Showcase Projects
Friendship Village
Tempe, AZ

When University set its sights on the contract for the mechanical and plumbing work on a new health care center at Friendship Village of Tempe, we knew we couldn't do it alone. Instead, we turned to our labor partners: the leaders at Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 359 and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 469, who worked with us to produce the winning bid.

Friendship Village is a life care retirement community on 46 acres. In addition to apartments and garden homes for independent living, the community offers assisted living and nursing services. Under construction now is a 160,000-square-foot, four-story health care center that will house 140 private and semi-private rooms, an Alzheimer's facility, hospice, nursing units, a laundry facility, a full-service kitchen, a dining room, and a café bistro.

University's scope of work includes the installation of chilled water equipment to supply a capacity of 800 tons of cooling; 210 fan coil units; 100,000 pounds of sheet metal ductwork; and 500 plumbing fixtures. We'll also be installing 20,000 feet of chilled water piping and 45,000 feet of plumbing piping that University crews will fabricate in our Tempe facility.

Expert scheduling, a University trademark, will be of key importance on this project. With virtually no lay-down area, we won't take delivery of most of the materials and equipment until the moment they are needed. This just-in-time delivery will entail storing the materials and equipment in-place and in step with the project schedule.

The Friendship Village Team:
General contractor: The Weitz Company
Mechanical engineer: Energy Systems Design
Mechanical contractor: University Mechanical & Engineering Contractors
University project manager: Randy Whiteman

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