Corporate Mechanical of New England (CMNE) is currently working with Columbia Construction to upgrade the plumbing in the north tower of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, a 29-foot building with 809 guestrooms. The upgrade includes demolition and installation of new room finishes and piping systems connecting to the existing domestic water supply, sanitary piping, venting, and drainage, as well as high-efficiency and water-saving plumbing fixtures. The demo involves observation to ensure all valves and piping are functioning correctly, followed by rough pipe installation. Columbia Construction then preps the entire room with tiling, carpentry, wallpaper, and marble countertops. Once complete, CMNE’s crew returns to install the final fixtures and accessories.
CMNE is prefabricating shower piping assemblies at their in-house facility, creating standardized assemblies that are pneumatically pressure tested for leaks and quality assurance. The bathrooms include three shower styles: stall, tub, and handicap for left and right installation. Each assembly is mounted on plywood, labeled with floor and room numbers, and packed for streamlined transport to the hotel elevator and room distribution. To ensure accuracy, the project foreman uses a matrix to identify rooms and their specific requirements. The assemblies are then attached to the shower wall frames and integrated into the plumbing system. This process significantly reduces on-site labor, enabling easy installation in a shorter time frame.
L-R Connor Bolton–Sr. Project Manager, Emily O’Brien–Journeyperson Plumber, and Ramon Berrios–Plumbing Superintendent
The goal is to complete one floor per week, totaling 809 tubs and showers. Each floor must be approved before work begins on another floor. CMNE utilizes a room checklist system to efficiently track the guestroom’s completion status to minimize time loss. A U-Boat carting system is used for all fixtures, and accessories are stored in cage trollies that fit through guestroom doorways for easy maneuverability. In addition, each plumber has a push-cart complete with any tools or accessories necessary.
This project began in May and is scheduled to be completed in December. UA Local 12 plumbers are fabricating and plumbing the guestrooms.
Article contributors: John Drew–Master Plumber/Project Executive, Connor Bolton–Sr. Project Manager, Ramon Berrios–Plumbing Superintendent, and Emily O’Brien–Journeyperson Plumber.
