CDI
Commercial Brywall, Inc.
Craftsman
Volume 2, No. 8
June 1981
IH-story Allied Bank Plaza
ODD gsfts contract ©n city’s ss©©oid tallest building CDI has been named the interior contractor for downtown Houston’s newest skyscraper, the Allied Bank Plaza, a 71-story building underway by Century Development Corporation. Allied Bank Plaza will be the city’s second tallest building at 970 feet, just under the 1,002 feet of the 75-story Texas Commerce Tower, also currently under construction. The Allied Bank Plaza will cost in excess of $200 million. With some two million square feet of space costing more than $100 per square foot, it will be the most expensive building constructed in Houston to date. Allied Bank will be the major tenant in the building which is scheduled for completion in 1983, with initial occupancy to begin late in 1982. It will rise in the former
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i i The twin quarter cylinder Allied Bank Plaza will rise 970 feet above the ground making it the second tallest building in Houston.
The 71-story Allied Bank Plaza is shown superimposed on the Houston skyline. A project for Miner-Turner and Century Development, the building is expected to be completed in 1983.
location of the Memorial Professional building, a block bounded in downtown Houston by Louisiana, Lamar, Smith and McKinney Streets. The building’s exterior will feature a distinctive semi-curved tower created by joining two quarter cylinder shafts. It will be sheathed in blue/green reflective glass with dark aluminum horizontal mullions and polished vertical mullions. Designed by a team of leading architectural firms, including Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and Lloyd, Jones and Brewer & Assocs., the Allied Bank tower will incorporate a high degree of energy efficiency in reflective dual pane curtain walls and a micro processor system that will control air conditioning and lighting. According to CDI’s conceptual estimator, Bob Pigg, the building will house other interesting design features including two "sky lobbies,” in addition to the mezzanine level lobby. These lobbies will be served by express elevator cars and will function as points of departure for elevators serving individual floors on thq upper levels of the building.
CDI will serve as the interior sub contractor under Miner-Turner Construction Co., a joint venture of Miner-Dederick and Turner Construction companies. For CDI, Allied Bank Plaza is the result of weekly meetings that began back in August 1979. In these meetings, the actual specifications for the construction of the building were decided upon. "This is the first project of this magnitude in which CDI played such a role in the design of the interior", says Bob. "They gave us the floor plan, we gave them the wall types.” Under the contract, CDI will handle the drywall and finishing of all the core walls. Activity is scheduled to get underway in July, with completion of the building sometime early in 1983. The Allied Bank Plaza is one of several CDI projects for Century Development, one of the largest commercial developers in the South. Previous activity for Century has included virtually all of Greenway Plaza and Allen Center, and also includes Greenway I and II.
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Steak dimers = What they're all] about By Larry Williams In recent months, CDI has hosted several steak dinners for various office and field employees. In doing so, the company, in all likelihood, has fed the majority of its employees, plus their spouses or dates. After doing this for the past several months, it may be appropriate to reflect on why the company does it and how it all comes about. First, it would be nice to say that CDI has plenty of money and can afford to let go with a few bucks to take its employees out to dinner. But, that’s not entirely the case. Yes, CDI is a strong company — strong financially. But, it has achieved this status on its ability to never lose sight of its most important asset — its people. Construction workers today are too often a used-up resource, much like petroleum is getting to be in the
United States. Companies across the country get what they can out of their employees and put little back into them, except the paycheck on Friday. The steak dinners are set up under what has developed into a fairly elaborate system in which jobs or work groups must accumulate a certain number of points. To earn these points, the crews must beat the budget established for their jobs a sufficient number of times. CDI does not stipulate how much the budget must be beaten, only that it be beaten. When a job has accomplished this, every employee on that job, plus his or her date or spouse receives a steak dinner compliments of CDI. The dinner, then, is essentially a reward, a thank you for doing a good job. Such a thank you can come in
CD/'s budget beaters program of steak dinners has been in effect for several months now. During this time, craftsmen such as Bill Schaefer and Steve Hunter (shown above), plus spouses have evidently enjoyed these eyenings out.
