CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
www.constructionnews.net
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279  11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216  (210) 308-5800  December 2003  Vol. 1, No. 6
Scottish Rite Hospital
receives donation
T
he North Texas Chapter of American Subcontractor Association,
the Beck Group, HKS, Inc., and ccrd
Partners teamed up to donate a picnic
pavilion to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. HKS and ccrd Partners provided the
design, Beck coordinated construction,
and the ASA provided free labor and materials.
The new picnic pavilion, complete
with cookout grill, refrigerator unit, restrooms, ice machines, and a microwave
oven, will allow friends of the hospital the
opportunity to host events, such as birthdays and holiday get-togethers.
Jeff Haven, principal and project
manager for HKS, Inc. said, “This project
allowed all of us to give something back
to the hospital, after all they do for children. It will allow families to come together to celebrate special occasions in a
park-like environment.”
The 696 sf facility is designed with
overhead garage doors to protect the
pavilion from the weather. The standing
seam metal roof blends with a previously
donated pavilion, located on the other
side of the hospital. The brick exterior
and tile work are designed to match components used to build the hospital.
“We are proud to again be working
with ASA on this important project. We
designed and built the first pavilion in
1998. Both of these projects are based
on the donations of time, materials, and
expertise. We are just in charge of harnessing all of that talent in order to benefit friends, family, and patients at the
hospital,” commented Randy Chamberlain, superintendent for the Beck Group.
Linda White, executive director of
ASA, said, “We have been involved with
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for 10 years.
We truly value our relationship and are
thrilled to continue working with the
good people at the hospital.”
One of those good people, Jim Sturgis, VP and senior associate administrator at Scottish Rite, said, “This beautiful
pavilion will encourage even more children and their families to enjoy the park,
promoting the healing process.”
JM Electronic Engineering
expands into DFW market
Founder J.E. Moore and his son, company President, J.J. Moore.
J
M Electronic Engineering has been
making history in the fire protection
industry for over 45 years. JMEE’s
founder, J.E. Moore, invented the first
automatic phone dialer for fire alarm systems and the first wireless smoke sensor
in 1966.
While Moore is staying comfortably
in Round Rock, Tony Newman, and several certified technicians have opened for
business in north Texas. By popular demand, JMEE came to this decision.
Moore said, “With such a demand
from our customers, I thought we’d better honor their request.”
JMEE serves many nursing homes
and assisted living centers where automated fire systems are mandated by
state law. Since many of these facilities
are owned by parent companies, already
using JMEE’s services, they wanted the
same quality for their residences in north
Texas.
JMEE already has over 50 nursing
homes signed up for service and regular
inspections in their new territory.
Moore said, “We consider any service
call to be an emergency, because at most
nursing homes, there are people with
poor health, so we try to be there within
one hour.”
This type of concern for their customer’s safety is the cornerstone of their
success and the reason they are in demand all over the state of Texas.
JMEE recently made the decision to
become UL listed. This is a large financial
expenditure for any company, but they
continued on Page 10
Linbeck’s teamwork brightens facility
A
dren’s Medical Center for the last ten years.
Linenberger said the building was carefully
designed and constructed to provide a
flawless appearance between the new addition and existing 1989 hospital.
“The client has a keen sense for pediatric hospital architecture and good design.
The result has met the client’s goal for a
seamless appearance,” Linenberger explained.
At a project cost of $53 million, the Patient Pavilion combines an expansion of
185,000-sf of new space and 13,000-sf of
renovated space. Construction began in
December 2001 with the demolition of the
vintage 1960’s children’s hospital. The new
Pavilion was formally dedicated 22 months
later on Oct. 17, 2003.
n injured child sits wide-eyed on a
comfortable chair and waits to see the
doctor. He looks up to notice bright
colors, fun shapes and smiling faces. Within a
few minutes he feels at ease as he thinks of
happy times with friends and family. In the
final completion stage, Cook Children’s Medical Center Patient Pavilion in Fort Worth will
provide a cheerful non-institutional environment for children with radiant imaginations.
The 282-bed healthcare facility offers
care and rehabilitation of ill or injured children. Open, naturally illuminated spaces create a relaxed setting for children receiving
medical attention.
Dallas/ Fort Worth Construction News
spoke to Mark Linenberger, vice president
and client executive for Linbeck, about the
scope of the project. He has been involved
with program management at Cook Chil-
Covering the Industry’s News
Texas Style
San Antonio  Austin  Dallas/Ft. Worth  Houston
continued on Page 10
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
PRSRT. STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
DALLAS, TX
PERMIT #4258
Page 2 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
UTSWMC jobsite earns
OSHA Star status
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A
ustin Commercial was recently
notified by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, that its University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center jobsite was approved for Star status through OSHA’s
Voluntary Protection Programs.
The Voluntary Protection Programs
promote effective safety and health at
worksites. In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and
health management system. Approval
into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of
the outstanding efforts of employers and
employees who have achieved exemplary success in occupational safety and
health.
Joe Reina, OSHA deputy regional
administrator for Region 6, said, “The
federal registry says you must have a permanent work location. As a result of that,
since construction sites are not permanent work sites, construction companies
were not eligible to join VPP, up until a
year or so ago, when the Federal Registry
was changed.”
John Henshaw, assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor presented Austin Commercial with a plaque and the official VPP
Star flag on Fri., Nov. 7.
Austin Commercial’s sibling company, Austin Industrial has earned the Star
designation at four plant facilities where
they perform maintenance and fabrication.
Safety is valued and stressed at Austin Commercial. They report more than
two million man-hours without a lost
time accident.
Austin Commercial’s website recognizes a Safety Hero of the month.
October’s hero was Jim Guntorius,
superintendent of the Presbyterian Hospital in Plano’s parking garage project.
Guntorius,
Austin
Commercial
employee/owner, said, “Our safety policies and procedures are documented in
our annual safety plan, site–specific
safety programs, and in our safety manual for supervisors. Historically, we achieve
accident rates that are 50 to 70 percent
better than the national average, published by the Bureau of Labor.”
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L-R holding plaque: John Henshaw, U.S. Department of Labor assistant secretary
and Scott Kahler, Austin Commercial senior superintendent.
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TDLR to begin statewide
licensing of electricians
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B
eginning September 1, 2004, Texas will institute its first statewide licensing program for electricians. Having a state license will allow electricians to operate in
multiple jurisdictions in the state by earning a single credential, and will also
ensure that all licensed electricians in the state are properly trained and qualified to
perform their jobs.
According to a press release, over the next several months, the Texas Commission
of Licensing and Regulation will be developing standards and approving an examination for electricians.
The advisory board meeting is open to the public, and interested parties are encouraged to attend. In addition, those unable to attend can monitor the proceeding
on the internet at
http://real.license.state.tx.us:8080/ramgen/encoder/elecmeet111803.rm.
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Eight new members
T
he Texas Commission of Licensing
and Regulation has appointed eight
members of the nine-member
Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board. The newly created board
will advise the commissions on issues related to the licensing of electricians, including applicable codes.
The new ESLAB public members are
Brad Boyer, Cypress and Mark Goodson, Denton; Keith Bell, Forney; Randy
Pomikahl, Briarcliff and Ray L. Audas,
Conroe, were appointed the ESLAB master electrician members. ESLAB journeyman electrician members include: Tony
Merritt, Texarkana;
Kenny Corbell,
Longview and A.C. McAfee, Mesquite.
Chosen out of 90 qualified applicants, the eight members were nominat-
ed based on statutory requirements,
geographic location, and recommendations from key constituencies.
In late June, Gov. Rick Perry signed
House Bill 1487, enacted by the 78th Legislature to provide for the establishment
of a statewide licensing program.
The new state license will allow electricians to operate in multiple jurisdictions in Texas by earning a single credential. In addition, the license will ensure
that all licensed electricians in the state
are properly qualified and trained to perform their jobs.
Over the next several months, the
Texas Commission of Licensing and regulation will develop standards and approve an examination for electricians.
CONSTRUCTION
Publisher:
Buddy Doebbler
Production Dir:
Reesa Doebbler
Senior Writer
Leif Dove
Staff Writer
Abby Richardson
Production/Graphics:
Sue Johnson
Administrator:
Kevin Hughes
Dallas  Ft. Worth
Construction News
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279
210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960
© 2003 Construction News, Ltd.
www.constructionnews.net
The Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News
is published monthly by
Construction News Ltd.,
dba Dallas/Ft. Worth Construction News,
and distributed by mail to
construction-related companies in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area.
