Waco, Inc.

Scope Of Work

The Rockbridge, VA County Jail, located in Lexington, VA is a 30,000 sf building constructed in 1988. It has a population of nearly 100. The facility needed an upgrade of the security system to more modern technology,  sought to improve operating efficiencies by installing a fuel efficient HVAC system. Additionally, after many years of serving the County, it was time to replace the roof. Wiley|Wilson engineering firm created the project specifications.

Waco Inc. was awarded the prime contract, which was valued at just under $2,000,000. The security system upgrade  roof replacement were sub-contracted,  Waco managed these upgrades. Waco self-performed the HVAC system upgrade; which included boiler, chiller, pumps, VAV box andair handler replacements.  system ductwork was fabricated  installed to connect to the existing duct. Due to the round-the-clock operation of a jail, all operations within the facility had to remain in full force during the entire upgrade project.

 

What IT TOOK TO ACHIEVE THIS PROJECT.

Unique Project Challenges

1.The combination of security procedures  round-the-clock operations presented unique challenges. The facility remained in full operation, housing  feeding the inmate population through the duration of the project. Several temporary systems had to be put in place to support ongoing facility operations. Boiler piping modifications were fabricated  installed to accommodate the heating requirements, while two additional boilers were installed. In order to avoid extreme cold temperatures within the facility during the project, weather conditions had to be factored into the scheduling process. All this required very precise project planning  adherence to schedules, regardless of the challenges that arose.

2.The security system upgrade also brought unique challenges. The  system was far more sophisticated than the existing one, requiring broad system changes throughout the facility. Additionally, due to the criticality of a security system in a jail environment, the efforts necessary to ensure no interruptions during the installation  cut-over stages were demanding. Experienced project management and scheduling methods were implemented to make this happen.

3.Replacing the entire roof in a fully operational facility was a challenging task. Each activity had to be precisely scheduled and accomplished within the scheduled time frame. Extra measures had to be implemented to avoid migration of debris.

4.The construction of this project was performed under high security conditions. All materials, equipment and tooling were inventoried on a daily schedule.

Why WACO was chosen

Economics and Reputation

Due to its project management methods and cost structure, Waco was the lowest bidder on the project. After the County considered all the competing bids and reviewed Waco’s qualifications, it was a clear choice

Summary of Results

Lee Waldeck was Waco’s project manager and Mike Williams was the superintendent. The entire project was completed on the County’s timeline and change orders remained within 1%. There were no security problems or disruptions to facility operations during the project, and no workplace injuries.