The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) has developed a strategically competitive expansion plan for Huntington Place Convention Center, a premier event center in Detroit, Mich., to maintain and enhance its position in the industry by attracting major local, state, national, and international events.
The scope of the expansion includes the extension of Second Avenue and a pedestrian walkway spanning across the M-10 freeway and providing a throughway from downtown Detroit to Steve Yzerman Drive and the Detroit Riverfront. It also includes the construction of a skybridge connection between DRCFA and the upcoming JW Marriott Hotel, which will serve as a new entry point and engagement with the Riverfront. Other work includes the Joe Louis Arena parking deck renovations and renovations to the event center facility.
DRCFA engaged Plante Moran Realpoint for owner’s representation services, which consist of facilitating the following project tasks in conjunction with the project team:
- Project Planning — Includes coordinating cost estimates associated with the projects and developing a logistical plan, master construction schedule, and procurement schedule.
- Project Execution — Includes workflow and schedule, coordinating with program manager on development of design tasks, coordinating necessary approvals, coordinating adjacent developments, phasing, procurement processes, materials and labor availability, construction sequencing, land ownership review and zoning, integration of design vs. construction vs. procurement schedules, and RFQ/RFP issuance for professional services.
- Reporting — Includes maintaining and updating the project schedules, recommending corrective actions to confirm the work meets the schedule, coordinating the work schedules with Huntington Place’s operations schedule and major City of Detroit events that will affect the project. Also includes providing routine reporting on project progress, budget, and cash flow status; schedule status; risk issues; and key decisions.
- Existing Facility Work — In conjunction with the DRCFA facility managers and Huntington Place operations, developing the scope and facilitating the RFQ/RFP process for the authority’s facility maintenance projects.
