ST. LOUIS—Despite the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic, construction of Washington University’s new neuroscience research facilities is continuing. According to a recent report by the university, the $616 million, 11-story research facility at the university’s School of Medicine that commenced in the spring of 2020 is still aiming for a summer 2023 debut.

The building will be home for nearly a thousand researchers across 600,000 square feet of space. The university report said that the interior of the building will be built around various research specialties, whether it’s neurogenetics, sleep study or addiction.

McCarthy Building Companies is working on the project as general contractor in conjunction with designers Perkins+Will and CannonDesign.

The construction has continued with protocols meant to head off transmission of the virus. These measures include masking and daily health screenings at the jobsite.

The next steps, according to the university, entail building a parking garage for nearly 2,000 cars and a pedestrian bridge between the garage with the nearby St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Despite the lengthy supply chain issues and labor shortages that have affected most sectors—not just construction—the project remains on schedule to hit the summer 2023 target, the university said. This is largely due to extensive planning for the facility in the years leading up to construction.

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ANAHEIM, Calif.— Canyon High School’s new state-of-the art S.T.E.M. classroom building in Anaheim recently marked a significant milestone with the final steel beam being lifted into place.

The final beam, signed by students, staff and administrators, as well as community members and elected officials who supported the project, “topped out” the initial construction as it was ceremoniously placed.

“The topping out of the Canyon High School S.T.E.M. complex is a momentous occasion for the Orange Unified community,” said Orange Unified School District (OUSD) Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen. “As superintendent, I couldn’t be more pleased to see the progress being made on the beautiful, top-notch facilities that our students, staff and residents deserve.”

Gafcon Inc. is providing construction management services during all phases of this project that includes a new two-story, 67,098-square-foot science, technology, engineering and mathematics building and the conversion of an existing administration building into a new food services and kitchen facility.

With a completion date slated for winter 2021, this $42.5 million project also includes a new entry in the campus’ multi-purpose building; a student parking lot and drop-off expansion; upgraded utility, technology, data, and communication infrastructure; and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.

“These 12 new classrooms and laboratories at Canyon High School will inspire learning in OUSD students for decades to come,” said Gafcon Senior Project Manager Michael Lengyel. “We are proud to partner with OUSD and happy to have provided creative and strategic solutions that contributed to more than $1.5 million in savings for the District.”

Those savings were delivered several ways:

• By implementing the use of ConXtech modular steel framing system, about $500,000 in materials costs and inspections were saved, as was about six weeks of construction.
• Using one bid package in the design-bid-build model, instead of four as originally planned, created cost savings for the bid preparation, contractor general conditions and overhead. It also meant only one general contractor — not four — was needed onsite.
• The use of a temporary modular kitchen facility instead of a temporary modular building to house the school’s administrative staff during construction resulted in a cost savings of about $900,000.

This is one of four Measure S bond-funded projects to the District’s four high school campuses. Gafcon is working with Swinerton Builders and architecture firm CannonDesign on the project.

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