THE VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF GEORGIA
The Georgia
CONTRACTOR Volume 8, Issue 2
Special edition featuring CEFGA
SKILLSUSA & GO BUILD GEORGIA
March | April 2012
Letter from the Editor
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March | April 2012
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It is always a pleasure to talk about something positive—the CEFGA and SkillsUSA Competitions and Career Expo where 7,000 students will see what opportunities are available to them by learning a trade and become construction industry’s future skilled craftsmen. Many students will compete in the SkillsUSA program and show who is best in his chosen trade skills. This is what it is all about, and our Governor has added the Go Build Georgia initiative to encourage students to consider the many opportunities open to them in choosing a professional career in the construction field. We are also introducing the students to the Future City Competition and hope they will also learn from such serious subjects as building a nuclear power plant, while concurrently realizing how impressive our construction industry is. I hope you will like this very Special Edition dedicated to this event and celebrating the future generation of dedicated craftsmen and women who are urgently needed to sustain our industry in the years to come.
Athens Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Chattahoochee Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Cummins Power South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Engineered Restorations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Georgia Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Georgia Utilities Protection Center Inc. . . . . . Back Cover Independent Electrical Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 JAT Consulting Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 PCL Industrial Construction Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Prime Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 RHD Utility Locating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 South Georgia Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 SPSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
R. Petersen-Frey Editor-in-Chief v
March | April 2012
Willmer Engineering.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
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on the cover
The Georgia Contractor www.thegeorgiacontractor.com
Managing Editor R. Petersen-Frey (770) 521-8877 Art Director Pamela Petersen-Frey (770) 521-8877
The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a magazine designed around the construction industry associations and their ASK WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE AND GO DO IT! cott Shelar, the Executive Director of CEFGA, The Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, gives us insight into how Georgia leaders are making it a priority in their administrations to re-engineer education and workforce development so that young Georgians thrive and Georgia’s economy prospers. See the story on page 6
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members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406 e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your association and/or to A4 Inc.
Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the associations or publisher nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content
“Gort! Klaatu Borada nikto.”
or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher.
A4 INC. (770) 521 8877 USE A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST WITH YOUR TRANSLATION PROJECT, because a little mistake in another language can have unpleasant results.
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The Georgia Contractor
The Georgia
Contractor 6
March | April 2012
CONTENTS
Ask What Makes You Come Alive and Go Do It!
10 Students Showcase Construction Skills at State Championship
13 More than 7,000 to Attend 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships; Largest Turnout in Event History
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Welcome from Ron Jackson, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia
16 Georgia State Licensing Board Awards Experience for STC Associate Degree Graduates
18 Bringing Go Build to Georgia
20 Go Build Georgia: good for business, our citizens, and our state
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Georgia Tech Continues to Lead in Construction Education
24 Construction Progresses on Georgia’s New Nuclear Units
26 Fueling the Future: The Georgia Regional Future City Competition
30 A Resource for Transportation Professionals
32 Georgia Contractor News
24 March | April 2012
34 Winter Grading 5
Ask what makes you
COME ALIVE AND GO DO IT!
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The Georgia Contractor
“D
on’t Ask What the World Needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ H. urman. My wife is a medical doctor. I run a nonprofit organization. Our son likes puzzles. Our daughter loves to dance. Even within our little family, we are all very different. Different things make each of us come alive. I believe that’s important to keep in mind as we think about education and workforce development, and as we each think about ‘what we want to be when we grow up.’ I have the pleasure of serving as a math helper for my four-year-old son’s class every other Friday. Fortunately, it’s a four-year-old class, so I didn’t need to brush up on my algebra or geometry. No high-level math, thank goodness! But, I’ve been amazed at how different every student is. As I work on “Dinosaur Subtraction” or “French Fry Math” with my son’s classmates, it’s so interesting to see that every student is different. They have different strengths, different weaknesses, different learning styles, different abilities to focus, different ways of communicating. Literally every child is different in their interests and in how they learn. This experience gives me a whole new respect for teachers. I know our teachers realize this fact. It is encouraging and inspiring to see that today three elected leaders at the very top of our government here in Georgia realize that every young person is different. They not only recognize this fact; they are making it a priority in their administrations to re-engineer education and workforce development so that young Georgians thrive and Georgia’s economy prospers. March | April 2012
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It starts at the very top. On January 17, Governor Nathan Deal launched Go Build Georgia. Go Build is a nationally-recognized marketing campaign and educational tool, designed to make people aware of career opportunities in the building industry. Initially launched in Alabama, the Go Build campaign features Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs and Ford commercial fame) as its champion spokesperson. Rowe’s charisma and passion for the skilled trades, combined with a powerful Web site (gobuildgeorgia.com) make the Go Build campaign the best of its kind in the nation. It leverages the fact that we are all very different, by giving individuals an opportunity to register, take assessments (to determine their own strengths / weaknesses, likes / dislikes) and learn about more than 100 career opportunities in the building industry. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle is another good example of a leader who recognizes we are all very different. He has worked tirelessly over the last five years with the Department of Education, the Technical College System of Georgia, local school systems and business leaders to help establish more than 20 Career Academies throughout the state. These career academies give individual students an educational path that excites and challenges them. Career academies help high school students answer that all important question: ‘What makes you come alive?’ It is also very exciting to see the leader-
