United Airlines flight training center
United Airlines transformed its flight training center with a customized solution including design, construction and a site move from Houston to Denver.
Spotlight
32 full flight simulators and 24 classrooms
Value
Cost savings of $411K
Location
Major relocation from Houston to Denver
United Airlines consolidated their flight training from Houston to Denver into a facility that opened in 1968. The campus sits on 23 acres and consists of six buildings totaling more than 500,000 square feet. The renovation includes new office and classroom layouts, upgrades to building systems including installation of a new roof, replacement of the HVAC and lighting systems and upgrading bathrooms. The project includes 32 full flight simulators and 24 classrooms, making it an efficient, modern center that will serve as a benchmark for the industry and provide superior training for the finest pilots in the business. Training continued during construction.
“Being one of two people at United Airlines that have been on this project since its inception, I can tell you that my only regret is that we did not get Clark onto the project sooner.”
Customized solution
- This mission critical project was executed in multiple phases to minimize impact on the ongoing training and the 20 hours per day / 7 days per week operations of the campus.
- JLL was chosen to provide project management services for United’s Flight Training Center renovations, which included complete MEP and structural upgrades, environmental remediation, building and simulator fire protection systems, upgraded IT systems and site security.
- JLL coordinated design, demolition, abatement, construction, furniture, audio visual, signage and moves.
- Measures were put in place to identify long lead items and other risks to the schedule. JLL was responsible for managing risk mitigation and identify potential solutions.
Results
- Once JLL was engaged and onsite (8 months after construction began), the team was able to drive cost reductions by negotiations, catching errors, minimize consultant changes, inventory management with an overall cost save of $411k.
- Coordination meetings were put in place to manage conflict and discrepancies between subcontractors i.e. Security, MEP, IT and kitchen equipment.
- Formal change order meetings were set up to ensure approvals were received prior to work being executed.
- The cafeteria was re-opened on-time after a nine month renovation, which was a huge milestone for full-time employees and visiting pilots.
- In June of 2018 all staff in temporary trailers were able to move into their new facility.
