Basketball Practice Facility Renovation

Ambitious schedule. With no time slotted for permitting. I'd like to hear how they plan to build without permits.

 

I think they are only showing milestones, not every task.

 

It’s pretty ambitious, but probably doable.
The permitting process can be done to coincide with the latter stage of design process. Renovation project permitting is not nearly as complex and time length as new projects. I’m guessing the U of F has some favorable review/inspection timelines with the city. Whoever did the schedule did a decent job; guessing it was the A/E/program manager as they give the design team loads of time and the GC little to not enough time to construct it; pretty typical. Ideally, they should fast track the design/approval time periods and allow more time for construction. Typically, on renovations, you always have hiccups dealing with unknowns in the existing building. These cause more time, delays, and $$.
The competing GC’s know the timeline and have to bid/estimate it accordingly. Projects like this are often over budget as nobody factors in the additional cost to fasttrack (except for the GC’s) I doubt any GC estimates this cheaply as the risk is enormous.

 

FYI, I was a project manager in the construction industry in Jacksonville for 45 years. I got my Building Construction degree from UF in the 70’s; when, reputedly UF had the no. 1 BCN school in the US. Many colleges have BCN programs now.

 

Are we going to get another NCAA championship floor to put down?

 

Remember ArcLarc?

 

The construction schedule is March through September... the offseason. I know they want to get it all done between the end of the 23-24 season and preseason practice of 24-25, so everything needs to hit each point without delay.

It's a design-build obviously. I would recommend instead letting out a contract for design and bid services now, taking their time over next season, then letting a separate conventional construction contract once all that is complete. It delays completion a year but there wouldn't be a panic if there are hiccups. And there are always hiccups.

 

Guess we dont have to worry about the cameras.

 

I don’t believe it is a design-build. The timeline shows advertising/selecting of A/E (architect/engineers) and a construction manager. The construction manager will be brought in early so they can work with the A/E and team to provide services during design like early permitting, early scheduling, budget estimates, materials and systems evaluations, etc. The CM will select the GC or will provide construction services to complete the project. For a project like this, this is typical these days and is the prudent course IMHO.

 

Okay. It's not a way of doing it that I'm familiar with. The CM is giving a guaranteed maximum price without even having a GC on board?

 

BCN grad here. Great program that changed the trajectory of my life for sure

 

Hey all you BCN guys. I used to fence foil with Charles Kibert. Sorry to hear he passed a few years ago. Interesting guy.

 

No, doesn’t ring a bell. What/who is it?

 

I think the CM is to be selected in Sept, 2023; the GMP is to be delivered March, 2024. 100% CD’s are to be completed a month or so before the CM submits their GMP. This would give the CM 4 weeks or so to receive bids for the scope. I’m thinking UF contracts with a CM who essentially subcontracts the entire scope of work out by taking/awarding bids for every scope of work for the project. The CM would provide the on-site PM’s and supervision but nothing else. On site daily clean-up would be subbed out, for example. Companies like Turner and Brassfield and Gorrie do projects like this all the time. This format is often used on huge projects like $200 mil.
I believe large buyers for construction services, like UF, Shands, use this delivery method often.

 

Regarding local government permitting , State agencies have the statutory authority of determining if they need a permit fro the local. We've done business with the local school board and they're requaired to get permits from FDOT, FDEP, and SWFWMD when applicable, but for building or site plan permits, the reviews goes through their process if they so choose. They still go through the local permitting, but if something hits a snag, they tell the locals to pound sand.

 

Good points. As I noted, strictly interior renovations escape the onorous regulatory agencies with FDOT. FDEP, and SWFWMD being the worst as far as time goes. Surely, for projects with hard timelines, UF and their civil engineers can work through this as long as they treat these authorities professionally and respectfully. I would 100% guess the selected engineers and architect know this process well and almost certainly will know the individuals working for these agencies very well. I found treating these folks well and not trying to go over their heads results in a successful solution. Believe me, many construction and design professionals treat these people like dog crap.

 

ArcLarc was the annual party for the UF College of Architecture, which at that time included Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Building Construction, and the masters program in Urban and Regional Planning. I remember competing in the cardboard boat race. And drinking lots of beer.

 

A "100% guess" is an interesting concept.

 

True dat about State agencies, but is the UAA a State agency? It's listed as a nonprofit corporation (which strikes me as nonsense).
I've done my share of permit reviews. We couldn't tell the School Board what to do inside their property, but as I recall, they DID have to get permits to connect to municipal streets, water systems, sewer systems, and drainage systems.