Our expertise is evidenced by the recognition we have received from our
peers. Since 1992, 12 Pinkard projects have received the Associated Builders
and Contractors' top national award-the Excellence in Construction Eagle
award.
This competition is a nationwide program that publicly recognizes quality
and innovation in construction management and execution under challenging
circumstances. Its purpose is to honor all members of the team: contractor,
owner, and architect/engineer. Competition for these awards comes from across
the nation. Voting for the Eagle awards is by our industry peers and recognizes
exceptional structures with the highest standards in quality, safety and
client satisfaction.
"Winning this award a single time is a significant achievement-to win it
twice, an honor, three times a habit, and four times a tradition. Winning
this award 12 times is simply our way of doing business-it's who we are." Jim
Pinkard, Jr.
In 2003, to keep its place in the highly competitive
luxury hotel market, the Brown Palace made the decision to construct a
luxury spa via a complete gut and renovation of a portion of its basement
and first floor. Pinkard was selected as the CM/GC that would work with
Owner's Representative Bob Korsmeier and Ivins Design Group Architects
to design and construct the spa.
Ivins Design Group's promising design was as good as it could be, given
the absence of acceptable as-builts and limited opportunities for exploratory
demolition in the extremely cramped spaces that were to become the new
luxury spa. As demolition and construction began, Pinkard discovered that
everyone's worst fears couldn't begin to describe what was really contained
within the 118 year old structure.
• In most of the ceilings and walls, Pinkard uncovered previously unidentified structural features that blocked the designed runs of the new MEP.
• The basement slab was found to be uneven and crumbling, requiring an unscheduled hand-demolition, removal, over-excavation and re-pouring.
• Structural obstacles blocking elevator core drilling required the elevator to be relocated twice.
• Existing primary sewer tie-ins were either not where they were supposed to be or didn't exist at all.
• A sanitary lift station had to be added as a solution to the sewer tie-in complication.
• A major load bearing wall was found to be constantly weeping moisture and presenting a mold hazard.
• Additional asbestos was discovered in an occupied area scheduled for major chilled water-line tie-ins, suggesting a major facility shutdown in order to complete the work.
In all, according to Director of Engineering Lloyd Leal, unforeseen conditions added almost 75% additional scope to the project, which had to be completed without extensions to the schedule. In addition, all work had to be successfully completed without disturbing the opulent atmosphere that makes the Brown Palace one of the world's finest hotels.
To overcome these many challenges, Pinkard worked closely with the Brown Palace, Ivins Design Group, and Schmidt & Stacy MEP Engineers to develop and implement countless creative field solutions that produced the high-end quality the hotel demanded, and allowed the facility to open on time.
"No one could have guessed how big this project was going to become. This was not just a renovation; it was like building a complete, separate building. The budget was $1.5 million, but it needed a $10 million effort-I'm not exaggerating: this should have been a $10 million dollar project. Without Pinkard's great effort, this project would have been a complete disaster. Every member of the owner's team, design team and hotel staff agree that Pinkard produced a world-class spa."
Stephen Graziano
Project Architect
Ivins Design Group