Homestead City Hall

Company: MCM
Industry: General Building
Location: Homestead, Florida
Expected Completion Date: February 2016 (Substantial Completion)

The project consisted of the construction of an 83,841-SF, 3-story new City Hall for the City of Homestead, Florida, with Council Chambers occupancy for over 250 people, Emergency Operations Center, Mayor and City Manager’s offices, Council Members’ offices, Development Services Department, Finance Department, Human Resources Department, Customer Service Department with Work Order and Billing, General Services Department, City Clerk’s Office, and IT System support rooms and associated electrical and infrastructure rooms.

What impact does this project have on America?

The residents of the City of Homestead, Florida, care about this project. It is the first new governmental facility constructed in Homestead, Florida, since Hurricane Andrew made landfall near the City in 1992. It is the first building for the City of Homestead’s revitalization program for their historic downtown sector.

What interesting obstacles or unusual circumstances did you overcome to complete the project?

During the construction of the deepest foundations, we discovered that the water table was actually several feet higher than originally identified, and thus, we implemented a dewatering plan that incorporated onsite water management practices, which allowed us to temporarily divert water away from the specific locations of work that we needed to perform at those moments.

Additionally, later in the project, we specifically chose to accelerate the schedule during the shell construction to allow the building exterior and roof to be constructed during the dry season of the project, thereby severely limiting the possibility of water damage to any finishes within the building.

What dangers and risks did you encounter, and describe any extraordinary methods used to keep workers safe?

The project received a Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award by the University of South Florida SafetyFlorida Consultation Program.

At MCM, safety is paramount, and we are committed to zero accidents on all projects. Our Safety First! Program is designed to be proactive. A successful safety program is a product of proper communication, recognition, teamwork and training. By breaking the project down into manageable “Definable Features of Work,” we can identify the hazards associated with each phase of construction and use a top-down approach so that managers, foremen, and workers are all aware and trained on the jobsite hazards. This time-tested approach has helped MCM achieve an award-winning safety record over its 34-year history.

How did you leverage new technologies to work faster and reduce waste?

Homestead City Hall is LEED Silver certified. MCM is aware of the importance of green construction and implements sustainable practices as part of our commitment to building excellence. MCM is proud to employ a significant number of LEED-accredited professionals.