Project Team Proves that
Accelerated Approvals Help Build a Community
Case Study: Wells Fargo Bank, Mesa
Arizona
Speed to market for a
retail bank branch means as much as $1,000,000 per day in deposits and
capturing market share. Because the Modular Technology portfolio boasts
over 60 bank branches, each with an average construction schedule of 45
days, Wells Fargo selected them
to provide a slab on grade permanently constructed branch, complete with
drive through in 90 days. The bank would be in the greater Phoenix area
with the office park site already purchased for its high-visibility
location. The project would be challenging from a few
perspectives:
Accelerated Approvals in a Rapidly Developing
Area. Historically, the biggest challenge to accelerated
construction is coordinating utility and municipality reviews because they
are designed to deal with traditional construction timetables. For this
project Modular Technology also had to factor in that greater Phoenix is
one of the fastest growing areas in the country, meaning you've got
resources already over-taxed and ill-equipped to handle accelerated
construction timetables.
Changing Plans and Competing
Interests. This project also posed some challenges in the plans
development and approval process because of its location. The office park
was not fully occupied, so the master plan of the complex was constantly
changing to accommodate prospective parcel buyers. Modular Technology and
Leo A. Daly Architects had to
quickly adapt several changes to the design and civil plans layout along
the way to make sure the bank maintained the high-visibility Wells Fargo
required. Additionally, those plans would have to get final approvals from
numerous competing interests, including three different jurisdictions, the
developer, an office park association, and an adjacent golf course. Some
examples of the approval conflicts were:
- The developer wanted a bank design to match buildings adjacent
to the office park while the city required a substantially different
design before it would approve the final construction
- The location of the lot required both county and city to approve
the entrances and exits; however, each had their own requirements and no
way to coordinate the process
- Since readily accessible water lines didn't fall into this
city's jurisdiction, a second and unique city would have to approve
those adding the 3rd jurisdiction into the approval
timeline
What should
have been a routine process became a design, construction and
communications challenge. Nonetheless, Wells Fargo was slated to vacate
their existing building in 90 days and assume occupancy.
Attitude, Determination and Communications Create
Success
Leo A. Daly architects and Modular Technology made a
decision to keep moving forward, overcoming the obstacles resulting from
ongoing reworks to the plan as well as competing interest in approvals.
The team dealt with many of the design issues by adapting a
"residential-like" approach to the building, allowing a more low profile,
linear design. This compromise allowed the city, developer, association,
and golf course to unite behind the final plans. As for the approvals,
throughout the process Modular Technology nurtured relationships with the
various entities, taking on the additional role of communications
facilitator. In fact, Modular Technology's "jurisdictional processing
team" was called in to assist with negotiations between the three
jurisdictions, even going so far as to facilitate the information
exchanges that assured timely approvals. Modular Technology even processed
paperwork to expedite decisions. Because of this diligence and teamwork
with all of the regulatory bodies, the bank opened on time and the
community was pleased with the architectural outcome!
A Model for Future Positive
Results
Several great outcomes resulted from what was originally a
design, construction and communications challenge. Wells Fargo was so
happy with the professional resolution of the issues and delivered
timeframe, that they chose to build 27 more modular branches, solidifying
an already positive client-provider relationship. The project also forged
a very successful model of coordination with the architects. So good in
fact that Modular Technology and Leo A. Daly are now successfully poised
to work together with other jurisdictions in the face of ever-changing
site plans and competing interests. And because the negotiating process
was so critical to this project's success, a "Project Development" team
was formalized to include Vice-Presidential oversight from Modular
Technology and direct architectural input from a former Leo A. Daly
architect. The team is now in place and ready to provide processing
assistance on future projects.
But maybe most importantly, this
process promoted positive county and city-wide communications, while
educating developers, citizens, and government officials alike as to the
positive solution that modular construction offers. And with one approval
process undertaken, both of these cities and counties are better equipped
to approve the next modular construction project that comes across their
desks!
