Highpointe on Michigan

Buffalo, New York

Owner: Kaleida Health

Project Value: $64 million

Completed: November 2011

Architect: Cannon Design

Beds: 300

Recognizing that the need for elderly care will be rising in the coming years, Kaleida Health set its sights on a brand new state-of-the-art long-term care facility. With a grand total of 300 beds, this 202,000 sq. ft. facility houses 200 long term care, 40 memory care, 30 sub-acute care, 20 pediatric and 10 ventilator beds. Additional features include a dedicated kitchen and dietary, physical, and occupational therapy areas. In an effort to provide a “home-like atmosphere,” features such as elevated garden areas and fenced in courtyards offer residents outdoor seating areas to relax.

With an aggressive 16-month schedule and an estimated cost of $42.7 million, our team members began work under a construction manager at-risk contract in July 2010 under an Early Start Agreement. Therefore, the project was phased and sequenced in a fashion that allowed a constant workflow from one end of the building to the other.

One major challenge was excavations and ensuring proper bearing with sand to a depth of 58 ft. at the site. In turn, the schedule and project constantly evolved and was updated based on site conditions and progress. Our team members seized many opportunities to set conventional sequencing aside to accelerate the schedule and meet the owner’s original completion date of November 2011. With funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), our team ensured all paperwork was completed for owner and HUD. Even with numerous challenges to overcome, the final construction cost came in at $43.9 million.