AC Hotel at Phipps Plaza Lobby

Traditional hotel design and construction for flagship brands is fairly straightforward; there’s a solid prototype, consistent finishes and similar site locations that require only minor design adjustments from site location to site location. There are also historical costs that a general contractor can reference to develop a solid estimate for the property’s construction. But, in an effort to reach a new generation of travelers between the ages of 18 and 34, major hotel chains are building fewer traditionally branded properties and are rolling out new hotel brands with non-cookie cutter, boutique-like features, targeted to this demographic’s tastes and needs.

When building a new hotel brand, the design process is fluid, more iterative and constantly changing because there is no existing or historical precedent. A general contractor with experience rolling out new hotel brands knows how to truly partner with the developer, owner, franchisee and architect, as well as the hotel brand management to keep the project moving forward without compromising vision, quality or the brand look and feel that make it unique and appealing to the target guest.

Understanding The Brand and Its Vision

Winter built the new Aloft Hotel in Charlotte atop an existing retail and parking structure.

Of course, none of this is possible unless someone can communicate and interpret the brand vision. Being able to understand and translate that brand vision into a tangible thing is a talent. You either have it or you don’t. And it requires a contractor who is willing to invest the time understanding the brand.

The contractor that gets it wants to participate in team meetings as early as possible to understand how all stakeholders—developer, hotel management, franchisor, franchisee and architect—interpret that brand so that the contractor can be most effective in bringing them all together through compromise and collaboration to reach an end product upon which everyone can agree.

Winter built the new Aloft Hotel in Charlotte atop an existing retail and parking structure.
Constructability reviews are standard to every project but with a new hotel rollout, these are intensified and the process more iterative, happening at every stage of design.

Expert value engineering is critical. A contractor’s depth of product knowledge and ability to procure acceptable alternates is often the difference in being able to get the project into budget and meet the construction timeline. Value analysis is also key in navigating the unknowns in the initial preconstruction phase as well as during construction as the brand’s physical manifestation evolves. Often, a contractor’s depth of resources and knowledge can facilitate a change in an FF&E manufacturer or an alternate source for materials that will result in a savings to the project.

A Nimble Contractor

When completed, the dual-branded new AC/Moxy Hotel in Atlanta will be first in the United States.

When completed, the new AC Hotel in Atlanta will be one of the first in the United States.For example, an owner may specify a certain light fixture but upon installation may not like the light levels it provides. Or maybe the owner decides at the last minute to offer more than just breakfast service, requiring design reconfiguration to accommodate a larger kitchen.

These changes can be of little consequence or they can require significant rework. A good contractor can mitigate the change with the least amount of impact to overall schedule and budget providing owners/brand reps with the information they need to make the best decisions regarding their properties through effective cost benefit analysis.

The post Constructing A New Hotel Brand appeared first on Winter Construction.

A boldly designed space helps to differentiate a brand from its competition, but some of these designs can unknowingly create installation issues, because gaps may exist in drawing specifications or perhaps the feature hasn’t been thoroughly planned. When that bold design reaches the construction stage, innumerable practical challenges can threaten the schedule and budget. A good contractor will use creative thinking to solve constructability issues when there are gaps between design and construction.

Constructability challenges can arise when project designs call for custom-made materials or special fixtures. Custom-made materials are more expensive to manufacture and install; thus, if they are damaged during installation, the process of replacement could not only be costly due to replacement material lead-time but also financially costly.

Unique Problem Solving

Winter’s custom-made platform for installing fixtures in the hotel atrium.

In one of Winter’s recent hospitality project renovations, plans included the installation of a chandelier to fill the immense open space of a 200-foot-high lobby atrium. The lighting design called for custom-made pendant glass globes that were roughly 20 times the size of an ordinary light bulb and that were to be suspended from long wires attached to the framed skylight, reaching down to the second-floor terrace level.

Skylight roof support system, designed and installed by Winter.

