Adirondack Welcome Center

Owner: New York State Department of Transportation

Contract Value: $16.1 Million

Date: March 2018 – August 2018

The Adirondack Welcome Center on New York’s Interstate 87 North was a Governor Andrew Cuomo Executive Priority Project and a high-profile Best-Value project for New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). This complex facility had to be delivered in 6 months while maintaining public use throughout construction.

In response to the complexity of the project and owner’s requirements, The Wesson Group (TWG) leveraged its joint venture with Harrison & Burrows Bridge Constructors, known as HBTWG, and hired a vertical construction manager to be integrated into the team as a subconsultant.

During construction, hundreds of engineering and architectural changes, redesign packages, and change-order requests threatened to impede progress. But, working closely with NYSDOT and the engineer of record, the HBTWG partnership was able to expedite the changes and implement several redesigned structural elements of the building through the use of several acceleration packages—all of which allowed the Welcome Center to open ahead of the contracted schedule date and finish under the awarded budget.

Scope of Work

  • This Governor Andrew Cuomo Executive Priority Project included the replacement of the existing 8,615-square-foot building
  • Demolition and hazardous waste abatement of the existing facility
  • Clearing and grubbing
  • Erosion control
  • Site work to raise the building footprint
  • New passenger car and over-the-road truck parking lots
  • New septic systems fields, pump stations, and associated infrastructure
  • Extensive curbing, sidewalk, and walk-of-fame outdoor features
  • Complete restrooms, interactive I LOVE NY kiosks, stone fireplace and chimney, and an office for the State Police
  • Environmentally responsible systems such as geothermal heating and cooling, a complete LED lighting package, and electric car charging availability
  • Heavy timber frame of column and beams with both steel trusses, SIP panels and custom heavy glulam timbers
  • New amenities incorporated into the site included an outdoor play area with ADK-themed children’s fire tower and zip line and a pet comfort area.
  • A boat inspection/decontamination station was constructed to help control the spreading of aquatic invasive species in New York’s waters.

Peak Daily Operations

  • 105 HBTWG/subcontractor workers
  • 40 subcontractor companies
  • Project labor agreement
  • Extensive MWBE utilization goals
  • 6-month delivery window April – September