Sachse Construction managed tenant coordination and reconstruction services for Plaza Rio Hondo, a 555,000-square-foot shopping center in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Following a hurricane, the one-story complex sustained extensive façade, roof, and interior damage caused by wind and rain. Plaza Rio Hondo features a diverse mix of national and local tenants, including Best Buy, TJ Maxx, PetSmart, Marshalls, Clark, Skechers, Sally Beauty, Taco Bell, Burger King, and KFC.

The project scope included full exterior and interior reconstruction, remediation of tenant spaces, installation of a new roof, and repairs to rooftop mechanical units and utilities. A key challenge was that 75% of tenant spaces remained open and operational throughout construction.

KEY CHALLENGES

Three main factors shaped the reconstruction effort: unpredictable Caribbean weather, the complexity of the roofing system, and the location of roof drains.

Weather Management
Replacing the roof was essential to overall progress, but frequent, sudden rainstorms required flexibility. The team adopted a “do what you can, when you can” approach, keeping roof protection materials on-site to quickly shield newly completed sections during surprise storms. Night seals were applied daily to protect work completed each day.

Complex Roofing Conditions
Because the plaza had undergone multiple additions over the years, former exterior walls now served as interior walls—often within tenant spaces. This created complications in locating and repairing roof drains on both current and former exterior walls. To minimize tenant disruption, the team performed selective exploratory demolition prior to any in-space reconstruction, ensuring they fully understood drain conditions and could address issues efficiently.

Throughout the project, Sachse Construction coordinated closely with the landlord and tenant managers, maintaining consistent communication to limit downtime and keep daily operations running smoothly.