Unfortunately, such wet conditions weren't confined to the spring. While an access road now allowed easy entry to the back of the school, heavy rains in June created difficult underfoot conditions all around the congested jobsite. Still, this didn't stop progress. "It doesn't help it, but it doesn't slow production down to the point that it causes any problems," says Kuhlman.

This was due in part to three four-wheel-drive SkyTrak telescopic handlers used to move material. Not only were they able to travel up and down the ramp at the start of construction, they proved more than capable of traversing the thick mud and water later that summer.

Because of their versatility, the telehandlers are a primary part of Miron's fleet. "The SkyTrak is probably our main piece of equipment," says Kuhlman. "We have a lot of them." As a result, both the operators and mechanics are very familiar with the machines. "The brand is probably the most versatile for us just because of its ability to [travel through] mud; it lifts and levels itself; and it's the one we're most familiar with as far as repairs."

Heavy lifting required

By early July, precast concrete and structural wall panels for the addition were ready to be put in place. Initially, a three-crane rigging setup was expected to be used to set the 22.5- to 55-ft. vertical panels, which weighed from 19,500 to 50,000 lbs.

"Because the precast panels are so long, you had to have a certain place to pick them and roll, turn or radius them," says Kuhlman. "You couldn't just pick them at [both ends] because they would snap in the middle."

Miron worked closely with Spancrete, the panel provider, to determine the optimal picking points. As a result, a single 220-ton-capacity Manitowoc Model 14000 crawler crane was able to set even the largest panels in place.

A double line was used for the picks - one line raised the panel up and the second line held it steady to lift it off the trailer. "Once it was in the air, the one line was more than enough, because then it free floats," says Kuhlman. "Then you could pick the one line up and increase your pull vertically at that point."

Using this method, within days, the majority of both the vertical wall panels and horizontal floor panels had been placed and interior work could begin.

The LMMS project was successfully completed in August, just in time for the 2009 school year to start.