Managing risk with partnerships: The sheer size of the Denver County Justice Center presents uncommon challenges
by Jonathan McGaha | February 28, 2009 12:00 am
Early in 2007, Denver County entered into a contract with Hensel Phelps General
Contractors, Greely, Colo., to build the Denver County Justice Center on a
guaranteed maximum price basis. The $290 million project consists of a
six-story court house with 23 courtrooms and a five-story jail
(with mezzanine)
to accommodate 1,500 inmates. The finished complex will occupy a two-city-block
area in downtown Denver.
The justice center was designed by a team of two architectural firms: OZ Architects, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Klipp and Associates, Denver. Technology Plus Inc., Aurora, Colo., and Ricci Greene Associates, New York, were also brought on as security consultants.
Hensel Phelps was ultimately responsible for trending building costs throughout the entire design-build process due to the GMP contract. Therefore, it was imperative that the firm collaborate with the design team (owner, architects and consultants) to develop a set of construction documents to accommodate the county’s budget.
In March 2007, Hensel Phelps contacted Sierra Detention Systems, Golden, Colo., and requested our support in the GMP process. We received the 50 percent Design Development drawings, which typically have some ambiguity due to the early stage of design. However, the sheer size of the project presented an uncommon challenge to Sierra Detention Systems and our supporting vendors. When a detention equipment contractor, or DEC, is asked to “fill in the gaps” on a project of this magnitude, it requires exceptional confidence in the estimation team; a single mistake can potentially be multiplied by 1,500 beds.
Sierra Detention Systems managed this risk through our partnerships with several quality vendors. Vendors that we involved in the GMP process and the design-assist roll, which we played for Hensel Phelps. This collaboration was necessary to develop a fixed contract, which was acceptable to all parties, at the end of the GMP process. Each vendor faced its own challenges while working toward the 100 percent construction documents phase.
Metal Components
Trussbilt, Vadnais Heights, Minn., provided the security wall panel system, which was one of the larger budgets. The company was challenged to come up with a guaranteed maximum price without any connection details or firm hardware sets. It accomplished this through discussions with the design team and Sierra, to work out the specifics before those details ever made it to paper.
Chief Industries Inc., Grand Island, Neb., also faced the significant challenge to come up with a quote for detention hollow metal with elevations only 50 percent complete and hardware sets that were only 60 percent complete. Through its experience and dialog in the design-assist role, it was able to lock in numbers a year before 100 percent CDs were finished.
Habersham Metal Products, Cornelia, Ga., supplied the detention hollow metal doors and frames. Hope’s Windows Inc., Jamestown, N.Y., provided the thermally broken exterior detention-grade windows. Both of these firms played a crucial role late in the design process by participating in a value-engineering exercise concerning the exterior windows. Through their experience and willingness to cooperate, we were able to deliver significant cost savings to the owner while meeting all the performance needs.
Global Security Glazing, Selma, Ala., supplied the security glass for this project, and Southern Folger Detention Equipment, San Antonio, provided the detention hardware. Both these firms had similar issues, which arose late in the project. Each was faced with substantial changes in the design after they had issued their GMP prices. Through a combination of direct education seminars for the owner and job-specific product testing, both teams were able to minimize the impact to budgets and schedules.
Modern and Monumental
While coordinating the various detention equipment manufacturers’ collaboration with the design team, Sierra Detention Systems was challenged to finish the design on a monumental security and detention controls system. With more than 40 control stations, nearly 1,000 IP cameras and all the relevant electronics to manage the Denver County Jail, and site-wide security for the entire justice center, this system will arguably be one of the most complex, modern controls systems in the nation.
The Denver County Justice Center GMP process demonstrates the real value of a DEC/SEC’s role in the design-assist, budgeting and construction process for both the general contractor and owner. Hensel Phelps understood from experience the need for a DEC/SEC team member who could help guide this project to success. Through direct input from the various detention equipment manufacturers and Sierra Detention Systems’ security electronics team, Denver County and Hensel Phelps were successful in reigning in both the design and budget for the largest corrections project awarded to a DEC in 2007.
Keith Thoene is president of Sierra Detention Systems, Golden, Colo., a founding member of the DEMA Division of NAAMM.
Denver County Justice Center
Architects: OZ Architects, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Klipp and Associates, Denver
General contractor: Hensel Phelps General Contractors, Greely, Colo.
Security consultants: Technology Plus Inc., Aurora, Colo., and Ricci Greene Associates, New York
Detention equipment contractor and detention controls system (DEMA member):
Sierra Detention Systems, Golden, Colo.,
Hollow metal doors and frames: Habersham Metal Products Co., Cornelia, Ga.,
Thermally broke exterior detention-grade windows: Hope’s Windows Inc., Jamestown, N.Y.
Security glass: Global Security Glazing, Selma, Ala.,
Security wall panel system (DEMA member): Trussbilt, Vadnais Heights, Minn.,
Detention hollow metal (DEMA member): Chief Industries Inc., Grand Island, Neb.,
Detention hardware (DEMA member): Southern Folger Detention Equipment, San Antonio
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/managing-risk-with-partnerships-the-sheer-size-of-the-denver-county-justice-center-presents-uncommon-challenges/