Photo courtesy of Turner Construction Co. The 25,000-square-foot “skybridge” is actually a prefrabricated building that connects the Maleng Building to the rest of Harborview Medical Center.

Turner has aggressively pursued the latest technological tools to plan and execute construction projects.

Using building-information modeling tools on the Harborview project facilitated extensive prefabrication and standardization for many building systems. Plus, the parallel paths of the various subcontractors created opportunities to shorten lead times and find constructability issues early.

One of the many innovative elements of the Turner team’s project is the skybridge that connects the existing hospital with the new Maleng Building. In reality, it is not a bridge at all but a 25,000-square-foot building prefabricated floor by floor two stories above ground on a temporary platform. After each 80-foot supertruss was air hoisted 70 feet above ground, the roof went next, then floors nine, eight, seven, and so on.

This innovative method of building enabled the Medic One emergency medical-response program full use of Ninth Avenue so its life-saving functions could continue as usual.

About $3 million in volume went to minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises. Additionally, Turner’s project team participated in other activities that promoted workforce development, diversity and community service.