b'EMERGENCY RESPONSEGRR33$4 million to make the east side of the airfield shovel-ready forcarpeting were selected to provide a sense of hominess and future development. Things were getting congested and dense ondistinguish it from work areas. There is also a conference room the west side of the airport, Peric explains. As airport leadershipthat is available to all airport staff.reevaluated the Master Plan in 2017, development shifted The overall facility was designed and built with extra room for strategically to the east, first with construction of a standalonegrowth, if and when airport operations dictate.Airport Operations Center in 2019.While not luxurious or excessive, the ARFF station thatUltra-Local Project Managementfollowed is a significant improvement over the antiquated andTo help meet the challenges of growth and the multiple cramped previous facility.construction projects GRR has undertaken to meet passenger The new 25,000-square-foot building provides a cleardemand, officials prioritized training department heads in project separation of workspace and living quarters, and was designedmanagement. They were very good project managers in general, with efficiency and quick response time in mind. It allows thebut we invested in project management training so they could team to have better access to what they need and be able toparticipate more closely with the construction team, Peric focus on what they need to do, Berghage says.explains. Peric characterizes it as an investment in the airportsIn essence, the department head is designated as the emergency response employees. asset owner of a given facility, leading decisions. We wanted our employees to have input into the planning, design and We tried to make it really comfortable and acknowledge thatconstruction process so that they have what they need and have PHOTO: DAVID SPARKSthis is where they live, Berghage adds. Its not an extravaganthigh-level ownership of the project, he adds.building; its state-of-the-art. But involvement isnt limited to department heads. Berghage Along with a new ARFF facility, GRRnotes that the entire ARFF team was closely involved with welcomed a new fire chief in July, Derrickdeveloping the new stationand hands-on during its handover Grinnell. While not involved in the planningand activation. One of the advantages of new construction (vs. and construction of the building, Grinnell isrenovation) was that the previous ARFF facility could remain in full impressed with the facility he inherited. Itoperation until the new building was cleared for occupancy.was designed to maximize our efficiency of response and training, and has everythingCoordinating Construction and Connectionour firefighters need to provide the bestDERRICK GRINNELL Because construction took place on the less-busy, less-congested services possible, he remarks.east side of the airfield, impact to airline operations was minimal. Involving the employees who will use the facility was critical toNevertheless, coordination across the airport was still necessary. the project, stresses Berghage. They know what they need inWe had to take what they do on a day-to-day basis and detail, and theyre very practical, he says. incorporate that into our construction plans and phasing as well, The multifunctional ARFF building includes residential space,relates Howard Williams, project executive with general contractor offices, garage and maintenance space, a decontaminationMiller-Davis Company. room, a medical room and a training area.Security fencing was temporarily relocated in careful phases to Peric calls the stations five double-sided, drive-through baysallow work sites to remain outside of badge-required areas. a gamechanger because they ease movement of emergencyCommunication was key throughout the project, but especially vehicles, improve operational efficiency and reduce responsewhen connecting the new ARFF building to the existing Airport times. The eastside location also provides unobstructed views ofOperations Center. If there was any downtime for electricity the airfield and passenger terminal building. or phone lines, that was well-coordinated in advance and In the event of an emergency, dorm room lights come onunderstood, notes Williams. progressively, but quickly, to alert resting firefighters. Audible voice-to-text alarms located adjacent to the dorms provide redundancy.Communications technology throughout the facility is an upgrade from the previous building, Berghage says. A specially designed double-height training area allows firefighters to practice extending and climbing ladders. It also features walls with openings that mimic windows andPlanningan underground, confined space with manholes and anDELTA AIRPORT Engineeringinterconnecting tunnel for varied training opportunities.CONSULTANTS, INC. EnvironmentalIndustry Analysiswww.deltaairport.com Program ManagementResidential amenities include a kitchen, workout facility and sound-insulated dorms. 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