Additional subscriptions are available
for $25 per year.
All submissions should be mailed to our
editorial offices. We reserve the right to
edit any materials submitted. No fees for
materials, copy or photographs submitted
will be due unless agreed upon in advance in
writing. Submissions will be published at our
discretion on a space-available basis.
Construction News, Ltd., dba Dallas  Ft.
Worth Construction News, will not be liable for
errors in copy or in advertisements beyond
the actual cost of space occupied by the error.
Publisher reserves the right to reject any
advertisement at any time.
Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 3
Coronado Builders develop ACE
D
allas-based Coronado Builders
has developed a new internal assessment process, Achieving
Coronado Excellence (ACE) to measure
performance within the company. Celebrating its 26th anniversary this year,
Coronado’s professional team takes great
pride in each accomplishment.
In the past few years the company
has worked on 25 different school districts in the north Texas area, including
the University of North Texas Student Service Center and the University of Texas at
Arlington’s College of Business Administration. Other completed projects include
hospitals, recreation centers and airports.
According to CEO Wallis H. Bryce,
his company has always been concerned
about bringing value to every customer.
“Since the beginning of Coronado in
1977, we have simply tried to do everything right and to the best of our ability
as a full-service general contractor and
construction manager
Coronado Builders was presented
two awards for its educational buildings
this year. Bransom Elementary School in
Burleson won the 2003 Best of Texas
Award for Education Buildings K-12. In
addition, Coronado collected the 2003
Merit Award for Education Buildings K-12
L-R: Wallis H. Bryce, CEO and Richard L. Horton, president of Coronado Builders
for the Burleson High School Athletic Complex Building.
The company president, Richard L. Horton added, “Quality, safety and on-time
delivery are the price of admission in this industry.”
“Coronado general contractor/construction manager represents the path of least
resistance for owners,” Horton continued. “We make their job easier while ensuring
that all team objectives are met. The right people combined with the right processes,
result in a satisfied customer.”
Woman shines in
Denton community
G
ayle W. Strange, a writer, researcher, land
developer and rancher has just started her
own construction company. Balancing responsibilities for her new business, Strange has
also been reappointed by Gov. Rick Perry to serve a
second term as a University of North Texas Regent
until May 2009.
Axiom Commercial Company is a general
contracting business that Gayle and her husband,
Virgil Strange, recently formed to provide an alternative to traditional wood construction in the
commercial market of Denton.
“Although Axiom is new, we have worked together in the construction industry for 23 years,”
Strange added, “Axiom is small family-owned busi-
ness. We are able to respond to varying
requests quickly.”
Reclaiming historical buildings and
making them useful for today’s needs is
one of Strange’s proudest accomplishments for the company.
“We rebuilt Denton’s 1925 hospital,
using steel framing inside the old masonry wall,” Strange continued. “Outside,
the building looks just as it did in 1925.
Inside, the building is a modern office
complex.”
In her free time, Strange has written
and researched for her two non-fiction
books: Portraits of Denton and Lively
Stones. She enjoys sharing the stories
about people who founded communities and helped to build the State of Texas.
Strange concluded that her goals
for the next few years are to continue the
tradition of outstanding quality, personal
attention to detail and visionary use of
products and applications that others
will not try, whether that occurs in new
construction or in the renovation and
retrofitting of old structures.
Highlights of exciting
2003 events
ABC members gather at the “Huntin’ for New Members” membership blitz.
ABC members at the annual Sporting Clay Safety Shoot.
A
s this year comes to an end, the
North Texas Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors reflects on past events and programs of
2003.
ABC members participated in a community food drive on May 20th through
Aug. 19th to help the Tarrant Area Food
Bank and the North Texas Food Bank.
Members donated over 500 pounds of
food and gave the food banks over
$1200.
On June 27, over 70 ABC members
and guests came out with guns blazing
for the annual Sporting Clay Safety Shoot
at the Dallas Gun Club. Some of members were lucky enough to walk away
with brand new Benelli shotguns. Many
of the shooters used this event as a warm
up for the upcoming hunting seasons.
Sept. 8 proved to be an ideal day for
the ABC North Texas Fall Golf Classic at
the Trophy Club Golf Course. Two-hundred golfers played morning and afternoon rounds. All golfers received a coupon for a free foursome from the Trophy
Club, complimentary golf balls and cool
refreshments throughout the day. Door
ABC North Texas Fall Classic winners
at Trophy Golf Club.
prizes were handed out at the awards
dinner
In the weeks leading up to Sept. 13,
ABC members played an instrumental role
in getting Proposition 12 passed, which
will make medical care affordable, as well
as restore confidence in and improve accessibility to our health care system.
A membership blitz, with the theme
called “Huntin’ for New Members,” was
held on Sept. 17th and 18th, bringing in
15 members to ABC North Texas Chapter.
The room was decorated in a hunting
theme, with camouflage clothing and accessories on the wall. To date, recruitment stands at 59 new members for
2003.
After an outstanding year of membership increases and exciting events,
ABC North Texas looks forward to a successful 2004.
Page 4 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
San Antonio  Austin  Houston
OSHA
To read these and other stories in full, go to our Website at
www.constructionnews.net.
Electric Tool Safety
By Joann Nataranjan
San Antonio
mployees using electric tools must be aware of several dangers; the most serious is the possibility of
electrocution.
TDIndustries implements new division
The San Antonio branch of employee-owned TDIndustries, an HVAC,
plumbing, refrigeration and electrical contracting company, has initiated a
new division under the leadership of project manager Timothy S. Baughman.
Among the chief hazards of electric-powered
tools are burns and slight shocks which can
lead to injuries or even heart failure. Under certain conditions, even a small
amount of current can result in fibrillation of the heart and eventual death. A
shock also can cause the user to fall off a ladder or other elevated work surface.
Browning Construction Co. delivers Mayan 14 Theater
Working within a six-month time frame, Browning Construction co. successfully renovated an obsolete, outdated south side theater for owner Santikos Investments.
E
To protect the user from shock, tools
must either have a three-wire cord with
ground and be grounded, be double
insulated, or be powered by a lowvoltage isolation transformer. Three-wire
cords contain two current-carrying
conductors and a grounding conductor.
One end of the grounding conductor
connects to the tool’s metal housing. The
other end is grounded through a prong
on the plug. Anytime an adapter is used
to accommodate a two-hole receptacle,
the adapter wire must be attached
to a known ground. The third prong
should never be removed from the plug.
Double insulation is more convenient.
The user and the tools are protected
in two ways: by normal insulation on
the wires inside, and by a housing
that cannot conduct electricity to the
operator in the event of a malfunction.
These general practices should be
followed when using electric tools:
• Electric tools should be operated
within their design limitations.
• Gloves and safety footwear are
recommended during use of electric
tools.
• When not in use, tools should be
stored in a dry place.
• Electric tools should not be used in
damp or wet locations.
• Work areas should be well lighted.
Pneumatic tools are powered by
compressed air and include chippers,
drills,
hammers,
and
sanders.
There are several dangers encountered
in the use of pneumatic tools. The main
one is the danger of getting hit by one of
the tool’s attachments or by some kind of
fastener the worker is using with the tool.
Eye protection is required and face
protection
is
recommended
for
employees working with pneumatic tools.
Noise is another hazard. Working with
noisy tools such as jackhammers requires
proper, effective use of hearing protection.
When using pneumatic tools, employees
must check to see that they are fastened
securely to the hose to prevent them
from becoming disconnected. A
short wire or positive locking device
attaching the air hose to the tool
will serve as an added safeguard.
A safety clip or retainer must be installed
to prevent attachments, such as chisels
on a chipping hammer, from being
unintentionally shot from the barrel.
Screens must be set up to protect
nearby workers from being struck by
flying fragments around chippers,
riveting guns, staplers, or air drills.
Compressed air guns should never be
pointed toward anyone. Users should
never “dead-end” it against themselves or
anyone else.
Expanded op’s streamline fence/welding biz
The success of a company is often linked to the tenacity, self-drive and
perseverance of its owner.
Austin
Who’s the man?
When Robert Buckingham arrived for his interview with Stan’s Heating and
Air conditioning, in 1973, he wore bell-bottom pants and platform shoes. He
came to Stan’s to apply for the bookkeeper position and thought he should at
least slick back his long hair for the interview at the conservative business.
Construction industry, community helps a hero
On July 18, 2003, Alain Babin, Jr. was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with
Valor by U.S. Army Major General Swanick of the 82nd Airborne.
