As Texas and Louisiana recover from the recession, these six diverse firms with operations in the two states are gaining new work and remain optimistic about the future. Hurricane recovery work will continue as a driver in the region, while the Texas economy shows resiliency. The state reported a strong $11-billion year-end balance for fiscal 2009, which bodes well for state-funded construction programs, according to a survey last year by the National Association of State Budget Officers. Residential construction starts for the south central region are forecast to increase 29% in 2011, with total construction starts set to rise 10%,
Article toolbar The construction manager for the $3.5-million partial rehabilitation of the 122-year-old Texas State Capitol in Austin was under a strict deadline—the job had to be completed in seven months. Despite a longer-than-expected lead paint removal process and outdoor temperatures that reached triple digits, crews managed to complete the work on time and 2% under budget. And there were no lost-time injuries. Photo Courtesy Of Flintco House DividedThe construction manager broke the repainting work into 190 grids, to align with the room’s elaborate ceiling design. The team used original chips of paint to match colors. A meticulously drawn yet
SnapShot February 14, 2011 El Paso Water Utilities selected URS El Paso Water Utilities selected URS of San Francisco as the solar power consultant for the world’s largest inland brackish water desalination plant. The project will allow two of the plant’s five treatment trains—each requiring 500 KW—to run on solar power. The project is being carried out jointly with Fort Bliss, the U.S. Army post in El Paso, Texas. The plant has the capacity to produce 27.5-million gallons of fresh water daily. Photo: Courtesy URS Corp. Texas Desalination Plant Submitted By: Bruce Ross, on behalf of URS Corp., El Paso, Texas
We asked the up-and-comers in Louisiana about challenges facing the industry in that state. Related Links: Texas Top 20 Under 40 Also Starring: South Central 14 Under 40 BUSCH Sarah Busch Temporary job hooks her on construction career 34 Project Manager Landis Construction Co. New Orleans As a girl, Sarah D. Busch remembers visiting job sites with her father, but she never dreamed of joining the family business, until a temporary job answering job site phones convinced her construction was in her blood. She learned everything she could and progressed to project manager, heading up jobs for new and repeat
A parking-deck structure under construction partially collapsed Feb. 14 in San Antonio, injuring two construction workers at the University Health System’s University Hospital site. Related Links: Texas Parking Garage Job Idle Until Collapse Cause Known The 10-story, 3,000-plus-car garage is being built in three phases by a joint venture of Zachry Construction, San Antonio; Vaughn Construction, Houston; and Layton of Phoenix, as part of a $900-million system-wide expansion project by the public health system owned by Bexar County. Just before the collapse, workers reported hearing a rumbling sound, and construction supervisors evacuated the site, according to Melissa Sparks with the
Hoping for a bigger Super Bowl attendance at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the owner arranged for temporary sections to increase seating capacity. But some of those seats were not ready at game time. Eric Grubman, NFL executive vice president, said the problem was officials “just ran out of time” to complete infrastructure such as railings and steps, and to tighten risers. The stadium owner says that the $1.3-billion stadium was designed to fully accommodate the additional seats. Seating Solutions, the Commack, N.Y.-based contractor charged with installing the temporary seats, had no comment.
On The Scene February 14, 2011 Annual Texas Transportation Forum The sixth annual Texas Transportation Forum was held Jan. 4-5 at the Hilton Austin in downtown Austin, Texas. Edward G. Rendell, the former Pennsylvania governor and Democrat who recently joined NBC News as a political analyst, gave the first day’s keynote address. Rendell, still in office at the time, gave a talk to a crowd of attendees representing public and private companies and organizations with a stake in the future of Texas transportation. It was anything but sugar-coated. The Texas Dept. of Transportation, the forum’s primary organizer, touted Rendell in
ENR Texas & Louisiana congratulates the young men and women in our two-state region selected as the “Top 20 Under 40,” highlighting up-and-coming leaders and exceptional players working in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.
We asked the up-and-comers in South Central about challenges facing the industry in that state. Related Links: Texas Top 20 Under 40 Also Starring: Louisiana Six Under 40 Alabama ALLEN Stephen Allen Creates designs that change college campuses 36 Principal Williams Blackstock Architects Birmingham, Ala. A principal with Williams Blackstock Architects, Stephen Allen led the design team for the Auburn University’s student village, named 2009 Best Higher Education Project by South Central Construction magazine. In addition to his management responsibilities at Williams Blackstock, Allen heads up the firm’s intern development program, mentors young architects and designers and developed a company-wide
An arbitration panel overseeing a dispute between the general contractor and owner of a Jacksonville, Fla. garage that collapsed during construction has announced initial findings in favor of the contractor. Choate Construction Co. of Atlanta announced Feb. 7 that the panel ruled in its favor on all issues. Choate had faced claims related to the collapse and for breach of contract. The contractor also stated that it had received favorable rulings on its claims for breach of contract and wrongful termination. Berkman Plaza II LLC, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based developer Harbor Cos., was the owner of the 413-space parking garage
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