For over half a century, MMI Industrial & Steel has been a cornerstone in the construction industry, known for our ability to handle complex, large-scale projects with precision and innovation. One of the most recent projects that exemplifies this expertise is the Sol Modern Phoenix development at 601 N Central Avenue. This massive mixed-use project, located in the bustling heart of downtown Phoenix, spans one full city block (2 acres) and will encompass over 1.3 million square feet of both residential and commercial space. Recently, Eric Bailey, Project Manager at MMI, provided insights into the challenges, innovations, and milestones of this notable, local project.
Scope and Objectives: A Comprehensive Approach
The scope of MMI’s involvement in the Sol Modern Phoenix project is nothing short of impressive. Eric Bailey shared, “601 N Central has a large range of scope items that we’re fabricating and installing onsite. We have engineered, fabricated, and installed everything from the six 29-story steel stair towers, furnished over 8,000 embeds, 30 stories of structural steel framing for 10 elevators, thousands of feet of guardrail and fencing, awnings, canopies, lighting poles, misting support poles, and hundreds of tons of other various steel supports.” This extensive range of deliverables highlights MMI’s ability to manage diverse aspects of steel fabrication and installation, ensuring that every element contributes to the integrity and functionality of the overall structure.
Overcoming Challenges: Logistics in a Downtown Environment
The downtown location of Sol Modern Phoenix presented many unique logistical challenges that required detailed planning and execution. “Logistics have been very challenging with this project’s downtown city location,” Bailey explained. “There is no laydown, or storage, for any of our materials. We have had to coordinate fabrication, trucking, deliveries, tower crane time, and installation very carefully. There are 400+ tradesmen on the jobsite at any given time, so communicating workflows, needs, and preceding tasks was imperative for us to complete our scopes.”
The tight urban environment didn’t leave much room for error. MMI’s ability to navigate these constraints has been key to keeping the project on track. The coordination of various trades and the seamless integration of different phases of construction were critical in ensuring that the project proceeded smoothly.
Innovation in Action: Enhancing Efficiency and Quality
Innovation has always been a defining characteristic of MMI’s approach to construction, and the Sol Modern Phoenix project was no exception. One of the key technologies we employed was the use of 3D modeling and detailing for every piece of steel that was fabricated and installed onsite. Bailey emphasized the importance of this technology, saying, “Every piece of steel that makes it to the jobsite gets detailed and 3D modeled. This helps us not only give our fabrication shop detailed drawings to build the assemblies from, but also gives our install team a comprehensive 3D model to reference connections and locations of the thousands of parts that get delivered. We’re able to coordinate these models with other trades to help prevent clashes and issues as well.”
In addition to 3D modeling, MMI utilized our SpyderCranes, a piece of equipment that proved invaluable in the constrained jobsite environment. “These narrow unfolding cranes have tank-like tracks that let us move them throughout the jobsite where normal, larger equipment wouldn’t normally fit,” Bailey noted. “We’ve used these to hoist and erect all of the tall stair towers, easily lifting entire stair flights and landings into place.” The combination of advanced technology and specialized equipment allowed MMI to enhance both the efficiency and quality of their work on this project.
Milestones and Successes: Keeping the Project Moving Forward
The successful completion of key milestones was crucial to the overall progress of the Sol Modern Phoenix project. “Completing and topping out the various stair towers and elevator support steel was critical to keeping the project moving forward,” Bailey shared. “The stairs we fabricated and installed are the main access for trade workers as well as the only emergency egress for the building. As the concrete structure was built up, we had to follow right behind other trades to make sure everyone had access to the floors above and below.”
These milestones were not only significant in terms of construction progress but also in ensuring the safety and accessibility of the site for all workers involved. MMI’s ability to meet these milestones on time is proof of our commitment to excellence and our ability to adapt to the dynamic conditions of a large-scale project.
Client Satisfaction: Exceeding Expectations
Throughout the project, MMI Industrial & Steel has consistently met and exceeded client expectations. According to Bailey, “Our customer has expressed appreciation for how solution-driven we have been and how quickly we can adapt to external jobsite conditions and challenges. We offer out-of-the-box thinking for solutions and execute to keep the job moving forward. Schedules are always a challenge on such a large project, and we have continuously been at the front, pushing the critical path forward and even making up lost time from occasional external setbacks.”
The positive feedback from the client reflects MMI’s dedication to delivering high-quality work while maintaining flexibility and responsiveness in the face of challenges. This project is another example of our ability to tackle complex construction projects and deliver outstanding results.
The Sol Modern Phoenix project at 601 N Central Avenue is but one example of MMI Industrial & Steel’s engineering excellence and innovative approach to construction. From overcoming logistical challenges in a busy downtown environment to leveraging cutting-edge technology and equipment, we have demonstrated why we are a leader in the industry. As this massive mixed-use development takes shape, it will undoubtedly become a landmark in downtown Phoenix, with MMI’s work, proudly, at its foundation. For more information about this exciting project, visit the Sol Modern website at https://solphx.com, bKL Architecture, and The Phoenix Business Journal.