Fire Alarm Museum captures past and hints at future
In 1966, J.E. Moore was just doing his job. In the course of business, he invented the first wireless smoke sensor and the first fire alarm with an automatic phone dialer. Nowadays, virtually all fire alarms use Moore’s technology
to achieve the same goals.
Houston
Lyn-Tile, Inc., a Top 100 Small Biz
The president/owner of Lyn-Tile, Inc., Meredith Lyn Ford, daughter of a
general contractor, was no stranger to the rewards and risks that are an intrinsic
part of the construction industry.
Neighborhoods prepare for Super Bowl
Waste Management and Keep Houston Beautiful are collaborating efforts
to clean up neighborhoods for Super Bowl XXXVIII. Every Sat., from Oct. 25Dec. 13, volunteers will paint over graffiti, clean, rake and mow vacant lots, and
remove litter from streets.
SpawGlass delivers Humble Oil Building restoration
The Humble Oil Building is a Houston landmark that once helped to define
the city’s standing as a Mecca of the oil and gas industry. It served as headquarters for Humble Oil & Refining Co., the oil giant now known as Exxon/Mobil.
Williams Scotsman facilitates
legislative change
W
Tom Delaney
illiams Scotsman, the nation’s leading supplier
of mobile offices, modular buildings and storage
products, has been instrumental in facilitating
legislative changes that affect the regulation of mobile
offices for use on construction sites. Through the efforts
of Mark Delaney of Williams Scotsman, Hillco Partners,
and with the support of the Modular Building Institute,
legislation passed during the 78th Regular Legislative Session and changed the scope of Industrialized Housing and
Building Program of Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation to include commercial structures designed to
be transported between commercial sites.
In addition to this change, which was
included in the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s sunset legislation (Senate Bill 279), there was a change
to the definition of a commercial structure which exempts construction site office buildings from the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings Occupations
Code Title 7 Chapter 1202. SB 279 defines
a construction site office building as “…a
commercial structure that is not open to
the public; and used as an office at a
commercial site by a person constructing
a building, road, bridge, utility, or other
infrastructure or improvement to real
property.”
While most municipalities have not
required that construction site offices attain Industrialized Housing and Building
Certification, there has been a growing
number of municipalities that over the
years have required such certification.
Changing building codes and lack of consistent code requirements among municipalities makes it infeasible for contractors and the mobile office supplier
industry to constantly change their supply of buildings to meet the new building
codes. Given that these are non-public
use temporary structures, public safety is
not a real issue. This new legislation
should enable contractors to continue to
utilize construction site office buildings
that were not previously certified under
the state program, thus reducing overall
project costs.
For more information please feel
free to contact Mark Delaney, Regional
Vice President, Williams Scotsman Member-Texas Industrialized Building Code
Council, 281-590-1277.
NAHB President
reappointed
T
exas Governor Rick Perry yesterday
reappointed C. Kent Conine, a home
and apartment builder from Dallas
and president of the National Association
of Home Builders, to the Governing
Board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The
agency provides a wide array of financial
and educational resources aimed at developing better communities and improving quality of life in Texas.
“I am honored to accept Governor
Perry’s appointment, and I’m grateful for
his continued confidence in the TDHCA’s
work,” said Conine. “Our efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities
for deserving Texas families will continue
with even greater vigor in the months
and years ahead.”
Conine has served on the TDHCA
Governing Board since 1997. In addition
to serving as this year’s president of the
211,000-member National Association of
Home Builders, he is a standing board
member of the Home and Apartment
Builders of Metropolitan Texas and a past
president of the Texas Association of
Builders. He also heads his own building
company, Conine Residential Group. His
new term on the TDHCA board will continue through Jan. 31, 2009.
“One of the TDHCA’s most important
tasks is to allocate federal assistance for
housing through the HOME, Low Income
Housing Tax Credit and Mortgage Revenue Bond programs,” Conine noted.
“These resources are critical tools for
meeting the demand for decent and affordable homes and apartments across
the state and across the nation.”
Setting up Shop!
Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston Construction News
Sales and Area Managers positions available in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston areas
Forward resumes to:
Buddy Doebbler, Publisher
Fax: 210-308-5960
or email: buddy@constructionnews.net
Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 5
Lofty ideas soar at weekend convention
T
he Texas Society of Architects (TSA)
hosted its 64th Annual Convention
and Design Products & Ideas Expo,
from Fri. Oct. 31st through Sun. Nov. 1st,
at the Ft. Worth Convention Center. Recognizing outstanding contributions to
architecture by individuals and organizations in Texas, the awards program acknowledged members for achievements
in their respective professions.
This year’s theme, Deep Roots–Many
Branches, celebrated architecture at it’s
finest.
TSA President, John V. Nyfeler,
FAIA, said the theme was named to represent architecture’s significance to today’s civilization.
“In this context, it is an expression
that was coined to describe the vast
sources and lengthy history on which the
current practice of architecture is based.”
Nyfeler added, “It also symbolizes architecture’s expansive reach into the everyday lives of people throughout the
world.”
Over 2,400 design professionals and
industry suppliers, including architects,
interior designers, specifiers, contractors,
developers, builders, landscape artists,
engineers, manufacturers, service providers and civic leaders, made appearances throughout the eventful weekend.
Attendees had the opportunity to
view the sold-out products and services
expo as well as learn more about how to
improve building safety. The three-day
event gave visitors a chance to network
with friends and distinguished industry
leaders.
Two keynote speakers from across
the nation spoke to design professionals
about the latest information in architecture. John R. Sibler, Ph.D., Chancellor
at Boston University, gave a speech titled
“Architecture for the Absurd, Fact or Fiction.” He shared his perspective as a cli-
Ruth Carter Stevenson, recipient of the
Cornerstone Award.
ent of design and architecture. Later in
the afternoon, David Pearce Snyder, a
consulting futurist for over 30 years, delivered his speech called, “Architects as
Activists for Changing Times.”
The Boards of TSA and the International Interior Design Association-Texas/
Oklahoma Chapter were pleased to announce their organizations’ highest honors and recognitions throughout the
weekend convention.
Scrutinized by a panel of three nationally-prominent architects, seven
projects were chosen from among 271
entries in the annual Design Awards
competition. The winners included:
Austin’s Page Southerland Page Architects for the Austin Convention Center; El
Paso’s Alvidrez Architecture for the Marcus. B. Armijo Library Addition; Dallas’
Max Levy Architects for the House by a
Pond and Sunlit House projects; Austin’s
Team Haas Architects for the Goodwill
Industries Retail Prototype project; Hous-
Jim C. Doche, FAIA, awarded the Llewellyn W. Pitts FAIA Award.
ton’s Architectworks for the
Round Valley Office Building
and Garage project; and Austin’s M.J. Neal Architects for
the Twin Peaks project.
On the final day, TSA announced the three highest
awards presented at the Gala.
Ruth Carter Stevenson garnered the 2003 Cornerstone
Award for her lifelong dedication to excellence in architecture in Ft. Worth, around Texas, and across the nation. The
highest individual member
honor, Llewellyn W. Pitts,
FAIA Award, was presented to
Jim C. Doche, FAIA, of Amarillo. Abilene’s James D. Tittle, Tittle Luther Partnership,
received the Architectural
Firm Award for producing distinguished architecture for at
least ten years.
ACME leadership roles
planned for 2004
An answer for ACQ
R
otting, warping,
cracking, splintering,
and
swelling. These are
not words that homeowners want associated with their decks.
The problems with
fasteners, associated
with the new ACQ
lumber, are leaving
many decking crews
scratching their heads.
Perhaps, composite
lumber is one answer.
In their study titled Composite & Plastic Lumber, the FredoA composite fence in Dallas.
nia Group, Inc., an industrial market research firm, reported, methods. Carbide-tip saw blades are
“US demand for composite materials in recommended for best results. These
construction application is forecast to products may be sanded, however, a
expand nearly 13 percent annually, plastic belt is recommended to lengthen
through 2006, approaching $2 billion in tool wear.
value. Growth will be strongest in the
Life cycle cost analysis of composite
applications entered since 1990, such as decking vs. treated lumber shows that
decking, windows, doors, and fencing.”
the composite material, in the long run, is
Use of composites to build decks has more economical.
been around for over a decade.
