The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) bestowed a national merit award on the Federal Correctional Institution—Berlin project at its annual awards dinner.
A joint venture of Heery and Bell Corp. designed and constructed the $245 million project and overcame challenges presented by the rural Northern N.H. weather and site, which included three years of record snowfalls. The team adapted the Federal Bureau of Prison's (FBOP) design standards to account for heavy snows by adding sloped roofs and an interior corridor. It also surmounted extreme weather conditions, a six and one-half-foot thick frost line and a demanding 37-month schedule. The team maximized the use of local labor, far exceeding FBOP's goals, and delivered the project on schedule and within budget.
"Our accomplishment is completely a function of using the design-build approach," said Brian Milburn, Heery's project executive. "We were able to expedite portions of the work and get started on construction, while design was still ongoing."