North Alabama Chapter Helps Nonprofit
Tuskegee University Works with ABC National
Cathy Caddell Retires
ALABAMA
CONSTRUCTION N EWS
A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y ’S
McWhorter School of
Building Science PAGE 42
The Truth About Unions PAGE 34
JAN-MAR 2015
2015 ABC Chairman Robin Savage PAGE 31
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Meet John Mastin
One of Our Alabama Construction Attorneys You are a construction lawyer with Smith Currie in Atlanta. What’s your connection to Alabama? I was born and raised in Albertville, Alabama—on Sand Mountain in the northeast part of the state—and I went to college in Tuscaloosa. I spent my first forty-plus years in Alabama and now often work there. Tell me more about your educational background. I graduated from Albertville High School, spent a year playing basketball at a local junior college, and then got a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. About two decades later, I received my law degree from The University of Montana School of Law in Missoula. That’s quite a gap. What did you do during that 20-year period? After graduating from the University of Alabama, I worked as an engineer for Alabama Power Company in Birmingham for about a year, and then I worked in the electrical construction industry for about 20 years—doing everything from estimating, to bidding, contract negotiation, project management, employee relations, and eventually became the president and part owner of an electrical-contracting business in Alabama. So then you went to law school. Why construction law? While in law school, I was asked to help the university resolve a construction dispute. I loved working on that case and realized that I could use my engineering and construction background, combined with legal training, to help resolve construction disputes. Why Smith Currie? Because Smith Currie specializes in construction law and they literally wrote the book—Common Sense Construction Law.
What types of clients do you represent? Construction contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, owners, developers, sureties, and so on. That sounds like everyone involved in the construction process. Pretty much. With an engineering degree, 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, and a law degree, I try to be a problem solver for anyone in the construction chain. How is construction law unique? Construction projects are complex, and construction disputes are usually very technical and often involve thousands and thousands of documents. Getting an attorney up to speed can be very time consuming, especially if the client has to educate the attorney about the construction process. What’s a typical workday for you? There’s no such thing as a typical day. I could be meeting with a client one day, reviewing project documents the next, maybe in court, or involved in negotiations, or mediation, or arbitration. And I work on construction disputes all over the country so I could be traveling. What do you do when you’re not working? Not working? What is that? I’m married and have two daughters and three grandkids in Birmingham, and even though I no longer compete in road races or triathlons, I still like to run.
John Mastin Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP (404) 582-8057 jmmastin@smithcurrie.com
SmithCurrie.com • Serving the Legal Needs of the Construction Industry Since 1965 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than legal services performed by other lawyers. Contact: Robert C. Chambers, Esq., 245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303-1227.
What We Know We know that mislocated anchor bolts complicate structural steel erection. We know that misaligned structural steel complicates installation of curtain wall and windows, causing delays on finishes.
We know that complications and delays turn successful projects into unsuccessful projects. We know that the construction industry needs lawyers who understand the unique challenges of construction.
We Know Construction. Counsel for contract drafting and negotiation, project administration, business and tax guidance, disputes, arbitrations, and lawsuits.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST LAWYERS
babc.com
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No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Contact: Jim Archibald, Esq., 205.521.4520, jarchibald@babc.com, One Federal Place, 1819 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
FEATURES
31
2015 Chairman of the Board: Robin Savage Get to know Robin Savage and his ideas for leading ABC of Alabama
34
The Truth About Unions An in-depth look into why so many leaders in the state are trying to keep Alabama business-friendly
42
Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science The longstanding program is educating the construction leaders of tomorrow
DEPARTMENTS 16
JANUARY-MARCH 2015
06 Message From the President
BUILDING ALABAMA 08 Projects Updates & Reports 28 Outlook & Trends
56
What is the latest news on industry outlooks and trends? See the information that predicts a shift in the construction trade.
ABC NEWS & NOTES 56 Cathy Caddell Retires 58 ABC of Alabama Members Play Leadership
Roles in National Group
59 Splawn Construction Helps Nonprofit
Construct Needed Sign
42
60 North Alabama Chapter Participates in
HEALS Project
61 Tuskegee University Participates in ABC
National Study
62 ABC of Alabama Member Sponsors ABC
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National Event
Letter from 2015 ABC President
A
ALABAMA
s each year begins with new boards, new projects on the horizon, new business development ideas and new visions, one word always comes up: GROWTH! This edition of Alabama Construction News started with that concept word -- Growth. This edition features so many positives across our state that signal growth:
CONSTRUCTION
Growth in Economic Development Pages 34-41 focuses on ABC’s path to work directly with Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield to formalize a Right-To-Work Council in Alabama. The goal is simple: preservation of right-to-work laws to foster economic development and keep businesses looking at our state for future expansion.
Publishing Coordinator/Circulation
Growth at Auburn University Pages 42-52 go in depth to see how growth on campus at Auburn University will shape construction companies. From technology advancements and research and development to graduating industry- ready professionals, Auburn is a major growth partner for ABC and our industry. Jay Reed President, ABC of Alabama
N EWS
Publisher
Jay Reed Associate Publisher/ Managing Editor
Todd Walker Charles Hall Accounting
Jenny Wilson Advertising Sales
George Pierce Writer
Paige Townley Print Production
Alliance Publishing Group Art Direction
Helping National Grow Page 58 highlights ABC of Alabama’s and ABC of North Alabama’s commitment to assist ABC National with its strategic plan and initiatives for 2015. Growing our National office is a clear way to grow our legislative strength in D.C. Growth of our Association With the help of industry leaders Robin Savage of Robins and Morton and Randall Curtis of Hoar Construction, we have finalized by far the best strategy to ensure growth within our own family. A solid path to growth will ensure we continue to speak for the industry by being diverse, inclusive of all industry sectors and all pockets of the state. Building Alabama Perhaps the most important growth of all is your growth. Pages 9-29 highlight that and show how ABC members are building Alabama and beyond. Please let the magnitude and complexity of these projects sink in. In closing, I am proud of our magazine’s own growth. We have launched a new website and blog. Please visit us at alabamaconstructionnews.org. Let us share your growth here as well.
Jay Reed,
President - Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama
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Alabama Construction News is published by Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. Copyright © 2015 ABC-Alabama All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
Address all correspondence to: Alabama Construction News 1830 28th Avenue So. Birmingham, AL 35209
For advertising information: contact George Pierce at 205.870.9768 x100 or email george@abc-alabama.org.
For editorial information: contact Paige Townley at 205.616.6824 or email paige@abc-alabama.org.
BUILDING
ALABAMA Compelling Projects, Updates & Reports For and By Alabama Firms
JAN-MAR 2015
AL CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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Brasfield & Gorrie Progresses with Projects, Makes Presentation to Disney
Omni Nashville Hotel Nashville, TN WellStar Paulding Hospital Hiram, GA
• P R O J E C T S H O N O R E D BY
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E N R SOUTH EAST •
wo Brasfield & Gorrie projects were honored among ENR Southeast’s “2014 Best Projects.” In an awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida, ENR Southeast recognized Brasfield & Gorrie for its work on the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, and WellStar Paulding Hospital in Hiram, Georgia.
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• B RAS FI E LD & GOR R I E C E L E B R AT E S C O N S T R U C T I O N M I L E S T O N E AT G R A N D V I E W M E D I CA L C E N T E R •
O
n January 16, Brasfield & Gorrie celebrated a critical milestone on the Grandview Medical Center project in Birmingham, Alabama. The new professional office building (POB) and parking deck, which both connect to the existing hospital structure, reached their pinnacle with the completion of their highest cast-in-place concrete levels. During the ceremony, Brasfield & Gorrie recognized the field team for their hard work to top out the project, marking significant progress toward the completion of construction on the Grandview Medical Center campus. “This is a milestone worth celebrating,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Senior Project Manager Tres Jernigan. “We have reached the top of the new structures with a significant portion of the work completed by our own labor force.” To date, Brasfield & Gorrie has self-performed more than 1.2 million square feet of cast-in-place concrete frame, blasted and removed 95,000 cubic yards of rock from the site and completed more than 300,000 man hours. Following construction industry tradition, the field crew erected a tree and an American flag at the structure’s highest point to commemorate this achievement. Approximately 1,000 construction team members and hospital staff attended the event. “We are thrilled to see our campus taking shape day by day,” said Trinity Medical Center President and CEO Keith Granger. “This facility will serve an area of the community that has experienced rapid growth and an increasing need for immediate access to healthcare. We appreciate the diligence of Brasfield & Gorrie, A.G. Gaston, Earl Swensson Associates, all contractors and subcon-
tractors and other project team members who helped make this achievement possible.” Brasfield & Gorrie and strategic partner A. G. Gaston are serving as construction managers for this project at Grandview Medical Center. The scope of work includes the build-out of a 12-story, one million square foot hospital constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie in 2002, as well as related construction for Daniel Corporation of a 220,000-square foot POB and 2,900-space parking deck. Brasfield & Gorrie is also completing site work and integrating systems between the new POB and the existing hospital. The project is on schedule to open in October 2015.
TOP (L to R): Brasfield & Gorrie Senior Superintendent Larry Helms; A.G. Gaston President Walter Howlett; The Honorable William Bell, Mayor, City of Birmingham; Trinity Medical Center President and CEO Keith Granger; Brasfield & Gorrie Chairman Miller Gorrie; and Daniel Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Tickl
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• B RAS FI E LD & GOR R I E
Baptist Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital
MAKE S LEAN P R E S E N TAT I O N T O D I S N E Y •
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• CON STR U CTI ON OF BAPTI ST M E M O R I A L R E H A B I L I TAT I O N H O S P I TA L C O M P L E T E D ON SCH E D U LE •
B
rasfield & Gorrie announced the completion of the new Baptist Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee. The 54,880-square foot rehabilitation hospital includes 49 rehabilitation beds along with a full-service kitchen, dining room, dedicated stroke unit, dedicated
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brain injury unit and physical therapy gym, among other specialized features. The facility also includes office and administrative areas and an outdoor therapy courtyard where rehabilitation patients will receive therapy with various outdoor activities. Brasfield & Gorrie teamed with architect Earl Swensson Associates on this $15 million construction project for joint owners Duke Realty Corporation, Centerre Healthcare and Baptist Memorial Health Care. The project began in November 2013 and was completed on schedule.
ntegrated project delivery (IPD) and lean construction are making waves in the industry, with the Walt Disney Company being just one of many companies looking to move towards the particular delivery method. Wanting to explore the concept further, Disney leaders invited Douglas Lee, vice president and regional preconstruction director for Brasfield & Gorrie, to share his knowledge with attendees at one of their annual meetings. “Disney has decided to procure its construction for improvements to its campus through lean philosophies,” explained Lee. “So they asked me to come speak about our journey with lean construction at Brasfield & Gorrie and how we’ve adopted some of those philosophies and tools into our every day work cycle.” During the meeting, Lee spoke specifically about estimating and how it differs with IPD, as well as how Brasfield & Gorrie has changed its estimating process with the delivery method. “My main points were looking at the leadership qualities that we look for out of an estimator for an integrated project delivery project, as well as some of the technical skills we look for out of estimators,” Lee said. With his audience being many of Disney’s Imagineering staff plus trade contractors, designers and general contractors that work on the company’s projects, Lee is excited about raising awareness in the industry about the many benefits IPD offers. “Hopefully we’ll see it more and more with companies wanting to do construction this way,” he said. “We really prefer that method, and it fits well with our culture and our strengths. IPD makes construction fun again because it aligns everyone’s goals and makes the project as successful as it can be.”
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Rabren General Contractors Awarded Baseball Stadium Expansion at University of Alabama
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he Physical Properties Committee of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a proposal to expand Sewell-Thomas Baseball Stadium and awarded a construction contract to Rabren General Contractors, Inc., of Auburn, Alabama, as the low bidder for the construction. The low bid for the work was $37.1 million. The resolution was passed by the full board of trustees September 18, 2014. The expansion will increase the size of the facility, which is currently 32,800 square feet, to 129,000 square feet. The renovations and additions at the stadium will include food service areas, restrooms, locker rooms and areas for players, the press box, fan seating and the concourse. The University of Alabama’s baseball schedule has 28 home games scheduled for 2015, which will be played at the Hoover Met during the Sewell-Thomas expansion. The project will be complete in time for the 2016 baseball season.
Caddell Construction Awarded Two Contracts • B A R R A C K S AT F O R T G O R D O N • Caddell Construction has been awarded a contract for the construction of a five-story Barracks at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Caddell will construct a 600-man, five-story Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Barracks complex that will include a fullservice 800-person dining facility. The new AIT Barracks will be heated and cooled with a geothermal ground source heat transfer system integrated into the mechanical room and constructed upon the same site as the Barracks complex. The Barracks design includes living/sleeping rooms, semi-private baths, walk-in closets, storage and a dayroom. Caddell’s scope also involves electric service, exterior lighting, fire protection and alarm systems, paving walks, curbs and gutters, parking, patios, storm drainage, water distribution systems, information systems and site improvements. The project began in late November 2014 with completion scheduled for November 2016.
• U S E M B A S S Y I N T U R K M E N I S TA N • Caddell Construction was also awarded a design/build contract by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations for the new U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The project consists of a new office building, U.S. Marine residence, American Cultural Center, a warehouse, facilities for the Embassy community and staff residences, including residences for the Chief of Mission and Deputy Chief of Mission. The project will be located on a 17-acre site just outside the city of Ashgabat in a very high profile district. Features will include landscaping and paving, window systems with architectural sun screens and stone cladding. The contract duration is 44 months.