Epoch’s website has a cost calculator
Shon Tackett, of Wholesale Fence that includes prices for materials, cleanand Deck Supply, said, “Here in DFW, we ing, and maintenance. While the material
have seen the use of composites, as a costs are a little over 3 times that of
fencing material, begin to grow tremen- treated lumber, the enormous savings in
dously. CrossTimbers is proving to be a maintenance, made composite lumber
very viable option to wood and vinyl the winner, saving the owner almost
fencing. The product has the look and $1000, over the 5-year calculation.
feel of wood (it is after all 65% oak), and
Fencing and decking account for the
provides the durability of vinyl or con- use of over 5.4 billion board feet per year.
crete fencing. And it is competitively With that much lumber used for these
priced.”
applications, consumers are starting to
Trex, Epoch, ChoiceDeck, and Elk look for alternatives. Now, with more
are some of the top manufacturers of composites and more education about
composites. These materials are easy to the economics, contractors can offer
work with, and can be cut, routed, drilled, their customers knowledgeable choices
or fastened with normal woodworking and added value.
James D. Tittle, FAIA, Tittle Luther Partnership,
receives the Architecture Firm Award.
A
management rearrangement is
planned for Fort Worth-based
ACME Brick Company. President
and CEO, Harrold Melton, announced
the addition of two leadership positions
in the company on Nov. 4.
Dennis Knautz will assume duties of
executive vice president and the chief
operating officer on Jan. 1, 2004. For 21
years, Knautz has been a key member of
ACME’s senior management. Over the
last 10 years, he was actively involved
with key acquisitions. Knautz has served
as controller, vice president-finance, and
vice president-chief financial officer during his time with ACME. In his new position, Knautz will be in charge of the dayto-operations.
Melton also announced that Judy
Hunter would replace Knautz as ACME’s
new chief financial officer. Prior to her
new position, Ms. Hunter worked at Justin Industries for ten years.
The latest dirt
D
enver-area civil engineer, Fred
Spoor, has found searching for
dirt resources to be an arduous
problem. Spoor developed DirtResources. com to assist the construction industry with the disposition of excess dirt
and/or the location of needed dirt.
Though the site was intended for the
Denver Metro area, word quickly spread
and the site now has listings from all over
the southwestern U.S.
Spoor said, “It has become increasingly difficult to find sources of dirt (to
obtain or dispose of) to balance a project. Generally, it has been word-ofmouth. Most construction projects,
whether they be residential develop-
ments, commercial or industrial, or highways, always seem to have a dirt balance
problem. The purpose of this site is to
facilitate the exchange of information relating dirt needs and availability.”
The website aims to reduce cost,
waste, and search time by providing the
resources required to manage the exchange of dirt and other materials.
DirtResources.com provides: locations of available soil and aggregates; locations of projects needing dirt; postings
of future excess or needed materials; listings of trucking and excavation companies; and suppliers of various soils and
aggregates.
Page 6 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
Duck hunting on the Laguna Madre
Capt. Steve Schultz
N
ovember to December typically
brings cooler weather to the
Coastal Bend.
Fronts push
through the area bringing with them
some of the best waterfowl hunting in
the state. Blinds are covered with brush,
decoys are brought out of storage, and
lead shot is replaced by steel. Friends, its
Duck Season!
Many hunters don’t realize the different variety of species of ducks the Laguna Madre and surrounding bays have to
offer. Eighty percent of the world’s population of Redheads winter in the waters of
the coastal bend. Along with Redheads,
other varieties of ducks include Pintails,
Baffin Bay Charters
Widgeons, Buffleheads, Teal, Scaup, Gadwall and, occasionally, a Canvasback.
From Aransas Bay to the Landcut, all of
these species mentioned above can be
found, although we often don’t see the
majority of the heaviest concentrations
of ducks until mid-to-late November, after food supplies in the fields and prairies
begin to dwindle.
Duck hunting the Laguna Madre can
be enjoyed much in the same fashion
that fishing is, meaning you can hire a
guide to take you and your group to a
designated area, or you can venture out
on your own if that’s your preference. If
you prefer the latter, here are a few suggestions you may want to follow to improve your success.
The main avenue to success on
coastal waterfowl hunting area is familiarity with the place. No one can expect
to boat or walk into a new area, particularly in the dark of a winter morning, and
baffinbaycharters.com
expect to just stumble upon the perfect
place. Hunting these areas can be very
successful or can also be a waste of a
good morning. Pre-hunt scouting is absolutely necessary. Knowing the area,
learning its intricacies, the lay of the land,
how to reach certain places, how tides
affect access, etc., determines how successful a hunt will be. Success on waterfowl hunting areas is not guaranteed. It’s
not simply a case of throwing a few decoys into an area and waiting for the
birds to fall all over themselves. You really
have to work at it. That is what makes hiring a guide so nice.
Most duck hunting guide services in
the Coastal Bend have years of experience and know where the ducks are flying. For the most part, guide services
have comfortable blinds and can get you
to your blind safely and dry. But my fa-
vorite part about hunting with an experienced guide service is not having the
need to go and brush up, or build blinds
in September or October when it is hot
and humid and I should be fishing anyway. Plus, you don’t have to put out or
pick up decoys, which can really be work!
Most Coastal Bend duck hunting guide
services travel by boat to their blinds,
which can help get you away from the
crowds and can be a fun experience if
you get to ride in an airboat.
If you are interested on booking a
duck hunting trip for a group or individual, or would like more information about
duck hunting in the Coastal Bend, please
feel free to contact me at 1-888-7243474 or baffinbaycharters.com.
Good luck and good hunting!
Capt. Steve Schultz
The
Construction News
Team wishes
everyone a
joyous holiday season.
See you next year!
• Trimble GPS Systems
• Geodimeter Robotics
• Nikon Optical Instruments
• Stakes • Supplies
• Spectra Precision Lasers
• Machine Control
• 3D Systems
• Accessories
www.geoshack.com
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS
Dallas
2307 Springlake Rd., Ste. 514
972-241-6001 800-444-5661
Ft. Worth
1200 Riverside Dr.
817-335-3131 800-999-9456
Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 7
Liquid nitrogen is cool
T
xDOT, PBS&J, and Transit Mix recently introduced a new concrete
cooling technique, using liquid nitrogen (LN). LN was used instead of ice
to cool the concrete used for construction of a portion of the $2.9 billion Central Texas Turnpike Project.
Working with TxDOT and PBS&J,
Transit Mix Concrete Co. batched eight
cubic yards of concrete at 95 degrees
Fahrenheit. An LN wand was then inserted into the ready-mix drum. After eight
minutes, the temperature of the concrete
dropped 20 degrees. After three additional minutes of mixing, the concrete
was delivered to the jobsite and poured
into a drilled shaft, where the concrete
temperature registered 78 degrees.
“It is critical to control the temperature of concrete during construction, in
order to control the amount of cracking
that may occur while the concrete cures.
The new process promises to revolutionize the way concrete is cooled in
Texas,” remarked William Beaver, of
PBS&J.
For road builders in Texas, low-cost
LN offers many advantages over the traditional and impractical ice method.
Beaver continued, “Using LN, the concrete placement schedule is no longer
constrained to cooler seasons or nights.
Studies show that cooler, fresh concrete
translates into stronger concrete. Cooler
concrete also retains its workability, allowing the contractor more time to
place it.”
“LN removes risks, allows more thorough mixing of concrete, and improves
yield,” said Ralph Browne, P.E., and
Transit Mix batches a
cool load of concrete.
bridge engineer for TxDOT.
Transit Mix’s Joe Dan Johnson commented, “From a quality perspective, the
use of LN reduces variables, thus giving the end-user a better product.”
P
Company grasps new
soil technology
reventing erosion is Soil Express’
specialty, whether they are working
on a silt fence replacement or using
a special method of lawn installation
called terraseeding. All of their work is
environmentally-friendly for commercial
and residential landscaping. Based in
Prosper, Texas, Soil Express covers the
north Texas territory.
Don Hudspeth, owner of Soil Express, came across the Express Blower
trucks at a trade show a few years ago.
He saw a great opportunity here in the
DFW Metroplex construction industry.
Hudspeth realized every time there is
disturbed soil, there has to be preventive
measures to control erosion.
Recently, his company has had several
terraseeding projects in the Dallas/Ft.
T
Handmade tiles from
start to finish
his year marks fifteen
years in business for
Creative Tile Inc., a
custom tile manufacturer in
Dallas. Artisans create detailed, hand-painted tiles
that are eventually installed
in scenic kitchen backsplashes or Persian-influenced swimming pools.
No two projects are ever
alike.
