In this Spring edition, articles include:

Time to Build: Today, owners are getting the best value in a generation.
by Mike Bolen, Chairman & CEO, McCarthy
Many owners are beginning to take advantage of a welcome side-effect of the current recession: an unprecedented drop in the cost of building materials and labor.

Why Building the Community is Just as Important as Building the Project.
by Angeles Garcia, McCarthy Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
When a construction project is in full swing in a neighborhood, next door to a business, or along a heavily traveled highway, it can be a nuisance. Find out how to turn this project challenge into a win-win for everyone.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

The Science and Mathematics Learning Center, which will include a 200-seat auditorium, visualization lab, classrooms, science labs, department and faculty offices, and study areas, will be designed to promote freshmen-level integration between four departments, including mathematics, chemistry, biology, and earth and planetary sciences. In addition, the project will be designed with long distance learning capabilities. Construction of the center began June 29 and is slated for completion in the fall of 2010. The building will consist of four floors, with three floors above grade and one below.

McCarthy will construct the Science and Mathematics Learning Center to meet the sustainability requirements of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) Silver Certification. 

“The team at McCarthy really set themselves apart with their complete management plan encompassing the whole project displaying clear direction and responsibilities.  Their plan also addressed the numerous site utility challenges and specialized teaching environment infrastructure supports that will be required” said UNM representative. “We are very pleased and looking forward to working with their team as offered for this project.”

“This is the first of what we hope to be many projects for the University of New Mexico,” said Jeff Clarkson for McCarthy. “The construction of the Science and Mathematics Learning Center will incorporate a number of sustainable design and construction initiatives, and allow us to exercise our knowledge of and experience with LEED prerequisites. This project will complement the campus and become an asset for students and faculty for generations to come.”

The project will also include specialized laboratory mechanical systems, structural steel framing, laboratory casework and equipment, acoustical lay-in ceilings, HVAC, and special systems work; site work improvements to pedestrian circulation; and site work infrastructure, including major relocations of sewer, telecommunications and electrical services.

About McCarthyNM
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies and is ranked among the top five education builders by Engineering News-Record. The firm operates as McCarthy NM in New Mexico and has been building in the state for more nearly 30 years. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

How True Builders Make a Difference
by Derek Glanvill, President and COO
A true builder has an end-to-end view of the entire construction process, from preconstruction through delivery and beyond. That adds value for owners, but there’s one central issue at the heart of the construction industry itself: forgetting how to build.

Is There a Perfect World in Project Delivery?
by Sue Stewart, Senior Vice President
The answer may be that creating the perfect project delivery method starts by implementing no defined project delivery method at all. Find out why.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

CCIP vs. OCIP: Which Comprehensive Insurance Program is Right for You?
by Bill Sharp, Vice President, Risk Management
With the size and scope of projects becoming larger every day, program sponsors (owners and contractors) are seeking alternative ways to address insurance needs, both from a coverage standpoint and a cost standpoint.

When the Hospital Board Says, “Build it Green!”
by John Kreidich AIA, LEED AP, Manager, Healthcare Services
Building green in the healthcare environment is here to stay. Well-chosen green building investments will yield benefits with either no additional cost or with a return on investment well within a hospital’s internal rate of return over the life of the improvements.

5 Questions to Ask Your Contractor About SAFETY
An Interview with Gary Amsinger, CSP, Corporate Vice President, Safety
In addition to simply keeping workers healthy and productive, strong safety execution reduces exposure for owners. Amsinger suggests that owners should ask, at the very least, these basic five questions of their prospective contractor.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial editions.

HEALTHCARE

“Our ER expansion was right up McCarthy’s alley – it was very complicated.”
—Jim Jeppson, administrative director, Presbyterian Health Services

While small in square footage, the $12 million renovation of Presbyterian’s emergency department was exceedingly complex in scope.

 60,000 patients visit the ER annually as Presbyterian is the largest acute care hospital in the state. So, it was critical the facility remained open 24/7 throughout McCarthy’s work. 10,000 square feet of new space was built and 15,000 square feet of the existing ER was renovated, nearly doubling the treatment spaces to 50 while also adding a radiological imaging room. “Cleanliness and communication were absolutely critical throughout. Our staff was impressed with the process and even more impressed with their new facilities,” commented the hospital’s Jim Jeppson. The multi-phased project required the movement of the department’s main entrance 10 times. Phase II and III of the renovation continue. Architect: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, Albuquerque, N.M.

Named in memory of Rachel Laub, a young girl who passed away at the age of five, the courtyard serves as a place where severely ill youngsters, their families, visitors and other caregivers can go to get outside and away from the hospital setting yet remain close to medical attention. To help make Rachel’s Courtyard a reality, McCarthy donated its services, joining with nearly 2,000 donors large and small including Sandia National Laboratories and Dekker/Perich/Sabatini Architects.

Featuring a mix of educational and whimsical features, Rachel’s Courtyard depicts a mini street scene with four scaled-down little row houses, each representing the building style of one quadrant of the country. Inside each house, children can find games and places to explore. Across the street from the houses is a miniature park with a playground, sand box, planters with trees and flowers, and quiet areas to relax, enjoy the views and dream. At the other end of the street there is an observatory-planetarium where children and adults alike can study the stars.

“Our employees are passionate about our community,” commented Bo Calbert, McCarthy NM president. “Making a difference through projects like Rachel’s Courtyard is what McCarthy Heart Hats is all about.”

About McCarthy NM
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies and is ranked among the top five education builders by Engineering News-Record. The firm operates as McCarthy NM in New Mexico and has been building in the state for more nearly 30 years. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.