Denver International Airport has selected Stantec as the lead design firm for the Great Hall Project and Hensel Phelps as the construction manager/general contractor for Phase I of the project.
Both companies have a strong local presence, are familiar with the Denver community and state, and have existing contracts with the airport. The selection is pending consideration by Denver City Council.
“When we announced the termination of our contract with Great Hall Partners in August, we said that we expected to select a new project team this fall. The selection of the lead designer and contractor is right on schedule and will enable us to begin construction in Q1 2020, as we committed to doing,” said airport CEO Kim Day.
Representatives from Denver’s airlines and the city’s director of the Division of Small Business Opportunity participated in the selection process.
“As we selected new contractors for the project, it was important that we brought our values of safety, operations and community to the forefront,” added Day. “Both Stantec and Hensel Phelps were selected because of their commitment to these values, while also bringing thoughtful proposals with creative cost-saving ideas to the table. We are pushing ahead so we can get back to work on the Great Hall project with our new partners.”
As the new lead designer, Stantec will complete the design for the remainder of the project. It will verify existing designs, look for modifications for both cost savings and other design improvements, and ensure plans are adequate for construction to proceed. The company will also provide design assistance during construction of future phases.
As the main builder for Phase I, Hensel Phelps will manage construction activity. The airport has not yet decided how it will procure a construction manager/general contractor for future phases.
Phase I work primarily includes construction of the airline ticketing pods in the center of the terminal on Level 6. It also includes new restrooms and conveyances. The airport will begin the City Council approval process on November 6, by introducing the contract amendments to the Business, Arts, Workforce and Aviation Services Committee. If approved by the committee, the contract amendments will move to full City Council for approval, in the hope that the amendments will be in place by the end of the year.
In the meantime, under existing contracts, Stantec and Hensel Phelps will begin assessing the site on November 13, one day after Great Hall Partners vacates the site. Small and minority owned businesses, Gilmore Construction and Sky Blue Builders, will also provide construction services under existing contracts during the transition as the airport takes over the project.
Denver is committed to keeping the design and construction cost of the Great Hall project at the original US$770m including contingency. The full cost for Phase I has not yet been determined, but will be finalized by Q1 2020 once the team has had an opportunity to refine the design and scope. Additionally, the total termination payment amount has not been finalized, but is not a factor in resuming construction, which will begin Q1 2020.