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What does Facilities Construction & Renovation do?
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A: |
Facilities Construction & Renovation orchestrates the project
process to meet the goals and requirements of
users, the Yale School of Medicine, and outside regulators within a framework
of consistent quality, cost and schedule control. PM intermediates among
YSM stakeholders - departments, administration, building services, fire
marshal, environmental health and safety; outside entities - regulatory
agencies, New Haven Building and Fire Departments; design professionals
- architects and engineers; constructors; vendors; occupants of buildings;
and the University.
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Q: |
How is a construction or renovation project initiated?
How do I get an estimate to do a project?
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A: |
To initiate a project you should contact Facilities Construction & Renovation at 737-2841
and provide a description of the work you seek to do and the location. The
project will be triaged and forwarded to a member of the
Facilities Construction & Renovation staff so it
can be formulated. Formulation consists of your meeting with a staff
member to clarify and document the scope of your proposed
project. An agreed upon plan is drawn up that describes the work of the
project. The schedule and budget required to implement
the project will be determined and a formal formulation response will
be sent to you outlining the scope, schedule and budget. If you desire
to implement the project and funding is identified the project will go
in the queue for implementation.
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Q: |
Why does a construction or renovation project cost so much?
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A: |
Projects at YSM tend be expensive because they: are small and
complex with design and construction management costs spread over
a narrow base; require a high concentration of labor intense
construction - power, ventilation, plumbing, telecommunications;
are densely planned to maximize space use; are built in older
buildings with challenging infrastructure; must respond to many
regulatory requirements; require institutional quality long-life
components; and are often built in operating buildings that require
working around ongoing research or clinical activities. The current
overheated construction market compounds the impact of these factors.
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Q: |
Why does it take so long to complete a project?
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A: |
In order to complete a successful project (one which fully meets
the needs of the user at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable time frame)
the appropriate time for design and construction must be available.
DESIGN: There must be careful planning to ensure the project scope is accounted
for and documented for accurate bidding. The design must be in compliance with
Federal and State standards and codes as well as Yale University and
Medical School standards. The design must interface with existing building
systems and not disrupt adjacent occupants. This careful planning
requires a reasonable amount of time to avoid mistakes and increased
costs. Adequate documentation avoids mistakes and misunderstandings
in the field.
BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION: Accurate competitive pricing requires
3 to 4 weeks to allow for competitive bidding. In addition, it is
required that all the construction contracts be in place prior
to work being performed. Once bid, the construction process often
involves many steps not always readily apparent to the outside observer.
For example, much mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment often
have a long lead times that must be worked into the schedule Many
components require shop drawings to be produced and approved prior
to fabrication. Work must occur in a logical and efficient sequence.
This sequence is well thought out and orchestrated to move as
quickly as possible but the work cannot happen all at once. In addition,
the Medical School presents particular challenges as most of the work
is built in occupied buildings. Construction must take place around
ongoing research or clinical activities. This can translate into less
than efficient schedules and much off hour work.
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Q: |
Why can't I add additional scope to my project if there
are extra funds available in the project at the end?
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A: |
All capital projects are required to be approved by the
Yale University approval body, Capital Project Management Group.
The approval is for a specified scope, schedule and budget.
(Scope encompasses the extent of activity required in the project.)
Since the project scope is one of the parameters of the project that
is approved, we are not at liberty to alter the scope beyond
what is stated in the approval for the project.
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Q: |
Why can't a department run a new construction or renovation project by itself?
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A: |
Experience strongly shows that seemingly straightforward,
simple projects almost always involve many issues with wider impact
and implications than apparent. Such matters as building codes,
fire safety codes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance,
radiation safety, asbestos and lead abatement, dust control,
impact on building systems and occupants, and design considerations
require knowledge and procedures best provided by experienced professionals.
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