ship and direction of State School Superintendent, Dr. John Barge. All you have to do is look at DOE’s new mission statement to realize that Dr. Barge gets it: “Making Education Work for all Georgians.” Dr. Barge realized early on—even before taking office that Georgia’s education system was too narrowly focused on preparing all students to take standardized tests and all students to attend a four-year university. One of Superintendent Barge’s first big achievements came on February 9, 2012, when Georgia was granted a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education for No Child Left Behind. “This is wonderful news for Georgia’s students, educators, and parents,” said Superintendent Barge. “No longer will we
be bound by the narrow definitions of success found in No Child Left Behind. We will now be able to hold schools accountable and reward them for the work they do in all subjects and with all students.” This should be music to the ears of any Georgian who recognizes that we are all very different and that we all need flexibility in our education system to find out what it is that makes us come alive. We hope you find the 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships to be a grand opportunity to find out what it is that makes you come alive. That is the primary purpose. Enjoy and good luck in your quest to find out what makes you come alive! v
Scott Shelar is the Executive Director of CEFGA - The Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. Pictured at left is Scott’s family, four-year-old Martin, one-year old Sophie, and Scott’s wife of 16 years, Kara Martin. CEFGA partners with construction companies, trade associations, the Technical College System of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Education, and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development to support training programs and encourage students to pursue careers in construction through programs like the 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo. CEFGA is building the construction industry one person at a time. www.cefga.org
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The Georgia Contractor
LEADERSHIP IN CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION • • • •
Construction Management Sustainable Construction & Facilities Information Technology and BIM New Track in Program Management
• • • •
International Study Abroad Experiences Professional Internships Engagement with Industry Student Construction Association
STUDENTS SHOWCASE
CONSTRUCTION SKILLS
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The Georgia Contractor
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t’s at the center of the Southeast’s largest construction event, and it’s truly a centerpiece event. The 2012 SkillsUSA State Championships return to the Georgia International Convention Center on March 15-16, 2012. Showcasing more than 500 of the state’s top high school and technical college students, the construction-related SkillsUSA State Championships take place at the GICC in conjunction with the annual CEFGA CareerExpo. CEFGA and industry partners like the Independent Electrical Contractors, the American Institute of Architects, the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association, the Masonry Association of Georgia, the ABC of Georgia, and the Georgia Branch, AGC have sponsored the construction-related contests for more than ten years. “These are the best young carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, welders, heating and air technicians in the state of Georgia,” says Scott Shelar,
STATe ChAmpiONShip eveNT at
executive director of CEFGA—the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. “It’s a perfect fit for CEFGA and our partners to support SkillsUSA in every way that we can.” In addition to trade associations, several private companies support SkillsUSA Georgia, including Lowe’s, Holder Construction Company, Pyramid Masonry, Shumate Mechanical, and Lincoln Electric. March | April 2012
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SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit student organization that has developed more than ten million workers through active partnerships between employers and educators. Hundreds of American industries have turned to SkillsUSA as the source for employees who exemplify ‘Champions at Work’ in both skills and attitudes. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. At the heart of this mission are SkillsUSA’s core values: integrity, responsibility, citizenship, service, and respect. SkillsUSA Georgia is focused on serving high school and technical college students involved in Architecture, Construction, Communication, Cosmetology, Public Safety, and Transportation pathways. CEFGA and its industry partners support all of the architecture and construction competitions by designing the competition project, providing materials, prizes, and volunteer judges from industry. In 2012, CEFGA and its industry partners will donate
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more than $200,000 in material, equipment, prizes, and volunteer time to SkillsUSA Georgia.
In addition to organizing and judging more than 20 construction-related contests, CEFGA and its industry partners, like the AGC Young Leadership Program, sponsor Georgia’s young state champions with travel scholarships to represent the state at the SkillsUSA National Championships in Kansas City. “The students who are part of SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Education Programs normally have the skills and the work ethic we are looking for, which is hard to find today. It’s just a great fit for us,” says Debra Howell of Georgia Power, a major sponsor of SkillsUSA Georgia. The 2012 SkillsUSA State Championships for construction-related competitions are organized by CEFGA—the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia and more than 100 industry partners. For more information please visit cefga.org, skillsusageorgia.org or call 678-889-4445. CEFGA, building the construction industry one person at a time. v
The Georgia Contractor
More than 7,000 to Attend 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships; Largest Turnout in Event History Quick facts about the 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships -7,000+ Attendees -800+ Industry volunteers, exhibitors, and guests -1,000+ Teachers, counselors, and parents -5,200+ Students -300+ Companies -200+ Schools -More than 200,000 he annual CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships return to the Georgia International Convention Center in a big way on March 15-16, 2012. More than 7,000 attendees are expected at the eighth annual event. It will be the largest event to date. “The response has been tremendous this year,” said event organizer and CEFGA Executive Director Scott Shelar. “Schools are eager for their students to learn about career pathways, and companies are eager to connect with new talent.” The event is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States, combining fun, interactive career exploration opportunities for students and a skills competition for the best, young construction talent in the state of Georgia. The CEFGA CareerExpo is divided up into 12 different ‘Worlds,’ including The March | April 2012
World of Architecture & Engineering, The World of Safety & Health, The World of Construction Management and Green Building, The World of Electrical Contracting, The World of Plumbing, and The World of Energy, for example. Within each World, industry volunteers demonstrate their industry in a fun, hands-on way. In the World of Masonry, for example, students observe a Master Brick Mason laying brick and block, then are given an opportunity to work with ‘mud’ and lay brick to a line. In the World of Tile Contracting, students meet professional tile contractors, who work with the students to design, cut, and install tile. In the World of Energy, students meet professionals from Georgia Power, MEAG Power, Oglethorpe Power, and other energy companies and learn how power plants are built, and how power is generated and transmitted. In the World of Heavy Equipment and
Square Feet of Exhibit and Competition Space The 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships are organized by CEFGA - the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia and more than 300 industry partners. For more information please visit cefga.org or call 678889-4445.
