Bellows Byline Fall 2016

Bellows

Byline Fall 2016

Project Profile

Concho Resources Inc., Midland

Project in Progress

International Union of Operating Engineers, Crosby

Employee Spotlight

Johnny Kroll

Texas Treasure Award Project Milestone

Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Tower E Expansion

Project Profile

Concho Resources Inc., Employees’ Center and Daycare Center | Midland, Texas

Emerging out of the West Texas plains, downtown Midland stands as a symbolic fixture. It represents Midland’s optimistic attitude that boasts of the economic opportunities afforded by the area’s natural resources and the dedication of its people.

The city itself is a robust contrast to the harsh terrain known as the Permian Basin. Most of downtown Midland’s major office buildings were built during a time of major oil and gas discoveries in the Permian Basin. The surge in energy prices in the mid-1980s ignited a building boom for downtown Midland; however, much of the downtown area has suffered since the bust that followed. Luckily for Midland, the oil and gas industry provided another surge that led to a second boom in Midland’s economy. This boom attracted more companies to Midland, propelling the downtown area to undergo a significant revitalization. Concho Resources Inc. with its signature emerald green buildings is one of the major players making a difference in the landscape of the once struggling town.

Concho Resources Inc. is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development, and exploration of oil and natural gas properties so it made sense for them to develop an office in the Permian Basin – specifically in Midland. Concho was one of the first companies to develop a new building project on the west side of downtown Midland since the 1980s. Their commitment to breathing new life into the city also speaks to their commitment to their employees as well. A vibrant, revitalized downtown is important to the growth of Midland and Concho. Providing a sense of convenience and luxury while attracting and retaining employees was a driving force behind Concho’s decision to build a new 85,000-sf employee amenity center, known as the Concho Employees’ Center, a separate 15,000-sf daycare center, and to renovate portions of its two existing office buildings, Concho Centers 1 and 2 (CC1 and CC2).

The Team

Concho selected local design firm, Rhottenberry Wellen Architects (RWA) as the lead architect, Gensler as the interior design architect, and Transwestern as the Construction Manager for this project. Since RWA is local, they were very active throughout the entire process and were on hand to answer any questions regarding the design. It was the first time Bellows and RWA had worked together, but everyone quickly found their stride with clear communication being paramount. In addition to weekly owner meetings, the team had weekly foremen and coordination meetings, multiple staff management meetings, and the monthly safety site visits. Keeping everyone on the same page for a project that had multiple projects going on at once required constant and clear communication. Our site management staff worked together and put in whatever hours were necessary to make things happen so that the end product would be a success. Mark T. Wellen, FAIA, Rhottenberry Wellen Architects adds: “The Concho Employees’ Center project was a high-profile project in the community making a significant impact on Midland’s downtown revitalization.

The project was complex and the schedule to achieve occupancy was very aggressive. Bellows’ unwavering commitment was integral to the success of the project and they remained ever-vigilant in satisfying the aspirations of the client and the high standards set by the design team.”

The Project

Concho management greatly values their team and wanted to provide top-notch amenities for their employees’ well-being and satisfaction. The state-ofthe-art Employees’ Center houses the Human Resources Department, a large fitness center with personal trainers, full-sized basketball court, locker rooms with showers, a full commercial kitchen, a multi-option servery, a lightfilled dining and event space, conference rooms, wellness clinic, and coffee shop.

Concho also added its name to the list of companies offering on-site childcare with their new daycare center.

The daycare center was built specifically to benefit their employees and is conveniently located a block from the Employees’ Center. The facility allows working parents with young children to more easily enter and stay in the workforce and gives parents peace of mind knowing that their little ones are close by.

Bellows Byline | Fall 2016

Project Profile

Concho Resources Inc., Employees’ Center and Daycare Center | Midland, Texas

The Challenges

Before Bellows broke ground on the Employees’ Center, the existing building had to be demolished. Since the data center was feeding off the original chillers located in the footprint of the existing building, Bellows provided temporary chillers for the data center for the duration of construction until the new permanent chillers in the Employees’ Center could be brought online.

The project was also located in occupied working environments in CC1 and CC2. The existing connectivity had to be demolished because the design called for bridges to connect CC1 and CC2 to the new Employees’ Center.

Minimizing disruption and upholding safety is always a priority on every job so Bellows provided covered pedestrian walkways and safety barriers for the entire project.

The Client

In addition to building quality facilities, Bellows wants every client to be fully satisfied. This project offered new challenges but also new relationships. We are honored and humbled when a client expresses their gratitude.

Tim Leach, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President of Concho Resources, stated; “The completion of the Concho Employees’ Center has created quite the stir throughout the Permian Basin. As a whole, the building is a shining example of how best to execute a facility dedicated to employee well-being and collaborative work. I greatly appreciate the quality work and dedication that the Bellows team brought to this project. Laura and her team have delivered a product that has positively changed the culture at Concho.”

