When Woodward Inc., an international aerospace and energy technology company, builds a new manufacturing and office building, they think big — 462,393 square feet to be precise. The project required the erection of 3,350 tons of structural steel including long-span structural trusses, structural steel beams and columns, a metal deck and shear studs.
THE CHALLENGE
Because steel schedules are critical to all other aspects of a major construction project, staying on track with steel erection is critical to keeping the whole job running on time. Because the job was not only large but also complex, a top-notch erection plan would be needed to meet the timeline.
Given that the erection phase of the job was occurring in the middle of an especially cold winter, the plan also had major implications for budget — as extra heating is an expense that the owner didn’t need.
THE Solution
Because steel schedules are critical to all other aspects of a major construction project, staying on track with steel erection is critical to keeping the whole job running on time. Because the job was not only large but also complex, a top-notch erection plan would be needed to meet the timeline.
Given that the erection phase of the job was occurring in the middle of an especially cold winter, the plan also had major implications for budget — as extra heating is an expense that the owner didn’t need.
THE RESULT
Ultimately the team decreased the schedule for steel erection by three full weeks. As a result of preplanning, the team was also able to identify and resolve issues between the concrete and steel that resulted from the original bidding, as they were bid as separate packages. Working together, the JP Cullen Steel and Masonry divisions were able to revise work phases and save the owner $30,000 in on-the-job heating costs.
