COVER STORY
By Tracy Bennett and Bryan McClure
RISK REWARD
RESPECT
On the Job: An Ironworker’s Perspective
Jose Salinas, a backup connector for Deem Structural Services.
Deem Structural Services builds a temporary structure over the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel in preparation for renovations. The GC on the project is J.E. Dunn Construction. Photo Credits: Bryan McClure
T
he U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, an iconic structure in the Rocky Mountain foothills outside of Colorado Springs, Colo., is undergoing a massive renovation project to replace the leaking aluminum and glass skin of the building. One of the first steps in the multiyear project is to build a temporary steel structure wrapped in fabric over the chapel to protect it during renovation. Texas-based SEAA members Basden Steel Corp. and Deem Structural Services are the steel fabricator and erector, respectively, hired Tracy Bennett is Managing Editor of Connector and Principal Partner of Mighty Mo Media Partners, a marketing consulting firm. Her technical expertise is in construction, lifting equipment, and workforce development. Bryan McClure operates Trivent Safety Consulting. He is a safety professional who got his start as an ironworker. He is a Director on the SEAA Board and currently serves as Chairman of the Safety Committee.
by J.E. Dunn Construction of Kansas City, Mo., to first erect and later dismantle, the temporary structure. The installation portion was estimated to take 20 weeks from August 2020 through January 2021. The company will return in 2023, after renovations are finished, to dismantle the structure. “This is one of the more unique buildings I’ve hung steel on in my lifetime,” said Mitch Wingate, Deem’s Site Superintendent, who has spent 30 years in the steel erection business. “There is no structure below the high points. Most of the connecting is being done from boom lifts, and 95% of it is bolted connections.” The temporary structure is about 185 feet tall. The site itself is surrounded by trees and is adjacent to the other Air Force Academy buildings that remain in use during construction. In addition to dealing with Colorado weather, other challenges include crane logistics and access to the site. Field welding is strictly limited, as a precaution to protect the historic 1960s era landmark, requiring hot work permits. Instead, the bulk of the connections are bolted.
28 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
We visited the job site in October 2020 to get the perspective of one of the company’s ironworkers, Jose Salinas, who is working on one of two raising gangs on the project. The raising gang, which usually consists of a five-person crew, includes the crane operator, ground hand, raising gang foreman, and a lead connector and backup connector. On this project, one connection team works on the west side of the chapel while a second team simultaneously works on the east side. Salinas, age 27, is a backup connector. He has worked for Deem Structural for just over a year, and has less than five years of experience as an ironworker. “These days, I don’t see many young men like Jose coming into this trade. He is willing to learn and work hard. I’m very impressed with him,” said Wingate. “The connectors are usually the two guys you trust the most. They are your top hands on the job site,” he added.
A new calling Asked how he got started as an ironworker, Salinas said he had no previous experience. He was working in a cell phone store when