Sep/Oct 2021

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 5

$5.99 September-October 2021 Serving Contracting Firms and the Arizona Community. . . Then & Now

Paul Brock’s High Flying Gunnison Contractors The Life and Legacy of Architect Kemper Goodwin, FAIA Generating Power and Growth: GenTech’s New HQ Melverne Coats Ensign: An Inventive Architecture Old School Equipment: the Cat J621 Scraper Fun by the Carload: The Valley’s Drive-In Theaters Going to the Sun On An Iconic Western Road

Arizona’s Timeless Magazine

Level and Plumb:

The Masonry of Marion J. Evertsen Sun State Finishes West Valley Building

DCS Speeds Chandler’s Intel Employees Home

How to Protect Equipment from Theft

Willmeng/Fann Dedicate Prescott Airport’s new Terminal

180 Degrees Builds Sustainable Spiritual center

PAGE

September October 2021

Help fabricate the Future!

Become part of a growing team!

Revolutionizing the past; manufacturing the future Hydraulic cylinder rebuilds remanufactured parts / parts replication Component enhancement Redesign and prototyping Large diameter cylinder, tube, pipe capacity

Full machining services including manual /open bed CNC Full Fabrication services including mig, tig, stick / Aluminum mig, tig welding Plasma CNC services - design and Fabrication Heavy equipment, diesel repair services, fleet services, field services CERTIFIED

heavy equipment repair and machining

7314 N 110th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85307

(602) 442-6913

Cliffcorepair.com

AVAILABLE CONTRACTOR’S YARD

CALL FOR INFO (480) 620-8555

3266 E. WASHINGTON ST., PHOENIX, AZ 85034

• Former Equipment Rental Location • A-1 Zoning, City of Phoenix • 6,730 SF (Approximate) Building • Large Fenced Paved Yard • 74,386 SF Land Size (1.7 Acres) • Covered Wash Bay

Woudenberg Properties HEAVY INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE

Jeff Woudenberg Designated Broker jeff@wprops.com arizcc.com

woudenbergprops.com Arizona Contractor & Community

TUC (520) 822-8333

PHX (602) 368-8797

TUCSON & PHOENIX LONG DISTANCE & LOCAL

P: 623-847-3594 F: 623-931-3693 W: newwesternrentals.com 7909 W. Glendale Ave. Glendale, AZ 85303 Operators available upon request, small jobs such as jobsite prep, grading & Cleanup Light Towers Generators Earthmoving Equipment Aerial Equipment Track-Out Shakers Water Trucks Water towers & Backflows fOur

September October 2021

Arizona’s Preferred Hot Mix Asphalt Supplier!

S olterra Materials delivers hot mix asphalt to projects valley wide (including Casa Grande) from our locations in Maricopa and Pinal Counties Need a quote?

Call us at (602) 531-0454

From highways to parking lots, our easy to compact mixes look great and will outlast the competition.

Ask us how...

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

FINISH BLADE RENTAL WITH OPERATOR EXCAVATING | UNDERGROUND UTILITIES | CONCRETE STRUCTURES

BRANTLEY GALLIMORE TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES

22640 North 21st Ave Phoenix, AZ 85027

BUDDY@EANDECOMPANIES.COM

LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED

O. (623) 879-0610 I F. (623) 879-0611 E. BRANTLEY@METROTRAFFICCONTROL.NET

LOOP 202

LOOP 101

PRICE

3RD ST.

SMITH

McCLINTOCK

RIO SALADO

UNIVERSITY

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL TOOL NEEDS •Tools and Accessories •Tool Repair •Family Owned and Operated 480-968-0123 www.FisherTools.com

ASPHALT BUSTERS

Asphalt Pulverizing

Setting the standard for soil stabilization and asphalt pulverization Experienced—over 30 years as a leader in our industry.

Focused—soil stabilization and asphalt pulverizing are our only business.

Cost Effective—our knowledge of the specialized requirements of our region ensure the best possible job at the fairest price.

AZ ROC 327820 A

six

Lime Slurry Soil Stabilization

Cement Soil Stabilization

For a bid on your next project, call Kim Crenshaw at 623-936-8800. Visit us online at asphaltbusters.com.

September October 2021

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

WWW.SUNLANDASPHALT.COM

602.323.2800

Screenwriter Rod Serling

Publisher Billy Horner billy@arizcc.com Editor Douglas Towne douglas@arizcc.com

Author Chuck Bowden

CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE SERVICES » CRACK SEALING » SEALCOATING » ASPHALT REPAIRS » CHIP SEAL » MILLING/PULVERIZING

» PAVING & OVERLAYS » EARTHWORK & GRADING » UNDERGROUND UTILITIES » CONCRETE STRUCTURES/ FLATWORK

Musician Eddie Vedder Hoover Dam Construction Superintendent Frank “Hurry Up” Crowe Queen Elizabeth II

which Famous person you would love to interview?

Contributors James Logan Abell Sean Clements Buddy Escapule Carly Hanson Jeff Kronenfeld Tom Pickrell Luke M. Snell Doug Sydnor

Production Manager Laura Horner laura@arizcc.com

American Statesman and Architect Thomas Jefferson

Explorer John Wesley Powell Actor Tom Hanks

Publisher’s Representative Barry Warner Musician barry@arizcc.com Richie Furay

602-242-4488

SINCE 1924

SAVE UP TO $1.99 AN ISSUE OFF COVER PRICE 1 YEAR, 6 ISSUES FOR $30, OR 2 YEARS, 12 ISSUES FOR ONLY $48!

NAME ADDRESS CITY EMAIL PHONE

STATE

ZIP

SEND, CUT OUT & CHECK TO: ACC, LLC. PO BOX 6912, GLENDALE, AZ 85312 FOR FASTER SERVICE, GO TO WWW.ARIZCC.COM/SUBSCRIBE AND SUBSCRIBE ONLINE eight

In Memoriam Charles “Chuck” Runbeck 1928 - 2020 Advertising 602-931-0069 arizcc.com/advertise Subscriptions: Online at arizcc.com Serving Contracting Firms and the Arizona Community… Then & Now Arizona Contractor & Community (ACC) magazine is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec). ACC is a professional publication designed for the contracting industry, engineers, architects, equipment rentals, suppliers, and others interested in Arizona and its history.

Content including text, photographs or illustrations may not be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher. The publisher does not assume responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

ACC reserves the right to reject any editorial and advertising material and reserves the right to edit all submitted content material.

Arizona Contractor & Community Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.

September October 2021

Dispatch: 602-278-7777 Main Office: 602-278-4444 arizcc.com

rizona Materials

Locally Owned and Operated arizonamaterials.net Arizona Contractor & Community

Contents 12 14

“TELL US WHAT YOU NEED AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE IT HAPPEN”

37

YEARS IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984

480-641-3500

17

39

40

46

52

56

Construction Around Arizona: Projects • People • Practices Back When - Cinema Under the Stars Douglas Towne Level and Plumb: The Masonry of Marion J. Evertsen Tom Pickrell Paul Brock: Digging Deep Into Gunnison Contractors and the Man Who Built It - Jeff Kronenfeld Serious Accomplishment: The Life and Legacy of Architect Kemper Goodwin, FAIA - James Logan Abell, FAIA Fun by the Carload: The Valley’s Drive-In Theaters Douglas Towne

62

Building on the Past - 1969: Chrome-Plated Expansion

70 SIDE DUMP-EXCAVATOR-LOADER-GRADER

From The Editor: Driving Through Sleet To “The Sun” Douglas Towne

66 BELLY DUMP-SUPER 16-END DUMP-LOW BOY

Contributors – James Logan Abell & Tom Pickrell

74

Old School Equipment: Caterpillar’s J621 Paddle Wheel Scraper - Buddy Escapule Architect’s Perspective - Melverne Coats Ensign: An Inventive Architecture - Doug Sydnor, FAIA

Digging Through the Archives: Vance Grubb III William Horner

76

Bid Results

78

Advertising Index

Front Cover Marion J. Evertsen Construction building Central High School in Phoenix, 1957.

Article on page 40.

Ten

September October 2021

NOW RUNNING 30 TRUCKS Travis Williams - General Manager Over 24 Years of experience in the Ready Mix Industry travis@azdbm.com | (602) 292-1224

Jim Latto - Business Development Over 36 Years of Ready Mix and related Business Experience jim@azdbm.com | (602) 696-4139

Donavon Stewart - Operations Manager Over 20 Years of experience in the Ready Mix Industry donavon@azdbm.com | (623) 271-5042 Avondale Plant #17 & #18 SWC Southern & El Mirage 30 trucks (safely can deliver 250cy/hr.)

Ross 10 yd. Batch Plant Con-E-Co LO PRO 12 yd. Batch Plant SWC Southern & El Mirage Available Products for FOB Sales: #57 Aggregate, 3/8” Chips and Clean Top Soil (Fill Dirt) Inert Landfill: Concrete, Rock, Dirt only. No trash, Organic or Petroleum Products

NORTH WEST VALLEY LOCATION (COMING SOON)

Dispatch – 623-925-4743 Locally Owned and Operated www.diamondbackmaterials.com 11435 W. Buckeye Road Suite #104-276 Avondale, AZ 85323

O (623) 925-8966 | F (623) 925-1072 E info@azdbm.com

REUTER

fabrication inc.

3816 W Lower Buckeye Rd. PO Box 19042 Phoenix, AZ 85005-9042

Reuter Fabrication provides custom metal fabrication services.

We have sixty years’ experience in the metal fabrication industry.

Let our qualified personal bid and build your special job.

This state of the art facility is equipped to fabricate numerous projects, i.e. conveyors, silos, metal forming, shearing, chassis, platforms, walkways, access ladders & machining.

MON - FRI 6AM - 5PM SATURDAY 6AM-2PM SUNDAY CLOSED

FINISHING WHAT MOTHER NATURE STARTED!!

623-386-8777

WESTVALLEYROCK.COM

For Information Contact: Brent Reuter (623) 695-1204 • brentr@rec-reuter.com www.reuterequipment.com arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

ABOVE EVERYTHING, QUALITY!

Contributors

James Logan Abell Article on page 52

Bus: (602) 437-3040 Fax: (602) 437-3041 WWW.SHARPCREEK.COM ROC 184941-KA

DBE & SBE Certified

PROUDLY SERVING ARIZONA! CONTACT US (602)817-6929

www.calportland.com

EXPECT MORE ... WE DELIVER!

twelve

®

Tom Pickrell

Article on page 40

ames Logan Abell is an archithird-generation Arizonan, Jurban tect, landscape architect, and ATom Pickrell has deep roots designer who has helped in the state. Stories told by his shape modern Phoenix. He held a wide variety of jobs prior to establishing his own architectural design firm in 1979 in Tempe: • A part-time landscaper and nurseryman, • A cook in the women’s dorm at ASU, • A draftsman and land planner for Phoenix subdivisions, • A teaching tennis pro for three summers in Colorado, • Delivered newspapers in high school, • An architectural designer for the Northampton, England New Town, • A landscape designer for two firms, • A designer-draftsman hired by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for the Arizona Biltmore Hotel fire restoration in 1973, • A staff architect with firms designing elements of Sky Harbor Terminal 3 and Phoenix Good Samaritan Hospital, • A freelance illustrator, photographer, graphic designer, and writer, • A visiting professor intermittently at ASU from 1983 to 1999, and • A visiting professor intermittently at the Frank Lloyd Wright School from 1994 to 2010 in Spring Green, WI and Scottsdale, AZ. His most demanding job?

He built his own house, nearly single-handed, and still lives there, 42 years later! The design of this earth-integrated home just received AIA Arizona’s prestigious “25-Year Award” for significant architectural design in 2020.

elders and his parents’ insistence that their children see Arizona’s treasures before venturing further kindled his interest in the state’s history and diverse landscapes.

Tom is an avid hiker and photographer. Having traversed the Grand Canyon via the Kaibab Trail many times, he knows there is no better reward for the effort than breakfast at the El Tovar Hotel the following morning.

Among his favorite photos is this image of the restaurant’s “waiting line” for breakfast.

Tom is also a retired lawyer. He studied at the University of Arizona and the University of Leeds, England, and received his J.D. from Duke University.

As general counsel for the Arizona School Boards Association and, later, Mesa Public Schools, he was actively involved in law and policy matters affecting public education for more than 30 years. He received the State Bar Association’s Public Lawyer Career Achievement Award in 2013.

Tom’s article on Marion J. Evertsen could not have come together without the research and persistence of Michael A. Evertsen, Marion’s grandson.

Michael grew up in Phoenix and is an architectural designer in Indianapolis.

September October 2021

P R I N T | PA C K A G I N G | M A I L I N G | F U L F I L L M E N T E C O - F R I E N D LY S O L U T I O N S

O 602 254 2427 F 602 258 1076 2 0 2 0 N 2 2 N D AV E P H O E N I X A Z 8 5 0 0 9 W W W. L I T H O T E C H A Z . C O M

KEEPING THE VALLEY CLEAN SINCE 1994

STREET AND PARKING LOT SWEEPING COMPANY LIGHT AND HEAVY DEBRIS CLEANUP AVAILABLE CONTACT US TODAY! FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED OFFICE & FAX NUMBER: (480) 279-4433 EMAIL: AZDESERTSWEEPING@GMAIL.COM P.O. BOX 5984, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85261 arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Images courtesy of Author

Editor’s Column:

Driving Through Sleet To “The Sun” Douglas Towne

I

n construction, the cheapest bid is not always the best option. This maxim is evident with one of the West’s most famous stretches of blacktop, the Going to the Sun Road. The road, named after a nearby mountain, traverses Glacier National Park (GNP) in northern Montana.

GNP, with its stunning high-altitude scenery carved by glaciers, was established in 1910. Initially, most visitors took the Great Northern Railway to the park and stayed in hotels and chalets built by the railroad.

But by the 1920s, tourists were arriving in autos and wanted to see the park from behind the wheel. In 1924, Congress appropriated $1 million to build a road to connect GNP’s east and west sides. Its construction and maintenance would be a challenge: snowdrifts at the Continental Divide can exceed 80-feet high and take three months to plow.

George Goodwin, an experienced roadbuilder, designed a route that would be an engineering marvel with an 8 percent maximum grade, 15 switchbacks, and sharp 50-foot curves.

Landscape architect Thomas Vint offered an alternative route that followed the terrain and featured a maximum 6 percent grade, one switchback, and much

more sweeping curves. These characteristics would also create a more easily maintained road, allowing for it to be open longer in the autumn. Vint’s proposal, however, would be more expensive and challenging to construct.

National Park Service Director Stephen Mather selected Vint’s plan.

Construction of the Going to the Sun Road was completed by 1932 using 500,000 pounds of explosives. The scenic road spans 50 miles, passes through two tunnels, and climbs more than 3,000 feet as it hugs can-

Top left: Maintenance is frequent on the Going to the Sun Road.

Above: A horse tunnel built of native stone underneath the road.

Top right: National Historic Landmark plaque alongside the road.

yon walls, providing dramatic alpine vistas.

