Page 21 - Urban Construction Project Management

xx Introduction

AVAILABILITY OF LAND

Another major influence on the types and sizes of buildings being built today in a
large urban environment is the availability of land on which to build, many stakehold-
ers (see list of project stakeholders in Chapter 1) to consider and satisfy, and increased
land values. Given the technological advancements in structural systems, stronger
materials, elevators, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning systems, life
safety systems, etc., buildings can be built taller and bigger, often with mixed-use
occupancies. An example is the AOL Time Warner complex in New York City, which
replaced the Coliseum at Columbus Circle. The AOL Time Warner complex replaced
a single-use exhibition facility with a mixed-use complex that houses retail space,
restaurants, a hotel, commercial office space, residential apartments, and pedestrian
space.

CONSTRUCTION IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

The majority of the experience of the authors is in the New York City metropolitan area,
and therefore many examples, forms, processes, checklists, and references are of the
construction process in New York City. The authors have performed work in other parts
of the United States and the world, and each urban environment used processes, proce-
dures, and regulations similar to those in New York City. New York always seems to be
in the forefront of what is happening in the construction industry. Examples include the
following:

1. New York City has promoted safety from the building department’s Building
Enforcement Safety Team (BEST) squad.
2. New York City has enacted many local laws to prompt life safety in buildings for
occupants; façade inspections; and scaffold, hoist, crane, and derrick inspections.
3. Construction occurs in an environment where 10 million people transverse the
city every day, along with another 1 million people who go to and from work
each day.
4. There are 700 miles of subway running beneath the city, along with surface bus
transportation, five major commuter railroads, and ferries.
5. Underground central utilities provide steam, electrical power, telecommunications,
cable television, water, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer services.
6. New York City is the ultimate urban environment, where new building space is
extremely limited.
7. There are climate changes from 0 to 100°F within four seasons.
8. Streets are congested with traffic, impeding the flow of construction trucks carry-
ing materials to the site.
9. Streets and sidewalks are difficult to close, which makes for unique challenges for
access to the site, construction materials, personnel, and equipment.
10. Many construction sites have access from only one side.