In construction, time is money. As the demand for quick turnarounds intensifies, fast-tracking has become an essential strategy for achieving project delivery on increasingly shorter timeframes. When complex upgrades, renovations or expansions are required in facilities that must remain operational during construction — such as airports, data centers or other mission-critical commercial spaces — accelerated or fast-track strategies that minimize disruptions are paramount. Fast tracking isn't just about compressing timelines though. It involves optimizing processes, engaging lean methods, ensuring collaboration and leveraging technology to streamline every aspect of construction.

To meet this demand for fast-tracked projects, PCL Construction has developed and progressively refined rigorous processes around schedule development, monitoring and control — optimizing processes that streamline every aspect of construction.

“We are constantly looking at ways to save ourselves time, and our clients’ money on projects,” says Sean Barnes, vice president, Special Projects. “We have a deep commitment to the success of our clients, colleagues and communities. We know that when we focus on mutual success, everyone wins.”

At the heart of PCL projects is collaboration and partnership. PCL’s process is focused on ensuring that the full project and consultant teams are brought together early and frequently to ensure that everyone understands the schedule milestones, challenges and deliverables.

PCL Seattle has completed nearly 70 aviation projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), building on a strong relationship with the Port of Seattle that spans decades. That sustained success stems from a commitment to deliver complex, mission-critical work on time, while ensuring airport operations continue with minimal impact as passengers move safely and seamlessly through the airport.  

In 2023, the Special Projects team took on a complex, high-visibility project at SEA: building a new waste operations facility to serve the restaurants in the Central Terminal. Although airport projects typically attract numerous contractors, this one had fewer contenders willing to work in SEA’s central hub under such scrutiny, facing operational challenges and a non-negotiable deadline.  

“The more complex the project, the better we perform,” says Davis Heeter, Seattle Special Projects manager. “Even under challenging conditions, it was business as usual for the team in delivering value for the client.” 

The project’s timely completion ensured the airport’s operations team was able to return the gate to Delta Airlines, where PCL had been staged to complete the terminal work, ahead of the holiday rush. 

“PCL and the Construction Management (CM) team overcame a very challenging building environment with many unforeseen site conditions to deliver a working solution before the Thanksgiving deadline,” says Michael Dysart, capital project leader for the Port of Seattle. 

One of the key principles of fast-track construction is fostering collaboration from the outset. In traditional project delivery, contractors often join after the design phase is complete, leading to delays when issues inevitably emerge during construction. Fast-tracked projects, on the other hand, benefit from early contractor engagement, which helps identify potential issues, streamline decision-making and align all stakeholders from the beginning.

As construction manager on the Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP (RMRF) fit out at Stantec Tower, in Edmonton, Alberta, the Special Projects team worked collaboratively with the designer and the trade contractor to identify changes needed to the design of a stairwell that connected two floors of the office tower. Using a 3D model developed by fabrication partner Norfab, the team identified design conflicts early, prompting necessary modifications to ensure building code compliance — before crews began cutting the hole in the concrete slab — saving critical time and keeping the project on schedule.  

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. “I have no hesitation in recommending PCL for any construction project,” says RMRF Director of Operations, Kelly Diewert. “Their exceptional team, unwavering attention to detail, proficient scheduling, and transparent communication set them apart as a reliable and competent partner.”

One of the most effective ways to manage aggressive schedules is through pull planning — a collaborative scheduling approach rooted in Lean Construction principles. Unlike traditional top-down scheduling models, pull planning relies on key project partners — general contractors, subcontractors, designers, and suppliers — to take ownership of their tasks and collectively define the sequence of work. Starting from a project milestone and working backward, teams determine what is needed to achieve each goal and when.

In Regina, Saskatchewan, the Special Projects team used pull-planning to successfully deliver on a non-negotiable deadline for their client Saskatchewan Health Authority. Phase one of the Breast Health Centre involved the demolition and renovation of a large commercial space that was being transformed into a medical clinic. The project included several business-critical deadlines involving third-party contracts. The owner required certainty in the preconstruction schedule to accurately plan deliveries and installation of owner-supplied equipment.

During the procurement stage, the PCL team made it clear that subtrades would be awarded based largely on their ability to offer the best lead times. Through the collective process of pull planning, each subtrade contributed input and committed to a timeframe for delivering their portion of the project. The team then created a sequence of work based on these commitments that would create the shortest profile timeline, ensuring early buy-in and accountability across all parties. Bi-weekly subtrade meetings maintained open lines of communication and helped ensure the project stayed on schedule.

Detailed planning combined with an in-depth understanding of the client’s priorities kept the project on schedule and under budget. The collaborative effort and a happy client kept PCL under contract to deliver the next phase of the clinic.

