Serving as Construction Manager as Agent, LeChase had a tight deadline to complete the Tioga Central School District’s new artificial grass field and running track. The New York State Education Department approved the project on May 1, and the school wanted everything in place by September 15 – in time for the state champion Tioga Tigers football team to host their first home game of the season.
LeChase and the other project team members – King + King Architects, Smith Site Development and A-Turf – faced several challenges. First was the area’s rainy summer. Although weather could have delayed the project by weeks, Smith Site was determined to meet the original date. Its crews worked through rain where possible, removing the existing grass field and completing the new sub-base, which helped the site drain more quickly.
The next challenge came as A-Turf started installation of the artificial grass only to find they had not received the correct material from their supplier. Having the manufacturer stop and adjust production cost five days – requiring the team to develop a recovery plan to get back on schedule for completing the field as well as the rubber surface for the new 8-lane track.
With everyone’s cooperation and hard work, the team did better than meet the original schedule. They delivered the project four days early, allowing the girls’ soccer team to use the field for their September 11 match.
Going forward, the new field will be used continuously by football, soccer, field hockey, band, track and community youth leagues – with the district will no longer having to closely track weather to decide if the field is too wet to use.
Thanks to LeChase team members Paul Cody, Cameron Sprague, Dana Wood and Jean Robinson, and everyone who was helped deliver this important project for the Tioga community.
For local news coverage, click these links: WICZ.com / MyTwinTiers.com