JAN-MAR 2015
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Capstone Building Corp. Selected for North Carolina Renovation Project
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apstone Building Corp. was selected as the general contractor for Plant 64 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ultimately transforming the old RJ Reynolds tobacco plant into a luxury multi-family complex with over 400,000-square feet of usable space. Attention to detail was a primary focus to meet the rehabilitation requirements set by National Park Services for the co-developers, Pennrose Properties, LLC and C.A. Harrison Companies, LLC. With the experience and leadership of Pennrose Properties, timely and sensitive decisions were made during the course of construc-
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tion allowing the project to stay on schedule and within budget. Preserving an old tobacco plant is a daunting project that takes attention to detail with every part of the construction process. Due to the complexity of the renovation, Capstone Building Corp. served in a leadership role through the entire construction process for all aspects of the project. Commonwealth Architects from Richmond, Virginia, brought a wealth of experience in historical renovation. Innova Service Corp. from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the construction manager for the project. When construction began in August of 2013, the plans for Plant 64 had not been finalized, as they were a work in progress and had to meet approvals by National Park Services to ensure the renovation met their standards. The expertise of all parties was utilized to ensure the design remained within the parameters of the budget. With the tight restrictions on the build came even tighter restrictions on the outside faรงade of the building. Capstone Building Corp. acted as the design builder of mechanical, electrical and plumbing
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to make sure that it stayed within the preservation realms. There were major restrictions that Capstone had to be aware of, not the least of which were all windows in the building had to remain the same, including steel frame, measurements and overall look, as well as not being able to penetrate the exterior of the building. “The meticulous detail in the windows was one of the more challenging pieces of the project,” says Michael Hendrickson, senior estimator for Capstone Building Corp. “Our team had to check and double check each precise measurement as the historical society watched every move to make sure Plant 64 did not lose any of the character from the original plant.” With the exterior penetration restrictions, designing the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems was challenging in that they had to comply with the National Park Services guidelines. Because of this restriction, any and all plumbing had to be carefully planned, as well as vents and other needed systems. Capstone Building Corp. had to work with designers to create solutions such as using vent less dryers and other engineering practices to vent the overall system. The original building erected in 1916 was sturdy and provided a solid foundation for what was to come, including a concrete slab that is 16 to 18 inches thick. All underground utilities had to be replaced. Drilling through the slab that is four times thicker than what you see today became a challenge. The Capstone Building team had to use heavy core drillers and sawing to access the old plumbing and electrical wiring. “With all the rain during this phase of the project, we were constantly pumping out water to keep the underground utilities dry and our employees safe while working on the underground portion of Plant 64,” states Danny Stevens, executive vice president of field operations for Capstone Building Corp. Once the old utilities were secured, all new plumbing and electrical had to be installed. There was one small area between the buildings that was accessible to get new piping in and functioning.
Moving into the interior build out, the job became anything but typical. “The renovation of the RJ Reynolds Building had many unique aspects that help to create the one-of-a-kind Plant 64 apartment building,” stated Hendrickson. “From stairs and their railings to the exact dimensions of the windows, we had to get it right.” The historical preservation called for the original rails and stairs to be left in place, as well as original doors and hardwood floors. Each of the 243 units became unique with characteristics showing through from the original building, including some units had elevator shafts as bedrooms. The flooring varied from floor to floor, depending on its current condition. Plans continuously changed as layers of the old building were peeled back. Without a cookie cutter design, which is typical for multi-family housing ground up builds, the challenges changed from day to day. One floor had exposed piping, so the units had to have exposed piping that still met certain fire codes and reflected the original look of the building. Old doors
had to be taken down, refurbished and put back up to maintain the original appeal of the plant. Additional stairwells and elevators that were in working condition had to be added while still being compliant. Structural reinforcements had to be made to ensure these means to access the different floors met all codes and regulations, while still being mindful of the original building. Overall, the historical consultants provided guidance on creating one of Winston-Salem’s more unique properties. The willingness of the city of Winston-Salem, including the Fire Marshall and Inspection Departments, to accommodate the project’s unique needs was a large part of the success. “Seeing the building transform from a dilapidated factory that made Salem cigarettes to a completely renovated space that contributes to the development of downtown Winston-Salem was unique,” stated Stevens. “It is like seeing a community light up with hope as each phase was complete.”
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Doster Construction Completes Major Projects & Breaks Ground on Another • R E N O VAT I O N S C O M P L E T E AT B I R M I N G H A M S HOPPI NG MALL • Doster Construction Company recently completed renovations at The Summit in Birmingham. Several new brands now occupy the renovated space and are currently open for shoppers, including Kendra Scott Jewelry, Lilly Pulitzer, Tumi, M.McLaughlin, The Art of Shaving and Calypso St. Barth. Located between Gus Mayer and Belk, the 10,800-square foot addition and renovation were designed by CMH Architects. Bayer Properties previously selected Doster for other recent renovations to
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the development, including The Fitting Touch retail store. The project consisted of demolition of the existing space and completing the build-out for The Fitting Touch store’s new location. The second part of the project included the demolition of three spaces preparing for the Banana Republic relocation.
• E X PA N S I O N C O M P L E T E AT H A L L A C L I M AT E C O N T R O L M A N U FA C T U R I N G FA C I L I T Y • Doster Construction Company also recently completed the construction of a 70,000-square foot expansion of the Halla
Renovations at The Summit Birmingham, AL
Climate Control manufacturing facility in Shorter, Alabama. Halla Visteon produces climate control systems worldwide for the automotive industry and counts many major automakers among its domestic customers. The project consisted of a 70,000-square foot expansion to the existing 290,000-square foot facility, which was originally built in 2003 and is home to more than 500 employees. “The facility will significantly improve quality control for HVCC products and ultimately result in new jobs in the Shorter/Macon County area. The expansion demonstrates Halla Visteon’s commitment to grow with Shorter,” said Harold Powell, city clerk for the city of Shorter.
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Halla Visteon Climate Control Alabama Corp. Warehouse
Halla moved into their new warehouse 15 days ahead of schedule, and their manufacturing process greatly improved because their material supply was now adjacent to the main facility. “Doster was a fantastic construction partner in the development of the Halla Visteon Climate Control Alabama Corp. warehouse. They out performed our aggressive schedule and demonstrated great flexibility to accommodate our tenants early storage needs on site,” said Boyd R. Zoccola, executive vice president of Hokanson Companies, Inc., the project’s developer. Doster Construction Company was the project’s general contractor with KPS Group as the architect of record.
• G ROU N D B R EAKI NG ON PR OJ E CT I N LOU I S IANA • Doster Construction Company recently broke ground on the Springs of Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, Louisiana. The project will be situated within the new Fremaux Town Center shopping center and will consist of 14 two-story apartment buildings. The Springs of Fremaux Town Center will offer townhomestyle apartment living with ground-level private entries. ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom apartment homes. The Springs community will feature a 4,000-square foot clubhouse, resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, business center, dog park and attached and detached garages. Coupled with additional unique amenities such as a free car care center and pet spa area, the Springs of Fremaux Town Center create the best in suburban apartment living. Continental Properties Company, Inc. is the project’s developer with Doster as the general contractor and Phillips Partnership as the architect. Doster Multifamily has completed more than 1,000 units of multifamily housing in the last year and was recently ranked within the Top 20 Multifamily General Contractors in the nation by Multifamily Executive magazine.
RETREAT. REGROUP. RELAX. Reload.
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SELWOOD FARM 706 Selwood Road Alpine, AL 35014 800.522.0403 selwoodfarm.com SELwOOD FARm 706 Selwood Road Alpine, AL 35014 800-522-0403 1 JAN-MAR 2015 selwoodfarm@aol.com
10/24/14 1:15 AL CONSTRUCTION NEWS 17 PM
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BL Harbert Completing One Project, Beginning Another • G E AV I AT I O N M A N U FA C T U R I N G FA C I L I T Y I N N O R T H CA R O L I N A • BL Harbert International is on schedule to complete the 170,000-square foot GE Aviation Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) Facility in Asheville, North Carolina. This will be the first facility in the world where engine parts made of CMC’s will be scaled up from research and development to mass production. A ribbon cutting ceremony held on Thursday, October 15, 2014, attracted more than 400 attendees. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Buncombe County Commissioner David Gantt, Vice Mayor Marc Hunt, Congressman Mark Meadows and GE Aviation Executives shared remarks. The new facility will employ more than 200 employees. ”The delivery of both design and construction in 10 months was a monumental undertaking,” said Johnny Garlington, vice president of BL Harbert.”This achievement would not have been possible without the support and partnership of GE Aviation and public stakeholders at the city, county and state level. This success is
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an example of what can be accomplished when everyone works together towards one common goal.” BL Harbert completed a manufacturing facility for GE Aviation in 2013 in Auburn, Alabama, and is currently building another facility in Ohio to support GE’s Aviation business. • U N IVE R S ITY OF M I SS I SS I PPI R E S I D E NCE HALLS • BL Harbert International has been awarded the $34.9 million contract to build the new University of Mississippi Student Housing Phase II Project. The approximately 169,000-square foot facilities are scheduled to begin construction immediately. The facilities will have the capacity to house 624 students in two, five-story buildings. The facilities will feature a courtyard, study
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TRO Jung Brannen Completes Marshall Medical Center’s Cancer Center
M spaces and event rooms conducive to indoor and outdoor activities. The facilities are scheduled to be completed by July 2016. “BL Harbert is pleased to construct another first-class facility at the University of Mississippi,” sand Ben Nevins, senior vice president. “Our work, to date, on the new basketball arena has been very successful, and we are excited about breaking ground on another important project on campus. We strive to deliver top-notch facilities where students can live, learn and succeed. Our team looks forward to welcoming Ole Miss students to their new homes in the fall of 2016.” The McCarty Company Design Group and Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Com-
pany serve as the design team providing architectural services on the project. Over the last several years, BL Harbert actively worked on seven college campuses and completed residence halls at Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery. BL Harbert is currently building a residence hall at the University of North Alabama.
arshall Medical Center’s new Cancer Center, which is located centrally between Marshall Medical Center North and Marshall South. The facility brings leading- edge cancer treatment closer to home for many in northeast Alabama. The $9 million regional center, which is affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), transforms the existing health clinic and raises the bar for quality development along Highway 431. The high-tech, environmentally sensitive design includes a new Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator vault, a multi-specialty clinic, 16 infusion bays with roof garden access and views, a lab, a pharmacy and a cyber café for family and visitors. The project also breathed new life into the existing Marshall Health Clinic, which, at one time, was a metal building housing a skating rink. The 22,000-square foot Cancer Center was the catalyst of creating a new campus for Marshall Health Systems and a beacon of light and hope to cancer patients and family members in Marshall County.
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Pioneer Community Hospital
Hoar Construction Completes Two Major Projects • B R I D G E STR E ET TOWN CE NTR E PHAS E I I I • Hoar Construction has finished construction of Phase III at Bridge Street Town Centre. Bridge Street is an upscale lifestyle center in Huntsville, Alabama, which originally opened in 2007. Phase III included a 170,000-square foot, two-level Belk department store, 50,000 square feet of new specialty shops in four additional buildings and new surface and deck parking. Hoar Construction served as the construction manager for Phase III operations. This expansion resulted when the Huntsville City Council voted to dedicate $2 million to the upgrades at the lifestyle center. “Hoar is very proud to have been the construction manager for the Bridge Street Town Centre Expansion,” said Daryl Whitehurst, project manager for Hoar Construction. “Huntsville is a wonderful city that is rapidly growing, and I feel honored to have worked on one of its most beautiful properties.” To prepare the site for construction, Hoar drained and filled in a 4.5-acre lake, which required more than 16,000 truck loads of dirt and gravel placement. After extensive geotechnical analysis, relocation of the carousel to the east lake and disassembly of the dock, sitework for the retail addition and parking deck began. Hoar completed the 903-car parking deck and adjacent plaza area to accommodate the newly-opened Belk department store. The team successfully worked through multiple phases of the project without inhibiting everyday activities of tenants at Bridge Street.
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Bridge Street Town Centre
• P I O N E E R C O M M U N I T Y H O S P I TA L • Hoar Construction also recently completed a 25,000-square foot renovation project at Pioneer Community Hospital in Stuart, Virginia. Renovations included updating patient rooms and bathrooms in the existing med-surge wing. The emergency department was completely updated with two new trauma rooms and a new ambulance entry, nurse station and waiting area. The specialty clinic and radiology department were also enhanced with updated paint, flooring and medical equipment. Select areas of the facility underwent a full upgrade of the electrical
panels and circuits, plumbing, fire sprinkler and medical gas systems, including the renovated areas. A new generator was installed to give emergency power capacity to the hospital. Seven new rooftop HVAC units were added for the new design configuration along with new ductwork systems and controls. The work in the 50-year-old existing hospital took place alongside on going healthcare operations, creating a unique challenge for Hoar’s construction team and the hospital staff. All activities had to be carefully choreographed to provide minimal interruption to patient care while maintaining strict patient safety standards. Due to its age, the existing facility contained above-ceiling and in-wall asbestos and lead that had to be removed within the confines of the operating hospital. The construction and hospital operations team successfully executed the plan for this work while maintaining the highest level of care for the hospital’s patients.
NEA BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER JONESBORO, AR
75TH ANNIVERSARY
hoar.com
The University of Alabama I S PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
Numerous Project Opportunities IN THE COMING MONTH S: • BRYCE CAMPUS BUILDING DEMOLITION — partial demolition of outermost sections of main building • BRYCE MAIN STABILIZATION & RENOVATION — exterior skin renovation as well as HVAC replacement • GENERAL CLASSROOM BUILDING — 83,790 square foot classroom building • KAPPA ALPHA FRATERNITY — 22,500 square foot house • KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA SORORITY — 40,000 square foot house • PARTLOW BUILDING RENOVATION — MEP upgrades and finish improvements • PETER BRYCE BOULEVARD — new connector road and infrastructure • PHI MU SORORITY — 40,000 square foot house • PRINTING & MAIL SERVICES — 22,271 square foot renovation and 22,271 square foot addition • ZETA TAU ALPHA — 40,000 square foot house • MISCELLANEOUS WINDOW AND ROOF REPLACEMENTS For information regarding these projects and others please visit the Construction Administration website at www.uafacilities.ua.edu/const-admin/index.html or contact Matt Skinner at 205.348.5950. Please note that The University typically requires project specific prequalification of major trades. Susequent to a firm’s successful prequalification and upon written request, The University will waive this requirement for future projects of similar nature.
At BL Harbert International we have an unwaivering dedication to a job well-done. We also realize that the relationships we build during every project and in every community are just as important as the buildings we put there.