Gene Moore, President, brings 35 years of
knowledge and experience
in the tile business to his
company.
His college
roommate sparked his interest to start a manufacturing tile business when they
were students. Today, he
has a floor tile plant located
in Frisco and a hand- painted studio near Fairpark in
Dallas.
Creative Tile Inc. is currently involved in the remodeling process at Dallas’
World Trade Center. They
are installing cast tile
around eight-foot planters
in the designer show
rooms.
“As far as tile is concerned, Creative Tile Inc.
makes the finest custom floor tile to be
found. I don’t know anyone anywhere in
Europe or in the states that does a total
concept from start to finish. In fact, we
literally start with raw clay.”
Creative Tile Inc. has installed tile in
fine homes, farms and ranches in the
southwest. Outside of the U.S., they
worked on the swimming pools at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. On
Diversified Line of Equipment
For All of Your Hauling Needs
Live Bottoms
End Dumps
Belly Dumps
Steel Beds
Tandems
3338 S. Hwy. 101
Bridgeport, Tx 76426
940-683-0001
Fax: 940-683-0008
the bottom of a fountain, they sculpted
coral fish, a stingray and a three -foot octopus out of specialty tiles.
“We do things that people haven’t
done or even dreamed of doing.”
Moore added, “I am most proud of
the people that work with me. I have 10
employees who are some of the finest
artisans and artists around.”
Worth area. Terraseeding makes lawn installation fast and simple because the
seeds and soil are planted together onto
any size surface in one blown application.
“The other day we did a five-acre terraseeding project on a hillside with a 90- ft
drop-off that is having a hard time growing vegetation. We are also putting in Filtrex Soxx for a Frisco housing addition
called Panther Creek,” said Wade Hudspeth, the salesperson for Soil Express.
He emphasized the new technology,
Filtrexx Soxx, is replacing the old ways of
using straw, hay bales, and silt fence to
control erosion.
“We can move 2000 cubic yards of
compost or mulch per day through Express Blower trucks. Our closest competitor moves about 200 cubic yards per day.”
Visit our Website
AGGREGATEHAULERS.COM
Asphalt
Crushed Limestone
Products
Sand • Gravel • Topsoil
& Non-Hazardous Waste
Page 8 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
ASSOCIATION NEWS
ABC
AIA – Ft. Worth
Dec. 1: Membership Development lunch
beginning at 11:30 am.
Dec. 2 : EIC Committee Meeting beginning at 9 am.
Dec. 2 - 4 : Craft Olympics Written and
Practice Exam at DFW Education Center.
Dec. 3: Golf Committee meeting at Coyote Ridge beginning at 7:30 am.
Dec. 4 : Programs Committee meeting
beginning at 7:30 am.
Dec. 9 : Association Awareness meeting
beginning at 7:30 am.
Dec. 10: Safety Marketing event beginning at 7:30 am.
Dec. 16 : Safety Forum beginning at 7
am.
Dec. 17: Diversity Affairs Committee
meeting beginning at 10 am.
Dec. 22 : First Aid/CPR Training class beginning at 8 am.
Dec. 23: Safety Forum.
Dec. 24 & 25: ABC office will be closed.
Jan. 1: ABC office will be closed.
For more information call 972-580-9102.
Dec. 4 : AIAFW Holiday Gala at River
Crest Country Club beginning at 6:30
pm.
For more information call 817-927-2444.
AIA – Dallas
TFSCA
Dec. 3: SDA Meeting at AIA conference
room beginning at noon.
Dec. 9 : DAFoundation Board Meeting
beginning at 4:30 pm.
Dec. 10 : COTE program Committee
Meeting at AIA conference room beginning at noon.
Dec. 16 : Government and Industry Affairs Committee meeting beginning at 3
pm.
Dec. 16 : Executive Committee meeting
beginning at 4 pm.
Dec. 17: Small Firm Roundtable beginning at noon.
Dec. 18 : Livable Design and Livable
Communities Committee meeting beginning at noon.
Dec. 18 : CIA Committee Meeting from
noon to 1 pm.
For more information call 214-742-3252.
Dec. 11-13: Holiday Banquet at the Marriot Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio.
For more information call 214-349-5965.
ASID
We’ve been putting our
brand of excellence on
outstanding projects in
North Texas since 1977.
Dec. 1: NCIDQ Application deadline.
Dec. 31: Association Reports due to
Chapter Offices.
For more information call 214-651-9309.
BCA
Dec. 1: 2nd Annual Signature Awards
Banquet at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel
beginning at 5:30 pm.
For more information call 877-281-5095.
BOMA – Dallas
Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth.
Photo by Steven Watson.
Humphrey & Associates, Inc.
Electrical & Mechanical Services
Dallas Denton Ft. Worth East Texas
(972) 620-1075 (817) 589-9550
www.teamhumphrey.com
Dec. 5: DBEI Holiday Gala and Live/Silent
Auction at Northwood Club beginning at
11:30 am.
Dec. 11: Board of Directors meeting beginning at 11 am.
Dec. 24-26 : BOMA office will be closed.
Dec. 31-Jan. 1: BOMA office will be
closed.
For more information call 214-744-9020.
Dec. 11: Member Reception for networking opportunities at GFWBA office beginning at 4:15 pm.
Dec. 19 : ACE Awards Ceremony at the
Worthington Hotel beginning at 7 pm.
Dec. 24 & 25: GFWBA office will be
closed.
Jan. 1: GFWBA office will be closed.
Jan. 6 : “Business After Hours at GFWBA
office beginning at 5 pm.
For more information call 817-457-2864.
Dec. 9 : Board Meeting at the Home
Builders Association building beginning
at 5:30 pm.
For more information call 972-256-2118.
NAWIC- Ft. Worth
Dec. 18 : Chapter Meeting at Colonial
Country Club beginning at 5:30 pm.
For more information call 972-574-3440.
HBA- Dallas
NECA
Dec. 2 : Retention/Membership Committee at HBA Plano Office beginning at 11
am.
Dec. 2 : Multifamily Builders Council Holiday Party at Eddie Deen’s Ranch beginning at 6 pm.
Dec. 4 : Communications Committee
meeting beginning at 11:30 am.
Dec. 10 : Associates Council at HBA Plano
office beginning at 11:30 am.
Dec. 11: Membership Orientation at HBA
Plano office beginning at 9 am.
Dec. 12 : HomeAid Dallas Board Meeting
at HBA Plano office beginning at 11:30
am.
Dec. 12 : Holiday Casino Party at the
Wyndham Anatole Hotel beginning at 6
pm.
Dec. 16: Executive Committee meeting
beginning at 11:30 am.
Dec. 16 : Education Meeting beginning
at 11:30 am.
Dec. 16 : Custom Builders/Remodelers
Council meeting beginning at 6:30 pm.
Dec. 25–31: HBA Office Closed.
For more information call 972-931-4840.
Dec. 5: Holiday Dinner at the Wyndham
Hotel in Arlington.
For more information call 817-633-3332.
IEC – Ft. Worth
Dec. 16: Christmas Party at the Petroleum Club.
For more information call 817-496-8555.
NARI - Dallas
Dec. 4 : Board Meeting at NARI office beginning at 11:30 am.
Dec. 9 : Board Meeting at NARI office
beginning at 4:30 pm.
Dec. 9 : Board Meeting at NARI office
beginning at 6:30 pm.
For more information call 817-696-0525.
GFWBA
Dec. 2 : “Business After Hours” at GFWBA
office beginning at 5 pm.
UNT adds sorority row
NARI – Ft. Worth
McCarthy, with 140 years of experience, is the nation’s oldest privately-held
construction firm and has taken on this
project. BOKA Powell, of Dallas is the architect and engineering firm for the project.
The $3.5 million project will consist
of five attached sorority houses, each
with approximately 8,200-sf. Sorority
Row is scheduled for completion and
ready for occupancy in Aug. 2004. The
buildings are planned to house UNT’s
chapters of Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Kappa
Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha.
“The development of Sorority Row is
a dream-come-true for a number of
QUION
Dec. 4 : First Aid/CPR in Spanish class at
Dallas location beginning at 6 pm.
Dec. 5: 2003 Construction Industry Holiday Gala at the Hotel Inter-Continental in
Addison beginning at 7 pm.
Dec. 8 : First Aid/CPR class at Ft. Worth
location beginning at 8 am.
Dec. 10 : CSS Storm Water Pollution Management and Inspections and Steel Erection at Dallas location beginning at 7:30
am.
