A once-in-a-lifetime experience is how Moss employees viewed winning the bid to build a Formula 1 racetrack that opened in May in Miami. Racing enthusiast themselves, the employees were ready to tackle the challenge of the mandate for the project to be fully completed within 9 months. This tight timeline was necessitated by the fact the first race was already scheduled prior to award of the construction contract.

Moss is a national construction management company. Moss is listed as, “a family business, forged on longstanding relationships and unwavering trust.” The company says, “We put our world-class experience and entrepreneurial spirit to work across all areas of construction management, general contracting, design-build and public-private partnerships.”

The Moss team interviewed for this article included one AACE International member and two fellow Moss employees. They were more than ready to jump at the chance to build this project in Miami and approached it with the attitude to, “take it head on and it can be done.”

Featured Moss Employees

Eric Cannon, PSP, has been an AACE member for at least the past 14 years. He was selected as scheduler for the Formula 1 project. “This was on my bucket list, and I was glad to be part of the team,” notes Eric. He had resided in Spain in the 1970s and his parents took him to a Formula 1 race when he was 13, and this ignited his love of racing. Eric has been a Moss employee for 7 plus years and has 25 plus years in scheduling. He holds a BS in construction degree from the Florida International University. He became an AACE certified Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) in 2008.

Bill Suarez is a general superintendent with Moss, having 40 years’ experience in construction, specific to the South Florida area. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something like we just built,” he commented upon completion of the project. The first race he attended was the Grand Prix in Miami in 1983, and he has been hooked on race watching ever since. Noting that he is “the builder in the room,” Bill says this was the coolest project on which he has worked. He says construction of the track was a popular and worldwide know project.

Melvyn Mendez served as the assistant project manager for the Formula 1 project. He holds a BS degree in construction management from Florida International University. On the Moss F1 team, he was assigned to work on documentation control, change orders, and financials related to the project. “When I was offered the opportunity to work on this project, I just could not say no,” notes Melvyn. He traveled to Monaco for his honeymoon and his wife surprised him with an opportunity to drive around the Monaco circuit track in a Ferrari rental.” This became a lifetime memory for the racing enthusiast. He adds, “I come from a family that loves racing. He says he was taught from the time he was a young child that “racing is how we find our limits.” He adds, “we find obstacles and go over those”

Project History

On May 3, having just completed the Formula 1 Track construction project, the above three Moss employees participated in a virtual online technical event, moderated by Avi Sharma, Chair of the AACE Rising Professionals Committee. This article recaps in print what the panelists shared concerning the history of Formula 1, construction details, methods and logistics connected to the construction of the Formula 1 track. Construction was wrapped up just in time as the Miami Grand Prix took place for the first time in Miami on May 8. Prior to that race, Bill said he was “looking forward to a great race and to hearing comments from the racers about the track Moss had just built.”

Construction Highlights

Eric, project scheduler, says there were four construction phases to the track and one timeline for the pit paddock. The initial plan of attack was how to build this track within the time constraints as the initial May race was already scheduled while the construction was still being planned. He said a central energy plant had to be built, tennis courts had to be relocated, permits had to be obtained, the architects/engineers were rushing to complete the design, and there were various versions of how to build the track. As with all projects, Eric noted that things change throughout the life of the construction phase.

One of his areas of responsibility was quality control. He says construction was broken down into station points and everything had to be monitored for quality control right down to where the seams in the asphalt would be placed. Bi-weekly he would come to the job site and walk the job. During these visits, he was validating historicals, and evaluating forecasted work. He would conduct reviews with the team on issues of procurement and looking ahead. He would prepare reports for the coordination meetings.

Eric notes that one of the biggest scheduling challenges was the fact this this was an active campus while construction of the track and paddock were taking place. Concerts, football (professional and college) and the Miami Tennis Open were some of the events that occurred during those 9 months of construction. Logistics with routing traffic, providing temporary asphalt parking, and closing the project during these events were constantly communicated between all parties.

Design team meetings were essential in permits to be procured and material to be released. During the COVID pandemic, the project team constantly communicated with the subcontractors to confirm deliveries of materials at a high level. There were many supply issues, the most concerning revolved around electrical and mechanical components.

