Callahan Construction Cites Collaborative Approach to New Hanover High’s Success

Hanover, MA – Callahan, Inc. of Bridgewater nears completion of Phase 1 of the 155,000sf Hanover High School and credits a collaborative management approach to its success.
Patrick Callahan, president of the full-service construction management firm that was awarded the project in 2009, realized early on that the success of the project would require a collaborative approach.
“From the beginning, we implemented a strategy to bring a ‘private project’ mentality, where teamwork and open lines of communication are paramount, to this complex public project. Callahan’s decision to utilize its experience in the private sector for this $39 million public school facility has worked out extremely well. The majority of Callahan Construction’s work is negotiated with private developers.”
Chris Simmler, principal for the owner’s project manager from PMA Consultants. says, “Processes and controls were put in place to expedite decisions, but it was agreed that this was not enough. To be successful, the project team would have to collaborate on all work and act in the owner’s best interest to achieve the contractual end date.”
This required tremendous trust among the parties. Decisions were made in open forums with all parties present. Team members went beyond their contractual obligations to do the right thing for the project. Cost and schedule issues were openly reviewed and approved, in a firm but fair manner.
Callahan’s collaborative approach to building the 21st century learning facility is not only an extension of the construction company’s overall project management philosophy, but it is also the town of Hanover’s overarching theme in the nearly four-year-long effort to create their educational specifications.
“The town of Hanover has an educational vision, and Callahan is committed to helping them achieving it. We know that every step of this process has to be a departure from a typical public work project,” says Patrick Callahan.
Callahan gave a top-down directive to project management that day-to-day operations on the job would focus on keeping all team members informed at all times to deliver the community more than just a new building.
Steve Carley, Callahan’s on site project executive who also attends Hanover’s school committee meetings, is charged with just that; keeping everyone on task. “Finger pointing results in needless delays and adversarial relationships,” he says. “Our aim is to achieve our goals by suggesting solutions to problems and sorting out issues as a cohesive unit.” He says, “This type of project deserves a better approach; where players work together as a team to meet a community’s needs.”
The team, as Carley puts it, “brings a unique level of leadership, professionalism, and experience to the table,” and is comprised of Callahan, Inc., HMFH Architects, PMA Consultants (owner’s project manage), the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and Hanover School Building Committee members, as well as elected town officials.
Despite obstacles that could have delayed the school’s 2011 fall semester opening, Hanover High will open its doors to students, staff, and faculty on time and under budget. Callahan’s continued collaborative management approach has helped carry out Hanover’s educational vision and its commitment to bring effective 21st century learning to its learners.