KAISER 9/14/07 3:52 PM Page 68
KIEWIT BUILDING GROUP AND MCCARTHY BUILDING
he explains. “All hospitals [in the region]
have been planning major expansions in
the last 10 years.”
‘Long Process’
The project has been challenging, Balko
acknowledges, because the site and stag-
ing area are small.
There is no space on the north and
east side of the site, and only a 10-foot
area on the west side. “It took a lot of
coordination and preplanning,” he says.
68 ■ CONSTRUCTION TODAY ■ OCTOBER 2007
“It basically necessitated the use of the
tower crane.”
Another challenge is that the existing
hospital is in operation during construc-
tion. For example, to complete construc-
tion above the existing hospital, the com-
pany is taking off the roof on a daily
basis, which is above the maternity ward,
Balko says. He says the company and the
hospital hold regular meetings to ensure
hospital and construction activities will
not interfere with each other.
“We are conducting our activities
around their downtime,” he says. “We are
continually interfacing with operations
and procedures.”
Weather has also been a problem, he
adds. Although the rest of the Hawaii is
experiencing a drought, it consistently
rains in Moanalua Valley.
Most of the project is being construct-
ed in an old parking lot, which has a vol-
canic rock substrate, Balko says. Precast
was used for the exterior skin of the build-
ing to handle the environmental impact
from hurricanes, he says. Also, it was a
challenge to install the foundation in the
volcanic rock. It necessitated the use of
heavy demolition three feet from the
existing operating rooms.
He says the hospital and construction
companies were aware of these challenges
beforehand, which is why it started pre-
construction two years before it broke
ground in 2005. “It was a long process to
identify all the concerns and structural
issues,” he says.
About Kiewit Corp.
Kiewit Corp. was founded in 1884. In
2006, it earned revenues of more than $5
billion and was named the most-admired
engineering and construction company
by Fortune magazine in 2007. Engin-
eering News-Record consistently names
the company as one of the top-10 con-
tractors, the company says.
It is successful because it employs peo-
ple who are well-trained and stay long-
term. “We are as dedicated to the success
of the people we hire to build our proj-
ects as we are to the people who hire us
to build them,” the company says.
The company has done projects all
over North America. “The highway, the
tunnel, the dam, the airport, the energy
plant and the high-rise – no matter how
complex the project, we meticulously
plan every detail and double-check our
double-checks,” the company says. “It’s a
philosophy that has not only allowed us
to reach our dreams, but to exceed them.
“Now well into our second century, we
are one of the most highly regarded and
respected construction firms in the nat-
ion,” the company adds. “We are known
for the competitive spirit of our people
and our ability to produce quality work-
manship and on-schedule performance.” ■