GENERAL CONTRACTING | DESIGN-BUILD | CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
serving the electrical industry since 1962... AECCI specializes in all forms of commercial and industrial electrical work, including manufacturing plants,treatment plants, healthcare facilities, schools, office buildings, retail, and outside electrical distribution. We also have the facilities and in-house experience to do “design-build� projects.
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auburn electrical construction co., inc.
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GS&P Names Robert Murphy Senior Vice President in Charge of Birmingham Office • E X P E R I E N C E D L E A D E R TO F U R T H E R F I R M ’ S M U LT I - D I S C I P L I N E , M U LT I - M A R K E T D E S I G N A N D C O N S U LT I N G E X P E R T I S E •
Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm for the built environment, announces that J. Robert Murphy, Jr. AIA, LEED AP, has been named senior vice president in charge of the firm’s Birmingham office. In this role, Murphy will provide operational and marketing leadership on a local and regional level for the firm’s comprehensive design and planning services. Since its establishment of a Birmingham office in 1979, the firm continues to contribute to several notable architecture and engineering projects within the city and region. “I am proud to have been at GS&P and a part of the Birmingham community for more than 30 years,” said Murphy. “As a firm, we understand the critical role the design profession has in designing the infrastructure, buildings and public amenities that establish an image and sense of place for a community. I look forward to leading the multi-discipline, multi-market expertise of our staff in a manner to help our clients achieve success and aid the city and region in continuing to be a preferred live-work-play destination.” Added James Bearden, AIA, chairman and CEO, Gresham, Smith and Partners, “Our Birmingham staff is focused on helping our clients in the healthcare, corporate office, industrial, transportation and water resources markets reach their operational goals. Under Robert’s leadership, they will continue to strive to develop solutions that drive positive long-term social, economic and environmental change through their implementation.” Murphy’s extensive 30-year, multi-market experience includes projects ranging from small-scale branch banks to healthcare projects valued in the hundreds of millions. Robert is adept at various construction delivery methods, and he excels at coordinating intricate regulatory compliance processes and managing diverse components of complex projects. His experience includes healthcare, commercial and industrial projects throughout the country. Murphy earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University and is a member of the Auburn University College of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Council. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Kiwanis Club and serves on the Board of Directors of the James M. Delahay Foundation. He has been active
in community, church and youth sports activities for years, serving in leadership capacities for all. Notable work in Alabama designed by GS&P includes projects for UAB, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, HealthSouth, Alabama Power, REHAU, Mercedes-Benz, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Jefferson County and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The firm has also donated time and resources to REV Birmingham, an economic development organization that strives to stimulate growth and improve the quality of life in Birmingham’s city center and its neighborhood commercial centers.
Auburn Electrical Construction Company Announces New President
Auburn Electrical Construction Co., Inc., has announced that Brent Arnold, vice president of operations, has been promoted to president. He will be responsible for the daily operations of the company. “Brent’s history and experience, but equally important his vision, for this company, is exactly in line with our corporate philosophy,” said CEO Greg Lanier. “He knows the importance of our most valuable assets: our customer, our employees and their families.”
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KBR Awarded Contract, Signs Alliances
• A C E T I C A C I D T E C H N O L O GY A L L I A N C E W I T H C H I YO D A • KBR, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with Chiyoda Corporation, a leading engineering and construction firm in Japan, to license its CT-ACETICA(TM) technology. Chiyoda developed the CT-ACETICA process, a methanol-carbonylation process that uses methanol and carbon monoxide as feedstock to produce acetic acid. The process employs a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient production of acetic acid. The process has tangible advantages including the easy-to-handle catalyst, limited loss of precious rhodium, efficient reactor, low content of by-products and relatively low corrosivity. Acetic acid is used in the production of paints and coatings, plastic bottles, adhesives and disinfectants. Under the terms of the agreement, KBR will exclusively license CT-ACETICA technology worldwide. CT-ACETICA is uniquely positioned as an open-market licensed acetic acid technology. “KBR’s vast global marketing channels will provide Chiyoda increased opportunities to license their technology,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR president and CEO. “This technology adds to our already extensive chemicals technology portfolio.” Expected revenue from this alliance will be booked as licenses are awarded to the Hydrocarbons business segment.
Southeast Asia and Asian markets,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR’s president and CEO. “Together, we are well positioned to win more ammonia projects in the region.” Considered a world leader in ammonia technology, KBR has been involved in the licensing, design, engineering and/or construction of more than 230 ammonia plants worldwide. Expected revenue from this alliance will be booked as licenses are awarded. • CATALYTI C OLE FI N S TE CH N OLOGY CONTRACT • KBR recently won a contract by Lotte Chemical Titan (M) SDN. BHD. to provide licensing and basic engineering design services to revamp an existing steam cracker plant in the Asia Pacific region. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will supply its catalytic olefins technology and basic engineering design services to increase the plant’s olefins production capacity and help diversify its feedstock. KBR’s catalytic olefins technology is a proven technology for converting low-value olefinic, paraffinic or mixed streams into high-value propylene and ethylene. “KBR’s catalytic olefins technology is an innovative and competitive way clients in the region can improve their operations,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR president and CEO. “This contract demonstrates our increasing technology presence in the Asia Pacific region.” Expected revenue from this contract was included in the third quarter backlog of unfilled orders for the Hydrocarbons segment. The contract value was not disclosed.
• A M M O N I A T E C H N O L O GY A L L I A N C E W I T H P T R E K AYA S A I N D U S T R I • KBR has signed an agreement with PT Rekayasa Industri (REKIND) to provide ammonia technology in the Indonesian, Southeast Asian and Asian markets. Under this agreement, REKIND will exclusively promote and license KBR’s proprietary ammonia technology, along with KBR’s proprietary equipment, catalyst and automation packages to ammonia producers in the region. REKIND was established by the Indonesian government in 1981 to develop national capabilities in engineering, procurement and construction services for large industrial plants. With over 30 years of experience in refinery and petrochemical projects, REKIND is now one of the leading EPCC companies in Indonesia. “This alliance with REKIND helps KBR increase its competitive edge for licensing ammonia technology particular to Indonesia,
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Wyatt General Contractor Hosts Slab Signing
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slab signing was held Sunday November 9, 2014, at the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Auburn, Alabama, for its new 20,000-square foot educational building addition. Scripture was read followed by Father Bill Skoneki
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Photograph: ( L to R) Father Bill Skoneki, St Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Ginger L. Thompson, Wyatt General Contractor, LLC, Gary C. Wyatt, Wyatt General Contractor, LLC & John G. Wyatt, Wyatt General Contractor, LLC]
offering prayer before a tour of the new facility. Members and guest signed the slab with Scripture and personal notes adding a lasting, personal memory to the educational addition of the church. After Wyatt General Contractor, LLC provided construction services for St. Michael’s campus relocation in 2009, the congregation experienced rapid growth. This Phase 2 project includes a new twostory building that will serve as additional classrooms for an active day school. Additionally, meeting rooms and future growth areas are being constructed to accommodate continued future growth. A ribbon cutting for is planned for March.
EPIC Adds Principals to Birmingham • RAPI D LY G R OWI N G I N S U RAN CE B R OK E RAG E FU RTH E R STR E N GTH E N S OPE RATI ON S I N TH E S OUTH EAST AN D NATI ONALLY AS PART OF E PI C 2.0 E X PAN S I ON STRATE GY •
E
PIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced that Crawford McInnis, Brian Tanner and Wilson Long have joined the firm as principals in Birmingham, Alabama. McInnis, Tanner and Long all join EPIC from another Birmingham broker where they were risk management advisors, property and casualty insurance producers and principals. Each has specialized in serving large, complex construction, energy and distribution risks across the country over careers spanning from 10 to 20 years. “The addition of Crawford, Brian and Wilson is an exciting way to expand EPIC’s presence in the southeast, as well as strengthening our service and support to a number of key industries we serve nationally,” said EPIC co-founder and CEO John Hahn. Said Derek Thomas, EPIC’s chief strategy officer, “The new EPIC Birmingham team strengthens EPIC’s national platform
(L to R): Brian Tanner, Crawford McInnis, Wilson Long
serving contractors, energy companies and oil and gas distribution contractors. In turn, their clients will benefit significantly from the capabilities and resources of our Specialty Practice and Program Group and the entire EPIC organization.”
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Capstone Building Corp. Promotes Two Employees
C
apstone Building Corp. has announced the promotion of Joe May and Eric Tweet to senior project managers. Joe May has served Capstone Building Corp. for more than nine years. May oversees multiple multi-family construction projects. His responsibilities include management of all field operations, client relationships and day-to-day management of individual projects. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Science from Auburn University. Eric Tweet has over 30 years in the construction industry. He supervises construction projects in the multi-family industry throughout the U.S. His responsibilities include management of project budgets, daily operations and client relationships. Tweet received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Science from Missouri State University and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
CPA Firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram Expand in Birmingham
C
arr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI), has expanded in Alabama by merging local CPA firm Boohaker, Schillaci and Company. The three offices located in Birmingham, Brewton and Haleyville will retain their current personnel but now operate as Carr, Riggs & Ingram. Boohaker, Schillaci and Company has served the greater Alabama area for more than 40 years by providing a broad range of accounting and advisory services to clients throughout a spectrum of industries. Specifically, the firm delivers highly-specialized tax
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Joe May
Eric Tweet
expertise in the sectors of oil and gas, real estate and timber. “The overlap of CRI’s focused industry expertise in serving clients in the construction, manufacturing and distribution and healthcare industries aligns with ours and enables us to deliver additional value-added services to our clients while also jointly pursuing more opportunities,” stated Greg Grey, managing partner of Boohaker, Schillaci and Company. “Further, as a part of a super-regional firm, we can leverage technological and technical resources to improve client service efficiencies while also delivering custom continuing education and leadership training programs—as well as expanded career opportunities—to our team.” CRI, currently ranked as the 22nd largest accounting firm nationally, boasts offices in 21 markets throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. CRI is this year’s fastest growing accounting firm in the top 100 firms nationally. “CRI has benefited from Birmingham’s exponential growth since we entered that market in 2004, so it’s not a surprise that it was ranked in the top 200 ‘Best Places for Businesses and Careers’ earlier this year by Forbes magazine,” stated William H. Carr, chairman and managing partner of CRI. “With this addition of the Boohaker, Schillaci and Company team, our firm is immediately better positioned to meet the demands of this growing market.”
Ivey Mechanical Company,
LLC
7354 Cahaba Valley Road Birmingham, AL 35242 205.949.6000 phone 205.949.0063 fax www.iveymechanical.com
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ALABAMA O UTLO O K & TREN DS
ABC of Alabama presents
Industry Outlook & Trends • F OR ALABAMA •
Architecture Billings Index Rebounds to End 2014 on Solid Footing NORTH EAST ON LY REG ION NOT EXP E RI E NCI NG I NCREASI NG DE MAN D FOR DESIG N SE R V ICES There were 10 out of 12 months of increasing demand for design services in
2014, and the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) points to a healthy outlook for the
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“Our mission is to be a hydraulic and pneumatic distributor that builds customer relationships based on quality products, on time delivery, competitive pricing, and knowledgeable customer service.”
Fluid Power Components and Systems 90 Robert Jemison Road Birmingham, AL 35209 www.powermotion.net Toll Free: 800 955 1931 | Phone: 205 945 1931 | Fax: 205 945 1938
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“Business conditions continue to be the strongest at architecture firms in the South and the Western regions. Particularly encouraging is the continued solid upturn in design activity at institutional firms, since public sector facilities were the last nonresidential building project type to recover from the downturn.” nonresidential construction industry. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI score was 52.2, up from a mark of 50.9 in November. This score reflects an increase in design activity (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.2, following a mark of 58.8 the previous month. Design contracts posted a mark of 49.9, after a 54.9 score in November. “Business conditions continue to be the strongest at architecture firms in the South and the Western regions,” said AIA
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Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Particularly encouraging is the continued solid upturn in design activity at institutional firms, since public sector facilities were the last nonresidential building project type to recover from the downturn.”
KEY DECEMBER ABI HIGHLIGHTS: •
Regional averages: South (56.8), West (52.9), Midwest (50.8), Northeast (45.5)
•
Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (55.7), institutional (52.5), commercial / industrial (51.2), mixed practice (45.8)
•
Project inquiries index: 58.2
•
Design contracts index: 49.9
•
The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.
We Recommend: www.aia.org
2014 Construction Put in Place to End Strong According to FMI Total construction put in place for 2014 will be $62 billion greater than 2013, a 7 percent increase according to the latest report from FMI. CPIP should finish this year around $972 billion and is expected to top $1.04 trillion in 2015. Commercial and manufacturing construction are two of the largest growth sectors, accounting for more than $111 billion in new construction. Randy Giggard, managing director of research services for FMI said, “With new and apparently sustainable sources of natural gas and shale oil, America is on the verge of a veritable manufacturing renaissance building petrochemical plants in the Gulf and gaining interest from more companies, especially foreign-owned companies, considering relocating manufacturing to America.” Lodging has experienced the largest percentage increase for CPIP in 2014. It is expected to finish the year 24 percent up from 2013, building on 2013’s 25 percent increase. This sector now accounts for nearly $17 billion in CPIP.
Alabama Certification #98121 Alabama Certification #50664
We Recommend: www.fminet.com JAN-MAR 2015
AL CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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Alabama’s latest change order SRHW is joining forces with McGladrey to help clients grow
SELLERS RICHARDSON HOLMAN & WEST A N D M CG L A D R E Y are joining forces to become the first-choice advisor to the construction industry in Alabama. As the largest U.S. provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, McGladrey—along with the SRHW team—will bring a deep understanding of Alabama’s business environment and the challenges middlemarket executives face every day. To learn how we can help your company, contact Shad Wilks at 205.278.0237.
MCG-0215KH
2015 Chairman of the Board:
Robin Savage by PAIGE TOWNLEY
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ROBIN SAVAGE, ABC OF ALABAMA’S 2015 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, IS APPROACHING HIS NEW ROLE WITH THE ASSOCIATION MUCH LIKE HE APPROACHES MOST EVERYTHING ELSE: WITH DETERMINATION, COMMITMENT AND A FOCUS ON DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OTHERS.