The existing site conditions of the roof and balcony structures made accomplishing this delicate installation challenging, but Winter’s field team devised a custom-made, motorized platform to gain access to the upper atrium space, since traditional scaffolding and other methods were not feasible. The motorized platform enabled the installation crew to safely reach every point in the atrium with a stable floor that protected the delicate glass globes as

they were put into place. The motorized platform itself required a crane drop materials on the roof in order to build a proper support structure through the skylight, where the suspension cables were attached for the motorized platform. Additionally, the platform had to be carefully designed to protect the safety of the crew as well as the hotel’s staff and guests.

Harmonious Form and Function

Feature safety wall installation and grand staircase renovation underway in the occupied hotel.

Another feature in this project included the reconstruction of a grand staircase with a walnut veneer. The former staircase design included an enclosure at the staircase’s base that housed extensive fire suppression equipment, but the new staircase design eliminated that base
enclosure to achieve a sleeker look. In order to preserve that location for the fire suppression system, Winter’s field team worked collaboratively with the trades; coordinating the fire sprinkler subcontractor, carpenters, and electrical subcontractor to route the fire suppression pipe through the new staircase’s steel and wood framing. In the end, the team was able to maintain the integrity of the original grand staircase design, while retaining its needed safety function.

Rendering to Reality

SketchUp model in comparison with the finished product.

An additional constructability issue in the project was the redesign of the landing area of the hotel’s 1970s-era elevator system, which consisted of exposed glass elevator pods. When the existing elevators landed in the lobby, they presented a potential hazard to pedestrians. To remedy this, the project’s interior designers designed a 3D topographical wall that would not only separate pedestrians from the elevator landing area, but would also aesthetically modernize the look and feel of the lobby. The interior designers provided Winter with only a rendering of the proposed safety wall, composed of large, three-dimensional, geometric plaster pieces, that transformed it from a functional safety feature to a stunning and iconic modern sculpture.

During preconstruction, Winter collaborated with the designer, plaster manufacturer and drywall subcontractor using SketchUp, a 3D design software, to recommend appropriate materials, determine fit and installation sequencing, and build a schematic. Winter built mock-ups of the wall to scale, made additional aesthetic finish recommendations, and provided precise specifications to the manufacturer, leading to a quick, cost-effective and successful installation.

Working Around Site Conditions

Site conditions are another factor that can impose constructability challenges for bold designs. In a hotel renovation in which the designer called for tongue-and-groove hardwood flooring, including in some heavily trafficked areas, the specification stated site-finished hardwood in walnut. However, Winter’s project team found that the existing flooring was thinner than the new material, and installing the specified thicker flooring would create trip-hazards at room and elevator transitions.

The renovated atrium with new light fixtures and safety wall, successfully completed due to Winter’s creativity and planning.

Before offering a solution, Winter conducted extensive research of commercial-grade flooring products. The project team ultimately recommended a thinner, pre-engineered, commercial-grade product that provided the client with a commercial warranty. Once approved and installed, it was clear that the team’s effort had preserved the walnut aesthetic while also offering a solution that harmonized with existing conditions and offered greater durability.

Good Experience and Creative Determination

The use of technology in construction has greatly reduced many field challenges, but it’s not possible to foresee and solve every field obstacle encountered in bringing a unique design to fruition. Good contractors have creative, willing field teams that can rapidly problem-solve to achieve the Architect’s and Owner’s vision. It pays to have that kind of contractor on board early in preconstruction and design stages to avoid delays and scope creep during construction. Proven experience and creative determination are required to realize bold designs in renovation and construction work.

The post Bold Design vs. Field Constructability: Closing the Gap appeared first on Winter Construction.

Although winters in the Southeast are typically mild, construction sites need to be prepared for the safety challenges associated with extremely cold temperatures. According to OSHA, obvious risk factors for employees suffering from cold stress, which occurs when the body loses heat and is unable to warm itself, include not staying dry, improper attire, and exhaustion.

