of pieces that were not immediately needed. Concrete and mechanical work was performed concurrently with steel erection at the roof level, and space for both material and equipment was very limited. Consequently, columns, heavy girders, and assemblies were hoisted and erected directly from the truck. It took three months for PBI to complete the erection of the crown, in part because of the large size of the pieces and difficult logistics required to maneuver them through the downtown area with just a single lane available for closure. The structure was designed with a steep sloping roof line, skewed leaning columns, and geometrically complex HSS framing. The building’s glass envelope extended to the top of the crown, The crown’s wide-flange bracing and heavy columns PBI’s extensive experience, solid pre-planning, and uncompromising safety and girders required carefully planned critical lifts by culture were all essential to the success of this project, which began 650 thus the plumbing and alignment two tower cranes working at near-maximum capacity. feet in the air. of the steel structure was critical. Beckner pointed out, “We tried to break the erection into 100-ton 650 feet in the air and extended another zero injuries. It was difficult work and they sequences, since there was not much space 100 feet up,” Beckner noted. “That created made it look easy.” for work to be done. In addition, Houston is a highly challenging work environment Ed Valencia, PBI Director of Safety & Trainin a hurricane zone, which added to the com- because starting at that level doesn’t allow ing stated, “The Houston heat and lightning plexity of the connections.” With a focused workers any time to acclimate to collaborative effort, PBI and the fabricator the extreme height as construction developed connections and pre-assemblies progresses. It is a testament to our that fostered safe and timely erection of the team’s many years of experience, steel. solid pre-planning on the front end, “It’s important to understand that our work and uncompromising safety culture began at the top of the concrete structure that the project was completed with
■■Class II Honorable Mention Mid Cities recognized for Kubota North American HQ In the Class II Project of the Year Award category, Mid Cities Erectors, Fort Worth, Texas received Honorable Mention for their role in constructing Kubota Tractor Corporation’s new North American headquarters. The campus is located in Grapevine, Texas. "The erection of extremely tall tilt-up panels, the complex sequencing of the tilt-up and steel erection, and a remarkably tight site made this project difficult,” said a judge. The $50 million headquarters facility comprises a three-level, 135,000-square-foot tilt wall office building that houses 550 employees, a 68,000-square-foot research and development facility, and Kubota Tractor's new headquarters facility is one of the tallest tilt-wall construction projects in the United States. a three-level, 102,669-square-foot parking garage that accommodates 312 cars. The wooded site, chosen for its natural beauty, offered meager room for construction activities. According to Senior Estimator James Whitley, “The multi-level office building’s unique angular design included a triangular staircase that bisected the structure and a wing-shaped roof with vertical windows between the two sides. The project was unusual in that it involved 86 tilt wall panels, which were exceptionally tall and heavy. The tallest panel was nearly 83 feet tall and the heaviest weighed 160,000 lbs. We worked in close cooperation with engineers to create a plan for bracing and erection of the panels, which were too tall for regular pipe bracing. We put up the lower level and then braced between the upper and lower panels, which were stacked horizontally. We don’t normally see panels this large stacked on top of one another, but thanks to thorough planning and cooperation between all members of a great team, erection went off without a hitch.” 38 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA