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Volume 13
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Number 9
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SEPTEMBER 2016
Training in session
Golden regal
Ironworkers, Operational Excellence Coordinators and ACS staff and instructors.
Regal Plastic’s Houston employees
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umble-based Adaptive Construction Solutions (ACS) Inc. opened its doors in April. Owner Nick Morgan is a commercial insurance agent, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and veteran of the Iraq War. He oversees operations and training schedule and handles business development for ACS. Morgan was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was in the 82nd Airborne. United States Marine Corp. (USMC) Sgt. Brittany Burton is the marketing director at ACS. She has a background in USMC intelligence and spent five years in Southeast Asia. We are veterans,” Morgan said. “We take care of veterans for the purpose of
retraining military personnel and supplying much needed qualified workers into the construction industry. “Transitioning veterans thrive in team-oriented environments built on trust and empathy. “I took this approach because I believe one of the most important factors in re-integrating military personnel to civilian life is a steady paycheck.” The training consists of a 96-hour program, with classroom and hands-on training over a 12-day period. A training tower provides a realworld environment for lifting and placing steel, learning fall protection and prevention techniques, bolting, welding and other tasks. continued on Page 18
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or Regal Plastics Texas, a game of golf started it all. Bob Stash, original owner of Regal Plastics Shreveport, LA and Joe Slavik, owner of Regal Plastics Kansas City hit the links with Don Walker and approached him about opening Regal Plastics in Dallas/Fort Worth. With a $3,000 investment from each, Walker rented a downtown Dallas warehouse space in 1970 and set up a two-person shop, with Walker’s secretary taking customer orders and Walker personally filling and delivering orders. The decision to establish a D/FW presence was a hole in one; within a year, Walker moved the business to a 5,000-sf warehouse. In 1971, he opened a San Antonio branch, established a Houston office in 1981, and followed by an Austin
branch in 1988. The steady success enabled him to buy Stash’s and Slavik’s ownership in the Texas division. Regal Plastics also evolved into a family business. Walker’s daughter Patsy married high school sweetheart Wayne Gono in 1977 and convinced her dad to hire her for the collections department. Wayne soon followed, joining the inside sales team. Together, they tackled multiple roles within the business, taking full control of the company upon Walker’s retirement in 1996. Today, the woman-owned company boasts 110 employees in six offices in Texas and Louisiana, with branch manager Jacob Meidel overseeing 13 employees in its Houston office. continued on Page 18
Marking a milestone
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pecializing in interior build outs, IBC Builders of Texas LP has completed a ground up construction project this summer. The Southpark at Cinco Ranch –Outpad 3 project is located on FM 1093. Craig Staples, IBC Builders of Texas, was the project manager and the superintendent was Gary Seals, IBC Builders of Texas. CDA Architects was the architect. Jon Beer is the development manager for the owner Regency Centers Inc. “We completed the new brick construction and interior shell space of a 5,000-sf pad building,” said President David Bode, IBC Builders of Texas. “Pei Wei is a tenant in the 3,000-sf space and another 2,000sf is for a future tenant.” The main challenge the construction team met and overcame during the project was the rain and flooding around the Houston area.
“We had two historical floods during the project and we were able to maintain the project schedule and bring it in on time,” Bode said. IBC Builders of Texas had a positive working relationship with both Regency Centers and CDA Architects while working on Southpark at Cinco Ranch –Outpad 3. “The owner and architect were both great to work with throughout the project and we look forward to working on more projects with them in the near future,” he said. “We had some of the best subcontractors in the Houston area to work with on this project.” A few projects IBC Builders of Texas has completed over the years include Tuesday Morning, Great Clips and Little Caesar’s Pizza. The Southpark at Cinco Ranch – Outpad 3
continued on Page 18
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Strong bond
The Houston team hosted a signing station where those involved with the project could sign the white beams before they were installed as part of the topping out ceremony.
The Manhattan Construction Co. Houston team hosted a topping out party held for the United Airlines New Terminal C North project in late June. Todd Gnospelius, director of business development, says more than 700 representatives from the project team
including United Airlines, the project design team and subcontractors were all present. Manhattan Construction provides preconstruction, design-build, general contracting and construction management services. –ab
Folks enjoyed barbecue provided by United Airlines competition cook-off team and served by the Manhattan project team.
Submitted to Construction News
Future is bright
VLK Architects recently attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Katy ISD’s Robert and Felice Bryant Elementary. The new school is set to open in the fall of 2017. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
Head of the class
Just in time for the new school year, the Houston office of McCarthy Building Companies completed its Tools for Success School Supply Drive, benefitting local elementary school students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). McCarthy’s 10 Houston area job sites worked together over a three-week period to collect 4,062 24-count boxes of crayons. –ab
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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Better together
The luncheon at the Houston office.
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taying productive all summer, Halff Associates employees had a chance to have fun in the sun too. The Conroe office recently held a summer party on Lake Conroe. A few members of the Houston office staff attended the party as well. Houston office employees also attended a luncheon in late June to celebrate new employees as well as the addition of subsurface utility engineering and landscape architecture to its list of services. Halff Associates is a regional consulting firm providing full-service engineering, architecture and related services. –ab
Grilling up the burgers for the party
Employees relax at Lake Conroe after working hard all summer.
In memoriam
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orn Jun. 10, 1983, Peter Albert Piña, of Rosenberg, 33, passed away Jun. 14. Pina was a party chief at Benchmark Engineering and had been surveying for more than 10 years. Pina leaves behind his three sons; Peter Jr., Devin and Camiren; mother, Sylvia Rocha; step-father, Rick Rocha; sisters, Aurora Martinez and Andrea Rocha; brother, Ricky Rocha; in-laws, Joe Martinez and Amy Rocha; along with his nieces and nephews.
Houston
Safety stars
Paul Johnson, Reliant Safety Solutions LLC, receives the Ray Lambright Excellence In Safety Award from safety committee chair Susan Phillips, Tellepsen.
