Alabama #21, 2011

ALABAMA STATE EDITION

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72 Florence

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Huntsville

20 Decatur

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A Supplement to:

231

431

31

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Gadsden

78 59 Anniston

20

Birmingham Bessemer

82 Tuscaloosa

65 280

20 82 Auburn

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85

Selma

Phenix City

Montgomery

82

October 19 2011

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43 84 431 331

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Vol. XXIIV • No. 21

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Dothan

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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

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Mobile

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Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479

Landmark Vance Federal Building Undergoes Major Work

By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT Considered a local landmark and the backdrop for Birmingham, Ala.’s civil rights legal battles, the Robert S. Vance Federal Building and U.S. Federal Courthouse is undergoing a major repair and renovation that should be completed within the next 18 months.

Located on Fifth Avenue North downtown, the existing courthouse will maintain one historic district courtroom and three bankruptcy courtrooms.

The Christman Company is part of the Hoar Christman Joint Venture retained by the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide construction management.

Christman has managed detailed historic preservation work on more than 29 national landmarks, 60 other National Register buildings and two UNESCO world Heritage Sites.

“This experience allows our team to provide more detailed

The Robert S. Vance Federal Building and U.S. Federal Courthouse is undergoing a major repair and renovation that should be completed within the next 18 months.

input to preservation related costs during the planning and quality control issues related to procurement and implementation,” said Senior Vice President Ronald Staley. “The Vance Federal Building is typical of many monumental marble federal buildings constructed in the early 20th centu-

ry with a level of quality that projected an image of longevity and timeliness. The building frame and enclosure have been reused during its century of use for multiple needs. This most current rehabilitation will allow the building to be successfully used for another century without simply demolishing

it, sending it to a landfill and starting over with a less monumental structure.

“It took some time to fully understand the current condition of what we could not see, such as the old underground drainage and plumbing systems and the waterproofing system, “Staley continued. “Hidden from sight, these water containment systems have failed and understanding the failure was instrumental to designing the successful solution. The Hoar Christman team worked hand-inhand with the architect and GSA to provide investigative trades and uncover numerous hidden conditions which would have been changes once construction started.

This eliminates contingency expenditures by the owner and minimizes impact to the construction schedule.”

Protection of historic fabric is a key issue during construction. The Vance structure has extensive marble floors, wainscot and stairways that are all covered during construction.

“Inserting 21st century technology into a 20th century commercial building is one of the largest challenges,” Staley explained.

“Finding space while at the same time minimizing impact to historic fabric and achieving code compliance will require the construction and design team to work closely together. Our experience in historic buildings demonstrates that one inch space can be the difference between a planned piece of equipment fitting and not fitting; then becoming a significant discussion as to how best to resolve the problem.

“Having worked on these buildings for more than two decades, we have an extensive database of suppliers for the materials used in Vance. There are a few spaces which will be museum quality, such as the historic courtroom, and other new spaces which will be contemporary work space. The challenge is to make them all work as one.”

JCB Donates Equipment Use for Tornado Clean-Up Effort Heavy equipment manufacturer JCB has donated the use of various machines to assist with clean-up efforts in Alabama and Georgia following the violent storms that rocked the region on April 27, 2011.

According to JCB North America Chairman and CEO John Patterson, the company’s latest donations reflect its ongoing support of disaster relief efforts worldwide.

“As a global organization, JCB has assisted with relief efforts in a number of countries

over the years,” Patterson said. “The residents of Georgia and Alabama are JCB’s neighbors here in the United States, and upon learning of the devastation left behind by the terrible storms, we knew that we wanted to help them in any way we could.”

In these situations, the type of equipment that JCB manufactures is necessary to clear tree and building debris from roads and see JCB page 2

A JCB 3CX backhoe loader clears debris in Alabama.

see VANCE page 6

Page 2 • October 19, 2011 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Company’s Relief Efforts Part of Long History of Helping “The people here in Ringgold are my friends and neighbors, and they simply need my help. They need to be able to get to their home sites and salvage what’s left, and clearing debris is the least that I can do for them.”