Keeping a construction site safe in all conditions requires significant preparation, awareness, and close supervision. Protecting employees from cold winter weather is equally as important as implementing 100% fall protection and keeping a jobsite clean. There are several precautions to be made in order to keep workers safe in these severe conditions.

Be Prepared

On a construction site, the Superintendent, with the help of the project team, properly prepares the construction workers for impending harsh weather conditions. These preparations include the following activities:

• Monitoring the weather forecast for the surrounding area and communicating any potential risks associated with the forecast
• Training workers to protect themselves from extreme cold and to recognize symptoms of cold stress
• Providing easy access to first aid kits and emergency numbers
• Encouraging workers to keep an emergency kit in their trucks, complete with water bottles and non-perishable foods; warm gloves, hats, a blanket, and other winter gear; flashlight; and an ice scraper
• Preparing the jobsite from cold-related damage, such as freezing pipes, which could endanger both the workers and the project

Stay Warm

Once the cold weather hits, it is not business as usual. Accommodations, such as the following, should be made to make sure workers keep themselves warm:

• Scheduling short, “warm-up” breaks, during which construction workers can rest, eat a nourishing meal, and drink plenty of water or hot beverages
• Providing extra warm articles of clothing, in the event a worker is dressed improperly or showing signs of cold stress
• Scheduling work hours during the warmest time of the day
• Requiring workers to cover all metal tools and handles with thermal insulating material and wear appropriate gloves

Through adequate preparation, communication, and follow-through, these activities will help create the safest possible working environment during extreme cold weather.

The post Keeping Construction Workers Safe in Cold Conditions appeared first on Winter Construction.

A school renovation has a hard deadline. A perfect learning environment for staff and students needs to be in place well before the first bell of the school year rings. To bring the project together on time, only the highest quality communication and service from a contractor will suffice.

Here is a checklist of best practices that your contractor should follow:

1. Set clear milestones. The contractor should provide a clear project communication document that details everything owners, teachers, and support staff need to know about the completion schedule, in language that’s approachable and comprehensible to everyone. It’s not enough for contractors to hand out a technical construction schedule and expect all teachers, principals, and other interested parties to decipher it. After all, they’re not the construction experts.Look for a contractor who will provide you with a clear timeline – in layman’s terms – indicating major project milestones. If the projected turnaround time sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Ask in advance about the contractor’s history of meeting deadlines, and don’t be afraid to request references who can back up those success stories.
2. Schedule building inspections as early as possible. An experienced contractor knows to schedule building inspections early. From the first day on the project, they should be reaching out to their connections and scheduling inspection visits for each critical move-in activity: when furniture is delivered, when teachers return, and finally, before your students arrive. Jurisdictions differ on their requirements but most will work with a contractor to provide sign-off for these and other interim milestones. Your contractor should be in communication with the building inspector from the outset about these timeline expectations.
3. Give staff time to learn. Finishing a renovation the day before school starts isn’t good enough. It needs to be completed at least six weeks in advance so that everyone – from teachers to cafeteria workers to IT support staff – has time to learn how to use the new equipment. You don’t want to be faced with 2,000 hungry school children while the cafeteria staff figures out how to work the new ovens.
4. Provide sufficient training. Although it is standard practice to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals to property users after a renovation, an experienced contractor will provide them well before handing over the keys to the school. At the very least it’s important to have the manuals before the school reopens. Once occupied, there should be no questions about how to operate the HVAC system or clean the carpets. Receiving operations manuals two or more months after the school is turned over creates unnecessary stress for maintenance staff, can allow improper cleaning to occur on sensitive finishes, and can even delay scheduled maintenance on important equipment.
5. Provide a tour of the facility. School administrators need to feel comfortable in the new space. Though it’s the contractor’s prerogative to offer a site tour, a quality contractor won’t miss the chance to conduct a tour at the earliest opportunity. Tours give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and offer input. To go above and beyond, contractors can arrange to have someone on call to speak with stakeholders after the tour is over.
6. Provide staff to supervise movers and deliveries. Teachers can’t help but accumulate piles of educational materials for their classrooms. A good contractor will be able to recommend reliable movers and delivery companies to help with the transition into the new facility; the best will ensure that people are on hand to help with installing and setting up furniture and fixtures. This helps speed up the process and ensures that everything is exactly where school staff need it to be. Top contractors will even provide personnel to oversee the movers and make sure they have access to the building.
7. Make time for communications installations. Communications installations (daily bells, phones, and computers) should be included in the contractor’s schedule. He or she must ensure that rooms are ready for telecom providers to install computers, phones, and other audio visual equipment well in advance. Delays aren’t an option. Staff needs to know how to work the bell system, activate fire alarms, and access WiFi well before the first student arrives.
8. Make sure it’s as clean as possible. It’s one thing to clean up a site before the users occupy it; it’s another thing entirely to make sure it’s spotless once everything has been installed, turned on, and tested. Top quality contractors will provide an additional cleaning service following move-in to ensure the school sparkles from day one.