many forms; CDI prefers to give it jn the form of an evening out for its * employees to enjoy. And, because the company realizes that none of us can get through life without someone else to lean on occasionally, wives, husbands, and dates are invited along too. They deserve to help you celebrate what you have earned. In conclusion, then. CDI wants you to know that it does not hold these dinners simply because it has the money. Nor are they held for the sheer fun of it. Rather, they have a sincere purpose. That being to show thanks to those who are a part of them, and who help make them happen. Some CDI’ers might prefer money instead of the dinner. But, CDI feels that everyone within the Company earns a decent wage. And that few extra bucks wouldn’t go far anyway. It would be spent without ever knowing where it went. The steak dinner offers a lot more than what money alone can buy. It provides a meal, a chance to go out for the evening, a chance to be with someone you care for, and an opportunity to feel good about what you do and those with whom you do it. The dinners, and in many cases, the drinks that we sometimes have along with them, stay with us just a little longer. (In the case of the drinks, perhaps a little longer than we care for!) But, it’s worth it to the company, and hopefully for everyone else, too.
CDI
Craftsman
South team Mins league
Editor: Larry Williams
CDI’s South softball team captured first place in its league competition. Led by finishing supervisor Mike O’Brien and laborer Matthew Fields, the team finished the 10-game regular season with an 8-2 record. As a result, the team advanced to the City playoffs for Class C industrial teams. This single elimination playoff
The CDI Craftsman is published monthly by Commercial Drywall, Inc. for its employees and their families. Employees should send their news contributions to Larry Williams, Commercial Drywall, Inc., P. O. Box 10686, Houston, Texas 77018.
tournament began in mid-June, just after the Craftsman went to press CDI’s North team fared less favorably, finishing the season with a 2-7 record. Headed by carpenter foreman Jim Rutledge, the North team started the season with two wins, but lost some key players and ran into stiff competition much of the rest of the way. -2-
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Austin Proj®el!s progressing smoothly A
Work activity remains spread
W fnrSnSetVrfrai j0bs for CDI in Austin
including three jobsites on the IBM complex and four stores in the Barton Creek Shopping Center. Austin vice president and general manager Larry Hanvey reports that the recent flooding which hit the city affected work only slightly and all projects continue to progress well. Several major jobs, says Larry, have passed the three-quarters mark in completion. These include IBM Buildings 060 and 062 headed by Bob Fritz and David Kovar, respectively. In addition, the Motorola facility under Johnny Kovar, Montgomery Wards headed by Gene Doughtery, United Bank leasework led by Jerry Wilhelm and a job at First Federal Savings under Chris Sylvester are all nearing completion. The third IBM job, Building 063, has only recently gotten underway. This job, which includes interior drywall partitions on the manufacturing facility, is under the direction of foreman Wally Galvan. Also just getting started is the police station addition headed by Terry LaRoche. While these projects either draw to a close or get off the ground, CDIAustin continues to add to its backlog, with the painting contract on the Hyde Park Church, the drywall, acoustical ceilings, and paint on a Foley’s store and a demountable, computer flooring and acous tical ceiling job in the Brockton Business Center. In other news, foreman Jerry Brooks was honored with a CDI belt buckle for bis excellent efforts on leasework in the American Bank Tower. Jerry has been with CDI for the past three years, and has been an outstanding craftsman throughout this time. According to Larry, Jerry s attitude and technical skills make him one of CDI's top producers in Austin. % Besides being an excellent ^ craftsman, Jerry holds the honor of having named the CDI Craftsman when it first began publication in November, 1979.
The Montgomery Wards crew in Austin was the most recent budget beating team for CDI Shown above are its members (Tr) foreman Gene Doughtery, Todd Linebaugh. Lewis Brooks. Pat Jackson. Michael Kundt. Tim Pruett, and Jeff Franks
Deal? Teacher, pHeas® ®mm® „ „ „ School teachers lead an interesting life. Here are some samples of some actual excuses parents sent to their children's teachers. Some of them are indeed amazing. We thought you would enjoy them as much as we did. The Editor
Please ackuse John been absent on January 28, 29, 30, 22 and 33. Marge could not come to school because she was bothered with very close veins. John has been absent from school because he had two teeth taken out of his face. Please escuse Gloria. She had been sick and under the doctor. My son is under the doctors care and should not take P.E. please execute him. -3-
Lillie was absent from school yesterday as she had a gangover. Please excuse Blanch from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday, she fell out of a tree and misplaced her hip. Carlos was absent from school yesterday, because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part. Please excuse Johnny for being. It was his fathers fault. Please excuse Diane from being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps. Mary Ann was absent 11/15 because she had a fever, sore throat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick-fever, sore throat. Her brother had a low grade temp and a gall over. I wasn't feeling the best either, sore throat, fever. There must be the flu going around. Even her father got hot last night.
EMPLOYEE NEWS CDI bass club being formed A bass club with membership open exclusively to CDI employees has been formed by several CDI craftsmen. The club, known as the CDI Bassers, is currently in its formation stages, and is being spearheaded by Glen Brabham, Steve Boren and Dennis Yanowski. According to Glen, the club is designed primarily for the serious bass fisherman. Under its rules members must own or have ready access to a boat, and should be willing to fish in the club’s five fishing tournaments to be held between March and September of each year. Membership fee into the club is $20 which goes toward the purchase of necessary equipment and a T-shirt for each member. For more information on the club contact Larry Williams at the CDI office at 681-9287.
CDI activity continues on the 50-story Placid/Elm building in downtown Dallas. The project, where CDI is currently approximately 30 percent complete with corework, is being done for general contractor Avery Mays.
Assistant project manager of the Allen Center, Allen Frank is shown going over a set of prints. Allen says he spends almost half his time peering over the drawings in his estimating and budgeting duties.
Employee spotlight
lPr@js©‘S manager Allen Ftrsurolk excellent m Allen Center duties Having a little field experience to rely on can be extremely helpful to an estimator. For Allen Frank, assistant project manager for the Allen Center, five years in the field for CDI has helped more than a little. Allen’s experience in the field on Century projects makes him one of the most knowledgeable project managers around when it comes to Allen Center or Greenway activity. Allen is an eight year veteran with the company, having joined CDI as a carpenter apprentice at the Greenway remodeling complex. There he performed a variety of duties including building and standing panels, hanging doors and building cabinets. From there he went to the Allen Center where he served as foreman over lease work for one and a half years. For the past three years, Allen has served CDI as assistant project manager over the Allen Center, a job which includes estimating, pricing, budgeting and supervising the invoicing of the work performed. And, his years as a foreman there certainly aids in the handling of this work load. In addition to these duties, Allen estimates and coordinates all the millwork for our cabinet shop, which recently relocated from Greenway to the company’s production office on Judiway. -4-
Also garnishing a share of his work day is the time he spends with Century representatives going over ^ plans, working out problems, scheduling activity, and meeting the A needs of the client in general. This ^ aspect of his job is highly important as he serves as the primary liaison between CDI’s production department and Century Development. In recent weeks, Allen has taken on the responsibility of working with two of the Company's newest estimator trainees — Joe Lozano and Richard Hammond. Joe will soon take over a portion of the estimating at Greenway, while Richard will do the same for the Allen Center. When away from the job, Allen is a dedicated family man. He and his wife of 11 years, Terri, have two boys — Brandon, 5, and Cory, 3. And, they are in the process of adding a girl to the family through adoption. Allen is a native Houstonian, but now calls Tomball home. He enjoys jogging and playing^ golf in his spare time, and he and Terri do stained glass work together. ^ The Craftsman is pleased to recognize Allen. Over the years both in the field and in the office he has been an integral part of our successful Century team.
