By Shayne Chun, Webcor Senior Project Engineer

The New Hospital at UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights (NHPH) is being developed in a collaborative culture with a team of designers, builders, and the client through an Integrated Form Of Agreement (IFOA) approach. The Herrero Boldt Webcor (HBW), a tri-venture partnership between Herrero Builders, Inc., The Boldt Company, and Webcor, is the general contractor partner for the NHPH. The Site Make Ready (SMR) projects consist of over 20 projects, in addition to the new hospital, which range from $400,000 to $20 million.

For this update, we would like to highlight our SMR 1 deep sewer relocation project that utilizes a jack and bore operation (a trenchless method of underground utility construction) for the sewer installation. This project relocates a main sewer line that runs through the future hospital site. It is a particularly challenging project, as it's up to 30 feet deep on an active road and next to an active hospital.

To execute this work, the team had to use the jack and bore. This jack and bore method utilizes an auger bore machine, steering heads, a crane, welding machines/generators, and a bentonite pump to install 36"x10' steel casings for 18-inch Combined Sewer and Sanitary (CSS) installation on Medical Center Way.

The jack and bore method for sewer construction commences with the excavation and shoring of a launch pit and receiving pit to the required depths. For this particular jack and bore operation, the launch pit is 29 feet deep and the receiving pit is 27 feet deep. With the completion of the excavation and installation of the slide rail shoring system, the ground in the launch pit gets leveled to set the auger bore machine rail.

Next, the auger bore machine gets hoisted down into the launch pit. The actual jack and bore operation begins by drilling a hole horizontally to place the steel casings at the bottom of the launch pit to the receiving pit. Once the casing is jacked in place, the augers are removed from inside the casing tunnel. The pressure grout operation follows next to secure the steel casing in place.

When the casings are in place and secured, the 18-inch PVC CSS is installed through the steel casings to the receiving pit from the launch pit. The pictures above demonstrate the installation of the 18-inch PVC CSS in the launch pit to the receiving pit on Medical Center Way.

The jack and bore operation for the CSS installation on Medical Center Way is certainly challenging with unforeseen conditions under the ground, but it's also a unique way of installing the CSS line when it cannot be trenched.

The release issued December 21, 2022 is being re-issued to reflect that there are at least two other California general contractors performing mass timber work in the state.

Webcor Timber is the newest division to join Webcor Craft, the self-perform group of San Francisco-based commercial general contractor and builder Webcor. After preparing to enter the market for several years, Webcor's recent award of two mass timber projects spurred the decision to establish Webcor Timber as a discrete entity, joining Webcor Concrete, Webcor Drywall, Webcor Carpentry, and Webcor Equipment.

Upon completion, one of these projects is expected to be the tallest mass timber structure in California and the third tallest in the world.

Two Webcor Timber Projects

The tallest mass timber project in the state is currently under construction at 1510 Webster Street in Oakland. The 16 stories of mass timber on a three-story concrete podium will serve as affordable housing developed by oWow, a vertically integrated real estate company offering in-house development, design, building, and property management that has garnered considerable attention for its approach to the housing crisis. oWow is the owner/general contractor for all of its projects.

Webcor Concrete was contracted for the podium, after which Webcor Timber will begin work installing mass plywood columns and floor panels. The columns weigh about 600 pounds each, and the floor panels, which measure about 10 by 40 feet, weigh 9,000 pounds each. Work on the foundation begins in about two weeks, with mass timber installation set for March. The team believes that with Webcor Craft's union workforce of carpenters, laborers, and operators, setting mass timber panels and columns will be business as usual for Webcor Craft's newest group, effectively leveraging the proven track record of safety and productivity that have long defined Webcor Craft's self-performed work.

The next Webcor Timber project will be Webcor's second for Skyline Builders. "It's a retrofit of an office building at 828 Brannan in San Francisco," says Webcor Craft Superintendent Matt Miller. "We'll install 67 cross-laminated timber deck panels over a structural steel frame composed of steel beams, girders, and columns." Concrete work has already begun, with the timber scheduled for installation beginning in February 2023.

Gaining Expertise

Over the past two years, the nascent Webcor Timber team composed of Senior Vice President Allison McCue, Senior Construction Manager Ryan Fischer, Superintendent Greg Arnold, Project Manager Gabrielle Vartis, Senior Construction Manager Mike Gilmore, Project Director Matthew Faith, and Superintendent Matt Miller, has been soaking up knowledge by attending countless webinars and conferences, researching all aspects of the mass timber systems, and meeting with countless vendors and suppliers to gain knowledge and insight into the rapidly growing mass timber market.

"There are several different markets, from residential and office buildings to a variety of other types of structures, in which clients are looking to go towards mass timber not only for its aesthetic but also the speed at which construction can be completed – roughly 30 percent faster than conventional steel or concrete construction – as well as the inherently lower embodied carbon that comes with choosing a renewable resource," Matt says.

