The Environmental Protection Agency awarded almost a half-million dollars to the Houston Advanced Research Center (or HARC) to reduce diesel emissions in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. Part of the reductions will come from installation of auxiliary power units, educational training and outreach to fleet operators. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The $496,627 grant aims to significantly reduce emissions and save fuel by retrofitting long-haul trucks with Auxiliary Power Units (or APUs). Outreach efforts aim to increase awareness of the program and influence other truck drivers and trucking companies to make similar efforts. Partners in the grant include
James T. Edmonds was re-appointed chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Edmonds was first named chairman in 2000 after serving two terms as a commissioner. He is also a member of the board of commissioners for the Houston Pilots Association. The chairman and the commissioners serve two-year terms on the port commission without pay. James Edmonds, recently re-appointed chairman of the Port Commission at Houston’s Port of Houston Authority. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Under Edmonds’ leadership as chairman, the port authority made history in 2002, when it became the first U.S. port facility
Dallas-based TDIndustries recently launched TD Lifecycle Intelligent Network System (TDLINKS) to provide a mobile knowledge database for lifecycle solutions. Photo: TDI TDI’s Rodney Palmore in the field using TDLINKS. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The real-time operating platform represents an industry first. It will provide a technology platform to enhance service solutions for routine and emergency calls, CEO Harold MacDowell tells Texas Construction. TDIndustries’ first component of TDLINKS, ServiceLINK, launched earlier this year. It utilizes global information for each customer’s operating environment. The web-based platform enables TDI to store and track the life of a building, including its mechanical
McKinney-based SRS Acquisition Corp. opened two new locations recently, one in Chicago and a facility in Oklahoma City under the Southern Shingles banner. Both carry a full line of residential and commercial roofing products. The Oklahoma City location will service central Oklahoma. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Additionally, SRS promoted branch managers Rob Ross from assistant branch manager in Keller to the new branch manager for the Oklahoma City location.
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth unveiled the final design by Renzo Piano Building Workshop for a new museum building west of its existing building, which was designed by Louis I. Kahn. The Kimbell plans to break ground on the building later this year, aiming for a 2013 completion. The total project cost is $125 million. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras"
The Houston office of McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. was awarded a Safety Through Exemplary Performance (or STEP) Gold Award by The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the Albert B. and Margaret M. Alkek Hospital expansion in Houston. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" MD Anderson recognizes general contractors that maintain excellent safety records with gold or silver STEP awards. The honors are given out based on criteria requiring safety inspections; review of injury and claims records, workers compensation and general liability; and overall safety management in aspects of a Rolling Owner Controlled Insurance Program project. McCarthy’s Alkek
Work began recently on the $3.8-million median improvement project on FM 1709 from U.S. 377 to SH 114 in the Keller area. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The six-mi project will convert the existing center median turning lane to a raised curb median with either brick pavers or stamped concrete. TxDOT awarded the project to Denton-based Jagoe-Public Co. The project is estimated to be completed by fall 2011.
Children’s Medical Center Dallas selected Dallas-based HKS Inc. to design a 34,000-sq-ft outpatient specialty center in Southlake’s Carillon development. The facility will ultimately expand to 69,500-sq ft. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The specialty-care center is the first children’s ambulatory care center in North Texas to seek LEED certification.
Irving ISD administrators and project designers are planning a “net-zero” concept for the new Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas. When complete, it will be the nation’s largest net-zero middle school and will seek LEED-gold certification. A net-zero energy building is one that produces as much energy as it consumes. Through efficiency technologies and on-site power generation, the use of renewable energies allows the building to produce as much energy as it consumes from the electric grid. Image: Charter Builders/Corgan Assoc/IISD. The new Lady Bird Johnson Middle School is designed to be a net-zero school for Irving ISD.
LBJ Infrastructure Group, LLC (LBJIG) completed its financing for the Dallas LBJ Express project ahead of schedule. Construction should start in early 2011 and be on a fast track for completion by 2016. Photo: TXDOT. Traffic on IH-635 (LBJ Express) in Dallas is estimated to exceed 450,000 vehicles by 2020. The LBJ Express project will give motorists a choice to by-pass mainlane congestion by using managed lanes when complete by 2016. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" LBJ Infrastructure Group spokesman Andy Rittler tells Texas Construction that the biggest benefit of the early funding for North Texans is the project