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Students get glimpse at high school building progress
archived from: 2013-03-01
by: John Franko

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic is “moving along well”

As construction of the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township progresses rapidly, project team members once again took the opportunity to use the progress as a teaching tool to pass on their knowledge to students who may have an interest in the building trade.

A dozen students gathered for the second of five workshops Feb. 14 at the site’s field office.

The session on construction management/general contracting/building materials included a PowerPoint presentation and tour of the site.

“Things are moving along well,” said Jesse Campayno, president of Campayno Consulting, which is managing the project.

Campayno pointed out that the project is maintaining an aggressive pour schedule on concrete work and the foundation work on the project is just about complete.

He joined Mike Arnold, chief facilities officer for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, in estimating that the entire project is about 30 percent to 35 percent complete. The steel structure has been completed and work is progressing on the steel decking.

Work on the roof is set to begin once temperatures consistently reach the 40s. Highlights of the next phase will include perimeter enclosure work such as masonry.

The officials have a target date of having the building essentially completed by Jan. 31, 2014. Beyond that, work would feature specialty trades involving furnishings and AV equipment. They point out that the schedule will allow for a construction cushion and commissioning of the building.

The facility, located on 71 acres just north of Route 228 (east of the Route 19-Route 228 crossroads), is set to open in the fall of 2014. The two-story, approximately 180,000-square-foot building is designed to educate up to 1,000 students, with room for expansion.

All 11 Catholic high schools of the diocese were invited to send students to the workshop, and representatives from North Catholic and Bishop Canevin were in attendance.

Arnold told the students about the many opportunities that are available in the construction industry, with varying levels of educational degrees needed for each. He urged them to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can, now and in their college years, to get experience in fields they may be considering.

“You can only learn so much in the classroom,” he said. “You have to go out and experience it firsthand.”

Campayno spoke of how he started out in the plumbing trade and how much the construction industry has meant to him.

“To me, there is nothing better that building something,” he said.

Among the responsibilities of construction management, he noted, are to develop budgets and schedules, and ensure the quality of work. He also noted the importance of having contingency plans to address problems that may come up.

“One of our biggest responsibilities is to ensure that what the owner bought, the owner is getting,” he said.

Campayno said the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic project has benefited from having a top-flight general contractor in the Mascaro Construction Co.

Dan Doyle, site manager for Campayno Consulting, briefed the students on the quality control and safety measures being taken at the site. He also outlined the quality control award program that has been initiated there.

Rudy Marnich, sustainable design manager at Astorino, architects for the project, spoke of how LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) measures will lower operating costs for the new building. He cited the 3-inch rigid insulation in the walls, insulated metal panels and other features. He also noted that the facility will be metered to monitor energy use.

Donald Teti, assistant superintendent for secondary schools, told the students that LEED measures benefit schools more than just in the energy they save. The measures also allow the projects to qualify for grants and other educational aids.

In addition, he said the new school’s curriculum will allow students to get a much deeper immersion into fields such as engineering and construction.

Mascaro’s Jonathan Machen, project manager, and Timothy Hanna, project superintendent, explained the multiple types of foundations used on the project.

Among the facts presented at the workshop were that the design and construction industry makes up 10 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product; it employs approximately 7.5 million people annually; it is the second largest employer (next to the government); 80 percent of design and construction firms have less than 10 employees; and more than $1 trillion is spent annually on construction projects.

Campayno pointed to the pride those in the construction industry take in their work, but he noted that the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic project is even more special to those involved.

“Everybody understands what this project means to the church,” he said. “And they’re just taking that extra step.” Added Arnold: “You can just see them buying into the whole thing.”

Doyle said it means a lot to him to be able to pass on what he has learned to a new generation. He also noted how important it is that meetings at the site begin with a prayer.

“It helps us to realize not only what there is to do today, but it reminds us to build God’s kingdom on earth,” he said.

The third workshop, which will focus on architecture/building systems, is set for May.

More information regarding project specifics is available by calling Arnold at 412-456-3093. A construction webcam, construction progress photos and progress updates can be found at www.cwnchs.org.

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