The road blends with the landscape since the bridges, retaining walls, and guardrails are all constructed from native materials.

Ironically, the road seems to have surpassed Mother Nature in popularity, as this National Historic Landmark is the top attraction at GNP. Of course, it can be a nightmare for those fearful of whiteknuckle driving along a narrow road with steep drop-offs.

For my wife and me, navigating the Going to the Sun Road was a distant second

Top right: The Highline Trail above the road.

Right: An approaching grizzly bear on the Highline Trail.

Far right: Entering the road’s East Tunnel.

Fourteen

September October 2021

Have an idea for a Construction or History article? contact us: Billy Horner, Publisher: Billy@arizcc.com to our memorable hike along the Highline Trail in rainy/snowy conditions. The trek started on a narrow path cut into a steep rock wall, with a guide rope for those unaccustomed to heights. Three miles in, however, a grizzly bear in the distance halted our transit.

As we stopped to gawk with binoculars and cameras, the landscape vanished in a cloud. When the fog lifted, the bruin was shockingly close, nonchalantly ambling toward us on the trail. We made lots of noise and grabbed our bear repellent spray, just in case. Fortunately, North America’s top predator heard us and headed in another direction.

The roadway engineering at GNP was terrific, but Mother Nature was even better.

arizcc.com

Douglas Towne, Editor: Douglas@arizcc.com

Visit us online at: www.arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

EQUIPMENT

THAT POWERS SUCCESS

We have the equipment to power your next project. In fact, we empower our customers to get the job done on time, every time. Sunstate delivers what you need for general construction, HVAC, electrical, welding, landscaping, paving, and more along with the service to back it up so you minimize downtime and maximize jobsite efficiency. Give us a call when you want impeccably maintained and ready-to-use equipment, delivered when promised, to keep your crews working. Experience a better way to rent equipment by calling Sunstate today.

Let’s grow together >> (888) 456-4560 | SunstateEquip.com

sixteen

September October 2021

Willmeng/Fann Help Dedicate Prescott Airport’s new Passenger Terminal

Above: The new passenger terminal features a Douglas Fir timber ceiling and large windows.

Right: A Christy Sign Co., painter creates a billboard for the Skyway Restaurant at Prescott Municipal Airport, 1957.

he new passenger terminal at Prescott Regional Airport Ernest A. Love Field was recently dedicated and displayed for the community. The $13.9 million terminal, built by the team of Phoenix-based general contractor Willmeng Construction Inc., and Prescott-based heavy civil construction firm Fann Contracting, replaces the former terminal that dates back to the 1940s. The airport hopes the aesthetically appealing facility will attract more carriers to the fast-growing region.

“Great things happen when there’s a great vision from an aligned city council, aligned mayors in the region and they get behind a great leader like [airport director] Dr. Robin Sobotta,” Willmeng CEO James Murphy said, during the June 18th private terminal dedication ceremony attended by more than 200 government officials, FAA and TSA representatives, and special guests. “When I got the plans for this terminal, you could see on paper that DWL (Architects + Planners, Inc.) killed it. It is

T

arizcc.com

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Image courtesy of Small Giants

Projects . PEOPLE . PRACTICES

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA

regionally significant, the glass, the ceiling; you could see on paper that this terminal was outstanding.”

The dedication was followed by an open house the next day, which allowed Arizona Contractor & Community

GRADING • PAVING •SEALCOATING DEMOLITION • CONCRETE & MORE

(602) 992-2201 | SHANESPAVING.COM ROC #255891 A-5 & #38635 A-14 21801 N. 16TH ST., BOX 5, PHOENIX, AZ 85024

For more information on all of our services call or visit us at:

P: 928 567-6585 E: btippett@networxcs.com. www.networxCS.com eighteen

Trench-Ade.com 833-384-1176 Phoenix Tucson Prescott Yuma Flagstaff Holbrook Kingman

September October 2021

vision with no exposed electrical conduits or HVAC vents to maximize its visibility. In addition, the facility was designed to be easily expanded, as the current outdoor courtyard waiting area can be transformed into additional gate holding areas.

“What was really amazing about this terminal is the FAA was quite generous in letting us build this ‘big roof’ concept,” said Airport Director Dr. Robin Sobotta. “And I do credit the architects and designers.

They did a great job allowing us to have the future expansion incorporated as part of the design. What is extraordinary is we have the ability to build out those spaces as we grow.”

With the addition of the new passenger terminal, commercial service apron, baggage handling system, vehicle parking, and roadway, Prescott Regional Airport will expand its variety and frequency of flight offerings. United Express (operated by SkyWest Airlines) has already added more flights, with daily, non-stop flights to Denver and Los Angeles.

Images courtesy of Small Giants

community members to tour the entire facility, talk with members of the Prescott Regional Airport staff and learn more about the airport’s new terminal and services.

“This is a proud community accomplishment and a regional asset for Yavapai County,” said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli. “This is a city-owned airport, but we don’t really see it that way. Instead, we see this as regional cooperation. This is everyone’s regional airport.”

The terminal was designed by DWL Architects + Planners, Inc. from Phoenix, with Prescott architecture firm Michael Taylor Architects Inc. providing local assistance. Dibble Engineering provided civil engineering, and LSW Engineers were the structural engineers on the project. Willmeng strived to utilize local subcontrac-

tors, and about 90 percent were from the Prescott region.

“Everybody knows that if you get north of Black Canyon City, Fann Contracting is how you execute,” Murphy said. “If we hadn’t aligned with them, we wouldn’t be here. Their team did a magnificent job getting us out of the ground.”

The terminal was just one part of the work performed at the airport, which included the razing of airplane hangars and building new entry roads that required the relocation of utility lines that ran under the property. In addition, construction included new parking areas and a new apron and taxiways. The companies completed these projects without causing any interruptions to airport operations.

The new terminal building is 18,000 square feet of glass, steel, metal facing, and masonry. The most striking feature is the Douglas fir timber ceiling, which covers the entire terminal. The “big roof” concept was chosen and inspired by the Prescott area. The construction team executed that

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

Above: The main entrance to the new passenger terminal at Prescott Regional Airport.

Top right: The outdoor courtyard waiting area at the new terminal at Prescott Regional Airport.

Above: Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli, left, and Mark McClardy, Director of the FAA Western-Pacific Region, at the dedication ceremony.

Right: The dedication included, from left, James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng Construction; Dr. Robin Sobotta, Airport Director at Prescott Regional Airport; Jason Fann, President and CEO of Fann Contracting; and Keith Sabia, Project Executive at Willmeng Construction. arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

SHANES HAULING A Division of Shanes Grading & Paving

(602) 992-2201 | SHANESPAVING.COM | 21801 N. 16TH ST. BOX 5, PHX, AZ 85024 ROC #255891 A-5 & #38635 A-14

For more information on all of our services call or visit us at:

Trench-Ade.com 833-384-1176 Phoenix Tucson Prescott Yuma Flagstaff Holbrook Kingman

Twenty

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects Images courtesy of Author

Image courtesy of Alex Brown

Sun State “Caps” New West Valley Office/Warehouse

A

rizona’s booming construction industry recently added another impressive building in the West Valley. Sun State Builders has completed a multi-tenant office/warehouse spec building for Caprock Development at 6950 West Buckeye Road in Phoenix. “This is the sixth of eight projects Sun State will have built for them,” says Sun State Vice President/Partner Andrea Piering.

The $6 million project took eight months to complete. The 117,520 square-

foot building sits on a 5.85-acre lot.

According to Piering, the most challenging aspect of the project involved the street infrastructure and the zero-lot-line construction along the west property line.

“Sun State had to coordinate with SRP to remove their power poles that lined the street.”

For the Caprock Development project, Sun State used a handful of subcontractors, including Ace Asphalt, Mundall Trucking, Riggs Companies, RPC Plumbing, and Reynolds Electric.

Piering says that Riggs Companies used a track skid steer equipped with full

Top left: Riggs Companies’ Alex Brown caught a lightning strike during their midnight concrete pour.

Top right: Concrete leveling machine with automatics screeds the new concrete.

Above: Interior ceiling with a crowned roofline.

Below: Concrete workers make sure there are no gaps in ready-mix as leveling machine makes the grade.

grade controls to prep their subgrade. “As concrete ready-mix was delivered in the middle of the night, Riggs used a concrete leveling machine also equipped with a laser level, making for an easier job for finishers,” she says.

Employee Spotlight: Brent Smith Superintendent Experience: 7 years with Sun State Builders Favorite job task: Building different things all the time.

Toughest job task: Dealing with municipalities and their ever-changing regulations.

Most memorable day at work: Nailing my first project with Sun State at Barrel of Fun in 2014.

Favorite off-job task: Hunting. arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Rental Equipment 1718 W Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85041

(602) 276-2040

Since 1962

ECCO- a name worth repeating!

www.eccoequipment.com

HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MINING INDUSTRIES

Volvo A35D Volvo A40F

35 Ton ADT 40 Ton ADT

Cat 730C Cat 740B Cat 745C

30 Ton ADT 40 Ton ADT 45 Ton ADT

Hit ZW180 Hit ZW220 Hit ZW310

3.5 Yd 4.5 Yd 5.5 Yd

Cat 950K/M Cat 966K/M Cat 980H

4 Yd 5.5 Yd 7 Yd

Deere 544K Deere 744K Deere 844K

Tool Carrier 5.5 Yd 7 Yd

Cat 963D

MP, Rip, Track

Cat D6N XL Cat D6T XL Cat D8T Cat D9T Cat D10T Deere 450J LT Deere 650K XLT Deere 750K XLT

6-Way, Rip SU, Rip SU, Rip/Winch SU, Rip SU, Rip 6-Way, Rip 6-Way, Rip 6-Way, Rip

Cat 613C II 11 Yd. Elevating Cat 623G/H/K 23 Yd. Elevating Cat 631G 31 Yd. Standard

Cat D5K LGP Cat D6N LGP Cat D6T LGP

6-Way 6-Way S-Doz/6-Way

Klein Tower Cat 613 WP Cat 623 WP

12,000 Gal. 5,000 Gal. 8,000 Gal.

Cat CP433E Cat CP563E Cat CS56B Cat 815F II Cat 825G Cat 824G

66” Vibe Pad 84” Vibe Pad 84” Smooth Soil Soil Wheel Dozer

Cat 140H/M Cat 14H/M

Ripper Ripper

Deere 770G Deere 772G Deere 872G

Ripper Ripper, AWD Ripper, AWD

CONSOLIDATED ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 1717 E RAIRDAN LANE

Cat 320E L Cat 324E L Cat 329E L Cat 336F L Cat 349F L Cat 365B Hit ZX210 Hit ZX350 Hit ZX470 Hit ZX670 Hit ZX870

24 Ton 27 Ton 32 Ton 40 Ton 50 Ton 75 Ton 25 Ton 50 Ton 50 Ton 75 Ton 90 Ton

Cat 314C LCR Cat 321D LCR Cat 328D LCR Hit ZX245 Hit ZX345

Comp. Radius Comp. Radius Comp. Radius Comp. Radius Comp. Radius

Cat 324E LR Cat 330D LR

48’ D, 60’ R 53’ D, 60’ R

Attachments: Thumbs, Wheels, Breakers, Drum Cutters, Telematics

TRAFFIC CONTROL & BARRICADE SERVICE

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, 85034

Phone:602-437-4200 Fax: 602-437-0773 E-Mail: conorq@cedphx.com Website: www.cedphx.com

For more information on all of our services call or visit us at:

KEYSTONECONCRETELLC.COM O: 480-835-1579 SITE CONCRETE DEVELOPMENT BIDS@KEYSTONECONCRETELLC.COM Twenty two

Trafficade.com 833-231-0911 Phoenix Tucson Prescott Yuma Flagstaff Holbrook Kingman

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

Image courtesy of DCS Contracting

DCS Speeds Chandler’s Intel Employees Home

A

fter a long day at work, many of Intel’s Chandler facility personnel will have an easier drive home, thanks to DCS Contracting. The company recently upgraded a section of Old Price Road, which is the main entrance to Intel, and the frontage to the City of Chandler’s Brine Reduction Facility and Water Reclamation Facility.

The $2.7 million project came in under budget and before schedule in February 2021 due to several factors. “Extensive coordination with all three entities was critical to complete the reconstruction of

Employee Spotlight: Manuel Rodriguez Trejo, Grading-Paving Foreman Experience: 15 years with DCS. Favorite job task: Teaching new employees; it feels good helping other people learn.

Toughest job task: Having a time limit on some jobs, but we always have everything under control with my people.

Special shout-out: Thanks to my mentor, Mr. T, and DCS for the opportunities they’ve provided. I would love to continue working with Kelly DeLoseur, the City of Chandler inspector, who never ties our hands and is always cooperative.

Favorite off-job task: Spending time with my family and enjoying a nice cold beer. arizcc.com

the facility entrances,” Trennis Stanley, DCS project manager, says. “These included fencing, security gates/equipment, concrete drives, and landscape as well as power equipment relocation for the two adjacent treatment plants,” Stanley says.

The Old Price Road Improvements project included construction of roadway and drainage improvements to approximately 0.75 miles of Old Price Road to provide two northbound lanes and one southbound lane. This project helps alleviate the traffic associated with more than 1,000 vehicles an hour leaving Intel at peak hours. “The added lane and width to the road provided additional safety for not only the City of Chandler facilities’ operational traffic but also the Intel employee traffic,” Stanley says.

Despite the quick work, the project was not without its challenges. Stanley says that the toughest aspect of the project involved finding all the broken Salt River Project power transmission conduits. “DCS repaired them while under a tight-schedule SRP power outage where we were providing temporary power to the City of Chandler Water Reclamation facility,” he says.

“This included long hours with our electrical subcontractor, Kimbrell Electric, and SRP crews to investigate existing conduits that had been crushed due to other utility work in the past and repair them within the one-week timeframe that SRP crews were onsite.”

Another issue was that the Old Price Road project bordered the Gila River Indian Community. “We were not permitted to access our project from the west side of the right of way,” Stanley says. “This provided a challenge to complete the new

Top left: Installing new vertical curb & gutter.

Above: Excavator removing curb along Old Price Road.

improvements within a limited work area.

We fabricated a custom grading edge and attached it to a small skid-steer to perform the parkway grading on the west side that borders GRIC.” Subcontractors on the project included Agave Environmental Contracting Inc. (landscaping), Allstate Rent a Fence, Inc. (temporary fencing), APL Access & Security (gate security), Asplundh Tree Experts, LLC (tree removal), Associated Fence Company (permanent fence and access gates), ATC Group Services, LLC (quality control and testing), Cholla Pavement Maintenance (asphalt paving), D2 Surveying (survey layout and as-builts), Franklin Striping Inc. (pavement markings & striping), Kimbrell Electric (electrical & streetlights), National Barricade LLC (traffic control & permanent signs), RAC Construction Co Inc. (concrete drainage structures), Spear Construction (utility adjustments), T2 Utility Engineers (private utility locating), Torrent Resources Inc. (dry wells), and WSP Inc. (asphalt milling).

