|
Premanufactured electrical rooms bring Bass Pro Shops consistency,
space
Bass Pro Shops has found a
faster, more efficient way to build its stores. The outdoor apparel
and equipment retailer is outsourcing the construction and
installation of its electrical and mechanical equipment. The move to
premanufactured electrical rooms has brought the Springfield,
Mo.-based chain greater consistency and also opened up additional
floor space.
In deciding to make the switch, Bass Pro had
some definite requirements re garding its mechanical and electrical
elements. The sheer size of its stores--100,000 sq. ft. on
average--and the unique physical requirements therein--15,000-gal.
aquariums and waterfalls in many locations--make custom engineering an
absolute necessity. Plus, as a tourist destination, the retailer
places a premium on uptime and reliability. PCX Corp. fit the bill on
both counts with its prefabricated solutions.
"We went to their shop and learned about their
processes. I was very impressed with how they were able to pack so
much into a small space. These were quality solutions. A lot of
thought and engineering goes into them," says Tom Gammon, director of
construction, Bass Pro Shops, which operates 16 stores.
After visiting the PCX factory, Gammon brought
the company on board to provide a fully equipped electrical room (with
a computer room attached) for three upcoming locations. Upon delivery,
the room had already met all NEC, UL and ETL standards and was ready
for the slab to be poured.
"The room usually goes in very early, either just after or before the
slab," says Dean DiLillo, VP of sales and marketing, PCX,
Raleigh, N.C.
One of the advantages of using a premanufactured
room is that it provides for the completion of primary electrical and
mechanical components upon delivery, according to DiLillo. Bumping
these requirements up earlier in the construction schedule helps
expedite store completion.
Elevated: PCX made the decision up front to
elevate the rooms, which average about 39-ft. by 12-ft. and take up a
total of roughly 470 sq. ft., above the store floor in two of the Bass
Pro locations. The placement gives the retailer additional floor space
to display merchandise.
"Traditionally, electrical rooms are located on
the ground of the store," DiLillo says. "But we offered a mezzanine
support structure as part of our package for Bass Pro."
The architectural design of the third store
required a different solution. PCX stacked two rooms on top of one
another, placing the electrical room on the ground floor and the
computer control room above it.
Another key advantage of using a
pre-manufactured electrical room is that it enabled the retailer to
connect power almost immediately during the early stages of
construction. Bass Pro's Gammon says it also allowed his electrical
workers to do other work around the store, as opposed to sitting in a
room all day and hooking up switch gear.
"In the end, PCX helped us to save weeks during
construction by getting the power up and running early," he adds.
"Having the rooms elevated also gives us the ability to gain
additional floor space."
PCX is currently working
on several other upcoming Bass Pro locations. The electrical rooms in
those stores will be elevated, as well. |
