TEXAS STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
®
August 21 2016 Vol. I • No. 17
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Texas Connection • Dale Agnew, Carrollton, TX • 1-877-877-4997
Morgan’s Inspiration Island A $13 million project in San Antonio, Texas, will result in the world’s first ultra-accessible splash park, set to open in the spring of 2017. It is located next to 25-acre Morgan’s Wonderland, which opened in 2010 as the world’s first ultra-accessible theme park. “It’s hard to describe, it’s such a neat place,” said Bob McCullough, communications director of Morgan’s Wonderland. “Because of its success, we want to expand and offer a water-based experience. It can get pretty warm in Texas in the summertime, and we got a lot of comments from guests that it would be nice to have a place to go to for splashing and playing, so we’re now creating Morgan’s Inspiration Island, and it’s going to be located adjacent to Morgan’s Wonderland.” Morgan’s Wonderland is built in what at one time was a limestone quarry, and one of the holdover features of that quarry is an eight-acre lake, which has been incorporated into the park. Morgan’s Inspiration Island is immediately opposite Morgan’s Wonderland on the other shore, so it offers a beautiful panoramic view overlooking the lake toward Morgan’s Wonderland. “It will be tropically themed, and it will include one water ride and a number of tropically themed splash pads where folks with and without disabilities can get wet and have fun and really enjoy themselves,” McCullough said. “Since this is the world’s first splash park designed to accommodate individuals with physical and cognitive special needs, the challenge is to make sure that it’s ultra-accessible, i.e., a splashy place without barriers so everyone can have fun.” Featuring more than 25 wheelchair-accessible attractions including rides, playgrounds and gardens, Morgan’s Wonderland is the center of a family fun destination known as Wonderland, Texas. The destination also includes The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland, a school for students with special needs ages 12 to 24. Gordon Hartman, the driving force behind Morgan’s Wonderland, also is supervising construction of Morgan’s Inspiration Island, using the expertise he gained during many years of building homes in the Greater San Antonio area. He sold his homebuilding business in 2005 to devote his energies to helping those with special needs. His inspiration is his daughter, Morgan, 22, who has dealt with cognitive and physical issues all her life. Hartman describes himself as “a bricks and sticks guy,” and basically served as the general contractor for both parks. “Morgan’s Wonderland opened in the spring of 2010, and thus far has had approximately a million guests from all 50 states, and 65 other countries, so the word is definitely getBy Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Following ACS’s first training class in June, ironworkers (sitting on the steel training tower) are now working on job sites building a high school and community college in Katy and Missouri City, Texas, respectively. Also shown are operational excellence coordinators and ACS staff and instructors.
Texas Company to Provide Ironworker Training to Veterans morganswonderland.com/ photo
The dominant theme element in the park is a lighthouse towering 77 ft. 6 in. (23.6 m). Clustered around it are splash pads, a water ride, areas to sit and relax and snack areas.
ting out that this is a tremendous place for accessibility,” McCullough said. “We accommodate both those with and without special needs, and inclusion is the focal point of Morgan’s Wonderland; it will also be the focal point for Morgan’s Inspiration Island. Gordon’s premise is that you bring together those with and without disabilities in a fun atmosphere, and they learn about each other — they respect each other and come away with a better understanding of each other.” see SPLASH page 14
Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. (ACS) of Houston, Texas, has been approved by the Steel Erectors Association of America as a SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Training Unit and Assessment Site. The company, which opened its doors in April and recently became a member of SEAA, completed its first two training classes in June and July, providing 36 veterans with Level 1 ironworker training. ACS hires military veterans, trains them to become ironworkers, and contracts them out to local general contractor and steel erection contractor partners in the Gulf Coast region. ACS was founded by Nick Morgan, a commercial insurance agent, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and veteran of the Iraq War. “We are veterans, taking care of veterans for the purpose of retraining military personnel and supplying much needed qualified workers into the construction industry,” said Brittany Burton, marketing director of ACS and USMC Sgt. Initial training consists of an intensive 96-hour program, with classroom and hands-on training over a 12see VETS page 12
