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As with all construction projects, obstacles are just around the corner. Construction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Birmingham Field Office was no exception.
Six weeks prior to the exterior window glass insertion date, production on the windows was set to begin. Simultaneously, the manufacturer went out of business. FBI security requirements dictated that the glass had to meet a specific design, one that only a few manufacturers could produce. This required extended time to get the glass from another manufacturer.
Batson-Cook Co. quickly took action and met with window subcontractor Nelson Brantley and its supplier for the window frames. The original plan was to install the windows one elevation at a time and dry-in the building with the roof system. The team changed its course of action so that the window frames were installed one floor at a time.
Temporary measures were used to seal the openings and protect the inside from the weather. This allowed the drywall process to begin on schedule. Once the glasswork was finished, the drywall was checked at every window opening for moisture damage. Only one location was discovered and the materials replaced.
Batson-Cook was part of a developer/architect/contractor team that won the contract for the design-build and lease back of the FBI building. Batson-Cook provided extensive preconstruction services in the form of budget estimates and constructability consultation.
Senior staff members headed the preconstruction efforts and developed solutions to complex, costly design problems. The budget was set on preliminary sketches; therefore, Batson-Cook was tasked with managing the design as it was being developed in order to maintain the budget/contract amount.
An onsite superintendent, assistant field engineer, home office project manager and assistant project manager were assigned to the project. The FBI and U.S. Government Services Administration (GSA) had precise needs and requirements, therefore necessitating a staff dedicated exclusively to this project.
As the project progressed, the FBI made extensive changes to the interior for security reasons, but due to constraints from the GSA the completion date of the project was not altered. Though these interior changes would have pushed the schedule three months behind, Batson-Cook was able to complete the project within 15 days of the original schedule by adding personnel to manage specific areas.
The building was constructed as a concrete super structure with a precast and glass window skin. Due to security reasons, the building had to be designed for progressive collapse, meaning it was built to withstand a bomb blast.
The progressive collapse design required special coordination with the structural engineer, formwork contractor and the reinforcing supplier.
Key Facts
| Owner: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham, Ala. |
| Contractor: Batson-Cook Co., Atlanta, Ga. |
| Cost: $15.6 million |
| Architect: Hoefer Wysocki Architects, Kansas City, Mo. |
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