LESSONS LEARNED FROM MULTIPHASE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Because of the constraints of the existing building, a reconstruction project is more complicated and difficult than a new project, and a mu ltiphase reconstruction project is even more complicated and difficult than a single-phase reconstruction project because of the additional constraints imposed by the owner to ensure the normal operation of the remaining portion of the building. In this study, the experiences gai ned during the first five phases of the multiphase reconstruction of t he Technological Institute building on the Northwestern University cam pus in Evanston, Illinois, are examined through a review of the constr uction documents and interviews with representatives of virtually all the major parties involved in the project. The problems encountered ar e then analyzed within the framework of the contractual approach used and the experiences accumulated, primarily from the construction of ne w facilities, to deduce the variety of lessons learned. Chief among th ese lessons are: (1) The strong need for effective project management at all levels with continuous communication among all parties and the authority to render timely decisions; (2) the importance of a contract document that establishes a strong basis for handling uncertainties a nd changes that arise during construction; and (3) the special problem s that stem from the multiphase reconstruction of a combined academic and research facility.