Small Contractor recipient Darlene East, Holes Inc., with safety committee subcommittee co-chair Lori Ingle, SpawGlass Construction Corp.
ocal contractors packed the grand ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel/Galleria for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Houston Chapter annual safety meeting in July. The event served to recognize the Safety Excellence Awards and Ray Lambright Award recipients, members of the AGC Houston safety committee and the members that took part in the annual Safety Stand-Down. Special guest U.S. Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly spoke about his career in the U.S. Navy and his year-long experience aboard the International Space Station. Attendees also heard from Kim Mason, AGC Houston director of safety services, who gave an overview about issues and policies the construction industry faces. Mason recognized more than 120 AGC Houston member companies repre-
senting over 14,000 construction workers that took part in safety talks and demonstrations across Houston in May. Mason also recognized AGC Houston member safety consultants and vendors for conducting free safety stand-down events on jobsites across the city. The companies brought everything from fall protection trailers with drop demonstrations to rigging, scaffolds and proper workwear designed for the construction industry. In addition to leading safety demonstrations in English and Spanish, AGC Houston members also invited OSHA representatives, ER and Houston Fire Department representatives to discuss fall rescue procedures and trauma caused by jobsite accidents. –ab
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Astronaut Scott Kelly spoke about his yearlong experience aboard the International Space Station.
Congrats to the winners!
Large Contractor recipient Terry Buza, Slack & Co Contracting Inc., with AGC director of safety services Kim Mason and safety committee co-chair, Eddie Escamilla, Karsten Interior Services LP
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Forging ahead
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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Harden Constructors is the GC for the new CBS Rental and Supply Houston branch building project, which is next door to the original building. The original building has been repainted and will be the new parts distribution warehouse. –ab
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Bob Smith President Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc.
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ob Smith says it is a joy to work with the employees at Geoscience Engineering & Testing. “We try to keep a sense of humor and not take life too serious,” Smith said. “Our company philosophy is that your family always comes first and the jobs comes second, but remember that the job helps take care of your family.” Geoscience Engineering & Testing is a Texas corporation founded in 1987 with a staff of 40 professionals. The corporate office is in Houston and a branch location is in San Antonio. The firm provides geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and environmental engineering. Where were you born, Bob? I was born in South Charleston, WV. I left South Charleston when I was 16 and came to Texas for a few years. Next, I went to Michigan, Pennsylvania and then I came back to Texas. I have lived here for 41 years. What was it like growing up in West Virginia? I lived in a small town called Spring Hill. At the time our town’s swimming pool was the largest swimming pool in the United States. The pool was on five or six acres. I went swimming there all the time when I was a kid. It was fun! Growing up in Spring Hill was like growing up in the country but living in the city. Sports I enjoyed playing as a teenager were mostly baseball and soccer. I tried basketball but I decided it wasn’t for me.
What was your first job? I quit high school so I could get married. I came to Port Arthur and got a job packing groceries and carrying them out for people. Eventually I graduated high school and got my first job in this industry when I was 18. At 19, I began working on nuclear power plants. I was a Level 11 Nuclear Technician at United States Testing Co. Inc. I supervised power plants in Michigan and in Pennsylvania. At one point I was the youngest one in the country doing this type of work. When I came to Texas in 1975, I began working at Coastal Testing Laboratories Inc. A few mentors at the company really taught me the commercial of testing. Then I joined another company called Geotest Engineering Inc. and learned the business side. I worked my way up to general manager at the company. I have been self-employed since 1986. Describe the early days at the company. In the beginning, we purchased a small amount of equipment and hired one employee. That technician had to borrow my pickup truck to go to a project. I had been in this business for a while and had a few contacts, so I got on the phone and talked to anyone that would listen. I would drive around these areas and write down the names and numbers of every builder that had a sign up. We called every builder that we could think of to drum up business. At the time, West University Place and Bellaire were experiencing a huge amount of growth so we concentrated our efforts in that area. We soon built up a decent size clientele and used those revenues to expand our business. What are the keys to being a successful in your industry? You should find a mentor that is willing to work with you and never say no. It takes not only an education, it takes dedication. You might have to sacrifice time, salary and probably a few weekends to rise to the top. What advice would you give for a young person interested in pursuing a career in geotechnical engineering? I would advise that you should get
Bob Smith has been self-employed since 1986.
your EIT immediately after graduating. Then work toward a master’s degree and find a medium size company to work for. This is also the time to start building relationships within the industry. These contacts will be invaluable in the future. If you go to a smaller company I believe your chances of finding a good mentor are better. When you find that person, stick with them for at least five years and then take the test for PE license. I always tell my engineers that eventually we all become salesmen. An engineer that can bring a project in is worth their weight in gold. What does it take to be a good salesman, in your opinion? You have to be persistent, develop a network, and get engaged in your industry through different organizations. You have to have a strong network of people that work in the industry. Each of us has our niche. My niche is government projects. Does Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc. have any events during the year? Yes, we have three events a year, including a company meeting, a Christmas party and a company picnic in the springtime. This year, we held the Christmas party at Harold’s and the company picnic was at Alexander Duessen Park. We also participate in charity golf tournaments during the year and I am also a member of BNI, a great referral network. Are you married? Yes. I have been married to my wife Sylvia for 27 years. We have been together since the day we started dating. How many children do you have? My daughter is Julana, 32, and my son is Shae, 28. My daughter has a pool cleaning company in League City and my son is a surgical technician in Katy. What are a few of your hobbies these days? I have always raised what I call an “edible garden.” I have a summer garden of the usual vegetables and then a winter garden. I loved scuba diving years ago and went as far as to become a master instructor. I have certified more than 150 open water divers. My wife and I especially liked going scuba diving in Cozumel.
The Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc. employees participate in a charity golf tournament.