School renovations face tight turnaround times and budgets. A seasoned contractor will keep the lines of communication and collaboration open so that the end product satisfies owners, stakeholders, and students alike.

The post A Lesson In School Renovation appeared first on Winter Construction.

Career fairs can be a great resource for finding your next job. There will likely never be another time when you will have so many employers in one place who are there just to meet potential employees with your level of experience.

Take advantage of this opportunity! Here are six tips to making your next career fair a successful one.

Build a strong resume and bring copies to give to your top employers. A resume is a critical component of landing a job. An employer generally scans a resume in less than 30 seconds. Make it count! Your resume should include your key skills and accomplishments, leadership positions, and community involvement. Make sure it is error-free, because grammatical errors will likely result with your resume in the recycle bin.

Prepare an elevator speech. You will only get a few minutes at most to make an impression. You should have a 30-60 second pitch prepared for when you meet employers. Your pitch should include why you want the position, what you are looking for in a company, and what you can offer an organization. Keep it simple and practice!

Research the companies attending. Most career fairs dates are posted online and will include a list of registered employers. Do your research! Prioritize your list of companies you are most interested in to assure you meet with them. Don’t discount other companies; you may be surprised to see what some companies have to offer.

Ask questions. Asking intelligent questions demonstrates to employers that you did your research and are really interested in pursuing a career with them. Remember employers are seeing hundreds of people in a short period of time.

Dress the part. Meeting an employer at a career fair is the first part of your interview process. Dress professionally or in business casual. Don’t go too casual. You don’t want your clothing to be a distraction. Keep in mind the old adage: dress for the job you want not the one you have.

Be confident. Confidence is key, but check your ego at the door. Approach the employers and introduce yourself. Be enthusiastic. Smile and make eye contact.

Extra credit: Take advantage of opportunities to meet with companies outside of the career fair setting. Many companies will host company information sessions on or off campus. These are special opportunities to get quality face time with employers and make a bigger impression in a smaller setting.

The post How to Work a Career Fair appeared first on Winter Construction.

So you have multiple job offers…now what? How do you choose the right company? While salary and benefits are critical components of your decision, there are many other factors you should consider before accepting a job offer.

Company Culture and Values – Did you that know a common reason employees leave their employers is a mismatch in culture? If you are a laid-back person, you will probably not enjoy a more structured work environment. If you enjoy tackling ambiguous challenges, you will probably not enjoy working for a company that has rigid processes. Does the employer encourage and support work/life balance? Make sure your values match with the employer. An employee in the wrong culture is not good for the company or the employee.

Company Stability – Does the company have a plan for the future to continue to grow and thrive? Is it going to be around in 5 years? Assess your personal risk tolerance for a company’s stability and confirm that it is in line with the company’s future plans.

