The Hoover Dam is one of the most recognizable public works in the country. Towering at 726.4 feet, with a base as thick as two football fields, this engineering masterpiece not only transformed the Colorado River but also created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in America. Before its construction began in 1931, the project underwent over 30 years of meticulous planning, research, and smaller-scale dam construction along the river and its tributaries.
The construction phase lasted from 1931 -1936, employing over 5000 people who worked in extreme working conditions, and 96 people died from on-site accidents. Boulder City, Nevada, was founded to accommodate the project’s massive workforce and their families. A large-scale infrastructure project, like the Hoover Dam, is a marvel of engineering and a great showcase of the project management needs for large-scale, multi-year projects.
Planning and management principles from the Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is an excellent example of an engineering project that required extensive research, planning, and surveying process before shovels ever hit the dirt. However, the project management principles learned on this project influenced engineering for years to come. The management of this gargantuan project was totally new at the time. No one company had ever attempted something so big. So six companies banned together to take on the project, forming Six Companies Inc. Together, Six Companies Inc. transformed the idea of how large-scale project management can work, and their work inspired project management practices for years to come. This collaborative strategy pooled resources and expertise and allowed the group to secure the winning construction bid by undercutting competitors by $5 million. Their success demonstrated how innovative project management approaches could redefine the execution of large-scale engineering projects, inspiring future practices worldwide.
Project management skills used by engineers today
Project management skills are critical in the engineering world and to our team at McNeil Engineering. We often work on large-scale, multi-year projects, and managing the intricacies of such projects requires more than just technical knowledge. Our team must also have comprehensive planning, budgeting, scheduling, quality control, risk management, and leadership skills to help projects progress. As engineers, we utilize our project management skills in every project. Some of the skills we provide include:
- Meeting project goals: Setting goals for a project that takes into account the scope of the project, including the client’s design needs, budget, and timeline, are crucial skills for a project’s success. One of our first steps on any project is to define the project’s scope and set goals and objectives for how we will meet those needs. Without this careful planning, it’s easy for a project to veer off track, leading to delays and budget overruns. This is especially important for long-term projects, where the scope may evolve over time.
- Effective planning: Once we know the goals of a project, our next project management step is the planning and scheduling of what needs to be done. We break down each project into smaller manageable tasks or construction phases and schedule the work over an appropriate timeline. When we consult with our clients, we often suggest a phased construction approach that spreads a project’s timeline over several years or months in batches of work. This allows us to manage a large project effectively by distributing the work and financial investment over time. Another aspect of our planning process is scheduling the work that needs to be done. This involves extensive coordination with other trades and general contractors.
- Budget management: The Hoover Dam is famous for how much it cost and what it did for the Depression-era economy at the time. Initially, the budget for the dam was $49 million, but then the added power plant and generators added another $71 million to the cost. Adjusted for inflation, the project today would cost 1 billion dollars. Like the Hoover Dam, engineering projects often come with hefty budgets that may change throughout the project. A crucial part of the project management process is effectively tracking and managing budget funds.
- Risk management: Working conditions at the time of the construction of the Hoover Dam were not good, and workers’ rights were not respected as they are today. The conditions were so bad that it led to a strike in 1931 as workers demanded better pay, cool water to drink, flush toilets, and safer working conditions. Their strike is one of the many worker’s actions that has led to the safety standards we now employ on the construction site to keep everyone safe and minimize risk. Every civil engineering project carries a certain level of risk, from environmental factors like inclement weather to logistical challenges, scope changes, and even resource shortages. As engineers, we assess the risk for a project and manage that risk with mitigation strategies.
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Leadership and communication: Leadership was central in managing large-scale projects like the Hoover Dam. From this historical example, we’ve learned how important it is to manage a team effectively, to ensure everyone is aligned with the project’s goals, and to foster collaboration and accountability. Strong communication is essential for coordinating with clients, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Conclusion
The Hoover Dam is a testament to the power of engineering, teamwork, and innovative project management. The lessons learned from its construction have influenced generations of engineers and continue to shape how large-scale projects are managed today. At McNeil Engineering, we take these principles to heart in every project. Whether we’re providing civil, structural, or landscape engineering services, we rely on careful planning, budgeting, risk management, and leadership to ensure the success of each project. We’re grateful for the lessons learned from past large-scale projects like the Hoover Dam that have been used to teach our team and help us grow as a company. If you need our engineering services, reach out today for our help.