How was your summer garden this year? I had a problem with birds this year. They ate every single tomato I had in the garden. I planted Persian cucumbers and ended up canning pickles this summer. The watermelon we picked from the garden was delicious. I have winter vegetables in the garden now such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and cabbage. Do you enjoy cooking? I also love to cook and have been the chief cook at home for more than 25 years. My wife doesn’t like to cook so I am glad to do it. What are a few meals you like to cook for your family? The meals I really like to make are curry chicken, steamed dumplings and fried chicken. In August, my son came over for his birthday and he said the only thing he wanted for his birthday was fried chicken. I like to make lots of different meals after work and on the weekend. What are your plans for the future for Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc.? It depends on our growth. We have leased space across the street for our engineering department The growth has been very steady. It is not like it used to be in the ‘90s. We are also making a new parking lot across the street to park our company vehicles. What are the rewards of working as a geotechnical engineer? One of the responsibilities of design professionals is public safety. When we give a recommendation for a foundation, for example a bridge, the foundation designers rely on our information to design the foundation. Failure is not an option. The geotechnical recommendations for a high rise are very complicated and also require additional consulting during the construction process. There is a sense of pride when the recommendations you give turn into a completed project. –ab
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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A passion for engineering
Prime accuracy
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or National Professional Engineers Day Aug. 3, the Freese and Nichols Inc. Southeast Texas offices in Houston and Pearland invited their licensed PEs to submit a picture or video to say why they chose to become an engineer and why they love their job. National Professional Engineers Day raises awareness about what it means to be a PE, recognizes licensed PEs and shows appreciation for their work. Freese and Nichols provides engineering, architecture, environmental science, construction and planning services. –ab
Leo Alvarado is a Houston Astros fan.
P Water resources engineer Kalli Clark-Egan, Houston office
Stormwater engineer Rolando Ayala, Houston office
rime Texas Surveys has had a good year in 2016. The company has provided survey work in the Houston area for more than 20 years. The company owner is Alberto Alaniz, the surveyor is Piotr Debski and Leo Alvarado is the examiner. “We have had a better year in 2016 than we did in 2015,” Alvarado said. “Right now we are on track to do even more. We are about 300 surveys away from surpassing last years numbers. We are happy about this!” Alvarado says Prime Texas Surveys has operated at the current Houston location for 10 years. Employees always look forward to the company Christmas party and dinner, which is usually held at a local restaurant. When they are not at the office or in the field, employees love to go to sport-
ing events around Houston. “We can’t wait to see the Houston Astros play the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park in September,” Alvarado said. “It will be a great time! We are all friends inside and outside the office. It is nice.” A few other events the company participates in during the year are the Build Expo and Jet Lending networking events. “Our future plans are to continue to do residential and commercial surveys and also move toward doing more pipeline and industrial surveys.” Prime Texas Surveys conducts residential and commercial surveys including land boundary surveys, mortgage surveys and property line surveys. The company also provides ALTA/ACSM land title surveys as well as highway preliminary design surveys, route surveys and mining surveys. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
A force to be reckoned with Water resources engineer Abby Crockett, Houston office
Transportation engineer Bob Sutton, Pearland office
Turn up the heat!
Congrats to Tower Force, the winning team at the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter Fall Clay Shoot Tournament held at Greater Houston Gun Club Aug. 15. –ab
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he Texas Statewide Construction Credit Group members have not been spending their summer idly. In April, they had a hula party in Galveston, above, and in July, they celebrated the heat with a fiesta, below, in San Antonio! –cw
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Lease accounting changes Jill Sterling, Assurance Associate Fisher, Herbst & Kimble PC San Antonio, TX
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oes your company lease office space, construction equipment, vehicles or other physical assets with terms longer than 12 months? Then this new leasing standard, ASU 2016-02 (Topic 842), released by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in 2016 could have some major financial reporting impacts for you. A list of practical tips to help implement the new standard are listed below. Background – The old standard was highly criticized for not providing a faithful representation of leasing transactions. Therefore, the purpose of the new leasing standard is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring lease assets and lease liabilities be recognized on the balance sheet. The new standard also provides for increased disclosure of key information regarding leasing arrangements. The new leasing standard is effective in 2019 (for public entities) or 2020 (for private entities) using a modified retrospective approach. However, early adoption of the new standard is permitted and encouraged. Additionally, the new standard is limited to physical assets only. As such, leases of intangible assets, inventory, assets under construction leases, leases of mineral rights and the exploration for or use of minerals, oils, and natural gas, and leases of biological assets will continue to be accounted for under their original FASB topics. For Lessee – The new leasing standard will primarily affect the accounting of leases for lessees. According to the new standard, lessees will now be required to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. At inception, lessees must classify all leases as either finance or operating. Balance sheet recognition of finance and operating leases is similar, but the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement will differ depending on the lease classification. Finance Leases – Lessee effectively obtains control of the underlying asset at the end of the lease term or through a bargain purchase, lessee use is for most of asset’s economic life, or lease payments made cover majority of the asset’s fair value. Basically, the following will be required: • Balance Sheet: Recognize right-ofuse (ROU) asset and lease liability • Income Statement: Recognize interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the ROU asset • Cash Flows: Classify repayments of the principal within financing activities
and payments of interest within operating activities Operating Leases – Lessee does not effectively obtain control of the underlying asset. Basically, the following will be required: • Balance Sheet: Recognize right-ofuse asset and lease liability • Income Statement: Recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis • Cash Flows: Classify all cash payments within operating activities For Lessor – Lessor accounting for leases will mostly remain unchanged and you should continue to follow existing accounting principles if you are a lessor. However, some changes were made to align lessor accounting guidance and lessee accounting guidance especially related to glossary terms and Topic 606 Revenue Recognition. Tips for Implementing the New Leasing Standard 1. Start preparing now! The best advice is to not wait until you are required to comply with the new standard to begin assessing the impacts to your business. Begin having discussions with your teams now for how you are going to comply and implement the new standard. 2. Begin to analyze your current leasing contracts and determine the financial accounting effects of the new standard on your existing contracts especially in relation to your lending covenants currently in place. 3. Draft new policies or update existing policies for your business such as your lease classification policy. 4. Consider the tax implications and assess your internal controls over lease accounting. 5. Contact a professional for help if you need assistance in determining the impacts to your business or for a plan to comply with the new standard. If you have any questions or would like to talk about the effect of the new leasing standard on your business, please contact us. We can assist you with implementing the new standard or providing you with the appropriate resources to start preparing for the upcoming changes. Jill Sterling is an assurance associate for FHK. Contact her at 210-477-2718 or at jsterling@fhkcpa.com
