Working alongside 43 different trade partners, installers, and specialty suppliers, our national special services team (SSG) was proud to collaboratively build a new 7-Eleven gas station with a convenience store, carwash, and landscaping in Cochrane, Alberta. We worked closely with the client and all partners to develop a schedule that would deliver on all aspects of the project in under five months. By utilizing our internal software programs to work on quality assurance continuously, we were able to complete the project with one of the lowest deficiency counts in 7-Eleven Canada project history.
Our teams faced and overcame many challenges on this project, from delays and redesigns to the global pandemic. A delayed start due to permit issues created a scheduling challenge to begin the build and get pavement completed within the first three months. This was mitigated by detailed planning and integrating scopes of work. The project was built on a greenfield development (previously undeveloped land) and required all deep services (water and sewer) to be completed by Chandos. We approached this by dividing and managing it as three smaller projects: Petroleum Scope, C-Store Scope, and Carwash Scope. Although these three smaller projects required integration, it helped us manage our trade partners and develop a critical path schedule for each project.
There were also conflicts with existing underground utilities that required the underground infrastructure to go into redesign on the seventh day of construction. The project team reconstructed our pull plan to modify the critical path and still complete the project ahead of schedule.
A mechanical redesign was also issued mid-construction. Due to the compressed schedule, this required the hollow core panels to miss their scheduled fabrication slot. Chandos was able to work with our trades quickly to shift the critical path once again. Thanks to a true team effort, we were able to complete the site sidewalks and asphalt before the structure of the building was even completed.
Since all work was in progress during the global pandemic, our site team led with safety values first and foremost and were able to clear no positive cases, serious injuries or lost time accidents.
Despite early delays and challenges, 7-Eleven was still completed ahead of schedule and is now the benchmark store that all future projects are being compared to for schedule and quality. This project was a great success for all stakeholders and was the first brick in building a great relationship with a new client and partners.