Page 2 • August 21, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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Gov. Abbott, Officials Break Ground on New Harbor Bridge Local, state, federal and port officials turned dirt in a symbolic start to the U.S. 181 Harbor Bridge Replacement Project that will result in the longest precast concrete cablestayed span in the United States and opening the Port of Corpus Christi to the largest ocean-going vessels. The six-lane structure with shoulders is scheduled to be complete in 2021 for about $930 million. Funding is being provided by local, state and federal sources and includes a 25-year maintenance agreement with the developer. “I would like to congratulate TxDOT, the city of Corpus Christi and the Port of Corpus Christi on this achievement,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “Today’s groundbreaking marks an important step in Texas’ goal of creating a 21st century infrastructure system that gives us an advantage on our global competitors. As one of the largest bridge projects in Texas history, the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge will lead to an expansion in commerce, ultimately creating more jobs and enhancing Texas’ standing as an economic powerhouse.” The governor was joined in the groundbreaking event by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold; Texas State Sen. Juan Hinojosa; Texas State Rep. Todd Hunter; Tryon Lewis, Texas Transportation
main towers will be 538 ft. (164 m) tall. Commission (TTC) chairman; and members walkway. of the TTC on the plaza of the Solomon Flatiron/Dragados was awarded the When completed, the Harbor Bridge will Ortiz Center under the current Harbor design and construction contract for the have the longest precast concrete cableBridge. replacement bridge. The bridge will have a stayed span in the United States. Using the “TxDOT is improving safety and connec- main span of 1,655 ft. (504 m) and will span precast option will keep the ship channel tivity in the area with a new bridge that is the entire width of the ship channel. Its two open to freight shipments while the new world-class in engineering and bridge is under construction. The design,” Lewis said. “TxDOT precast concrete structure also employees and their partners provides greater durability over have developed a project that is the existing steel structure in the an outstanding combination of corrosive coastal climate. When innovation, beauty and functionthe new bridge is completed, the ality.” older Harbor Bridge will be The planned bridge will prodemolished. vide a clearance of 205 ft. (62.5 In addition to the bridge conm) over the Corpus Christi Ship struction, the project includes Channel and replace the existing construction of a new intersteel-coated, six-lane bridge that change at I-37, U.S. 181 and SH lacks shoulders. With a clearance 286 (Crosstown); reconstruction of 138 ft. (42 m), the existing of about 1.6 mi. (2.6 km) of I-37; bridge, built in 1959, prevents reconstruction of about 1 mi. larger ships — including the (1.6 km) of SH 286; and demomuch larger ships passing lition of the existing bridge. through the newly-expanded For more information, visit Panama Canal — from accessing TxDOT.gov. (This story also can be the port. Hurricane evacuation found on Construction and safety is improved with the Equipment Guide’s website at addition of inside and outside shoulders, and the new design The six-lane structure with shoulders is scheduled to be com- www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) features a full-length pedestrian plete in 2021 for about $930 million.
TxDOT Begins Construction on New Eight Years Later... Galveston County Four-Lane Bridge on SH 71 in Bastrop Still Cleaning Up
Construction is starting on a new four-lane bridge on SH 71 over the SH 95 intersection that will replace the existing signalized intersection. The Texas Department of Transportation joined state Sen. Kirk Watson and officials with the city of Bastrop and Bastrop County at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. “The overpass at SH 95 and SH 71 will achieve the twin goals of reducing congestion and improving highway safety, eliminating a significant bottleneck for Bastrop County residents,” said Sen. Kirk Watson. “Removing the signals on SH 71 through Bastrop has been a goal for many years. I appreciate TxDOT’s prioritization of this project.” In addition to the overpass, new two-lane frontage roads also will be constructed in either direction. The $16.5 million project began in June and is expected to be complete in summer 2018. “This is a great day for Bastrop County. This intersection is the epicen-
ter of the commerce and industry of the county and we’re pleased to have this improvement coming here,” said Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape. “Relieving traffic congestion and improving safety is essential for our economy and our quality of life,” said Terry McCoy, Austin district engineer. “Because of support from the legisla-
ture and voter approval of Proposition 1, we had the funding to move this project forward sooner than later.” The project contractor is Hunter Industries LTD. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Officials break ground on overpass project in Bastrop, Texas.
