General Motors contacted our PDPM team about an emergency at the Warren Global Tech Center, where Glycol water (Chilled Water) was seeping through the sidewalks outside of the MAN C Building. The leak presented a potential environmental concern and would surely impact the ability to provide conditioned air to a large portion of the site.
During the first phase of excavation, it became apparent that there were existing utilities causing conflict and restricted access. GM and Ideal Contracting collaborated to develop a new plan, which would replace the existing pipe system with a new 18” Niron pipe. This new circuit will replace the existing 45-year-old pipe and will distribute the chilled water supply and return for a large portion of the GTC Campus. This is crucial as chilled water is necessary to provide conditioned air to the impacted buildings.
In order to install the Niron pipe, Ideal Contracting is working on the main North/South roadway between the Manufacturing Buildings and the Research Buildings. The excavation is approximately 10’ deep, 18’ wide and will be 550’ long, consisting of about 3,000 yards of spoils. Typically, the team removes the spoils from site and disposes of them at a GM approved landfill. However, GM and Ideal worked together to repurpose the spoils on site. This initiative will save the project approximately $120,000!
This project is on schedule, ensuring that air conditioning will be transmitted to the Research, R-Cell
and the Climatic Wind Tunnel Buildings of the Global Tech Center. Great job to the project team, from General Motors’ Mike Quinlan, Gary Londo, and Paul Wasinski to our Ideal employees Steve Dolland, Dennis Bergeron, Matt Koziara, Dan Garland, and Tom Braden. Also, to the very talented underground team at the Global Tech Center.