There also are several mass timber structural systems, including post-and-plate (the oWow project's system), which uses mass timber columns and point-supported mass-timber floor panels. The 828 Brannan project is a hybrid system with structural steel and mass timber floor panels. In addition, there is a post-and-beam system that employs glulam columns, glulam beams, and mass timber floor panels.

Beyond Installation

The team's rapidly growing expertise enables Webcor Timber to do more than self-perform installation. "We can help with procurement and value engineering along the way," Matt explains. "We bring to the table the ability to work hand-in-hand with the designer, the engineer, and the owner to figure out the best use of the space and the best use of mass timber for their specific project needs."

The timber team has been speaking with Webcor's clients about their capabilities. They have also been meeting with mass timber suppliers to establish Webcor Timber as a preferred installer throughout California.

Chris Plue, Webcor executive vice president and Webcor Craft's senior leader, is excited about Webcor Timber's prospects. "Timber is an emerging system that leverages Webcor's strengths. Few contractors share our skill level around safe production, sequencing, site logistics, and incremental improvement. It's exciting to be getting in on the ground floor knowing that we have a chance to be among those leading the industry."

Prospective clients will derive an advantage from the group, which is one of the only California-based mass timber groups with projects in California. To date, mostly out-of-state contractors have erected or performed the install of the mass timber on projects in California.

About Webcor

Webcor is a premier provider of commercial construction services, known for its innovative and efficient approach, wide range of experience, cost effective design-build methodology, skill in concrete construction and expertise in building landmark projects. Webcor's mission is to build structures of superior quality with integrity, continuously improve its processes by employing the best talent in the industry and add social and economic value to its communities. Founded in 1971 and repeatedly honored as one of the Best Places to Work, Top California Contractors, Largest Bay Area General Contractors, Top Green Contractors, and Top Design-Build Contractors, Webcor has offices throughout the state in San Francisco, Alameda, San Jose and Los Angeles. More information is available on the Webcor website and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contact Details

Shel Holtz, Sr. Director, Communications

510-517-3845

sholtz@webcor.com

Construction Manager Dennis Heimer and Sr. Superintendent Patrick Haley can add a new skill to their already impressive resumes: grillmaster.

Not only have Dennis and Patrick become skilled at grilling hundreds of pounds of beef and chicken on a towable grill; alongside Webcor Craft Executive Vice President Chris Plue, they have learned the most minute details of preparing for and serving a barbecue lunch to hundreds of employees and others at NorCal topping-out ceremonies.

The idea was Chris's. "In April, I was at the SFPUC project when Chris stopped by," Patrick says. "He told me his idea to have executives serve the food at project barbecues as a way to get more face time with the field. I was pretty fired up by the idea."

One reason Patrick liked the idea was that he was already building a trailer barbecue from a 1979 cargo trailer he had inherited from his father, who had discussed the idea of turning it into a barbecue to use at community events. "It was about 70 or 80 percent done by the time Chris told me his idea."

Soon after, Chris reached out to suggest the Webcor Equipment warehouse team could help him finish the trailer for use at topping-out celebrations. "I liked the idea, so I made a plan and brought it to the warehouse to complete."

Chris also reached out to Dennis. "He wanted to put together a trailer that would haul everything needed for a barbecue," Dennis recalls, "everything from tables and chairs to cooking supplies." Estimating an average of about 300 attendees at toppings-out led to plans developed with the Oakland yard to calculate the size of racks to hold the supplies.

"Rich Stoddard (Webcor Equipment's operations manager) found the trailer," Dennis says. "We worked with the Marketing team to develop the design." A company was hired to produce the vinyl wrap that covers the trailer. "Then we ordered some shelving for stacking all the supplies like plates, utensils, napkins, and the like."

The team also mounted a top-load freezer in the trailer, along with a generator to run while en route to events to keep everything cool.

The first barbecue -- at Genesis Marina in July -- served as the trailer's debut, although the barbecue trailer wasn't finished yet; Chris borrowed one from a friend. By the time the next event rolled around, not only was all the equipment ready to roll, but a process was in place in which Chris gets the meat; Dennis the buns, potato salad, and cookies; and Patrick the beans.

At first, Dennis says, they were hit with a weekly stream of toppings-out. "That went on for a month or so," he says, "but it has calmed down. We originally thought there could be one every week, but even that's pushing it."

"We've got it down to a science now," Patrick adds. "We cook the day before the event and get all the food the weekend before. It's not a burden. It takes time away from our regular job, but we really enjoy doing it. There's something cathartic about serving and doing for others."

Besides, he says, work on projects is usually hectic. "This is barbecue," he points out. "You can't rush barbecue."

Projects sign up by adding "Webcor BBQ Events" as a required attendee to the Outlook calendar invite for the topping-out event. This ensures there are no double bookings. Webcor's leadership team has made a point of coming to the events and serving -- Chris's original vision. So far, the feedback from project employees has been stellar.