May 31, 2018

Public Building
$20 million-$50 million

Photo provided by Clark Construction Group

Clark completed this WSU classroom building $127,000 under budget, even after adding $750,000 in upgrades.

The Spark

Location: Pullman

Washington State University’s new digital classroom building, The Spark, serves as an academic innovation hub and a revolutionary teaching and learning space.

The Spark creates an environment that energizes and connects students and faculty.

Clark Construction partnered with WSU and ZGF Architects to complete this $43 million design-build project on time and under budget, even with numerous technological enhancements and additions.

The 83,000 square-foot, high-performance building is located in Pullman and boasts a 250-seat circular learning hall, faculty innovation studio, hoteling office space, media studio with 3-D printers, cafe, student development studio and event space. Clark, ZGF and WSU built more than an academic facility — through trust, transparency and design-build best practices, the team made a lasting positive impact in the community and will serve as a model of success for future WSU construction standards.

During the design-build validation period, WSU asked the team to help reduce the overall budget by $5 million. The team divided the project into essential base building elements and a list of “betterments.” The team organized a risk/opportunity cost matrix so the client could clearly see the value that the betterments offered. As a result, the team reduced final project costs by $5 million without altering any program requirements.

As construction progressed, the team reintroduced contingency back into the project. The team added convenience valves, upgraded door hardware, re-landscaped exterior areas, and improved the building’s technology.

Clark incorporated $750,000 in building design enhancements and still completed the project $127,000 under budget.

Other Stories:

• GRAND AWARD CONSTRUCTION
  Tenant Improvement
  Over $5 million
  
• Tenant Improvement
  Under $5 million
  
• Construction Manager: Safety
  Under 100,000 hours
  
• General contractor: Safety
  TIE: Under 250,000 hours
  
• General contractor: Safety
  TIE: Under 250,000 hours
  
• General Contractor: Safety
  250,000—350,000 hours
  
• General contractor: Safety
  TIE: 350,000—500,000 hours
  
• General contractor: Safety
  TIE: 350,000-500,000 hours
  
• General contractor: Safety
  Over 1 million hours
  
• Highway/Civil Contractor: Safety
  250,000-500,000 hours
  
• Specialty Contractor: Safety
  Under 250,000 hours
  
• Specialty Contractor: Safety
  Over 1 million hours
  
• Specialty Contractor: Safety
  500,000-1 million hours
  
• Culture of Care
  
• Superintendent of the Year
  
• Public Building
  Over $100 million
  
• Public Building
  $50 million-$100 million
  
• Public Building
  $5 million-$20 million
  
• GRAND AWARD SAFETY
  General contractor: Safety
  500,000-1 million hours
  
• Innovation
  
• AGC/Moss Adams Service to the Community Award
  
• Champion of Diversity
  
• Diverse Business of the Year
  
• Heavy/Industrial Under $5 million
  
• Heavy/Industrial
  $5 million-$20 million
  
• Heavy/Industrial
  Over $20 million
  
• Highway and Transportation
  Under $5 million
  
• Highway and transportation
  $5 million-$15 million
  
• Private Building
  $2 million-$5 million
  
• Private Building
  $5 million-$20 million
  
• Private Building
  Over $100 million
  
• Private Building
  $20 million-$50 million
  
• Brian Salsgiver Safety Professional of the Year