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Utility Contracting, students operate equipment simulators and large pieces of construction equipment under close adult supervision. Each ‘World’ is sponsored by an individual company or trade organization, or in some cases a combination of companies and trade associations. The industry volunteers represent more than 300 companies from all over Georgia. Each ‘World’ seeks to achieve the following with students, counselors, parents, and teachers: • Emphasize safety and the importance of safety in the building industry. • Demonstrate green and sustainability practices in the building industry. • Provide Career Pathway Information (e.g. What are the careers? How do I pursue a career in this area? How much money can I make? What is the outlook? Where do I go for training?) • Address how understanding of certain academic subjects—namely Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is critical in the building industry. • Ensure that each World is hands-on, interactive, and fun. 14
Many companies concerned about an aging workforce and feeling the need to reach out to the next generation find the CareerExpo a perfect way to engage and begin addressing the concern. “You walk into our warehouse at six o’clock in the morning and you see all of the over-50-aged people. You start to worry as a business owner,” said Jeffrey Diamond, president of Goodman Decorating, a key sponsor of the CEFGA CareerExpo. “It’s incumbent upon me to work with programs that inspire kids to want to come into my business. The CareerExpo helps us get young people to think about our industry.” “This event is very important to us,” says Greg Kadlick of Wayne J. Griffin Electric, another long-term sponsor of the CEFGA CareerExpo. “We get a lot of our young players from CEFGA and SkillsUSA. It’s how we build our company. If we don’t have new blood coming in, we can’t expand the company.” “The students who are part of SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Education Programs are a perfect fit for our industry. They normally have the skills and the work ethic we are looking for, which is hard to find today. It’s just a great fit for us,” says Debra Howell of Georgia Power, a presenting sponsor of the CareerExpo. The event is also important to educators and students. Covering more than
200,000 square feet of space, the CareerExpo is a unique opportunity for students to learn about dozens of careers pathways and to connect with hundreds of employers all under one roof. “The CareerExpo gives a connection between businesses and their workforce pipeline. These are kids that these businesses want to one day hire,” says Ron Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, a presenting sponsor of the CareerExpo. “This event is an opportunity for companies to meet kids and kids to see career opportunities in a real world environment. Because of that, we are very supportive of this event.” v
The Georgia Contractor
Welcome Message from Ron Jackson, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia t’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 2012 SkillsUSA state competition and CEFGA CareerExpo. This is an important event for the Technical College System of Georgia because the state’s 25 technical colleges offer a wide variety of programs related to the fields of building and construction, all of which are vital to keeping our state competitive in the new, global economy. This annual competition and expo is an exciting showcase for the amazing talents of thousands of young students who have made the smart decision to train for careers in the skilled trades. Developing a pipeline of highly-skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen for Georgia’s workforce is essential to the state’s future growth and prosperity. Recently, Governor Nathan Deal launched his Go Build Georgia initiative with the goal of attracting even more young students to jobs that will address the skills gap in the building and construction industry. It’s projected that in the next year alone, Georgia companies will seek to fill more than 16,000 jobs in skilled trades, and that number should only grow in the coming years as older workers retire and more jobs emerge. In today’s skilled job market, a basic education is no longer the simple ticket to success. Instead, the most successful businesses and industries want people who possess the right combination of education, critical thinking abilities, work ethic, and training in the latest technology. As a result, jobs that once went to people who were good at working with their hands now belong to men and women who excel in working with their hands-in-hand with technology. This is where the value of a technical college education comes into the picture. Georgia has invested in a world-class technical college system that’s known far and wide for its ability to educate men and women with the skills, knowledge, and expertise that they need to compete for the
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Ron Jackson best positions and highest salaries. In fact, the Technical College System of Georgia is a leader in the national renaissance in technical education. Today, people who once thought of technical education as the old ‘votech’ or a second choice to a traditional four-year college or university are now seeing the excellent value of a skilled, technical college education as the fast track to a successful career. Georgia’s technical colleges prepare
people for work that they enjoy doing in professions that are in demand, like the skilled trades. Best of all, tuition at a state technical college is affordable at $75 a semester credit hour. With good grades, the HOPE grant will pay for most of that tuition. In addition, for students who qualify, the federal Pell grant will help pay the costs related to a college education. I encourage everyone to walk the floor of this year’s SkillsUSA state competition and watch as these young but very talented students put their exceptional work to the test and contend to be recognized as the best of the best. These students are our future, the next generation that will help us build a better Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia will be there to help them along the way. All the best, Ron Jackson, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia v
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Georgia State Licensing Board Awards Experience for STC Associate Degree Graduates Savannah Tech is Georgia’s first technical college to receive approval he Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors has determined Savannah Technical College’s Associate Degree in Construction Management now qualifies students for licensure one year earlier. STC is the first technical college to receive defined approval for two years of education and one year of work experience for program graduates. Until now, STC Construction Management Associate Degree students were required to complete two years of experience with a licensed contractor upon graduation to qualify for residential contracting licensure testing. The board’s vote allows students to apply for a license after STC program completion and one year of supervised experience. “As a female student, the ability to receive my licensure in one year post graduation speaks volumes about my work experience, work ethic, and work quality,” said STC Construction Management student Alice Ogden. “I appreciate that Savannah Technical College pursued this agreement with the General Contracting Licensing Board.” Another second-year construction management student, Nelly Wiley, is a military wife whose husband is stationed in Savannah, Georgia. Her dad has worked in construction, so she is very familiar with the industry. She plans to work for a construction firm once she graduates Spring Semester with an Associate’s Degree in Construction Management. Wiley will qualify for the exam one year earlier and appreciates the hands-on training she’s received at Savannah Tech. “Having an opportunity to get certified a year earlier means being in the field, ready to be my own boss in less time,” explains Wiley. “Being an entrepreneur has been a 16
Alice Ogden works on Savannah Tech’s Residential Energy Audit Training Facility at the Savannah Campus. dream since I learned the word, and only tion. They learn how to calculate potential energy savings using utility rates and histornow is it at my fingertips.” Job placement for Construction Tech- ical energy usage data. Students also use the nology has averaged more than 90 percent energy audit building to perform inspection the past three years, and all 33 department tests such as building envelopes, mechanical graduates in FY2011 (July 1, 2010, through & electrical systems, blower-door tests, attic June 30, 2011) were placed into the work- insulation, window retrofits, and heating system upgrades. Savannah Tech is currentforce. “Savannah Technical College has a ly working with national standards for cerproven track record of an excellent educa- tification in residential energy efficiency. STC’s Department Head for Construction program that has provided the greater Savannah area with a trained workforce for tion Technologies, Dan Krautheimer, has many years,” said Executive Officer for worked in construction for nearly two Home Builders Association of Greater decades. He was recently elected chairman of Georgia’s Instructional Faculty ConsorSavannah Patty Rietkovich. Part of STC’s construction technology tium Committee for the Construction Protraining includes work on its energy audit gram. He will be in charge of running and building. Students have the hands-on coordinating the bi-annual meetings and opportunity to learn and practice energy acting as program liaison for the Technical efficient construction techniques including College System of Georgia. “It’s an honor to know my peers see me residential energy audits and weatherizaThe Georgia Contractor
as a leader among them,” said Krautheimer. “I know we’re in a tough time for new construction, but updates and maintenance projects are necessary and certified construction managers are required by the state. And when the economy bounces back, we’ll be ready to answer the call.” STC’s Construction Technology Department includes technical certificates of credit (TCC) in certified construction worker, concrete forming, construction management apprentice, construction manager, and masonry apprentice, as well as the associate degree and professional diploma in construction management. The certified construction worker TCC may be taken mostly online. Four of the five courses are offered online, allowing high school students dual enrollment option, fast-tracking career pathways for the TCC or a head start on the associate degree. Dual enrollment students can earn both high school and college credit prior to high school graduation. “We’re giving our students more options,” said Krautheimer. “If someone can’t get to campus during the day, they’ll
be able to take some of the construction classes online.” The more theoretical classes are the ones offered online, because occupational courses require hands-on instruction in a lab environment, notes Krautheimer. When fully developed, students will be able to complete more than half of the Construction Management program online. “Technical Education requires more laboratory hours than most four-year institutions, giving our students the distinct advantage of going to a job site and understanding the project from the ground up,” said Krautheimer. “My students work within the community now, with local contractors acknowledged as experts in their field. Every project manager we’ve encountered has been blown away by what these students are able to accomplish, to code and on-time.” The certificate programs offer instruction in the fundamentals of construction and management of construction projects while the degree and diploma are designed to prepare students for a career in some construction supervision. Basic carpentry skills include laying footings and foundations,
framing, roofing, and interior and exterior finishing. Management skills include principles of accounting, construction drafting, code review, scheduling, and contracting. Program graduates receive an associate of applied science degree in construction management. v
Savannah Technical College
serves coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Savannah, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 4,500 credit students each semester, Savannah Tech offers nearly 100 different instructional programs in Business and Technology, Public Service, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training, and continuing education. The college serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree.