The Job – The job and the day-to day- activities associated with it itself is an important factor. Will you feel satisfied with the level of personal contribution the position allows? Will the position offer you the opportunity to experience various aspects of the company or industry?

Company Size – Do you have aspirations of working for a large company? There are pros and cons to working for a large company versus a smaller company. Large companies potentially offer higher salaries or better benefit packages, but you may get lost in the number of employees. If you want to be in a position to have your voice heard or want to experience various parts of the company, you may want to consider a smaller company.

Total Compensation Package – When comparing job offers, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Where a company may offer a lower base salary, they may make up for it in other areas such as retirement, 401K match, benefits, bonuses, etc. Be sure to know what the total compensation package includes.

The post Choosing the Right Employer appeared first on Winter Construction.

More and more, mall operators are looking to their food courts as a means to improve the shopper experience and grow sales by increasing the average time a shopper spends at their property.

Food courts are being transformed from halls with fluorescent lighting, linoleum floors and utilitarian furniture to spaces with ambient lighting, special flooring and finishes, comfortable seating and better acoustics to encourage more social gathering.

Renovating a mall food court sets in motion a complex machine of communication, coordination and planning; good contractors drive that machine with confidence. Finishing the job on time and within budget is only half of the challenge. Equally important is the experience of all the stakeholders in the project: managers, tenants, and customers.

Instilling Confidence With Mall Managers

A holistic customer-centric mindset instills confidence. With the many potential pitfalls and challenges of food court renovation, it takes a special contractor, who shares the concerns and values of their client, mall managers, to pull off a successful food court renovation.

• Developing a detailed schedule and phasing plan for the work is a key communication tool providing mall managers information regarding what to expect during each night’s work.
• Understanding the mall’s hours of operation and special events so that construction can be scheduled around certain times.
• Supporting and educating food court vendors on how to maintain their individual spaces to best mitigate dust and other construction hazards is more than helpful−it’s critical. The contractor can provide invaluable guidance if involved early in the process, bringing a wealth of product material knowledge and installation know-how to best suit an active, occupied food court environment. Details like knowing whether the sliders on the existing furniture need to be replaced to avoid damaging new floors or knowing the practicality and durability of a specified floor covering protect your renovation investment today and years to come.

Building Relationships With Tenants

Although mall management acts as a liaison between food court vendors and the construction crew during the renovation, the successful contractor also see each vendor as a client and works to meet that vendor’s concerns.

Food court tenants and vendors are valuable partners with valid concerns regarding the inconveniences of the renovation and its affect on their businesses. The food vendor is concerned about the effect on their brand and physical representation, as well as, the effect on food preparation and their ability to maintain health code compliance. Meeting the vendors and tenants early, often and in person to answer their questions and concerns can be the difference in a good project experience or a bad one.

Some things a contractor can do to assure a good experience for tenants:

• Never interfere with the vendor’s “hello” to its customers by accidentally obscuring the vendor’s signage
• Seal off non-work areas with polyethylene plastic; triple-checking that plastic for all possible leaks of dust or other contaminants
• Use air-cleaning filters and negative air machines diligently
• Schedule all tile replacement in a way that allows tables and chairs to be put back in place by the time the mall opens its doors in the morning

When contractors and tenants become partners in the renovation, the work is more efficient and expedient.

Maintaining The Customer Experience

Great contractors know that the customer’s perception is everything, and they go to great lengths to avoid negative perceptions.

The best way for a contractor to keep in the customer’s good graces is to be invisible.

• Always terminate the night’s work long before mall guests arrive.
• Leave dining areas spotless at the end of the shift.
• Employ expert methods of excluding dust, mold and pests from the property.
• Be realistic with the limited night work shift time allotment, assuring enough time is built into the shift for proper preparation to protect the vendor space and sufficient time for clean up.
• Provide easy-to-read signage to provide direction if re-routing of pedestrian traffic is required
• Arrange for an out of sight, secure location for equipment and tool while work is not underway.

