Job 309 at 4D Global Group Inc was a new state of the art medical research and clinical facility at Mount Sinai, NYC. We were chosen to detail this project by one of our new and exciting clients, Cives Northern located in Gouveneur, NY. All staff were excited to continue building our new relationship with Cives and hopefully making them a core client for 4DGG. Working from the Structural Engineer’s plans, within three weeks of commencement 4DGG had sent to Cives the Advance Bill of Materials – a comprehensive list of all the main steel components for the building, with lengths, grades and profiles stipulated – along with this isometric drawing:
Next came the Anchor Bolt Drawings, to be approved before any foundations could be poured. At this stage, 4D had a model but the connections had to be put in. Time to tackle the Shop Drawings and break out columns and beams into sequences. The Erection Drawings followed, on which all the assembly marks are located.
Wilhem Guerrero was 4D’s Project Manager. “We submit our drawings to the Structural Engineer for approval. Once we get them back, we implement their comments, if any, and proceed with the Anchor Bolt Drawings for fabrication issue, followed by the Shop & Erection Drawings. These include part drawings for all the secondary parts and the total quantity of bolts, washers etc. At both the fabrication and erection stages, we might field questions if our drawings cannot be easily interpreted or information is missing.”
All of this is driving down a timeline, the first critical date on which is the day steel must be on site. Working backwards, the Project Manager determines the start dates for each phase of the project according to their various lead-times.
Wilhem Guerrero: “There are six steel detailers plus a checker and a PM on a 4DGG project team. Basically we supply a drawing for every item of steel that is required for the structure and quantify everything needed for its erection. It’s intensive, fast and very satisfying, keeping everything on schedule and within budget.”
Keeping track requires that communications are quite formalized. Every conversation, telephone call and email exchange with the client is documented and packaged into Records of Communication. The team also keeps a record of Requests for Information, Connection Design Questions and Change Orders, so that at the end of the day the quantifying of ROC’s, RFI’s, CDQ’s and CO’s provides a transparent measure of efficiency.
“When a project is completed on time and within budget,” says Wilhem, “we feel a great sense of achievement. And when the erection is accomplished quickly and without hitches, we reckon we’ve done a perfect job. Does the client ever acknowledge this?
The best acknowledgement is when the client tells us he’s got another job and wants 4D to do it!”
Hospital staff and construction crews attended the “Topping Off” ceremony of the New Center for Science and Medical (CSM) Building which was held to celebrate erection of the last beam on the 12 story steel structure which is located on Madison Avenue between 101st and 102nd streets.