TEMPE, AZ The Sundt-Rummel Joint Venture accepted the Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering award at the 2018 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Convention this week for their collaboration on the White Tanks Flood Retarding Structure (FRS) for the Flood Control District of Maricopa County. 

The White Tanks FRS is a 1.3-mile, 20-foot high structure that provides flood protection to about 4,000 residents; 1,000 residential and commercial properties and agricultural land. The project was built using the Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) delivery method.

The Marvin M. Black award is presented to construction projects that epitomize the principles of partnering. Contractors honored with this award stand out for their ability in these areas: signing a formal partnering charter; achieving a common goal; honoring all stakeholders; resolving conflict; improving communication on the project with all audiences and incorporating team-building activities.

"The Flood Control District of Maricopa County trusted Sundt-Rummel to complete this project using a CMAR approach, and the project team's commitment to planning, safety, quality and partnering resulted in a highly successful project," Sundt Senior Vice President and Transportation Group Manager Jeff Williamson said. "The JV team embraced partnering as a way to present value-engineering ideas and solve project challenges."

CMAR identifies the construction manager and general contractor early in the design phase. It allows for constructability reviews and value engineering suggestions and fosters collaboration among team members.

"Using CMAR helped minimize change orders and maintain the project's budget," Williamson said. "We were also able to work with other stakeholders during the design phase."

The team maintained the budget and avoided costly change orders by bringing in the joint venture team during design and by partnering with outside agencies, including the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the National Resources Conservation Service, to write project specifications and work plans.