PROJECT NAME: Enriching the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Experience

CATEGORY: 8 - Best Building Project Under $10 Million – General Contractor

CONTRACTOR: Heath Construction, LLC, 141 Racquette Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524

970-221-4195

‘Breathtaking’ is how crowds describe the majestic Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. For Tracy

Stetzinger, who works just yards from the Clydesdales’ Fort Collins stable as supervisor of the

Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center, her first glimpse of the Center’s new indoor/outdoor

Biergarten took her breath away.

Heath Construction’s transformation of the 27-year-old Hospitality Center, where brewery

tours start and end for approximately 80,000 visitors a year, exudes the spirit of Gemütlichkeit

(pronounced ge-mut-lich-keit), a German term describing “a space or state of warmth,

friendliness and good cheer.”

When the brewery and original Hospitality Center opened decades ago, visitors began their

tours in a modest reception area. Afterward, many stopped by an indoor tasting room with an

unassuming bar serving beer, soda, and bagged pretzels; a simple unlit patio; and out-of-date gift

shop.

Today, the indoor/outdoor Biergarten includes features Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus

Busch likely enjoyed at 19th

century German biergartens: drinks, hearty food, shade, and a

relaxing atmosphere for conversation. The Fort Collins Biergarten is Anheuser-Busch’s second

biergarten and may serve as a model for others.

The lush 6,000-square-foot Biergarten is the centerpiece of the revamped Hospitality Center,

which opened in December 2014. The inviting outdoor space features large natural-gas fire pits,

shade trees, subtle lighting, and overflowing 30- and 40-foot-long flower planters that

complement an airy, 900-square-foot outdoor bar.

The Hospitality Center incorporates a full-service restaurant with beer-infused food guests

can pair with 30 craft beers and many long-time Anheuser-Busch favorites. German-engineered

NanaWall floor-to-ceiling operable partitions connect the remodeled 3,000-square-foot indoor

bar/restaurant to the outdoor Biergarten. In summer, all partitions open to combine the two

spaces.

Guests entering the building are welcomed by a revamped lobby and hallway showcasing a

timeline that follows the rich history of America’s most iconic and largest brewery. The inviting

lobby opens into a renovated Gift Shop designed to enhance guests’ shopping experience.

Behind the scenes, a new 800-square-foot kitchen and 500-square-foot walk-in cooler full of

ale and lager barrels supply the Biergarten’s food and drink.

After Heath completely gutted, expanded, and remodeled the building, the number of guests

visiting the new Biergarten jumped 11% with revenue growing a hefty 200%.

The Heath team surmounted multiple challenges, including a corroded and leaking six-inch

cast-iron sewer line in the Hospitality Center; incredibly tight working conditions in a very

public space with three surrounding buildings just 10-feet away; ADA compliance issues

uncovered during construction; 27-year-old Hospitality Center drawings that lacked detail. All

challenges were overcome while meeting the goal of zero lost time and zero incidents.

Heath also maintained a low level of noise and dust during these operations to ensure a

positive brewery experience for the 2,000-3,000 guests that walked alongside the construction

site each week.

“Heath provided non-stop, excellent communication throughout the project,” Stetzinger said

about the company’s consultation and feedback in weekly meetings and each day onsite. “They

were extremely prompt answering any question. When critical decisions needed to be made,

they were there to help. I worked closely with Terry (Heath superintendent). He was always

onsite. Always available.”

Hidden Damage to Main Sewer Line

A month into the project as crews were connecting new kitchen water lines to the building’s

27-year-old main sewer pipe, they discovered the cast-iron sewer line was severely corroded,

crumbling, and leaking considerably. Vague plans from the original construction did not label

the six-inch line as cast-iron. Unable to find a solid entry point in nearby sections of the 100-

foot pipe that extends down the center of the building, crews fed a camera into the line and

uncovered the magnitude of damage.

The severe leak was leaching water underground. About 20-feet west of the corroded pipe,

outside crews were digging two-foot-deep trenches below a wall of old glass doors to install

caissons for the replacement NanaWall floor-to-ceiling partitions. Soon after digging

commenced, they discovered wet material, indicating water had breached the footer separating

the indoor area from the outside patio.

Heath and the Anheuser-Busch team worked closely together to investigate possible options

and determine the most cost-effective, long-term solution. The decision was made to dig a four-

foot deep by two-foot wide sloped trench down the building’s center and replace the entire

corroded pipe with six-inch PVC pipe.

The trench created a safety issue and affected installation of electrical lines, soffits, and wood

beams in the ceiling, and impacted the schedule to affix moss-covered stone on five columns and

replace worn carpet with wood flooring.

