PM Network - January 2017

MARKET WATCH

2010: Project launches; reconfiguration of underground roads begins

2012: Canopy construction begins; demolition of old pavilions complete

2013: Canopy construction completed; renovation of RER train station concourse begins

2014: Renovation of section of garden and reconfiguration of surface roads begins

2015: Reconfiguration of underground roads completed

2016: Reconfiguration of surface roads completed; passenger concourse renovation completed

Layers of Complexity

The mall and RER station—Europe’s largest underground train station— encompass six underground levels. Workers on upper levels had to take steps to ensure their tasks didn’t interfere with work below them, and vice versa. Coordinating work among so many layers was made more difficult because project managers rarely could draw on standards from projects past. And even when they could, surprises awaited.

For instance, when contractors began demolishing walls to remodel the train station, they discovered the thickness and construction of some walls didn’t match architectural plans the project team had reviewed. And the thickest walls had lots of lead and asbestos, which required extra remediation work for which the team had not planned. Mr. de Lanversin’s team met with state-owned public transportation operator RATP at least once a week to discuss increasingly difficult hazardous materials removal, among other things.

In the end, the train station remodel took a year longer than slated and was 14 percent over budget, Mr. de Lanversin says. “We constantly had to readjust schedule and planning.”