From Hurricane Ike GALVESTON, Texas (AP) Almost eight years after Hurricane Ike, Galveston County is still dealing with damaged and abandoned property left behind. About 500 homes qualified for grant money to be removed under a community development program and a majority of the property owners have removed the hazardous structures. County spokeswoman Brittany Rainville told The Galveston County Daily News that of the remaining some 200 buildings, 34 have been taken down and Galveston County commissioners have now approved razing another 15. She says the tear-downs can take time to resolve such items as probate court and foreclosure proceedings. One demolition project was stalled to determine if the home being razed had any historical significance. Most of the homes or businesses still awaiting removal are in San Leon or on the Bolivar Peninsula. For more information, visit http://www.galvnews.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 5
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Big B Crane Calls on Terex HC 285 for Lifting Operation When a company sells its services and a project on schedule, that company must deliver. If the company fails to finish the project on time, this not only affects the current project, but it also jeopardizes the ability to secure future contracts. Recently Big B Crane and sister company Basden Steel Corporation, both of Burleson, Texas, teamed up with Deem Structural Services of Longview, Texas, to sell their services on schedule for a 290,000-sq. ft. (26,942 sq m), 2,100-ton (1,905 t) building expansion project for a leading global aerospace company. Basden Steel provided fasttrack design, assist and fabrication services for the contract, which began in May 2015 and closed just five months later. The full building project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2016. The contract included an extremely tight steel and building slab erection schedule for the two-story structure. Big B Crane provided the lifting services for the eight-week pick plan. “We had to complete 1,300 picks within a very short time period,” said Daniel Basden, president of Big B Crane, “and 120 picks included objects weighing 11,000 pounds or greater.” Ben McGregor, vice president of Basden Steel’s Oklahoma division, added, “We set a lofty goal of lifting 50 pieces a day to make the schedule.” The original plan to complete the project was to use two, 150-ton (136 t) capacity class cranes to lift the smaller pieces. When it came time to lift and position the heavy structural pieces, of which the heaviest weighed 12,500 lb. (5.7 t), then both cranes
would be used in a tandem lift. This would have posed somewhat of a challenge for Big B Crane to stay on schedule, since Basden Steel and Deem Structural’s crews had such a short window to complete the erection work. “You have to coordinate the swing radius when working with two cranes, so there is a lot of crane downtime,” said McGregor. “If a single crane can be used, this reduces the time for many of the picks, and it increases lifting safety.” This got Daniel Basden thinking about Big B Crane’s current fleet and the changing construction industry needs in the Texas and Oklahoma markets. “Concrete precast panels are getting bigger and heavier and steel is getting longer, so we were seeing a need for a higher capacity crawler crane than the two 250-ton class models we have in our fleet,” he said. Plus, those two cranes didn’t deliver the capacity needed on the building expansion project to eliminate the need for tandem lifts with the smaller cranes. HC 285 Crane Just Right Daniel Basden searched for a higher capacity crane to eliminate the need to use the two 150-ton (136 t) capacity cranes for the building expansion project. The original consideration was to jump to a 300-ton (272 t) class crane, but this came with a sobering discovery. “The jump to the 300-ton capacity comes with a significant additional capital investment,” he said. When Big B Crane representatives met with Terex Cranes distributor, Scott-Macon
Offering a maximum system length of 376 ft. (114.6 m), the Terex HC 285 lattice boom crawler crane comes with a maximum 103.5-ton (94 t) upper and 28-ton (25.4 t) car body counterweight package to offer a 285-ton (258.5 t) lift capacity at a 16ft. (4.9 m) radius.
For the project, full upper and car body counterweight was used, and Big B Crane equipped the machine with the full 100 ft. (30.5 m) 16 HL jib and 180 ft. (54.9 m) of main boom.
