University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Children's Hospital Off-Campus Parking

In May of 2009, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) will open its new Children's Hospital unit, and Independence Excavating will have been a part of that project's success by helping to provide a vital need- parking! In July of this year, our crews began demolition contract of a 450,000 square foot warehouse building to start the site preparation for a new 15-acre parking lot that will be used for off-campus parking at the new facility. The project was let on an aggressive schedule with stringent milestones and our demolition division rose to the challenge to beat the deadline - preparing the site ahead of schedule. Beyond the schedule challenges, our crews processed nearly 40,000 tons of concrete to be used as recycled aggregate materials on the development of the site, and addressed other structures encountered below grade without holding up the base schedule.

Nearing the completion of the demolition project, Independence was awarded the sitework project including earthwork, utilities, pavement, electrical, curbing and landscaping to complete the final design.

Our crews dove right into the earthwork and utility installation in close coordination with UPMC, Oxford Development, and the design staff (Gateway Engineers and HF Lenz). This project also has its schedule challenges with pavement installation that will be very sensitive to the looming winter season, as well as an aggressive coordination of electrical and curbing to ensure that we are not affected by seasonal weather.

The close coordination and tireless efforts of UPMC, Oxford, designers, our subcontractors and our own crews promises to bring a great product to UPMC, as well as the greater Pittsburgh area.