Alabama 23, November 4, 2020

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Auburn University photo

The structure will ultimately include approximately 142,000 sq. ft. of conditioned space, with six above-grade levels and one below-grade level

As one of the largest single construction contracts in Auburn University’s history, the $110 million Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is expected to be a game changer in the field of hospitality education when it opens in 2021.

“Auburn has a long and proud history of offering a very differential hospitality management education that’s earned

it a reputation for excellence in all that it does with its undergraduate and graduate programs,” said Martin O’Neill, department head, nutrition, dietetics and hospitality management. “The new Rane Culinary Science Center will enable it further to raise the standard of hospitality education, not only nationally, but internationally. It will showcase the very best mix of theoretical and practical learning approaches, provid-

ing students with an unparalleled education.

“Serving as a living, breathing and very much commercial service learning laboratory, it will provide students with direct and first-hand customer engagement opportunities at the very top end of the lodging and food and beverage fields.

The ability to offer this myriad learning experiences provides

Mercedes Benz to Build $53.6M Electric Car Plant in Vance

see CULINARY page 10 see page 2

Page 2 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

PIRTEK Hoover Opens Doors in the Heart of Birmingham Birmingham, Ala.’s, Oxmoor Industrial Park is in the heart of the area’s metropolitan market and is home to a broad variety of businesses representing a cross-section of industries.

UPS and FedEx distribution facilities, a dairy plant, U.S. Army Reserve base and a Pepsi beverage bottling center are all located within a few miles of each other.

Steve Kampwerth chose this thriving industrial hub for the location of his new PIRTEK Hoover franchise because he realized what all of these diverse businesses had in common — a need for reliable hydraulic and industrial hose services.

Steve’s Service and Supply Center, located at 131 W Oxmoor Road, Suite 101 Birmingham, AL 35209, enjoys easy access to major transportation freeways. The center is within 5 minutes of I-65 and 15 minutes from the I-20/59 and I-459 bypass. Local access is afforded via Oxmoor Blvd and Lake Shore Parkway. This central location makes it easier for his mobile technicians to reach customers throughout Alabama very quickly.

The new location opened Aug. 31 as a Tier 1 business under PIRTEK’s franchise structure. This requires a franchisee to have a full service and supply center staffed with six team members and at least two mobile service vehicles.

PIRTEK’s Tier 2 option enables entrepreneurs to start a franchise at a lower point of entry. Under Tier 2, a franchisee can keep the inventory in a small warehouse or storage facility and lease two vehicles. While Tier 2 owners are expected to advance to a Tier 1 location in three years, they also have the option of bypassing this step to open as a Tier 1 model from the beginning as Kampwerth has done.

Kampwerth said that his service and supply center will provide support for larger hose requirements on-site in a 5,000 sq. ft. flex space, servicing not only hydraulic — but brake, air, and A/C hoses as well.

Kampwerth first became interested in PIRTEK USA in 2019, when he saw that the brand was recognized by Franchise Direct as a Top 100 Global Franchise. He had spent most of the past two decades operating an automotive parts and distribution company with locations throughout the state of Alabama and recognized a good business model when he saw one.

As he researched PIRTEK, he found more about the business that he liked, such as their business-to-business focus.

According to Kampwerth, “he’s always enjoyed assisting

other companies to reduce expenses and drive profits.” He PIRTEK Hoover. He hopes to expand, and open more servadded that a key part of this model is that it’s based on build- ice and supply centers in the area. This would enhance cusing sustainable relationships with customers. tomer service and help his technicians to maintain their comIn his previous line of work, Kampwerth worked closely mitment to 1-hour response times. Citing the traffic flow with local fleets and municipalities to provide solutions for challenges that are typical of any large city, he explained that maintaining and repairing their equipment. He learned the “operating multiple sites would allow faster on-site service.” importance of reducing equipment downtime and the longKampwerth is ready to give the Birmingham area quality term cost of cutting corners on maintenance. Kampwerth hydraulic and industrial hose service and said that he feels said that “PIRTEK’s focus on 1-hour response dramatically that “the market is anxious to leverage those services to reduces his customers’ equipment downtime when there is a reduce their operating costs,” as well. He plans on building problem.” He added that his technicians’ training and use of quality fittings & hoses — along with PIRTEK’s robust preventive maintenance plan not only fixes problems quickly but proactively solves and prevents future issues.