Equipment of Houston, Texas, and Terex representatives, there was a lot of discussion about the lifting company’s capacity needs for its market. All parties then started to look at a new 285-ton (259 t) capacity crane Terex recently introduced to the market. “The new HC 285 crane is a good inbetween crane that gives customers virtually the capacity of a 300-ton class crane but at a price similar to that of a smaller crawler crane, so a company can receive a high return on investment,” said Jim Strobush, senior product manager, crawler cranes for Terex Cranes, North America. Offering a maximum system length of 376 ft. (114.6 m), the Terex HC 285 lattice boom crawler crane comes with a maximum 103.5-ton (94 t) upper and 28-ton (25.4 t) car body counterweight package to offer a 285ton (258.5 t) lift capacity at a 16-ft. (4.9 m) radius. While the crane’s lift chart rivals that of 300-ton cranes, its compact carrier can be transported in a single load. “The base crane carrier measures less than 10.5 feet wide by 12 feet high, which enables it to be transported on a standard low-boy trailer, and the entire crane is designed with quick transportation in mind,” explained Strobush. Basden added, “Many 300-ton crane carriers ship in two pieces, which adds one
more load, another driver, additional set-up time and more expense.” Since Big B Crane’s equipment is often used by Basden Steel on high profile projects like the building expansion, McGregor noticed safety enhancements built into lifting equipment. “Safety requirements are high on our projects, and I see a lot of safety enhancements on the HC 285 crane,” he said. This includes a new tram fall protection system where the full length of boom is equipped with 20-in.-wide (50.8 cm) heavyduty non-slip aluminum walkways and a track-guided travel tram that offers singlepoint harness hookup for full-length access to the boom during assembly and disassembly. After analyzing all the capabilities and safety enhancements of the new Terex crawler crane, Big B Crane fast-tracked the crane order through Scott-Macon Equipment for the building expansion project. “Finishing the building expansion on schedule meant we needed that crane for the project,” said Basden. “Scott-Macon and Terex worked with us to get the crane to the job site when needed, and Scott-Macon’s service department has really taken care of see CRANE page 8
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 7
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One Crane More Efficient Than Two for Texas Project CRANE from page 6
our crane equipment needs over the years.” The HC 285 crane was shipped directly from the Terex Oklahoma City facility, which just happened to be less than 10 mi. (16 km) from the project site. It was immediately assembled and put to work. Ahead of Schedule The lift plan for Basden Steel included positioning and slowly moving the HC 285 crane down the center of the building to lift the steel, joists, decking and staircases to the left and right of center for the new two-story structure. For the project, full upper and car body counterweight was used, and Big B Crane equipped the machine with the full 100 ft. (30.5 m) 16 HL jib and 180 ft. (54.9 m) of main boom. “We averaged working at a 180-foot radius for the lifts,” said McGregor. Basden said, “The HC 285 has a phenomenal lift chart. There is no way we could have finished this project as efficiently as we did without this crane being on site.” McGregor mentioned there weren’t any significant challenges when it came to the individual lifts. The major hurdle was sticking to the extremely short lifting schedule, so the frame construction phase could be finished on time. “We planned to lift 50 pieces a day, and we started lifting three days behind schedule,” he said. “Three weeks into the lifting phase, we were 164 pieces, or three days, ahead of schedule by using the HC 285 crane. We finished hanging our last piece of steel about one week ahead of schedule.”
In about seven weeks, the trio of Big B Crane, Basden Steel and Deem Structural lifted and placed 2,100 tons of steel with the aid of the Big B Crane’s new Terex HC 285 crane. “The crane gave us the combination of excellent reach and capacity, exactly what was needed for this project,” said Basden. The week of October 19, Big B Crane’s crew began to disassemble the HC 285 crane to ship it to the company’s Burleson yard. “Move out was smooth and went as planned,” said McGregor. “Having the HC 285 crane at the project saved us the time and expense for demobilization of a second crane. Everything on this project went according to plan. I wish all our projects could go this smoothly.” About Big B Crane Big B Crane has a diverse line of modern crawler, truck and rough terrain cranes to assist a broad customer base ranging from the oil market to industrial to construction. Big B leases its equipment with or without NCCCO-Certified operators. About Terex Terex Corporation is a lifting and material handling solutions company reporting in five business segments: aerial work platforms, construction, cranes, material handling and port solutions and materials processing. Terex manufactures a broad range of equipment serving customers in various industries, including the construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, shipping, transportation, refining, energy, utility, quarrying
In about seven weeks, the trio of Big B Crane, Basden Steel and Deem Structural lifted and placed 2,100 tons (1,905 t) of steel with the aid of the Big B Crane’s new Terex HC 285 crane.
