The concept of “thinking outside of the box” is not new. But as we all know, it’s easier said than done.
We love our industry. It’s filled with challenges that push us to think differently, obstacles that test our conviction – and triumphs that affirm our efforts. Every building that rises into the skyline is a testament to the spirit of progress.
With that said, we’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to overcome the challenges we consistently face in the world of construction: schedule conflicts, aggressive timelines, complications related to the job site and the jigsaw of coordinating with the many teams and trades involved in a project. Because we are always pursuing new ways to best serve our clients, we’re always working to identify the keys that can unlock the gridlock that can plague projects.
Experience is the best teacher in many cases, and our recent contribution to the Miami Valley Hospital South Tower Addition challenged us to think outside of the box – or outside of the frame, in this case – to get the job done and learn a thing or two in the process.
The project presented an aggressive schedule, and the steel contractor had to top out the building before erecting the framework that would connect the tower addition to the main building. Due to an imminent controlled air milestone, the piping had to be installed ahead of the framework. But as you may know, at TP Mechanical we’re not going to let the lack of a steel frame, a tight timeline, or the added adventure of an uneven SOG box us in.
Collaboration, imagination and invention were the essential components of our attack strategy. Our in-house contracting and fabrication teams worked together to engineer an innovative stand-alone rack system that would allow us to place the pipes into final position and handle the connection to the steel at a later date. The fabrication shop pre-fabricated the racks in-house and constructed roof supports to hold the rooftop piping. The racks were transported to the site and rigged in the air using a 16-foot, 10-ton Gantry Crane System, while our crew welded the support posts from below. We tackled the uneven SOG by field-cutting the support posts at different lengths to keep the racks level.
The racks were in final position in just two weeks.
In the end, this experience reinforced something we already knew – teamwork is the key to meeting project challenges and delivering innovation.
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Aren’t we all looking for that new piece of information that will give us a competitive edge? That proven technique to answer the next construction challenge, that solution that will help us serve our customers better and ensure every project’s success.
At TP Mechanical, we’ve been in the construction business long enough – more than six decades – to know there is no silver bullet. There is no replacement for years of experience, dedication, attention-to-detail and hard work. But we appreciate the knowledge and insights that each of our team members contribute to our projects and to the success of our customers.
In the past, TP Mechanical has had a blog written exclusively by me, the CEO and Chairman of the Board. One thing I’ve learned about success is that it often comes when you surround yourself with smart people and listen to them. That’s why I’ve assembled a leadership team of highly qualified experts to lead TP Mechanical in the constant pursuit of excellence and innovation in every division. With the launch of our new website this month, we’re looking forward to sharing their experience with you.
I invite you to join me in the mechanical musings of this blog. As part of our dedication to superior customer service, we’ll share with you what’s on our mind; we’ll discuss the issues, events, projects, news, expertise and knowledge that combine to keep us at the forefront of innovation and excellence. Our words and thoughts will provide challenges to you and your leadership team on moving forward in this ever-changing world.
Our experts will share the experiences, insights, tips and techniques pertaining to every aspect of our industry – including safety, fire protection, fabrication, improving efficiency, green building and more. You can put these thoughts to use immediately in your current building operations or on your next project.
Whether you’re in the planning stages of a project, in the midst of construction or looking for ways to manage your building maintenance, we’re here to help. We believe in the power of partnership; sharing our knowledge is just one more way we can deliver excellence and innovation to you.
Look for our next blog, which will discuss pertinent issues surrounding our number-one priority: safety. We’ve got a long list of accolades and awards to prove that we’ve become the experts in this arena, and we’re eager to share some of our strategies with you.
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