After gathering information about the brand and its franchise structure, Kampwerth was ready to become a franchisee. He attended PIRTEK’s Discovery Day at its corporate headquarters in March of 2020. While some may have reconsidered starting a new business just as country-wide quarantines were taking effect for the COVID-19 crisis, Kampwerth remained confident.

“Good business models may slow during economic downturns Steve’s Service and Supply Center is located at 131 W Oxmoor Road, Suite 101, but seldom fail if built on a strong Birmingham, AL 35209. platform,” he said. “The global pandemic has created interesting challenges for the manu- his business around mutually beneficial, long-lasting busifacturing, construction and equipment rental industries, but I ness relationships with his customers. never hesitated in my belief that the time was right to bring Kampwerth said a key part of maintaining these business PIRTEK’s business model to the Birmingham metro mar- relationships will be the integrity and character of his mobile ket.” service technicians. He said he is focused on hiring employAnother reason why Kampwerth believes that PIRTEK ees with strong technical backgrounds to ensure repairs are will remain successful is that its model is so unique. done quickly without cutting corners. He knows the impor“There are many competitors but few who can match the tance of “word of mouth” within the community, the effects package of goods and services provided by PIRTEK fran- that it has on reputation, and how it contributes to the continchises. What’s more, the brand has perfected this model in ued growth of a company. over 23 countries during the past 4 decades.”

For more information, visit Kampwerth has set his goals high for the future of https://pirtekusafranchise.com. 

Mercedes Benz to Build $53.6M Electric Car Plant in Vance Mercedes Benz US International (MBUSI) is expanding in Alabama, bringing with it a new facility at its Vance campus, as well as new jobs to aid in the production of electric cars.

MBUSI is partnering with Birmingham development company Graham & Company for the $53.6 million project.

“Graham & Company was selected as the project’s developer after MBUSI conducted a competitive bid process,” explained Henry Graham, vice president of the commercial development firm. “[Our] development and brokerage team worked together to secure the most ideal site to serve the growing needs of

MBUSI. That, and our experience developing buildings for MBUSI and its suppliers, gave MBUSI the comfort needed to award the job to our team.”

The new center will be built in the Tuscaloosa County portion of Vance, just off Will Walker Road.

MBUSI has been headquartered in Vance since 1997 and currently makes several lines of Mercedes Benz vehicles on almost 1,000 acres. The plant size is more than six million square feet.

The MBUSI facility will serve as a distribution and sequencing center for electric vehicle parts and components needed for

MBUSI’s assembly line.

According to Graham, the newest Mercedes Benz location in Alabama will be a cross-docked Class A industrial building of concrete tilt-wall construction. It also will be fully air-conditioned and have parking for more than 250 tractor trailers.

Located on 53 acres of land, the facility will encompass 530,000 sq. ft.

Looking at the project from an employment standpoint, the new center will create 373 new jobs in the area, according to figures supplied by MBUSI to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority (TCIDA).

The Mercedes Benz expansion also will directly serve the forthcoming production of electric vehicles at the Vance Plant.

“The introduction of electric vehicles to the assembly line should be a catalyst to the already tight industrial real estate market in and around the greater Tuscaloosa and Birmingham markets,” Graham explained.

He also said the new facility has a construction completion date of November 2021 and will be fully online in 2022.

“We’re excited for this fresh development and are looking forward to seeing all MBUSI has to offer in Alabama.” 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 4, 2020 • Page 3

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Page 4 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Torrential rain on Easter Sunday washed out a 100-ft. long and 30-ft. deep section of Mandy Williams Road in District 4 of Walker County, leaving local and state officials scrambling to help residents who lived in the area.

ALDOT approved a purchasing request for three, 96-in. pipes and confirmed the next day that the pipes were already en route to the location.

ALDOT Conducts Recovery for Washed Away Roadway

By Mary Yamin-Garone CEG CORRESPONDENT

Due to quick action by the Alabama Department of Transportation, what could have been a major disaster was avoided when two lines of a 96-in. diameter corrugated metal pipe failed.

Torrential rain on Easter Sunday washed out a 100-ft. long and 30-ft. deep section of Mandy Williams Road in District 4 of Walker County, leaving local and state officials scrambling to help residents who lived in the area.

