A Successful Cooling Tower Replacement Project
November 06, 2023
On behalf of Cushman & Wakefield, Vanguard replaced the existing cooling tower atop 589 5th Avenue, a 17-story mixed-use commercial office building in Midtown. Our goal was to ensure the new tower would be fully operational before the cooling season started in late spring. Kicking off in September 2022, Vanguard pre-ordered all OTJ architects and Robert Derector Associates specified equipment in order to stay ahead of supply chain issues and avoid delays in schedule.
The biggest challenge was obtaining permits for the cooling tower crane. This process alone took 3-4 months, causing initial concerns about meeting the project deadline. Vanguard pushed our trade partners to acquire the critical hoisting permits while we obtained after-hours permits. Through perseverance, we successfully obtained all permissions to keep the project on track.
Despite the demanding schedule, Vanguard and our subcontractors coordinated seamlessly, working 10-12 hours a day for three weeks straight to ensure a timely completion. Reflecting on the lessons learned, we know we can excel under the most difficult of circumstances with proactive planning, open communications, and effective collaboration.
Congratulations to the Vanguard Team: Ed Tostanoksi, Ed Tassey, Ana Reina, Roberto Alcasid, Devi Ramrup, Adrian Isufi, and Santolino Napolitano, along with our supportive accounting and admin staff; your tireless efforts deserve our appreciation and thanks. Special thanks to Chief Operating Engineer, Thomas Mazza, and the Cushman & Wakefield team for trusting us with this important project!