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Bringing Go Build to Georgia By Tricia Pridemore | Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development ith Georgia’s unemployment rate still lingering above the national average, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development along with other state agencies have a challenge to face. Getting Georgian’s the skills they need to get back to work has become a top priority in 2012. When creating solutions for Georgia’s unemployment, it is important to look at the data that drives the decision. We must ask ourselves what is leading to the gap in jobs and where is the availability in our state for people to start careers? Having strength in numbers through the use of valuable data is important to implementing programs and initiatives that will help the state of Georgia as a whole. Behind each unemployed Georgian is not just a number or a statistic; there is a person striving for success for themselves and for their families. Our mission is to provide these people with adequate resources to achieve their employment goals. Through Governor Nathan Deal’s Competitiveness Initiative, the two main areas of concern communicated were education and workforce. Through this initiative and several industry roundtables, we found that there is also an urgent need for skilled labor across the state. Industries that rely on skilled labor will have almost half of their workforce reaching retirement age in the next year with few new, highly skilled workers to take their place. As more workers retire, the larger the skilled labor gap becomes for Georgia. After looking further into the job and occupation data within the skilled trades in Georgia, our office took action. Go Build Georgia, a skilled labor advancement initiative was launched through our office alongside Governor Deal on January 17, 2012 at the state Capitol. 18
On January 17, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development launched Go Build Georgia. The press conference included remarks from Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power and Ron Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. “Go Build is about providing Georgians with the training they need to fill those positions. We want the citizens of this great state to build our airplanes, bridges, and automobiles,” said Governor Nathan Deal. “We need to take the necessary steps to ensure that Georgians are equipped to manage our energy and telecom infrastructure.” There is a predicted opening of 16,500 positions in the skilled trades in Georgia over the next year. Go Build Georgia aims to create awareness of these new opportunities and guide people to the right skill training to be able to acquire a job in the skilled trades. For over two generations, we have been telling our youth that you must earn a fouryear college degree to achieve the ‘American Dream,’ but this may sometimes not be the case. With a strong Technical College system already in place, Go Build Georgia will
work with the system to encourage students to explore the training programs and career opportunities these colleges have to offer within the craft trades. This program aims to educate the public at large about the salary and lifestyle benefits that go with the skilled trades. Instead of being constantly tied to your smart phone seven-days-a-week and 24 hours a day, you could spend time with your family and friends because in many skilled trade jobs, when the day’s work is complete, your job is done. The areas of focus for Go Build Georgia are energy, manufacturing, industrial construction, transportation and, telecommunications career opportunities. These are the sectors in Georgia that are suffering from the skilled labor shortage. Go Build Georgia will help link together educators, business and industry leaders, and tradesmen with a 13-stop The Georgia Contractor
regional tour across the state to meet with school counselors and other key stakeholders in the program. The Go Build Georgia team is visiting technical colleges and career academies to host the tour meetings. Our goal is to build a network for our school counselors to be able to match students with training, business, and tradesmen. We have provided tool kits full of resource materials for the counselors as well. Everyone working in concert helps to ensure that each sector gets what they need to be successful in the future. Our goal is to keep the lines of communication open between all involved with Go Build Georgia. We are looking for an all hands on deck approach to solving Georgia’s workforce challenges. When companies look to Georgia, we want them to see we have a strong stable workforce ready to make their business successful. Our office aims to be able to build and maintain a strong, skilled, and abundant workforce for the state for generations to come. v
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Go Build Georgia: good for business, our citizens, and our state By Paul Bowers, Chairman and CEO | Georgia Power
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The Georgia Contractor
hen Georgia Power was asked to work with the state on a new workforce initiative called Go Build Georgia, my response was an immediate and enthusiastic “Yes!” My whole-hearted support is based on some surprising statistics, especially this one: Over the next year, it is projected that 16,500 skilled labor jobs will be needed in our state. Industries—including the electric power sector—that rely on skilled labor face a severe labor shortage in coming years due to a rapidly retiring workforce. Go Build Georgia seeks to address this labor shortage through public outreach. We must get the message out to our young people and the public at large about the many high-paying careers there are in the construction trades. We must work together to increase awareness of the educational and training opportunities we offer in our state to help citizens pursue these opportunities. The average salary of a skilled labor worker is 27 percent more than that of the average pay for Georgians. Go Build Georgia encourages high school and middle school counselors to work with students and their parents to make them aware of options other than college that can lead to well-paid jobs and long-term success. This initiative has the potential to enhance and uplift the quality of life for many of our citizens now and in the future. It can improve high school graduation rates while adding high-paying jobs to our state's labor force. A product of the Governor's Competitiveness Initiative, Go Build Georgia brings together education and business stakeholders to further develop our workforce, which will make our state more competitive nationally. From a business and competitive standpoint, the economic development implications of Go Build Georgia are enormous. The United States has never been so globally interconnected as it is today, and Georgia is no exception. March | April 2012
Companies look at a variety of factors in locating and growing business and choosing the right place to invest. In addition to a vibrant economy and talented workforce, ‘Availability of skilled labor’ is among the top reasons companies choose a particular location. Every company evaluating Georgia for location asks for a projected labor analysis to ensure they will have a quality workforce today and tomorrow. In some instances, Georgia falls short of supplying enough of a certain job to
attract the investment—many of those are in the craft industries. At Georgia Power, we are acutely aware of the need in our state for more skilled construction and craft labor professionals. Last year, contractors performing work at our plants employed approximately 5,600 such workers. Our demand for these types of workers shows no sign of waning any time soon. We have major construction or maintenance projects ongoing in our business on any given day that require skilled workers. Construction of two new nuclear units at our Plant Vogtle site near Augusta alone will result in the creation of more than 3,500 skilled jobs. All these projects require a workforce of highly-skilled construction craft labor professionals. Go Build Georgia has the potential to boost economic development, improve high school graduation rates, and add high-paying jobs to our labor market. A skilled workforce is good for business, our citizens, and our state. v
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Georgia Tech Continues to Lead in Construction Education By Lisa Borello he Georgia Tech School of Building Construction is proud to support the state’s ‘Go Build Georgia’ initiative, part of a federal effort to train and promote skilled tradesmen for careers in the construction industry. “We have been educating students in Construction Management for over 50 years. We are excited to be a part of Governor Deal’s plan to promote education in the Built Environment,” said Dr. Daniel Castro, Chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Building Construction. Dr. Castro, an Associate Professor of Building Construction, was appointed Chair of the School in July 2011. He is a Professional Engineer and an expert in material procurement, automation protocols, and sustainable energy alternatives for buildings. The School of Building Construction at GT offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Students can focus their studies in several areas of construction and emerging technologies for the industry, including: Construction Management, Sustainable Construction and Facilities, Information Technology and BIM, Project Management, Residential Construction Development, and Facility Management. The Building Construction program provides a well-rounded and challenging curriculum made up of a variety of construction management, law, structures, estimating, scheduling, management, accounting, physics, and other courses designed to prepare students for real-world construction management challenges. The school also provides students with exceptional opportunities to gain practical experience through professional internships. Undergraduate and graduate students have been placed with a variety of firms in the construction industry, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, federal agencies, real 22