Named outstanding supervisor 0
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Buster r©cognized for dedicated finishing serwice
Buster Baimbridge, finishing boss Century’s Greenway Plaza, where he at the Allen Center, has been named handled the finishing on the Eastern CDI’s outstanding supervisor for Airlines, Union Carbide, Conoco, May. Buster, who has been with the Stouffers and Travelers buildings. company for 16 years, ranks number Buster first started for CDI in 1965 two in length of sevice. running work at the CDC building in Presently, Buster heads up the Galleria area. He has continued finishing activity in the Allen Center to head various finishing projects complex, a job which entails ever since. He first entered the remodeling and lease work in four finishing trade in 1946, primarily in downtown high-rises. Buster has the residential market where Buster been in the Allen Center for the past says he would spend a week or more three years, beginning there with on one house. work in the Two Allen. Now, Three In 1952 Buster moved to Houston Allen, a job on which he has handled and has been here ever since, with the core and tenant work is providing the exception of a tour in the Navy most of the activity there. Buster as an aviation machinist from 1954 started Three Allen over a year and a to 1957. half ago and is now nearing For the past 29 years, Buster has completion of that project. been married to Ann and the two of For Buster and his crew, Three them head a family of four girls and Allen has been a project with a boy, ages 11 to 22. In addition, relatively few problems. He attributes Buster is a three time grandfather. The Baimbridges live in South much of this to the excellent crew he has had during the project’s duration. Houston where Buster enjoys a hobby of working on engines, a skill The Allen Center is a project of he developed while in the Navy. On Century Development, a name the weekends, he spends a great Buster knows well, having worked on deal of time taking them apart and ^ Century projects for CDI for the past putting them back together. 10 years. Prior to the Allen Center Buster spent seven years at
Supervisor of the month Buster Baimbridge poses on an eighth floor lease in Three Allen where he spends much of his time. Buster has done an outstanding lob heading the Allen Center finishing operations for the past three years.
COD earns safety award CDI has received a Certificate of Achievement for its efforts in accident prevention. The award was given by the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, one of two insurance carriers for the Company. The certificate was presented by Alice Leskinen, Liberty’s senior loss prevention representative, and was given at a service coordination meeting held in late May. According to Alice, the award was presented to CDI in Houston for “conspicuous achievement in accident prevention.”
% On top of Lambrecht things is shown among the scaffolding that consumes
the Tenneco Employment Center. The project sits atop the Carpenter J.D. of the work area on in downtown Houston. Headed by foreman ise/recreat/on facility and is filled with 1010 Lamar parking garage DeWayne Kenney, the job is an exerc -5difficult wall and ceiling conditions.
Alice said that the period September 1, 1980 through March 30, 1981, showed a remarkable improvement in the company’s efforts to reduce accidents. In addition, Project S.A.F.E., CDI’s safety program which became operational in November was acknowledged as being instrumental in the company’s achievements.
COMPANY NEWS
Hown eomitractors can improve productivity Robert A. Georgine, president of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department and a major speaker at the Association of Walls and Ceilings Institute Washington Convention, recently recommended seven steps for improving productivity on construction sites. His recommendations include: 1.) A strong commitment to productivity must be made by everyone involved — contractors, workers, owners, suppliers, and engineers; 2.) Management must exercise its rights to manage a job; 3.) All parties must pay attention to planning and scheduling in order to take advantage of the substantial savings possible through more efficient use of manpower and equipment; 4.) Management and labor must keep communication channels open and try to resolve problems peacefully, with more attention paid to legitimate work jurisdiction concerns when the job first is being planned; 5.) All parties must work together to find ways to minimize prolonged periods of overtime; 6.) There should be a recommitment to apprenticeship programs to make sure that future journeymen receive the best, most up-to-date training; 7.) Research regarding new techniques, materials and equipment which can lower costs and raise efficiency should be strongly encouraged in construction industry.________________________
WGisit ns a horoscope? At the exact moment and from the specific location of your birth, the Sun, Moon and all the planets of the solar system were in specific places. Your horoscope is a map, “picture” or diagram of the heavens for that all-important event. Chances are that no one with your horoscope has existed for 25,000 years and no one will be born with your horoscope for another 25,000 years. That’s how long it takes for all the planets to return to their same positions, in their same Signs and same relationships to each other.