District 4 Walker County Commissioner Steven Anderholt said the washed-out section of roadway, located off Campbellville Road near Sipsey, affected around a dozen families. He contacted Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed and State Rep. Connie Cooner Rowe for assistance from the Alabama Department of Transportation.

A helicopter from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was flown to the area to conduct a door-to-door check on residents. One of the stranded residents was an 88year-old cancer patient who needed medical attention.

“We wanted to be sure that everyone was fine and there wasn’t another way to get in touch with everyone,” Anderholt said.

Rowe was surprised by the size of the washed-out area.

“I drove out to take a look at it. It’s impressive,” she said.

“I stood on one side looking over at members of the families stranded on the other side. The water line went with the road during the washout and they were connecting a temporary water line while I was there. By they, I mean the water board being helped by people in the community and notably, one gentleman’s Bobcat.”

According to Rowe, ALDOT approved a purchasing request for three, 96-in. pipes and confirmed the next day that the pipes were already en route to the location.

“I appreciate ALDOT’s willingness to help us out. They were concerned and considerate of our circumstances. I’m grateful for the relationship our community has with this

state agency. The first thing they asked for was an assessment from our county engineer, Mike Short. They know him and have confidence in his work. Those relationships are beneficial for us in times like these. This is the fastest commitment I’ve ever secured from ALDOT.” The project, completed by 20 ALDOT employees from the Hamilton District crew in three days, included: • Mobilizing 12 dump trucks, three excavators, two dozers, 53-ft. lowboy, mechanic service truck, a Cat skid steer and two fuel trucks shuttling fuel for the haulers; • Dump trucks averaged 1,200 mi. per day hauling rock; • 400 linear ft. of 72-in. corrugated metal pipe was placed, banded and backfilled; • 4,800 cu. yds. of unclassified excavation were moved in

1.5 days; • 3,900 tons of rock was hauled and placed in 1.5 days; • 475 cu. yds. of muck excavation was removed; • A 100 by 90 by 4-ft. stone foundation was placed for the pipe; and • Providing ingress and egress for residents who were left without access.

The Hamilton District prepared a preliminary plan involving logistics, material availability, crew needs, required equipment, fuel availability and a site visit where rough estimates could be generated for a job completion timeline and approximate cost. see ROADWAY page 8

Unlike any other project ALDOT had been tasked with, this one had to be surveyed and laid out as workers were doing it. As a result, there was little room for error.

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 4, 2020 • Page 5

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Page 6 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 4, 2020 • Page 7

Page 8 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Crews Deliver 400 Ft. of Pipes for Emergency Repairs ROADWAY from page 4

The project was completed by 20 ALDOT employees from the Hamilton District crew in three days.

All Hands On Deck Unlike any other project ALDOT had been tasked with, this one had to be surveyed and laid out as workers were doing it. As a result, there was little room for error.

The permit coordinator coordinated the trucks. Upon arrival with the materials, they were directed to the stockpile or dump site. She also assisted in the logistics of delivering the 400-ft. of pipe.

The road map coordinator assisted in the pipe logistics with the permit coordinator and was responsible for shuttling the fuel trucks throughout the day. A fueling site was mobilized on the job for the equipment and dump trucks to maximize time.

The district administrator operated a John Deere 700 dozer, Volvo 140 excavator, lowboy, dump truck, and skid steer, as needed.

Most of the unclassified excavation had been moved in three days and cleaning out the flowline of the running creek had begun. Workers encountered a glitch with the flowline due to there not being a solid bottom to the creek. Because pipe can’t be laid on unsuitable material, the plan had to be adjusted and a rock floor for the foundation constructed. As a result, work was set back almost half a day due to having to excavate muck then backfill with riprap to bridge over the area. The operators persevered and by late that evening, the enormous task of laying the desired 400 linear ft. of 72-in. pipe began. Each pipe had to be individually transported and placed into the 100 by 80 by 30-ft. deep void before being banded by hand. By late afternoon, more than half of the pipe had been placed and backfilled.

Officials forecasted that the first car could cross the area the next day. They still had to place 100 ft. of the 72-in. pipe and fill the immense void to the other side. To expedite the stone fill, the crew had been stockpiling near the site since for two days. That afternoon, the district was able to place 2,500 tons of rock for the crossing. By end of day, the entire district staff had been responsible for getting the first vehicle across.  CEG

Huntsville’s Zierdt Road Project Expected to Be Finished in 2021 A recent social media post from a resident of the Edgewater community off Zierdt Road at Lady Anne Lake in Huntsville, Ala., said, “Things That Have No End: The universe, numbers, Pi and Zierdt Road construction.”