Because the trench ran down the middle of the room near active work areas, and the volume

of dangerous high work underway, the number of trades allowed in the space was reduced from

eight to a maximum of three. Within three weeks the PVC pipe was installed, trench filled, and

site work resumed as planned.

Resolving ADA Compliance Issue

Outside, when crews removed sections of an original planter to open a walkway, a six-inch

drop emerged, making the walkway non-ADA compliant. Heath removed 20 yards of concrete

from the bottom of the drop then poured concrete to smooth the transition and meet ADA’s

guideline of a 2% slope.

Ensuring a Superb Guest Experience

With the stable for America’s beloved Clydesdales and the temporary Hospitality Center tent

just 10-feet from the jobsite, the Heath team faced daily pressure to not obstruct guest visits.

Approximately 600 visitors a day walked beside the construction site, with another 1,200

attending Friday night concerts. Heath built a 200-foot walkway that meandered outside the

Hospitality Center to guide guests to the temporary tent-enclosed ‘lobby’.

Because the temporary Hospitality Center was open and beer tastings ongoing throughout

construction, the Heath crew had to install or connect electrical, water, beer, and natural gas lines

without interrupting daily operations. Connections to and from the large walk-in cooler

supplying beer to the temporary outside bar were especially important, since beer tastings and

the Clydesdales are highly anticipated post-tour activities. Strong planning and communication

between Heath, Anheuser-Busch, and subcontractors resulted in seamless operations.

It was imperative the team mitigate construction noise and dust. Loud work such as

jackhammering, pouring concrete with a 52-meter boom over the cherished stable, and other

intrusive activities were completed as the sun rose. Visqueen sheeting covered the open wall

where the NanaWall floor-to-ceiling partitions would be placed to shield guests from dust

produced by inside work.

A full-sized Clydesdale statue at the stable entrance – a popular spot for photographs – was

just 10-feet from where the outside bar was built. Carefully erecting 35-foot steel beams with a

mini-crane and pouring concrete with the 52-meter boom required meticulous planning and

cautious movements.

Overcoming Lag Time for Equipment Deliveries

The Heath team faced long lead times to secure specialty equipment furnished by Anheuser-

Busch and still meet the project timeline. The NanaWall partitions separating the Biergarten’s

indoor and outdoor areas, epoxy bar countertops made with local recycled glass, 50 tons of

Colorado moss rock installed on indoor columns and new outdoor planters, and all equipment for

the full-service kitchen were among the installations Heath planned for and flawlessly integrated

into the project.

A Toast to Safety

A limit of three trades at a time were allowed in the 3,000-square-foot indoor room

(instead of the regular eight) due to unsafe conditions created by the 4-foot sewer-pipe

trench.

The constant flow of guests near the highly visible jobsite elevated Heath’s safety

measures. Each day guests stopped at the fence – sometimes just a few feet from heavy

construction activity – to ask questions and watch the Heath team work.

Safety discussions were essential during weekly team meetings to review work underway

and discuss upcoming activities.

Separate safety meetings were held before specific activities commenced. For example, a

meeting was held strictly to discuss demolition, another focused on excavating.

Additional meetings were held about safety measures for trenching, pipe installation,

concrete pouring, cleanup procedures, etc.

Safety at Anheuser-Busch is paramount and aligns with Heath’s strict safety guidelines.

Random safety visits by Anheuser-Busch staff were welcomed. No safety violations

were found.

Spirit of Sustainability

The Heath team diverted over 75% of construction material from the landfill by recycling

60 yards of concrete, five tons of metal, along with dumpsters of cardboard and glass.

Workers reused hundreds of pounds of flagstone removed from an original planter and

installed it on an extension of another.

Throughout the project, the team worked alongside six mature trees and overflowing 30-

and 40-foot planters without harming any plant.

Biergarten Bonus for Non Profits

The renovated and expanded Hospitality Center and Biergarten used by Northern Colorado

non-profits have helped raised significantly more funds than previous years. Habitat for

Humanity’s 2015 fundraiser in the Biergarten raised $41,000, a significant increase over 2014.

Habitat credits the Biergarten’s atmosphere, size, and improved infrastructure for the donation

increase.

Each week, the brewery hosts ‘Fire Pit Friday’ in the Biergarten, where guests purchase

S’more kits for $5, with proceeds donated to local non-profits. Within a few months, the weekly

event raised thousands of dollars for local agencies.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH 6,000-SF BIERGARTEN

Before & After

BEFORE

BEFORE

3,000-SF INDOOR SEATING AREA

Before & After

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

ENTRYWAY AND GIFT SHOP

Under Construction & After

LEAKING SEWER LINE

Created Three-Week Delay

TIGHT QUARTERS

Jobsite surrounded by three

buildings; guests just 10 feet

away

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

NEW OUTDOOR BAR

Under Construction & After