Submitted to Construction News
Ready to roll
Rand Group won the best team score award at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Houston Chapter bowling event at Copperfield Bowl Jul. 22. –ab
Facts about distracted driving Wes Pitts, Senior Vice President USI Southwest - Austin Austin, TX
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ccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 3,179 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2014 as a result of distracted driving. An estimated additional 431,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving, such as texting; using a cell phone or smartphone; eating and drinking; talking to passengers; grooming or changing clothes; reading, including maps; using a navigation system; watching a video; and adjusting a radio, or other audio device. There are several facts about distracted driving that all drivers should know: • Ten percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2014 were reported as distraction-affected crashes. • The number one source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA). • Drivers who use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). • Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. • Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent (Carnegie Mellon). • Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent (University of Utah). • Drowsy driving causes an estimated 1,550 deaths a year and 40,000 injuries (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] Report). • Forty-one percent of drivers admitted they have “fallen asleep or nodded off” while driving at least once; 11 percent said they had done so within the past year, and four percent said they had fallen asleep behind the wheel in the previous month (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Survey). • Brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music (Center for Cogni-
tive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University Study). • More than 80% of drivers admit to blatantly hazardous behavior: changing clothes, steering with a foot, painting nails and shaving (Nationwide Mutual Insurance Survey). Employers should develop a policy that ensures employee safety while using motor vehicles. The policy should be practical, legal, and reflective of the organization’s risk tolerance for activities that might distract employees while they are driving. The policy should state that the primary function of the driver is to drive the vehicle, and that if additional tasks that may inhibit the safe operation of the vehicle are necessary, they should be handled by a passenger/co-worker or when the vehicle is stopped in a safe place. The policy may state that employees who are charged with traffic violations resulting from distracted behavior while driving will be responsible for all penalties that result from such actions, and outline the company disciplinary action that also may result. Once a policy has been developed, employers should ensure that drivers understand the reason for the policy, including the increased odds of an accident, the potential liability for the company, and the possibility of personal injuries or fatalities. Outline the ways in which distractions increase these risks so drivers will understand how to reduce their odds of an accident. It is important to reinforce the policy by providing all new hires with a copy and reviewing it in detail during their orientation; covering safe motor vehicle operations in all driver-training programs; and providing periodic reminders, such as in an employee newsletter. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a sample policy on its website at http://www.distraction.gov/take-action/ employers.html Wes Pitts is a Sr. Vice President and Southwest Regional Construction Practice Leader for USI Southwest - Austin, TX, USA. Wes can be contacted at 512-651-4107, or Wesley.pitts@usi.com.
Submitted to Construction News
Happy days
The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Houston Chapter hosted a Building Leaders Development Group (BLDG) Happy Hour at Karbach Brewing Company in July. Folks under the age of 35 and who are employed in the construction industry attended the event. –ab
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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When is a deal really a deal?
OSHA raises penalties August 1, 2016
Bethany F. Thompson, Shareholder Gardner Law San Antonio, TX
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onstruction contracts are notoriously complicated documents, often made even more complicated as a result of numerous exchanges between the parties as to the scope of work, pricing, timeline, and other important factors. The process typically begins with the submission of a proposal or bid, but from there, a variety of things can happen. At times, a contractor will sign and return the proposal; other times, they’ll simply instruct the subcontractor to get started. Finally, and perhaps most frequently, the contractor will submit a lengthy subcontract document to the subcontractor for them to review and sign. It is not uncommon, however, for performance on the job to be underway prior to execution of a final, signed document. If a dispute arises during this purgatory period where performance has begun but terms are still being negotiated, what are the governing terms? This legal issue is typically referred to as the “Battle of the Forms.” A few important considerations for those in the construction industry are below: If you marked up the contract and returned it, that’s a counteroffer Under the applicable common law, if your response or “acceptance” of a contract contains terms that differ from the original document, it is a counteroffer. The legal effect of a counteroffer is that it constitutes a rejection of your customer’s terms and a new offer with your modified terms. If this takes place and the other party accepts your modified terms, you are now bound by those modified terms and there is no further negotiation. You can have acceptance by performance `If you are going back and forth with your customer about contract terms, but at some point that stops and performance of the work begins, some courts will find that you have accepted the terms of the most recent version “by performance.” This is especially common in the construction industry because despite the fact that contracts can be lengthy and take time to negotiate, the project schedule typically must move forward as planned. If you need to begin performing a contract for scheduling reasons but you do not want to accept the contract terms
as they currently stand, it is recommended you clearly communicate, in writing, to your customer that you do not accept the terms, are performing solely to meet the schedule, and expect them to further negotiate with you in good faith. If it is a bad contract and you haven’t signed it yet, do not sign it after a dispute arises If you have rejected contract terms, either through an outright rejection or a counteroffer, or if the contract terms are still in negotiations with no clear acceptance, do not sign a contract after a dispute has arisen. This is especially true for downstream parties such as subcontractors and suppliers. Frequently, upstream parties will tell downstream parties that they do not have a right to payment if they have not signed the contract. This is not true. With or without a contract, the applicable Prompt Payment Act will govern payment procedures. Generally, contracts provide certainty by restricting the parties to certain rules, and if you are in a dispute, most parties will benefit from additional options, not less. Bethany F. Thompson is a Shareholder with Gardner Law in San Antonio and her practice focuses on construction litigation. In a time when many cases settle before trial, she has first chair state court jury trial experience, arbitration experience, and bench trial experience in federal court. Ms. Thompson represents general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers on a variety of issues including contract drafting and negotiation, lien and bond payment claims, delay and defect claims, and contract default and terminations. She has presented seminars for a variety of organizations throughout the state, guest lectured on construction contracts at Texas A&M, and is active in both her local chapter of the American Subcontractors Association and the Attorney Council for the national level of ASA. Contact: bthompson@gardnertx.com.
