VPCC Newport News Trades Center
Newport News, Va.
BEST PROJECT
Submitted by: W.M. Jordan Co.
Owner: Newport News Economic Development Authority, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Lead Design Firm: RRMM Architects
Design Builder: W.M. Jordan Co.
Civil Engineer: Timmons Group
MEP Engineer: Pace Collaborative
Structural Engineer: Speight, Marshall & Francis P. C.
Subcontractors: Amelia Overhead Doors; Bayside Concrete Inc.; Charles Yost Custom Cabinet Inc.; Commercial Roofing Services; David R. Hall Inc.; JRC Mechanical; Ocean Drywall; Southern Structural Steel Inc.; Tile & Terrazzo; Wolf Contractors Inc.
To support the region’s critical maritime and shipbuilding industry, this $8.2-million, 16,100-sq-ft purpose-built training facility brings together academic instruction and hands-on training in a way that reflects real industry conditions, creating a direct pathway from education to employment in the skilled trades. A 20-booth welding lab, a large-scale maritime training lab and a 625-sq-ft multi-trade submarine mock-up anchor the program, while dedicated MEP labs simulate both residential and commercial construction to support electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities maintenance training. Flexible classrooms, offices and support spaces complete the program, creating an integrated environment where students transition seamlessly between lecture and application.
Photo by Boyd Pearman Photography
Delivering the trades center in just seven months demanded precise coordination, rapid decision-making and a unified team fully aligned around a shared goal. Early procurement strategies allowed multiple phases of work to advance simultaneously, while pull planning and other lean construction practices engaged trade partners in defining work sequences, resolving constraints early and maintaining reliable workflow. Daily coordination and biweekly onsite meetings with the owner and design team ensured alignment with the original design intent and provided regular opportunities to review and confirm quality throughout construction.
This high level of planning and execution also helped the project navigate a variety of challenges, the most significant of which was the discovery of up to 36 in. of unsuitable soils across the site, which had previously served as a dump area. Rather than halt progress, the team quickly restructured site logistics by reducing laydown space, stockpiling unsuitable material on site and relying on just-in-time deliveries. This shift allowed trade partners to install materials as they arrived, maintaining progress despite constrained conditions and ongoing weather impacts. When countertops shipped from Spain arrived later than planned, the team installed temporary surfaces to maintain inspection milestones and avoid delays.
Source: www.enr.com