Without a doubt, for those living during the now decade-long project, it must seem like a black hole.

But the good news is that with the lane shift from the southbound lanes to the northbound lanes on Zierdt Road in early September, motorists are now traversing the new Zierdt Road — marking Phase IV and the beginning of the end of the $25 million road project.

Dothan, Ala.,-based Wiregrass Construction Co. Inc. is the general contractor working to finish up the much-anticipated project.

There has been a lot of frustration about the enterprise because in 2010 it began as a

$7 million widening project at the intersection of Madison Boulevard and Zierdt Road.

Since there wasn’t a lot of funding at the time and the 563-acre Town Madison and Toyota Field were not on anyone’s radar, the original plan consisted of a four-phased approach to widening the 3.5-mi. stretch from Madison Boulevard to Martin Road outside Redstone Arsenal Gate 7 from two lanes to four.

Each of the four phases were estimated to take two to four years to complete.

Then, in April 2017, public input sessions resulted in the addition of a pedestrian and bike path. The 12-ft.-wide multiuse path was added on the west side, changing the scope of work significantly and increasing the budget to $25 million.

As messy as it may seem, this current phase of Zierdt Road includes new drainage, curb, subgrade, paving and the multiuse path for the remainder of the project’s duration.

The final phase of improvements also will consist of two southbound lanes, seven lanes at the intersection of Martin and Zierdt roads, and six lanes at the intersection of Madison Boulevard and Zierdt Road.

While the project has had its share of hiccups due to fluctuations in funding, according to the city of Huntsville, it has been able to make up some time during the pandemic due to the significantly decreased traffic flow.

For residents, the hindrance has been complete but, for the construction crews, residential traffic has been a hindrance.

Although it is only 3½ mi. long, Zierdt could not be shut down entirely because of the significant residential population along that stretch of road.

As Kelly Schrimsher, communications director at the city of Huntsville, pointed out, it is significantly more difficult to reconstruct a road when it is in use.

“When you build a new road, you keep it closed until it is finished and passable,” she said. “Or if you look at the road construction off Research Park Boulevard, that work seems to move along without much traffic disruption because they are widening it from the center median and traffic is unaffected.

“Zierdt was always a heavily traveled two-lane road with access to Redstone Arsenal Gate 7, access to the airport, a lot of residential communities, and now Town Madison with the new Toyota Field, which was not a consideration when the project was initiated.”

All residents of the neighborhoods on Mountainbrook, Edgewater and Nature’s Way can see, however, is the demolition and reconstruction of the original southbound lanes that were the main access into those apartment complexes and communities.

But regardless of how it looks, city engineers promise the end is near and it will be

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 4, 2020 • Page 9

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Page 10 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

New Culinary Center Will Be Global Center for Hospitality CULINARY from page 1

subsequent concept development discussions. This is critical, given the fact that our ultimate goal is to place our students with these very fine individuals. Chef Frank Stitt and others pointed to a real dearth of educational opportunity both in-state and further afield, and worked very closely with us to inform our thinking around the new Center.

The structure includes approximately 142,000 sq. ft. of conditioned space, with six above-grade levels and one belowgrade level. According to Matt Jackson, senior project manager, Hoar Program Cooper Carry (Architect of Record) rendering Management (HPM), the main challenge As one of the largest single construction contracts in Auburn University’s to this project is its complexity of pro- history, the $110 million Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is gram types, and the level of a detail expected to be a game changer in the field of hospitality education when it opens in 2021. required to execute it.

“There is no other facility in the world that has combined a world-class culinary school with a five- ber and steel, with plenty of curtain wall to provide views of diamond hotel. It will be the premier culinary and hospitality College Street and the event lawn. Each vendor station will facility in the country when it opens. As such, the complex- have its own unique feel, with a mixture of various tile, wood ity of the systems and finishes inside are just as world-class.” and other finishes, according to Jackson.

Jackson said crews have encountered the typical summer Currently under way is the basement under slab rough-in, basement exterior structural walls and interior basement in the south weather pattern.