According to Stanley, the project went smoothly because DCS communicated effectively with the stakeholders (City of Chandler, Intel, and Intel’s contractor) and all team members to work through issues that developed. “Potential issues were discussed through preconstruction and thoroughly vetted to come up with viable solutions that the team agreed upon,” he says. “Most importantly, we were able to negotiate with Intel to close the road for one month to expedite the construction of the project’s west side.”

Arizona Contractor & Community

ANYONE ANYONE CAN BECAN ANBE AN

ELECTRICIAN ELECTRICIAN Arizona has no electrician licensing requirements.

Make sure hire an electrical contractor who trains & educates their employees.

We believe education is so important that we privately fund our own school, Phoenix Electrical Training Alliance To Schedule your visit, contact Debra Margraf @ 602.263.0111

Training Arizona Electricians since 1943

Arizona has no electrician licensing requirements.

Make sure you hire an electrical contractor who trains & educates their employees.

We believe education is so important that we privately fund Arizona has no electrician licensing requirements. our own school, Phoenix Electrical Training Alliance

THE LEADER IN PROVIDING TEMPORARY POWER schedule your visit, contact Debra Margraf @ 602.263.0111.

MakeINsure you hire an Toelectrical contractor GENERATION SYSTEMS THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA

who trains & educates their employees.

We believe education is so important that we privately fund our own school, Phoenix Electrical Training Alliance ARI ZONA CHAPTE R

To schedule your visit, contact Debra Margraf @ 602.263.0111.

Landco Rentals offers:

Your Electrical Professional Team www.azneca.org

• Emergency 24-hour response and service • Rugged DOT approved trailers with Portable generator set’s ranging from 20kw-2000kw • Ultra silent Generators AR I Z O N A C H AP TER • Standby generator capabilities that are Bio diesel capable For more information on all of our services call or visit us at: • Onsite powered light towers along with electric light tower options Your Electrical Professional Team • Fuel containment for generators www.azneca.org • On site fueling • Cable’s for all applications • Electrical Distribution panels and transformers 480-788-1333 info@landcorentals.com 222 S. 52nd St, Suite 2 Tempe AZ 85281

twenty four

Flaggerade.com 833-344-3524

Phoenix Tucson Prescott Yuma Flagstaff Holbrook Kingman

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

Image courtesy of Orcutt Winslow

Building Team Creates Mindful Spiritual Foundation Headquarters Douglas Towne

T

here are projects that end up being memorable in hindsight and those that feel extraordinary from the start. For Brianna Moore, there was an undeniable gravitational pull from the get-go to be part of the group putting together TSG Foundation’s new headquarters, currently under construction in Scottsdale.

“The project started development in 2018, during my first year as a design engineer,” says Moore, a mechanical engineer at DHE Engineering in Phoenix. “Nate Jones, DHE’s Principal, described the project as a building that would be part of the

Images courtesy of Tyler Sternberg

Right: Steel starting to be erected.

Below: Dissembled scaffolding used to create the finished masonry wall.

arizcc.com

earth, and introduced us to the living building principles. I immediately asked to be put on the team.”

A unique building was needed for the TSG Foundation, a center for spiritual development dedicated to further the self-actualization teachings of Torkom Saraydarian. The Armenian immigrant taught a comprehensive spiritual education program of life enhancement beliefs until he passed away in Sedona in 1997. During his 80 years, Saraydarian wrote 170 books and composed numerous musical pieces after mastering the violin, piano, oud, cello, and guitar.

The TSG Foundation contracted with architectural firm Orcutt Winslow to design their 13,800 square-foot headquarters.

The design will pursue Living Building Petal Certification with a focus on the Energy the building interacts with the surrounding Petal and Net Positive Energy. “The project site, which is a beautiful desert property approach is to be truly regenerative in how in North Scottsdale,” says Ashley Mulhall, senior associate at Orcutt Winslow. “We are being mindful of preserving and restoring natural water flows, restoring desert habitat, and maintaining beautiful views with bird-friendly glass.”

According to Orcutt Winslow, the building will be infused with a sense of health and wellness that leverages the natural environment by creating meaningful and valuable connections to the outdoors on an 11-acre parcel. The structure will be axially rotated on the site to welcome southern winter sunlight, northern views of the Carefree Mountains, and opportunities for nighttime star viewing events. The exterior will consist of regional materials, including Arizona Contractor & Community

602.282.4007 Marrsconstruction.com

Utilities Private / Municipal

Earth Work / Excavation

Paving

Marrsconstruction.com Twenty Six

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

Images courtesy of Tyler Sternberg

arizcc.com

control the temperature of their space, giving every employee autonomy over their environment,” Moore says.

Moore’s enthusiasm for the project has never ebbed. “It’s rare to find clients with such an intense interest in contributing to the good of the community with a new building, but we’ve been lucky enough to see that on this project,” she reflects. I’m so grateful that Gita Saraydarian [Torkom’s

Image courtesy of Orcutt Winslow

concrete, masonry, rammed earth, weathered zinc panels, and steel.

Moore says the hybrid mechanical design of the building stresses sustainability while still factoring in personal comfort.

“While the project can achieve net-positive energy through the solar PV system, we designed the HVAC system intending to reduce energy use and increase occupant comfort,” says the engineer-in-training.

“The indoor climates of the Sanctuary and Library will be controlled using Displacement Ventilation, a method of cooling that supplies cool air at the occupant level and uses natural convection to pull warm air out of the space. This method uses a warmer supply air temperature than traditional methods, which results in energy savings.”

The rest of the building will be cooled with a VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) system, an Energy Recovery Ventilation unit, and Therma-Fuser Diffusers to provide as much occupant control as feasible.

Therma-Fuser Diffusers give occupants the power to throttle airflow into their individual spaces. “This means that every person in an office or workroom will be able to

daughter and the foundation’s leader] and the foundation have been patient and supported our non-conventional designs.”

The project’s general contractor is 180 Degrees Design + Build, with Tyler Sternberg working as the superintendent. The scheduled completion date is May 2022.

Mulhall says that she has never worked with a better team of individuals. “The process from design and into construction has been filled with mutual respect and positivity,” she says. “I look forward to our OAC [Owner-Architect-Contractor] meetings every week and cannot wait to get back to the job site as often as possible to witness first-hand the beauty that is being created.”

Part of that beauty is a unique feature that will greet visitors, thanks to Orcutt Winslow. “Our rammed earth mockup of the project turned out so wonderful, we decided to keep it as a permanent piece of decorative site art,” Mulhall says. “It will be in the front drive and will welcome everyone to the site, with a message TBD.”

Arizona Contractor & Community

JOBSITE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

SITECH Southwest is your construction technology partner, we can help you make smart decisions, decrease costly mistakes, and increase efficiency for your next project!

PROVIDING THE TOOLS TO REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR CONSTRUCTION WORKFLOW

ASK US ABOUT › › › › ›

Trimble Grade Control Systems Paving Solutions GPS & Total Stations Site Controller Software Site Hardware

SITECH Southwest 602-691-7501 | sitechsw.com 1835 S. MACDONALD DR. STE 101 | MESA, AZ 85210

we have expanded our rv service and repair servicing Arizona’s construction industry since 1996!

We have also expanded our RV service and repair business.

Competitive rates ($140/hour service+labor) and Factory Trained and Certified Technicians Services Offered: Problem Diagnosis • Oil Changes/Service • Insurance Repairs & Claims • Chassis Inspection • Rubber Roof Cleaning & Coating • Parts & Accessories • Aftermarket Parts Sales & Installations • Custom Modifications Mobile service availabile As a get acquainted offer, mention this ad and we will give you a 10% discount on all services rendered at that time.

Come to Us or Let Us Come To You Lonnie cell: 602-376-1448 Roy cell: 602-292-5283 5626 S 43rd Ave, Phoenix AZ 85041 dynamicdieselrepairinc.com

Office: 602-237-3377 • Fax: 602-237-3944 • Cell: 602-376-1448 twenty eight

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

McCarthy Builds New Patient Tower at Chandler Regional Medical Center cCarthy Building Companies and Devenney Group Architects recently completed an expansion at Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center. Tower D is designed to respond to the growing East Valley community’s increasing healthcare needs and is the hospital’s second major expansion in less than a decade. Tower D opened to patients in August 2021.

“This expansion project is very exciting for all of us at Chandler Regional and the community at large,” said Mark Slyter, president and CEO of Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. “It is a direct result of the outstanding care our team provides. Their hard work and dedication are why people seek services at Chandler Regional and why the hospital has continued to undergo tremendous growth.”

Tower D will serve as the hospital’s main entrance and include 96 additional

Employee Profile: Sarah Brown, Assistant Superintendent Experience: 5 years with McCarthy Building Companies

Favorite job task: I love being on-site and working with skilled trade professionals to resolve the various issues that arise on construction projects.

Toughest job task: Unforeseen conditions in the work plan can present challenges at times. It’s important to step back, re-evaluate things with the team, and then move forward with a solution.

Change is inevitable on construction projects, so I strive not to get frustrated and address any challenges with my team.

Most memorable day of work: Completing the Chandler Regional Medical Center was particularly special to me because it was my first as an assistant superintendent with the firm’s southwest region. It is very satisfying to have the final product of your hard work accepted by the owner and know it is on its way to serve our community.

Favorite off-job task: I’m an avid traveler, but with COVID limiting my options over the past year, I’ve increased my camping, hiking, and kayaking.

During the week, I like to hang out with my dog, hit a happy hour or the gym. arizcc.com

patient care beds. This addition will bring Chandler Regional’s total bed count to 429, providing greater access to excellent and compassionate care.

The construction project also includes a new parking structure with additional surface parking to accommodate more than 1,100 vehicles and renovations to existing space that will allow for eight new surgical suites and the expansion of essential outpatient services and operational departments.

“We began this major hospital construction expansion project in the summer of 2019 not knowing that a global pandemic was just around the corner,” said Nick Pearce, project director with McCarthy Building Companies’ Healthcare Services Team. “We were honored to help support and give back to our healthcare partners during the pandemic. We made patient safety a top priority and prioritized the health and safety of the crews, who completed more than 500,000 man-hours on the project without incident. Our team is exceptionally proud of our teamwork with our design-build partner Devenney Group Architects, and our many trade partners. Teamwork is what made this project so successful.”

The design-build construction team will remain on-site through the spring of 2022 as they complete the renovations of the existing spaces and the garden that serves as a connector of the growing healthcare campus.

Chandler Regional first opened in 1961 as a proper community hospital with only 42 beds but has steadily grown over the last five decades. In the summer of 2014, Chandler Regional opened the first of its major expansions of the previous decade, Tower C, which provided space for the

Images courtesy of McCarthy Building Companies

M

Top: Chandler Regional Medical Center’s Tower D. Above: New Main Entrance and Reception Desk.

hospital’s Level One Trauma Center and 96 additional patient beds.

“It’s been really exciting to be able to support the hospital in the steps towards their strategic vision and commitment to the community,” said Eric Ubersax, architect and project manager at Devenney Group Architects. “The collaboration between the facility, the City of Chandler, and the overall design-build team has made for an amazing project that will serve the community for decades to come.”

Devenney Group Architects and McCarthy Building Companies served as the project’s design-build team. Other partners on the project include WSP, Stantec, RVi, Buehler Engineering, Cannon & Wendt Electrical Co., TDIndustries, The Berg Group, and Schuff Steel Management Company.

Arizona Contractor & Community

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA People Images courtesy of Gen-Tech

Generating Power & Growth: Gen-Tech's Latest Expansion Carly Hanson

H

usband and wife Bob and Peggy Piske started a power-generation company in 1990. Thirty-one years later, it’s an industry leader that continues to expand.

Gen-Tech began as a service company, but today it also provides solutions for the rental industry and power distribution and maintains a complete parts warehouse and stocked field-service vehicles 24/7 for any repair, service, commission, or testing need. The company also hosts a three-day, on-site training class for power generation.

Gen-Tech has five southwestern locations in Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Albuquerque, and Glendale. They recently expanded their Glendale headquarters by adding another building across the street at 70th and Northern avenues. Bob Piske says the original building in Glendale was running out of office, warehouse, shop, and training space. “This allows us to convert, at the original site, office space to warehouse space, thus clearing our shop of shelving and making the shop 100 percent shop space. It also means we can bring training back to Glendale,” he says.

As a leader in the power-generation industry, Gen-Tech has built a reputation arizcc.com

of high standards, quality service, and vast knowledge. “We have many products and flexibility to solve power issues. We are creative in the power space, often thinking outside the box, saving our customers money and reducing risks and threats,” Piske says.

The new building features a training center, space for customer meetings, and room for a growing staff. It also runs on solar power, making it more efficient for training and everyday use.

The force that brought Gen-Tech’s vision to fruition is Ameris Construction.

This general contractor provides multifamily, food and beverage, office, retail, and industrial construction in Phoenix and surrounding areas. Ameris assisted in the GenTech building design, provided full-service contracting, and played a crucial role in coordinating with the City of Glendale.

Ameris Vice President Greg Goss says this project was a significant accomplishment for both parties. "Gen-Tech is a company devoted to alternate power sources.

They determined early on that they wanted to get as close to net-zero energy consumption as possible," he said. "As of right now, they are only using 70 percent of what they currently generate through solar on-site,

at 50 percent building occupancy. We are extremely proud of the fact that we built the first true ‘net zero' apartment complex in the nation six years ago and now have

Right: Gen-Tech owners Bob and Peggy Piske.

Top: Gen-Tech’s headquarters in Glendale built by Ameris Construction.

Arizona Contractor & Community

Committed to superior quality and results

WE PROVIDE

OFF-DUTY OFFICERS

Ready Mix Concrete Delivery and concrete Pumping Services

Traffic

Control

Construction Sites Nationwide 46+ States

24/7 - 365

Availability

Arizona trusted company

FOR MORE INFORMATION OFFDUTYPOLICEOFFICERS.COM 623-825-6700

SBE/WBE/DBE-MINORITY CERTIFIED

Please call 602-503-9391 for free estimates! readymixconcreteaz.com A+ accredited business by the better business bureau

SBE CERTIFIED CITY OF PHX “DUMP TRUCKING” SUPER 16S AND SUPER 18S DEMO AND MATERIAL BEDS WE ESTIMATE IMPORT, EXPORT, ABC, PIPE BEDDING AND SAND DELIVERIES TO YOUR PROJECT

NEWER FLEET CONTACT US TODAY! 602-361-2174 OR MATT@MATTBROWNTRUCKING.COM thirty two

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA People Above: Ameris Vice President Greg Goss.

Top right and Below: Ameris Construction builds Gen-Tech headquarters.

Images courtesy of Gen-Tech

built a two-story, 24,000 square-foot office facility that will ultimately be very close to a net-zero."

As with any construction project, challenges can arise, but Ameris had the opportunity to build on its solid relationship with the city by collaborating and finding solutions. "The City of Glendale had specific requirements with respect to how the traffic flow was to come in and out onto Northern Avenue,” Goss said. “We worked

arizcc.com

very closely with them and Cawley and Associates to resolve these issues and create equitable flow patterns for the city and Gen-Tech.”