Project

in

Progress

International Union of Operating Engineers Training and Conference Center | Crosby, Texas

Bellows broke ground this summer on an exciting new project for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) located in Crosby, Texas. The International Training and Conference Center will be the flagship training facility for the entire International Union of Operating Engineers. The new campus will be comprised of a 179,200-sf, two-story administration/ dormitory building with two attached three-story dormitory wings. The Administration Building will house administrative offices, a grand ballroom that can be divided into eight large classrooms, dining facilities, a commercial kitchen, and a three-story dormitory wing. The overall site will include exterior teaching areas, secured equipment fenced areas, gravel and paved roads, retention ponds, landscape, hardscape, parking lots, and deck areas. The campus will also include a 12,380-sf central plant building, a 18,420-sf shop building, a 8,670-sf warehouse, a 3,250-sf health club, and three remote classrooms.

This expansive project is designed to achieve LEED Certification.

The International Union of Operating Engineers is a progressive trade union representing operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics and surveyors in the construction industry, as well as stationary engineers who work in operations and maintenance in major building facilities of all types. Founded in 1896, IUOE now represents over 400,000 members in 123 local unions throughout the United States and Canada. This organization and its affiliated local unions manage over 100 state-of-the-art training and apprenticeship schools to ensure that IUOE members are the safest and most highly-skilled workforce available.

Bellows Byline | Fall 2016

Project

in

Progress

International Union of Operating Engineers Training and Conference Center | Crosby, Texas Located on a 237-acre site on northeast Houston, the International Training and Conference Center will be a state-of-theart training facility for the entire IUOE. At the new Crosby location, instructors from over 100 separate training programs, key union members, as well as union leadership and affiliated employers will receive valuable training from equipment manufacturers, industry leaders, and other experts in the methods and means for safe operations. This training can then be disseminated directly to rank-and-file members through the existing training network, resulting in a more technologicallyadvanced and productive workforce.

What was undeveloped acreage not too long ago is quickly shaping up to be an exciting project for our team. Ray Mancias, Vice President and Project Executive, has been inspired by the complexities of the project: “So far we have cleared approximately 140 acres and moved approximately 310,000 cubic yards of soil from the new detention pond and site cuts to the building pads and site fill areas. We have placed approximately 4,300 cubic yards of concrete, have begun steel erection and will receive close to 1,300 tons of fabricated steel over the next few months. Our current workforce is at 175 and we anticipate being over 350 during peak construction. It is truly a privilege and honor to be working on the team that is dedicated and invested to the continued training, education, and success of our industry’s operating engineers workforce.”

Employee Spotlight

Johnny Kroll, Construction Yard Superintendent

Johnny Lastrapes, Roy Royston, Johnny Kroll, Tom Newton, Gilbert Martinez, Texas Shorts Jr.

Johnny Kroll started working at Bellows in January of 1990 in the Construction Yard and is now the Construction Yard Superintendent, working in consort with Construction Yard Senior Superintendent, Tom Newton.

Johnny’s ultimate priority is to keep every single job running at all times and he does a fantastic job doing so. Johnny and his team furnish everything from first aid kits to safety equipment to tower cranes for all of the Bellows projects. While some people are assigned to one or two projects at a time, Johnny is assigned to all of them. In addition to avoiding downtime at the jobsites, having the Yard supply materials to each job streamlines orders and serves as quality control for all equipment. Johnny loves that every day is different and that he works with a hardworking, reliable team who go above and beyond. One of his most memorable tasks was the Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women mat pour. Bellows had just switched to backpack vibrators, which pack the concrete and removes any air pockets, and it made the entire process more efficient and kept the jobsite cleaner.

“It was rewarding to see how one detail made such a huge impact. I don’t get to visit every jobsite but that was a great moment because it was a direct reflection of what the Yard can do for our projects.” When Johnny isn’t supporting multiple projects at Bellows, you can find him hunting and enjoying the great outdoors with his family.

Company Awards Texas Treasure Award

Since our founding in 1914, W. S. Bellows Construction has built a reputation for integrity, excellence, and consummate client service. Our dedicated, expert personnel are the solid core of our company and why Bellows continues to be known for doing the right thing and standing by our work. Nominated by Nancy Burch and Jim Bailey of the Texas Historical Commission, Bellows Construction is proud to be recognized with a 2016 Texas Treasure Award. This award recognizes the accomplishments of Texas business that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state’s economy for at least 50 years. The award also pays tribute to Bellows’ well-established and exceptional historical contributions toward the state’s growth and prosperity. Bellows moved our headquarters to Houston, Jim Bailey, Nancy Burch, Laura Bellows, Tony Mansoorian Texas in 1936 when we started construction of the San Jacinto Monument. Other notable Bellows projects in Texas include the Tower at the University of Texas, the Alley Theatre and Wortham Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women. “We at Bellows are thrilled to have played a part in shaping the growth of Texas,” says Laura Bellows, President and Chairman of the Board. “We are extremely proud of our history and to call Texas our home. We are most honored to be recognized as a Texas Treasure Business.”

Bellows Byline | Fall 2016

W. S. Bellows Construction Corporation P.O. Box 2132 | Houston, TX 77252-2132 713.680.2132 | 713.680.2614 Visit our website: www.wsbellows.com

Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Tower E Expansion | Houston, Texas Topping Out in February 2017