Daniel Castro estate development firms, consulting companies, and have interned in the multi-family housing sector. BC students have worked on some on some of the state’s most exciting construction projects, such as the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport expansion and the redevelopment of Fort McPherson. Students also have an opportunity to enhance their presentation and construction management skills, network with construction industry professionals and compete against other universities in competitions hosted by several different national organizations, including the Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. The school also recently expanded its international reach, offering two new international study abroad opportunities in both London and Beijing. Students take courses, tour world-famous construction sites, and experience the culture of Europe and Asia, both booming international construction markets. The school remains committed to its mission to provide an exceptional education and takes a key leading role in identifying
and solving the industry’s major problems and challenges, both now and into the future. The school is currently searching for two additional faculty members who will be charged with teaching both undergraduate and graduate students and conducting research. The school also recently launched a new graduate track in Program Management, which trains students to manage a construction project or a series of projects from the development of an idea through post-construction activities. The school also received approval to offer the nation’s first Ph.D. in Building Construction. The school will be admitting students in this new degree program beginning Fall 2012. The School’s current faculty continue to be engaged in cutting edge research. Some of our current active research projects include: A/E/C/FM Integration and Project Performance Metrics, Economic Decision Analysis of Energy Efficient Buildings, Financial Risk Analysis of Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation Investment Analysis for International Construction Market Entry; Economic Valuation of Flexible Healthcare Design and Planning; Sustainable Material Selection; Emerging Alternative Energy Sources for Buildings; Machine Vision for Material Tracking; Constructability Analysis for Rehabilitation Strategies; Innovative Portable Computing Applications for Construction; Situation Awareness (SA)-based Information Needs Assessment in A/E/C/FM; Construction Safety; and Workspace Decision-Making. The School of Building Construction houses three research laboratories dedicated to innovative technology and cutting edge research in the construction industry. The labs are: (1) Economics of the Sustainable Built Environment Lab (ESBE), directed by Dr. Baabak Ashuri; (2) Construction Information Technology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Ioannis Brilakis; and (3) CONECTech The Georgia Contractor
Lab (Enhancing the Construction Environment through Cognitive Technologies), directed by Dr. Javier Irizarry. In addition to its research and education mission, The School of Building Construction continues its efforts to promote education for middle school and high school students around the state through the ACE Mentor Program, CEFGA, and the Future Cities Competition. The school is also actively engaged in other community outreach efforts, including the Annual Green Awareness 5K, co-sponsored with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to benefit HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit providing housing for homeless women and children in the metro area. The school will also be hosting the Jim Dreger Golf Classic this October at the Smoke Rise Country Club to raise funds for student scholarships and fund travel for student competitions. Through these events and other active partnerships with local schools, and the construction industry, Georgia Tech students and alumni are shaping the new built environment.
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“I am so proud of our students and what they have accomplished,” said Dr. Castro. “I’m eager for our program to support Go Build Georgia and provide the
opportunities for all students in Georgia to develop skills and careers that will support the industry, our state, and the governor’s growth initiatives.” v
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Construction Progresses on Georgia’s New Nuclear Units By Steve Higginbottom
Plant Vogtle Units Three and Four near Waynesboro, Georgia, took a major step forward Dec. 22, 2011, when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced it had certified Westinghouse Electric Co.’s AP1000 reactor design. Georgia Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, owns 45.7 percent of the new units. 24
The Georgia Contractor
The certification brings Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear one step closer to receiving the first Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) for a U.S. nuclear plant. “This is another key milestone for the Vogtle project and the nation's nuclear renaissance,” said Southern Company Chairman, President, and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. “The NRC’s action confirms the AP1000 design is safe and meets all regulatory requirements. The commission now has all of the technical information needed to issue the Vogtle COL.” Upon receipt of the COL, full construction can commence at the site. The NRC will determine when a public vote on the Vogtle COL will occur. Unit Three continues on track for operation in 2016 and Unit Four in 2017. Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is overseeing construction and will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and coowners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and Dalton Utilities. In addition to Plant Vogtle, Southern Nuclear also operates two other nuclear plants: Hatch, near Baxley, Georgia, and Farley, near Dothan, Alabama. Plant Vogtle was constructed with the option to expand. Why Nuclear? The most cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally responsible fuel source today, for mass or baseload generation of electricity, is nuclear. Nuclear energy fits in Southern Company’s mix of smart energy sources. It’s a proven technology that produces no greenhouse gas emissions and can relieve cost uncertainty caused by coal and natural gas prices. By 2030, electrical demand is projected to increase 27 percent in the Southeast. Additionally, current and pending legislation and environmental standards are impacting electricity generation fueled by coal. The company is planning to use
nuclear units to extend reliable and affordable supplies of electricity in the Southeast. Nuclear generation is projected to be more cost effective than traditional coal and gas resources. Vogtle Units Three and Four are expected to save Georgia customers up to $6 billion in lower electricity rates over the life of the units as compared to a coal or natural gas plant. Nuclear energy is estimated to be between 15 percent to 40 percent less expensive than wind generation and 50 percent to 80 percent less expensive than solar in the southeastern United States. Nuclear capacity can be built to meet local energy demand growth in Georgia. Wind and solar have limited availability in the Southeast and do not offer economic-scaled options. Construction Progresses The construction of the two new electric generating units at Plant Vogtle continues with more than 1,700 personnel focused on safety and quality in their everyday tasks. Work at the site is being done under what’s referred to as a “Limited Work Authorization.” Approved by the NRC, it gives SNC the authority to perform specific safetyrelated work such as pouring foundations, installing backfill and doing specified work on the ‘nuclear island’—the area where the nuclear-related components for the new units will be placed. Approximately 300 sections of ten-foot diameter concrete and steel Circulating Water System (CWS) pipes are being put in place for Vogtle Unit Four. Most of the Vogtle Unit Three CWS piping is already set and has been covered with concrete and soil. The CWS pipes will be used to recirculate large quantities of water between the units’ two cooling towers and their respective turbine building condensers. Several million cubic yards of special soils were backfilled and compacted during the excavation of the two new units. More backfilling will take place in the years ahead as the turbine building is constructed. The nuclear islands for Units Three and Four were lined with retaining walls and now extend 40 feet into the ground.