Goss says that while most general contractors are driven by “fee,” Ameris is driven by value. “Since we partner with some preferred development partners and are a co-development company, we understand what it means to create value in a company. As a result, we look at our projects holistically through the eyes of the investors and developers."

Goss and his equal partner in ownership, Chris Jones, both bring critical per-

spectives to the business. Goss is in charge of administrative functions, and Jones handling on-site, day-to-day operations. Goss also stresses the importance of pre-development and entitlement - primary focuses at Ameris that pay off down the road.

“We understand the challenges on the front-end entitlement side,” Goss says.

“We have the recourse to come alongside the architectural, engineering, and ownership teams to work synergistically with them to overcome these challenges and ultimately get the project entitled and permitted faster than most other companies.

But, unfortunately, this is where we see developers struggle the most in deals.”

On the other hand, Goss sees GenTech doing anything but struggling. "GenTech is a very successful company due to the areas that they have delved into in the market. They are very innovative and very diverse in their business approach. If there is something needed in an alternate electrically generated scenario, Gen-Tech will handle it."

For Piske, the future at Gen-Tech looks bright in a hot-growing industry. "While conventional power providers are aging and failing, our industry is growing and filling voids," he says. "This is on a steep rise, especially as technology continues to fuel growth. Gen-Tech is at the forefront of these technologies, capable of implementing solutions across our territory and beyond. I see no throttling; we will continue to grow as a power-solutions provider."

With eco-conscious companies like Gen-Tech and Ameris carving out their territories in construction, Arizona looks ahead to a future full of industry progress and innovation.

Arizona Contractor & Community

BRANDON GALLIMORE Land Surveying Services

WE PROVIDE

OFF-DUTY OFFICERS

Traffic

46+ States

24/7 - 365

Availability

7777 N 70TH AVE GLENDALE, AZ 85303

O. 623.466.6640 I F. 623.879.0611 C. 623.707.7067 I E. BRANDON@METROAZ.NET

Control

Construction Sites Nationwide

Construction Staking

FOR MORE INFORMATION OFFDUTYPOLICEOFFICERS.COM 623-825-6700

SBE/WBE/DBE-MINORITY CERTIFIED

DBE/SBE Certified Contractor Jeff Martinez

(602) 622-6789

Jeff.martinez@rtunderground.com

AZROC 306671

535 N 51ST AVE PHOENIX, AZ 85043

PARTS - SALES - SERVICE

FULL SERVICE SHOP PARKING AND STORAGE TRAILER SALES PARTS AND REPAIR

thirty four

(602)415-0222 Superstition Trailers in Phoenix, AZ, have mechanics specializing in heavy and light trucks, trailers, and semi equipment.

We are trained to handle everything from oil changes and engine rebuilds to delicate aluminum welding.

Our shop is open late and on Saturdays.

We are your one-stop truck and trailer shop!

September October 2021

Sean Clements

W

ith convenient access to the border, Arizona has a high rate of construction equipment theft.

And with the state’s construction industry growing – even in the face of the pandemic-led economic downturn – there’s no reason to think the cases of theft will decrease.

"We have seen an increase in the need for off-duty officers to guard construction sites with the increase in the theft of fiber-optic cable, copper spools, and other highly valued materials and equipment," Joe Morales, marketing director of Law Enforcement Specialists, says. "The overall state of construction theft in Arizona has reached proportions that make it more necessary than ever to have security on-site to act as a deterrent."

Across the country, construction equipment theft is a persistent and costly problem. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports between 600 and 1,200 cases of equipment theft every year, with an average cost of $400 million.

To make matters worse, that cost covers only the direct cost of replacing the equipment. The related costs of missing equipment – from job delays to penalties, from higher insurance premiums to canceling a policy – can be even greater than replacement costs. Altogether, the direct and indirect costs of robbery from residential construction sites can add 1-2 percent to the price of a new house.

From a contractor's perspective, the takeaway is clear: taking active security measures at your construction site is not just necessary but indispensable to your business. It’s a good idea to make use of a arizcc.com

variety of solutions to deter thieves. Consider incorporating these solutions into your security plan: 1. The layered effect. If a site looks like it’s protected, it may be enough to scare off opportunistic thieves. Even a simple chain-link fence, secured with sheets of plywood, is an effective deterrent. Add signs that warn passers-by of the presence of live security and remind them of the penalties of trespassing. Provide adequate lighting to leave fewer hiding places.

Finally, limit points of entry and monitor the remaining ones 24/7.

2. A private label. Marking your company name on all equipment makes it easier to identify and reclaim property once it’s been stolen. Don’t forget the smaller pieces, from attachments to hand tools, as thieves can sneak these off site more easily. It's a good idea to maintain an up-to-date inventory of all equipment on site and their location so you can stay on top of things. Consider labeling assets with microdot technology, a method of spraying tiny microscopic dots to create labels that show up only under black light or magnification.

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

Images courtesy of HUB

Stepping Up Security: How to Protect Construction Equipment from Theft

is making your life easier. Take advantage of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to keep track of your equipment and tools.

For example, IoT-tagged equipment is equipped with sensors that can monitor items in real-time. Similarly, GPS is used today to protect a wide variety of valuable equipment, not just the big-ticket items.

GPS trackers are smaller today and can be installed on generators, welders, light pods, and trailers. Some items come with GPS trackers pre-installed into the control circuitry, and manufacturers are now providing integrated GPS systems that monitor and link operations to increase efficiencies.

Another high-tech solution is motion-sensing cameras, which can be hardwired into your system or even reliant on a cell phone signal. These cameras, however they’re powered, can be monitored 24/7 or automatically send an alert to a mobile device. And it takes only a few well-placed cameras to monitor an entire construction site.

While these technology solutions are exciting, the truth is that it isn't necessary to invest in an expensive and sophisticated technological network to protect your construction site and equipment. Use some common sense. Keep equipment locked when not in use, and require employees to return the key to a safe spot when they're done with it. Check to make sure each piece of equipment requires its own key. Ensure employees put smaller items away, too; don't let them drive home with them at night. Staying on alert can help, too; thieves aren't attracted to a site that is monitored attentively.

Sean Clements joined HUB International in 2020 as part of the Clements Insurance and HUB Southwest acquisition. He has been in the insurance industry specializing in construction since 2006.

3. Locked up. Power tools can be easily hidden in the bed of a pickup truck.

Anything with wheels can be attached to another vehicle and driven away. Taking advantage of factory and dealer-installed security options, such as hydraulic locks and hidden disconnects, can be extremely valuable. Parking portable equipment in an inconspicuous area – or better yet, locking it inside a trailer or chaining it up inside an encapsulated building – can make it more difficult for thieves to transport them.

4. Look to technology. Technology does have its benefits, and one of them Arizona Contractor & Community

PREMIER LUBRICANT & FUEL DISTRIBUTOR SERVING ARIZONA & SOUTHERN NEVADA

USED OIL RECOVERY SERVICES

602-759-5559 | NEWWESTOIL.COM thirty six

September October 2021

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

strength decreases as the amount of air increases. If the batch plant maintains a constant slump by reducing the amount of water in the mixture, concrete strength will be reasonably stable.

Image courtesy of Owlcation

How to handle concrete with low air content on the job site.

The Standard Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete (ASTM C94) is the standard reference used on most projects. Both IBC and ACI Building Codes state that concrete must be batched to ASTM C94 standards.

This reference states that air entrainment admixtures can be added at the job site to achieve the desired air content. Additions should be made with batch plant supervision since it is still their concrete in the truck. If the air content is not corrected, the concrete may not have adequate freezethaw protection.

Luke M. Snell, P.E.

A

n inspector recently contacted me regarding some concrete loads that exceeded air-content specifications. The technician was concerned about the ramifications of the issue and what they could do to correct it.

Air entrainment is typically specified for concrete that will be exposed to freezing weather. All concrete has some internal water, which will expand about 10 percent when it freezes. This results in extremely high pressures in the concrete that can cause cracking, scaling, and deterioration.

The concrete industry has developed air-entrainment admixtures to solve this expansion problem to create tiny microscopic bubbles in the concrete. If the concrete is above freezing, these bubbles provide empty, voided areas. When the water in the concrete starts to freeze, it’s forced into the empty bubbles and relieves the pressure and the potential damage to the concrete.

Typically, the amount of air in concrete should be between 4.5-7.5 percent but can vary depending on the size of the coarse aggregates, the specified strength of the concrete, and the weather at the job site.

Air entrainment admixtures are added at the batch plant, and the concrete should have the correct air content when it arrives at the project.

The amount of air entrainment admixtures added to concrete mixtures is not an exact science. There is no formula for the batch plant to make sure they get the correct air content. The most significant variable in getting the percent air accurate arizcc.com

How to handle concrete with high air content on the job site.

When the air content is too high, ASTM C94 states that the technician should take a second sample and rerun the test. If the second test indicates that the air content is within the acceptable range, the concrete can be used. If the second test indicates that the air content is still high, the concrete is considered to have failed the specifications and is likely of low strength.

Concrete cylinders taken on the job site with low strength are often the result of concrete with a high air content. Most contractors and engineers fail to look at the details of a concrete report, which reveal the link between concrete strength and air content.

Since the addition of air entrainment admixtures depends on many factors, all parties must work together to achieve concrete that can successfully survive freezing weather. These individuals include the engineer developing the specifications for air content in their concrete, the batch plant supervisor adjusting the amount of air entrainment admixtures to achieve the specified air content, and the technician accurately performing and reporting the air content test results.

is the temperature of the materials at the batch plant.

Batch plants have “rules of thumb” that they follow from their experience with local materials. When the materials (aggregates, cement, and water) cause the concrete mixture to be hot, the batch plant puts in more air entrainment admixtures. When the concrete mix is cool, they add fewer. This approach may appear to be unsophisticated, but from experience, the batch plants can usually achieve the required air content in the concrete.

How is air entrainment measured?

On most projects, specifications state that the air content test must be performed at specified intervals. The most common method of determining the air content is by using a pressure meter and the procedures in ASTM C231. For lightweight concrete or concrete with porous aggregates, the technician must use the volumetric air meter and follow the guidelines in ASTM C173. Qualified technicians should run the air test by one of these procedures every time the concrete is sampled, and cylinders are made. The information from these tests should be shared with the batch plant so that they can make any needed adjustments.

Does the air content affect other concrete properties?

The bubbles caused by the air entrainment admixture are spherical and lubricate the concrete mixture. In most cases, this causes the slump to increase and makes the concrete easier to place. Since the air bubbles add no strength, the concrete’s Top: Testing air content in concrete.

Right: Air entrainment in concrete.

Image courtesy of Concrete Construction

Air Entrainment in Concrete

Arizona Contractor & Community

Tucson

(520) 682-4063

Sierra Vista

(520) 378-2321

Globe

(928) 425-5775

Phoenix

(602) 416-2652

Flagstaff

(928) 526-5250

Prescott

(928) 443-9207

Camp Verde

(928) 567-0893

Yuma

(928) 343-4150

Bullhead

(928) 763-1022

thirty eight

A Global Ready-mix, Aggregate, Asphalt & Cement Supplier

WWW.CEMEXUSA.COM

September October 2021

Back When

Douglas Towne

T

Images courtesy of imbd.com

he Cinema Park Drive-In Theatre was attuned to the natural elements when it opened at 5500 North Seventh Street in Phoenix on April 22, 1949. The outdoor screen was placed at the northeast corner of the 12-acre site to reduce complications from moonlight. Five wind machines, similar to those used in citrus orchards to minimize frost damage, circulated 500,000 cubic feet of damp air to cool patrons during warm summer nights.

John Kelton and Son, general contractor for the $200,000 construction project, built a 72-by-88-foot screen that was slightly concave to lessen film distortion. Individual speaker units with volume control provided the sound for each vehicle, while Bratt’s Mirror Chrome Cinema Bar supplied refresh-

ments. The Cinema Park Kiddie Playground offered pony and train rides.

The opening night double feature was A Letter to Three Wives starring Jeanne Crain and The Walking Hills with Randolph Scott.

The theater soon expanded its offerings. In 1954, the drive-in broadcast highlights of the Rocky Marciano-Ezzard Charles heavyweight championship boxing bout, and aerialists Betty and Benny Fox performed their “Dance of Death” on an 18-inch stage set 140 feet in the air atop the theater’s screen. In 1958, the drive-in was updated with a four-lane entrance, a larger concession building, and capacity was increased to 1,100 cars.

The drive-in flourished for two more decades until the property became the Cinema Park Village Shopping Center in 1979.

Its legacy survives, however, according to Evelyn Earl Jeffries. “My brother claimed at least 50 percent of the population of northeast Phoenix was conceived at the Cinema Park Drive-In.”

Images courtesy of Arizona Repu blic

Cinema Under the Stars

Below: Cinema Park Drive-In Theatre, 1963.

Top right: Cinema Park Drive-In Theatre ads, 1949.

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

September October 2021

Level and Plumb: The Masonry of Marion J. Evertsen M

Tom Pickrell

arion John Evertsen was a prominent masonry contractor in Phoenix for more than 30 years, starting in the 1950s. Largely self-taught and a stickler for detail, he was a master of his craft. His company, Marion Evertsen Masonry Contracting (MEMC), built the brick and block elements of a wide range of buildings across the Valley and smaller towns in Arizona.

A few buildings, such as Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium and Grand Canyon Caverns, are cultural landmarks.

Others, like Jay Newton’s Beef Eaters Restaurant (now Southern Rail at the Newton), are the bones of modern updates.

Many more, such as Woody’s Macayo restaurant and the Safari Hotel, are only memories.

A son of Mormon immigrants from Holland, Marion was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1917. He served as a Latter-Day Saint (LDS) missionary in Holland until Nazi Germany invaded its European neighbors. As the nation prepared for war, Marion enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He completed flight and weather observation training and was stationed at Davis-Monthan Army Airfield in Tucson.

There, he met Erdeen Tieman. They married at the Mesa LDS Temple, raised

Image courtesy of Newspape r Archi

ves

Left: Construction of St. Gregory Catholic Church at 3424 N. 18th Ave., 1956.

Below: Marion J. Evertsen advertisement, 1956.

arizcc.com

Image courtesy of Michael Evertsen

Arizona Contractor & Community

eight children, and were dedicated members of the LDS Church throughout their lives.

Marion built one of the first LDS meetinghouses in Phoenix at 650 West Southern Avenue and 16 more meetinghouses throughout Phoenix and the West Valley.

He felt deeply honored to work on the restoration of Mesa LDS Temple in 1975.

As a young man, Marion had aspired to learn the art of sculpture.

He befriended and received guidance from the great American sculptor Avard Fairbanks. However, what plans Marion had to pursue sculpture were overtaken by his need to provide for his new family. Thus, masonry, rather than sculpture, is where he would leave his mark.

After his military discharge, Marion worked construction in Phoenix. He started as a carpenter’s apprentice and received his United Carpenters Union card in 1946.

Ten years later, he was a licensed masonry contractor with a list of completed projects that earned him a solid reputation among general contractors.