Fast-track construction compresses project timelines by overlapping design, procurement and construction phases for projects under a CM delivery model. To meet aggressive timelines, some work can begin while designs are finalized.

Flexential needed to complete a quick expansion to its data center for a new co-location client in Chaska, Minnesota. The project had two constraints — the data center would continue running full time during construction, and the new tenant had to move in a mere ten weeks after the design was scheduled to be completed. It was a tight timeline to mobilize, build and commission the building.

Under the Construction Management at Risk model, PCL engaged Flexential and the design team quickly after the contract was awarded. The team worked with designers to release early bid packages before design was complete, focusing on long-lead items and the largest scopes for the project, which included the mechanical and electrical systems so critical to data center operations.

The team provided a collaborative, proactive, flexible approach that stemmed from constructing the project out of sequence. Typically, the construction would follow a linear path — build the space, fit out the space and then move in. With the Flexential data center, the priority was to complete the space for tenant move-in and then focus on the periphery elements of the project.

The team developed a workable plan based on the needs of Flexential and the incoming tenant. The plan included daily, and sometimes hourly coordination, while monitoring major milestones and ensuring client workloads were never interrupted.

Through creatively sequencing the project and constant communication with Flexential, the designer and subcontractors, the team was able to focus on hitting critical milestones, and the project was delivered below the guaranteed maximum price. Flexential received the project on time and under budget and was able to move its new tenant into the space within the promised timeframe.

“PCL’s partnership with Flexential demonstrates our focus on being a trusted partner offering a long-term, holistic approach to delivering mission-critical facilities,” says Tyler Kautz, PCL’s vice president, data centers. “We provide speed-to-market without compromising quality, cost or safety.”

Modular construction has emerged as a valuable solution for some fast-track projects, offering schedule certainty with parallel construction off site, and potential cost savings via block purchasing and reduced labor. The controlled factory environment also allows for improved quality control, improved worker safety, and waste reduction.

In British Columbia, BC Hydro identified a need to upgrade accommodations for employees who stay on site at the remote Mica Generating Station and Dam, a hydroelectric embankment dam spanning the Columbia River 135 kilometers north of Revelstoke, and the tallest dam in Canada. The PCL team was given 12 months to deliver 20 dormitories at the remote, mountainous location.

Engaging PCL’s Solution Provider approach, the Special Projects team quickly mobilized, stacking design, tendering and fabrication packages at the same time. The team developed a strategy to prefabricate modular units off-site to accommodate the tight eight-month construction window within the remote, mountainous location that is prone to early winters. Given the location and limited number of qualified bidders, the Special Projects team self-performed schedule-critical work packages, including the concrete foundation work and the construction of wooden roof structures and canopies atop the modular structure.

PCL handed over phase one of the project — what would typically take 12 months to complete using traditional methods — ahead of schedule and only eight months after it began construction. This allowed employees of BC Hydro to move into the first 20 units as scheduled.

As construction projects become more complex, teams must work across various geographies and time zones. Digital collaboration platforms have become indispensable for remote collaborations ensuring that communication remains clear, and decisions are made promptly. Autodesk Construction Cloud’s BIM 360, adopted by PCL, serves as an example of a tool that integrates design, construction, and operations workflows. This platform supports real-time communication, file sharing, and issue tracking, enabling faster resolution of problems that may otherwise slow project progress. By centralizing project information and providing immediate access to all team members, digital collaboration tools enhance transparency and decision-making speed — two critical factors in delivering projects on a fast-tracked schedule.

As part of a multi-phased construction project at the Grand Wailea resort in Maui, Hawaii, the PCL Special Projects team supported hotel ownership in delivering a complex centerpiece for its Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (Hawaiian for triggerfish) restaurant. The challenge: the 535-gallon saltwater aquarium was being constructed 2,800 miles away, in Tempe, Arizona.

Thanks to PCL’s presence across the United States, a project engineer in Tempe was able to oversee the work and provide a 3D scan of the bar frame, ensuring the Hawaii team received exact dimensions. The critical measurements were shared through BIM 360. After the frame arrived in sections, the Hawaii team installed the bar as designed.

PCL is firmly at the forefront of construction innovation, from award-winning digital dashboards to BIM turnover models, these tools facilitate real-time communication, clash detection, document sharing, and project tracking, which are crucial for maintaining momentum and reducing rework in fast-tracked projects.

PCL Special Projects’ integration of advanced technologies and collaborative strategies has become indispensable for delivering fast-tracked construction projects. Through early contractor engagement, lean methods like pull-planning and modular construction to digital collaboration tools and digital modeling, PCL is achieving faster delivery times while maintaining high-quality standards and an unparalleled safety record.