Submitted to Construction News
Buoy, oh buoy
Air conditioning contractors and suppliers cast their lines at a Bay Bash Fishing Tournament at April Fool Point Marina Jul. 15, sponsored by the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association(TACCA) Greater Houston Chapter held the event. –ab 1st Place: Randy Weisinger, Brian Weisinger and Tim Stanton 2nd Place: Jay Warren, Barry Granger and Dale Beene 3rd Place: Dan Davenport, Michelle Davenport and Lindsey Heaviest Speckled Trout: Dan Davenport Heaviest Redfish: Randy Weisinger
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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n November 2015, Congress enacted legislation requiring federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation. The Department of Labor is adjusting penalties for its agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s maximum penalties, which were last adjusted in 1990, will increase by 78%. Going forward, the agency will continue to adjust its penalties for inflation each year based on the Consumer Price Index. Under the 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act, OMB will issue guidance on or before December 15 of each year directing agencies to adjust their penalties for inflation before January 15 of the subsequent year, in line with the statutory formula. The new penalties will take effect after August 1, 2016. Any citations issued by OSHA on or after that date will be subject to the new penalties if the related violations occurred after November 2, 2015. The maximum OSHA penalty for an other-than-serious, serious or posting violation will increase to $12,471 per violation, the penalty for a willful violation or repeated violation will increase to $124,709 per violation, and a failure to abate will increase to $12,471 per day beyond the abatement date. To provide guidance to field staff on the implementation of the new penalties, OSHA will issue revisions to its Field Operations Manual by August 1. To address the impact of these penalty increases on smaller businesses, OSHA will continue to provide penalty reductions based on the size of the employer and other factors.
The new OSHA Field Operations Manual can be accessed at https://www.osha. gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-00160.pdf Penalty adjustments will vary depending upon the employer’s “size” (maximum number of employees), “good faith,” and “history of previous violations.” A 10 percent reduction may be given to employers that have not been previously inspected. A maximum of 25 percent reduction is permitted for good faith which is based on the extent of the employer’s written safety programs. A maximum of 70 percent reduction is permitted for employer size, with employers with ten or fewer employees receiving the maximum reduction. Since these reduction factors are based on the general character of an employer’s safety and health performance, they shall be calculated once for each employer. A complete list of the penalty reductions allowed is located in Chapter 6 of the OSHA Field Operations Manual (link above.) For additional information on the change to OSHA penalties, visit https:// www.osha.gov/penalties natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
Industry FOLKS Carl Carlton Assistant Branch Manager BlueLine Rental
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ome may not know Carl Carlton worked on a crawfish farm before he entered the equipment rental business. He says the experience prepared him for his current position at BlueLine Rental. “I grew up in the Orange area,” he said. “I worked on a crawfish farm for ten years. I helped sell crawfish wholesale and retail. We ran trucks in and out of Louisiana to pick up crawfish to bring to Houston. We had a contract with H-E-B grocery store. There were 500 acres of crawfish ponds.” Carlton says as a supervisor he learned about the sales and management side of the business. After earning a psychology degree at Lamar University in Beaumont, Carlton decided to leave the crawfish farm and try something new. “I became interested in the equipment rental business and decided to give it a shot,” he said. “I am glad I did!” Carlton has worked at BlueLine Rental for a year and half. He started out doing inside sales for the company and worked his way up to assistant branch manager. Carlton’s job responsibilities today are taking orders over the phone, setting up the trucking and closing
invoices. Outside of work, he likes to go fishing and golfing on the weekend with his friends and family. He mostly goes fishing by the Texas City Dike and Moses Lake in Texas City. “I also love to travel when I get free time,” he said. “I traveled to Denver in August. I enjoyed going hiking in the mountains and I also did some sight seeing. It was a nice getaway.” If he had the chance, Carlton says he would love to travel to Australia one day. “My favorite part about what I do at BlueLine Rental has to be experiencing the thrill of the rental business,” he said. “I never know what is going to happen each day. “One day I might have to battle the weather or the next day I’ll wait for a customer to finish a job to get the equipment picked up and send it back out for the next rent. It is exciting.” –ab
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Southern comfort
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Paving the way
The ribbon cutting
annibal Industries Inc. held a grand opening event this summer at its new Hannibal South pallet rack manufacturing facility located on Bingle Road. “Hannibal’s strategic expansion into the south has been years in the making,” said President Blanton Bartlett, Hannibal Industries. “Houston’s location has a lot to ofFriends gather for the festivities in the new powder coating fer Hannibal Industries’ building. business and it will allow us to provide additional value to our The festivities were held in the new partners and customers.” powder coating building. Folks enjoyed More than 150 industry executives, hearing their favorite country hits by Hannibal Industries employees, repre- Ryan Harris and the Killin’ Time Band. sentatives from the state senate and Hannibal Industries is a pallet rack and county commissioner and the chamber steel tube manufacturer. Engineering and of commerce attended the event. design services offered by the company in Each attendee was greeted with a clude system design, seismic engineering, Mason jar full of iced tea and offered a permit administration, in-house installatour of the facility’s steel fabrication mills. tion and custom fabrication. –ab
Steve Nelson says the keys to success in his industry are hard work, hiring good people and never giving up.
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fter working for a large pavement marking contractor for 10 years, Steve Nelson and his wife started Trantex Inc. in 1984 as a distributor of pavement marking products. “Initially we started in a spare bedroom but within a couple of months we rented a small warehouse,” Nelson said. “In the early days, I was on the road full time while my wife ran the office and an older gentleman that we had known for years handled the warehouse.” Nelson remembers it was quite a busy time in his life at the time. He traveled during the week since the company sold pavement-marking products all over Texas to contractors and government agencies. “The day before our middle son was born, my wife was at the Houston airport delivering paint to one of our contractors,” he said.
Submitted to Construction News
Expansion mode
Taking the tour
The Houston Contractors Association (HCA) members networked, enjoyed food and beverages and toured Spindle Tap Brewery Jul. 28. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
Fore!
