Hunt Construction Group recently completed the transformation of Georgia Street as part of numerous upgrades to the city for the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI in February. Located near Lucas Oil Stadium and in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the new Georgia Street allows for fans to enjoy food, drinks, shopping and more. This weekend’s test run shows the project’s vision was a success with the street packed with Wisconsin and Michigan State fans enjoying everything the local businesses had to offer.

Hunt is no stranger to the numerous facilities that will serve a key role come the big game in February. Lucas Oil Stadium, the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport, JW Marriott Indianapolis and Conrad Hotel name just a few projects completed by Hunt that will ensure fans have an unforgettable Super Bowl XLVI experience.

Georgia Street Big Ten test a success: wishtv.com

This designation makes IND the first airport in the nation to earn LEED certification for an entire terminal campus. Additionally, measuring in at 1.2 million square feet makes IND one of the largest projects to be awarded LEED certification.

LEED is a third-party certification program and nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of environmentally friendly, or green/sustainable, buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) manages the program.

Among the long list of details that qualified IND for LEED certification are natural light in 75 percent of the building, energy-efficient equipment and building heating / ventilation controls. Extensive recycling programs were in place during construction and material specific receptacles have been placed throughout the facility for employees and patrons. Finally, deicing chemicals are captured and consumed by microorganisms in detention ponds.

Although the features recognized by LEED certification provide an enhanced experience for visitors and employees while supporting their well-being, they also add great value through measurable efficiency gains in energy, fuel and water usage. Airport spokesman Carlo Betolini noted annual savings from the LEED features are estimated at $2 million a year.

“On the third anniversary of the Midfield Terminal opening, we are reminded of the decades-long foresight and strategic planning that were required to create the award winning, internationally recognized airport we now enjoy,” said John Clark III, executive director and CEO of the IAA. “Practicing sound sustainability processes helps us improve the quality of life in our community while becoming more competitive.”

Hunt is at the forefront of sustainable construction setting the standard in numerous industries. Completed in 2010, Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, MI earned LEED Platinum certification and Amway Center in Orlando, FL became the first LEED Gold certified NBA sports facility. Earlier that same year, CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA became the first LEED Gold certified sports facility. 2008 marked the opening of Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. as the first LEED Silver certified sports facility and Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, WA became the first LEED Gold certified correctional facility.

Construction for this massive facility is being managed by Holder-Manhattan-C.D. Moody-Hunt, A Joint Venture. Atlanta Gateway Designers serve as the architect for the new terminal structure. All related posts on this project may be found here.

When the Department of Veterans Administration made the decision to construct the new Southern Nevada Medical Center, Clark/Hunt, A Joint Venture, jumped at the opportunity to build the new hospital and surrounding buildings. In its entirety, the medical center is a 780,000 square-foot facility with four components: Diagnostic and Treatment facility, an Ambulatory Care and Rehab Medicine facility, a Mental Health Clinic and an Administrative wing.

The main tower is seven stories high and houses two floors of beds for patients at the top. The fourth floor is for Mechanical, the third floor houses the Surgical Suites and Cardiology Labs, level two houses the Labs, Central Sterile and Processing plus the Medical Administration, and the first floor is the Pharmacy, Radiology, MRI and Nuclear Medicine departments. The ambulatory facility is a three-story building situated on the west side of the tower, and the Mental Health Clinic is two stories high, located on the east side of the tower. At the North side of the tower is the one-story Administrative and Education wing, where patients will be able to check into the hospital.

In addition to the Southern Nevada Medical Center being primarily for veterans, the hospital is unique in another way – there are a multitude of exterior courtyards throughout the building that bring in abundance of light. Many hospitals struggle to provide enough sunlight and windows, but in this medical center, patients and employees are not far from seeing natural light no matter where they are in the building. The hospital is laid out in a mall fashion with a North/South and East/West main corridors with skylights and courtyards for an ease of access to all of the departments.

During construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM) was used for countless aspects of the project, a large part being the entire ceiling system of the hospital. Hospital systems above the ceilings are usually more complicated than a conventional building due to the massive amounts of special systems in a hospital. The 22-foot high ceiling of the first floor was even more congested because it is the collection area of most systems.

