Nimble Construction

Capital Broadcasting Company (CBC), a leading and innovative communications company, has been based in Raleigh, NC since 1939. To accommodate growth and modernize its facilities, CBC hired Barnhill’s Streamline team to expand its current building and renovate existing office space. To create additional space and a more secure entrance, our team added 12,000 square feet to the building and renovated another 14,500 square feet. Barnhill’s Streamline team specializes in transforming spaces with an emphasis on speed and efficiency and can focus on smaller, unique projects with the resources of a large contractor. They are flexible and agile, allowing them to quickly adapt to the needs of projects to achieve aggressive schedules with a quality outcome.

This case study examines Barnhill Contracting Company’s successful renovation of the Capitol Broadcasting Company’s (CBC) facility in Raleigh, NC. The project presented two significant challenges: maintaining uninterrupted broadcasting operations during construction, requiring meticulous noise management, and mitigating the impact of Hurricane Florence, which struck during a critical phase of the project. Barnhill’s proactive planning, flexible scheduling, and on-site presence proved crucial in overcoming these obstacles and delivering a seamless renovation.

Key Strategies for Challenge 1: Noise Management on an Active Site
Renovating the 60-year-old CBC building, adjacent to active television studios and the main control room, demanded stringent noise control. Disruptions to live broadcasts, including the daily lottery drawing, were unacceptable. Barnhill implemented a multi-faceted approach to address this challenge:

The project faced a significant setback when Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on September 14, 2018. The storm hit while the building’s façade had been removed for the addition, leaving the structure vulnerable to the storm’s heavy rainfall and high winds. Barnhill’s proactive storm preparedness was essential:

• Pre-emptive Measures: A week before the storm’s arrival, Barnhill reinforced temporary walls, re-caulked existing seals, installed over 200 sandbags with plastic sheathing, and positioned sump pumps to manage potential water intrusion. The site was graded for positive drainage, and all storm structures were inspected and verified as functional. Roof installation was halted, and all materials were removed from the roof and stored safely inside.
• Continuous Monitoring: Recognizing the importance of maintaining CBC’s broadcast capabilities during the storm, Barnhill had a representative on-site 24/7 for three days, monitoring conditions and coordinating with a standby construction crew ready to provide immediate assistance if needed.
• Material Protection: The interior of the project was transformed into a staging area to protect materials from potential damage during the hurricane.

Through careful planning and execution, Barnhill successfully managed construction noise, ensuring that no broadcasts or media productions were affected throughout the project. Additionally, Barnhill’s comprehensive preparations proved highly effective. The building sustained no water intrusion during Hurricane Florence, and CBC’s television, radio, and internet broadcasts remained uninterrupted throughout the storm.