Contractor category of ABC’s National Safety Excellence Awards. Hendrick Construction’s representatives received the award June 24 during the 19^th annual Excellence in Construction awards celebration at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“ABC is proud to congratulate Hendrick Construction for its success in maintaining the highest level of construction workplace safety in 2008,” said Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO. “Hendrick Construction has truly demonstrated its dedication to ensuring a safe environment for all employees and it is an honor to recognize that achievement with our National Safety Excellence Award.” 

The 2008 National Safety Excellence Award winners were selected from ABC member firms that achieved Platinum status in ABC's Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program. During the selection process, national safety winners were judged on self-evaluation scores, lost workday case rates, total recordable rates, and interviews conducted by members of ABC’s National Environment, Health & Safety Committee.

The National Safety Excellence Awards are presented in three major North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code categories: NAICS 236 – Construction of Buildings; NAICS 237 – Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction; and NAICS 238 – Specialty Trade Contractors.

Indian Land, S.C., May 19, 2009 … Hendrick Construction, Inc. has completed Continental Tire North America, Inc.’s headquarters facility – a 75,000-square-foot building that employs 375 people.

The facility on MacMillan Park Drive features more than 100 individual offices and several conference rooms. The headquarters will also serve as a call center.

Hendrick Construction worked with Forsite Development to build the facility and develop the property in just over a year.

Continental Tire relocated to Lancaster County from Charlotte, N.C. The company recently opened its new facility and held a special ceremony attended by community leaders, customers and employees.