Cleveland’s biggest project succeeds with 100% union labor
By: Tom Germuska, Jr.
Labor Citizen Editor
CLEVELAND — Ribbons were cut, music played and speeches made. The celebration and open house to mark the completion of the Global Center for Health Innovation and the Cleveland Convention Center was held June 14 and 15 – the first events on site that did not require hard hats.
The massive size of the $465 million project, the stunning glass walls and sweeping green space are likely to be the lasting images from the weekend celebrations. But the most important facts for the taxpayers that funded the project — and the lasting legacy that could impact future jobs – can be summed up with three points.
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- Less than 2 weeks before the ribbon cutting, crews are putting some final touches on the $465 million Cleveland Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation. The entire project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.
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- The atrium in the Global Center for Health Innovation looks up on the four floors of permanent showrooms and meeting space.
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- The giant floor to ceiling glass wall of the Global Center for Health Innovation looks out over the grass roof of the new convention center, while also providing a new view of downtown Cleveland.
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- Turner Construction Company estimates that more than 3,500 workers were on site at some point, doing everything from the initial foundation to the finishing touches both inside and outside.
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- Turner Construction Company estimates that more than 3,500 workers were on site at some point, doing everything from the initial foundation to the finishing touches both inside and outside. These concrete walkways were almost complete more than a week ahead of the grand opening ceremony.
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- Turner Construction Company estimates that more than 3,500 workers were on site at some point, doing everything from the initial foundation to the finishing touches both inside and outside.
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- The state-of-the-art Convention Center floor covers 767,000 square feet under Malls B and C. The large support columns in the background each weigh 26 tons.
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- Workers on a lift finishing a meeting room ceiling. Many of the adjustable meeting rooms have a unique ceiling design intended to mimic the waves in the water of nearby Lake Erie.
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- Complete on the outside, but the interior of the Global Center for Health Innovation is still under construction. The latest technology from the world’s premier healthcare and medical manufacturers is slated for an October opening.
The largest project ever in Cleveland was:
• Completed months ahead of schedule • Within budget • And 100 percent of the work was done by union trades.
“It was a complete team effort,” said Marty Burgwinkle, project executive with Turner Construction. “We had great team relationships. Everyone shared the same vision.”
The Cleveland offices of Turner Construction and URS were selected in May 2010 as the design-build team for the project. Turner was the design-build contractor and URS fulfilled the role of architect of record.
Burgwinkle said his final estimate was that almost 3,600 workers were on the site at one time or another (see trade breakdown, PAGE 5), and all hiring requirements set by Cuyahoga County officials were met or exceeded.
“The trades here in Northeast Ohio are the best of the best. We’ve known that for a long time,” he said.
The original timing for project completion was 36 months, but it was moved up to 30 months, and now has been completed in less than 27 months.
“It’s a true testament to the work (union trades) do, especially under heavy public scrutiny,” said Dave Johnson, director of public relations and marketing for Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., the company that partnered with Cuyahoga County to develop, manage and market the project. “Everyone involved can be proud we produced such a quality project that’s ahead of schedule and under budget.”
The building formerly known as the Medical Mart – now called the Global Center for Health Innovation – will house medical equipment and technology companies. It will open this fall as individual tenants are just starting interior construction of their space inside the stunning, mostly glass building.
Unlike the Global Center for Health Innovation’s glass walls adding to the downtown cityscape, the only visible feature for the convention center is the 12.5 acres of mostly grass roof that covers the convention center and doubles as park/green space that can accommodate a stage for festivals and concerts.
Now that the site is officially open for business, there will be a number of VIP tours and smaller events in the coming weeks. The Convention Center hosts it first major event July 19, when the National Senior Games commence in Cleveland.
An expected 35,000 competitors, plus support teams and spectators, are expected to fill the assorted meeting rooms and convention space.
Another 80 events are already booked for the convention center, with projections calling for as many as 200 events a year moving forward, Johnson said.