Hellman Electric, one of Electra USA’s three subsidiaries, Hellman Electric, Gilston Electric and FW Sims, recently completed a large-scale security and transportation surveillance project at two major New York City bridges – Bronx-Whitestone and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Bridge. As the lead contractor for this Design-Build project, Hellman Electric has climbed the ranks, and is now considered one of the leading electrical contractors in the Big Apple.
Hellman Electric traces its roots and name to one of New York City’s oldest electrical contracting firms founded by John G. Hellman in the 1930s. The current company was established in 1978. The company was acquired by Electra USA in 2017. In 2019, Hellman won a large-scale contract with the MTA . The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) selected Hellman as lead contractor in a Design-Build security and transportation surveillance project for two of the city’s largest bridges. Upon completion of the $72 million project in December 2020, Hellman began to catch the attention of transportation agencies and design firms in New York.
“We’re now one of the largest players in the New York market and a force to be reckoned with,” says Carlos Casal, Senior VP of Operations Heavy Construction Division.
Trending Towards Design-Build Projects
For Hellman, the importance of this undertaking, which involved the deployment of advanced electronic monitoring and detection systems at the Bronx-Whitestone and Robert F. Kennedy Bridges, stems from its being a Design-Build project.
“There’s a trend toward more Design-Build projects across New York State, which gives us the chance to showcase our expertise and technical prowess,” said Casal.
“The MTA project was a great opportunity for us. “And I can’t say enough about the job of our two outstanding project managers – Nick Ditrio and Joe Esposito – and their teams. They were able to bring together the best of design and construction that Hellman has to offer –including managing over 20 subcontracting organizations covering civil, structural, logistical, environmental and other trades.”
“We believe the Design-Build model worked well because Hellman was able to guide the designers on the way the job should be built from a field point of view. This made us more efficient and logistically sound. In contrast, designers are often required to over-design jobs when it isn’t necessary to account for unknown field conditions,” said Esposito.
“Both Tom Ginnane, who headed the RFK facility and was named Electra Employee of the Year, and Joe Sergi, who was responsible for the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, kept things moving smoothly throughout the project as our general foremen,” said Casal.
Overcoming Complex Challenges
“There were extreme logistical issues in bringing a range of security equipment – including cameras, control access systems, and fire and smoke detection systems – as well as heavy steel to the top of towers hovering 250 feet above water,” continued Casal. “In addition, these are long standing facilities with old access points and heavy steel structures that were not designed for the future or for special requirements when they were originally constructed.”
“Hellman carried out a similar security project for the Throgs Neck Bridge, which I believe gave us a competitive advantage in winning the MTA project,” said Casal.
Hellman achieved previous design-build success with its MTA project design partner, TransCore.
Taking On Higher Profile Projects
Hellman’s success in the MTA project has catapulted the company into a higher profile with the Design-Build projects.
“From ITS to security, we’re one of the top electrical contracting firms in New York,” said Casal. “Our team of engineers and electricians brings a wealth of expertise to the table, and I hope we can maintain that core for what looks like an exciting future.”
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