Thursday, March 13, 2014

Which huge contractor will build MGM National Harbor? Ardmore, PA contractor, TN Ward, in the mix of final contenders.


MGM National Harbor has retained a handful of local companies to perform various tasks related to the future $925 million resort-casino, including an  architect of record and  project manager, but the big hire is still to come: general contractor.

There are only so many firms that have the capacity and experience to handle a huge job like this, and several of those that appeared at a pre-bid conference Wednesday for general contractors fit the bill.

They include Clark Construction Group LLC, Smoot Construction, Whiting-Turner, Facchina Group of Companies LLC, Manhattan Construction Co., Gilbane Inc., Hensel Phelps, and TN Ward Co. For D.C. area folks, TN Ward may be the only unfamiliar name, but it's based in Atlantic City and has a large number of casino jobs in its portfolio. It is a player.

“We’re looking forward to hiring a capable and qualified general contractor that brings an impressive history of working closely with minority business enterprises and construction trade unions," said Lorenzo Creighton, MGM National Harbor president.

The resort will sit on 22 acres of sloping terrain located south of the Beltway, west of Oxon Hill Road and north of the existing National Harbor and Gaylord developments.

It will be a mixed-use, high-rise building featuring a conventional concrete-framed plinth from the lowest level to the entertainment floor, and structural steel and composite steel framing systems from the gaming floors to the roof. The 300-room hotel rising from the east end of the site will be framed with a two-way, post-tensioned concrete slab system.

The project will be designed to meet LEED Gold certification for new construction.

MGM won't formally launch its search for a general contractor until early spring. We don't know whether each of these companies will bid, or whether they'll partner up to form some sort of super-group, like the Traveling Wilburys. But it will be interesting to see who emerges. MGM hopes to break ground in July.
Who would you put your money on?

In the meantime, MGM is still busy hiring smaller, local firms for the project. The most recent:
  • Fort Washington-based Leuterio Thomas LLC for architectural and engineering services.
  • D.C.-based JVP Engineers PC for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering support.
  • Columbia, Md.-based Waldon Studio Architects & Planners PC for architectural design support.
  • Laurel-based CSI Engineering PC for mechanical, plumbing and electrical services.

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