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June 2021 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 63 J ust 30 miles west of Colorado Springs and 14,115 feet above sea level, construction crews are working to complete the Pikes Peak Vis- itor Center. GE Johnson broke ground on the $60 million, 36,000-square-foot project in June 2018. It is the highest ongoing construction site in North America. The Pikes Peak Visitor Center is designed by Baltimore-based GWWO Architects, in collaboration with RTA Architects of Colorado Springs as architect of record. Replacing the existing visitors center, this facility will allow visitors to take advantage of the inspiring views and natural beauty of Pikes Peak, also known as Ameri- ca’s Mountain. Each year, more than 600,000 people visit the summit of Pikes Peak. The new facility is designed so that visitors can focus on the beauty, richness and scen- ery of America’s Mountain, with multimedia exhibits to tell the story and history of the mountain and enhance the visitor experience. Building on top of a 14er presents its own special chal- lenges. To create a safe work envi- ronment and contribute to the over- all success of the project, GE Johnson requires all crew members to undergo an extensive physical examination, in- cluding a flexibility test and a Harvard Step fitness assessment. Crew mem- bers then engage in a two-hour, site-spe- cific orientation, followed by a briefing on the special safety measures necessary for working at high altitude. Due to these safety measures, the project team has achieved zero recordable injuries. This is no small feat for any project site, but an even greater accomplishment working at the high altitude and in the elements that come with that. “Probably our biggest challenge that we recognized early on was the fatigue and stress that it puts on the construction workers at that altitude. About 10% of our workforce were not able to perform at the altitude,” stat- Construction on Purple Mountains Majesty Amanda Nurmi Communications Coordinator, GE Johnson