The primary goal of this $17-million project was to construct and commission two large dry rooms in 15 weeks as part of an effort to make more than 2 million COVID-19 test kits per week. 

The project aimed to assist Operation Warp Speed, a partnership between the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Dept. of Defense that sought to rapidly develop a COVID-19 vaccine in response to soaring coronavirus infections in the spring of 2020.  

The placement of specialized HVAC equipment occurred inside a fully staffed multiple-shift plant. Two massive, pad-mounted dehumidifiers were also installed for one of the dry rooms to alleviate risks should the accelerated timeline cause delivery delays. Coordination of teams working in every area of the building was necessary. Since the project fell under Warp Speed’s Defense Production Act, JMC had orders placed on priority status in the manufacturer’s queue to manage equipment lead times. 

Delivering the project on the accelerated schedule was one of the most challenging aspects of the project. 

Equipment with normal lead times of three to six months had to go through approvals and be built and delivered—all within weeks. To achieve this ambitious goal required procuring specialized HVAC equipment, working in a fully occupied building with multiple shifts and coordinating multiple teams.