“Strong rain every other day, usually, so it slows down the structure for elevators and the storm shelter. Site work/basebasement construction, especially causing delays on any ment excavation is finished, and drilled pier foundations are complete. Key tasks such as structure vertical construction, open trenches for foundations or underslab MEP. A tempointerior MEP systems, interior build-out and the building rary dewatering system, though, has helped get rain out of the basement in a timely manner.” envelope remain.

Site prep is mostly complete, with new sanitary and storm Jackson said complexity of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems is a chief concern when building a culi- force main systems ongoing. Shoring/piles had to be installed in order to enable the basement excavation. Large nary science center.

“This is already a challenge in most buildings where steel piles were hammered into the ground, then excavation above-ceiling space is limited, but even more so on a build- began and wood lagging was used to retain the soil.

“Once at a certain depth, tie-backs were drilled into the ing with such complex MEP requirements. We are using BIM to help coordinate much of this on the front end, and shoring system that help pin the shoring back as well, to ensure fitment prior to install, so as to not incur delays in the counter any bending or loading from the adjacent soil,” said Jackson. “This process was time-consuming, but eventually field.”

The restaurant will be a premier venue with excellent vis- the excavation was complete and enabled the basement structure to begin. I believe it was approximately 26 feet ibility of College Street and Samford Hall.

It will feature high-end architectural millwork, finishes, deep at its deepest corner.”

A variety of heavy machinery is being used on the project. curtain wall, an open kitchen and a bar. It is also open up to level two, and is visible from the Wine Appreciation Center. Soil Mec SR-45 was the drilling rig required to drill piers.

It will also feature custom lighting meant to mimic the Komatsu PC88MR mini-excavators are being utilized for under slab trenching for plumbing and electrical piping. branches of the Toomer’s Oaks.

The food hall will be constructed of cross-laminated-tim- Komatsu PC360LCs were used for the majority of excavation and utility work. A Komatsu HM400 off-road dump truck was used to shuttle dirt around the site.

In addition, an American 525 crawler crane was used to drive piles, while a power crane helped move material around the property.

The complete building envelope system will be the most tedious part of construction.

“It is very complex in all the different scopes,” said Jackson, “everything from standard framing and sheathing, to steel supports for the precast, then brick, precast, curtain wall, storefront, and the several different roofing types, including a green roof.”

Bailey Harris Construction of Auburn, Ala., serves as the general contractor.

“They are a good fit because of their long history of building on campus and long relationship with the university,” Auburn University photo Auburn University photo said Jackson. “They are local, and take pride in building a A variety of heavy machinery is being used on the proj- Site prep is mostly complete, with new sanitary and premier facility in their hometown.”  CEG ect, including a Soil Mec SR-45 to drill piers. storm force main systems ongoing. a real opportunity to elevate the student experience, and ensure they are truly ready for the world of work upon placement.”

The 142,000-sq. ft. facility will serve the educational needs of students by offering a differential learning environment where they can sharpen their craft to benefit the public at large post-graduation.

“It will also serve the workforce development needs of the state’s burgeoning hospitality and tourism industries, by offering a variety of training and professional development programs for industry professionals,” said O’Neill. “It will serve the needs of the local community through daily service provision at the many food service outlets that will be open to the local community and through a variety of short food and beverage oriented programs that will be available in an outreach sense. These might include wine tasting, food and wine pairing, cooking classes and cooking demonstrations.”

O’Neill said the reaction among students is extremely positive.

“The Center offers students the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of hands-on learning opportunities as an extension of their theory-driven classes. These include food production and service in the 1856 Training Restaurant, beverage education through the wine and distilled spirits educational laboratories, the onsite micro-brewery, the artisanal focused food hall and business incubator and our ultra-luxury hotel and spa and rooftop event venue.

“It affords almost limitless real-world learning opportunities for students and practicing industry professionals. Our goal has always been differential job placement, and the new Rane Culinary Science Center will certainly aid in this quest.”

O’Neill said the project will stand out as a global center for food and hospitality in the South.

“Nothing else exists like it, regionally or nationally. Most programs are forced to rely upon industry placements to ensure their students have the appropriate amount of workbased learning upon graduation. And unless you have inhouse lodging or food and beverage facilities, you are forced to go the internship route. Students will have customer facing laboratory classes factored into the vast majority of their classes during their time at Auburn. This will prepare them better for both their required internship and their first job placement.

“Industry professionals are very impressed with the concept, and the fact that they were consulted during initial and

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 4, 2020 • Page 11

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Page 12 • November 4, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide