EHC, Inc., a construction company based in Southwest Florida that provides pre-construction, earthwork, and infrastructure services, was awarded the multi-million dollar contract by Turner Construction to develop phase I of the Hertz Worldwide Headquarters Campus in Estero, Florida. The much-anticipated project broke ground in November 2013 with a planned completion in 2015. When completed, The Hertz Corporation will relocate from its present headquarters in Park Ridge, New Jersey, to the new state-of-the-art global headquarters located at the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and Williams Road in Estero.
Those passing by the Hertz jobsite can see the beginning of the headquarters building frame. Steel is being erected and a variety of crews, equipment, and materials are flowing in and out of the campus located in Estero, Florida.
PROJECT BREAKDOWN
Development is in full swing on the 37-acre site with EHC working with Turner Construction, a New York-based, international construction services company. EHC is providing a variety of earthwork and infrastructure services including erosion control, surveying, clearing, excavation, grading, paving, off-site improvements, underground utilities, sidewalks, brick pavers, and site amenities for the project.
The project entails multiple areas such as the three-story, 248,000-square-foot headquarters and a three-story, 900-space parking garage. Other areas include a sales center with parking lot, common areas, amenities, entrances, internal roads, and off-site road improvements. Crews are concurrently developing each of the areas, utilizing over 40,000 square feet of sidewalk, nearly 50,000 square feet of brick pavers, 5 acres of paving, and approximately 3 miles of curbing.
One aspect of the earthwork services for the headquarters site includes crushing and processing over 25,000 tons of rock. This crushed rock material has provided excellent stabilizing material for the over 8,000 square yards of temporary on-site roads and crane paths. It will also be utilized as the permanent road and parking lot stabilization.
HQ WITH BENEFITS
In addition to the headquarters, Hertz will have a 5,000-square-foot car sales center on the campus. The Mediterranean-style sales center will sell and rent cars to the general public. The sales center is located on Hertz Drive, a road that connects U.S. 41 to Via Villagio Parkway, south of Williams Road. Separating the sales center from the headquarters building is a roundabout with decorative pavers. As part of the sales center, a parking lot, fitness path, bike rack, car wash, electric vehicle charging station, and extensive landscaping and berming are featured.
The main entrance to the new Hertz Headquarters is accessed from Williams Road, which is also one of the areas requested to be completed early in the project. Stretching from U.S. Route 41 to Via Coconut Point Parkway and now substantially complete, this access is currently serving as the main construction entrance to the project. The work completed on Williams road includes widening and constructing left and right turn lanes, grading new swales, new sidewalks, improved drainage, sodding, milling, and overlay of existing Williams Road asphalt. EHC crews are also improving Via Villagio for another entrance to the campus.
Extensive earth contouring and amenities can be found throughout the site. Campus amenities are outdoor volleyball and basketball courts, childcare playground as part of the company’s on-site childcare facility, and fitness path around the sales center to name a few.
GOLD-CERTIFIED GREEN CAMPUS
According to Hertz officials, the new headquarters building will apply best practices in sustainable design and construction to achieve LEED Gold certification—from energy-efficient lighting and equipment, and recycled building materials and finishes, to the installation of solar panels and water-saving fixtures. Of note is the rain water collection system the EHC team is constructing for the headquarters which includes a 30,000-gallon rainwater storage tank.
The building design will help Hertz create a best-in-class work environment for its employees. The Fortune 500 rental car company engaged Gensler, an integrated architecture, design, planning, and consulting firm, for the headquarters design. The Estero campus, when completed, will achieve the company’s original goal of bringing together Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty headquarters employees in one location.
EXCITEMENT IS GROWING
Those passing by the jobsite can see the headquarters taking shape. With the steel erected and the building topped off, crews can be seen working on decking and towards dry-in of the building. The excitement surrounding the project is building with each visible progression.
EHC is honored to be a part of such a large-scale, high-profile project in the area. The relocation of Hertz is expected to create an estimated 700 jobs to be filled locally and by Hertz employees relocating to the Estero area. During construction, Hertz established a temporary headquarters and subsequent office space in the vicinity.
The site construction company has 13 active projects with more in negotiations. The projects span real estate and government industries and include Naples Square community in Naples, Hertz Worldwide Headquarters Campus in Estero, Sam’s Club in Cape Coral, U.S. Route 41 and CR 951 intersection in Naples, Caloosahatchee Bridge at I-75 in Fort Myers, Winchester Boulevard in Englewood, 1-75 project in Charlotte County, Eastport Water Reclamation Facility in Punta Gorda, Lindsford community in Fort Myers, The Coves at Estero Bay community in Fort Myers, Kalea condominium development in Naples, Twin Eagles community in Naples, and Golden Gate Parkway in Naples.
ABOUT EHC
Since inception, EHC has completed hundreds of construction projects in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars for a vast number of municipalities, developers, builders, owners, and general contractors. The EHC team works diligently and with great dedication for its clients, coordinating architects, engineers, suppliers, and craftsmen to deliver the precise solution clients desire. ■
For More Infomration
For more information about EHC, call 239.592.0828, visit www.ehcconstruction.com, or connect on LinkedIn.
Modern Contractor Solutions, November 2014
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