Editor’s Note: Every year, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry receives many fantastic project nominations for its Excellence in Construction Quality Award, but only one project can win in each category. This month we introduce you to one of those projects, Evans High School in Orlando, Fla., which was a serious contender in the category where the AWCI member contractor’s contract was more than $1 million.
AWCI’s Excellence in Construction Quality Award honors all the AWCI members—contractors, manufacturers and suppliers/distributors—who participate on a quality project. In this project, the participating AWCI manufacturers and suppliers were All Interior Supply (L&W Supply), American Building Supply, CertainTeed Insulation, ClarkDietrich Building Systems, Inc., Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, Kinetics Noise Control, Kobrin Builders Supply, Inc. – Orlando, National Gypsum, Sto Corp. and USG Corporation.
The original Evans High School, built in 1958 in Orlando, Fla., in the midst of segregation, was finally demolished in 2010 to make room for a new campus. Approximately 30,000 tons of debris were removed from the site in 43 days so that the new buildings would be built and operational when students arrived at their new school in January 2012.
U pon accepting the contract to help construct Evans High School, AWCI member contractor Kenpat USA, LLC knew that this was not just another school project. It was not going to be just a collection of new buildings. It represented new hope for children living in the crime-stricken community of Pine Hills.
With a lot of media focused on this $58-million project, Kenpat USA accepted the aggressive 16.5-month schedule to build nine buildings and 240,000 square feet of space. Led by Williams Company, Kenpat USA completed its $2.3 million scope of work in 10 months. This is the shortest construction schedule ever for a new Orange County high school—nine buildings, 348,000 square feet and 11 months to install more than 500,000 linear feet of metal studs, 700,000 square feet of wall boards, 13,000 square feet of acoustical metal wall panels, 50,000 square feet of acoustical ceilings, thermal insulation and acoustical wall panels required expert planning management and execution.
Kenpat USA’s lead superintendent stepped up to the challenge. With the help of two field superintendents, he successfully managed up to 65 skilled tradesmen, working in seven different buildings at any given time. In all, Kenpat USA devoted 47,250 man-hours to this project.
Kenpat USA understood that delivery of quality work, on time and safely, was of the most important. They expressed their commitment to safety by providing 10-hour OSHA training to all personnel working on the Evans High School project.
In front of the campus, facing the main entrance, is the marquee of Evans High School, the state-of-the-art auditorium. It is covered with acoustical wall panels that are lined in harmony along the walls. Floating above the grand room are 61 convex curved sound diffusing panels, a new design concept for Orange County Public School.
The convex panels were delivered on a flatbed truck that required the radius to be formed onsite by a system of all-thread steel rods and nuts. MEP coordination and spacing were critical as the convex curved panels suspended from the structure with aircraft cables.
Access and safety were great concerns as the convex-curved panels can weigh up to 300 pounds and measure 12 feet long. Extensive scaffolding was built to achieve successful and safe installation.
The scheduling and managing of many craftsmen and delivering quality a project in 10 months safely was not an easy task. Kenpat USA is proud to have taken part in constructing a school that means so much to its community.
