Millville High School

GREYHAWK provided design-build construction management, consulting, and commissioning services to the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (NJSDA) for a four-phase high school renovation and addition project to allow for ongoing education of over 2,000 students in grades 9-12. Communication and cooperation were important factors in the project’s successful phasing and completion around activities within the occupied school.

Phased work over a five-year timeline began with the implementation of temporary cafeteria trailers, removal of an existing auditorium, and construction of a new media center and main office areas. Phase 2 included a 30,000-sf, three-story addition with a new first-floor cafeteria and commercial kitchen and classrooms on the second and third floors. Phase 3 added a 71,000-sf science wing, gymnasium, wrestling room, dance studio, and locker rooms. Phase 4 added a new 1,200-seat auditorium. The design essentially wrapped the existing building in new additions on all four sides, requiring the careful integration of new steel snow-load structure throughout the building. The construction team wove new steel columns and header beams – some as large as 30 or 40 feet – into the building, often within confined spaces. The construction management strategy involved constant collaboration with the school district and administration to keep everyone informed of construction phasing and to ensure construction sites would be vacant within the otherwise occupied building.

The Covid-19 pandemic occurred during the project, presenting both challenges and opportunities. When students shifted to remote learning, interior construction progress could be accelerated. At other times, pandemic supply-chain material delays stalled progress.

GREYHAWK’s construction management scope included design review, submittal and shop drawing reviews, and confirming the design-builder’s documents complied with NJSDA standards. Construction phase services included daily on-site monitoring of all construction activities; tracking the design-builder’s daily manpower and monthly payment applications; chairing progress meetings; and coordinating the extensive permitting process. GREYHAWK’s consulting team reviewed the design-builder’s baseline project schedule and schedule updates on a monthly basis to identify potential issues. GREYHAWK’s commissioning team offered MEP commissioning oversight to the design-builder’s commissioning team, providing independent third-party reviews and periodic comments. GREYHAWK provided monthly progress reports to NJSDA regarding updates and areas of concern. Following construction, GREYHAWK scheduled furniture deliveries and placement, resolved open issues, confirmed punch list completion, reviewed and confirmed acceptance of the commissioning report and all required project closeout documentation and scheduling, and attended post occupancy walk-through reviews.

Images courtesy Hall Construction, Stokes Creative Group, and GREYHAWK