McKenney's helped redesign the mechanical systems at the new Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta to significantly lower costs and keep the project on schedule. They worked with the contractor and engineer to change to a less expensive self-contained unit system, reducing mechanical costs by 25%. Through the use of BIM modeling and prefabricated components, McKenney's was able to expedite installation and complete the mechanical work on time and under budget despite delays from the redesign.

1. Redesign Saves Budget and Schedule
McKenney’s helped redesign,
then install mechanical systems
at the new Charles R. Drew
Charter School Junior and Senior Academy
in Atlanta, Georgia.
THE CHALLENGE
The initial project design was substantially
beyond the school’s budget, requiring sig­nificant
redesign efforts. This postponed the
­project
start, and McKenney’s had to fast-track
mechanical system installation to keep
the overall construction project on schedule.
THE SOLUTION
McKenney’s worked closely with the general
contractor and engineer, assisting in the rede­sign
from a more commonly used water source
heat pump system to a unique self-contained
unit (SCU) system—lowering mechanical costs
by 25 percent. To overcome delays due to rede­sign,
McKenney’s used Building Information
Modeling (BIM) to keep the team ahead of
schedule. They also used embeds and prefab­ricated
piping and plumbing components to
expedite installation, guided by a spatial position­ing
system to optimize accuracy during layout.
THE RESULTS
McKenney’s completed the mechanical instal­lation
within the original budget and faster than
planned. The construction project is expected
to be finished in time for the school’s opening.
PROJECT NAME
žž Charles R. Drew Charter School
Junior and Senior Academy
PROJECT LOCATION
žž Atlanta, Georgia
PROJECT TEAM
žž Owner: Education
Real Estate LLC
žž General Contractor: JE Dunn
Construction Group, Inc.
žž Architect: Perkins+Will
žž Engineer: Newcomb & Boyd
žž Subcontractor: McKenney’s, Inc.
SPECIALIZATIONS
Building Information Modeling
Design/Assist
Plumbing Shop Prefab
bdoc
Pipe Shop Prefab
MARKETS
žž Education
www.mckenneys.com
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404-622-5000
info@mckenneys.com
1056 Moreland Industrial Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
704-357-1200
info@mckenneys.com
3601 Performance Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28214
For more information
on the revitalization of
the Drew Junior and
Senior Academy, visit
www.eastlakefoundation.org