and mining industries. Terex offers financial products and services to assist in the acquisition of Terex equipment through Terex Financial Services. For more information, visit
www.terex.com and http://www.bigbcrane.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Charles Schwab Building New Campus in Westlake Gov. Greg Abbott announced that The Charles Schwab Corporation will be establishing a new regional campus in Westlake, Texas. Schwab’s new campus will include more than 500,000 sq. ft. (46,451.5 sq m) of commercial office space; $100 million in planned capital investment; and the creation of at least 1,200 new jobs over the next 10 years. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant offer of $6 million has been extended to Charles Schwab. The project will create the largest number of new jobs by a TEF grant recipient since the beginning of Abbott’s administration. “Texas remains the brightest beacon of free enterprise in the nation, and Charles Schwab’s decision to expand its operations in North Texas is yet another testament to the Lone Star State’s promising economic climate,” said Abbott. “By expanding their facilities, pouring millions into the Texas economy and creating more than a thousand new jobs, Charles Schwab is investing in the North Texas community and bringing more opportunities for our world-class workforce. I am proud this leader in the financial industry has chosen to expand in the Lone Star State.” “We’re excited to have this opportunity to expand our
presence in Texas, and we’ll be ramping up our recruiting efforts from among the great wealth of employee talent in and around Westlake,” said Dennis Howard, Schwab executive vice president. “Like Austin, where we already have approximately 1,500 employees, and El Paso where we are building our presence, the Dallas/Fort Worth area is an important location for Schwab to better serve our clients. We look forward to significantly expanding our footprint there over the coming years.” “Westlake is delighted that The Charles Schwab Corporation has selected us as the location of its new campus," said Westlake Mayor Laura Wheat. “Schwab has a long, strong and distinguished reputation in the financial services industry and joins other prestigious companies who call Westlake home. The Charles Schwab Corporation is certain to be an integral piece of the financial services cluster that is coming together in Westlake and along the State Highway 114 Corridor. We welcome Schwab to Westlake and feel very fortunate to count them as our newest corporate citizen.” “On behalf of Denton County, I am proud to welcome
Charles Schwab,” said Andy Eads, Denton County commissioner. “This is a vote of confidence that Denton County is the place to be for business. Our skilled workforce, improved transportation system, and overall quality of life is why so many businesses like Schwab have come to call Denton County their home.” Project Facts • The new corporate campus will anchor a large proposed mixed use development project in Westlake, Texas • Schwab portion will develop approximately 70 acres of land • 500,000 sq. ft. of commercial office space with structured parking • Total capital investment projected to be $100 million • 1,200 new jobs — the largest number of new jobs created by a TEF grant recipient during Abbott’s administration (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 9
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Industrial Interns Learning Work Skills in East Texas By Jimmy Isaac Longview news-JournaL
Longview, Texas (aP) Fresh from being laid off at Trinity rail Car Co., 25-year-old Chance Freeman needed a job to support his family of four plus one on the way and a dog. His search led him to workforce solutions east Texas for a Dynamic Futures job fair for young adults, and it's landed him in what he says is “basically a huge blessing.” The Longview news-Journal (http://bit.ly/2aJzwwH ) reported Freeman and nine other people are in a pilot Young adult Manufacturing/Construction Pre-apprentice Course. it’s made possible through the federal workforce innovation and opportunity act, signed by President Barack obama in 2014 and designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. over four weeks, participants learn to read blueprints and diagrams, how to become safety aware, about the principles, terminology and core values of manufacturing and construction industries, and more. They’re getting paid 40 hours a week during their internships, and after a month, they’ve qualified for eight certifications showing their training in forklift and scissor-lift use, competent person/fall protection, ladder safety, basic CPr/first aid, fire extinguishers and lock out/tag out, plus manufacturing/construction training and Dynamic Futures work readiness. “That takes you out of the big stack and into the small stack of applications as you get these certificates,” Freeman