A good contractor makes sure that renovation work poses no obstacle, whether real or perceived, to the food court guest.

Three Customer Rule

Understanding there are three clients is the key to a smooth and successful food court transformation. A good contractor is distinguished by taking care of all the people affected both directly and indirectly by the renovation.

The post Three-Customer Rule In Food Court Renovation appeared first on Winter Construction.

When building a courtroom, clear sight lines, infallible security, and impeccable functionality don’t just happen: they’re planned starting from the smallest detail. Digital models and two-dimensional architectural drawings can’t prepare an owner and construction team for flawless project execution in the same way that a life-sized mockup can. And when it comes to once-in-a-generation public works like courthouses, there’s no room for error. In progress adjustments and changes impact schedule and increase project costs.

A full-size plywood mock-up is constructed in order to show how a courtroom will look and feel− from the size of the room, the height of the ceilings, to the location of doors and key elements such as the judge’s bench, witness stand, court reporter, and evidence display monitors. This fastidious approach to preconstruction reveals any problems or areas for improvement in the plan, which, in turn, protects taxpayer dollars. By leaving nothing to chance, a mock-up is an essential communication tool to ensure end user satisfaction.

Stakeholder Testing

Judges, lawyers, and General Services Administrators need to visualize and test out the courtroom layout.

A courtroom mock-up allows users to experience the room’s sight lines – for example, from the judge’s bench to the witness box; the court reporter’s desk to the witness box; the jury box to the witness box; and the jury box to evidence display. All parties need to have unobstructed views of the courtroom. The judge needs to be at the proper height for prominence and practicality.

A mock-up allows users to plot their travel paths through the space and confirm that court workers and jury members can reach across desks, that lawyers can approach the bench, and that everyone can move through the space with ease.

Although a courtroom can be simulated using CAD software, nothing can replace the tangible experience of physically walking through the actual design of a site.

Building To Suit & Modification Review

A mock-up makes minor fixes easy and stops them from becoming major issues down the road. Elevating a desk slightly or moving the side rail of a judge’s bench can go a long way to improving the flow of a courtroom. It also draws attention to downstream effects of one change. For example, raising a bench may impact surrounding millwork, doorways, transoms & ADA access. These issues are readily apparent when working with a full-size mock-up.

The initial review of the mock up needs to be orderly and systematic, controlled by the General Contractor or Lead Architect. Each reviewing party receives the opportunity to comment and request modifications. Modifications can be made on the spot, or oftentimes, all modifications will be noted and a second walk through will be held once all changes are complete. The process may take two or three iterations in order to reach perfection.

In addition to providing invaluable insight, having end users offer their input after a walkthrough encourages buy-in and ensures satisfaction with the finished product.

Better Price Controls & Constructibility

The complete mock-up process can take up to three months from the initiation of shop drawings through construction, and it begins as soon as the plans have been approved. The contractor will drive the process each step of the way: selecting an experienced and qualified millwork subcontractor; coordinating and reviewing the shop drawings from different trades – framing, millwork, electrical; supervising the construction of the mock up; and reviewing and modifying the mock-up prior to review by the end users. The contractor will then plan backwards from date of the final millwork installation to determine when the process must be initiated, while ensuring ample time for reviews and modifications.

Using a mockup prior to construction supports a CM at-Risk delivery method rather than a hard bid. Getting the contractor involved early creates better price controls, allows for constructability input, helps with early procurement, and allows the design team to select the appropriate materials.

Ensuring that every element of the plan will fit together seamlessly at the onset saves everyone time and money. It takes planning and precision to comply with the specific security, telecommunications, acoustic, data, and audiovisual requirements mandated by the General Services Administration (GSA) in its US Courts Design Guide.

It Saves Time And Taxpayer Dollars

Although judges, lawyers, and other court staff are the primary users of a courtroom, the design first has to satisfy the General Services Administration (GSA). This government body dictates courtroom construction and recommends the use of mock-ups to ensure that everything is built right the first time. While the courtroom must work for the users, it’s still, ultimately, the county that is paying for the construction and determines the final design decisions.