David Mills David Mills Construction JCB from page 1

driveways so that recovery and rescue efforts can take place. After hearing of the widespread damage, JCB employees in Savannah and dealers in Georgia and Alabama devised plans to donate the use of heavy equipment to launch the long recovery process in the areas hardest hit by the powerful storms.

JCB’s Savannah Employees Step Up Spencer Howard, a member of JCB’s demonstration crew based at the North American headquarters in Savannah, Ga., came up with the idea to take a JCB New Generation 280 skid steer loader with fork, bucket and grapple attachments to Ringgold and begin clearing roadways. Howard ran the idea past Neil Smith, JCB’s events and demonstration manager, who fully agreed with his plan.

Howard became part of a volunteer crew that worked from daylight to dark, April 29 through May 1, using the JCB 280 skid steer’s speed and maneuverability to clear as much debris as possible.

“I have family in that area, and I felt like it was my responsibility to help out,” Howard said. “We saw houses torn from their slabs, an entire golf course development where none of the homes remained. The devastation, what those people are experiencing right now, was unbelievable. When I had to leave, people I didn’t even know hugged and thanked me.

That made the entire trip worthwhile.”

JCB of Alabama Lends a Helping Hand Peter Cunningham, JCB's district manager in Alabama and Florida, knew that it was important for JCB to step up in this time of crisis. Together with Mark Long, president and owner of JCB of Alabama, the two were able to secure a 3CX backhoe loader from JCB's Savannah headquarters to assist in the Alabama relief efforts.

The 3CX’s front end loader is perfect for debris collection, while the reach of its excavator end allows the unit to be used to extend over debris piles. The dealership received the backhoe on May 10, and municipal workers in surrounding communities have used it to continue clearing debris.

“We wanted to get machines where they were needed most,” Cunningham said. “By working with JCB of Alabama, we were able to immediately provide the use of a 3CX to the city of Dora for its recovery and clean-up process.”

Long knew that his dealership would step up in this time of crisis.

“In our line of work, it’s normal for us to receive calls for assistance when natural disasters take place,” Long explained. “As a company, we try to use whatever equipment we have in our yard to help out as quickly as possible. We were extremely grateful that JCB came to us with the idea of donating the use of a 3CX, because the more machines that we can offer to the local municipalities, the faster we can help the residents of those areas recover from this disaster.”

In addition to the city of Dora, JCB of Alabama donated the use of

Spencer Howard of JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah operates a JCB New Generation 280 skid steer to assist with clean-up efforts.

its equipment to the communities of Fultondale and Hueytown.

“While it’s very important for the larger metropolitan areas like Birmingham to receive assistance, we also wanted to ensure that smaller towns and cities are getting the help they need.”

JCB of Georgia Partners with Ringgold Area Contractor A dealership located right next door to JCB’s North American Headquarters in Savannah, JCB of Georgia also expressed its desire to help the victims of these violent storms.

“We knew we wanted to donate the use of a machine, but we needed to find a contractor who was willing to volunteer his time to operate it,” said Natalia Welch, marketing manager of JCB of Georgia. “That’s when we contacted David Mills.”

David Mills owns and operates David Mills Construction in Ringgold, Ga., building new homes and remodeling existing ones.

“I’ve purchased three backhoes from JCB in the past, so they know me,” Mills said. “When they contacted me about relief efforts, I’d been using my own equipment to try and help out, but the use of the donated 3CX backhoe has helped us remove even more debris in less time.”

Mills used the 3CX from JCB of Georgia to clean up and separate tree debris from building scrap material — a long and arduous process.

“The people here in Ringgold are my friends and neighbors, and they simply need my help,” Mills said. “They need to be able to get to their home sites and salvage what’s left, and clearing debris is the least that I can do for them.”

A Global Company With a Global Perspective JCB’s equipment donations in Georgia and Alabama are the latest in the company’s long history of philanthropic endeavors. In 2010, JCB sponsored the “Backhoe Across America” charity drive in an effort to raise funds for Haiti fol-

lowing its devastating earthquakes.