Greenway lease and remodeling iobs have become more Intricate and more complex as shown in this photo of a series of radius walls in the KYND lease located on the 20th floor of the Summit Tower.
Greenway Plaia=a bog J©b foir CD! By Billy Patrick Greenway Supervisor
around people and expensive office furnishings. Most of the new leases going into the Summit Tower are extremely elaborate in design. Radius walls are common, as are many glass partitions where dimensions are very critical. CDI Greenway remodelers do virtually everything in these leases, from running the head track to the finishing and hanging of the doors. Additionally, the crew has been active in the construction of several mock-ups for various projects including the Greenway Condominiums, Allied Bank Plaza, 5,000 Montrose Condominiums, and These have included panels with the new Conoco building. These styrofoam in the center of the panel, mock-ups consist of the exterior of two pieces of 5/8” rock glued the building, as well as the interior together to serve as the stud, 1” offices, thereby capturing the look of coreboard studs with 5/8” rock, and the new office space as if the tenant the most recent, the LS stud system were actually standing in the building which has been a major step in looking out the window. improving the construction and Heading up the remodeling work installation of the panels. at Greenway beside myself is This use of several different types foremen Frank Lawrence and of panels has resulted in increased Oscar Soliz. Our finishing foreman demands put on the CDI craftsmen Tommy Craddock who does a great at Greenway because they have to job making old panels look like inew. deal with the several different types And our labor foreman Wilson of panels. Adding to this difficulty is Chambers heads a hard working the fact that most of the remodel labor force that keeps us supplied work occurs in occupied lease areas, with materials and tools, as well as requiring our craftsmen to work maintaining clean work ahead. Greenway Plaza is a complex that stretches over 127 acres. It consists of 11 buildings, combining for a total of 153 floors of office space. And, coming out of the ground now are two 15 story buildings to add to the sprawling complex. For the past several years, Greenway Plaza has been the scene of substantial remodeling work by CDI. The company’s efforts at Greenway involve the use of panel systems throughout most of the buildings. These panels have been changed structurally several times over the years in a constant effort to improve them.
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Project of the month
Dallas5 Pa* Central ©imieys smooth sailing) CDI Systems in Dallas provides the company with its project of the month for June. The Park Central office building, one of the major jobs going for our branch operations to the north, is a 14-story project for the Longcner Company. The Longcrier Company is owned by George Cox a former president of Century Development in Houston.
just three who have shown a good attitude and a tremendous amount of skills on the job. Also playing a key role in the Park Central project has been its project manager Alan Smith who handled the job set-up and has processed
Park Central is located in North Dallas just off I-635. Begun last January under the direction of supervisor Laverne Chandler, caipenter foreman Bobby Doran and labor foreman Tim Hardeman, the building is expecting completion of core work in mid-July with the tenant build-out to finish near the end of the year. Presently CDI is employing approximately 32 carpenters and laborers on the job that includes the erection of interior walls and dropping in the acoustical ceiling A tiles. Park Central represents one of ^the company's initial projects for the Dallas office. Despite being one of the first to start, the job has progressed extremely well — a tribute to the abilities of the personnel manning the project. According to Chuck Grogan, CDI Systems field superintendent, Park Central’s progress has been the result of good leadership, good craftsmen, proper planning and CDI's input in the coordination of the crafts. “Laverne, Bobby and Tim have done a super job in lining out the men and their responsibilities. All three are extremely knowledgeable in the business and are proving to be good leaders in the field’’, says Chuck. Chuck also gives a lot of credit to those doing the work. “We have some excellent craftsmen at Park Central. Production has been good ^ and our quality is high. Everyone is ^just doing his job the best way possible. And, the results are % obvious.” Among those who have distinguished themselves on the job have been Steve and Arthur Gonzales, as well as Mike Greko,
several changes since the project began. The Craftsman extends its thanks to all of our Park Central craftsmen. Their part in helping make this initial CDI Systems project a success is certainly noteworthy.
GOOD DUALI*
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Park Central supervisor Laverne Chandler (seated) and foreman Bobby Doran discuss job details with superintendent Chuck Grogan (back to camera). Quality leadership has been cited as one reason the project has enjoyed smooth progress since it began last January.