Plant Vogtle Units ree and Four construction site with Vogtle Unit Four backfill, circulating water pipes and nuclear island, and in the background, the assembly of heavy lift derrick lower sections (blue in color) and Vogtle operating Units One and Two. March | April 2012
The first components that will be put in place inside the nuclear islands are the CR-10 modules. These are the cradles on which the containment vessels will sit. Work is currently under way on the Unit Three CR-10 at the Containment Vessel Cradle Assembly Pad. Once in place, each CR-10 module and containment vessel bottom will be surrounded by concrete. Between the two nuclear islands is the circular platform for the heavy lift derrick crane. The platform is surrounded by a 300 foot diameter rail-track. This will allow the crane to place the 1,000-ton sections of the containment vessels and large structural modules inside each of the nuclear islands. The first parts of the crane assembly are being placed on the track now, and the 560foot boom is being assembled. Some 3,500 construction workers will be employed on the site at the height of construction. The new units will bring some 800 permanent positions to the Burke County site. Plant Vogtle Units Three and Four represent a $14 billion investment in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Public Service Commission certified $6.1 million of that for Georgia Power as a 45.7 percent owner of the new units. In June of last year, Southern Company, on behalf of Georgia Power, accepted the first conditional commitment in loan guarantees from the DOE. Negotiations between Southern Company and DOE continue, and guarantees should be finalized after the company receives the Combined Operating License. These loan guarantees will result in Georgia Power customers saving approximately $20 million in interest costs annually over the expected life of the loans. That total savings will depend on the final terms of the loans. Southern Company’s exceptional financial strength and 30-year history of safely operating nuclear plants make it a solid, credit-worthy candidate for the DOE loan guarantee. The company is uniquely positioned to meet the obligations of its DOE loan guarantee commitment, which, when combined with other regulatory mechanisms, will provide customers nearly $1 billion in benefits.v 25
Fueling the Future: The Georgia Regional Future City Competition
Tony Rizzuto PhD. | Associate Professor | Architecture Department | Southern Polytechnic State University | Chair Georgia Regional Future City Steering Committee 26
The Georgia Contractor
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ur era is increasingly defined by growing concerns with sustainability and the environment, population increases, and the need for cleaner energy. Addressing these concerns requires innovation and creativity, and an increased awareness in our citizenry of how cities and regional centers operate and thrive. Educational programs and competitions play an important role in developing this increased awareness in the next generation and help to secure our future success. The 2012 Future City Competition did just that by challenging its Competition Teams with its theme Fuel Your Future: Imagine New Ways to Meet Our Energy Needs and Maintain a Healthy Planet. Now in its 19th year, Future City has gained national attention and acclaim for its role in encouraging middle school students to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), using hands on applications. Combining research, SimCity4 Deluxe software, and hands on model making, Future City helps students discover how they can make a difference in the world by designing a city of the future for 50,000 inhabitants. This flexible, cross-curricular educational program gives students an opportunity to do the things that professionals in the Engineering, Architecture and Construction industries do: identify problems, brainstorm ideas, design solutions, test- retest, build, and share their results. With this at its core, Future City builds students 21st century skills. Working with a sponsoring Educator and Professional Mentor, Competition Teams, comprised of three middle school students (sixth, seventh or eighth grade), complete the four components of the competition: • A Virtual City designed in SimCity4 Deluxe software • A Research Essay and City Narrative • A Scale Model of a portion of their city • A Presentation of their design concepts
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First Place Winners
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Each Competition Team is asked to design a city for 50,000 residents 150 years in the future. The virtual city component of the competition develops an awareness of how cities function and the kinds of infrastructure they require to thrive and prosper. The 500 word City Narrative provides an introduction to the their vision including information about their general concept, life and people, location, creative and innovative infrastructure solutions, housing, city services, and economic base. This essay is accompanied by a 1000 word research essay wherein students conduct research on the year’s topic and use this information to create an innovative solution for the future. As part of their presentation, Competition Teams are required to build a scale model of part of their city using recycled materials. Each model must also have at least one moving part. On the day of competition, each student on the team contributes to a seven minute presentation to the judges that introduces both their city and its unique and creative innovations for the future. Teams from across the Georgia Region compete in the preliminary round for twenty Special Awards and the chance to move on to the finalist round where the top five teams compete for the chance to win the Georgia Regional Competition. The winning Team receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to represent our Region in the National Future City Competition. This year’s First Prize winner was “Nevaeh (QA2)” from Queen of Angels Catholic School. The Georgia Regional Future City Competition is one of the largest in the nation. This year on January 21, 2012, 142 Competition Teams participated on the campus of Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) in Marietta, Georgia. In addition to the 426 student competitors, their Educator Sponsors, and Mentors, the event also had over 180 judges and one hundred volunteers participate. To be a success the Georgia Regional Future City Competition relies on the strength of the professional community who serve as Mentors, Judges, and Volunteers. Working with educators, Future City 28
Second Place Winners
Third Place Winners
Fourth Place Winners The Georgia Contractor
Mentors serve as coaches, providing insight, helping in problem-solving, and bringing subject area expertise as they work with individual student teams. All mentors are provided with a Mentor Handbook and are provided online training via Bentley Mentor Center for Excellence courtesy of Bentley Systems. Judges review the various components of the competition, including the Virtual City design in Simcity4 Deluxe, the Research and City Narrative Essays, and on the day of competition, the Scale Models and Presentations. Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) houses and sponsors the Georgia Regional Future City Competition, providing administrative, logistical, and practical support and overseeing all operational functions of the Competition. If you would like to get involved or sponsor the competition, please contact the Georgia Regional Coordinator, Professor Tony Rizzuto Ph.D. at trizzuto@spsu.edu. v
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Fifth Place Winners
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A Resource for Transportation Professionals Advances in funding, bridge construction, and program delivery help owners do more with less By Ted Zoli, PE | National Bridge Chief Engineer | HNTB Corporation For more about bridges or to download HNTB’s “Limited resources offer opportunity to think about bridges differently” viewpoint, visit: http://www.hntb.com/point-of-view.
