Project ManagementEssay Preview: Project ManagementReport this essayConstructionSite clearing was tackled early on with little difficulty. However, as the main construction got into full swing some eight months later, more significant problems began to appear. The change in production train specification made it necessary to add another five feet to the length of the new building. This was only discovered when holding-down bolts for the new train were laid out on site, long after the perimeter foundations had been poured. The catalogue descriptions and specifications for other equipment selected were similarly not received and reviewed until after the foundations had been poured.
Lead better was not entirely satisfied with the installation of the mechanical equipment for the dust-free paint shop. As a registered mechanical engineer, he knew that the specifications governed the quality of equipment, workmanship and performance. However, since these documents had still not been formally approved, he was loath to discuss the matter with Ivar Kontrak. Instead, he dealt directly with Amos Dent of Tinknockers Associates, the mechanical sub-contractor. This led to strained relations on the site. Another difficulty arose with the paint shop because the local inspection authority insisted that the surplus paint disposal arrangements be upgraded to meet the latest environmental standards.
Kontrak was unhappy with this decision and called the police. The police tried to contact the owners for the owner of the salvage property, but were unable to make contact.
[This is actually one of two separate reports by Amos Dent on the issue of the “metal-free” paint shop after a joint investigation conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection and the National Environmental Policy Act.]
Despite the frustration over the new regulations, Kontrak was quick to point out to the police that their problem, as stated above, did not involve a criminal attempt to remove paint from the area. Since metal was the main source of dust in the paint shop, he was very eager to help out.
As he and three other employees went on their way to the salvage property, we were approached by a woman who was very apologetic. She claimed to have seen Kontrak’s vehicle.
One of the men stated, “We had a long time before he got here, and now we can’t do anything. We just have to find a place to stay.”
Then, Kontrak explained to me that this woman had no place to live. One of the men said, “So he didn’t start a fire. We don’t have a lot of wood left here. We’ll need to find some firewood.”
[Note: A couple of references to fire-safe storage facilities in the background throughout the page indicate that these buildings were built over a decade ago. Many of them were later converted into residences of residents of the original buildings but only once before undergoing demolitions and renovation. While the same buildings were used during construction of the New York City fire service in the mid-1930s, some would also have been destroyed in its place during the early 20th century.]
The two men continued working to build a large storage area for waste from the new structure, which consisted of wood, concrete, and metal. It was in this storage area that Kontrak met with someone who was trying to persuade Kontrak to help him out with the storage area.
Kontrak told the woman that he and the rest of the workers had tried to get the new building to sit upright on a tree trunk. The man said, “What they should do now is put the tree upright by itself, or you will do more harm.”
The person began referring to the building as “the place they wanted to go to.” We asked how the person lived there, but was told by Amos Dent that he went to various sites to sell his own house. It was at this point that the investigation began.
Kontrak contacted an investigator, who was not connected to the store, to help out with the investigation or do anything else. The investigation turned up no specific information regarding the man who owned the building.