There was no better place and time to start a masonry business than Phoenix in the 1950s. During the decade, the city’s population quadrupled to 439,000, triggering a long and deep demand for affordable homes. With the new neighborhoods came shopping centers, offices, hotels, schools, and churches.

Image courtesy of Author

Image courtesy of Newspaper Archiv es

Below: Woody’s Macayo restaurant on North Central Ave., 1952.

Bottom right: Woody’s Macayo contractor acknowledgment, 1953.

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Marion Evertsen in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 1944.

Top right: Central High School contruction, 1957.

Right: Marion and Erdeen Evertsen, 1945.

Forty two

September October 2021

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Top left: Construction of St. Gregory Catholic Church at 3424 N. 18th Ave., 1956.

Above: St. Gregory’s Catholic church, 1959.

Right: Sculpture of St. Gregory above the church entrance, 2021.

Images courtesy of Michael Evertsen

The 1950s was an especially golden age for masonry, primarily because of the utility of Superlite block, a product invented and manufactured in Phoenix by Superlite Builders Supply Co. Made with volcanic scoria mined in northern Arizona, Superlite checked all the boxes for an excellent building material: lightweight but strong, good R-value, fire resistant, and impervious to termites. Superlite Builders Supply also produced the decorative block that became a signature element of Mid-Century Modern architecture. By 1955, 75 percent of new buildings were built with Superlite products.

Marion’s son, Robert, recalled with pride a trip with his father to the Superlite store to return some pallets. The customer ahead of them was doing the same. The clerk required the customer to produce a receipt. When the customer explained that he did not have the ticket with him, the clerk signaled Marion to come forward and processed his refund with no questions asked. The refused customer asked angrily, “So why doesn’t that guy have to have a receipt?” The clerk replied matterof-factly, “Because he’s Marion Evertsen.”

Marion’s work spanned nearly every building category and followed the growth of the Phoenix urban core northward along Central Avenue. His company, MEMC, worked on many buildings that contributed to the look and feel of central Phoenix in arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Images courtesy of Michael Evertsen

Image courtesy of Author

Archives er Image courtesy of Newspap

the 1950s: Woody’s Macayo, Blenders Bar- (aka, the one with the Playboy Club on top), beque, Goldwater’s and J.C. Penny’s at Park an early Bashas supermarket, Del Webb’s Central Mall, the Mayer Central Building TowneHouse, and Central High School.

In 1956, Paul Staman, a young residential builder, hired Marion to build the Pierre, Park 5th Avenue, and Shorewood apartments in what is now known as the Phoenix Garden District. Staman later pioneered the luxury patio home. His many projects in North Central Phoenix – Taliverde, Questa Tierra, and Estate Antigua, for example – kept MEMC busy for many years.

General contractors valued Marion’s dependability. As MEMC became a preferred subcontractor, the range of its projects increased with the diversity of general contractors. MEMC built stores, Forty Four

Top: Construction of Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium in Tempe, 1963.

Above left: Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium in Tempe, 2021.

Above: Construction of Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, 1965.

Bottom left: Del Webb TowneHouse subcontractor acknowledgement, 1965.

motels, high schools, college libraries and dormitories, and many churches.

Marion had a soft spot for churches of all denominations so that he trimmed his bids to make sure he got the contract. In addition to LDS meetinghouses, his work included First Methodist Church, Faith Lutheran Church, and St. Agnes, St. Gregory, and St. Thomas catholic churches, all in Phoenix. In 1962, the Arizona Masonry September October 2021

Guild recognized Marion with a building excellence award for his work on the Sun City Church of Christ, Scientist.

Construction of the new St. Gregory’s Church nearly cost him his life in 1956.

Marion and his crew were to install a 30-foot bas-relief of St. Gregory above the main entrance. The sculpture arrived at the site in the form of four pre-cast cement blocks to be set as a column on a pedestal inscribed with the Psalms verse, “Then I shall go unto the altar of the Lord.”

As a boss, Marion often worked shoulder to shoulder with his crew. He was standing on scaffolding, guiding the first block as a crane slowly lowered it into place when the crane suddenly lost control of its load and hit the frame, sending Marion tumbling 15 feet to the pavement below.

Marion recovered for a few days at St. Joseph’s Hospital, which led to an odd incident that the family would chuckle about years later. One afternoon, the hospital chaplain visited Marion to wish him well. Erdeen was with him. At the end of the visit, the chaplain asked, “May I pray for you?” Welcoming the offer of spiritual support, Marion and Erdeen folded their hands, bowed their heads, and closed their eyes to join him in prayer. Then, after a period of silence, they heard the door close. The chaplain was gone.

Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium is a fascinating construction project.

In the words of Arizona Republic reporter Ralph Mahoney, “the building has more curves than Yarnell Hill, more gyrations than an exotic dancer.” Some of Marion’s finest work is in those curves.

Gammage is a steel-framed structure with two overlapping circular sections. The larger section houses the performance hall and is defined by its sweeping colonnade.

The outermost columns are adorned by pre-cast capitals that look like drawn stage curtains to most visitors but were intended to resemble abstract palm fronds. They were first known as “the tacos” when Marion’s crew installed them.

The smaller but no less impressive section contains the stage complex and five floors of classrooms and resembles a giant drum. Its curved exterior wall is a flawless expanse of brick, interrupted only by a thin, horizontal line of half-circle windows. Level and plumb, the wall -- 170 courses laid up in running bond -- maintains a perfect radial curve over its length of 250 feet.

Marion left his mark as a masonry craftsman at Gammage. The entire body of work is a testament to a man dedicated to his craft, faith, and family. arizcc.com

Ride-On Floor Scraper Powered by (12) 200-amp hour batteries that exceed the industry standard, the 7700 machine is everything you need it to be.

Now Available For Rent or Sale • Quick-change swivel head blade holder • Compact, ergonomic design fits through standard door frames and elevator doors.

• Front caster wheels allow increased maneuverability in tight spaces • Non-marking tires

Call, Text or Visit... Four Valley Locations East Valley 1313 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert 480-539-8700

North Valley 15634 N 32nd St, Phoenix 602-992-1150

West Valley 803 E Van Buren St, Avondale 623-925-0200

Central Phoenix 4050 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix 602-955-5100

a-zequipment.com Arizona Contractor & Community

Paul Brock:

Digging Deep Into Gunnison Contractors and the Man Who Built It Jeff Kronenfeld

P

aul Brock was one of the biggest names in underground contracting in the Valley during the 1960s and 1970s.

His company, Gunnison Contractors, specialized in excavation and pipelaying and also handled more significant projects such as constructing a water treatment plant for the City of Phoenix and renovating Mesa’s Main Street. Though Brock died in 2005, his family, co-workers, and friends still remember the curiosity and persistence that made

the autodidact such a successful builder, pilot, and farmer.

Brock was born in a small town in Oklahoma in 1918. His daughter, Dianne, described him as a slight farm kid in old photos from his childhood. But, unfortunately, the kid had to grow up fast. The Great Depression started when he was 11 and the Dust Bowl when he was 12. Then, his father — a traveling pastor — died when Brock was 13.

After serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II, Brock moved to Kansas and worked as a salesman at a lumber yard in Junction City. His intelligence and hard work didn’t go unnoticed by his new employer.

“The owner of that company was the person who recognized just the pure raw talent that my dad had,” Dianne recalled.

“A job developed around his skills and abilities. It really was a major stepping stone.”

Brock’s current employer wasn’t the only one to spot the young man’s mathematical ability and personable manner.

Martin K. Eby Sr. was the president of Eby Construction, a Wichita company that he founded in 1937. A graduate of Kansas State University’s civil engineering program, Eby Sr. was part of the movement to integrate modern engineering methods into the construction industry.

Brock attended Central State College in Edmund, Oklahoma, but had to enter the workforce shortly before completing his degree. However, he was an eager and lifelong learner with a high natural aptitude for numbers. So Eby Sr. hired Brock as an Above: Bucyrus Erie shovel bucket attachments, at Gunnison Contracting yard, 2711 S. 40th St., 1965.

Left: Paul Brock (left) gives a gift to Arizona Aggregate Association Executive Director Bob Showers, 1970.

Right: Gunnison Contracting laying pipe at Sky Harbor Airport, 1965.

fourty six

September October 2021

Images courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

estimator in the late 1940s. The young man did well, eventually becoming Eby Construction’s pipelaying operations manager, where his entertaining personality helped make even the most demanding jobs seem a little easier.

“He was a man with a sense of humor and a big smile,” said Martin K. Eby Jr. “I think his employees had great faith in him, and we didn’t have a lot of turnover.”

Brock also proved himself as a farsighted dealmaker. He initiated the company’s expansion to Omaha, Nebraska, after learning the city had to overhaul its sewage and stormwater systems. Eby Construcarizcc.com

tion won many of those contracts, beating out the Kiewit Corporation — then one of the largest construction companies in the world — on its home turf. Brock also led Eby Construction into Texas and Arizona.

He was never afraid to try something new and even learned to fly and purchased a plane to facilitate his role in the company’s far-flung operations.

Over time, Brock acquired stock in Eby Construction and a few of its subsidiaries. One of these was Gunnison Contractors, where he served as the president.

Eby Jr. still remembers when they set up the spinoff. Brock didn’t want to name it

after himself, so instead chose Gunnison to honor a river in Colorado with excellent trout fishing, one of his lifelong passions.

By 1963, the ever-restless Brock traded his stock in Eby and its subsidiaries for full ownership of Gunnison Contractors. Then, impressed by Arizona’s booming construction sector, the Oklahoma native moved to Phoenix. His daughter Dianne, then a sophomore in high school, wasn’t pleased at first, though soon, she came to appreciate the desert. Also coming along were Fred Lindsey and Bill Jarvis, who served as superintendents for the company for many years.

Arizona Contractor & Community

Images courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Brock wasted no time when it came to making connections and finding work in his new home turf. Soon after moving, he contributed to a $100,000 comprehensive community and economic analysis of Phoenix and the Salt River Valley conducted

by Western Management Consultants.

According to an article in Arizona-New Mexico Contractor and Engineer, the following year, he landed what was then the City of Phoenix’s largest contract: the construction of a water treatment plant in Deer Valley for $6.85 million. When adjusted for inflation, now that amount would be equivalent to more than $60 million.

Gunnison Contractors continued performing significant sewage and stormwater jobs for various municipalities around the state over the next few years. In 1967, Brock landed a $1.78 million contract for a complete renovation of Mesa’s Main Street. Dianne still remembers how her father beamed with pride after completing the job under budget and ahead of schedule, something Mesa’s downtown business community greatly appreciated.

“The city made him feel like an absolute hero,” Dianne recalls. “I think the importance of that for my dad, newly established in his own company — both the satisfaction of the accomplishment and the really outstanding recognition that the city gave him — was just a major highlight of his business career.”

Image courtesy of Dianne Brock

Above: Gunnison Contracting’s track hoe laying sewer line along Main Street in Mesa, 1967.

Left: Gunnison’s complete renovation of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, 1967.

Below: Paul Brock in Mesa, early 1990s.

forty eight

September October 2021

Never one to pick a fight, the generally upbeat builder was not afraid to stand up for himself if the situation called for it. In 1968, Phoenix City Manager Robert Coop overrode City Engineer Robert C. Esterbrook to award a sewer construction contract to Northern Construction Co. instead of Gunnison Contractors, despite the latter’s bid that was $41,355 lower. Brock presented a compelling case and was supported by Esterbrook, though the trial’s outcome is unknown.

The following year, Brock served as the board chairman for the Arizona Chapter of the Associated General Contractors. A year later, he moved his company’s headquarters to a larger property in Mesa. The 5-acre plot at 40 West Iron Avenue housed the office, repair shop, and equipment yard of Gunnison Contractors. Empire Machinery shared the space, which was run by Brock’s friend Jack Whiteman.

Brock retired and closed Gunnison Contractors sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s. This ending led to many new beginnings as the busy man finally had time to pursue his diverse interests. Though he had purchased a citrus and palm orchard in Mesa several years earlier, now he threw himself into cultivating the land. He set up a drip irrigation system for the entire property and opened a roadside stand to sell his produce. After a few years, he developed an interest in orchid cultivation. This hobby blossomed into another business when Brock moved to Pacific Grove, California, near Monterey in the late 1980s, where he set up a greenhouse and flower shop. The retiree also became an avid rock collector and, of course, fished a lot.

Brock developed Alzheimer’s and moved to Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott for the final years of his life. But he never lost his ability to communicate or dream big.

“One of my memories of visiting him is we were outside at this facility, which was a phenomenal place,” Dianne explained.

“He had this whole scenario where he had built this building, and I just love that the thread of dad the contractor stuck. It was very much his view of who he was, but also what he was really proud of.”

Many of the pipes Brock laid continue to direct water to and away from Arizona’s thirsty cities, even 16 years after his death.

While this buried infrastructure is easy to overlook when it’s working properly, our still-growing communities should never forget the self-made builders like Brock, who laid the groundwork for the Valley’s continued growth far into the future. arizcc.com

HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTALS We Listen. We Deliver.

Articulated Dump Trucks · Dozers · Excavators · Scrapers Motor Graders (grade control available) · Wheel Loaders Water Wagons · Water Trucks · Fuel & Lube Trucks Mechanics Trucks · Stand Tanks · Water Pumps · Compactors

James Bagshaw

Larry Swanson

Rental Account Manager jbagshaw@pacwestrentals.com

Rental Account Manager lswanson@pacwestrentals.com

602-723-6838

480-737-4885

Tyler Denton

tdenton@pacwestrentals.com

602-541-3633

3105 N Maple St. Mesa, AZ 85215 www.pacwestrentals.com

Phone: 480-832-0855 Arizona Contractor & Community

CAT RENTALS

AND SO MUCH MORE With top-quality, low-hour equipment & attachments, delivery or pick-up from 16 locations, and 24-hour emergency service we’ll help you maximize uptime.

Rent from our growing fleet of 15+ premium brands!

CatRentalStore.com/Empire | 480-308-9100

DCSCONTRACTING.COM • P:480-732-9238 11525 E Germann Rd, Chandler, AZ 85286

fifty

September October 2021

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Images courtesy of Author

J

Serious Accomplishment:

The Life and Legacy of Architect Kemper Goodwin, FAIA James Logan Abell, FAIA

ment stores. Kemper returned to Phoenix to become an architectural draftsman for Lescher and Mahoney Architects. In his spare time, he and a buddy made adobe blocks from the dirt they excavated on a lot Kemper had purchased at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Thomas Road, where he built a modest house.

At age 23, Kemper experienced the stock market crash in the fall of 1929. He was not able to pay his property taxes and lost his land and house. So, he took to the rails, a “hobo,” riding between the coal car and the first passenger car under a rubberized cover called “the blinds.” He would emerge from these travels chilled, or sometimes seared, and always covered in coal dust. Kemper kept moving and worked as many as 80 different drafting jobs for $4 per week all across the South, according to his son, Michael Goodwin, also an architect.