said. The pre-apprenticeship course is made possible with involvement from several east Texas employers, including eastman Chemical Co., orgill, stemco, aaon Coil and Closure systems inc. other companies, such as Honeywell, showa Best, 3M, Majestic Corp. and air gas, donated supplies and gear to assist in the training. “it’s a joint effort in the community by workforce solutions, the employers and customers,'' said Teri Tims, workforce investment and opportunities act youth program coordinator. “The employers are getting good, solid, welltrained employees coming in that other entry level workers do not have coming into this industry.” Freeman graduated among the top seven of his 107-member class at Tatum High school seven years ago, but said he didn’t make the most of a full-ride college scholarship. He worked at several places, from food service to industrial services and data calculation, but nothing compares to the indepth training he’s getting through the pre-apprenticeship course. “i now see things i wouldn’t have paid attention to,” Freeman said. He’s most excited about the occupational safety and Health administration 30-hour construction industry outreach training he received through Core 1 founder and instructor David waters. over three weeks, waters will train them on scaffolding, forklift driving, confined space requirements and more. “He’s energetic, and keeps us on our toes. He cares about us, and he cares about safety. He takes this job seriously, and i'm just blessed to have him there,” Freeman said. Twenty-four-year-old shane Clark said he had never heard of occupational safety and Health administration
before the pre-apprenticeship. when he tells his friends about the course that’s training him for an industrial career, many of them hadn’t heard of it either, he said. Clark moved to Longview from grand Prairie, but he’s no stranger to east Texas. He left foster care at 18 and graduated from azleway Charter school in smith County. He attended Tyler Junior College but didn't complete his degree plan and later bounced from job to job. in July, his father encouraged him to attend a talent show hosted by the city of Longview’s Partners in Prevention. nakeisha Harris with Dynamic Futures was there handing out fliers about the pre-apprenticeship program, and Clark said he liked what he read and heard. “These are just the basic keys to the simple things you can make a living off of,” said Clark, who had never worked an industrial-type job. “even if i did finish [college], it probably wouldn’t help me out the way this course has.” The training is a more than $5,000 value to each participant — from the $12.13-per-hour wage to the $3,100 value of the four-week soft skills and work readiness training. There’s also a drug screen and background check included. Tims said it’s not settled when the next pre-apprenticeship program will begin, but there are plenty of available spots within the Dynamic Futures program. “as far as i see, you can’t go wrong with being a part of this program,” Freeman said. “if it wasn’t for these people, we wouldn’t have this opportunity.” For more information, visit ://www.news-journal.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Vets Receive Training, Enter Workforce Through ACS Program VETS from page 1
day period. This includes use of a training tower, which provides a real-world environment for lifting and placing steel, learning fall protection and prevention techniques, bolting, welding, and other tasks. aCs uses the seaa/nCCer ironworker curriculum. upon completion of the initial training period veterans immediately enter the workforce with enough skills to be a productive apprentice member of their ironworking crew. empire steel, Postel international and steelco are among the companies in the greater Houston area that have already hired aCs ironworkers for projects. “aCs’s mission aligns with seaa’s, which is focused on recruiting new individuals into the ironworking trade and providing them with training to become skilled and qualified for the job,” said Tim eldridge, craft training and assessment coordinator of seaa and president of education services unlimited. experts estimate that in the gulf Coast region thousands of ironworkers will be needed in the coming decade to fill open positions and meet construction demand. Choosing to hire veterans outright in order to provide them with the necessary training, aCs sub-contracts its ironworkers to area steel erec-
tors. Morgan took this unique approach because he believes one of the most important factors in re-integrating military personnel to civilian life is a steady paycheck. “Transitioning veterans thrive in team-oriented environments built on trust and empathy,” said Morgan. For more information, visit www.aCsTexas.com and www.seaa.net/Craft_Training. About Steel Erectors Association of America Founded in 1972, seaa is a national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its ironworker craft training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. For more information, visit www.seaa.net. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
A training tower provides real-world experience for learning ironworking skills in a safe, controlled environment.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 13
Page 14 • August 21, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Crews On Schedule for Accessible Splash Park Completion
morganswonderland.com/ photo
morganswonderland.com/ photo
Morgan’s Inspiration Island is immediately opposite Morgan’s Wonderland on the other shore, so it offers a beautiful panoramic view overlooking the lake toward Morgan’s Wonderland.
Just like Morgan’s Wonderland, every element will be wheelchair-accessible.