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“My hope is to bring some real value to ABC members,” Savage said. “At the end of the year, when my job as chairman is done, I want ABC of Alabama to be a better organization and more valuable to its members than it already is right now.” Savage’s motivation to continue and even build upon ABC of Alabama’s success is rooted in the very same drive that has propelled him throughout his career and into the role of chief operating officer for Robin’s & Morton, a position he has held since 2002. “As one of my mentors used to say, when I get up in the morning I always think about what I can do to help the company that day,” Savage said. “I try to do what I need to do as a team member to help advance the good of the company and those around me.” Savage first started in the industry in 1982 after graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in building construction. Almost immediately upon graduation he joined Robins & Morton and quickly realized the company
I came on board in 1982 the company had a vision that it was going to work as a team with owners and clients to produce projects in a very collaborative manner, and that idea has grown steadily in the company over the years. And as far as how the company treats people and clients, I can say that from my perspectives as a young field engineer all the way through to my current position, we try to treat people fairly. We try to do things right. I appreciate that attitude and culture.” While Savage’s roles at Robins & Morton have changed over the years—he worked out in the field, in pre-construction and eventually in various management positions—his viewpoint about each job never waivered. “It takes hard work to succeed in this industry, and it’s important to have flexibility and approach assignments with a ‘career advancement’ attitude,” Savage explained. “You embrace every assignment you are given, work hard and learn from every opportunity. You have to show some flexibility to be able to grow and have an attitude of wanting to develop and learn more every day.” With a desire to help and develop the industry, it was a natural progression for Savage to get involved with ABC of Alabama after a few years on the job at Robins & Morton. “Initially, I thought ABC would be a great
“I try to do what I need to do as a team member to help advance the good of the company and those around me.” was the perfect fit for him. “Robins & Morton is a very family-oriented and collaborative company,” he said. “Even back when
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networking opportunity, which it is, but over time I became really passionate about the merit shop message,” he said. “I firmly believe in the free enterprise system and that people should be rewarded based on their merit. That’s what gives you the initiative to keep the business world growing. And ABC is all about that.” Savage has long approached his work with ABC of Alabama with the same determination that has led to his success at Robins & Morton. Over the years, he served on various committees and boards. This year, he has taken on the position as the association’s chairman of the board. “When we began the transition period with Robin a few months ago, he immediately requested budgets, strategic plans, missions and goals of the association,” said Jay Reed, ABC of Alabama president. “His role as COO of an $800 million company is certainly going to help keep ABC of Alabama focused and goal oriented.” Tim Hightower, president of Southern Carpet, Hardwood & Tile and last year’s chairman of the board, agrees that the association is in good hands. “Robin brings decades of construction experience to the ABC chairmanship,” said Hightower. “I’ve worked with Robin over the last few years on ABC issues, and he has always offered an analytical, organized business approach. Combine that with his natural people skills, and I know Robin will serve ABC well.” In addition to other items important to the association, Savage had specifically outlined five key issues he wants to pursue while chairman:
Alternative Delivery Approach Legislative issues are never far from Savage’s mind, and this year he will continue the association’s desire to have the state legislature pass the Construction Management/General Contractor/Design Build (CMGCDB) bill. Savage believes the alternative delivery method for public works projects will benefit public owners and taxpayers alike. “If I didn’t believe in this I wouldn’t be pushing it so hard,” Savage said. “This delivery method is a great way to get people on board early in a project and really let the project get the full benefit of the expertise of the construction manager, general contractor, the designer and the owner. Having all parties working together maximizes what the owner and taxpayer gets out of the project. It is used in virtually every other state in the country, so we think it would be a good fit for Alabama as well. We just need to continue to tailor the bill to meet the needs of everyone in the industry.”
workforce development that committee members can share with the various agencies. “We need a consistent message being shared with groups like the Alabama Workforce Training Center and the Construction Education Foundation of Alabama, so this committee will focus on that,” Savage said. “We will also focus on how to attract more workers to the industry.” Merit Shop Council Another key issue to the future success of industry in Alabama is maintaining a pro-business message. Savage will be working with other ABC leaders to create a Merit Shop Council, which will promote the merit shop message. “We need to monitor the activities of organized labor so we know what’s going on and can take appropriate action to ensure we preserve the free enterprise system in Alabama,” Savage said. “This council will be comprised of not only those in the construction industry but other industries as well, such as automotive and hospitality.”
“I firmly believe in the free enterprise system and that people should be rewarded based on their merit. That’s what gives you the initiative to keep the business world growing. And ABC is all about that.”
Membership While ABC of Alabama is approximately 600-strong, Savage knows the importance of consistently recruiting new members. This year, Savage will work with the association’s staff and other leaders on a membership drive. “This is such a priority that we have next year’s incoming chairman, Randall Curtis, heading up a membership committee,” Savage explained. “Randall, ABC staff and I will work closely to focus on recruiting members and getting them involved with ABC because they believe in the merit shop message.” Workforce Development With a dwindling workforce facing the industry, Savage knows a continued focus on workforce development is crucial to the future success of the industry. At a recent board meeting, the association created a workforce development committee, which will be comprised of ABC members who are currently involved with some of the major workforce promoting agencies in the state. The association’s goal with the group is to develop a consistent message about
Networking Not forgetting one of the key reasons he originally joined ABC, Savage will also drive a networking initiative. He hopes to increase the number of networking opportunities ABC of Alabama offers members. “We need more networking opportunities where they can not only meet other ABC members but also help potentially facilitate business relationships,” he said. “We are still working on the details, but we will have a small committee that will work with ABC staff to pinpoint good opportunities throughout the year that can hopefully get more members involved and seeing the benefit of attending these functions.” While there will be much work to be done, Savage is excited about the opportunity. “It should be an interesting year for the construction industry as we continue to see the economy improve,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with other ABC members throughout this year in a team effort to advance our organization and meet the specific needs of our industry.”
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THE
TRUTH ABOUT UNIONS by PAIGE TOWNLEY
Why so many are fighting to keep Alabama business friendly
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With organized labor like the United Auto Workers (UAW) looking to organize major automobile factories like Mercedes, unionization has continued to be a heated topic in Alabama. While debates across the state rage about whether or not to unionize, nationally, union membership has seen a steep decline.
A
ccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 11.3 percent of wage and salary workers belonged to unions in 2013, which is down 20.1 percent from the early 1980s. At their peak in the mid-1950s, unions boasted a membership of approximately 34.8 percent. UAW alone has lost hundreds of thousands of members since its peak in 1979 when it boasted 1.5 million members. Today its membership is just approximately 390,000. The decline of union popularity has been attributed to numerous factors, but to many, the statistics on what unions have done for job security speak volumes on the topic. As noted by UnionStats.com, in 1983, there were approximately 19 million manufacturing jobs in the United States, 5.3 million union jobs and 13.7 million non-union jobs. In 2012, the total number of manufacturing jobs in the United States was approximately 14 million, with 1.3 million being union jobs and 12.6 million being non-union jobs. Overall, with a 27 percent decline in manufacturing jobs during that timeframe, non-union jobs decreased only 8 percent while union jobs declined 74 percent.
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Crippled by Labor Unions
“For any industry to grow, union are often perplexed to there needs to be a healthy find that the contract that economy,” said Tom Scrogis actually negotiated fulfills gins, an attorney at Rosen few, if any, of the promises Harwood in Tuscaloosa, Alathat were made to obtain the bama, who exclusively repemployees’ vote.” resents management in labor Perhaps nowhere is this and employee matters. “The more evident than in the data shows that being heavily state of Michigan. According DETROIT, MI unionized is not the path to to 2010 U.S. Census data, the expansion, growth and prosstate of Michigan lost 48 perperity. In fact, research has cent of all of its manufacturshown that unionization, ining jobs from 2000 to 2010. + dependent of wages and benMore telling are the numWITHIN 10 YEARS efits, will range from about bers coming out of Detroit, a (2000-2010), THE STATE 15 percent to 30 percent of longstanding stronghold for additional costs due to things labor unions and birthplace OF MICHIGAN LOST like collective bargaining, of the UAW. Detroit-based NEALRY HALF OF ALL DETROIT’S POPULATION IN THE LAST 12 YEARS , grievance handling and reautomobile companies alone IT’S MANUFACTURING IS NEAR 700,000. DOWN DETROIT BASED AUTO dundancy. These additional have shed 200,000 jobs in JOBS OVER 50% COMPANIES HAVE LOST ‘transactional costs’ in addithe last 12 years, which ac60% OF THEIR HOURLY tion to the fixed wages and counts for three-fifths of its WORKFORCE benefits that unions demand hourly workforce. The city’s usually exceed the competitough economy has led to a tive market rate, causing job dwindling population—in the losses in the unionized sector 1970s the city had a populaBILLION of the economy.” tion of approximately 1.5 In addition to additional million and in the last census costs for employers, unions had just over 700,000—high typically bring about numerunemployment (a rate of close DETROIT IS THE LARGEST DETROIT”S UNEMPLOYous risks to employees as to 18 percent, far above the U.S. CITY TO ENTER MENT RATE OF 18% well. “Unions love to say it’s national average), increased BANKRUPTCY IS FAR ABOVE THE all benefit and no burden, but crime (Detroit holds the title UAW HAS INCREASED ($18 BILLION IN DEBT) NATIONAL AVERAGE the reality is that unionizaas one of the most dangerous MEMBERSHIP DUES 25% tion brings a whole new set big cities in the United States, of working conditions and according to FBI statistics) risks and consequences,” and in 2013 led to Detroit besaid Scroggins. “For example, coming the largest U.S. city to workers are never told by a union that they can lose what they enter bankruptcy (the city was $18 billion in debt). In the meanhave in collective bargaining. The unions tell them they are gotime, the UAW voted to increase its membership dues rate—a ing to make things better for them without telling workers that 25 percent increase that brings the dues rate to two-and-a-half not only do you pay union dues as a member but you also run the hours of pay per month per worker—that will give it an extra $45 risk of losing your job in a strike and you run the risk of making your company noncompetitive and go out of business or relocate. During organizing campaigns, unions also make promises of higher wages, defined benefit retirement plans and improved working conditions without truthfully stating that all the union can do is ask for those things at the bargaining table. There is no guarantee any of it will be achieved. Employees who vote for a
48%
50 %
60%
18
18%
25%
“Unions love to say it’s all benefit and no burden, but the reality is that unionization brings a whole new set of working conditions and risks and consequences.”
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1948
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RIGHT TO WORK STATES There are currently 24 right-to-work states. The first states to pass rightto-work legislation were Florida and Arkansas in 1944.
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million every year. To try to combat the state’s ailing economy, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law a “right-to-work” bill in 2012, which officially made Michigan the 24th right-to-work state. As defined by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a right-to-work law “guarantees that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, nor to pay dues to a labor union.” Research shows that right-to-work states grew faster in nearly respect than their union-shop counterparts between 2000 and 2012 when it came to gross state product, personal income, population and payrolls.
UNIONS TURNING ATTENTION TO THE SOUTH
With the once strong Rust Belt suffering from economic decline and loss of population and jobs, unions like the UAW are looking south to numerous right-to-work states that have thrived in recent years. Foreign-owned automobile manufacturers like Nissan, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai are all operating with non-union factories, and the UAW wants nothing more than to unionize each one due to the fact that in the last 30 years, almost every job lost at a U.S. car factory has been at a unionized plant and most job gains have been at non-union companies. Historically, the south has been the least unionized region of the United States. In fact, in 2013, all southern states, minus Alabama, had a union rate less than 6.5 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Alabama’s unionization rate was 10.7 percent, which was still below the national rate. “Alabama and Louisiana
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tend to be the more unionized states in the southeast,” said Frank McRight, an attorney at BURR & FORMAN. “Part of that is historical, and part of it is the particular mix of manufacturing found in both states. Extraction industries like paper and coal and steel—industries where you don’t locate manufacturing far from the source of raw materials—have historically been unionized, and those are many of the industries that have been located in both states.” 1944
THE FIGHT FOR THE SOUTH
Numerous factories across the South are facing the threat of unionization by the UAW. Although workers at most factories are fighting back and resisting the UAW’s urge to unionize, the fight is far from over. At German carmaker’s Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it’s no surprise UAW is fighting for unionization. The plant produces the Passat, which won the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year Award and that very same year there were more than 110,000 Passats sold. While Volkswagen is forced to maintain neutrality (a requirement that means the company cannot involve itself in any matter), U.S. Senator Bob Corker (RTennessee) led the charge against the UAW, speaking out against the UAW and educating the factory’s employees and the city about the risks that come with unionization, including the risk of losing a second assembly line that Volkswagen was considering adding to the Chattanooga plant that would add a second automobile to the factory’s output. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam also warned that voting to unionize would discourage auto parts suppliers to open factories in Chattanooga. An election was held at the Volkswagen plant in February 2014, and despite the UAW’s best efforts, workers voted against unionization. A few months later, Volkswagen announced it would build its midsize SUV in Chattanooga, a more than $600 million investment in the region that would add 2,000 new jobs at the plant.