That same year, JCB donated $150,000 worth of equipment to Haiti for clean-up and relief efforts.

Also in 2010, JCB pledged assistance worth over $100,000 for rebuilding efforts in Chile after its disastrous earthquakes.

Other past donations include the gifting of six backhoe loaders and a team of operators following the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province in China. JCB also donated machines to help in the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami in 2004, with JCB diggers deployed to Thailand, southern India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

“Our global presence makes us acutely aware of the need to support our partners, friends and neighbors, wherever they may be,” Patterson explained. “It’s our hope that these donations will continue to make a positive impact upon the lives of those people who have been affected by these natural disasters.”

For more information, call 912/447-2000 or visit www.jcbna.com.

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • October 19, 2011 • Page 3

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Famed Civil Rights Locale to Get Significant Upgrades VANCE from page 1

Randall Curtis, vice president of Hoar Construction’s Government Division, explained, “We were awarded this contract in August 2009 by GSA. Hoar’s expertise in working in urban area, renovation of occupied facilities and knowledge of the Birmingham market were important pieces in our being selected for this project.”

Curtis said early work packages for the boiler replacement started in December 2010. The new boiler was completed and on line in May 2011 to allow for the shut down of the central steam piping system provided by Alabama Power.

Beginning in June 2011, the major renovation project began, and is scheduled to be complete in February 2013.

The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) with a focus on energy efficiency. The building will be LEED silver and have significant reductions in the energy usage. New HVAC equipment, lighting, electrical systems, etc. are being provided. A cistern is being installed to allow stored rainwater to be harvested and used for irrigation and flushing of toilets.

“This building has undergone many renovations and additions throughout its history,” said Curtis.

“We never know what we might find when we remove a wall or ceiling. Most of the building has a newer ceiling system installed in recent history and above that ceiling is an older plaster ceiling system with more unknown conditions covered above it. The building was originally built as a post office and we have discovered an old observation area built above the ceiling for postal inspectors to view the postal workers as they sorted the mail to make sure no mail was opened, stolen, etc.”

Quinn Evans Architects (QEA) is the architectural firm responsible for the renovation. According to architect Leora Mirvish, “We are a firm whose roots are in historic preservation. We were selected as a part of GSA’s Design Excellence program due to our extensive experience with public and civic building renovation projects.”

Mirvish believes the building is significant from a renovation standpoint.

“The Vance Courthouse was built starting around 1918 as the Federal building, courthouse and

post office to serve Birmingham.

Originally only two stories, it was expanded by two stories in the late 1930s. Until the 1980s, it was the only Federal courthouse in Birmingham. As such, it was at the center of a number of important Civil Rights cases in the 1950s and 60s. The building also was the main downtown post office until around 1971, and like many buildings of this type, it was a hub of activity in downtown Birmingham. In 1971, additional courtrooms replaced the post office. In the early 1980s, the Hugo Black Federal Courthouse was built across the street, and it today houses the majority of the Federal courtrooms, with the Vance Courthouse serving primarily the US Bankruptcy Court since 1991, as well as the local Senate offices and a number of other agencies.

“The layers of history in this building are readily seen in its current form. Particularly at the first floor, the building has been carved up into a rabbit warren of courtrooms, offices and corridors that really lacked a sense of civic presence. From a practical standpoint, the existing courtrooms lack modern security measures (like distinct circulation paths for the public and the judiciary) that are required in today’s world. In addition, the newer Hugo Black Courthouse has recently added additional courtrooms, so some of the functions in that building are to be relocated to Vance,” Mirvish explained.

Mirvish points out that today, Birmingham, like many cities across the country, is struggling to revitalize its downtown. As a building listed in the National Register of Historic Places and as part of the Downtown Historic District, the 174,000 sq. ft. (16,165 sq m) Vance Courthouse is one example of neo-classical federal architecture that can be recognized as a true civic presence. The old courthouse was named for federal appeals court Judge Robert S. Vance in 1990, one year after he was killed by a mail bomb at his home. Its restoration will be a cornerstone for the renaissance of this part of the city.

