Texas & Louisiana On The Scene: May 2022
courtesy of TDIndustries
During Construction Safety Week in May, TDIndustries continued to educate workers on head protection safety and how upgrading from hard hats to safety helmets can reduce risks of traumatic brain injury. Safety helmets began entering the market around 2015 and will eventually become the norm on construction sites, according to TD. Type 2 safety helmets are an improved design compared with traditional suspension-based hard hats because they will stay secure in the event of a fall.
“Traditional construction hard hats are antiquated technology,” says Jamie Dabbs, TD vice president of safety, health and environmental. “In January, the safety department began wearing safety helmets, and we utilized a QR code to track interest at jobsites. Since then, more than 500 TD partners have signed up to upgrade their head protection.”
Photo courtesy of Mbroh Engineering
On April 20, the University of Texas at Dallas held a formal unveiling of the Mbroh Engineering Terrace. Located at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, the ribbon-cutting event was the culmination of financial support and partnership since 2020, when Mbroh Engineering established the first endowed scholarship for the Diversity Scholars Program for UT Dallas. University leadership, Mbroh Engineering staff, clients, colleagues and students involved in the Diversity Scholars Program and NSBE were in attendance as well as the first two recipients of the Mbroh Engineering Scholarship. Established in 2020, the scholarship will provide yearly support for high-achieving students of diverse backgrounds who require significant financial assistance.
Photo courtesy of the Pile Driving Contractors Association
The Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA) hosted its first-ever training event in April that provided pile driving contractors with comprehensive instruction on industry fundamentals, safety, equipment and more. Duson, La.-based contractor Patriot Construction & Industrial LLC hosted The Driven Pile Academy on its 19-acre property. The three-day program included a full day of classroom instruction followed by two days of hands-on field training on a diverse array of deep foundation equipment valued at more than $10 million. Equipment experts and tenured practitioners volunteered significant time over 10 months to develop this inaugural event.
Photo courtesy of Brasfield & Gorrie
Brasfield & Gorrie recently celebrated the topping out of HCA St. David’s North Austin Women’s Services expansion and renovation—a four-story, 166,369-sq-ft vertical addition. Following completion, Brasfield & Gorrie will renovate 28,325 sq ft of interior space, adding 30 neonatal critical care unit beds, 36 neonatal intensive care unit beds and four postpartum rooms. Brasfield & Gorrie is also working on a one-story, 21,214-sq-ft vertical expansion at HCA St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.
Among the Brasfield employees at the ceremony were: Chris Wall, Nate McKenney, Michael Lewis, Ryan Bachmeyer, Tyler Havens, Sean Despres, Lucas Garritson, Josh Hayes, Taylor Hudgens, Wyatt Guinn, Charlie Crowson, Katie Milligan, Gilberto Torrens, Josh Tellifero, Benjamin Klemsz, Caroline Purvis, Jacob Elrod, Blaine Hale, Jovina Clark, Maria Nieto, Mya Clark and Ronnie Hernandez.
Photo by John Whitton, SteadyBuilt Productions
Newlyweds Natasha and Harvey Berman had a crazy idea. With their new condo at 44 East Ave. in Austin nearly ready for them to move in, the couple asked if they could get married inside the building—an active construction site.
“This is one of the reasons why we enjoy working with Flintco so much,” said Brad Stein, president of Intracorp Texas, the building’s developer. “A future homeowner had a vision of what they wanted their wedding day to be like [at sunset on the 37th floor], and Flintco went above and beyond to not only make it happen, but to ensure that it would be extra special for them.”
From left to right: Flintco assistant project manager Anya Choy, construction director Bubba Swink, superintendent Kyle Holloway, Milton Pope, Intracorp Texas operations manager Cindy Pope and Harvey and Natasha Berman.
