Spotlight On Success
The Hilo Judiciary Complex
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| The Hilo Judiciary Complex, a highly anticipated facility for the Big Island |
“The Judiciary has been planning for this much-needed courthouse for 15 years,” said Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, at the groundbreaking for the facility on March 2, 2005. “The complex will be a significant improvement over our existing facility in Hilo, providing much needed and long overdue public and operational spaces, many modern and technologically-equipped state-of-the-art features and updated security provisions.”
The Plan Becomes a Reality
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Swinerton Builders was selected as general contractor for the new complex to be located at the Kilauea Avenue site in Hilo that formerly housed the Kaikoo Mall. Durrant Media Five was chosen as the architectural firm to design the complex, with the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) overseeing the project.
“The complex is a four-level, 165,000-square-foot courthouse,” says George Ehara, vice-president and division manager for Swinerton Builders-Hawaii.
“The building is a combination of a cast-in-place concrete structure with precast floors. The scope of work encompasses underground parking, nine courtrooms, a law library, administrative offices, judicial suites and secure holding cells/loading areas, all under one roof. The courthouse includes state-of-the-art AV (audiovisual) and security systems for recording court proceedings and ensuring public safety in all of the courtrooms.”
Challenges and Solutions
“One challenge,” says Ehara, “is value-engineering a public works project in order to meet the budget. We do a great deal of value engineering with our private clients where the decision-making is very streamlined. But the decision-making on a public project can take longer.
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“A second challenge was the discovery of chlordane in the soil. It had to be mitigated, impacting the cost and schedule.
“Incorporating a large number of changes on a hard-bid public works job has been a challenge that has affected both the cost and the schedule.
“Implementing the new DAGS QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) program was a learning experience for all involved.
“Overall, the Hilo Judiciary Complex was an exciting project that Swinerton/Pacific is proud to be associated with.”
In other interesting project facts, Ehara points out that the tower crane used on the project was the first tower crane to be erected in Hilo since 1970.
Also, at the time of the contract award, the Hilo Judiciary Complex was the largest DAGS project in the state.
Barring any unexpected developments, Lester Oshiro, chief court administrator of the Third Circuit, anticipates that staff will occupy the building by summer of 2008.
The Team
Subcontractors and suppliers on this large project include: Access Lifts of Hawaii, Inc.; Acutron Co., Inc; Audio Visual Co.; Beachside Roofing, Inc.; Brandy Sign, Inc.; Commercial Shelving, Inc.; DeLima’s Plumbing, Inc.; Draftstone Company, Inc.; Fischer Tile & Marble-Hawaii, LLC; Green Thumb Incorporated; Haas Insulation, Inc.; Terminex International/Hauoli Pest Control; Heide & Cook, Ltd.; Jayco Hawaii, Inc.; Kelly Construction, Inc.; Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Kula Glass Company, Inc.; L.M. Nishida; Ono Construction, LLC; Paradise Erectors, Inc.; Northwest Steel Fabrications, Inc.; Prime Construction, Inc.; Ridgetop Hawaii, Inc.; Simplex-Grinnell; South Pacific Steel Corporation; Archstarr; Southern Steel; Specialties Hawaii, Inc.; ThyssenKrupp Elevator; Wayne’s Carpet and Ceramic Tile; Yamada & Sons, Inc.; Zelinsky Company, Inc.; BDL Mill; Island Pacific Distributors; Jas. W. Glover, Ltd.; GPRM Prestress (formerly Rocky Mountain Prestress) and Timberland Hawaii.