All members of the Center for Dairy Research/Babcock Hall Dairy Plant project team – Department of Administration, UW System, UW–Madison, industry representatives, Zimmerman (architect), C.D. Smith (general contractor) and MP&C (sanitary processing equipment subcontractor) – met on Nov. 8 to review progress on building construction and the path to finalizing sanitary processing design elements. Project sponsors introduced staff from the Milwaukee office of Gilbane Building Company who will bring additional insight and capacity to the project, serving in an “owner’s rep” role.

Engaging an owner’s representative was one of the recommendations resulting from Hill International’s third-party review of the project that was completed earlier this fall. Gilbane brings extensive large-project planning, cost and integration expertise. They will serve the project team throughout the balance of the process with the sole purpose of facilitating success of the project’s vision for a world-class food science and dairy research facility.

Gilbane is already working with the project team on next steps, including finalizing the process equipment design and utility requirements to identify and mitigate any potential conflicts within the existing building design. The objective is clear: to have a finalized scope, schedule, and budget early in the New Year.