Dec. 10 : CSS Excavation and Trench
Safety class beginning at 8:30 am.
Dec. 18 : “Toast the Holidays” at River
Crest Country Club in Ft. Worth beginning at 7 am.
For more information call 972-247-9962.
PHCC
Dec. 13-14 : Journeyman/Tradesman
Prep Classes beginning at 8 am.
Dec. 17: Chapter Meeting at the Old San
Francisco Steakhouse beginning at 11:30
am. The speaker will be Danny Chandler,
director of Homeland Security for Dallas
County.
Jan. 23-25: Medical Gas Cert Course at
Pope Plumbing.
For more information call 972-818-2407.
TFA
Dec. 12 : Fourth Quarter Meeting at the
Renaissance Hotel in Ft. Worth beginning
at 5:30 pm.
Dec. 13: Golf tournament at Sky Creek
Ranch in Keller beginning at 10 am.
For more information call 972-542-5795.
UNT’s Greek organization students and
alumni,” said Dr. Bonita Jacobs, NT vice
president for student development.
Each house will have 12 double-occupancy bedrooms, a single-occupancy,
ADA bedroom, a house mother’s apartment, and a common area for chapter
meetings. This project will create approximately 125 additional residential
living units on the UNT campus.
Gary Akin, project director for McCarthy said, “McCarthy is excited to be
working with UNT on this housing project and bringing its expertise in campus
housing to the team. We look forward to
a successful project.”
L-R: Meridith Butler, Facilities Planner, UNT; John Orfield, AIA, Principal, BOKA Powell;
Gary Akin, Project Director, McCarthy; and John Masson, Project Manager, McCarthy.
Photo courtesy of McCarthy Building Companies.
H
omecoming weekend at the University of North Texas brought more than
alumni picnics and football games. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on
Oct. 17, for the construction of a 41,000-sf “Sorority Row.”
Located on the eastern edge of campus, Sorority Row will be built at Bernard and
Prairie Streets in Denton. Construction was scheduled to begin in mid-Nov.
Rendering courtesy of the University of North Texas.
Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 9
2003 Toys, Trikes and Bikes
Gift Drive
LEGAL
Managing asbestos in
buildings: Can you avoid
legal headaches?
By Elizabeth Kohn
A
sbestos is the most heavily regulated of all building
materials, and construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings with asbestos containing building
materials (ACBM) requires knowledge of regulations, knowledge of materials used in
your building, and careful management. Handling of ACBM is regulated by EPA,
OSHA, and by the Texas Department of Health. Civil cases claiming damages for exposure to asbestos are a national epidemic, overcrowding our courts. Nearly every week,
EPA announces another criminal conviction for mismanagement of asbestos abatements during building renovations or demolitions. OSHA even considers its asbestos
standard to apply to removal of asbestos-containing pipe from excavated water pipeline systems.
Penalties for violations of these regu- work starts—they have the training to
lations can be severe. A contractor who avoid exposure. Make sure you have
violates the Texas statute is subject to a trained your employees to check the surcivil penalty up to $10,000 per day for vey before performing any work because
each violation; each day of violation can even minor renovations require a careful
constitute a separate violation. EPA can approach: An employee cutting a hole in
and does seek criminal penalties. OSHA a wall to get to the electrical conduit
fines and penalties can be imposed. could be disturbing asbestos.
Worst of all, if you expose your employ- Protect yourself!
ees to asbestos, with a history of fines
Get a protective contract with your
and penalties for non-compliance, you abatement contractors, and require that
could have long-term significant liability they provide an up-to- date copy of their
risks. How can you protect yourself?
licenses, appropriate indemnities, and
Know your building materials!
adequate insurance, naming you as an
The first step is to know your build- additional insured. Make sure your
ing materials. Make sure you have an abatement consultant or contractor
ACBM survey. In fact, Texas requires that makes the appropriate notification beyou demonstrate that you have an asbes- fore beginning the abatement—many
tos survey before your city will issue a violations on file are for failure to notify.
building permit for a building renovation
Keep records of the notifications,
or demolition project. Each city has its training of employees, asbestos surveys,
own requirements for what is needed to abatement materials, and MSDSs of any
get a permit, and many certify that your materials installed. Keep the records in a
building survey shows no ACBM, check safe place and keep them for a long
the date and quality of your survey.
time—records showing your careful apIn starting a new building, make sure proach are your best defense against enyour building materials do not contain forcement or a frivolous lawsuit.
ACBM. Under Texas law, the installation
If you make a certification to a city
of building components containing more about your asbestos survey, make sure it
than 1% asbestos is now prohibited is accurate. False statements to a city can
where there is an alternative material. If lead to criminal prosecution.
you are the contractor, require suppliers You can avoid the headaches!
to provide Material Safety Data Sheets
Compliance with the regulations on
(MSDSs) on the building materials, show- asbestos is in your best interest, long
ing no asbestos content. If you are the term. Don’t be afraid to find out what
owner, require your contractor to cove- you have in your buildings—informed
nant that no ACBM will be installed, and compliance will lead to peace of mind
include appropriate warranty terms in and—no headaches!
your contract.
Protect your employees and
Elizabeth Kohn is a Partner in the Environcontractors!
mental Law, HIPPA Privacy and InternaFollow the rules. They exist to avoid
tional Practice Groups at Haynes and
exposure to asbestos, a known carcino- Boone, L.L.P. Her experience includes coungen. Check your survey before you renoseling on environmental aspects of busivate or demolish, and if you don’t have ness transactions; compliance with regulaone, get one from a licensed surveyor. To tory matters; environmental management
avoid exposing your employees and consystems and environmental litigation.
tractors to airborne asbestos fibers, hire
Phone: (817) 347-6645
licensed contractors to abate before any
elizabeth.kohn@haynesboone.com
I
n conjunction with
Channel 8’s Santa’s
Helpers Program,
the
North Texas
Chapter of the Associated Builders and
Contractors is collecting toys to help area
kids.
ABCNT’s
2003
Toys, Trikes, and Bikes
Gift Drive is just another example of the
association’s strong
tradition in coming together for the community, during the holiday season, to make
TD Industries drops off the first of many
donations for ABC’s toy drive
Christmas special for
needy children in
North Texas.
ABCNT is accepting donations of NEW toys, bicycles, and tricycles to be distributed at Christmas. Cash donations are also welcome.
ABCNT will be receiving gifts at the ABC offices, located at 8440 Esters Blvd., Ste.
#120, Irving, TX 75063. Donations for the toy drive will also be collected at ABC’s Holiday Open House, on Tue., Dec. 16, and all ABC committee and forum meetings
through early Dec.
For additional info, call 972-580-9102, or visit the website at www.abcnt.org.
Associations/OSHA join to
promote electrical safety
W
hat began as a round table discussion at the offices of Independent Electrical Contractors
in Ft. Worth has quickly become a multiassociation effort to help cut down fatalities in the electrical industry.
While attending the discussion,
Dean Wingo, OSHA Director for Ft.
Worth, commented that fall deaths had
become very small due to the emphasis
placed on this problem by OSHA and the
contractors. He noted however, there
were an ever-increasing number of electrocutions.
Discussion of this topic continued
and Randy Humphrey, Humphrey & Associates came up with an idea to make
December Electrical Safety Awareness
Month. Everyone agreed this would be a
worthwhile venture.
The concept was a very simple one.
Safety comes from awareness. Awareness is presenting the facts to job site
and other employees. Jeff Bills, Humphrey’s safety director took on the task to
develop five separate outline sheets (one
for each week in December) that could
be used by contractors at their weekly
job site safety meetings. The subject
matter covers hazards and do’s and don’t
about dealing with electricity, electric
Peter Pfeiffer appointed
to state board
G
ov. Rick Perry announced his appointment of Peter Pfeiffer to
the Texas Board of Architectural
Examiners on Wed., Oct. 22. This board
regulates the practice and licensure of
architecture, landscape architecture, and
interior design for the state.
Pfeiffer is the principal architect at
the firm of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects.
He is a member of American Institute of
Architects, Texas Society of Architects,
and Austin Resource Management Commission. Pfeiffer is also a former board
member of the Greater Austin Home
Builders Association and the Heritage
Society.
Since his founding of Barley & Pfeiffer
in 1987, he has specialized in sustainable
building practices and has become a national leader in the fields of energy and
natural resource conserving design, lowtoxicity living and working environments,
and green construction technology.
Mr. Pfeiffer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Sciences
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
1977. He went on to graduate Phi Kappa
Phi from the University of Texas at Austin,
with a Masters in Architecture, emphasizing resource-efficient design.
Some of Pfeiffer’s accomplishments
include the Energy Efficient Building
Association’s Conference Chair Award in
1994, for his career accomplishments in
pioneering environmentally sensitive architecture, and in 2003, the National Association of Home Builders honored
him with the National Green Advocate of
the Year award for his lifelong achievements in mainstreaming green building.
In the media, Pfeiffer has gotten the
word out on how to mainstream green
building, as a guest presenter on National
Public Radio, PBS TV, National Association
of Builders Video Digest, and HGTV.
tools and other equipment. OSHA reviewed the contents and the complete
package was converted to a PDF (portable document file) for easy distribution
through email.
Other trade associations in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth area were contacted by
Toby Cummings, Associated Builders &
Contractors President and CEO and enlisted to join in the distribution of this information.
Each organization was sent the PDF
and they in turn will send to all of their
members. The organizations involved
are Associated Builders & Contractors
North Texas, American Subcontractors
Association, American Institute of Architects, Black Contractors Association,
Construction Financial Management
Association, Home Builders Association
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Hispanic Contractors
Association Dallas/Ft. Worth, Independent Electrical Contractors Dallas/Ft.
Worth and Quoin.
“This will probably become a statewide campaign,” said Wingo. “The PDF
will be distributed to all compliance assistants in all OSHA offices in Texas to receive as large a distribution as possible. If
everyone is talking about the same thing,
I believe this will help.”
Jobsite safety approach
implemented
T
he third largest Chapter of the
Associated General Contractors of America (QUION) partnered with Design Build Own Operate (DBO2) and north Texas contractors to strengthen jobsite safety in
late Oct. DBO2 offers a revolutionary
approach to indicate “safe “ and “unsafe” practices on jobsites.
A ccording to Preston McAffee, QUION’s
Board Chair, his organization is committed to explore ways to impact
positive change in the construction
industry. He explained that the new
jobsite safety approach gives contractors and the industry a long-term solution for meeting safety needs.
The partnership provides QUION
members with methods to collect,
document and analyze jobsite safety
information. New handheld devices
are available with “point and click”
menus from a safety checklist. In addition, user-friendly information reports will provide immediate responses to help predict and prevent accidents before they happen.
Thirty-one percent of the contractors who participated in phase
one of a Chapter-wide rollout said the
approach is making a difference in
helping them improve their already
good safety records.
Barry Nelson, DBO2’s president,
added that he is impressed with QUION’s genuine interest in the new jobsite safety approach. He said their
passion along with their tools and
methodology will help make the partnership a success.
Page 10 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY IN TEXAS
FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY LAWS & STANDARDS
The Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS)
ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 9102
ACCESSIBLE CURB RAMPS
TAS 4.7 Curb Ramps
A curb ramp or flush landing shall be provided wherever a pedestrian access route
crosses a curb, a sidewalk/street transition, mid-block crosswalks, medians and
islands traversed by crosswalks, alleys,
accessible parking aisles, passenger loading zones, and locations where the public
sidewalk ends and pedestrian travel continues in a roadway.
TAS 4.7.2 Slope
The running slope of curb ramps cannot
exceed 1:12 (8.33%) . It is important that
transitions to curb ramps be flush. Lips at
the bottom of ramps, a common complaint, impede the momentum needed
to propel a wheelchair up-slope. Severe
counter slopes can do the same thing
and cause footrest to scrape. Maximum
slopes of adjoining gutters, road surface
immediately adjacent to the curb ramp,
or accessible route must not exceed 1:20
(5%). Recommendation: While a 5% adjoining slope is allowed for drainage, gutters, and roadway crowns, this slope
should be minimized wherever possible
(a maximum 2% slope is preferred).
The cross-slope of a curb ramp (2% maximum) must be minimized because it
makes wheelchair travel difficult by distributing weight and required force to one
side and causing front casters to veer.
The Figure below is a line drawing plan of
a sidewalk corner with two perpendicular-type curb ramps. Both curb ramps
are noted as incorrectly oriented since
they are not perpendicular to the curbs
they cut through but are skewed to be
parallel---that is, in line with the crosswalks. Thus each curb ramp has one long
and one short side and the top and bottom edges are not parallel to each other.
The difficulties of using ramps such as
these are demonstrated by 2 pedestrians
using wheelchairs. If the curb ramp is
entered so that both casters start up the
ramp at the same time, it will be necessary to make a turn on the ramp while
ascending, which is difficult. If one caster
enters before the other, then the wheelchair will be unstable with one caster off
the ground.
TAS 4.7.8 Obstructions
It is important that parked cars, lampposts, utility poles, and other elements
placed along sidewalks not obstruct connecting accessible routes.
Space is needed at the top and bottom of
ramps so that people using wheelchairs
can align with the running slope and maneuver from ramps, including when making turns (which is difficult on sloped
surfaces). At curb ramps, a landing provides the necessary connection to an accessible route. A landing with a minimum
length of 48 inches will provide sufficient
turning space. Where space at the top is
less than 48 inches, side flares must have
a maximum slope of 1:12 (8.33%) instead
of the 1:10 (10%) at the curb face.
Alternative designs can provide sufficient
landings at ramps where space is limited,
including at street intersections. Perpendicular ramps that are offset from an intersection can provide level landings at
the top and bottom of ramps.
Robert Buck, AIA, has provided architectural accessibility plan reviews/inspections for over 4075 projects in 18 states. He is a Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS); consultant to the U. S. Department of Justice-Housing and Civil
Enforcement Section; and Fair Housing consultant for the City of Austin. 13438 Bandera Road, #104, Helotes, TX 78023 (210-695-5326).
B
ob Packard has established a new manufacturer’s rep firm,
CONCRETE POINT, specializing in concrete construction products. Territory will include the state of Texas. Packard brings 20
years of construction industry sales experience to the business. His
lines include SOUND FOOTINGS; ADJUSTABLE KICKER; and
TOOLITE.
continued from Page 1
JM Electronic Engineering expands
felt it was time to get listed for the quality
of work and code compliance that the
company maintains.
JMEE not only designs and installs
fire alarm systems. They provide customers with solutions for nurse call systems,
emergency call systems, fire sprinkler
systems, fire extinguishers, kitchen suppression, security systems, cctv, access
control systems, magnetic locks and keypads, PA/sound systems, 24 hour monitoring, and 24 hour emergency service.
“I’m gonna find out who’s
been naughty and who’s
been nice.”
Color Reprint $25
$5 for additional copies
Call, fax, or email
Construction News
210-308-5800
FAX 210-308-5960
reesa@constructionnews.net
continued from Page 1
Linbeck’s teamwork brightens facility
“The north expansion of the
hospital now provides 33 Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit (PICU) beds, 21
additional Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) beds and capacity for
50 pediatric beds,” said Linenberger.
The new PICU includes specialized protected environment rooms
(positive isolation rooms) for children who require critical care with
compromised immune systems.
“New diagnostic imaging expansions includes a new MRI suite
with pre-anesthesia, recovery space
and an ultrasound suite, Linenberger added. “A new pharmacy doubles
the space of the existing pharmacy
and includes a Risk Level 11-IV prep
room. The building also includes
shell space for future pediatric beds,
clinical support and an education
suite with a 200-seat auditorium
and multiple breakout rooms.”
Protecting ongoing patient
care was job number one throughout the construction process.
Linenberger said the campus buildings existing “umbilical cord”
(chilled water, steam, medical gas
and data communications lines)
was located in the basement zone
of the old Children’s Hospital building. Keeping the utility services intact and operational during the demolition of the old hospital was a
construction challenge Linbeck had
to overcome.
They thoroughly
planned construction activities and
implemented infectious control
measures while working in the environment.
“This was successfully accomplished by planning system locations in the master planning effort
that started eight years ago,” continued Linenberger. “The building
construction was completed without interruption of these existing
services to the hospital.”
Optimizing solutions and maximizing value in all phases, Linbeck
used TeamBuild® and the Lean
principles in the design and construction of the Patient Pavilion.
TeamBuild® emphasizes a collaborated effort of skills and technical
abilities in every construction project.
Linenberger said the Lean principles approach created consistency
in the delivery of the Patient Pavilion with a higher degree of dependability of the multiple team members. The project completed in excess of 600,000 man-hours without
a lost time accident.
Founded in 1938, Linbeck is a
privately-held corporation. Headquartered in Houston with regional
offices in Ft. Worth; Lexington, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; and Menlo Park, California, Linbeck serves commercial, institutional and healthcare clients with
skills, knowledge and expertise of
over 60 years experience. Linbeck
operates in a team-oriented environment.
Linbeck’s past clients in the Ft.
Worth area include: Texas Christian
University, Trinity Valley School, The
Modern Art Museum, Bank One
Tower and the Bass Performance
Hall.
Key members of the professional team include: Mark Linenberger, vice president and client
executive for Linbeck; David M.
Schwarz Architectural Services,
design architect; FKP Architects,
Inc., architect and medical planning; Smith Seckman Reid Inc.,
MEP engineers; Rebecca Pospisil,
project manager; Ken Woodul,
team manager; Joe Coghan, project superintendent; and Kevin Imming, project engineer.
Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 11
What A TRIP
Private bass fishing
added to company
A
O
ver 20 years ago, Mark Palmer
contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife and A&M University to request
literature about lake management. After
they referred clients to him, an instant
full-time business was born in the summer of 1981.
Today, some of Palmer’s key clients
include Earl Campbell, Deon Sanders and
Phil Romano. They want private bass
fishing lakes on their property.
“Combining my interests in wildlife
and fisheries, I design and build lakes for
individuals, corporate businesses, real
estate developers and cities,” explained
Palmer.
Palmer, the owner of Celina-based
The Lake Doctor, has added private bass
fishing lake services to his lake management business. He even stocks the fish.
The first private bass fishing lake
Palmer designed and built was in his own
backyard. Whenever he gets a chance to
unwind after work, he enjoys fishing until
sunset.
Currently, Palmer manages several
private lakes to maximize their fishing
potential.
“I sell large mouth bass, Florida bass,
bluegills, hybrid sunfish, fathead minnows and crawfish. Palmer added, “We
conduct electro fishing surveys to provide a quick analysis of the fish population. Corrective management recommendations are then made from these
surveys.
“Maintenance is a very important
part of my business,” concluded Palmer.
“I have found there is a need for private
bass fishing. It is a matter of securing the
land and securing the finances.”
Excellence recognized
at convention
ccording to state reports, 784
pieces of commercial equipment
were stolen in the year 2000. In
2001, data showed 788 pieces of commercial equipment stolen.
The Texas Department of Public
Safety’s Crime Records Service has set up
the Texas Recovery and Identification
Program (TRIP) to help return some of
the pilfered equipment to its rightful
owners.
TRIP also registers farm equipment,
which has seen a dramatic jump in thefts
recently.
In order to register with TRIP, vehicles
must have permanent wheels or tracks,
and they must also have manufacturer
Property Identification Numbers (PIN).
The TRIP program works upon the
premise that concerned companies and
individuals would like a way for law enforcement to be able to identify and recover stolen equipment.
Enrollment in TRIP begins with a company registering their contact information
through a web interface. After registering,
the company may then add as many
pieces of equipment as they like. After the
company’s equipment has been entered
into TRIP, DPS will mail program information and TRIP stickers, to be placed on
each piece of registered equipment.
One major benefit of TRIP is that law
enforcement will already have your
heavy equipment information available
in the event it is stolen. It is even possible
that they might know your equipment is
stolen before you do because your registration information is placed in a law enforcement database that is accessible 24
hours, 7 days a week.
Rental companies can greatly benefit
from TRIP because rental equipment is
much more exposed to theft than privately-owned property. Finding stolen
inventory may help rental companies
avoid rising insurance costs and lost time
to replace stolen property.
Information in the database includes
the equipment’s year, make, style, and
color. This information is provided to
help law enforcement personnel make a
visual identification of a piece of equipment from a distance.
Decal placement is very important,
as law enforcement has been trained on
where to look for them on the equipment. For each piece of equipment registered in the TRIP system, vehicle owners
will be sent four stickers. The decals are
made of white reflective material with
black lettering.
DPS reported that 345 pieces of construction equipment have been registered by 189 owners or companies, since
this April, when the program started.
Jesse Flores, with DPS said, “The
Texas Recovery and Identification Program was created as an online database
to assist companies and individual owners register their construction and farm
equipment, so that the law enforcement
community can obtain ownership information on equipment they suspect may
be stolen or in the process of being stolen. This program is in its infancy and is
slowly being recognized throughout the
state. It will take time to get the message
out to the companies and individual
owners of this free service, provided to
them to help identify their property.”
Further information on TRIP is available by calling (888) 447-5933 or through
the website at www.txdps.state.tx.us.
Corporate news
L-R: Steve Humphrey, Jr., Humphrey &
Associates, Inc. and Eugene Mini,
IEC National President.
L-R: Eugene Mini, IEC National President
and Edith Stanfield, S&J Electric.
ndependent electrical contractors, apprentices, manufacturers and distributors gathered at the 46th Annual National Convention of the Independent
Electrical Contractors Association (IEC)
in Anaheim, California, earlier this fall.
Six awards were presented to IEC
member contractors in the U.S. Two of
these six awards were awarded to IEC Ft.
Worth-Tarrant County Chapter members
for exhibiting excellence in their profession.
Humphrey & Associates, Inc., a construction contracting company operating in the north and east Texas area, received the 2003 Excellence in Electrical
Construction Award for Category C in the
Commercial Division.
The 2003 Excellence in Electrical
Construction Award for Categories B and
C in the Industrial Division was awarded
to S&J Electric, a full service electrical
contractor.
I
Miracle
Remodeling
10 years in
business
M
iracle Remodeling and Construction Inc., a full service remodeling company in the Dallas
and Ft. Worth Metroplex, celebrates 10
years in the industry this month. They
provide remodeling, brick, masonry, concrete, electrical HVAC, plumbing and
roofing services.
Owner Rodney Truttling, said he
has worked in construction since 1978,
starting his career at Centex Homes. His
goal was to eventually build a successful
company based on integrity.
“I thought I had something to bring
• Centex Corporation (NYSE: CTX), a
Dallas-based homebuilder, has announced plans to complete its spin-off of
Centex Construction Products, Inc.
(NYSE: CXP), early next year. Centex Construction Products manufactures and
distributes cement, gypsum wallboard,
recycled paperboard and other products.
Company officials said the start of
spin-off was put off until 2004, due to the
holiday season and some shareholders’
reluctance to collect a share distribution
so close to the end of the year.
The board of directors of Centex
Construction Products has declared a
quarterly cash dividend of five cents per
share, to be paid on Jan. 6, 2004, to stockholders of record, as of Dec. 9., 2003.
The board of Centex Corporation has
approved an annual cash dividend of
$1.20 per share, up from 20 cents per
share. This new rate will take effect, after
the spin-off, and will not affect the Jan. 6
dividend.
• Dallas-based, Builders FirstSource,
which sells building materials to residential developers, has been on a shopping
spree. On Tues., Nov. 11, they announced
a deal to buy Bond Builders Supply, Inc.,
of Cashiers, North Carolina. The transaction is expected to close by late Dec.
The deal is Builders FirstSource’s
fourth acquisition since Oct. On Oct. 8,
the company said it had purchased Davidson Lumber Co. and Space Concepts
from Indianapolis-based Davidson Industries, and on Oct. 13, reported that it
was buying Adams Building Supplies,
Inc., of North Augusta, South Carolina.
Terms of these agreements were not disclosed.
Floyd Sherman, chairman and CEO
of Builders FirstSource, said he sees the
company continuing its acquisition trend
in 2004.
The company now operates 80 manufacturing facilities and 58 distribution
centers in 11 states.
to the marketplace and I wanted to provide a valuable service,“ said Truttling.
“For the longest time I was a field
practitioner, working by myself. Now I
have three employees and I’m looking to
grow the estimating staff,” Truttling continued. “Within six months, I want to start
a second office in Ft. Worth.”
He mentioned Miracle Remodeling
would soon provide job opportunities to
improve the health, vitality and growth
of the Metroplex.
“A year from now,” Truttling added,
“we are looking at not only a new office in
Ft. Worth but I hope by that time we will
have also branched into the Houston market. We will eventually expand a corporate staff to support the district offices.
“The size and scope of our remodeling projects has substantially improved
in the last decade,” Truttling explained.
“At one time projects were limited to
painting and flooring but now there is
more extensive work on room additions.
“Remodeling projects on relatively
new homes in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area
are rapidly increasing,” Truttling concluded.
Page 12 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas  Ft. Worth Construction News • Dec 2003
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