Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer (RMRF) is a pillar of the Edmonton legal community with a history of serving local, national and international clients for nearly as long as PCL has existed.  RMRF was eager to secure premium office space within Stantec Tower,  the 66-storey tower built by PCL and located in the heart of Edmonton.  It also wanted to stand out from its competition, as two other legal firms had hired contractors for similar fit-out work in the tower.

PCL outbid the competition – in part due to the added value it provided as base building constructors – to earn the fit-out work with RMRF, pursuant to a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery model. RMRF wanted a state-of-the-art space it could customize with a modern feel of luxury to enhance the client experience and meet the needs of its high-caliber team.   

With a non-negotiable move-in date just six months after mobilization, PCL’s Special Projects team was the perfect “small contractor” for the high-end, fast-track tenant improvement work. 

The project included 29,000 square feet of space over two stories of the tower and involved the complex installation of an interconnected staircase between the two floors. 

As construction manager, the Special Projects team worked collaboratively with the designer and the contractor to identify changes needed to the stairwell’s design. Using a 3D model developed by our fabrication partner Norfab, our team was able to identify conflicts that required the designer to modify the design, achieving building code compliance before crews began cutting the hole in the concrete slab, saving critical time to remain on schedule.  

To support the 19th floor and transfer the load, PCL installed a steel beam on the ceiling of the 18th floor that spanned from slab-band to slab-band to support the horizontal force. As a safety measure to reduce fire risks, crews limited welding on site, instead having the stairwell delivered in pieces, then bolting them together to form the interconnected staircase. 

Focused on driving value to the client’s bottom line, the Special Projects team identified that the original handover plan, which allowed for time to deliver furnishings and equipment at the back end of the project, was not sufficient. They re-sequenced the schedule and managed the furniture delivery in phases throughout the six-month construction period on RMRF’s behalf. This phased approach allowed installers the necessary time to set up the offices in advance of the handover date. 

The team’s dedication in meeting the project deadline allowed them to turn over the space one week early to the complete satisfaction of the client, who was able to move in while their competitors within the tower dealt with construction delays.