Contractors understand that the best way to respect taxpayer dollars is to put in the utmost effort in the planning stage so that the final build is performed to perfection.

The post Courtroom Mock-Ups Prove Judicious appeared first on Winter Construction.

An atrium is simply a large open space in a building. But that’s where “simple” ends. In the 1970s, architect John Portman reinvented – and popularized – the atrium, fusing glass, steel, and concrete into spectacles that soar more than 20 stories above the floor.

As they age, though, these common architectural features pose uncommon challenges. Here are some items to consider with your contractor to ensure a seamless, minimally intrusive project.

Why Renovate an Atrium?

Portman started a trend, and atriums began popping up regularly in hotels, museums, and other commercial buildings. Renovations usually involve replacing skylights and/or replacing or repairing the ceiling itself. Some common reasons include:

• Cloudy glass. Cloudy, scuffed, or worn-looking glass can impact the aesthetic appeal of a hotel, office building, or other commercial space.
• Leaks. Water infiltration can damage elements inside the building.
• Energy inefficiency. Old glass and building materials cost owners a fortune in lost heating and cooling.
• Stricter building codes. To comply with tougher regulations, atriums may need to reconsider fire safety, environmental standards, and other building codes that didn’t exist in the 1970s.
• Style. A dated appearance can turn off guests and other stakeholders, especially when the competition appears fresh and modern in comparison.

If your atrium was built in the 1970s – or even just 15-20 years ago – it might have all of the above problems.

Working 20+ Stories Up is No Easy Feat

Good contractors know they need to properly execute all of the following to overcome the challenges of an atrium renovation:

• Set up a netting system below the work area, with proper anchor points. If a tool falls, for example, the safety net catches it before it can injure someone or cause damage to materials, equipment, flooring, or other elements. OSHA has strict regulations concerning safety nets, so all netting must be inspected and meet applicable standards.
• Install secure scaffolding. This is no small task. Typical scaffolding starts at the ground; with atriums, it needs to hang from the ceiling. The trick is installing a work platform safely and ensuring that the existing structure can handle the load.
• What if a work platform isn’t feasible because the existing structure will not support it? In this case, a swing stage works. These are the swinging platforms used by window washers on the outside of buildings. Once they’re set up on either side of the work area, the contractor can install a platform between them that will allow access to the entire atrium.
• Be open to innovative and creative solutions. Platforms and scaffolding are just the beginning of the challenges posed during atrium renovations. The key is to think creatively and find alternative solutions that are safe and effective. In some instances, it makes more sense to construct a new skylight over the existing one. After it is installed and dry, remove the old one from the inside. Working 20+ stories in the air is difficult: careful thought, planning, and engineering are the contractor’s best tools.
• Plan for staging. Exceptional planning and foresight are a must with high atrium renovations. The scale of hotel atrium work is always massive. Your contractor needs to come up with a plan to store and assemble pieces, and to move them safely.

Containing Noise and Dust

Atriums are designed to enhance light and create a sense of open space; they weren’t designed to contain dust and noise. In a typical lobby, contractors can block off sections to renovate. With an atrium hotel, where the lobby could be 10-20 stories high, that’s not always possible. The sights, sounds, and smells of active construction can have a big impact on guest satisfaction and hotel revenue. Your contractor should:

• Limit noise to specified work hours (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
• Build a small containment area with a roof to limit noise and dust (as well as the view into the workspace).
• Use negative air machines to contain dust. These machines create an inward airflow in the contained area. This keeps dust and particulates from escaping.
• Complete as much prep work outside the atrium as possible. Cutting and sawing, for instance, can be done offsite or outside to reduce impact.
• Use prefabricated materials when possible.

More than a Safety Net

A safety net is a start. What else do you need to do?