Bill, as General Superintendent, approached the project with the rock-solid mandate that “failure was not an option —no excuses, it has to get done.” Construction had to begin, progress, and wrap up within a short timeframe. His team would have to work around the Miami Dolphins football season, the Miami Open, Jazz in the Gardens and other concerts. He pondered the timeframe, the conditions, and the owner expectations.

Within two days of the City of Miami approving the project and Moss getting its notice to proceed, Bill was sent to the project. At the same time, the architect was still doing the design drawings. Engineers were being sent in from Europe to bring their Formula 1 track construction experience to ensure that the construction would meet regulations. “We had to have meetings pretty much on a daily basis,” notes Bill. He again stressed the timeline. “We had 9 months to build the whole place, we could not interrupt concerts or other scheduled events, we could not shut down sidewalks or parking —but the track had to be ready for the scheduled May race.”

“It was a team effort,” explains Bill. He says all the subs stepped up, everyone worked together as there was no time for arguing.” The initial work involved cutting down 24-inches to get to the subgrade.

Bill believes he was aided by his 40-years of construction experience and the fact that he had previously worked with a lot of the sub-contractors. He said they already knew not to tell him what he wanted to hear but to be upfront and tell him if what he was asking them to do could in fact be accomplished. “I knew there would be change orders, we started construction when the design drawings were only 30 percent complete, notes Bill. He said the owners were on board with the changes that are mandated to complete construction on such a tight schedule. He said things like pricing issues, getting three bids and other things that take too much time were out the window. This project’s main mandate was to deliver a completed track within the 9-month timeframe. One thing they could not get around was a very thick book of Formula 1 regulations for the project. “Those had to each be met,” noted Bill.

“We are in Florida, it rains in the afternoons,” notes Bill. He said the workers would take advantage of sunshine when they had it and there was a lot of Saturday and Sunday work to keep the project on schedule and meet the tight timeline of a 9-month delivery. A foot of specific granite rock from Georgia had to be procured to meet Formula 1 requirements for the base. There would be three layers of asphalt on top of the base and sometimes drains had to be added to one or both sides of the track. APEX, R3 and South Florida Motorsports had quality control people at the asphalt plant to supervise the mixing of the asphalt to specific requirements and they maintained constant communication with other quality control engineers who were on site to ensure the asphalt was placed in accordance with the Miami Grand Prix Specifications.

Lessons Learned

Melvyn says his main takeaway was “make sure a relationship of mutual respect exists.” He says had there been more time to build the track, they could have explored more options for procuring some of the needed materials. He also says Moss employees had to push the architects and engineers to give directions when work was underway, and the needed drawings were still being created.

Eric says, looking back, he thinks he needed to be onsite on a daily basis as a full-time scheduler because of the complexity of the project and the very tight completion timeline. However, he views the project as a complete success, saying “We are ready for race day.”

Bill says when the project was first discussed, his response was: “You want us to build what in what time?” However, he sees the key to success as having been to simply “put your mind to it. Tackle it head on and it can be done.”

One of the AACE online seminar attendees was impressed with the success of the project. “Congratulations team, way to crush it,” he concluded.

Wikipedia says, “The Miami Grand Prix is a Formula One Grand Prix which forms part of the 2022 Formula One World Championship, with the event taking place at the Miami International Autodrome on a ten-year contract.”

• First held: 2022
• Laps: 57
• Race length: 326 km (191.585 miles)
• Most wins (constructors): Red Bull Racing(1)
• Most wins (drivers): Max Verstappen (1)
  

According to the F1 website:

“The Miami International Autodrome is a temporary circuit, but one designed to have a permanent feel. Set in the Hard Rock Stadium complex in Miami Gardens, home to the NFL’s famous Miami Dolphins franchise, the track is the culmination of a development process that simulated no less than 36 different layouts before settling on a thrilling, 19-turn lap that provides a street circuit vibe, not dissimilar to Melbourne’s Albert Park.”

Posted website information further states that, “The inaugural Miami Grand Prix took place in May 2022, the Florida race joining its Texan counterpart in Austin to become the second US race on the calendar – and the 11th different American venue to host a round of the Formula 1 world championship.”