Young construction professionals played golf at the 12th annual Associated General Contractors (AGC) Houston Chapter – Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Golf Tournament held at Hermann Park Golf Course Aug. 12. McCarthy Building Companies Inc. won 1st place. –ab
Over the years, Trantex added more staff and began supplying all types of traffic control products customers including traffic cones, barrels and signs. The company hosts an open house event for their customers every year and also stays involved in local industry assocations. “We sponsor several events during the course of the year and attend various golf outings for our customers and business relationships,” Nelson said. “We are constantly adding additional products and are looking to expand to better serve our customers in the future.” Trantex manufactures pavement marking equipment that is sold worldwide. Employing more than 100 people, the company has three locations in Texas and four in Florida. –ab
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Air conditioning contractors have barbecue for lunch.
nsco Distributing Inc. recently held a grand opening event at its 4th Houston location at Airtex and I-45. The 20,000-sf facility has a fully stocked showroom, training classroom and easy access off of the I-45 access road. More than 200 people attended the grand opening. Insco Distributing’s supplier partners showcased new technology and products at the event. The Swinging Door catered the barbecue lunch. Thirty door prizes were announced during the afternoon. Insco Distributing distributes HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies. –ab
The new location at Airtex and I-45.
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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better insight into his business. Facebook allows a guide to post up-to-the-minute or daily reports. This kind of consistency gives you an idea of how often a guide is on the water. The more he’s booked, the more likely it is he’s popular and reputable. Scroll back through a guide’s feed and make some mental notes. If there were big gaps between posts during prime time, take warning. Also beware of pictures that have been posted in the past then reposted at later dates. While many guides rely solely on social media to book trips, smart guides and outfitters still maintain websites. If you click on one and it looks like it was built in 1995 with pictures of buddies and family members in multiple boats, take caution. Look for clean, modern web designs that are easy to navigate with information that doesn’t appear to have been written by a third grader. Bios of the guide’s background and personnel accomplishments will give you a good idea of what you’re getting.
Choosing the right fishing guide by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude Outboards, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products, MirrOlure, and Columbia Sportswear.
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he best reference for a fishing guide is a referral from someone who has fished with them or a referral from another well-known fishing guide. If you don’t have that, you can get a good idea of the kind of guide you’d be dealing with by spending a few hours online. Pick your species, pick your location, and then digitally pick apart the area’s outfitters. Here are some good tips on how to choose a good guide without getting bunted. One of the first things you should be aware of is a guide claiming they fish anywhere you want to fish. If you want to fish the Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay complex, you should look into a guide who spends most of his
A fishionado J.M. Maly, J.M Maly Inc., offered his captain services and boat along with guide, Pat (Pickle) Ragusin in honor of war heroes during the recent Warriors Weekend in Port O’Connor. More than 900 warriors participated in the event. Eric Hernandez, (R) a Iraq/Afghanistan war veteran, along with his two kids, took 1st Place Big Fish and won $500. –ab
BB Lopez of Austin TX. caught the Texas Trio last week while fishing with Capt. Steve Schultz along the Kennedy Ranch Shoreline.
time in those waters. If someone calls me and asks to fish in Rockport or Copano Bay, I tell them they should try and find a guide who fishes those waters. I will even make some calls to help assist them to a repeatable guide for that area. These days, a guide’s social media pages are more critical marketing tools than his website, as they often give
The best thing you can do with an unfamiliar guide is asking tons of questions. E-mail is a good way to communicate, but the phone is better. You’re potentially putting up a lot of money, which gives you the right to talk through every step of the program. No matter how small or detailed a query, it should be answered thoroughly and courteously. If it seems like you’re bothering the guy when you ask how old his boat is, what kind of tackle he uses, or what you should bring along on your outing, then maybe he doesn’t want—or deserve—your business. Fall fishing dates are still available. Don’t wait until the last minute to book your dates. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call or text at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country, You can hear Ken on the radio as follows: The Great Outdoors: 5-8 am Saturday on 1300, The Zone, Austin and The Great Outdoors: 5-7 am Saturday on 1200 WOAI San Antonio The Sunday Sportsman: 6-8 am Sunday on 1300, The Zone, Austin All on iHeart Radio
Seasonal confusion!
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ugust 9, 2016 at 4 pm, it was 102 degrees for the I-lost-count-howmany-days, so dry your spit evaporates before it hits the ground. August 16, 2016 at 4pm was it 78 degrees and I was worried about getting stuck in the mud! What a strange and wondrous miracle Texas weather can be! It had been so hot and dry that our fishermen who usually try to get in one more fishing trip before school starts finally just decided to find cooler places for a last hurrah. That was ok because I think given a chance, the fish would have left the old hot lake and joined them! I know I didn’t want to set foot out of the house at mid-afternoon. Did you ever see that old 50’s sci-fi movie where if you went outside you just turned into a black smudge on the ground? Like that! Who would have imagined that we would get this nice cool reprieve from the end of summer scorch? I know we still have some hot days to go before fall but I sure don’t miss this cool stretch instead of what are usually the hottest days of the year. I went to the pasture yesterday to check on feeders and what a change! Last time I was scared my truck would spark a brush fire and, except for tracks
Neihi Glass, Inc., Pflugerville, 7-27-16 “Carolyn’s Crew” won the company fishing competition!
under the feeders, you would not know there were any deer left in the country. This time I was crossing wet weather creeks that had risen and there were plenty of deer to be seen. If you haven’t been out to your deer lease to square your feeders and blinds away for deer season, you’d better get cracking. The sooner you get those feeders spinning out the groceries and telling the deer where to find food the better. As for positioning blinds and putting deer camp together you need to get it done ASAP so there will be several weeks for things to be quiet in the pasture again before opening day. I don’t think shooting a few doves messes with the deer as much as moving around feeders and blinds do. When you hunt and go home things are ok in the woods again. If you are cutting shooting lanes and roads and moving stuff around, that can make the deer uneasy for a while. The best reason to get the lease work over with is FISHING! This little cool, wet spell should get the fish into a good fall pattern sooner than usual and that will give us a longer fall fishing season. All the lakes that have recovered from low drought water levels have had several months to spawn lots of bait fish for the sportfish to thrive on and we are looking forward to an unbelievable fall fishing season! We were already starting to see the stripers and hybrids come out of the summer slump and this nicer weather should turn them back on hard. Get your work done, let the deer lease chill and come get in on the best fall fishing we have seen in years! See you out there!
