Cook County Maintenance Facility | Public Works Facility Construction

Project Overview

Construction of a new public works maintenance facility to support Cook County’s operations in Grand Marais. The facility provides space for equipment storage, fleet maintenance operations, and year-round service in a rural North Shore environment. Cook County serves a geographically large and remote region along Lake Superior, where reliable infrastructure is critical to maintaining public services.

The project was initially delivered as a hard-bid procurement that exceeded the County’s budget. Rice Lake was subsequently engaged under a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method to lead preconstruction efforts, identify cost-saving strategies, and increase subcontractor and vendor participation. Preconstruction services began immediately to support rebidding and ensure a Summer 2024 start, with completion targeted ahead of the County’s winter maintenance season.

The 6,200-square-foot facility includes a four-bay garage and support spaces for maintenance operations. Rice Lake self-performed key scopes including earthwork, site utilities, concrete foundations, slab-on-grade, site concrete, carpentry, and installation of doors, hardware, and specialties.

Construction encountered unforeseen subsurface conditions, including shale rock and contaminated soils not identified in geotechnical reports. The work required rock blasting, excavation, and soil correction associated with a former dump site, all while maintaining the overall project schedule.