The track is described as a street-track spectacular on the website. Posted content reads, “With the Hard Rock Stadium at its epicenter, the 5.41km layout will feature 19 corners, three straights, potential for three DRS zones, and an estimated top speed of 320km/h. There are elevation changes too, the main one found between Turns 13 and 16, with the track heading over an exit ramp and under various flyovers across uneven ground. The Turn 14-15 chicane, meanwhile, has an uphill approach, with a crest in the middle, and then drops down on exit.”

Promotion for the venue says, “The Hard Rock Stadium knows how to put on a show – it has hosted six Super Bowls, two Baseball World Series and numerous rock concerts. Put it at the heart of a track designed to encourage close racing while meeting the highest safety standards and you have a sure-fire winner for spectators. Then there’s Miami itself – famed for its sandy beaches, art deco vibe, vibrant multiculturalism, and rich sporting heritage, it’s an essential destination for those visiting the Sunshine State. When viewing a sporting event in a purpose-built stadium, it’s hard to go wrong. In fact, you could walk around the top deck of the Hard Rock Stadium and see every corner of the track – pretty unique. As for the best passing spots, a seat near Turns 1, 11 or 17 should put you in the thick of the action.”

Melvyn says the idea of F1 racing began as the European Drivers Championship back in 1931-32 and then 1934-39. There were only three Grand Prix championships, the Italian Grand Prix, the French Grand Prix, and the Belgium/German Grand Prix. In 1939, World War II started and placed a hold on motorsports. The Monza track in Italy was a wood track that featured incredible banking. The Spa track in Belgium became known as a super treacherous track, and the Silverstone track in the United Kingdom hosted the first British Grand Prix in 1950.

As Formula 1 racing regulations were developed, they addressed issues such as the weight of the cars. Regulations were put in place so none of the cars weighed too little or too much. In 1946, the

The Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile (FiA) is the governing body for world motor sports and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organizations. FiA is the governing body for Formula 1 racing. FiA took over setting race regulations in 1946. In 1951, the first official F1 race was sponsored. In 1958 was the first constructor’s championship. Melvyn says, “Safety regulations grew in importance as the sport became more dangerous.” Over 50 racers have died from injuries received in crashes. In recent years, a new safety device was mandated to try and protect drivers from whiplash injuries.

F1 racing appears to be gaining momentum in the US. Liberty Media is credited with aiding this momentum by creating a Netflix Formula Drive to Survive video series. Melvyn says the race car motors were moved to the back of the vehicles in the 1960s. By 1996, larger motors were introduced and many of the tracks were refurbished. Bigger vehicles with lots of sensors made their debut in 2004. It was 2020 when the halo device was added above the driver’s head space as an added means of protection. Hybrid turbo engines also came on the scene in 2020. These engines have two energy systems and reroute the exhaust and put it back in the engine for more power.

Melvyn was looking forward to the initial May Formula 1 race in Miami. He says maximum driver speed would be 200 mph. “I expect it to be the most exciting and entertaining race all season. With high speed and glamour, I see the Miami track as trying to be the American Monaco.”

For this first in the series article, Eric Cannon is the interviewee who is an AACE International member.

He says the highlights of his career as associated with AACE have included:

• Learning from AACE professionals that mentored him in the field of scheduling when he first started.
• After having been in the field for 10 years is when he decided he could take the PSP exam and pass it. He plans to retain his PSP certification throughout his professional life.
• AACE membership allows him to use the recommended practices in his everyday functions.
• AACE membership allows him to mentor the upcoming generation on the importance of becoming a member and working to become certified in one of the AACE certification areas.
• Eric says “Attending the annual Conference & Expo is icing on the cake.” He adds, “You meet other peers in your field, you are able to ask questions, meet friends, and can take home ‘new nuggets’ of information from those presenting.”

Wrapping Things Up

Eric notes that, “Moss is transforming the industry by requiring that our department work toward getting professional certifications, allowing the company to market the industry as a premier construction manager that can plan, manage, and complete projects on time and on budget.”