SPLASH from page 1
McCullough stated that negotiations are under way with a university to create special waterproof wheelchairs. “If a guest comes in their own wheelchair and it can’t be dampened or gotten wet or anything like that, we’ll have facilities for transferring these individuals into our own waterproof wheelchairs so there won’t be any damage done to their personal wheelchair,” he said. “We’re hoping to make some announcements along those lines a little bit later on this fall, but it’s not quite ready yet.” The dominant theme element in the park is a lighthouse towering 77 ft. 6 in. (23.6 m). Clustered around it are splash pads, a water ride, areas to sit and relax and snack areas. The River Boat Adventure ride will twist and turn more than an eighth of a mile through a jungle setting with bird and animal sounds in the background. Five water play areas — Hang 10 Harbor, Rainbow Reef, Shipwreck Island, Castaway Bay and Calypso Cove — will offer a variety of splashy elements such as raintrees, falls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets. Just like Morgan’s Wonderland, every element will be wheelchair-accessible. Waterproof wristbands with RFID technology will be available so parents can go to a location station and easily ascertain the whereabouts of their children and other members of their party. “This has never been done before, just like Morgan’s Wonderland had never been
done before,” McCullough explained. “Actually, the element, the design, the amenities — this is all done from brainstorming by parents of special needs individuals, by doctors, by therapists, — just a whole range of folks who have a great affinity for the special needs community, and they came up with lots of great ideas that were transformed into Morgan’s Wonderland, and the same process has gone on with the creation of Morgan’s Inspiration Island.” He noted that they have had lots of visitors from not only across the country but from around the world wanting to know how they did things. They willingly share information because they hope that other parks will be created across the country and the world that will be of benefit to individuals with special needs. The parks are nonprofit and anyone with a special need, whether it be physical or cognitive, gets in free of charge. Therefore, fundraising is ongoing, to contact generous individuals, companies, family foundations and other groups in order to raise the money necessary for operation and maintenance for the long term. According to Hartman, the splash park has been designed with water conservation in mind. Water used in the various play elements will be continuously filtered and recirculated, and it will be stored in huge underground tanks when the park is not in operation. Construction charity organization AGC
Charities Inc. partnered with local construction firms in March to help with the project. As part of the charitable organization’s annual Operation Opening Doors effort, many construction firms donated time, expertise and money. Calling themselves the Inspiration Island Working Group, the firms built five new pump houses; a new main building; and the signature lighthouse feature for the park. The volunteer contractors were organized by Linbeck Group and the AGC of San Antonio in association with the Associated General Contractors of America’s national
convention. Other firms involved included Joeris General Contractors; Guido Construction; F.A. Nunnelly Company; Cude Engineers; 8A Electric Inc.; and D Ash Construction Management. Key subcontractors on the project are SACC Inc. of San Antonio for underground excavations, White Water of Vancouver, Canada, for aquatic play elements, and Keith Zars of San Antonio for pools. Construction equipment currently in use at the three-acre site includes excavators, loaders and man lifts. see SPLASH page 16
morganswonderland.com/ photo
A $13 million project in San Antonio, Texas, will result in the world’s first ultraaccessible splash park, set to open in the spring of 2017.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 15
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Page 16 • August 21, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Morgan’s $13M Splash Park Will Be Ultra-Accessible SPLASH from page 14
Sizes for the attractions are: • Rainbow Reef — 4,976 sq. ft. (462.3 sq m) • Calypso Cove — 3,422 sq. ft. (318 sq m) • Hang Ten Harbor, 3,311 sq. ft. (307.6 sq m) • Shipwreck Island, 4,778 sq. ft. (444 sq m) • Castaway Bay, 6,123 sq. ft. (569 sq m) The River Boat Adventure river raft ride is
800 linear ft. (244 m). The walkways, layout area, and food courtyards cover 58,708 sq. ft. (5,454 sq m). (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG
morganswonderland.com/ photo
morganswonderland.com/ photo
The parks are nonprofit and anyone with a special need, whether it be physical or cognitive, gets in free of charge.
Morgan’s Wonderland is built in what at one time was a limestone quarry, and one of the holdover features of that quarry is an eight-acre lake, which has been incorporated into the park.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 17
Page 18 • August 21, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 21, 2016 • Page 19
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Page 20 • August 21, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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