ore than one in four U.S. bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The need to replace or improve them with ever-shrinking resources is driving innovation and creativity in financing, design, and delivery. Some of the latest developments include: A growing preference for tolling. Nearly half (48 percent) of Americans who responded to a recent HNTB America THINKS survey said in the future they would prefer to pay for the maintenance of existing bridges and construction of new local bridges with tolls rather than higher sales taxes (16 percent), higher gas taxes (12 percent) or higher property taxes (eight percent). Technological advancements are making tolling a more acceptable option for motorists and opening up vast pricing opportunities. Leaps in accelerated bridge construction Innovative methods include the use of bridge movement technology to maneuver bridge sections into place, as well as an entirely new bridge design that eliminates superstructure joints. • The Lake Champlain Bridge project in upstate New York was completed in just over two years. Crews constructed the main span off site at the same time the approach spans were built. The center arch was then floated into position on the water and lifted into place. • The U.S. Highway 6 Bridge, a demonstration project in Iowa, eliminated all superstructure joints (to reduce maintenance costs) and used ultra-high performance concrete (to produce a highly efficient, durable structure). The project: • Reduced construction time and bridge 30
Ted Zoli closure by 90 percent. • Shortened bridge replacement to two weeks of traffic disruption. Less expensive retrofits and rehabilitations Engineers are developing solutions that result in effective, long-lasting infrastructure. • The Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans was widened using a span lift strategy that was faster than traditional stick-build methods and minimized impact to local commerce and the community.
About the Author~ Zoli, a 2012 ENR Newsmaker and a 2009 MacArthur Foundation Fellows winner, is chief bridge engineer in charge of technical aspects of HNTB’s bridge practice. Contact Zoli at (212) 915-9588 or tzoli@hntb.com. Transportation Point Extra is distributed by e-mail to professionals in the transportation industry. To be added to the list, send your request to requests@hntb.com. ©2012 HNTB Companies. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation v
Continued design-build adoption New York became one of the newest states to approve design-build legislation in December 2011. Its 1955 Tappan Zee Bridge could be the next major U.S. span to be replaced using design-build. If it’s applied, the multi-billion dollar project could be designed in one year and constructed in four. As an industry, creativity, innovation, and inspiration in the engineering and design process are the drivers that will maximize our investment and deliver real economic growth. The Georgia Contractor
Š Andy Ryan, Photo Courtesy HNTB March | April 2012
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Georgia
NewSContractor
Skanska Welcomes Bill Morrison and Jim Viviano to its Atlanta Office Skanska USA announces that Bill Morrison and Jim Viviano have joined the company’s Atlanta office. Morrison will serve as a vice president, and Viviano will serve as senior director of business development for Georgia. Bill Morrison joins Skanska as an Atlanta native with more than 25 years experience in construction, program management, and real estate development. In his new role, he will focus on growing the business, primarily in the higher education and commercial sectors, as well as guide the strategic growth of Skanska in the region. Previously, Morrison worked with Jones Lang LaSalle’s Project Development Services group and was a senior vice president at Carter, where he spent 11 years in Carter’s Development and Program Management group. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional. Morrison graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in building science and received a master’s in business administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Today Morrison mentors masters in business administration students at Emory University and is an active alumnus of Georgia Tech. With more than 25 years experience in architecture, project management, and business development, Jim Viviano will manage Skanska’s business development activities in Georgia markets to identify new clients, develop relationships with key architects and engineers, and grow Skanska’s portfolio in the state. Viviano comes to Skanska from 32
Cooper Carry where he spent six years as associate director. Previously, he spent ten years as director of design for May Department Stores Company in St. Louis, Missouri. He is also a licensed architect and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional. A native of Texas, Viviano graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. Outside of work, Viviano is member of many local and national organizations and sits on the board of directors of Lambda Alpha International, an honorary organization devoted to intelligent land use and community development. “In the new year, we’re excited to be growing and expanding our team with seasoned professionals like Bill and Jim,” said Skanska USA Executive Vice President and Georgia General Manager John Reyhan. “Their esteemed careers and experience will add great value and customer service to our clients throughout Georgia, and help us seize growth opportunities in the region.”
IEC Georgia and Graybar provide 2011 Code Change class in Augusta The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) held a 2011 Code Change class in Augusta on Friday, January 27. The new changes were effective January 1, so it is important that those working in the electrical industry are aware and adjust accordingly. This informative session was sponsored by IEC partner, Graybar, a top supplier of high quality components, equipment, and materials for the electrical and telecommunication industries. IEC is appreciative to Jeff McFadden of Graybar
who provided the location and lunch to those in attendance. IEC instructor Terry Rogers provided contractors and inspectors with the updated changes on grounding and bonding clarifications, new ampacity tables, identification and marking requirement for fault current, disconnects, and other devices. The class filled quickly and included inspectors, designers, as well as electrical contractors. IEC Board President and local contractor Mike Fleming, welcomed the attendees and was happy to see such an overwhelming response to the training. Based upon the success of this partnership between Graybar and IEC, there are plans in the works to provide additional training programs across the state of Georgia. To find a listing of these training seminars, go to www.iecgeoriga.org. For additional information, contact Niel Dawson, Executive Director at (770) 242-9277. IEC is a trade association for merit shop electrical contractors. IEC offers a wide array of training programs for apprentices and experienced electricians, personnel referral including loan/borrow programs, and provides a broad range of informational resources for electrical contractors in Atlanta and Georgia. Georgia DOT wins Gold at American Concrete Pavement Association’s 22nd Annual Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards The Georgia Concrete Paving Association is pleased to announce that the Georgia DOT has won a Gold Award in the Divided Highways—Rural category for the widening and reconstruction of I-95 in The Georgia Contractor
Glynn & McIntosh Counties, Georgia. This award was presented at the 22nd Annual American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) Meeting in Indian Wells, California, recently. The construction team for the I-95 project was the Georgia DOT and APAC-Tennessee Inc., Ballenger Paving Division (the prime concrete paving contractor).
