buildings > Schools

Washoe County School District, Spanish Springs & North Valley High Schools
Reno, Nevada, USA

Washoe County School District undertook construction of two new high schools. The schools were identical in design, albeit prototypes relative to past construction. County building officials surprised all parties upon rejecting the design team’s design, citing violations to fireproofing codes in that the architect had been coordinating design efforts with the officials for several months prior to the rejection notice. After failed attempts to challenge the ruling, the school district still agreed to proceed with the awarded contract. A major design change was made to each school to allow for a Type II, 2-hour fire rating that included reducing room sizes and use of monokote-type fireproofing. Nielsen-Wurster performed a delay and causation analysis to determine equitable adjustment to the contractor for time impacts caused by the design change. The contractor intended to file an early completion claim in addition and sought compensation for acceleration in meeting its proposed early completion dates. Nielsen-Wurster’s analysis concluded that the contractor had failed to meet criteria for an early completion claim. Further, Nielsen-Wurster’s analysis concluded that the school district had already over-compensated the contractor for alleged acceleration. Nielsen-Wurster assisted in a mediation where the architect and school district reached a settlement. A favorable settlement was also reached with the contractor a few months later.

Montbello Parkfield Middle School
Denver, Colorado, USA

Nielsen-Wurster was engaged by The Denver Public School District (DPSD) to provide an independent evaluation of the project status, work completed as of the review and the issues associated with the effort required to complete all contract scope. Nielsen-Wurster presented to the DPSD a summary opinion with respect to project status, responsibilities for the delays, and an assessment of the contractor’s project management. Nielsen-Wurster also evaluated the status of the project based on the billings and physical percent complete and advised DPSD of areas where the Contractor may submit claims for additional costs, and what the approximate damage might be.

Fairmont State College Classroom Buildings
Fairmont, West Virginia, USA

At the time of Nielsen-Wurster's analysis, this Fairmont State College renovation project of classroom space and a dining facility was delayed two to three months and had incurred a substantial number of change orders. The Contractor requested a time extension for the full delay period and extended general overhead costs. The State of West Virginia alleged that the Contractor mismanaged the construction work. Major Project issues included unforeseen site utilities, utility relocations, design changes to window detailing, asbestos removal and construction staging between the three different buildings. Nielsen-Wurster performed a preliminary delay analysis and entitlement review on behalf of the Owner for use in negotiation of a time extension and additional compensation to be granted to the Contractor on the Project. Nielsen-Wurster analyzed the Contractor's claim, including the schedule, Project changes and documentation, and made an initial determination of responsibility for the various delays. The claim reached a settlement, based on Nielsen-Wurster's analysis.

Southwest State University Recreation Center/Athletic Facility
Marshall, Minnesota, USA

Nielsen-Wurster analyzed a Contractor request for an extension of time resulting from a fire which damaged a portion of the construction work and contributed to delays in the Recreation Center/Athletic Facility Project at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota. Nielsen-Wurster reviewed the initial Project schedule and updates before the fire to ascertain the true progress on the Project. Contractor staging and manpower during the reconstruction period were analyzed to determine whether inefficiencies existed in the approach to this work. In addition, a Window Analysis was performed during the immediate time period after the fire utilizing the Contractor's monthly schedules to determine the overall critical delay to the Project completion date. Results of the Nielsen-Wurster analysis were used to negotiate a time settlement for this incident with the Contractor during the construction process.

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