We were hired by the County of Leduc to carry out and oversee the demolition of most of the walls, removal of existing carpets, ceiling tiles, insulation, and some electrical and furniture of a wing on the 5th floor of one of their buildings in Nisku. Once that stage of the project was complete, we began on the tenant improvements, which included installation of new studs, drywall, paint, electrical, millwork, plumbing, carpet, ceiling tiles, insulation, partitions/windows.
Below are the challenges we faced, and how we overcame them, along with photos in chronological order of every stage of the job:
Wants and Needs of the Client
The client had an idea of the layout and materials they wanted to be used in their project, and we worked with them and communicated clearly as to what was possible, and what materials would work best, in order to ensure that we were delivering the most high quality finished product that was as close to their original vision as possible.
Pre-Demolition
Working Around the Schedules of the Staff in the Building
The Leduc County Tower is a busy building, with various personal from different departments coming and going throughout the day. The staff there was great to deal with, and we coordinated with building management to ensure that we weren’t occupying the elevators at times that would inconvenience the staff as many of them were trying to leave. We kept the doors separating our workspace from the rest of the floor closed in order to keep the noise we were making to a minimum, so that we didn’t disrupt business as usual in the building. Our team planned to do all of our important moves using the elevator (whether it be moving demolition materials down to the dumpster, or moving new materials up to the working area) around the times that the elevator and hallways see the heaviest traffic, in order to be as accommodating as possible. We were very careful and deliberate not to make too much of a mess in the elevators and outside of our working area, and cleaned up as we worked, so that we weren’t leaving dust and debris to be tracked and spread throughout the building.
Demolition
Logistics
The elevator was utilized as much as possible, in order to minimize the amount of materials that needed to be transported up the stairs. A few trips were made up the stairs to transport the longest steel studs that wouldn’t fit in the elevator. One elevator was a full foot taller than the other elevator, and we had to strategically lock-out the taller of the two in order to have the ability to transport the largest of the materials (steel studs, drywall, some large furniture, etc.) Straps were used and careful planning was implemented in order to minimize the amount of materials being spilled or dropped while in transport.
Building
Weather
Although the work was being done inside the building, we had to stay mindful of the very high winds we were experiencing in Nisku while transporting demolition materials to the dumpster in the parking lot, as it was crucial to avoid having our garbage blow all over the parking lot. We also were very careful when packing the dumpster, to do so in a way that would prevent materials from getting caught and blown out by the wind (lighter, more at-risk materials at the bottom, with heavier, more secure materials on top to act as a paper-weight).
Construction Complete
Communication & Working with other Trades
Trades we hired to assist with the renovations: carpet, electrical, mechanical, millwork. This was one area in which we had little-to-no challenges due to our organization and clear communication between us and the client, and us and the skilled tradesmen to help us with certain parts of the project as needed. We hired trades with great reputations that we know we can rely on, to help ensure that we delivered the best possible finished product. Our communications with the client also went very smoothly, as we were in frequent contact with our main point of contact at the Leduc County Tower, giving daily updates, and checking in to make sure that things were proceeding the way that they expected. It is a true pleasure to work with the County of Leduc.
Tenants Move Back In
Conclusion
Overall, this project went very smoothly as expected, which came as no surprise to our team. The County of Leduc was pleasantly surprised when we met our schedule and stayed on budget. Due to our keen abilities to listen to the wants and needs of the client, communicate clearly with all parties involved, and plan thoroughly to unsure that nothing was missed or overlooked, we were able to deliver a finished product that we are proud of, with quality that will still be evident in the years to come. This outdated office’s transformation into a modern, lively workspace is a fine example of the caliber of work that can be done when the right minds work and communicate together.
