Buildings

Location

Omaha, NE

Owner

Omaha World-Herald

Contractor

Kiewit Construction Company

Value

$55 million

September 2001 marked the first issue of the Omaha World-Herald's new newspaper format, produced in its state-of-the-art, 320,000-sq.-ft., five-story Press Center. Kiewit Construction Company, a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, completed the $55 million world-class complex in 26 months to meet the first scheduled deadline. Time constraints mandated a fast-track schedule, requiring crews and designers to remain in constant contact.

Site preparation included excavating 150,000-cu.-yd. of soil before crews drove more than 12.5 mi. of steel pipe piles for the 1,150-cu.-yd. concrete foundation mat. Located within the cast-in-place Press Center is an 18,150-sq.-ft. press hall, where the 1,661-ton presses rest. The presses' components were positioned using a 40-ton overhead crane followed by assembly. Crews constructed a front lobby and museum; executive offices and boardroom; packaging center; a 120-person dining facility and kitchen; and a 600-stall parking garage.

Precise scheduling and coordination proved to be the keys to success in installing the three German-manufactured presses, the largest installation of such presses in North America.