Cont Image courtesy of Arizona

ractor & Community

umping on rail cars to travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of work, this man was no ordinary 1930’s “hobo.” Already a skilled draftsman, this “twenty-something” kid from Tempe was bursting with ambition and drive. Just how this young man, a vagabond wanderer, became one of the Salt River Valley’s most accomplished citizens is a great Arizona success story.

Born at home in 1906, Kemper Goodwin lost his mother, Jennie Mae Kemper Goodwin, to tuberculosis in 1912. He was raised by his father, Garfield Goodwin, and a family friend, Carl Hayden, who would become the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress. Garfield ran G.A. Goodwin Novelty Store, an Indian curio shop and electronics store on Mill Avenue, and young Kemper and his sisters experienced much of Arizona’s Native American communities traveling with their father before World War I. Short in height and medium build, Kemper had experienced youthful character-building employment working in the mines in Globe. He later did technical drawings for freelance projects while studying drafting away from home at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and worked as a set designer for Los Angeles depart-

fifty two

One of his best stops was an interview he wrangled in El Paso, Texas. The receptionist was the daughter of the owner of the architectural firm, Percy McGhee.

Kemper was immediately smitten by the receptionist while also being offered a job.

He gained valuable experience working for the firm and courted Mickey McGhee.

Kemper moved to Tyler, Texas, started his own architectural practice, and married Mickey in September 1934.

Back in Tempe, Kemper’s father, Garfield Goodwin, served as Secretary of the Arizona State Teachers College Board of Education in the 1930s while running his Mill Avenue curio store of Native American crafts and artifacts. Garfield led efforts to make the Tempe Normal School that he attended in 1896 into a fully-fledged 4-year liberal arts college.

Lescher and Mahoney Architects realized that having Kemper return to the firm would be a great connection to Garfield Goodwin and the growth that Arizona State College (ASC) was about to undertake. Kemper and Mickey moved to Tempe, and soon he was involved in designing the college’s Lyceum Theater, the Home Management House, and the Moeur Activity Center. Kemper was particularly close with Top left: Kemper Goodwin.

Top right: G.A. Goodwin Novelty Store on Mill Avenue.

Left: Architect’s rendering of the Salt River Project building, 1957.

September October 2021

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community Images courtesy of Author

Above: Fountains at the SRP building, 1968.

Left: Arizona State College Physical Education building, 1956.

Below: ASU’s Wexler Tower, 1966.

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Images courtesy of Author

fifty four

the dozens of civic and higher education projects of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The firm, renamed Michael + Kemper Goodwin Architects, Ltd., was also known for numerous innovative approaches to K-12 schools around the Valley for rapidly growing school districts with limited budgets. They excelled at designing open-pod schools, which were built in many variations. One system devised was a pre-fabricated steel frame delivered by crane in rectangular modules. Scales Elementary School in Tempe used a modular hexagon pod of open classrooms. Another approach involved earth berm walls covered with concrete “gunite,” with long-span concrete double “T’s” to create massive interior volumes. These open-pod classrooms, in many cases, were later improved and modified.

In the mid-1970s, the firm acted as the developer on various projects, including the redevelopment of ASU’s Tower Cen-

ter and the landmark Mill Avenue Shops shortly before Kemper retired from practice. The firm became Ahern, MacVittie, Hofmann + Goodwin Architects in 1979 until Michael left the partnership in 1989.

Michael served two terms in the Arizona House of Representatives in the 1970s.

Kemper passed away in 1997 and Michael died at age 72 in 2011. The lives and legacy of these two Goodwin men go beyond great architecture; both held elected office, both served their community and profession in a myriad of ways, and both strived for excellence in all they touched. Their vision and design talent continue to live on, enriching so many lives by the artistry of their place-making and landmark architecture.

Top right: Michael Goodwin.

Top left: Construction of Tempe City Hall, 1970.

Below: Tempe City Hall, 1971.

Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

architect Royal Lescher during those late depression years.

During World War II, the Del Webb Construction Company recruited Kemper.

His assignments included a multi-building U.S. Army Gunnery Range near Kingman and buildings for Williams Field in Mesa.

In April of 1945, 39-year-old Kemper established his private practice in Tempe.

He was soon busy helping post-war Tempe expand with schools and helping with the growth of ASC, having designed the landmark Student Union Building in 1955. Kemper was quickly a major Valley force in planning and architecture, joining with Weaver and Drover Architects in 1956 to plan the Arizona Capitol Mall. The iconic Salt River Project headquarters building soon followed with its signature modern corporate expression and lavish fountains.

Kemper helped many of his employees start their own firms, including Chuck Hickman and Earl Horlbeck, whom he joint-ventured with to plan Mesa Community College in the mid-1960s. Kemper Goodwin, FAIA, was one of the first Arizona “Fellows” of the American Institute of Architects, a trusted Tempe City Councilman, a prominent businessman, a creative architectural spirit, and a nurturing leader in helping the entire Valley prosper.

The Goodwin firm, long-established as educational facilities architects, had significant high school and collegiate design assignments in the office when Kemper’s son, Michael Goodwin, graduated from USC’s architecture school. Long familiar with his father’s atelier, Michael brought enthusiasm, big ideas, and leadership to teams of highly creative architects in concert with his father. This synergy created many landmark educational and civic buildings. ASU’s Wexler Math Tower, Tempe City Hall, Scottsdale Medical Pavilion, and ASU’s Advanced Chemistry building were among

September October 2021

OUR BUSINESS IS TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS COOL!

602-331-5455

CAMS-AZ.COM

22035 N. BLACK CANYON HWY #B PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85027 ROC # 111880

PREACH BUILDING SUPPLY

YOUR ONE STOP MASONRY AND LANDSCAPE SUPPLY SOURCE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS SERVING HOMEOWNERS, ARCHITECTS & CONTRACTORS SINCE 1972

www.preachbuildingsupply.com

Buckeye

Landscape

Phoenix

601 North Jackrabbit Trail Buckeye, AZ 85326 Phone: 623-853-8300

9430 North 16th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85021 Phone: 602-944-1304

1601 W Hatcher Phoenix, AZ 85021 Phone: 602-944-4594

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Fun by the Carload:

The Valley’s Drive-In Theaters Douglas Towne

D

rive-in movie theaters were a rite of passage for generations of teenagers after World War II, places to hang out with friends – or sweethearts. “My favorite memory was bringing my date to see Barbarella at the Round-Up Theatre in Scottsdale in 1968,” says a long-time Phoenician, who requested anonymity since he’s been happily married for many decades to another lady. “However, I have absolutely no recollection of the movie or even Jane Fonda’s sultry Space Age outfits,” he confesses sheepishly. Only one drive-in remains in the Valley. Once thought to be a relic of the past, it found new popularity with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newfound freedom to watch a film on a mammoth outdoor screen in the semi-privacy of vehicles dramatically altered how young people spent their evenings after World War II. Drive-ins served as fogged-window Petri dishes for teenage romance, especially when parked distant from the snack bar for additional seclu-

or Images courtesy of Auth

sion. Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble recalls the Big Sky Drive-In on Indian School Road near 41st Avenue, which featured “Dawn-to-Dusk” movie marathons. “I had several ‘all-nighters’ there with Maryvale girls,” he says. “But I was too shy to take advantage of the situation.”

Drive-in theaters, the first of which opened in New Jersey in 1933, thrived in the Valley, as the climate allowed yearround operation. Arizona’s pioneer drive-in was the Phoenix Theatre, initially just called “Drive-In Theatre,” at 36th and Van Above: Phoenix Drive-In Theatre, 1940.

Top right: Phoenix Drive-In Theatre, 1943.

Left: Grand opening ephemera from the Phoenix-Drive-In Theatre, 1940.

Fifty Six

September October 2021

Image courtesy of McCulloch Bros Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Buren streets, which opened in 1940 with room for 612 vehicles. The grand opening featured the movie, The Women, plus selected short subjects. But the theater’s ornamentation was as memorable as what appeared on the screen. “On the backside of the outdoor movie screen was the stunning face of a beautiful Egyptian girl in neon,” says Phoenix native William Linsenmeyer, a retired University of Wisconsin history professor.

After World War II, at least 20 more drive-in theaters were opened by business people lured by the Valley’s cheap land and burgeoning population. These included Acres of Fun, Big Sky, Cactus, Cinema Park, El Peso, Indian, Northern, Nu-View, Rodeo, Silver Dollar, and Valley in Phoenix; the Oasis in Avondale; the Mustang in Chanarizcc.com

dler; the Thunderbird in Glendale; the Pioneer, Sands, and Velda Rose in Mesa; the Round-Up in Scottsdale; and the South Twin in Tempe.

Teens weren’t the only fans of driveins. Married couples also loved the concept because they could bring the whole family and save money on babysitters. They nestled pajama-clad toddlers with their pillows and stuffed animals in the backseat. Preteens often created their own entertainment. “They were more of an outing than actually watching a movie,” recalls Barry Warner, a Mesa construction superintendent. “We’d hit the snack bar, play hideand-go-seek between the cars, and have fun with other kids we met.”

“Most of the drive-in theaters had playgrounds for the kids,” Jerry Roose, an envi-

ronmental director for Freeport McMorRan who lives in Gilbert, says. “Which was good because we were so busy having fun on the equipment that we didn’t notice the R-rated movies on the screen.” Double features were standard and often included a cheesy horror flick that had kids peeking through their fingers at the screen.

Drive-in theaters were a hotbed for missteps and hijinks, such as driving off with the speaker attached to your car window or climbing the ladder on the back of the movie screen to dangle your feet over the top. The most common mischief, however, was sneaking in, a trick Roose once attempted. “I hid in the tiny trunk of my friend’s Karmann Ghia sports car at the South Twin,” he says of a claustrophobic’s nightmare scenario. “We got in, but Arizona Contractor & Community

they were suspicious that a guy would go to a drive-in alone and later nabbed us. I offered to pay the admission, but they tossed us out.”

Gals weren’t immune to shenanigans, either. Phoenix historic preservationist Kim Kasper recalls heading to the Round-Up with six others in a friend’s new 1964 Mustang she’d received on her 16th birthday. “My friends decided that I would be the person to go in undercover, literally,” she says. Kasper hid under a blanket on the backseat floorboard during the long, hot ride from Central Phoenix. “I believe I suffered heatstroke; I was barely conscious when we arrived and have no idea what movies we saw.”

Drive-ins battled this problem by charging by the carload. This suited Mesa research scientist Jeremy Rowe, who owned a 1951 Cadillac

hearse that he used to carry equipment for his garage bands. “In 1968, I took 17 friends to the sci-fi double feature at the Cinema Park Drive-In at Seventh and Missouri streets,” he says. “The attendant freaked out at giving us the $1.50 single-car rate, but relented after horns started blowing down the line behind us.”

Each drive-in had its unique twists.

Indian Drive-In, which operated from 1948-1981 near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road, had lots of messing about went on, says Lynn Rieckhoff Lindell, who lived nearby. “We would sit on the front porch on Saturday nights and watch cars stop,” she recalls. “They’d open the trunks to pile a bunch of people in; it was crazy!”

One drive-in theater friendly to the neighbors was the Rodeo, which operated from 1953-1981 near 12th Street and Buckeye Road. Owners paved the site to dissuade gold excavations on the property, which once belonged to Jacob Waltz, alleged discoverer of the Lost Dutchman mine. “The theater attached a speaker to our fence so we would hear the movies,” Christina Lyn Garcia, who still lives next door, says.

Northern Drive-In operated from 1955 to 1978 at 2526 West Northern Avenue.

“My brothers and I called the Northern ‘Blura-color,’ meaning the projection house was too far from the screen,” Bill Bernard, a former city treasurer, says. “This resulted in a picture that was a little less clear than most drive-ins.”

But by the 1980s, drive-ins had more significant problems than teenage pranks.

“Cable TV and VCRs allowed young, cash-strapped couples with kids to be entertained at home,” Kevin Patrick, a Professor of Geography at

Indiana University of Pennsylvania geography professor and pop-culture author, says.

“At the same time, the real estate worth of these large parcels had skyrocketed after 30 years of surrounding development, influencing their redevelopment to a more valuable land use.”

Forty years later, this Americana icon has been reduced to a single venue in the Valley, the West Wind Glendale 9 Drive-In. Patrons now listen to the movies on the radio instead of via static-filled speakers, but other drive-in experiences remain timeless. “We often take the family on discounted Tuesday nights for the triple features,” says Cindy Hrnicek, a Phoenix yoga studio owner. When pressed for their most memorable outing, the busy mom confesses. “One night, we were all so tired we fell asleep during the last movie. When we awoke, the place was dark, and we were the only car left.”

Above: The neon cowboy designed by the Paul Millet Sign Co. for the Round-Up Drive-In Theatre, 1955.

Left: The Northern Drive-In Theatre on the north side of Northern Avenue at 26th Avenue, 1963.

fifty eight

September October 2021

Images courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Employees dress in costume at the Rodeo Drive-In Theatre, 1955.

Right: Cinema Park Drive-In Theatre playground, 1951.

Below: Cinema Park Drive-In Theatre after installation of cooling fans for patrons, 1953.

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

YOUR TRUSTED EXPERTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

HAVE AN EMERGENCY? CALL 1-888-4-SPILL-4

24/7 EMERGENCY RESPONSE REMEDIATION • DEMOLITION EMERGENCYENV.COM • 480-809-4687 • SALES@EMERGENCYENV.COM

Sixty

September October 2021

PROMISES MADE COMMITMENTS KEPT

KE&G is a 100% employee-owned company. We are committed to delivering safe, on-time, high-quality projects that exceed expectations.

Serving all of Arizona KE&G CONSTRUCTION, INC.

SIERRA VISTA: 1601 Paseo San Luis # 202  Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635  520.458.9594  www.kegtusv.com TUCSON: 3949 East Irvington Road  Tucson, Arizona 85714  520.748.0188  www.kegtusv.com

ROC 233308

We Rent Fences!! * Construction Sites * Special Events * Crowd Control * Secure Property & Parcels from Vandals & Dumpers ** And Much More!

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE

www.allstatefenceaz.com arizcc.com

NOW HIRING DRIVERS

We Deliver more than just materials ASHPALT PAVING ASPHALT MILLING & PULVERIZING CHIP SEALING LANDSCAPING MATERIal SAND & GRAVEL & ARENA SAND DIRT WHITE PAVING

do you have what it takes to join the team?

Customer Relations Delivering Dependability I-Drive University

602-276-0699 | mundalltrucking.com Arizona Contractor & Community

Building on the Past 1969: Chrome-Plated Expansion

A

es Image courtesy of Newspaper Archiv

ircraft Plating Co. was flying high in 1969. The firm, founded in 1963 at 1313 South 26th Street, was having a new 20,000 square-foot plant built nearby at 2113 East Mohave Street. The company processed component parts for the electronics and aerospace industries, subcontracting with major Phoenix firms including Motorola and General Electric.

The company treated metal surfaces for enhanced characteristics for superior and more durable products. The new building allowed for separate grinding and heat-treating facilities, said Guy Wixon, the company president, to The Arizona

Republic in 1969. Employment at the plant will likely increase from 23 to more than 60 when construction finished in November, Wixon added.

