Nucor Steel Plans $280M Expansion of It’s Tuscaloosa Plant
Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa photo Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa plans to invest $280 million to support current and future operations at the Tuscaloosa County, Ala., rolling mill.
Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa plans to invest $280 million to support current and future operations at the Tuscaloosa County, Ala., rolling mill, the county’s Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) announced Nov. 16. The investment will expand current product lines and add a new product line to Nucor’s steel coil and plate offerings at the facility, where it employs more than 400 workers.
Construction at Nucor’s steel mill on Holt Road is slated to begin by the end of the year, reported Made in Alabama, the news site for the state’s Department of Commerce.
The Nucor project will enable the plant to produce thinner, stronger, higher-quality steel plate as well as a new product line that is not currently manufactured domestically.
By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
In Birmingham, Ala., construction crews are making significant progress on the $120 million Cooper Green Mercy Health medical facility. The highly anticipated project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
“The existing facility is 50 years old and is in the best shape we can get it in,” said Laura Hurst, Cooper Green administrator. “Notably, the building formerly served as a hospital, and Cooper Green’s needs and service now are all ambulatory.
“For instance, our doctors’ offices and exam rooms are old hospital rooms, not clinic spaces,” she added. “The existing layout does not serve the current needs of our patients and hinders the way we provide care. The new health facility will not only be state-of-the-art but will also allow for our patients to receive care in an environment suitable for ambulatory needs.”
January 2022 was the start date for construction, beginning with the official groundbreaking.
“It went well, and was a great opportunity to bring patients and stakeholders from all parts of the community together to feel involved and a part of the next chapter of Cooper Green,” said Hurst. “We had patients of all tenure in atten-
dance, which is a testament to the level of care that Cooper Green has and will continue to provide to patients who seek our care.
“Our mission is to serve the underserved, uninsured and low income, which includes people who don’t have or can’t afford insurance. We want them to have the same care and service as anyone else, and this new space will offer that experience.”
The design was inspired by patients who will use the new space, Hurst added.
“Our waiting rooms are all in the front of the building, with ample bright, natural light and spectacular views of the city. From arrival through a patient’s entire experience, the building is attractive and has easy access.
“There’s also some art and history in the building that ties in the old Cooper Green, so we are going to work to incorporate that into the new facility. We want to carry on the legacy of the original facility as we move into a modern, efficient space.”
Onsite parking will return and be connected to the facility so that patients will not have to use bus services or search for street parking.
Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1- 800- 409 -1479
The new
Cooper Green’s $120M Addition Expands ‘Curb to Curb’
“We also have built out construction space in the existing building to support the construction teams’ needs, as outside space was limited for ancillary trailers, etc.”
According to Cooper Green facilities manager Patrick Mercier, “Since we are operating and expanding within one city block, we are expanding curb to curb with very little wiggle room. In an effort to minimize construction impact to the area, we’ve had to make systematic decisions to ensure we are being efficient with time and resources. This has included scheduling construction appropriately with road closures, doing night work and working with transportation to utilize a bus route to help staff and patients and more.
“We did a lot of site work in the rainy season, which was a challenge,” said Mercier. “Because we had deep foundations, we drilled while it was raining, and then filled back in with rebar and concrete. We tried to keep the roads clean as best we could.
Crews are currently installing the structure’s roof.
“Once we get the roof in, the weather constraints won’t be as big of a deal. Thankfully, we think a lot of the weather challenges are over. We did have one corner that had some bad mud which is part of the downtown dirt challenges. We carried that off and brought in better dirt.”
As for the number of cubic yards of material moved on the project, said Mercier, “We only took a couple thousand yards, because the job site was relatively flat. We hauled off a lot of muck because of the weather. COOPER from page 1
COOPER page 6
Onsite parking will return and be connected to the facility so that patients will not have to use bus services or search for street parking.
In an effort to minimize construction impact to the area, the hospital had to make systematic decisions to ensure it is being efficient with time and resources.
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ALABASTER (Shelby County)
2070 Corporate Woods Dr
AlabasterAL35007
Alabaster, AL 35007 (205) 664-4833
A AT T TALLA/GADSDEN 121 Gilbert Ferry Rd SE Attalla, AL 35954 (256) 570-1100
BIRMINGHAM
2401 Pinson Highway Birmingham, AL 35217 (205) 8 418601
41- 8601
CRESTVIEW
5749 John Givens Rd Crestview, FL 32539 (850) 682-6510
DECATUR 6969 Highway 31 S Tanner A L35671 7
r, , A L 35671 (256) 3 53-7721
DOTHAN 118 Vulcan Way
Dothan, AL 36303 (334) 6 71-1040
HUNTSVILLE 3600 Governors Dr Huntsville, AL 35805 (256) 5 321776 Montgomery, AL 361 (334) 215-5000
/ OPELIKA /AAUBURN 508 Columbus Pkwy Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 749-3359
MOBILE 30950 State Hwy 181 Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (251) 626-5100 (256) 831- 4104
OXFORD//A A NNISTON 2300 Hwy 21 S Oxford, AL 36203 (256)8314104 0) 5 (8
MONTGOMERY 10120 Hwy 80 E MontgomeryAL36117 F a Mi A OLPENSACO 267 0 W 9 M le Rd Pensacol L32534
Pensacola, L 32534 471-6700
THOMASVILLE 2501 Joe Davis Industrial Blv Thomasville, AL 36784 (334) 636-0420
TUSCALOOSA
3550 Joe Mallisham Pkwy Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205)2472800 d
PANAMA CITY 4109 Cato Rd Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 7 85-4007 (205) 247-2800
TUSCUMBIA 1030 AL-20
Tuscumbia, AL 35674 (256) 3 81-2771
Crews Demolish Old Parking Deck to Build New Structure
“The more interesting part is that we’re using around a million pounds of steel. These are both concrete framed buildings, so most of the structure is concrete. The parking deck is post-tension, the medical facility is just a flat slab. We’ll fill in the concrete with walls in-between.
