Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow
City of Tampa | The City Center at Hanna Avenue Design-Build | Tampa, Florida
This new facility promises to increase efficiencies across City operations, bring government closer to the people, and represent a brighter future for the City of Tampa.
Project Scope
This award-winning project is a design-build redevelopment of an 11-acre brownfield site consisting of the demolition of an existing city-owned facility and the addition of a ground-up, LEED Silver, 160,000 SF City Center Main Building, 500-space Parking Garage, 30,000 SF Central Fleet Building and Fuel Station, a 22,000 SF Facilities Building, and a large interactive entry plaza for City and Public use.
To increase efficiency of operations, the center will be a home for the City of Tampa, serving as a gathering space for neighborhood residents and housing over 500 employees across several City departments including:
- Architectural Review & Historic Preservation
- Construction Services
- Development Coordination
- Housing & Community Development
- Real Estate
- Facilities Management
- Fleet Maintenance
- Arts & Cultural Affairs
- Business Tax
- Community Engagement and Partnerships
- Equal Business Opportunity
- Neighborhood Enhancement (Code Enforcement)
- Workforce Development
DEI Partnership
Spearheaded by DPR Construction, the project achieved an unprecedented 35% equal business opportunity goal, underlining a commitment to inclusivity and local economic growth. As with all key project outcomes (including schedule, cost, safety and quality), planning for diversity needs to be intentional. Working with organizations that share diversity and inclusion goals facilitates process improvement and ultimately sets an example for others to follow. Working with this shared goal, project partners—inclusive of DPR and our Black Business Enterprise GC partners DuCon and Strategist—put a plan into action at The City Center at Hanna Avenue. DPR's partnership with the City of Tampa, which is deeply committed to workplace diversity, equity and inclusion, offers a best-in-class example in action. In line with the City of Tampa’s goal of 35% MBE participation, DPR is partnering with 23 minority-and women-owned construction companies (as defined by the City of Tampa) to build a diverse project environment. Metrics include establishing and maintaining partnerships with minority business firms and small local businesses.
This project has several different building components and structures such as vehicle fleet & facilities management buildings, fuel station, parking garage, main administrative building and a large outdoor plaza, all of which are being constructed in both phased and concurrent sequences requiring a large skilled workforce of more than 80 trade partners. Partnering with Black Business Enterprise (BBE) firms, DuCon and Strategist, on these various components allowed the project to pull from an expanded group of trade partners, given our firm's collective experience and reach. In return, the expanded number of both diverse and local trade partners allowed the Team to combat the current demand for skilled labor and qualified contractors in the region. These diverse teams are working together in one site trailer. This creates an inclusive, collaborative environment that enables DPR's team to tackle the most complex technical challenges. Building an inclusive organizational culture that embraces and encourages diversity in thought and experience creates these opportunities for connection and understanding.
Technology & Innovation
DPR's Field Technology Group utilized pre-pour laser scanning to ensure all rebar, columns and embeds were accurate before concrete was poured. By accessing the quality before the concrete was poured, DPR provided great insight and allowed for adjustments to be made before they impacted schedule.
Once the concrete was poured, laser scanning also measured the flatness of the concrete slab and tilt wall panels. The team scanned every tilt wall panel prior to concrete placement. These scans resulted in correct embed placement, window and door openings layout, and panel reinforcement. With a laser scanner, millions of measurements across the entire surface of the deck are captured. This data can be used to create a high-precision color-coded contour elevation maps for understanding surface variations. While the concrete is still wet, DPR can make a difference on the quality that is delivered to the owner.
To further bridge the gap between BIM and the field, DPR also used the Dusty Robotics Field Planner System to print full-size floorplans on the concrete deck. With robust virtual design and construction programs serving as a data set for a project, Dusty performs layout with millimeter precision. The prints are also crystal clear with in-line text, multiple line-types, and different colored inks, reducing confusion for the trades. Dusty’s robot, paired with an operator, is five times faster at layout than a typical two-person crew. This has translated to schedule savings and allowed foremen to focus their valuable time on moving the project forward.
Additionally, every structure on the 11-acre site utilizes BIM coordination and planning, including those managed by DPR's Black Business Enterprise GC partners, DuCon and Strategist. This provides an opportunity for small, local and minority partners to gain experience in ever-forward Virtual Design and Construction best practices.
“City Center at Hanna Avenue is a prime example of how we’re Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow in a smart, resilient and responsible way.”
Mayor Jane Castor
Self-Perform Work & Apprenticeship
DPR self-performed critical scopes such as concrete, drywall, and DFH on this project. By performing specific trades with DPR's own crews, the organization was better able to control safety, schedule, quality and cost.
Through these self-perform scopes, DPR is growing more than 25 future skilled craftspeople through its apprenticeship program. The program gives real-world experience both in the classroom and in the field while providing a paycheck. These actions stem from a firm belief that such efforts make organizations better and more equipped to make a distinctive impact in the world—and ultimately to deliver superior results for customers.
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