Stephan Ryciak was architect and the general contractor was Alsbrook Construction Co. Financing of the $150,000 project was arranged through The Arizona Bank.

Motorola’s semiconductor product’s division purchased the building in late 1970, and continued to use the facility for plating and piece-part processing.

One happy customer was Jeremy Rowe, who in the early 1970s was restoring a pair of 1957 Porsche 356 A coupes. “The

simple Porsche bumpers were painted metal with an aluminum and rubber strip, but had chrome over riders,” Rowe, a photo historian, recalls. “Mine were pitted and the worse for wear. I pulled them off and dropped them off at Aircraft Plating to get re-chromed, along with a couple of other small pieces. A couple of weeks later I picked them up, reassembled and installed the bumpers.”

Rowe says that he drove the Porsche for the next year, then sold it for $1,000 - enough to fund a six-week summer solo bicycle trip to Europe and Morocco.

In 1986, Handy & Harmon Electronic Materials Corp. occupied the building. The building has since been razed, as the site is now part of Sky Harbor Airport.

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Aircraft Plating Co. plant at 2113 East Mohave Street, 1969.

Left: Handy & Harman Electronic Materials ad, 1986.

September October 2021

arizcc.com

Images courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Arizona Contractor & Community

Kubota the Right Tool for the job!

SVL95

• 74.3 Gross HP,† 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Kubota Diesel Engine • Powerful Breakout Force • 360º Visibility in Cab • High Ground Clearance $

SSV75

• 74.3 Gross HP,† 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Kubota Diesel Engine • Roomy, Fatigue - and Stress-Reducing Cabin Encourages All-Day Alertness • Open or Closed Cab with Sliding Front Door

U35

• 24.8 Gross HP † Kubota Diesel Engine • Deluxe Interior • Wider Entrance • Tight Tail Swing • Deluxe Suspension Seat

U17

• 16.1 Gross HP † Kubota Diesel Engine • Zero Turn Swing • 2-Pattern Selection System (ISO or SAE) • Best Performance Matched Boom/Arm/Bucket Movement in Industry

0 DOWN, 0% A.P.R. FINANCING UP TO 48 MONTHS ON SELECT NEW KUBOTA!1

BinghamEquipment.com BUCKEYE 710 N. 195th Ave. (623) 853-1000 PARKER 1320 Geronimo (928) 669-9271

CASA GRANDE COTTONWOOD LAKESIDE MESA 815 W. Gila Bend Hwy. 2694 S. Union Drive 5819 Hwy. 260 1655 S. Country Club Dr. (520) 836-8700 (928) 646-5388 (928) 251-0403 (480) 969-5516 PHOENIX PRESCOTT VALLEY TUCSON TUCSON YUMA 21828 N. 7th St. 10123 AZ-69 5225 N. Casa Grande Hwy. 4350 S. Palo Verde Rd. 3214 E. Gila Ridge Rd. #1 (623) 850-6000 (928) 350-4295 (520) 887-7799 (520) 889-6396 (928) 726-4701

*$0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 48 months on purchases of select new Kubota U Series, SSV Series, and SVL Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 financed. Offer expires 9/30/21. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety and product information see dealer or KubotaUSA.com. † For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer and the product operator’s manual. Power (HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. K1321-24-145921-3

sixty four

September October 2021

Simply better than the best

480.940.0100 | INSEARCHCORP.COM 8845 S HARDY DR. TEMPE, AZ 85284

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

son also manufactured elevating scraper bowls for the J619 and the J621 scrapers. The J621 was equipped with a V8 D336 turbo-charged, 300-horsepower engine, which was also used on Caterpillar 980A wheel loaders. The transmission was an 8-speed, semi-automatic that had a 32.5 mile-an-hour capacity. The elevator was set up with 18 flights that were 6-feet, 6-inches wide and were driven by a 2-speed hydraulic motor to adjust the loading speed depending on the material.

The cutting-edge design had the option to add teeth for loading harder materials. The heaped capacity of the machine was 21.5 cubic yards.

The J621 elevating scraper was advertised as a finish machine that was profitable on general earthwork projects. Without the need for a push-cat, the elevating scraper could easily pick up sand and gravel and handle loamy clay-like materials. The elevator turned and mixed the earth as it loaded the bowl, which helped reduce discing and processing material as it was placed in the fill. The machine was an economical way to move earth by reducing the amount of handling the material needed. It also eliminated high-cost equipment needed to push conventional scrapers.

In 1972 Caterpillar bought Johnson Manufacturing and began producing elevating scrapers. The J621 was the predecessor to the 623, which was an update necessary for Cat to stay competitive in the elevating scraper market. However, the J621 was never equipped with a cushion hitch option, even though that feature was brought the old D336 V8 engine back to available on the Cat 621 open bowl scraper.

The same D336 powertrain powered life. But the machine again went unused for more than a year until I returned to pur- the new 623. The heaped capacity was increased by ½ a cubic yard and came with chase it.

The Caterpillar J621 scraper was the product of a partnership in 1965 between Top: Aiden and Cash Escapule with E&E’s Cat scraper, 2019. two companies. Caterpillar built the 621 J621 Below: E&E’s Cat J621 scraper working for tractor, and Johnson Manufacturing Co. Pulte Homes at Anthem at Merrill Ranch in built the J621 paddle wheel bowl. John- Florence, 2019.

Old School Equipment:

Caterpillar’s J621 Paddle Wheel Scraper Buddy Escapule

I

Images courtesy of E&E Companies

n 2017, I took my father and sons to Casa Grande to examine a 1971 Caterpillar J621 paddle wheel scraper for sale. The machine was used at the Motoland MX Park to build the motocross track, then sat idle for several years. The J621 had three flat tires, dead batteries, and an empty fuel tank. So we put fresh batteries in the scraper, re-primed the fuel system, and

Sixty Six

September October 2021

Image courtesy of E&E Companies

the same rear axle design as the J621. The most significant upgrade from the J621 to the 623 was the hydraulic capacity, allowing for a flight motor giving it more loading power for efficiency with a wide range of hard materials. The 623 remained in production for two years, until replaced by the 623B in 1974.

I transported the newly acquired J621 to San Tan Valley to begin moving earth for my business, E&E Companies. As those who work with heavy equipment know, having a machine sit idle for long periods is not good. The Hatch Construction and Paving Inc. service sticker on its cab indicated the scraper was serviced regularly from the 1980s until 2002. I replaced the main front engine seal, rebuilt four hydraulic rams, and added four used tires. The 621 was finally ready for work after a few months of spending my weekends fixing minor issues and doing preventive maintenance.

In 2019, the J621 started its first project. 5D Mining and Construction had been awarded a contract with Pulte Homes to grade and pave a new phase of Parkside at Anthem at Merrill Ranch in Florence. 5D rented my machine to place and balance the subgrade material and final ABC grade.

It’s uncommon to see a machine almost 50 years old still working in the production side of construction, but the J621 still holds its own. I recently had the scraper hauled to Tombstone, where we’ll use it to plate roads by covering the rocky surfaces with sand and gravel, build a house pad, and level off an area for a barn and corrals. arizcc.com

Images courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: A Cat J621 scraper at Union Rock’s new pit at Hayden Road along the Salt River, 1971.

Top right: Cat J621 dealer brochure, 1965.

Right: A Johnson Bros. Cat J621 scraper on a grading and drainage project south of Tucson on I-19, 1970.

Bottom right: Cat J621 scraper operator Alex Popoff Jr. with supervisor Roy Huff (l-r) at Union Rock’s new pit at Hayden Road, 1971.

Arizona Contractor & Community

Gift a subscription &

Put a smile on Someone’s face

ALL THE GEAR YOU NEED Hercrentals.com Call for rates and reservations Gilbert: 480-507-1680 Phoenix: 602-269-5931 Peoria: 623-760-0631 Tucson: 520-573-1344

Subscribe today @arizcc.com

www.gentechusa.com

7901 N. 70th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85303 \ 800-625-8324 Sixty Eight

September October 2021

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

G

rowing up in Phoenix, I noticed some innovative architecture created by an unknown individual. Many years later, I learned about Mel Ensign, an architect associated with many Scottsdale schools during the 1950s. Aided by Walt Lockley’s previous research, I explored Ensign’s rich story that included committing his practice to exclusively Arizona locations.

Melverne “Mel” Coats Ensign, AIA, was born in Phoenix in 1913 to Philemon and Ora Ensign. Mel was the youngest of their three children. He graduated in 1931 from Phoenix Union High School and in 1934 from Phoenix Junior College (now Phoenix College). Like so many aspiring local architects, Ensign went west to receive his architectural degree from the University of Southern California in 1938.

He returned to Phoenix to work as a draftsman for Lescher and Mahoney from 1940-1941 and later became an instructor at Phoenix Technical School.

Melverne Coats Ensign: An Inventive Architecture Doug Sydnor, FAIA Doug_sydnor@outlook.com Ensign graduated from Harvard University with a Master in Architecture degree in 1946. While at Harvard, he received three national design awards, including the prestigious Rotch Architecture Traveling Scholarship. This prize allowed Ensign, accompanied by his wife, the former Ora Marquess, to travel and study in Europe for six months.

In 1947, Ensign became a draftsman for E. Harry Herrscher, a local architect and builder. Later that year, he received his Arizona architectural license.

Ensign became a design instructor at the Arizona State College Industrial Arts Department in the fall of 1948 and was promoted to an Assistant Professor the following spring. Old articles cite Ensign as the head of the school’s architectural division, but there are no records of him in Arizona State University’s architectural school history. This anomaly remains a mystery, as credit for the new school of architecture creation is given to James W. Elmore, FAIA. He arrived at the Arizona State College in the fall of 1949.

In 1949, Ensign formed his own firm and became an American Institute of Architects member in the early 1950s. He com-

pleted more than 60 educational, church, commercial and custom residential projects in Arizona from 1949-1978. These buildings were in Ash Fork, Casa Grande, Chinle, Flagstaff, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Poston, Salome, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Williams. Ensign passed away on January 15, 1996, and his wife, Ora, died in 2007. They had no children.

Ensign worked with the Scottsdale Unified School District during the 1950s.

He designed Tavan, Ingleside, Kachina, Tonalea, Pima, Supai, Navajo, and Mohave elementary schools and Arcadia and Scottsdale high schools. Most of these buildings have been demolished or been modernized, except for Navajo Elementary School at 4525 North Granite Reef Road, completed in 1960. In 2018, the school suffered fire damage that required the students to attend another facility temporarily. The district was already planning on constructing a new school. However, the neighborhood where many once attended Navajo Elementary or had children in the school generated support to retain and rehabilitate the existing school. The mid-century modern school design is a “finger plan” with classroom wings accessed through outdoor

Image courtesy of Scottsdale Historical Society

Images courtesy of Author

Above: Melverne Coats Ensign portrait, 1938.

Below: Scottsdale Presbyterian Church, 1960.

Below right: Navajo Elementary School in Scottsdale, 2021.

Bottom right: Navajo Elementary School in Scottsdale, 1960.

Architect’s Perspective:

seventy

September October 2021

Images courtesy of Author

Above: Arizona District Seventh Day Adventist Church in Phoenix, 2021.

Top right: Paul L. Johnson Jewelers Building in Phoenix, 2021.

Right: Ashbury United Methodist Chapel in Phoenix, 2021.

breezeways. Linear landscaped courtyards weave between the wings and are visible from the classrooms. These plans with pre-engineered building components are prototypical by nature and are adaptable to various site configurations.

Ensign designed numerous religious facilities throughout the Valley, including the Scottsdale Presbyterian Church at the northeast corner of Hayden and Osborn roads, completed in 1960. The well-maintained church is relatively unchanged and includes a 600-seat sanctuary anchoring the street corner and classroom and administration wings along the west and north edges. The U-shaped plan frames a private east side landscaped courtyard, not visible from the street, accessed by a pair of narrow outdoor passageways, which provide natural convective breezes. The building forms express their internal uses with a tall volume for the sanctuary and lower scaled wings that anchor the composition to the site. Exterior materials utilize lower natural stone walls and painted plaster walls, capped with the dramatically pitched and wood-framed roof with asphalt shingles.

An expressive and sculptural cross faces the street and introduces colored light to the interior.

At the base of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix is the dramatic Arizona District arizcc.com

Seventh Day Adventist Church at 5902 East Camelback Road, completed in 1963.

The round structure is 90 feet in diameter and framed with radiating and curved wood laminated beams set 21 feet high at its apex. The exterior perimeter features curved and angled cast-in-place concrete walls with a continuous walkway just inside them. Often described as a “flying saucer,” Ensign was emphatic that it was “spider-like.” Later additions include a classroom wing to the north with a folded-plate roof and continuous clerestories for daylighting, along with a large sanctuary with curved walls to the west.

Paul L. Johnson Jewelers opened at 1940 East Camelback Road in Phoenix in 1965. The two-story, 12,000 square-foot structure included a 4,000-sf jewelry store and, at the upper level, a lounge, jewelry repair, office, and design studio. The exterior is composed of concrete masonry slump block walls, full-height glazing, and a roof structure of an expressed cast-inplace concrete waffle slab. Accent materials include a tall wall of black volcanic rock popular at the time, and native stone.

A large sculptural sign composed of various-sized circular panels is provided at the street frontage for customers. The structure has since been adapted for new uses.

Perhaps Ensign’s most memorable creation is the Ashbury United Methodist Chapel at 1601 West Indian School Road, completed in 1967. This Phoenix landmark resembles a “cupcake” or “crown” and seats 74 people. Ensign explored ideas of “expansion, creation, evolution, and fulfill-

ment” in this architectural wonder but left it to the viewer to interpret his design intentions. The chapel does not feel church-like, even with the surrounding series of vertical stained-glass panels. Construction is most likely a framed structure with a painted plaster envelope.

Douglas B. Sydnor, FAIA, is Principal at Douglas Sydnor Architect + Associates, Inc. and the author of three Arizona architecture books.

Other Arizona Projects: • 1949 Mesa Baptist Church, Mesa • 1954 Tavan Elementary School, Phoenix • 1955 Central Assembly of God Church, Phoenix • 1958-1959 Arcadia High School, Phoenix (mostly demolished) • 1959 Pima Elementary School, Scottsdale (partially demolished) • 1959 Supai Elementary School, Scottsdale (demolished) • 1959 Mountain View Church of Christ (now Campbell Community Church), Phoenix • 1960-1961 Memorial Presbyterian Church (now Rehab Plus), Phoenix • 1963 Loma Linda Elementary School, Phoenix • 1963 Flagstaff Towers Multifamily, Flagstaff • 1971 First Church of Christ Church (now Lincoln Heights), Phoenix Arizona Contractor & Community

602-397-8173 611 N. Golden Key st. Gilbert, AZ 85233 www.WestraxMachinery.net

ZW220 by Hitachi Its Horsepower and maneuverability saves Dave’s construction service time and money in rough terrain

“I like the optional power button, great traction, and the rear camera!” says operator Terrin Yazzie about his favorite features on the ZW220 by Hitachi.