Had the team not used BIM and its features, the ceiling would have been jam-packed, and the project team would have had a laborious time organizing all of the components in the field. Using BIM took clash detection to a new degree and helped save a great deal of time and expense.

The Clark/Hunt team ran into a few challenges with the mechanical systems, but with BIM, the team got everything coordinated and was able to keep moving forward on schedule. The project is not actively seeking LEED® Certification, but there are numerous sustainable aspects to the hospital which will be beneficial to the medical center, as it is designed for long term use.

Clark/Hunt’s bid came in much lower than the government’s original budget for the project, which allowed for the government to add more features back into the hospital. An underground tunnel between the Central Plant and the hospital was added, along with many other features that will increase the hospital’s quality and longevity. Fortunately, the project team did not have to deal with any unforeseen obstacles, and are working towards finishing construction on time later this month. The grand opening for the hospital will not be until 2012, after all of the hospital equipment is moved in and ready to operate.

As construction comes to a close, the Clark/Hunt team is extremely proud of the work done, and is pleased with the working relationship of the team. It helped progress move along smoothly, and has helped get the job completed on time. The team looks forward to seeing the completed project.

Construction for this massive facility is being managed by Holder-Manhattan-C.D. Moody-Hunt, A Joint Venture. Atlanta Gateway Designers serve as the architect for the new terminal structure. For more videos on this project, be sure to check out the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson YouTube page.

The project, scheduled for completion in 2016, will add a new patient-care pavilion, renovate key health care service areas and upgrade the hospital’s critical engineering systems.

In awarding the design work to BSA LifeStructures, Good Samaritan officials cited the firm’s healthcare experience, expertise in creating patient-focused nursing environments, focus on measurable outcomes and long relationship with Good Samaritan. Another key factor was BSA LifeStructures’ experience in sustainable design.

“This project is a great match for BSA LifeStructures because it aligns with our vision of facilities that serve the needs of patients today while being prepared to accommodate coming changes in healthcare,” said BSA LifeStructures President Keith Smith. “We look forward to working with Hunt to create a healing environment that serves the Vincennes community and improves the lives of the people who live there.”

“BSA LifeStructures brought the right skills, experience and philosophy to the table. They believe not just in building hospitals, but in designing places where patients and families find comfort and healing, and where healthcare professionals can do their healing work successfully and efficiently,” said Good Samaritan Vice President for Behavioral Health/Special Projects John Manning, who will serve as project manager for the expansion. “Hunt won us over with its dynamic resume and strong sense of stewardship. The firm’s willingness to lock in a guaranteed price means Good Samaritan is protected from overage fees.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Good Samaritan and BSA LifeStructures to achieve the hospital’s goal of becoming a regional center of excellence for health care,” added Hunt’s Construction Manager Brent Bohan. “We want to build not only facilities that provide state-of-the-art healthcare, but also relationships with our partners.”

New York 1 Brooklyn ran a feature on the progress of the facility last week. Be sure to check it out here for more information on the project and what future projects will going into the space surrounding the arena. Barclays Center arena is scheduled to open next summer.

Populous is one of the nation’s most experienced stadium designers having designed 118 new ballparks, including 22 Major League Baseball spring training facilities. Hunt has also left a strong imprint on the Valley’s sports landscape. Local projects include Chase Field and U.S Airways Center in Phoenix, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale and Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

The new complex, approved by Mesa voters last year, is scheduled to open in 2014 for spring training season.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said the focus is on building a destination that would give fans a unique experience, combining Cactus League baseball with other attractions at Wrigleyville West, a privately-financed commercial development located nearby.

Wrigleyville West’s attractions are expected to include restaurants, stores and a Cactus League museum that would include a Cubs’ component. The Cubs will develop Wrigleyville West.

The City of Mesa also will upgrade Riverview Park, which includes a lake, soccer fields and softball fields at the intersection of the Loop 101 and 202 freeways. The nine-hole golf course will close and be used for the new spring training complex.

Hunt is proud to be working with the City of Mesa and Populous on this impressive new facility. Based out of Scottsdale, Hunt has worked with the talented and dedicated local workforce on large-scale projects many times over the years and we are looking forward to working with the community again on this spring training complex.