Aspirin subsffiufte ©an be dangerous The aspirin substitute acetaminophen, a component of such medicines as Tylenol, Liquiprin and Tempra, is a preferred treatment for children’s fevers, but overdoses can be dangerous, says Baylor College of Medicine pediatrician Martin Lorin, M.D. Lorin, associate professor of pediatrics, emphasized that while acetaminophen is considered by many pediatricians to be safer than aspirin when used in correct dosage, caution is needed, especially to prevent children from accidentally swallowing the contents of an entire bottle He is urging that labels on acetaminophen bottles be rewritten to warn parents of the dangers of acetaminophen overdosage. A study by Lorin and three colleagues found that parents are -7-
often unaware of the risks of acetaminophen overdose. “Even with ordinary dosage, aspirin has a great many side effects. It interferes with blood clotting and can cause bleeding of the nose or stomach,” Lorin said. "It can cause gastric ulcers, aggravate asthma and interfere with water balance in the body. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, has almost no side effects when used in correct dosage and has minimal side effects even with moderate dosage.” But when ingested in excessively large amounts, acetaminophen can cause liver failure, he said. "In fact, a massive overdose of acetaminophen can actually be more dangerous than aspirin overdose because liver failure is very difficult to treat,” Lorin said.
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CDI-San Antoni© receives La QySmrtai pr@ja©t CDI-San Antonio has announced receiving the contract on an eightstory office building for Lyda, Inc. The project, to be known as La Quinta Plaza, will be located in North San Antonio and will serve as the office space for the La Quinta Motor Inns. According to Roy Van Cleave, CDI-San Antonio general manager, the project includes the drywall in both core and tenant construction and should begin in November of this year. The general contractor, Lyda, ranks as one of San Antonio’s leading contractors. Presently, CDI is working with Lyda on another mid rise office building, the 11-story North Frost Center. In other San Antonio news, the core at the North Frost Center is rapidly nearing completion. CDI foreman Bob Winder is heading construction on the project with approximately 15 craftsmen. The scope of work includes the drywall plus Texas Frame extrusions by CDI. Currently, tenant stocking is underway in preparation for that phase of the project. The 14-story Valero II project continues its activity with tenant work well on its way. Some 40 carpenters, led by Paul Buck, are active for CDI on the job which has a
CDI Craftsman Commercial Drywall, Inc. 3705 Piney Woods P.O. Box 10686 Houston, Texas 77018
completion scheduled for the last quarter of the year. The vinyl partition and ceiling job for Harris-Farinon is now approximately 70 percent complete, reports Roy. Linder foreman Wayne Schultze and for general contractor Rogers-O’Brien, Harris-Farinon started approximately two months ago. Elsewhere, Pete Williams has completed a job for Farmer’s Insurance and has started his newest
assignment for the American Hospital Corporation. And, Xavier Guerra is wrapping up activity on the Tri-Ways Printers project, while foreman Donald Buck has just started a computer floor job at the Data Point facility.
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It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong. —Henry Wodsworth Longfellow
Scaffold accidents common One out of every 10 injuries in building construction is a scaffold accident. Most of these injuries can be prevented if a few practical accident prevention measures are taken. To be effective, these measures require planning before a scaffold is erected, supervision while it’s being erected, and periodic inspection while it’s in use. A study of serious accidents involving scaffolds produced statistics concerning their frequency and insured costs. The four main problem areas are as follows: Cause Frequency Guardrail Lacking 22% Improper Decking 24% Structured Failure 15% Scaffold Overturned 19 %
To protect yourself and others: ° Inspect all scaffold parts before using. ° Keep maximum height less than four times the minimum width. ° Make decking full width and secure against displacement. ° Install proper guardrails, midrails, and toe boards. ° Always lock all wheels, except when scaffold is moving. ° No one allowed on scaffold while it is being moved. Be careful and remember—It takes years to make a good craftsman, but only one second to lose him.
BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE
PAID HOUSTON, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 2840