“After GSA commissioned an initial study in 2005, Quinn Evans was selected as the architect, but funding was not initially available.

Once that happened, QEA and our engineering team began the project by looking at the building and its

history—more than 900 historical drawings, historical photographs and a survey of the existing conditions. On the programming side, we conducted interviews with all the building tenants and reviewed various agency requirements to develop a space program and a building plan. Identifying important historical features, and whether to restore them or reinterpret them for the building’s current

Performance Building standards for energy efficiency, water usage and a number of other substantiality criteria.”

Subcontractor Bright Future Electric of Birmingham is currently handling electrical issues.

“We’re responsible for all electrical systems except security equipment and installation,” explained project manager Steve Jarrell. “That includes power dis-

Until the 1980s, the Vance Building was the only Federal courthouse in Birmingham. As such, it was at the center of a number of important Civil Rights cases in the 1950s and 60s. The building also was the main downtown post office until around 1971.

function was key to the development of the final design. In addition, because of the building’s historic status, we have worked with the Alabama State Historical Commission to ensure that the historic preservation work meets the accepted standards,” said Mirvish.

“The building functioned much differently when it was built than it needs to today,” Mirvish continued. “Building codes and standards have changed. Mechanical systems today are far more complex than they were in the 1920s. In this project, some of the greatest architectural challenges were providing accessibility to disabled members of the public, as well as to regular users of the building and incorporating contemporary security measures necessary to protect the federal judiciary — and doing so in a manner that would elevate the experience of those who will use the building, creating a pleasant environment with an appropriate level of decorum suitable for the courts. In addition, as an ARRAfunded project, it was a major goal of the project to meet modern High

tribution, light fixtures, lighting controls, fire alarm system, voice data wiring, audio-video systems and raceway for security.

Equipment being used includes conduit benders, threaders, wire pullers, ladders and scissor lifts.”

Added Jarrell, “There are several challenges to this building. The first is that the second floor was renovated a few years ago and will not be part of this project. The occupants are staying during construction. For us, that means having to maintain all services to the space during construction. All incoming utilities to the building are going to be new, so we have to keep the existing services functional until we can bring the new services online. During demolition of the remainder of the building, we have to ensure that the services that feed the second floor are not disturbed. You can only imagine how difficult it is to distinguish between these services and all of the other stuff that has been installed in the past 100 years or so.

“The general contractor is charged with protecting the parts of

the building with historic significant. Marble floors and walls and millwork around doors are covered for protection. Period light fixtures are to be removed and renovated for re-installation. Some areas of the building have grand arched ceilings that remain. Getting wiring to and through these areas will take thorough planning and careful execution to protect the finishes. Existing walls that remain are mostly masonry and have to be trenched to provide pathways for conduit. Floors on each level seem to have been installed in different eras and the construction methods are different for each. That means supporting raceways in ceiling spaces are going to be challenging.”

Jody Martin of RJ Mechanical explained, “We will be coordinating and installing the complete HVAC system for the building. It will be approximately a one-year project. We are installing a new heat recovery water chiller, dedicated outside air units, main air handling systems and duct distribution systems. Keeping the system in operation during construction will bring challenges to the project.”

Over the summer months, U.S. Bankruptcy Court and other offices began moving into nearby temporary office space to make way for the $38 million renovation. Bankruptcy courts, associated offices, the bankruptcy administrator office, as well as the offices of U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions have been temporarily relocated to the nearby Financial Center office building. The U.S. Probation Office will remain in the building on one floor that has already been renovated.

The project, which included design phase services and construction phase services was intended to transform the aging structure into a high-performance green building and, according to GSA, the goal has always been to provide a workplace incorporating sustainable design principles while maintaining the existing character of the building while also supporting the quality and life of the downtown neighborhood and its surroundings.

(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)

CEG

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • October 19, 2011 • Page 7

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Page 8 • October 19, 2011 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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