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Despite losing the election in Chattanooga, the UAW has not given up. In fact, the UAW has managed to bypass the election loss and create a local union to represent the factory’s workers. The UAW enlisted the help of the IG Metall union in Germany to force Volkswagen to agree to a “community organization engagement” policy that allowed for three levels of management-employee engagement based on percentages of membership. “Unions are trying new and creative ways to organize workplaces without having to go through a traditional election where employees have the right to vote by secret ballot,” said Scroggins. “This includes having employers recognize the union after a majority of employees sign authorization cards, corporate smear campaigns and getting foreign unions to put extreme pressure on their companies with operations in the U.S. to simply recognize a union. The situation at Volkswagen is a prime example of that where Volkswagen gave unprecedented access and cooperation with the UAW both before and after last year’s failed unionization vote, all while Volkswagen’s German union is doing all it can to force unionization.” In Mississippi, the UAW has been trying to unionize the Nissan plant for years. The Canton, Mississippi, plant produces almost half a million Altimas, Sentras and other vehicles every year and is one of the state’s top employers. The
UAW has launched a strategy that employs tactics such as protests, demonstrations, enlisting civil rights organizations like the NAACP and even bringing in celebrities like
manufacturing jobs it currently has from companies like BMW, Michelin and Boeing and hopes to attract more industries in the future. Haley acknowledged that unionization
tory when it comes to unions. Mercedes was the game changer and the catalyst for the dramatic amount of manufacturing growth seen in the last 25 years.” When Mercedes opened its plant in Vance in the 1990s, industry was reborn in Alabama. Mercedes’ success here, as well as the allure of Alabama being a rightto-work state without a heavy union presence, attracted industries back to the state. “The Business Council of Alabama strongly supports Alabama’s rightto-work status for its benefits to economic growth, industrial recruitment and job creation,” said BCA President and CEO William J. Canary. “Over the last two decades, many businesses that were located in heavily unionized states have moved their operations to Alabama, choosing to locate their facilities in the right-towork Alabama due to the ability to compete in the global marketplace.” In addition to Mercedes, Alabama welcomed other major automobile companies like Honda (in Lincoln) and Hyundai (in Montgomery), as well as numerous automotive suppliers. Today, vehicles and parts are the number one export category in Alabama. In fact, in 2013, the value of vehicles and parts exported from Alabama’s auto plants was approximately $7.1 billion. But Alabama’s pro-business attitude has attracted much more than the automobile industry. The state also boasts major global companies like Airbus (in Mobile),
“I love that we are one of the least unionized states in the country. It is an economic development tool unlike any other. We’ll make the unions understand full well that they are not needed, not wanted and not welcome.”
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NIKKI HALEY, GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA Danny Glover to speak at events. While Mississippi workers and citizens must wait and see if the UAW will be able to force a vote, some cities and states are being extremely proactive when it comes to protecting its jobs and workers from unions. Kentucky, one of the few southern states that’s not a right-to-work state, recently had a county approve a right-to-work law. In Warren County, the local General Motors plant is a closed shop, so workers have always had to pay union dues to work there. That will no longer be the case. In December 2014, the Warren County Fiscal Court passed a right-to-work law that bans the practice. According to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Warren County is the only local government in the country to approve a right-to-work law. In South Carolina, Governor Nikki Haley has denounced unionization, stating publicly that the state appreciates the
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of its current factories would discourage that from happening. “I love that we are one of the least unionized states in the country,” said Haley. “It is an economic development tool unlike any other. We’ll make the unions understand full well that they are not needed, not wanted and not welcome.”
ALABAMA
Like so many other states in the region, Alabama is facing its own battle with unionization. Historically, Alabama was a heavily unionized state in industries such as steel, paper, textiles and construction until the 1980s. “Alabama lost thousands of unionized jobs in the steel industry, we lost the apparel industry, paper manufacturing declined and we saw coal mine strikes,” Scroggins said. “Most of our unionized facilities went into decline or closed in the 1970s and 1980s. They lost a lot of jobs when the facilities went out of business. So this state has a painful his-
Austal (in Mobile) and ArcelorMittal (formerly known as ThyssenKrupp, in Calvert). What helped Alabama attract these major companies, noted Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, is Alabama’s probusiness philosophy. “One of Alabama’s key strengths in economic development is its status as a right-to-work state,” he said. “This makes Alabama more attractive to companies evaluating where to invest capital in a new operation or to expand an existing one.”
While these industries are creating much-needed jobs all across the state, they have also attracted the attention of unions. The International Association of Machinists is hoping to unionize Airbus. For years, the UAW has attempted to unionize Mercedes and Honda—and those efforts are ongoing. UAW is going after a variety of auto suppliers as well, such as LEAR RENOSOL in Selma. The fear among
many is that if major plants in Alabama begin unionizing, the state would no longer be an attractive location for manufacturing. “If economic development is going to continue in Alabama and companies continue to build and expand here, it’s vital that the state remain union free and a strong rightto-work state,” said Scroggins. “Alabama fights tooth and nail with states across the region for projects, and other states
like South Carolina actively promote their non-union workforce as a significant selling point. If all of a sudden Alabama’s marquee manufacturing plants become unionized, that’s going to make it a lot tougher to recruit companies or even to get current plants to expand. But even beyond being able to compete, Alabama has many small communities where manufacturing jobs
“If economic development is going to continue in Alabama and companies continue to build and expand here, it’s vital that the state remain union free and a strong right-to-work state.”
RECENT RESULTS OF ALABAMA’S PRO-BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
VANCE, AL 1993 M-Class SUV, R-Class SUV, GL-Class SUV, C-Class (2014)
LINCOLN, AL 1999 Odyssey minivan; Pilot SUV; Ridgeline pickup; Acura MDX luxury SUV (2013) and V6 engines
HONDA MERCEDES
HYUNDAI MOBILE, AL 2013 The Airbus facility is expected to create 1,000 new jobs and will begin operation this year with its first aircraft delivery scheduled for 2016.
MONTGOMERY, AL 2002 Sonata; Elantra; Theta 4-cylinder gasoline injection engines; Nu 4-cylinder engine
AIRBUS
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are vital. That has really been the lifeline for rural communities. It will not be good if our factories begin unionizing and companies start deciding Alabama is no longer a good environment to manufacture products. It’s a make or break issue for this state.” In addition to competing with other states to bring jobs to Alabama, another serious fear is unionization would encourage companies to send their manufacturing—thus, their jobs—to Mexico. Already Mexico has been turning out record numbers of vehicles, proving it can match the skill and productivity of U.S. workers—and at a fraction of the wage. By the end of 2015, Mexico is expected to overtake Japan and Canada and become the U.S.’s
This new rule, known as the “Ambush Election Rule” shortens the amount of time between a union filing a representation petition and an election taking place. Currently, the average time between the two is around 38 days, but the rule will dramatically shorten that time. “The NLRB is basically assisting unions,” said Jim Cooper, owner of Cooper Construction Company. “This is an unprecedented effort by the NLRB requiring business owners to hand over information about their employees to unions so they can send propaganda to them to help destroy the owner’s business, as well as shortening the time before elections, making it harder for employers to speak out during unionizing campaigns.” Added Canary, “The NLRB has continued its shift from an intended purpose of a fair arbiter of the law to a rubber stamp for labor union interests. The ‘ambush election’ rule denies employees access to critical information needed in deciding whether to join a union and is yet another example of federal agency overreach. Rather than promoting a more stable, consistent and fair process for employers and employees, the NLRB has opted for a policy that creates confusion and promotes a partisan agenda.”
“Mexico now builds one out of five cars in North America, up from one in 20 in 1994. The last thing we need to do is start unionizing and giving companies more excuses to put capital in Mexico and not Alabama.” top source for imported cars. “A risk facing all states is Mexico,” said Scroggins. “Workers in Mexico already roughly make in a day what U.S. workers typically earn in one hour. Kia has decided to build a new $1 billion plant in Mexico in lieu of expanding its plant in LaGrange, Georgia. Honda and Mazda have plants there. Nissan and Daimler are spending $1.6 billion on a new joint venture in Mexico. Mexico now builds one out of five cars in North America, up from one in 20 in 1994. The last thing we need to do is start unionizing and giving companies more excuses to put capital in Mexico and not Alabama.” While the UAW has yet to unionize Alabama’s marquee factories, they have successfully organized five Mercedes suppliers: Inteva (in Cottondale), a Johnson Controls plant in Cottondale, JCIM (a Johnson Controls plant in McCalla), ZF Industries (in Tuscaloosa) and the Faurecia plant in Cottondale. More recently, workers at Golden Dragon’s plant in Wilcox County narrowly voted to unionize (by a vote of 75 to 74) despite Governor Robert Bentley’s pleas to reject unionization. Governor Bentley wrote a letter to workers noting that voting for a union “could have a possible negative impact on your community by discouraging other companies from locating there” and encouraged instead that employees give the company an opportunity to work with them regarding their concerns.
NLRB’S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE UNIONIZATION
Making the potential for more unionization even greater are recent policy changes by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Recently, the NLRB voted to allow unions access to company email addresses of a company’s employees, as well as another policy change that speeds up the unionization process.
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WHY DOES UNIONIZATION MATTER TO CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT CAN WE DO?
While unions are focused on mainly the automotive industry, the potential of increased unionization in Alabama will be felt by other industries, including construction. “The health of the construction industry will be directly impacted by whether or not we’re bringing in new manufacturing or expanding what is already here,” said Cooper. “If we start losing industries that means there’s less to build, expand or retro fit. If the unions begin organizing in any industry, it will affect us all.” Like many, Cooper believes that if employees at factories targeted by unions had the opportunity to be educated about the risk of unionization they would reject organizing efforts. “The merit shop system represents the free market system at its finest, and I believe that if we could encourage those employees and help equip them with factual information about the benefits of the merit shop, not just for them but for their communities, the decision for them would be easy,” Cooper said. “We can be victorious in protecting what we have going in Alabama if we act. No one wants our state to look like Detroit. But the problem is that so many business owners are stopped from speaking up against unions, so the unions have free reign.” For Jay Reed, president of ABC of Alabama, the thought of unions possibly preventing merit shop construction workers from gaining work hits too close to home. “The very idea that an employer could have the union define the way his or her company will be run goes against the American dream,” Reed said. “ But
instead of getting into the philosophical side of the situation, let’s look at the hard facts. Conservatively, only 10 percent of the contractors in this state are represented by a union. That means that 90 percent of the hard working contractors in our state operate under the free enterprise system. This free enterprise philosophy is the very reason our state is seeing the industrial boom that we’re experiencing. One hit to that free enterprise system could deter thousands of jobs for this state. ABC will not sit idle and allow that one vote to occur. It is our job, even if we move forward alone, to defend the principles of our association.” ABC of Alabama feels that most workers in Alabama don’t really want unionization, they just don’t have enough information about the risks, and too many times employers are bound by neutrality or other threats by unions to voice any resistance. To help employers educate employees about the positives of the merit shop philosophy, the association’s executive committee and staff are assembling a Merit Shop Council, which will provide resources to company owners, employees and the general public. Statistics show that merit shop employees build safer, train better and pay more than union shop contractors, and ABC of Alabama wants to make sure everyone across Alabama is aware of those facts. “If this is something that you think I take personal, you’re right,” Reed said. “There are certainly a lot of things I do as an association director that are a lot more fun than this. But with my position comes a huge responsibility, and I accept that responsibility to continue to carry the torch for merit shop contractors.” Plans are for the council to provide resource kits with educational information to company owners and human resource directors, and, where allowed, employ social media and electronic communications with employees to tout the merit shop message. “The Merit Shop Council would provide employers in various industries across Alabama with a platform to promote the state’s business-friendly policies and highlight the opportunities that are present here for investment and job creation,” Canfield said. “At the same time, the Merit Shop Council would be an avenue for employers to communicate effectively with employees on the topic of union issues and to share their open shop philosophy with them.” All outreach will be done in a legal manner according to NLRB rules and regulations. “These messages will contain safety data and employee benefits and wages information that confirm merit
shop is the way to do business in Alabama,” Reed added. “This is ultimately the association’s goal: to once and for all remind everyone doing business in Alabama that we are currently successful because of our merit shop principles and not union-dictated standards.” ABC of Alabama is uniting its efforts with the national ABC office, which also offers a variety of resources for employers seeking to continue operating under free enterprise principles. During initial planning efforts, ABC of Alabama leadership realized it wasn’t the only Alabama industry concerned with recent unionization activity. “One thing that became clear to me was that our association isn’t the only one that exists to defend the free enterprise system,” Reed said. “We found immediate friends within the hospitality market, the retail market, manufacturers and small businesses all across the state.” Phase one of the Merit Shop Council will include developing position papers and rapid response documents for employees and employers interested in learning more about why right-to-work is best, developing educational programs to formally introduce the right-to-work concept to existing and new industries looking at or residing in Alabama and developing specific tools to be used for employers and employees during organizational attempts. “It’s important to note that once the official council is named, any referenced information included could change at the direction of the council membership,” added Reed. It’s anticipated there are potentially two more unionization votes that will be held in the state by June, and ABC of Alabama leadership is increasingly aware it must begin promoting the merit shop philosophy quickly to factory employees. “Our goal and mission here is to not lose one fight,” Reed said. “The time to act is now to ensure backroom tactics and threats don’t overrule hard data and common sense.” Added Canary, “Existing industries looking to expand and companies looking to locate here must be confident that Alabama will remain a business-friendly state. I continue to believe that free enterprise can best meet the needs of its employees by maintaining an open and direct relationship with them.”
“Conservatively, only 10 percent of the contractors in this state are represented by a union. That means that 90 percent of the hard working contractors in our state operate under the free enterprise system. This free enterprise philosophy is the very reason our state is seeing the industrial boom that we’re experiencing. One hit to that free enterprise system could deter thousands of jobs for this state.”
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY’S
McWhorter School of Building Science
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uburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science (BSCI) is shaping the future of the construction industry one student at a time. With a practical yet innovative approach to education, the program equips graduates with the necessary foundation to become successful leaders in the industry. “Through its innovative academic programs and commitment to student success, the McWhorter School of Building Science continues to strengthen Auburn’s reputation and prominence as an outstanding land-grand institution,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Timothy Boosinger. “Our students are fortunate to have an innovative group of faculty who are not only committed to preparing them for the traditional landscape of their profession, but also to cultivating the next generation of industry leaders by engaging them in emerging disciplines. Together, BSCI faculty and students are able to make meaningful contributions to the industry that also have a positive social and economic impact.” Educating tomorrow’s construction management leaders is nothing new for the university. The BSCI program was established in 1947, making it the second oldest construction program in the United States. Over the years, the program—which is part of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction and housed in the M. Miller Gorrie Center—has graduated more than 3,000 students, many of whom lead and manage major construction firms
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around the world today. “Our graduates come out of school ready to go to work,” said Paul Holley, a professor in the Building Science program. “Because of that, the demand for our students could not be stronger. We have students accepting job offers months before they graduate.” In the program, students learn many elements of construction management, including specialized training in estimating, scheduling, project management, safety, information technology, surveying, sustainable construction and structures. The broad-based curriculum prepares students to understand all areas of the construction industry. “Learning so many parts of the industry will give them empathy for the people and the relationships they will have when they are managing on the job,” said Ben Farrow, Aderholdt associate professor. “If they understand what a laborer is really dealing with in the field, they will be better prepared to talk about schedules, budgets and timeframes. They will understand the issues their workers are dealing with on a daily basis.” In addition to a rich curriculum, the BSCI program provides invaluable hands-on experiences outside the classroom. “We call it engaged learning,” Farrow explained. “It’s our way of giving students intense exposure to real industry projects and problems.” A few years ago, program leaders instituted a field lab on campus where students could actually apply what they are learning to reallife situations. “We believe hands-on opportunities are an integral
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Richard Burt
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part of the learning process,” Holley said. “So, for example, when we teach a structures class not only are we in the classroom doing calculations but also we have students in the field lab doing hands-on activities to learn how formwork is assembled. A class on electrical and mechanical systems will dissect air conditioning equipment and learn how commercial power and light circuitry is assembled. It’s an experience that helps future managers understand the trade work they will be involved with managing.” While the field lab plays a significant role in a student’s experience, the opportunities for engaged learning in the BSCI program don’t end there. Students also have the chance to join competition teams. The teams are presented with a problem by a construction firm and the students must figure out how to solve the problem. “Students spend concentrated time trying to solve a particular problem, whether it’s figuring out what a bid amount should be, how to pour concrete on the job or how to make a proposal to an owner on a design build project,” Farrow said. “They basically have 24 hours to put together their
ideas for the project and make a proposal.” During both the fall and spring semesters, the BSCI program’s competition teams compete against teams from other schools across the country and even internationally. “We are proud of the fact that we do more competitions than most other universities,” added Richard Burt, McWhorter endowed chair and school head. “We were one of two universities that competed internationally during the last fall semester, and the student team coached by Paul Holley took the top prize.” Another valuable option the BSCI program offers students is the opportunity to study abroad. Every year, students can choose to go all over the world to practice construction management, from Australia to Ecuador. “Construction is a global industry, and it’s very much the case here in Alabama,” Burt said. “Two of the largest builders of U.S. embassies and consulates are Alabama-based, and we have students who pursue careers building internationally. We feel students gain a lot in education by learning about construction methods and techniques
“We believe hands-on opportunities are an integral part of the learning process.”
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used in other countries, as well as adjusting to what daily life is like in those countries.” With so much focus being placed on providing a strong foundation of classroom study and engaged learning opportunities, the BSCI program completes the educational experience with its strong emphasis on research. Students receive significant opportunities to participate in various research projects being conducted by faculty members during their time in the program. “That has really changed in the last 15 to 20 years or so,” Holley said. “We have faculty that are doing some truly amazing research as it relates to technology and innovation.” One particular research focus in the BSCI program is 3D modeling. To build 3D photogrammetric models, unmanned aerial systems are being used to take photos of existing conditions of construction projects to capture imagery. The university is working in collaboration with a number of general contractors and other companies. “For example, an unmanned aerial system was used to inspect glass on the exterior of a facility that Brasfield & Gorrie constructed a few years ago,” Holley explained. “They wanted to know the condition of some exterior glass so we were able to use the system to perform a pilot study of how to use unmanned aerial systems instead of putting people on stages on the outside of a building.” As part of the project, faculty members are researching high defi-
nition laser scanning and photogrammetry. “These are both new technologies that are used in different disciplines but are relatively new to construction,” said Junshan Liu, an associate professor who is working on the projects. “We are trying to identify applications of this technology in construction because we believe it’s a new trend that would be great for the industry.” Graduate students are assisting on the research project, and other students are learning about the concepts during classes. “I give my students presentations on the technology we’re researching,” Liu said. “While they won’t necessarily use the technology in the program, I like introducing the concepts and why we’re looking at them. It’s something they will probably see in the near future and we want them to be familiar with the ideas.” The school’s Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration (CCIC) also conducts research. The center was established
Above: Students work in the senior thesis lab, a dedicated space for seniors in their final year. Right: Paul Holley holds an unmanned aerial system, which the program uses to build 3D photogrammetric models.
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Darren Olsen shows a part created with a 3D printer used in research, which includes one of the school’s two patents.
a few years ago to focus on innovative and collaborative approaches to real problems related to construction products and processes. The CCIC brings together faculty, students, industry representatives, product producers and others to formulate effective and innovative solutions. A significant focus of the CCIC is Studio+Build, an academic program that combines the subjects of Building Science and Industrial Design with problems supplied by end-users and manufacturers to solve real industry issues through prototype and product design. “The Building Science programs have contributed to and have been influenced by the strengths of the other programs in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction—specifically, the Architecture and Industrial Design programs,” said Vini Nathan, dean and McWhorter Endowed Chair. “Such sustained, collaborative efforts have yielded signature initiatives such as Studio+Build and the Integrated Design and Construction program.” One particular product that started in the Studio+Build program has made significant strides and has actually been patented by the university. Darren Olsen, a BSCI associate professor, has led the charge on development of a product that allows for a measurement to be taken at 90-degrees from a baseline with a tape measure. “It all started with one of our student teams looking at a particular problem in regards to plumbing penetrations and concrete slabs and looking at how to improve the layout process and add precision,” Olsen said. “I took the idea and have worked on it and now we’re to a point that a company is looking into commercializing
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Going Places Equat prat. Quam, quissequipit atuero doloborper in exer sim volorem nullan utat. Osto commy nonum niam zzrit erosto dipsusting el utpat nonse molortie mod eum num vel dolore mod er iurercidunt ing estrud et nulla feu faci blamcorero do del ut aliquat. Onsenim velit accummy nit, quissed modo dipit alit lor il ut wisl exerilit esequat prat acillam nisi. Doluptat wis ero commod delit nisim eumsandre magna at, vullan vercil dolummo loborem iurerosto odigna aliquam zzrillamcore el ing eugiam digna alissi. Ore tem euisim zzrit, sis aliquis ex eugait augue modion hendre magna consequat lum zzrit duismolore magna consed dolutpate deliquis nonullute facidunt nulputpat. Ecte exerostis dolobor summodo loborem vel ercidunt prat. Olorperci tat. Ore ex euguerostio odigna consecte diamcor sis nos nim nim quat, velis dunt iriure mod magna conullaor summod eum iriurer sum quatie te min velit in hendit iriustio consequam, venibh et ercing exerciliquis nulputat illaore volore estrud eugiat veliquam, velesto odolorting ea feum adit ut verilit in veliquam zzrit dunt dolortio eraestin vel eugait ipit et nos num in elis nim vulput lorem quam adio od tat vullutat. Uptat, conum iure venit velesto od te do doloborperat ute tie minim iustrud tat luptatem vel dit ver amet autat, velit, quismod igniat vullaorem zzriusto et ver si bla feum vulputat lore commodo corem ad magnis exeros exero dolorer aestrud dolestis eum quat vulput nibh endre
duisisci tet autat adiam, commod exer autatum zzrilla alit adionsequisl eugait voluptat, sum illa faciduis nulla faccum inisis ex ex enim illametum dolenia tionsequat. Giatio con et irit am iureetu msandipsum ad enit wis nim voloborem eum zzril et accummy nulputem nulput ut nostin voloreet, corperil dolor ipismod olorerilisis nisl digna conulla cor sum zzrilis dipisl iurem quatuerat dolore faccum iure miniam iriure feu feugiamcore dolore facing ea conulla faci tisci ex euipit lobore te modigna conse minissim dipisl ut velit wisci tin venibh exercid uiscidunt exer sequat, sim augait lum ilit irit vercilit ad doluptate ver ilis non henibh estie enim auguer ipsustio ex ex er aute faccum numsandignim il illut vulluptat, conum am dolobore modip et nit irit vel dolesto od tem at dunt nis etum dolore tat, cortinis niam, summy nonsequiscil dolortio et dunt luptat acil eugait deliquam, susci bla at. Ut dolenis ent lutem qui blandio eraesenit iure cor sed tat. Faci blaore magnim in hent volor in hent nonse magna faccum zzriustisl do commy nibh et la cortin henim esectet venibh er adignisit, se modit non hendit lore consecte con vel ullamet velis alit prat lor sim dunt inis nis aut aci eugiam iure ting et volortionsed tiniatummy nulput velit praestrud del et iure tiscil utat la feuipsummy num delenit lorerci enissi. Faccum zzril ilis nis nullummy num exerat adit lobore tat wis alissi. Lam, velit praestin et, si. Ro odigna ad tat augiam, consequis doluptat. Ecte do-
lore dolorpero od ex eugiat. Usto dolum del ut nis num irilit, commodolobor sim ex erosto consed dolobore tio con ut amcommy nos doloree tuercipit adiamet, quatum irit, volorti onsequat. Incinim iliquamet praesent luptat. Ut laoreros aliscid uiscilit alit nosto odip eugait dionseq uipsum il in vullamc oreraessim zzrilit, consenis dolesto enibh ercidunt wisi. It etue min velenisi bla consenit am autpat velesectet ip et, quamcon seniamet la faccum irilis nonum dolore vulla conummy nullaore velis aliquisl dolobor iustie magnibh enit lore modolortio odo consectem dolobortin utpat, sim quis enit ipsummo dignim zzrit lan er irit adigna corpero eui tio duis nibh eum zzrilis niam dolore min henisit ilis augiam veniat velenis nonullutat lutpatis nismod enim nim iril ulput veliquat. To conseni scipsus cilit, vulla Lenisim dunt aliquissim il utet et nos nis num niscinci et lor si. Ignim nis aut acidunt ulla commy nibh exerat iriurem nonse mincill aoreetum iril iuscip ero core dolorpe ratuerosto odignibh et, veliquamet vel dipsummy nullamc onsectet dolorem iriusci ex enit praestrud tis augue feuissis et aliquis dunt iril elese magnibh exer iustrud ming eugue consequiscil dunt nos nulla am niatums andreet velit ad tis nos at. Ro conse del iusto corerostrud te eugiam, quis ea faci blan ero dolor adio dunt velit la facil ex eu faccum doloreet ad magnisi. Lit, veliquisl in ut niscil illum autpat. Uptatem do duis autet irit
First and Trim The famous hedges of Sanford Stadium get a cut. Pute min exeriureet dolor se em irilisci tat nibh et nos eugait adt, quam iust
ut lutpat augue tat in vent ing ent etumsan dionull andignim del dolore dolorperosto odoloreet praestie vulput illandrem verostie tionum euis do consequat. Ut aliquam vel il utat alis num delit nulla adipis del ut ulluptat. Rat, quat, velestis atum incilis nisl essenibh exero etumsandiam vullamcore eugiati ncincidunt wis nulputetum velis ex eum iril iliquipit nos ea consequ iscilit ut ullaorer alis nim ipsustie moloborting ea cor alisit, se dignibh exer autat. Ut adigna core minis nullaor sequat. Ut utet autpate dunt ute modolob ortionsed tatet nis alis atuer senim erat ad modoluptat ipis enibh exercidui tet dolore molese veliquis dolessed duis amcorpercil iriure do dunt accumsandit erilit la faci blandigna commy num quisim nostrud magna commolore euissim dolore ex esto odignismod ex eum vel eugue conulputat lum quatie cor am ver augiam niamet ing esse minis accum iuscilit adit nos at ulpute min vel et num iliquis cilit, consequis dip er si tion henisl dunt prat, quamcommod diating eugiamcommy niam quatisl eu faccumsan utpatiniat. Rat la accum ipit nos alit num iliquis alit lore vulput la feuis nibh ea acilis adipsuscing eugait, vullandre facin vel ut vulput nullandre feuis et ametummy nulla amconullum ing el illa feugait vendre con hendiatem zzriust iniat, quipit alis at. Ut aut
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the product.” While the future of the product has yet to be determined—the university is still waiting to see if the company will enter a license agreement to produce the product—Olsen is focused on what these research opportunities are providing students. Thus far, the school has received two patents with more than 60 still pending. “We’re very proud of the progress students are making on various products in the program,” he said. “Studio+Build has been great for the students and the faculty. I really believe the students like having the challenge placed in front of them of fixing a historic problem in the industry, and the faculty is a great source of research. So it has been a good relationship.” Holley is currently serving as interim director of the CCIC, which previously was run by Steve Williams, a professor who recently retired and is now Professor Emeritus. “Steve started the Studio+Build process,” Olsen said. “He encouraged me to further
some of the products that have been developed in the program. He pushed us in the right direction regarding research.” The BSCI program is making a name for Auburn University in the research world, and that name is continuing to grow thanks to the school being chosen as host for the 2016 International Symposium for Automation and Robotics in Construction International Conference (ISARC). An annual event that discusses how technology is affecting the construction industry, the conference will draw approximately 150 people from at least 35 countries. “This is the first time we have held an international conference,” said Anoop Sattineni, associate professor and chair of distance learning. “Hosting this conference will showcase what we’re doing here. We’re constantly recruiting faculty from all over the world, and we want everyone to see Auburn is a supportive environment for research in construction.” The forward-thinking research and well-rounded educational
“We’re constantly recruiting faculty from all over the world, and we want everyone to see Auburn is a supportive environment for research in construction.”
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experience provided by the BSCI program is due in large part to the great relationships the school maintains with various companies in the construction industry. Program leaders continuously seek out input and guidance from industry leaders to make sure the educational foundation students receive in the program is what the industry needs. “We’re nothing without our industry,” said Burt. “The bulk of what we do here is focused on developing future talent for the industry. We have an industry advisory council we work closely with to make sure we are producing graduates that fill their needs. We are always listening to what our industry says about the jobs they must fill and the skillsets they need.”
In fact, program leaders will be reaching out to the industry over the next few months to discuss how the current curriculum is equipping students of the next generation and making sure it’s what the industry needs, said Farrow. “The relationship with industry is what really drives our program,” he added. “The close connection we have and input we get on an ongoing basis makes a difference to students. They see it and know the industry is involved and that makes it relevant for them.”
BUILDING SCIENCE PROGRAM RESEARCHING VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND JOBSITE MANAGEMENT
R
esearch projects are frequent occurrences at Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science. Dr. Salman Azhar, an associate professor in the program, is currently working on a research project that’s investigating applications of virtual reality headsets for construction safety and jobsite management. Virtual reality (VR), sometimes referred to as immersive environment, is a computer-generated 3D environment that can simulate the real world environment. A user wearing a VR headset can feel the same experience as he or she would have in the real world. “The aim of this on-going research project is to investigate applications of 3D virtual reality headsets in construction practice, education and research,” said Azhar. There are many objectives of the research project: to investigate state-of-the-art of virtual reality headsets and other related wearable devices; to demonstrate their applications in at least two areas, namely construction safety and jobsite management; to develop relevant examples for classroom and/or future students/visitors demonstrations; and to develop a framework outlining applications and impact of VR headsets in construction education and practice. “The VR headsets offers advantages over traditional methods in the
construction industry in four specific areas, including health and safety training, virtual equipment maintenance training, cost effective alternative to large multi-projector displays and visualization of BIM data,” Azhar said. “As of now, we plan to focus on Oculus Rift® headgear, but if other better wearable devices are identified through this research they will be included in the investigation.” This research will help the program explore an emerging technology that could be a game changer in the design and construction industry. The results of this research will also help determine the value and best applications of VR headsets in construction education and practice. “We plan to develop small training programs (or games) for our students to introduce them to the issues on construction jobsites without visiting a jobsite,” Azhar explained. “We also plan to collaborate with the construction industry to develop state-of-the-art VR-based training programs for their employees. Last but not least, this study will help us to determine the problem areas where future VR research can be conducted.” Azhar expects to complete this project by the end of the year. The research results will be available on the McWhorter School of Building Science’s website.
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Faces
Going Places Equat prat. Quam, quissequipit atuero doloborper in exer sim volorem nullan utat. Osto commy nonum niam zzrit erosto dipsusting el utpat nonse molortie mod eum num vel dolore mod er iurercidunt ing estrud et nulla feu faci blamcorero do del ut aliquat. Onsenim velit accummy nit, quissed modo dipit alit lor il ut wisl exerilit esequat prat acillam nisi. Doluptat wis ero commod delit nisim eumsandre magna at, vullan vercil dolummo loborem iurerosto odigna aliquam zzrillamcore el ing eugiam digna alissi. Ore tem euisim zzrit, sis aliquis ex eugait augue modion hendre magna consequat lum zzrit duismolore magna consed dolutpate deliquis nonullute facidunt nulputpat. Ecte exerostis dolobor summodo loborem vel ercidunt prat. Olorperci tat. Ore ex euguerostio odigna consecte diamcor sis nos nim nim quat, velis dunt iriure mod magna conullaor summod eum iriurer sum quatie te min velit in hendit iriustio consequam, venibh et ercing exerciliquis nulputat illaore volore estrud eugiat veliquam, velesto odolorting ea feum adit ut verilit in veliquam zzrit dunt dolortio eraestin vel eugait ipit et nos num in elis nim vulput lorem quam adio od tat vullutat. Uptat, conum iure venit velesto od te do doloborperat ute tie minim iustrud tat luptatem vel dit ver amet autat, velit, quismod igniat vullaorem zzriusto et ver si bla feum vulputat lore commodo corem ad magnis exeros exero dolorer aestrud dolestis eum quat vulput nibh endre
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duisisci tet autat adiam, commod exer autatum zzrilla alit adionsequisl eugait voluptat, sum illa faciduis nulla faccum inisis ex ex enim illametum dolenia tionsequat. Giatio con et irit am iureetu msandipsum ad enit wis nim voloborem eum zzril et accummy nulputem nulput ut nostin voloreet, corperil dolor ipismod olorerilisis nisl digna conulla cor sum zzrilis dipisl iurem quatuerat dolore faccum iure miniam iriure feu feugiamcore dolore facing ea conulla faci tisci ex euipit lobore te modigna conse minissim dipisl ut velit wisci tin venibh exercid uiscidunt exer sequat, sim augait lum ilit irit vercilit ad doluptate ver ilis non henibh estie enim auguer ipsustio ex ex er aute faccum numsandignim il illut vulluptat, conum am dolobore modip et nit irit vel dolesto od tem at dunt nis etum dolore tat, cortinis niam, summy nonsequiscil dolortio et dunt luptat acil eugait deliquam, susci bla at. Ut dolenis ent lutem qui blandio eraesenit iure cor sed tat. Faci blaore magnim in hent volor in hent nonse magna faccum zzriustisl do commy nibh et la cortin henim esectet venibh er adignisit, se modit non hendit lore consecte con vel ullamet velis alit prat lor sim dunt inis nis aut aci eugiam iure ting et volortionsed tiniatummy nulput velit praestrud del et iure tiscil utat la feuipsummy num delenit lorerci enissi. Faccum zzril ilis nis nullummy num exerat adit lobore tat wis alissi. Lam, velit praestin et, si. Ro odigna ad tat augiam, consequis doluptat. Ecte do-
JAN-MAR 2015
lore dolorpero od ex eugiat. Usto dolum del ut nis num irilit, commodolobor sim ex erosto consed dolobore tio con ut amcommy nos doloree tuercipit adiamet, quatum irit, volorti onsequat. Incinim iliquamet praesent luptat. Ut laoreros aliscid uiscilit alit nosto odip eugait dionseq uipsum il in vullamc oreraessim zzrilit, consenis dolesto enibh ercidunt wisi. It etue min velenisi bla consenit am autpat velesectet ip et, quamcon seniamet la faccum irilis nonum dolore vulla conummy nullaore velis aliquisl dolobor iustie magnibh enit lore modolortio odo consectem dolobortin utpat, sim quis enit ipsummo dignim zzrit lan er irit adigna corpero eui tio duis nibh eum zzrilis niam dolore min henisit ilis augiam veniat velenis nonullutat lutpatis nismod enim nim iril ulput veliquat. To conseni scipsus cilit, vulla Lenisim dunt aliquissim il utet et nos nis num niscinci et lor si. Ignim nis aut acidunt ulla commy nibh exerat iriurem nonse mincill aoreetum iril iuscip ero core dolorpe ratuerosto odignibh et, veliquamet vel dipsummy nullamc onsectet dolorem iriusci ex enit praestrud tis augue feuissis et aliquis dunt iril elese magnibh exer iustrud ming eugue consequiscil dunt nos nulla am niatums andreet velit ad tis nos at. Ro conse del iusto corerostrud te eugiam, quis ea faci blan ero dolor adio dunt velit la facil ex eu faccum doloreet ad magnisi. Lit, veliquisl in ut niscil illum autpat. Uptatem do duis autet irit
First and Trim The famous hedges of Sanford Stadium get a cut. Pute min exeriureet dolor se em irilisci tat nibh et nos eugait adt, quam iust
ut lutpat augue tat in vent ing ent etumsan dionull andignim del dolore dolorperosto odoloreet praestie vulput illandrem verostie tionum euis do consequat. Ut aliquam vel il utat alis num delit nulla adipis del ut ulluptat. Rat, quat, velestis atum incilis nisl essenibh exero etumsandiam vullamcore eugiati ncincidunt wis nulputetum velis ex eum iril iliquipit nos ea consequ iscilit ut ullaorer alis nim ipsustie moloborting ea cor alisit, se dignibh exer autat. Ut adigna core minis nullaor sequat. Ut utet autpate dunt ute modolob ortionsed tatet nis alis atuer senim erat ad modoluptat ipis enibh exercidui tet dolore molese veliquis dolessed duis amcorpercil iriure do dunt accumsandit erilit la faci blandigna commy num quisim nostrud magna commolore euissim dolore ex esto odignismod ex eum vel eugue conulputat lum quatie cor am ver augiam niamet ing esse minis accum iuscilit adit nos at ulpute min vel et num iliquis cilit, consequis dip er si tion henisl dunt prat, quamcommod diating eugiamcommy niam quatisl eu faccumsan utpatiniat. Rat la accum ipit nos alit num iliquis alit lore vulput la feuis nibh ea acilis adipsuscing eugait, vullandre facin vel ut vulput nullandre feuis et ametummy nulla amconullum ing el illa feugait vendre con hendiatem zzriust iniat, quipit alis at. Ut aut
Students in Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science program have the opportunity to work as a team and individually in both the classroom and in the field.
Headline Here Want to forget all about the heat? Try of Hemingway’s favorite by JOHN KESSLER
McWhorter School of Building Science Auburn University cadc.auburn.edu/construction JAN-MAR 2015
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First and Trim The famous hedges of Sanford Stadium get a cut. Pute min exeriureet dolor and some words
MCWHORTER SCHOOL Headline HereOF BUILDING SCIENCE’S Want to forget all about theCORPS heat? Try of Hemingway’s favorite PROGRAM ARMY CERTIFICATE
W
by JOHN KESSLER
I
t’s well known that Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science (BSCI) has been preparing graduates to successfully manage construction companies in the private sector, but the program is also making a difference in the public realm as well. In 2009, BSCI’s Construction Management Certificate program first began with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). At the time, the USACE needed to equip its engineers with knowledge about managing construction. “When the program started, it was very popular with the USACE and it expanded to the southeast region and now it’s nationwide,” said Anoop Sattineni, associate professor and chair of distance learning. The program, which is handled mostly online, offers three cer-
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tificates. A student must already have an undergraduate degree to apply. Currently, there are students all over the world enrolled in the program—from Alaska and Hawaii to Israel and Japan. “This has been a great addition to the BSCI program,” Sattineni said. “We were already influencing construction in terms of graduating students who can be productive citizens of the private sector, and this program has given us an opportunity to do the same in the public sector.” The USACE program, which won a Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) workforce development award last year, is open to the general public. For more information, visit www.auburn.edu/ cmcertificate.
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VISIT US AT alabamaconstructionnews.org
GET ACN SENT TO YOUR INBOX • ADVERTISE WITH US ONLINE For more advertising information, contact George Pierce 205.870.9768 ext. 100 | george@abc-alabama.org JAN-MAR 2015
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Outstanding Performance Mountain Brook Municipal Complex Birmingham, AL Photo Credit: Mason Fischer Photography
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A S S O C I ATE D B U I L D E R S & C O NTR A CTO R S
News & Notes
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News & Notes
“I believe very strongly that if you are going to be involved with an organization, whatever it is, you must really get involved. That is just my nature. Whatever I’m involved with, I try to give 100 percent.”
Cathy Caddell Retires • L O N G T I M E I N D U S T RY A D V O CAT E S AY I N G G O O D BY E A F T E R M O R E T H A N A D E CA D E O F S E R V I C E •
C
athy Caddell has never shied away from a challenge. Whether leaving a successful 20-plus year career in the mortgage industry for a new profession or serving on major ABC boards, she has always approached these roles with one mindset: all or nothing. “I believe very strongly that if you are going to be involved with an organization, whatever it is, you must really get involved,” Caddell said. “That is just my nature. Whatever I’m involved with, I try to give 100 percent.”