Marcel Gertis, Westrax Machinery general manager, and Tyler Buttrum with Dave’s Construction Service by one of two ZW220 Hitachi wheel loaders purchased by the firm.

SCHEDULE A DEMO TODAY!

SALES OR RENTALS AVAILABLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HITACHI LINE AT WESTRAX MACHINERY

602-397-8173

611 N. GOLDEN KEY ST. GILBERT, AZ 85233 WWW.WESTRAXMACHINERY.NET

Images courtesy of Vance Grubb

Digging Through the Archives: Vance Grubb III William Horner

A

ccording to Vance Grubb III, nothing tops a great job in construction except going into business for yourself. A superintendent for Sunland Asphalt, Grubb is leaving a promising career with the company to return to his home state of Wyoming this summer.

“I have hit a good stride in the construction world in Arizona and could make an excellent and lasting career down here,” Vance says. “But, instead, I’m moving with my family back to Wyoming to follow more in line with what my dad and grandpa did. It’s scary to leave a good career, but it’s way more exciting to be taking the chance on myself.”

seventy four

Vance and I connected through social media. However, when we met in person in the West Valley, we discovered we were both field operators sharing multiple generations of family involved in construction. While I was raised in the Valley, Vance grew up on the banks of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in southwestern Wyoming. “My grandparents owned Grubb’s Café and Motel, which sat just south of the Wyoming state line on the southwest corner of the intersection of State Highways 43 and 44 in Manila, Utah,” he says. “My dad spent his time running the family construction business, Grubb Construction Co.”

Top left: Vance Grubb Sr. (middle) with friends, mid 1930s.

Above: Vance Grubb Sr. running a Barber Greene paver in Afton, WY, 1956.

Bottom left: Vance Grubb Sr. on a Barber Greene laydown machine, 1957.

Vance recalls constantly being out with his dad and grandpa in the trucks and equipment as a kid. “Far back as I can remember, I would ride in the truck out to the job, jump on the dozer with grandpa, sitting on the armrest over the tracks, and watch as he worked. For better or worse, the love of equipment hasn’t been shaken out of me yet, and I don’t know that it will.”

His grandfather, Vance Louis Grubb Sr., was born in Roundup, Montana, to Frank and Mabel Grubb in 1925. Frank died when he was young, and Vance Sr. quit school after the 8th grade to work on the family farm. Aside from serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a submarine mechanic, he spent most of his young life cowboying in Wyoming and Montana. “My grandfather helped round up and haul the first wild horses out of Wyoming for adoption,” Vance says. “He did the same for the first 500 antelope shipped out of the state.”

“Growing up, I was always told he was one of the best “Cat skinners” in that part of the country,” Vance III says. “Cat skinner is an old construction term for bulldozer operators who could cut fine grade. Vance Sr. used his bulldozer skills to cut roads in Yellowstone National Park while pioneering and paving roads throughout Wyoming.”

Vance Sr. died in 2010.

“It’s no wonder he got my dad involved in construction as well,” Vance III says.

Vance Grubb Jr. started a construction firm in 1979 running equipment and trucks with September October 2021

a small batch plant for local jobs. “I would run the loader with him and/or one of D5 or D7 dozers. He also had a Caterpillar 140G blade he used to maintain dirt roads.” The company built many septic installations, and moved dirt in belly dump trucks for highway work and other types of projects.

When not working in the field, Vance Jr. assisted in the office.

While he was a licensed general engineering contractor, Vance Jr. opened a Contractor’s Exam Center in 1992. This was a facility where tradespeople could study for their contractor license, obtain bonds and insurance, and other items needed for their licenses and startup. “That business idea is what brought us down here to

Top left: Vance Grubb Sr. on steel wheel roller paving, 1957.

Top right: Vance Grubb Sr. (right) paving a road by the Call Aircraft Company in Afton, WY, 1956.

Above: The former Call Aircraft building, 2021.

wanting to run equipment and be the boss of a big road-building company,” he says. “I hit that goal at 34 and take a lot of pride at getting the “superintendent” title in such a big market as a younger guy in the industry.”

But now Vance III is pursuing other goals in Wyoming, having purchased an old Galion blade and dump truck for his new company. “I’ve hit every goal I’ve made for myself; I don’t intend on this being the one I miss,” he says. “I want my daughter and son to have the memories I did as a kid. My daughter has spent hours in a blade with me already, but now it’ll be ours.”

Image courtesy of Author

Below: Vance III (left) with Vance Jr. Below right: Vance Grubb III removing a tree toppled in a storm, 2021.

Arizona. My dad saw that it was going to blow up in Phoenix, and he was right,” Vance III says. The firm opened a branch in Las Vegas in 1997 and Reno in 2008.

As Vance III winds up his Sunland Asphalt construction career in Arizona, he reflects on the influences that led him into the industry and his accomplishments.

“When I wasn’t in school, I was working on the farm with horses or equipment or for side money to put in my pockets,” he says. “That’s when I started to realize that I enjoyed running equipment as a source of income. I’ve tried my hand welding, driving trucks, and a few other things. But, while I was good at those other jobs, I never cared for them as much as I did operating equipment.”

A career in construction has worked out for Vance III like it worked out for his dad and grandfather. “As a little kid, I remember

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Bid Results July- August 2021 Sonoqui Wash Trail Hawes Rd Crismon Nesbitt $2,216,066 7/1/21

(CMAR) Southside Public Safety Complex CORE Construction, Inc. $25,000,000 7/20/21

Mission Royale Community Facilities Blucor $2,782,661 8/3/21

North Frontage Road Avenue 10E DPE Construction Don Peterson Engineers $2,344,000 7/1/21

(CMAR) Martin Reservoir Improvements PCL Construction - AZ $22,000,000 7/20/21

(CMAR) 24th Street WTP Rehab 2021 PCL Construction - AZ $27,800,000 8/6/21

Chip Seal Fall FY 2021 2022 Earth Resources Corporation $1,174,821 7/8/21

Sunrise Boulevard Improvement Fann Contracting $1,463,102 7/22/21

(CMAR) Deer Valley WTP Rehabilitation McCarthy Building Co - AZ $32,000,000 8/6/21

Safford 20th Ave G C Rd (SAF-0-(207)A) Show Low Construction Inc. $4,406,873 7/9/21

Residential Streets Overlay TALIS Construction Corp. $3,876,782 7/22/21

(CMAR) Madison Park Middle School Chasse Building Team $37,000,000 8/6/21

75th Ave Water Line Cholla Thunderbird FPS Civil $2,494,780 7/13/21

Pinal Smith Rd Kortsen Rd (PPN-0-(218)T) Sunland Asphalt - AZ $2,370,770 7/23/21

McMicken Dam Rehabilitation Phase I Archer Western Walsh Contractors - AZ $22,379,929 8/10/21

FY22 PRPP SE Area Mill Pulverize Pave Sunland Asphalt - AZ $8,549,000 7/13/21

Cordes Jct Flagstaff Hwy (017-A-(259)T) William Charles Construction - AZ $7,998,372 7/23/21

59th AveLower Buckeye Rd Broadway Rd Haydon Building Corp. $2,703,760 8/10/21

(CMAR) Tres Rios Headworks Odor Control Hunter Contracting Co. $2,000,000 7/20/21

Goodyear Estrella Pebble (GDY-0-(214)T) CS Construction Inc. $1,816,942 7/23/21

FY21 Local Streets Package 6 Granite Construction - AZ $4,105,210 8/12/21

Trunkline IOI Rehabilitation Phases 1 3 CIPP SAK Construction - AZ $13,858,476 7/20/21

PMeridian Rd Combs Rd Cherrywood Dr DCS Contracting Inc. $4,590,000 8/3/21

(CMAR) Littleton Elementary School Alamar Chasse Building Team $20,000,000 8/13/21

Sep-Oct1986 M.M. Sundt/Kasler Corp.- JV $27.6 Million Northwest Outer Loop 101 4 Miles Glendale-Peoria JWJ Const. $3.3 Million 2 Freeway Overpasses Victory Drive and Apache Blvd The Tanner Cos. $1.1 Million Reconstruction U.S. 60/SR88 Apache Junction A.J. Gilbert Const. $1.1 Million 3.5 Miles/Resurfacing U.S. 60 Superior M.M. Sundt Const. $1.5 Million 9 Miles/Resurfacing I-10 East of Quartzsite Corn Const. $1.4 Million 8 Miles/Widening U.S. 180 Near Springerville Anderson Const. $1,354,223 2 Miles/New Irrigation System Papago Freeway 99th-83rd Aves

SPECIALTY COMPANIES GROUP

UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS

There Is Nothing We Can’t Do. There Is No Place We Won’t Go. Contact us anytime!

SPECIALTYCOMPANIESGROUP.COM

seventy six

623-582-2385

September October 2021

&3 CAT CAT

328DL L CR 321DL CR

73,000 lb 54,000 lb

Options: Thumb, Hammer, Wheel

CAT CAT

631E 627K

34 yd 24 yd

Trimble-GPS available for certain models

arizcc.com

Arizona Contractor & Community

Advertisers’ index PLEASE Patronize our advertisers, they make this publication possible!

A to Z Rentals 480-558-0063 a-zequipment.com

P. 45

Dynamic Diesel 602-376-1448 dynamicdieselrepair.com

P. 28

Matt Brown Trucking 602-361-2174 mattbrowntrucking.com

P. 32

Sharp Creek Contracting 602-437-3040 sharpcreek.com

P. 12

Allstate Rent a Fence 602-233-1433 allstatefenceaz.com

P. 61

E&E Companies 480-251-8929

P. 6

MDI Rock 602-569-8722 mdirock.com

P. 64

Sitech Southwest 602-691-7501 sitechsw.com

P. 28

Arizona Desert Sweeping 480-279-4433 azdesertsweeping.com

P. 13

ECCO Equipment 602-276-2040 eccoequipment.com

P. 22

Metro Engineering & Survey 623-466-6640 metroaz.net

P. 34

Solterra Materials 602-531-0454

P. 5

Arizona Materials 602-278-4444 arizonamaterials.com

P. 9

EES 480-809-4687 emergencyenv.com

P. 60

Metro Traffic Control 623-879-0610 metrotrafficcontrol.net

P. 6

Southwest Asphalt 480-730-1033 fisherind.com

P. 13

Arnold Machinery 801-972-4000 arnoldmachinery.com

P. 30

Elite Sports 602-899-9200 elitesportsbuilders.com

P. 20

Mundall Trucking 602-276-0699 mundalltrucking.com

P. 61

Specialty Companies Group P. 76 623-582-2385 specialtycompaniesgroup.com

Asphalt Busters 623-936-8800 asphaltbusters.com

P. 6

Empire Sales Center 520-582-2050 empirecat.com/eloy

P. 50

NCS 928-567-6585 networxcs.com

P. 18

Statewide T&T 602-368-8797

P. 4

Baja Ready Mix 602-503-9391 readymuxconcreteaz.com

P. 32

Fisher’s Tools 800-390-4063 fishertools.com

P. 6

NECA 602-263-0111 azneca.org

P. 24

Sunland Asphalt 602-323-2800 sunlandasphalt.com

P. 8

BidJudge 602-456-BIDZ bidjudge.com

P. 50

GenTech 800-625-8324 gentechusa.com

P. 68

New West Oil 602-759-5559 newwestoil.com

P. 4

Sunstate Equipment 602-437-3040 sharpcreek.com

P. 16

Bingham 623-850-6000 binghamequipment.com

P. 64

Herc Rentals 602-269-5931 hercrentals.com

P. 68

New Western Rentals 623-847-3594 newwesternrentals.com

P. 4

Superstition Trailers 602-415-0222 stlaz.com

P. 34

Branco Machinery 480-892-5657 brancomachinery.com

P. IFC

Insearch Corp 480-940-0100 insearchcorp.com

P. 65

Otto Trucking 480-641-3500 ottotrucking.com

P. 10

Trafficade 602-431-0911 trafficade.com

Buesing 602-233-3339 buesingcorp.com

P. 7

Insurica 602-273-1625 insurica.com

P. 9

Pacwest Rentals 480-832-0855 pacwesttrading.com

P. 49

TSR 602-253-3311 tsraz.com

P. 64

P. 12

JS Cole 602-633-0990 jscole.com

Preach Building Supply 602-944-4594 preachbuildingsupply.com

P. 55

Vermeer Southwest 480-785-4800 vermeersouthwest.com

P. IBC

Cams 602-331-5455 cams-az.com

P. 55

KE&G 520-748-0188 kegtus.com

P. 61

Reuter Fabrication 602-415-0449 reuterequipment.com

P. 11

West Valley Rock 623-386-8777 westvalleyrock.com

P. 11

CED 602-437-4200 cedphx.com

P. 22

Keystone Concrete 480-835-1579 keystoneconcretellc.com

P. 22

Road Machinery 800-898-7121 roadmachinery.com

P. 69

Westrax Machinery 800-411-4717 westraxmachinery.net

P. 72, 73

Cemex 602-416-2652 cemexusa.com

P. 38

Landco Power 480-788-1333 landcorental.com

P. 24

RT Underground 602-622-6789

P. 34

WillScot 800-782-1500 willscot.com

P. 38

Christy Signs 602-242-4488 christysigns.com

P. 8

Lang & Klain 480-534-4900 lang-klain.com

P. 15

S&S Paving 602-437-0818 sspaving.com

P. 65

Woudenberg Properties 480-620-8555 woudenbergprops.com

P. 3

Cliffco 602-442-6913 cliffcorepair.com

P. 3

Law Enforcement Specialists P. 32,34 623-825-6700 offdutypoliceofficers.com

Salt River Materials Group 480-850-5757 srmaterials.com

P. 51

DCS 480-732-9238 dcscontracting.com

P. 50

Lithotech 602-254-2427 lithotechaz.com

P. 13

Shanes Grading & Paving 602-992-2201 shanespaving.com

P. 18

Marrs Construction 602-282-4007 marrsconstruction.com

P. 26

Shanes Hauling 602-992-2201 shanespaving.com

P. 20

CalPortland 602-817-6929 calportland.com

Diamondback Materials P. 11 623-925-8966 diamonondbackmaterials.com

seventy eight

P. 77, BC

P. 18, 20, 22 & 24

For Advertising Inquires contact: Billy Horner 602-931-0069 Billy@arizcc.com

September October 2021

VERMEER VX50 VACUUM EXCAVATOR The VX50 series is a powerful and productive vacuum excavator, equipped with a 4-in suction hose and 1,025-cfm blower. It is extremely useful for production pothole applications and drill uid management.

Visit us at vermeersouthwest.com/vacuum-excavators/ to learn more!

GILBERT, AZ 480.785.4800 arizcc.com

TUCSON, AZ 520.574.3400

LAS VEGAS, NV 702.365.1144

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 505.345.8787

Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2021 Vermeer Sales Southwest, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

EL PASO, TX 915.213.1750 Arizona Contractor & Community

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #1662 Phoenix, AZ