This project involved reconstructing the existing roadway, which was comprised of two 12-foot lanes of nine-inch continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), a four-foot inside asphalt shoulder, and a 12-foot outside asphalt shoulder. The new typical section comprises a 12-foot shoulder, three 12-foot lanes, and one 13-foot lane of 12-inch CRCP, as well as an 11-foot asphalt shoulder. The project scope also included reconstruction of eight ramps for two interchanges, as well as two ramps at a welcome center. A value engineering proposal provided by APAC-Ballenger saved GDOT $3.7 million. Other highlights included changing the proposed asphalt shoulder to concrete; elimination of a traffic stage; and use of a conveyor to transport concrete over Interstate traffic. Also, a two-track paver was converted to a three-leg paver and existing concrete pavement and reinforcing steel were recycled for other projects. The ACPA awards program recognizes contractors, engineers, and project owners who completed outstanding projects in 2011, as determined by an independent panel of judges. Winning an Award for March | April 2012
Excellence in Concrete Pavement provides the contractors, engineers, and owners with a level of prestige that can assist them in the development of future projects. Gainesville Public Safety Complex Wins DBIA Award The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) bestowed a Regional Design-Build award for best public project over $15 million on the Gainesville Public Safety Complex at its annual awards dinner. Heery International served as the design-builder for the $18 million project. The Gainesville Public Safety Complex encompasses two facilities on a single campus: a 52,340-square-foot police department and municipal court, and a 28,000square-foot fire station. The outwardly straightforward project was actually rather complex, involving land swaps and neighborhood revitalization, incorporating new technology and requirements in law enforcement, and adding the second facility in the design/construction mix. The city of Gainesville chose Heery as its design-builder under a contract in which Heery and the contractor provided design and construction services under a single contract. Using an integrated project delivery method, Heery was able to provide vir-
tually all services in-house with its architects, interior designers, engineers, and project managers filling the key roles. “The design-build team took advantage of the decline in construction pricing to realize savings for the owner,” said Kip Padgett, City Manager. “Not only was $1.3 million returned in savings, but nearly $2 million in enhancements were added to the project, including paving the surrounding city streets, security system, additional furnishings, upgraded finishes, and additional equipment.”
Tony Varamo / Metropower Named IEC Member of the Year Tony Varamo, Workforce Developer of Metropower Inc., was named IEC Member of the Year at a recent awards ceremony for the Atlanta Chapter IEC.
Metropower Inc., an IEC member electrical contractor since 1980, has long supported the association through not only membership, but participation in IEC’s high-quality training programs. When Tony came on board, Metropower’s commitment to the IEC and industry significantly increased because of his involvement on the Apprenticeship & Training and Safety Committees, participation at job fairs, and volunteering at other IEC and industry events. Metropower has offices and IEC membership in Columbus, Macon, and Albany, Georgia. In 2011, Metropower was also the recipient of the IEC Atlanta Safety Award. The IEC is proud to have both Metropower and Tony Varamo as active members of the Atlanta Chapter. Known for its high quality training programs, IEC provides electrical apprenticeship training as well as continuing education training across the state. Other services include legislative advocacy on the state and national levels, networking opportunities with industry professionals, and other business support services to help independent electrical contractors be successful. IEC Atlanta provides services and support to the Atlanta-Metro area and is part of the National IEC, which has 60 chapters and 3,000 members nationwide. For additional information, contact Niel Dawson, Executive Director at (770) 2429277. 33
Winter Grading Observations & Lessons from the School of Experience By ECS Corporate Services LLC. uring winter project managers find themselves scrambling to bring projects to a point where they are ‘in the dry’ so work can continue unhampered by wet weather brought on by winter. Unfortunately, not all projects get to that point before the winter rains begin. These are some measures that can be taken to help keep grading moving along if you are required to ‘move dirt’ during the winter. Standard summer practice is to grade a building pad to subgrade elevation, leaving it flat while foundations and walls are constructed. During winter construction, this practice can spell disaster. As the soils get wet and construction equipment crosses the site, the subgrade can lose its strength, requiring undercut to prepare for slab construction. Grading the building pad ‘high’ and crowned will help protect the slab subgrade from direct contact by heavy construction traffic. When the time comes to construct the slab, the additional soils can be cut to subgrade elevation with little or no additional undercut necessary. This technique is especially cost effective if the building pad is ‘in cut.’ An alternative technique would be to grade to subgrade and place a stone base. The stone should be a well graded stone such as crusher run, commonly referred to as 21A in some areas. Compacted crusher run tends to shed water, where washed stone (an open graded stone) will hold water. On larger construction sites it is good practice to establish a network of roads to channel construction traffic. These construction roads can be better stabilized with crusher run or geotextiles so access to the site can continue during the worst weather conditions. Construction roads will typically require maintenance during the winter. Equally important, the contractor must enforce access discipline so these access ways are properly utilized. While site grading can be accomplished during the 34
winter period, it comes with a greater cost. Grading generally takes more time due to wetter soils and more ‘weather’ days. Frequently soils are wasted because of frost and higher moisture contents. These costs and extra time are a reality and should be figured into the project schedule and budget. Strategies to reduce the impact of weather during winter grading include: 1) Working larger areas with each lift. Placing soil over a larger area can allow the soils more time to dry before the next lift is added. 2) Work wet soils with light equipment. Wet soils can be compacted if they are within a compactable moisture range. However, repeated crossing of those soils with heavy equipment, such as dump trucks or pans, can cause the soil to start ‘pumping’ even if it was previously compacted and stable. These wetter soils can best be worked by pushing them out into a lift with a self-propelled compactor from a single dump point. Winter is also an excellent time to employ chemical stabilization of wet soils using lime, cement, or stable flyash, as appropriate. Lime can be used to help dry any soil, and can be used with some clays to improve the soil. Cement can also be used to ‘dry’ soil, and as a stabilizing agent. Properly employed with the appropriate soils, both lime and cement can be used to create nearly ‘weatherproof ’ subgrades. Flyash should only be used as a last resort as not all flyash is stable. Ask for a certified laboratory swell test on material. If one cannot be supplied, do not use flyash. Finally, there is no substitute for ‘good housekeeping.’ The site should be sloped to clear water quickly, and channelize it away from the work area. Pot holes, rough areas, and wheel ruts need to be regularly filled in to facilitate rapid clearing of rain or snow melt. In closing, winter construction will increase the cost of construction, especially
site grading. However, careful planning and proper execution can reduce these costs and help make your project even more successful. We hope this Lesson Learned is beneficial to you in achieving that goal. Respectfully, ECS Corporate Services, LLC © 2012 ECS Corporate Services, LLC All Rights Reserved v
The Georgia Contractor
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