Location: Chesterfield, MO
Client: Alberici Constructors
Size: $18 Million

THE PROJECT
Designed to provide systematic consolidation of Monsanto’s plant research and product design teams, the 420,000 SF CV Technology Building brings the company’s plant breeding, biotech and agronomic research technologies under one roof in a single four-story facility.  With lab space, conferencing areas and executive offices brought together, the building will foster a highly efficient collaborative environment served by a unique “mechanical” top floor, housing state-of-the-art building automation systems and environmental controls.

OUR APPROACH
As the electrical contractor working in close collaboration with General Contractor Alberici Constructors and Corrigan Mechanical, Guarantee Electrical Company (GECO) is providing all power distribution and lighting in a joint venture with minority contractor TD4, who is providing low voltage services and fire alarm systems.  

The project itself was set up according to Lean Construction Principles under a collaborative, Integrated  Project Delivery agreement (IPD).  The complexity of the design and close proximity of electrical, communications and extensive mechanical systems called for a substantial preconstruction planning effort supported by comprehensive Building Information Modeling (BIM) to coordinate placement of systems and components and to facilitate project management and ongoing construction, and provide for a safer working environment.

OUR WORK
Following the IPD according to lean construction principles the project was managed around a rigorous constraints management system in which project constraints affecting scheduled deliverables and potential variances are logged in near real time and addressed on a weekly basis by representatives from Alberici and each of the MEP contractors, as well as the Architect/Engineer and Owner.  In addition, during the preconstruction period, GECO and Corrigan using BIM identified to resolve in advance potential conflicts, established a joint approach to phasing installations of electrical and mechanical systems that was maintained and adjusted successfully in near real time in concert with the constraints management methodology for the duration of the project.

SUCCESS
The Monsanto CV Technology Building FF is proceeding on schedule and is expected to be completed by March 2017.  The project’s collaborative management approach with its extensive use of modeling technology and prefabrication continues to contribute to highly accurate placement and precision installations so vital to laboratory construction as well as to a fast-track implementation, and keeping within the parameters of the GMP followed by the MEP contractors and General Contractor, Alberici.