Priess family trip, August 16
Submitted to Construction News
Reel thrill Andrew Hoggatt, Hoggatt LP, had a memorable time fishing with his son, Luke, at Dewey Beach in Delaware this summer. “We caught yellow fin tuna during our fishing trip and they were delicious,” Hoggatt said. –ab Luke Hoggatt reels in the yellow fin tuna.
Luke and Andrew Hoggatt show their catch of the day.
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!
Have an outdoor photo you’d like to share? Send to:
HoustonEditor@Constructionnews.net or call Abby at 832-595-0091
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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Submitted to Construction News
Submitted to Construction News
Summer breeze
Adventures in Alaska
What is better for Jose Fonseca Jr., Fonseca Plumbing, than getting away from the office on the weekend and going fishing at local lakes? Having his daughter Vivienne on board too! –ab
Patricia, wife of J.M. Maly, J.M. Maly Inc., had a successful halibut and salmon trip in Juneau, AK this year. –ab
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hen Tony Tye, owner of Texas South Concrete Pumping, and his son-in-law, Charles Schreiber, recently set out on a hunt in Africa, he returned with a cautionary tale, and he wants every hunter to take heed. Arriving in Windhoek, Namibia after an 11-hour flight from Frankfurt, Germany, Tye and Schreiber rented a vehicle and drove six hours to Tambuti Wilderness, their hunting destination, where they met with owner, Larry Bussby. They settled in at the nice lodge with seven separate cabins, feeling very safe and secure, about 40 miles from Otavi, a very small town, and about five miles inside a remote private property. They made a short run through the farm to get oriented, arriving back at camp around 5:30pm. Since it’s winter in Africa, it was getting dark, and the two men gathered around a campfire on the patio, with the five other people in camp, including a writer for a bow hunting magazine, a cooking lady, her helper, Larry and a couple of guys who worked on the farm. “We were enjoying our first beer and waiting for dinner to be served,” Tye recalls. “It was Father’s Day and now dark with a beautiful, full African moon. We had just opened our second beer when the camp was attacked by five armed gunmen.” This caught everyone by such surprise that the owner thought some of his workers were playing a joke. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and as typical, “no guns at camp,” they were defenseless and at the mercy of the men with all the guns. “Everyone was grabbed and searched, [the gunmen] taking money, phones, jewelry, knives and anything else they could find,” he recounts. “The owner was grabbed from behind. Bolt cutters were put around his neck and [he was] choked until he said he would give them money. “We were all taken inside the lodge, forced to lay stomach down on the floor
Hunters beware!
Tony Tye sits outside the main house on a hunting farm in Namibia, Africa. This is where he and his son-in-law were sitting, along with five others, when armed robbers invaded the camp on Father’s Day.
Tye harvested this Oryx, a Gemsbok, at Tambuti Wilderness while on a hunting trip in Africa that went very differently than expected.
with our hands tied around our backs and locked in a room. The owner was taken to his cabin where he was beaten and forced to open his safe. He was then tied up and left on the floor. “I really thought that they would come back and execute all of us. After about 30 minutes, we couldn’t hear any noises and were able to find my knife and cut ourselves loose. We found some guns and ammo, armed ourselves and broke the door down. Now, we were ready for a gunfight. However, the thugs had left, stealing the camp vehicle. The owner had also gotten free. “Camp was in total chaos. A phone was found and neighbors were called for help. All hunting lodges within 100km were notified and roadblocks were set up to capture the gunmen.” Tye says that the gunmen were located about 50km away. Three of them ran and were not found. The local community that set up the roadblocks caught the driver and used force to make him provide names of the gunmen. One, Tye notes, was wanted for murder. The next day, the authorities interviewed Tye and the other survivors of this ordeal, who told the story over and over all day. From that point on, they were armed at all times, and though they stayed the rest of the week, the trip was never as expected. “I am not blaming the outfitter or anyone else other than the thugs,” states Tye. “We were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Thank the good Lord no one got killed or hurt too badly. The money and items stolen totaled about $15,000 U.S. dollars. To this day, Charles and I have not recovered anything. “We got back and Texas sure looked good. The moral of the story is don’t think it can’t happen to you. The stories you hear are true. Protect your gun rights. Be aware of where you are and who you are with and be careful in your travels. Don’t be scared; be safe.” –mh
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Submitted to Construction News
Sportsman’s paradise
Fisherman and plumber Jesse Shaffer, Single Star Plumbing, went on a fishing trip to Venice, LA this summer. Happy to cast a line, Shaffer caught lots of redfish during the outing. He went out on a fishing boat from Venice Marina. –ab
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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Wind of change
Let the games begin
L-R: Doug Turner, Phillip Johnson, Lindsey Frank, Karen Pickett, Todd Iocco, Stephen Jones, Glenn Fuller and Michael Heuett. Not shown: Josh Hollub, president
ABC members concentrate at the black jack table.
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he Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) Gulf Coast Chapter installed the 20162017 officers at a lunch event held at Saltgrass Steakhouse Aug. 10. –ab Officers: President: Josh Hollub, Modern Plumbing Past President: Stephen Jones, Raven Mechanical Vice President: Lindsey Frank, Milton
Frank Plumbing Treasurer: Karen Pickett, Pickett Plumbing Secretary: Todd Iocco, Epic Services At Large Directors: Philip Johnson, Air-Care Southeast Doug Turner, Doug Turner Plumbing Associate Directors: Glenn Fuller, Texas Plumbing Supply Michael Heuett, Milwaukee Tool Committee Chair: Event/Education Programs: Eddie Hollub
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he Kickoff Classic Scholarship Casino Night at Dave & Busters was the place to be for construction professionals Aug. 4. Attendees networked with friends,
played blackjack, craps and roulette and enjoyed a buffet dinner. The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter held the event. –ab
L-R: Kelly Richardson and Jennifer King, Teal Construction
Preferred Corporate Housing
Shine on
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wo local former Texas A&M College of Architecture students will be honored as 2016’s Outstanding Alumni at a banquet held at Traditions Club in Bryan Oct. 14. The alumni have showed excellence in their respective fields while making significant public service contributions. –ab Merrie Talley, founding principal of Talley Landscape Architects Inc., earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree in 1975. Talley has headed landmark projects throughout the Houston area. She was one of the first women to enroll in the university’s landscape architecture program and she helped found Aggie Workshop, where students team with practitioners from across Texas in a daylong series of design charrettes, panel discussions and lectures. She is a member of the university’s Landscape Architecture Advisory Board and a champion of the development of the university’s Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa Rica.