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That philosophy was engrained in Caddell from an early age. The oldest of five children, she watched both of her parents exhibit a strong work ethic and create a culture of achievement in the family. Caddell followed in those footsteps, and her strong work ethic led to a productive career in the mortgage business at Regions Mortgage. She quickly rose through the ranks, starting out as a secretary in the real estate lending office and eventually becoming senior vice president. In 2000, 17 years after her father founded Caddell Construction, she decided to turn her attention to the family business. “When my father first started Caddell Construction, I originally planned on going to work for the company,” she explained. “As it got closer to time for me to start, I just knew it wasn’t the right thing for me to do. But then after 25 years at Regions, the timing was right. I knew I could bring a different perspective to Caddell.” Caddell used the management experience she gained to serve as Caddell Construction’s director of business development, where she focused her efforts on enlarging the company’s footprint in the federal market and expanding opportunities with private companies and local state, county and municipal governments. After
a few years, she saw another need at the company she knew she could solve: creating and managing a human resources (HR) department. “From the moment I started at Caddell, it was obvious they had so many hard working, dedicated employees,” she explained. “But what the company needed was a way to help those employees develop.” Caddell built the company’s HR department from scratch, implementing numerous compliance procedures and HR programs and practices, including starting a performance program, leadership training and establishing new recruiting and employee processing positions that helped the company grow its domestic and international project portfolio. “Moving from business development to HR was a natural evolution for me because of my past experience and my care for people,” she explained. In addition to her almost 15 years of devotion to building Caddell Construction, she has also spent much of her time helping better the community around her as well. She has been heavily involved with local charities such as Hospice of Montgomery, the Montgomery Business Council for the Arts and the Montgomery Area Council on Aging. She has been active in the construction in-
News & Notes dustry as well. Soon after joining Caddell Construction she got impression on me. The skill Cathy was always quick to quote was involved with ABC of Alabama. “It really started as a recommendawithout a doubt, consistent fairness to all. She lives by that.” tion from a co-worker who was on the Excellence in Construction After years of service to both Caddell Construction and ABC of Committee at the time,” she said. “So I got involved and it went Alabama, Caddell officially retired in December 2014. “Cathy is one from there.” of those rare individuals who excels at everything she does,” said Caddell initially joined the Excellence in Construction CommitEddie Stewart, president and CEO at Caddell. “She has an incredtee, which is tasked mainly with organizing the association’s annual ible work ethic coupled with an attitude of excellence in everything banquet, and later became Central Alabama’s ABC Chairman. In she undertakes. Whether it pertained to her job at Caddell or her 2011, she accepted the call to serve as Alabama ABC State Chairvarious roles at ABC, Cathy can always be counted on for outstandman. “Cathy has been one of the pillars of ABC for the last several ing results. She will be sorely missed at Caddell.” years and was a mentor to me as I rose through the executive While she is no longer dedicating her time to Caddell Construcleadership,” said Southern Carpet, Hardwood & Tile President Tim tion or ABC, she is still focused on doing what she can to help Hightower, last year’s chairman of the board. “She was chairman others. In retirement, that means being available to help her aging at a time when we were in the depths of the recession and a lot parents and even spending time focusing on her love of horticulof our members were really struggling. Under her leadership, we ture. “The timing was right for me to move on and start focusing were able to survive the recession leaner and stronger and better on some other things,” she said. “But I truly appreciate Caddell prepared for the challenges ahead.” for allowing me the opportunity to work for them and ABC for the Others in the association echo Hightower’s sentiments. “I was opportunities they provided. It meant a lot to me to be a part of elected chairman of the board the year after Cathy,” said Marathon such great organizations.” Electrical COO Bruce Taylor. “She truly made a positive impact on our association. Her involvement in our mentoring program and outreach to all areas of the state left such a positive impact on our ability to be a solid statewide association. She is passionate about representing everyone with board decisions, and that leadership characteristic was one I went back to my entire year. She consistently looked at an issue or decision with doing what was right her primary goal. That trait is something I use every day here at Marathon, and it has made me a better leader. Marathon Electrical Contractors and ABC are both better because of her leadership.” Added ABC of Alabama President Jay Reed, “Cathy’s leadership skills all seem to be centered around one theme: sincerity. Her entire tenure here at ABC of Alabama in a leadership position was consistent. She always asked staff, ‘What is best for the majority of members we represent?’ Caddell Construction works all over the world and is certainly on the stage consistently with international builders. Even though their focus and work carries them all over the world, Cathy wanted to take care of our base—our local Alabama contractors. She was passionate about being a voice for the smaller members and also was always engaged in our minority | | mentor program and Future Leaders Cur| {5438} TOLL FREE: 1-877-282-LIFT WWW.CRANEWORKS.COM riculum. Every chairman leaves a specific
BIRMINGHAM
MOBILE
NASHVILLE
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News & Notes
ABC of Alabama Members Play Leadership Roles in National Group Numerous ABC of Alabama and ABC of North Alabama chapter members have taken on roles at the national level. This year, more than 20 local members will be serving on ABC National committees. “As a new national board member, I quickly realized ABC of Alabama’s and ABC of North Alabama’s roles with our national
A B C O F A L A B A M A N AT I O N A L B OA R D M E M B E R S :
ROBIN SAVAGE Robins & Morton DAVID PUGH Bradley Arant Boult Cummings TIM HIGHTOWER Southern Carpet, Hardwood & Tile
A B C O F A L A B A M A N AT I O N A L COM M ITTE E M E M B E R S:
NICHOLAS DILL Robins & Morton Construction Management Competition Committee CHRISTOPHER HOYT Dunn Construction Company Legislative Committee ROBIN HURST Southern Company Industrial Contractors Council LYNN JONES Brasfield & Gorrie Chapter Development Committee KENNETH MADISON Saiia Construction Company Industrial Contractors Council
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office,” said 2015 Chairman of the Board Robin Savage. “We are fortunate to be the size chapters we are and consistently be called on to help our national association achieve its goals. As chairman, I applaud each of these representatives for always being willing to give a little more when called on to move our industry forward.”
JACKIE MUSTAKAS Robins & Morton Green Building Committee
VANCE FULKERSON Lithko Contracting, Inc. Young Professional Program Committee
DAVID PUGH Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Business Development and Partnerships Committee
BOB WOODS Southern Company Trimmer Construction Education Foundation
ALAN THRASHER Rust Constructors, Inc. Industrial Contractors Council JAMIE VAN VOORHIS, KBR Workforce Programs and Initiatives Committee FRANK WAMPOL BL Harbert International Environment, Health and Safety Committee
AB C OF N ORTH ALABAMA N AT I O N A L B OA R D M E M B E R S :
JAMIE EARLY PEARMAN Early Services, Inc. Richard Anderson, Robins & Morton
BOB FITZGERALD Southern Company Environment, Health and Safety Committee
AB C OF N ORTH ALABAMA N AT I O N A L C O M M I T T E E M E M B E R S:
DR. MITTIE CANNON Robins & Morton Workforce Programs and Initiatives Committee
TIFFANY BRIGHTWELL ABC of North Alabama Chapter Young Professional Program Committee
JAY REED ABC of Alabama Chapter Chapter Presidents Council Executive Committee
KATHY PIGG Brindley Construction Membership Development
KENNY SMITH Robins & Morton Industrial Contractors Council
JAY STUTTS Jesse Stutts, Inc. Electrical and Mechanical Council
News & Notes
Splawn Construction Helps Nonprofit Construct Needed Sign
W
hen a local nonprofit found itself in need of a sign for its building, Splawn Construction stepped right in to help. AMBUCS, an organization with a mission to create mobility and independence for children and others with disabilities, has long resided in an office in Vestavia, but the group didn’t have a much-needed sign in front of the building. “We had gotten everything approved by the city and even had the concrete slab poured and some bricks ready to go out front, but that was it,” said Katie Troncale, AMBUCS’ ex-
ecutive director. “Eventually our stack of bricks was getting thinner, so I called ABC of Alabama to see if they knew of a company that could help.” ABC of Alabama staff put Troncale in touch with Splawn Construction, a local association member that was pleased to assist the nonprofit organization. “We were happy to step in and help, especially when we saw how AMBUCS does so much to help children and their families,” said Eric Christian, vice president of Splawn Construction. “We were also glad to be able to give back to ABC when we got the
call because they have done so much for us, so we were glad to let them know we’re here to help the community.” After talking with Troncale, Christian ordered the needed bricks and constructed the wall for the sign. He also put her in touch with one of his subcontractors to create the actual signage for the wall. “It was such an amazing surprise when Eric said they could help, and not only did they help, but they took care of all of it for us,” Troncale said. “He and his company were so willing to help with everything we needed. They were great.”
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News & Notes
North Alabama Chapters Participates in Project
T
he North Alabama ABC Chapter recently put its mission to serve the community in action and helped build a clinic to serve local school children. The association partnered with the Health Establishment at Local Schools (HEALS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing school-based medical and dental care, to construct and open HEALS’ latest clinic at Madison Cross Roads Elementary School in Toney, Alabama.
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The clinic’s purpose is to help underprivileged children and their siblings at the elementary school receive basic dental care, as well as optometry care and services. “As a parent, you want to provide the basic necessities for your children, but that’s just not always possible financially for some families,” said Tiffany Brightwell, chapter president. “Madison Cross Roads Elementary was chosen for this project
News & Notes
because it’s in a very rural area where students are underserved and often lack access to things like routine dental visits.” The project consisted of the renovation of an existing trailer, along with the construction of a new building that connected to the trailer. Approximately 30 North Alabama ABC Chapter members assisted with the renovation and new construction of the facility. “It was nothing short of amazing to watch so many different companies come together to complete the HEALS clinic,” said Brightwell. “We had multiple general, electrical and mechanical contractors— competitors—working in tandem to build a place for school children to receive some of the most basic services that many of us take for granted.”
Tuskegee University Participates in ABC National Study
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uskegee University established an ABC student chapter less than two years ago, and the group is wasting no time getting involved with the association’s goals and objectives. The university’s student members will soon be taking part in a new study conducted by ABC national about project productivity. “Productivity has been decreasing, and we don’t know if that is because of skill sets of crews, resources, or just that workers and projects
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are different now than they were in the past,” said Rogers Hunt, interim department head for the Department of Construction Science and Management. “While we don’t know the reason for the reduced productivity, we do know it has an effect on construction costs. Costs are rising but we aren’t getting more done.” To best measure what is going on with project productivity, ABC national and student chapter volunteers created a survey they feel best measures and monitors project planning. “We’ll be looking at things such as the type of facility, the planning routine, the crew size and each member’s assignment on the job, the location of the project and whether or not the crews have had access to workforce development,” Hunt added. Hunt’s construction management students will visit jobsites to complete the surveys, which will provide the students with needed exposure to job sites, as well as interaction and networking opportunities with potential future employers. “It’s going to be helpful to the students to collect data and see how things work on jobsites,” Hunt said. “This study will really help the students’ research capabilities and project management skills, which will help them in their careers later on. We can talk about these things in theory but this gives the students opportunities to see it in practice on actual jobsites.” Tuskegee University is one of several ABC student chapters across the country participating in the study, which Hunt believes will provide much needed information to not just ABC but also the construction industry in general. “The data we gather will give us a good idea of what’s going on with the loss of production,” he said. “This information can help companies modify what they are doing on projects, which can ultimately increase production on the jobsite and decrease construction costs. It’s beneficial for everyone.”
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News & Notes
ABC of Alabama Member Sponsors ABC National Event
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n October 2014, ABC held the second annual Industrial Users Summit, a gathering of industrial construction users and the merit shop contractor community for two days of best practices and sharing around critical issues that affect the way a construction project is planned and delivered. “The summit is all about putting ABC contractors that do industrial construction in touch with users of their services,” said David Pugh, partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, who has been a sponsor of the event since it began. “The event tries to achieve an almost even ratio of contractors to owners to provide a great business development and networking event.” The summit was originally the idea of Kevin Sell, vice president of United Group Services and an ABC member for almost 25 years. “In 2008, I felt ABC had fallen short in educating our users about merit shop and how we represent more than 85 percent of the industry,” said Sell, who is the committee chair for the event. “ABC also lacked the creativity to have true business building events for general contractors and primes. We would always sponsor events because we believed in ABC, but we never attended an event where our customers—i.e., large Fortune 500 companies—were in attendance, let alone invited. So I began wondering if a large category member like a general contractor could actually attend an event and get exposed to users versus paying a lot of money to get their name in a program.” Sell said his idea for the summit was the result of a meeting with his president at United Group Services, Dan Freese, who posed the question about having a membership category for users. “That discussion led to my work on creating something to start that movement,” Sell said. “In 2013, ABC National Chairman
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“Opportunity for business development is one of the best reasons to be an ABC member, and this summit provides a great opportunity for that. I want to encourage our contractors to take advantage of this event.” Greg Hoberock read the material and worked with me to get it off the ground.” At the summit, ABC contractor members demonstrate through a series of best practices how projects are delivered safely, ethically, profitably, on time and with a qualified workforce, in cooperation and partnership with their customers. Because industrial customers and contractors face a common set of issues during the life of a project, the summit was designed to provide attendees with an opportunity to tackle those issues collaboratively by providing education on key issues, focusing on problem solving, showcasing the value ABC members bring to a project and creating a forum that allows the groups to leverage the extensive knowledge from both users and contractors to improve the delivery of construction services. Next year, event organizers are hoping to expand the summit’s focus to include other types of construction work to showcase even more ABC contractor members. Current plans being discussed include adding hospital/medical owners to the mix. “Opportunity for business development is one of the best reasons to be an ABC member, and this summit provides a great opportunity for that,” said Pugh, who joined the summit’s steering committee. “I want to encourage our contractors to take advantage of this event.”
JIM EARLY, OWNER OF EARLY SERVICES, INC., APPROACHES RETIREMENT THROUGHOUT JIM EARLY, SR.’S LIFE and career, work has always been synonymous with family. Early’s father, Bill, opened a family business, Early Services, Inc., in 1954. During high school, Early would help out at the company, performing various tasks in the afternoons and on weekends. By 1963, Early joined the family business full time. “It means a whole lot to work with family,” Early said. “My father was raised in a family business too, and he learned a lot about what to do and what not to do. He really expected a lot from my brother and me. I learned a lot from him.” In 1985, Early became the sole owner of Early Services and continued to grow the company. He also continued running Early Services as a family business. His daughter, Jamie Pearman, has worked with him for the last 28 years. “As I’ve gotten older, I have realized the real gift I’ve been given is not just getting to see my dad but actually coming in and working with him every day,” she said. “I get to see him put all of the things he’s taught me about morals and character into action at work. It’s a real blessing. Most people don’t have that benefit, so I appreciate that I do.” In addition to working with family, Early has also created extended family with his employees. In fact, most of the current employees of Early Services have worked there for at least 15 years and some close to 40. “We try to treat everyone here like family,” Early said. “That’s how we approach it, and I believe that family of people for so many years has been one of the keys to our success.” Another key to the company’s longstanding success: Early’s commitment to always standing behind your work and your words. “My father grew up in an era where your word
was your bond, and when he tells you he will do something, he will do it,” Pearman said. “You can take that to the bank. If he says what’s going to happen, it does.”
“We try to treat everyone here like family. That’s how we approach it, and I believe that family of people for so many years has been one of the keys to our success.” Scotty Winfrey, president and CEO of Engineered Solutions, has known Early for many years and has long appreciated his professionalism. “Jim has been a true blessing to work with,” Winfrey said. “He and his employees are professional and the quality of work they do is second to none. It has always been a pleasure to have them on our jobs.” Jack Fite, president and owner of Fite Building Company, has also worked with Early on projects for 20-plus years. “Jim
came in on a big project of ours a few years ago where we had a large subcontractor go out of business in the middle of the project,” Fite said. “Jim and his employees came in and picked up the pieces and got the job finished up for us. The owner didn’t miss a beat, and we still delivered the project on time. He was a big part of helping us there, which was no surprise.” Ray Stephens, a manager at Early Services, appreciates Early’s approach to business as well. “He is probably the best person I have ever worked for,” Stephens said. “He’s a man of integrity. He’s fair, honest and ethical. A lot of times a CEO or owner is not approachable to employees. But Mr. Early has an open door policy and he knows every employee by name. Everyone is always welcome to come speak with him. There’s no intimidation factor with him. He really makes us feel like part of his family.” Early was honored for his contributions to the industry with the 2014 SubAla Lifetime Achievement Award, which SubAla presented to him at the organization’s annual banquet late last year. “It really means a lot to be recognized by your peers and your competitors,” Early said. “I have never thought about receiving anything like that, so the fact that I did means a lot to me.” Early’s long career in the industry—which spans more than 50 years—will be coming to a close later this year. He’s planning to officially retire in mid-August. “August 15 will be my 30th anniversary here in my current position, so it’s fitting that it will also be when I transition out and into retirement,” he said. “But I know I’m leaving the company in the best of hands.”
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