Mold Remediation Project For Historic Commercial Properties
August Mack has had a 17-year relationship with a full-service real estate investment company who owns and/or manages over 20 million square feet of industrial, office and mixed-use properties across the U.S. For this project, the client partnered with an Indianapolis-based real estate development company to purchase a mostly historic four-building commercial property encompassing an entire downtown block of Indianapolis. Due to the historic nature of the buildings (1900s construction), August Mack was engaged during the diligence period to assist with determining the potential for water intrusion and mold-related concerns associated with the building envelopes.
August Mack conducted an initial assessment of the four (4) buildings using noninvasive inspection methods (visual inspection, moisture mapping, and thermal imaging). The initial assessment identified multiple areas of water and mold related impacts throughout each of the onsite buildings. Based on the initial findings, August Mack recommended further invasive investigation of select areas within each building to assist with understanding the extent of impacts and to develop a remedial scope of work. Due to the occupied nature of the buildings, all assessment activities were conducted after-hours or over weekends to avoid disruption of the tenant’s day-to-day operations. Following the assessment activities and preparation of the remedial scope of work for each building, August Mack solicited remediation bids from three (3) mold remediation contractors. The contractors’ bids were evaluated based on cost, proposed timing, and their overall resources. Given the size and phasing of the project, the project was estimated to last up to a year.
A local Indianapolis-based remediation contractor was awarded the remediation contract and from November 2015 to July 2016, conducted the remediation of the four (4) buildings. Throughout the project, August Mack handled the day-to-day project management and project oversight to ensure the remediation was successful and all activities were conducted in accordance with general industry standards. Following the completion of the project, August Mack prepared final reports for each building documenting the initial assessment findings and recommendations, as well as a summary of the remediation and clearance sampling conducted within each building.
The main constraint posed, and overcome by August Mack as a part of this project was completing the assessment, development of the remedial scope of work, bid solicitation, and contract award all within the limited timeframe within the client’s due diligence period. Based on August Mack’s services, the client was able to leverage the findings of the assessment and negotiate to escrow the funds for the remediation, which was ultimately paid for by the property owner, and avoided a substantial unforeseen future expense.