Higher Education
Texas Tech University System - Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration
Texas Tech University retained Broaddus & Associates to assist in implementation of its capital improvement program, which included the three-story Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration building. The building project completed on-time and $6M under the project budget. Broaddus & Associates was onsite throughout the building project and provided daily coordination, support, and resolutions.
The building project was executed in multiple phases: the dormitories demolition, parking lot construction, and building construction. Thompson and Gaston Halls were built in 1957 and were demolished to allow for developing open space entry corridors, construction of the new building, and a surface parking lot. The hazardous materials inside the halls were removed and disposed of in a landfill. The abatement and demolition project included utility tunnel and site restoration. The building construction had multiple phases as well: structural foundation, long-lead equipment procurement, superstructure, sitework, interiors, and audiovisual system installations.
Broaddus & Associates personnel positively impacted the project in several areas. Construction on the facility began six months ahead of the previously developed master schedule. BIM (Building Information Modeling) was introduced to the project team, and served as the standard for constructability reviews. Our active management of the procurement process resulted in the project being bid during a low point of construction costs that followed 2008’s recession. With diligent monitoring of the construction process and the timely bidding, the project manager helped Texas Tech University System save approximately $4M.
The project manager led bi-weekly project status meetings and frequently met with Texas Tech administration and staff to maintain focus on project goals. During the excavation and foundation work, significant rainfall took place. Broaddus & Associates conducted construction staging alongside the contractor to minimize delays. Moreover, the project manager discovered potential weaknesses in the structural steel design and worked with the design team to rectify the issue. Broaddus & Associates was also involved in building commissioning and training Texas Tech University’s facilities staff in operations and maintenance. The building project achieved a LEED Gold Certification, a first in the history of Texas Tech. The new Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration facility is built to properly educate the business leaders of tomorrow. Integrating the latest green building and information technology applications, this is a pioneering project at the West Texas campus.