Leasing commitments dictated an extremely aggressive schedule for the construction of the 300,000 square-foot office building and 9-level parking structure.
One of the challenges was completing the project within the prescribed time frame in a city known for its extensive involvement in the process. Typically, cities limit their involvement to structural and life safety issues. Coral Gables was also intimately involved in aesthetic approvals and required over 8,000 individual inspections during construction. The city was severely understaffed leading to significant approval delays. We went to work developing a plan and responded in two ways. First, we sent a representative to the area a full three months before construction started to understand city requirements and to establish a relationship with the city officials. After that, we constructed a complex matrix and instituted daily coordination meetings between designers and the city to expedite approvals. As a result, we met the schedule and the lead tenant moved in as planned.
Coral Gables, Florida
Hines Interests
Owner
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart,Stewart & Associates, Inc.
Architect
Extremely Tight Urban Site in Upscale Neighborhood
Aggressive 14-Month Schedule with Restrictive Work Hours
ABC Excellence in Construction Award
South Florida Business Journal Project of the Year