Abstract• We evaluated various construction methods including: Cast in Place

Concrete, CMU, ICF, Precast Concrete, and Structural Steel for an Electrical Transition Compound.

• Evaluation criteria included cost, construction duration, environmental impact, durability, maintenance, and availability of labor and materials.

• A recommendation and an alternative option were submitted to Stantec Consulting Ltd. for the most viable construction options.

Objective• Develop evaluation criteria and scoring system, which objectively

assesses the five construction methods based upon seven distinct factors.

• Select the most viable construction method and an alternative option for the construction of the Transition Compound

Evaluation Criteria

Methods1. Research• Review preliminary design documents by Stantec Consulting Ltd.

2. Design Option Selection• Compile list of all potential construction methods based upon the

specifications for the Transition Compound3. List of Tasks

• Create a list of all necessary tasks for each construction method4. Preliminary Construction Schedule

• Produce construction schedules using estimated task durations to create a Gantt Chart

5. Preliminary Cost Estimates• Calculate overall costs of construction for each method using

various cost estimating tools6. Design Option Evaluation Criteria

• Create evaluation criteria to analyze the possible construction methods

7. Selection of Optimal Design Option

Evaluating Construction Methods for an Electrical Transition CompoundAndrew Canniff and Christopher O’Connor

Location: Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaWorcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advised by: Fred Hart & Suzanne LePage

Results

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)Construction Duration – 31 WeeksEstimated Cost – $895,957.10Description – CMU Block

Horizontal BracingVertical Reinforcing SteelGroutingScaffolding & BracingWeatherproofing

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)Construction Duration – 23 ½ WeeksEstimated Cost – $898,601.70Description – ICF Blocks

Acts as permanent formworkMix-Designed ConcretePouring StagesReinforcing SteelScaffolding & BracingWeatherproofing

Precast ConcreteConstruction Duration – 22 Weeks Estimated Cost – $1,147,957.10Description – Off-site Fabrication

Installation of PanelsBracingWeatherproofing

Structural SteelConstruction Duration – 20 WeeksEstimated Cost – $929,674.85Description – Off-site Fabrication

Installation of Steel ElementsBracingWeatherproofing

Cast in Place ConcreteConstruction Duration – 24 ½ WeeksEstimated Cost – $990,457.10 Description – Formwork

Reinforcing SteelMix-Designed ConcretePouring StagesScaffolding & BracingWeatherproofing

Conclusions

Recommendation • Structural Steel

• Benefits – Faster Construction TimeModerate CostAccelerates Revenue Production

Alternative Option• Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)

• Benefits – Lower CostModerate Construction TimeDecreased Operation & Maintenance Costs

AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank the following people for their help and support throughout this project:

Suzanne Lepage, Fredrick Hart, Jean Peinsznski, Bill Pay, Joshua Pidgeon, Nate Dimock, Brian Hines, and the rest of Stantec Consulting Ltd.

 

1:Lowest 5:Highest  

Cast in Place Concrete

Precast Concrete

Structural Steel

Insulated Concrete Form

Concrete Masonry Unit

Criteria RangeWeight Factor          

Cost 1-5 2 4 2 6 8 10Schedule 1-5 2 4 8 10 6 2Environmental Impact 1-5 1 2 3 5 4 1Durability and Lifespan 1-5 1 3 3 5 4 4Required Maintenance 1-5 1 4 4 3 5 4Availability of Labor 1-5 1 5 4 5 4 5Availability of Materials 1-5 1 5 5 5 5 5Total Score     27 29 39 36 31

Ranking1: Best 5: Worst   5 4 1 2 3

Final Construction Method Rankings

Construction Method Construction Duration Estimated Cost Overall Ranking

Structural Steel 20 Weeks $ 929,674.85 1

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) 23.5 Weeks $ 898,601.70 2

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) 31 Weeks $ 895,957.10 3

Pre-Cast Concrete 22 Weeks $ 1,147,957.10 4

Cast-in-Place Concrete 24.5 Weeks $ 990,457.10 5

Construction Methods

Transition Compound