SEPTEMBER 2016 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \
107
T
hough the complexities of build-
ing a modern high-rise are many,
the challenge of doing it bet-
ter and faster than before has
long been the spirit that drives
success in an ultracompetitive
market. A constrained urban site impacts
everything from traffic control, craning,
material deliveries and staging space to
project offices and parking. The list is
endless. Since identifying obstacles and
prethinking challenges has long been
the norm in preconstruction services,
maximizing speed to market in Denver’s
seemingly endless development boom re-
quires quite a bit more.
“SkyHouse has Lean construction as
its core value,” says Adam Lulay, project
manager for Swinerton Builders, the local
leaders of construction in a joint-venture
partnership with Batson-Cook Construc-
tion of Georgia. “Building a 26-story luxury
apartment building in the heart of Den-
ver’s central business district in a mere 18
months is only possible by streamlining
everything.” The joint venture applied
Lean strategies every step of the way from
looking at the prototypical building plans
and site conditions to assessing and mit-
igating risks, to blending staff roles be-
tween the two firms. Lulay suggests that
a shared lineage of being construction
stalwarts for more than 100 years apiece
and similar company cultures between
Swinerton and Batson-Cook were keys to
their seamless integration on the project.
Located at 18th and Broadway, Sky-
House began welcoming new residents
in September, and offers 354 high-end
WORDS:
Sean O’Keefe
PHOTOS:
Michelle Meunier Photography
An energetic
joint venture
integrates Lean
construction
strategies and
delivers big on
SkyHouse
