Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” This statement is arguably more applicable to construction than to any other process and why the preconstruction phase of a project is so imperative.
During preconstruction, a contractor learns the owner’s goals for a facility in order to set the project up for success. This includes everything from analyzing construction drawings and evaluating potential sites to vetting trade partners and aligning team members. And when available, lessons learned from previous projects of similar type or for the same client are invaluable.
When EMJ partnered with Public Storage to build its Huntersville, N.C., facility, superintendent Richard Gliddon and preconstruction manager Brad Folsom were charting new territory for EMJ with a new client. So, they took the initiative to visit a newly-built Public Storage in Florida to gain insight on what went right and what could be improved on the project.
Gliddon and his team learned that Public Storage prioritizes precision and quality on their projects, as each of the nearly 900 storage units has to measure exactly to the spacing requirements. In addition, the client prefers concrete control joints be in the units and not visible in the main hallway flooring. They also specified unique requirements for electrical efficiency and sprinkler head placement.
While these specifications are defined in construction drawings, the knowledge-sharing offered insight into why these features are so important to the client and why these items must be right.
Gliddon, Forrell and the team captured these items in a Quality Management Plan. Then, they applied this knowledge to their construction plans and conveyed it to all trade partners on the project to ensure that the client’s goals were in focus.
Their preparation paid off. The project was turned over with virtually no punch list, and Public Storage celebrated the grand opening of its new Huntersville location in April 2018.
Thanks to the team’s hard work and the client’s positive experience on the project, this EMJ team is now building additional Public Storage projects in Lake Wylie, S.C., and Nashville, Tenn.
“In my mind, there’s no such thing as a punch list,” says Gliddon. “If it’s not acceptable to the owner, that’s because you didn’t do it right.”
The Lake Wylie location is expected to open soon, followed by Nashville in early 2019. A second EMJ team, based out of Dallas, recently completed a Public Storage in Humble, Texas, and is working on four additional Public Storage projects in Kingwood, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Co., all with early 2019 opening dates.
Work in progress at Public Storage in Nashville on May 2, 2018.
Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing work with Public Storage, and congratulations to the Huntersville and Humble teams on a job well done on their recently completed projects.
Bobby Bass, Project Manager
Brad Folsom, Preconstruction Manager
Chris Fisher, Project Manager
Shaunese Farris, Administrative Assistant
Neil Forell, Superintendent
Richard Gliddon, Superintendent
Gary Green, Superintendent
Priscilla Harrell, Administrative Assistant
Jacob Mammen, Project Accountant
Robert Mazza, Project Engineer
Mike Moore, Superintendent
Chris Ross, Preconstruction Manager
Related articles:
Public Storage Opens New Huntersville Storage Facility
Industry Giant Plans Nashville’s Largest Self-Storage Facility
https://www.emjcorp.com/news/eliminating-punch-lists-to-improve-the-client-experience/
https://www.emjcorp.com/project-updates/3-ways-quality-planning-meetings-benefit-project/