• • Hire vendors, installers, and subcontractors who have higher limits of liability. Atrium renovation is extremely dangerous work. In case of a catastrophic accident, you need to be covered.
  • Choose your partners carefully. Make sure they’ve done this type of work before. They should specialize in high-risk, high-challenge projects.

These renovations are incredibly complex and dangerous. Atriums are not run-of-the-mill features; these projects require trained, experienced professionals who are comfortable doing their jobs at 200+ feet.

The post Up to the Challenge: Renovating an Atrium 200 Feet Above the Ground appeared first on Winter Construction.

There are few challenges bigger than renovating a retail property while it stays open for business. Ensuring that these projects roll out as smoothly as possible requires impeccable planning and frequent communication among all the stakeholders – owners, tenants, employees, contractors and customers. To keep the negative impact to a minimum, here are some important considerations before you start your renovation.

1. Managing Traffic

During a renovation, maintaining a safe operating environment for foot and vehicle traffic (both for customers and construction crews) should be the primary concern. At all times, shoppers should be able to enter, enjoy, and exit the property easily. The most cost-effective way to avoid customer confusion – and accidents – is to use explicit signage that indicates:

• Construction zones
• Traffic flow
• Parking areas and store entrances/exits
• Caution areas
• Detours
• Access routes for emergency vehicles, and
• Restricted sections

Aside from general safety, customer traffic flow bears special consideration, both through the work area and in the parking lot. Ideally, construction traffic should have its own dedicated lanes, and shoppers need adequate space to get their purchases to their vehicles. Ensure that mall entrance- and exit-routes are well marked, with semi-permanent barricades in place to keep shoppers and their vehicles out of active work zones.

2. Keeping It Clean

Dust is the bane of every construction project, and is especially hard to control in a wide-open area such as a mall. However, effective use of dust-abatement technology will keep emissions to a minimum. Wet saws and dust collectors use water to keep ambient dust – and harmful particulate levels – low during cutting and fabrication, while negative-air HEPA-filter vacuums create inward airflow that prevents dust, particulates, and fumes from escaping the work area. Air scrubbers then capture the contaminated air, clean it, and push it out.

If possible, work areas should simply be barricaded – or, ideally, separated by a significant distance – from areas that are open for business. The dustiest work, such as cutting and grinding tile, should be conducted outside of retail hours, and in a cutting tent.

Alternatively, the cutting and grinding can be performed at night behind barriers that are unrolled and draped over entrances to keep dust from escaping the work zone. In the morning, your contractor can just roll the barriers up, tuck them away, and clean thoroughly, so your tenants can open the doors for business as usual. Taking these precautions ensures that neighboring shops remain virtually dust-free.

Daily cleanup of work sites is a must, and anything that can’t be cleaned up should at least be covered up with a semi-permanent barrier and be set well away from mall traffic.

3. What Customers Need to See …

It’s vital to clearly mark all potential trip hazards and keep the jobsite clear of debris. Your contractor may want to go through the planned construction zone with you at the outset to identify locations where you’ll need temporary transitions, such as in areas where flooring will be removed. You’ll also need to discuss where temporary ramps, high-visibility strips, or caution tape should be used to indicate uneven areas.

Once construction begins, you and your contractor need to meet again periodically to verify that trip hazards are marked effectively and ensure that liability obligations are met. Identifying these potential trip areas falls under the larger umbrella of project pre-planning: When everyone understands what’s expected, it’s easier to adhere to the rules.

4. … And What They Don’t

In the best-case scenario, a project should be so unobtrusive that customers aren’t even aware that your property is undergoing a renovation. Ensuring that all the prep work is done after hours or in a tucked-away, inconspicuous place, and that construction materials are stored behind tall barricades – either in the parking lot or in a quiet corner of the mall – will keep customers out of the renovation process. With careful planning and execution by your contractor, renovations can have a very limited impact on the customer experience, helping to maintain revenues throughout the course of the project.

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