Early construction contract for Brightwater should streamline project, reducing costs, impacts and schedule

2004 Archived News

What's better than hiring an experienced contractor to manage construction of a multimillion-dollar wastewater treatment plant? Hiring that contractor early enough to influence the design of the plant so it can be built in less time, at less cost and with less environmental impact.

King County has awarded a contract to Hoffman Construction Co. of Washington to be the general contractor and construction manager for the Brightwater Treatment Plant in south Snohomish County north of Woodinville. King County will contract separately for construction of tunnels and pipelines for the project.

Hoffman recently finished construction of the critically acclaimed Seattle Central Library and Seattle City Hall. It has also built wastewater treatment plants in Sacramento and Santa Cruz, Calif., and elsewhere; water treatment plants in California and Alaska; and other complex public and private facilities along the West Coast. Other local projects include the Boeing Customer Training Center, Experience Music Project, Monroe State Prison, Seattle Justice Center, and University of Washington Surgery Pavilion.

The Brightwater plant will protect public health and water quality by treating wastewater from homes, businesses, schools and offices in south Snohomish County and north King County. Brightwater needs to be running by 2010 to serve the growing population in the service area. Wastewater is now treated at plants miles away in Renton and Seattle.

Brightwater construction is scheduled to start in late 2005, but Hoffman will begin working soon with the project design team, led by CH2M Hill. Hoffman will collaborate with CH2M Hill as the firm finishes the plant design, building in elements that will simplify and enhance construction.

"Brightwater will be a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Now we have one of the best contractors in the country to work with our designers to make sure the construction goes as smoothly as possible."

The general contractor/construction manager (GCCM) method of contracting is a departure from the traditional design-bid-build approach that King County typically uses for treatment plant construction. In 2003, the King County Executive and Council directed the Wastewater Treatment Division to use GCCM so the contractor could take part in the design.

"This project has complex scheduling requirements, so this early collaboration will be critical to our success," said Christie True, manager of the capital improvement program for the Wastewater Treatment Division. "Hoffman can provide its expertise during design on construction methods, value-engineering ideas, and the construction schedule and logistics."

For example, True said, the contractor might suggest ways to minimize excavations during construction, cutting the cost of hauling away soil and using it elsewhere on-site instead.

"Having us involved early will also streamline the project as well as ensure the project stays on budget," said Tom Peterson, project executive for Hoffman. "We'll be able to start work on some elements, such as site preparation, before design is finished on other elements, and we will continually be checking the design to ensure the price for the project does not exceed the budget."

Another benefit is that Hoffman can buy specialized equipment with long lead-time manufacturing schedules before the design is finished.

As construction manager, Hoffman will contract directly with all subcontractors to build the plant. Hoffman will do the work "at risk"; that is, it will do the work for a guaranteed maximum price.

King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 18 cities, 15 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The regional public utility has been preventing water pollution for nearly 40 years.