Steel ErectorsAssociation ofAmerica Names 2023 Project of Year Winners

All Island Equipment 39 Jersey St. • West Babylon, NY 11704 631-643-2605 www.allislandequipment.com

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announced the winners of its 2023 Projects of the Year. Entries could be submitted in two categories — Structural and Miscellaneous Metals. There are four classes by erection contract size in the Structural category and two classes in Miscellaneous Metals. This year, there were no entries for Structural Class II.

Projects that were topped out in 2021 or 2022 were eligible and must have been completed without significant accident or injury. Submissions are reviewed and winners are selected by an independent panel of judges from an engineering firm not affiliated with the association.

“SEAA appreciates the time and expertise these volunteers contribute, which makes it possible to fairly judge these projects,” said Drew Heron, chairman of the awards committee.

“Several of the award-winning projects dealt with working during restricted hours, were challenged by limitations for crane placement, and exhibited creative use of tools and equipment to overcome those challenges,” said Bob Beckner, Project of the Year Awards Committee representative. In addition, each of these projects was completed safely while working in close proximity to the public.

Winners receive trophies, feature article coverage in Connector magazine, and the chance to participate in peer panel discussions at future SEAA Conventions and at AISC’s Steel Conference.

Structural Class IV (Over $2.5 Million) Colorado Convention Center Expansion

Derr & Gruenewald, Brighton, Colo., erected 9,000 tons of structural steel for a 200,000 sq. ft. expansion of the Colorado Convention Center. The expansion was on top of the northwest corner of the existing structure, which ultimately required an LR1300 crawler crane configured with optional derrick and suspended counterweight to be assembled and operated from the roof of the existing structure.

The existing structure consisted of joist and truss girders with 90 ft. wide bays supported by 36 in. diameter pipe columns. The columns were filled with concrete to support the new construction.

At each bay, the crawler crane was used to build a new floor above the existing roof, capable of supporting the crane itself. After completion of steel erection and slab placement of each bay in the crane path, the crane would roll onto the newly constructed bay and continue erecting adjacent bays.

Putting a crawler crane on the roof of the convention center wasn’t the only challenge the company faced. It also had very little room for unloading and shakeout. Located on the front range of Colorado, wind, snow and lightening were common causes for delay, plus work has to be scheduled around conventions that were being held in the adjacent space.

Miscellaneous Metals Class I (Contract Value Up to $500,000) Pergola Over Tulsa

Basden Steel Corp., Burleson, Texas, fabricated and erected a 100-ft.-long pergola on the second-floor terrace of a prominent downtown Tulsa building. The AESS Category 1 structure is made of white galvanized rolled 10-in. WF for the columns and arches, with 3-in. pipe infill and 10-in. HSS connecting the columns and bearing the center arches. Each arch is just over 18 ft. tall and 20 ft. wide. The AESS finish received a white paint over galvanized base and required multiple full pen welds.

The entire project was designed, fabricated and erected in less than four months. As the date for installation neared, the Basden team was faced with several surprises, including having to re-locate the crane and having restricted working hours requiring the crane to be removed every weekend.

“Mid-way through the second week, we got into a groove. Installation was complete in three weeks with an additional week for weld clean up, Bondo for AESS, and touch up painting,” said Austin Jones, contract administrator and field operations manager. 

Baschmann Services Inc. 1101 Maple Road • Elma, NY 14509 888-655-1101 www.baschmann.com

Chappell Tractor 454 Route 13 South • Milford, NH 03055 800-698-2640

251 Route 125 • Brentwood, NH 03833 800-616-5666

391 Loudon Rd. • Concord, NH 03301 800-358-6007 www.chappelltractor.com

Highway Equipment Company 615 State Route 33 • Millstone Township, NJ 08535 732-446-7600 www.highway-equipment.com

Westchester Tractor 60 International Blvd. • Brewster, NY 10509 845-278-7766 www.wtractor.com

Contractors Sales Company www.contractorssales.com

121 Karner Road Albany, NY 12212 518-456-1445 • 888-468-5479

1283 Dolsontown Road Middletown, NY 10940 845-956-0222

Chappell Tractor www.chappelltractor.com

454 Route 13 South Milford, NH 03055 603-673-2640

251 Route 125 Brentwood, NH 03833 800-616-5666

391 Loudon Road Concord, NH 03301 800-358-6007 www.georgeandswede.com

George & Swede Sales & Service Inc.

7155 Big Tree Road Pavilion, NY 14525 585-584-3425 • 800-724-8722

Link-Belt Mid-Atlantic Construction Equipment www.Link-BeltMidAtlantic.com Ashland, VA 866-955-6071

Chesapeake, VA 800-342-3248 Frederick, MD 833-546-5235 www.woodscrw.com

Wood’s CRW Corp.

7096 Carlisle Pike Carlisle, PA 17015 717-795-0700 www.heavymachinesinc.com

Heavy Machines, Inc.

159 North Avenue Skowhegan, ME 04976 888-875-3954 2401 Broadway, Building #3 South Portland, ME 04106 877-202-1275

ESSCO Truck & Equipment info@ESSCOequipment.com

20 Kinsey Place Staten Island, NY 10303 844-44-ESSCO

1300 New Jersey 33 Farmingdale, NJ 07727

Chadwick-BaRoss www.chadwick-baross.com

10 Fox Hollow Road Oxford, CT 06478 203-200-8637

67 McGuire Road South Windsor, CT 06074 860-761-0381 www.marshall-machinery.com 348 Bethel School Road Honesdale, PA 18431 570-729-7117

Marshall Machinery, Inc.

15 Katrina Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 978-479-1524

31 James P Murphy Ind. Hwy West Warwick, RI 02893 844-238-7673