Paradise Employee Dormitory

Heavy traffic or scheduling conflicts are typical reasons for material delivery delays at most jobsites, but it’s rare that a black bear can be blamed for a tardy arrival.

Charter took the hindrance in stride when a black bear in the road slowed a concrete truck on its way to the Paradise Employee Dormitory jobsite in Mt. Rainier National Park. It was just one of many extreme conditions crews faced while building the four-story structure in a remote, snowy location.

The jobsite’s location at 5,770 ft. and at the end of a road was a challenge, and the job itself was taxing as well. The structure included a massive architectural concrete foundation, structural steel and light gauge framing. The structure also featured a steeply sloped, copper-clad double roof system.

Charter answered the National Park Service’s negotiated bid request after the job had been unsuccessfully hard-bid twice. Charter identified more than $300,000 in value engineering options that were critical in keeping the job within the Park Service’s tight budget.