Exterior work is in progress and nearing completion, while interior work, which includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing, is well under way. There are 200 to 300 people on site at any given time.
“All major concrete is complete. The full shell of the building is in, so now we are moving to the general appearance of the interior and exterior. We have topped out, and HVAC for the first two floors is done.”
Mercier added, “We’re right in the middle of the job, so we’re chasing the finishes now instead of the structure. We’re looking at what’s inside the walls, the plugs, double checking everything. We’ve moved from the big construction to getting everything ready to get the finishes right.”
In order to build the new structure, the former Cooper Green parking deck had to be demolished.
“It took eight months, and no equipment outside of the ordinary was used. The crew had a few different construction pieces, and they would tear down, haul it off, and then recycle a lot of the rebar and the majority of the concrete.”
Mercier said the chief concern when working on a medical project involves strict standards and regulations.
“We have to make sure that our facility meets the right CMS and other codes. We don’t have as many as a hospital does, but we still have to be mindful of infection prevention measures.
“We’re adding a new compound pharmacy that has a lot of codes. And they are always changing, so keeping up with them has been a challenge. Also, each department has its own codes, so the way an imaging room is designed might
not be the same as one for behavioral health.”
Despite the challenges, Mercier is honored to play a part in building the new facility, which will serve adult residents in Jefferson County.
“With this building, we are taking Cooper Green into the new century. It’s been fun, because we’re taking something that is old and moving to something brand new. Nothing in the existing building will be the same as in the new one.
“Physical therapy will no longer be in a room we just gave them. We’re designing a space that’s specifically tailored for physical therapy. We’re moving into an area that is so much greater than what we have now. We’re moving into a more healing environment and, ultimately, a better place to provide healthcare.” CEG
(All photos courtesy of Brasfield & Gorrie.)
Birmingham, Ala., construction crews are
New Steel Plant Due to Begin Operations in Summer 2027
“The investment at the rolling mill at Tuscaloosa is important to keep our mill competitive in the global steel industry and open up new market opportunities for our team,” said Brian Phillippi, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa. “We appreciate the support we have received from the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority for this project.”
“It’s great news that Nucor is making a significant reinvestment in its facility in Tuscaloosa because this commitment solidifies the site’s future and the high-paying jobs of over 400 workers,” commented Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “This is an important win for the community and for the entire state.”
The project is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2027.
Justice Smyth, executive director of the TCEDA, also praised Nucor’s move to expand production at the mill.
“Nucor has investments in over 300 operating facilities in North America, and we are proud that the Tuscaloosa facility has been awarded this new business,” he said, adding, “In today’s global market, companies have a wealth of opportunities regarding where and how to invest in operations. [Their announcement] underscores Nucor’s confidence in our partnership and our people.”
TCEDA approved a tax abatement package as part of Nucor’s investment in the mill’s expansion, according to Made in Alabama. The statewide news outlet also noted that the tax savings support the retention of more than 400 high-paying jobs at the Tuscaloosa County facility, the generation of new revenue for local vendors, and the corresponding state and local tax bases.
Nucor will receive an abatement of the non-educational sales and use taxes for purchases of equipment and building materials during the construction phase of the project, and an abatement of certain non-educational property taxes for up to 10 years.
TCEDA said the estimated taxes paid by Nucor from the project represent almost $11 million, including $7.5 million in education taxes.
“Nucor has a long history of corporate citizenship, especially in the area of education,” explained Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. “Through numerous programs and activities, Nucor actively supports educational opportunities for area students.
Maddox added that the construction project creates both new business opportunities for Nucor and new revenue for his community’s education systems, which he said is a source of strength for Tuscaloosa County
and its future.
“For almost 20 years, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa has excelled at producing quality products, creating high-paying jobs and prioritizing philanthropic activities throughout our community,” explained Norman Crow, chair of the TCEDA. “This project demonstrates Nucor’s long-term commitment to Tuscaloosa County and its citizens, for which we will reap the benefits for years to come.”
In addition, Rob Robertson, a Tuscaloosa County probate judge, said, “The County Commission is pleased to see Nucor expand their operations [here], retaining a significant number of high-paying jobs. Enhancing our domestic steel production capabilities is critical to sustain our national economic productivity. Nucor’s latest investment not only bolsters their capabilities locally but showcases Tuscaloosa County globally.”
COOPER from page 2
STEEL from page 1
In
making significant progress on the $120 million Cooper Green Mercy Health medical facility.
The highly anticipated project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
