AIE provided construction engineering and inspection services for the expansion of the Highway Operations Center (HOC) in Newington, CT, under phased construction.

This project involved selective demolition of existing ground floor spaces to construct a new HOC, VDTR, Storm Center, office, kitchen, bathroom, conference, storage spaces, and nurse, gift shop, and library rooms. It required installation of concrete, structural steel, fireproofing, firestopping, and sealants; dry and wet sprinkler systems, gaseous fire suppression system, and louvers and vents; drywall partitions, glass folding partition, windows/doors, access flooring, tiling, acoustical tile ceilings, flooring, carpeting, and interior painting; visual display surfaces, signage, wood paneling, toilet and bath accessories, and fire extinguishers and cabinets; appliances; louver blinds, casework, countertops, and entrance floor mats; plumbing; heating-ventilating-air conditioning; electrical and lighting systems; communications systems; and electronic safety and security systems.

This project required a significant understanding and expertise in the construction and rehabilitation of mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, network communications, fiber optics and other operational systems. The building work included equipping the HOC with new computers, network, communications, and video wall equipment required to support the operations center staff, engineering staff, Transportation Incident Management activities, and other facility functions, all while keeping the existing center in operation 24/7 during construction.

Further, the construction involved the fit-out and installation of communication and video equipment to support the operations of the HOC, Storm Center and conference rooms including a new VDTR room with equipment racks, cable trays, multi-duct conduit, new UPS backup, video wall and graphics equipment, audio/video/graphics equipment, 45 video cube monitors, central radio system, and computer equipment.

AIE coordinated all cut-overs to minimize on-going operational disruption. Because this project is located within an in-use facility and due to the 24/7 nature of the HOC work, the contractor was required to maintain normal occupancy with disruptive work being completed during periods of “reduced occupancy,” meaning the critical work took place on nights and weekends.

Environmental work associated with the project included the removal and disposal of regulated items such as lights, ballasts, thermostats, and other similar items.