Seattle Office Nets Four Awards For its Innovative Approach and Injury Free Environment

A record haul,” said DPR’s Bill Maibusch, regarding the four awards DPR’s Seattle office received from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington at its 17th Annual Safety and Construction Excellence Awards ceremony. “We’re extremely honored to be recognized by the industry for our work and safety program.”

DPR took home four of the fifteen awards presented to eleven companies, including:

• Construction Excellence Grand Award and New Building (Over $10 Million) for Good Samaritan Hospital West Wing Addition in Puyallup, WA
• New Building ($5-$10 Million) for 2345 Eastlake in Seattle
• Outstanding General Contractor (100,000-225,000 Hours) for Safety

Six Inches of Separation

DPR teams were praised for completing the 80,000-sq.-ft. addition, demolition and remodel of existing hospital spaces for Good Samaritan, while being six inches from occupied patient rooms and for building within such limited space.

Hemmed in by a city street, parking structure and pedestrian walkway, the hospital addition left little room, forcing a tower crane to be wedged between the parking structure and new construction. “We implemented a rigid site logistics plan that clearly separated the public from the construction zone,” said Maibusch, project manager on the West Wing Addition. “Creating a safe environment for workers, hospital staff, patients and visitors is absolutely our number one priority on every project.”

The tower crane was also in close proximity to the hospital’s helicopter pad, requiring constant communication to ensure that the crane did not interfere with the helicopter’s flight path. In addition, DPR continuously reviewed plans and locations of electrical and mechanical devices in the field and used a Web-based program to relay plans to all crafts to coordinate installation and proactively address any issues.

Preconstruction Services Reduce Cost

DPR’s services reduced costs and increased value on the 2345 Eastlake project, a steel-framed, three-story, 35,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use, retail/office building. DPR utilized castellated beams as an innovative construction solution to potential design and budget issues. Also, faced with another “no space, large crane” type challenge - with a site situated in a residential/commercial neighborhood with power lines overhead - DPR unfolded the crane mid-air above the power lines and assembled it piece by piece.

Creating Safe Environments Through Daily Pre-Task Planning

“Safety is a hallmark of DPR, so we’re especially proud of this award,” said DPR’s Arne Hall, who believes that to achieve an “Injury Free Environment” requires a commitment from every individual. “We take a total, philosophical approach to safety that includes consistent and detailed planning, training and analysis.”

For example, each craft professional writes out a pre-task safety plan each day and participates in “stretch and flex” exercises. DPR also has a Safety Leadership Program to provide additional jobsite training and coaching to further increase safety on the job.