- Company: IHC Construction Companies, LLC
- Industry: General Building
- Location: Mundelein, Illinois
- Expected Completion Date: August 2016
- Project Website
A three story 55,000 square-foot addition was built inside of an existing courtyard at Mundelein High School to bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and PLTW (Project Lead The Way) programs to students attending the high school. Mundelein High School's science laboratory hadn't been updated since the building was originally built in 1961; however, it now is a regional leader in STEM education and workforce preparation. Classrooms and labs can quickly adjust to support everything from group work to self-directed study.
What impact does this project have on America?
STEM and PLTW programs are designed to prepare students for the future global economy by introducing them to science, engineering, computer science programs and more prior to attending a university. This is important because as the economy demands more professional and technical careers, students who are introduced to STEM and PLTW programs in high school will be better positioned for a successful future.
What interesting obstacles or unusual circumstances did you overcome to complete the project?
This three-story addition was built within an existing courtyard while class was in session. A small classroom of the existing school was knocked down and the hallway was boarded up to allow access to the courtyard for crane and excavation equipment without disrupting students or facility.
What dangers and risks did you encounter, and describe any extraordinary methods used to keep workers safe?
School bus drop-off, along with student and faculty access to the high school was a potential risk that was managed by putting a life-safety plan together. This safety plan allowed students and facility members safe access when entering and exiting the building without any disruptions from construction. The construction schedule was built around school traffic and discussed daily with the construction team to ensure a safe environment. Additionally, we placed temporary fencing and no trespassing construction signs around the jobsite.
How did you leverage new technologies to work faster and reduce waste?
All project communication is documented and tracked so that all team members are up to date using Procore Cloud Based Project Management Software. This online project management software provides the Owner, Architect & Contractors appropriate levels of project access. All Superintendents have iPads that are used for daily reports that include up-to-the-minute photos of pertinent jobsite details. iPads also allow access to project documents for immediate analysis in the field.
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