Gary Hall, senior vice president at Project Control, earned a Bachelor of Building Construction degree in 1984. Hall was project director of the 21-month redevelopment of Kyle Field. He has also led construction of arenas for professional sports teams, new buildings and renovations at Rice University and buildings for nonprofit groups including the Houston Food Bank and the Asia Society of Texas. Hall has aided the Department of Construction Science’s curriculum development and fund raising as a past member of its Construction Industry Advisory Council.
Submitted to Construction News
Partee time
What is a favorite childhood memory? I grew up fascinated with cars with the help of my dad and brother. I learned how to change a battery, brakes, oil change and how to do a tune-up. Ashlyn Nolen, Insco Distributing Inc. My favorite childhood memories are going hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors with my family. James Suggs, Houston Barricade & Supply I loved growing up on a farm in Warren, TX. It was my first real exposure to engineering. We always had to find a way to repair an implement or make something work without all the typical parts. Chandra Franklin Womack, Aran & Franklin Engineering Inc. Helping my uncle pour concrete after school when I was a teenager. He taught me the value of hard work. Robert Salinas, Stamped Artistry Working in the cabinet shop with my father is what I remember most. He taught me everything I know about the trade. Dan Munson, Old Southern Workshop Spending my childhood in Anahuac. The area had lots of wildlife, waterways and estuaries. Tony Miller, Miller Electrical Construction Meeting new people all the time. My dad was in the U.S. Army so my family and I moved around quite a bit. I learned good social skills that help me in my job today. Bryan Melton, Monster Flooring
L-R: Angela Miller and Alex Bedia, Betco Scaffolds, participated in the recent 17th annual Safety Council Texas City Golf Tournament held at Moody Gardens Golf Course. –ab
Going white tail deer hunting with my dad. We still like to go hunting together today. B.J. Walton, American Drilling & Sawing
Working on a crawfish farm in Orange. Carl Carlton, BlueLine Rental One of my favorite childhood memories was going swimming all summer at a large swimming pool in Spring Hill, WV. Bob Smith, Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc. I spent many happy days going to the beach. Maritza Ramirez, Payless All Points Garage Doors Learning important lessons from my father. My father has always encouraged me throughout my childhood. He always told me to take it one day at a time. I listened when he said do what makes me happy and work hard. Caylee Ann Cowgill, ParkUSA Spending time outdoors with my family. Fernando Garza, Garza Construction Services My father was an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant. When my father was deployed in Hawaii. I spent lots of time on the beach. I drove a three-wheel Cushman to sell ice cream on the beach for an ice cream business. I packed the ice cream trucks and ate all the free ice cream I wanted! Bill Stokes, Increte of Houston Hanging out with my best friend Robert Ford. We became best friends in the 1st grade and played baseball and football together. We still work together today! It seems like we have been friends our whole life. Gary Combs, Agape Overhead Doors
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Putting on a big show
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he Mechanical Contractors Association of Texas (MCAT) held its annual Conference and Products Show Jul. 20-24 at La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa in Montgomery, TX. Attendees represented 22 contractors and 34 vendors and sponsors from across Texas. The four-day program included the opening reception, casino night, golf tournament, annual meeting, educational seminars, board meeting, and project manager and service manager training. –mh
Industry FOLKS Clinton Forsyth Safety/Field Operations Manager Fast Track Specialties LP
Milwaukee Tool
2016-2016 Board of Directors President: Rick Gopffarth, Dynamic Systems, Dallas Vice President/President-Elect: John Gargotta, Service Mechanical Group, San Antonio Treasurer: Randy Bradshaw, MIINC, Dallas Past President: Brent Watts, Dynamic Systems, Houston Directors John Anthony, Anthony Mechanical, Lubbock; Ron Dauzat, CFI Mechanical, Houston; Roger Ford, Dynamic Systems, San Antonio; Bobby Grimes, A & G Piping, Fort Worth; Jeff Henkener, Dynamic Systems, Austin; Chad James, Harold James, Fort Worth; Jim Letsos, The Letsos Company, Houston; Aaron Richards, The Porter Company, Austin
Ferguson
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nce Clinton Forsyth graduated from University of Houston (UH), he decided to enter the construction industry right away. Forsyth grew up in the Houston area and attended MacArthur High School. He took construction management classes at UH. One of his very first jobs when he was a teenager was working as a cashier at Academy Sports + Outdoors. Today he has 34 years of experience working in the construction industry. Employed at Fast Track Specialties for five years, Forsyth says his daily job responsibilities are overseeing safety and field operations. Forsyth says he tries to hit one or two jobsites in the mornings during the week and then he’ll also spend time at the office. “I like working as a safety/field operation manager because I am able to meet day-to-day challenges,” he said. “I am a trouble shooter so I am in the right field. “I think the best part about the Houston construction industry is
even though it slows down at times, it never stops.” If a high school or college student wants to do what he does today for a living, Forsyth says to make sure to get lots of working experience and learn as much as you can about construction safety. “It is also important to learn about the hygiene portion of the industry,” he said. “I think that is where the demand is nowadays.” When he isn’t working, Forsyth enjoys spending time with his sons, ages 32 and 28 and his daughter, 16. “I go fishing every chance I get after a long day,” Forsyth said. “I live on Lake Houston, so I go fishing there most of the time. I also like to play golf at Chambers County Country Club.” Forsyth says in the future, he looks forward to meeting more challenges and doing his best work at Fast Track Specialties. –ab
Going for the win
HTS Johnson Controls
Slice and dice
L-R: Ken Hengst’s daughter, Ken Hengst and Danny and Renee Colwell
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1st Place - North Course winners
ontractors gathered to play golf at the Houston Contractors Association (HCA) Spring Golf Tournament held at Black Horse Golf Club in Cypress Jul. 19. John Bethke, Greg Pollard, Tika So, Dustin Stewart, Ryan Nesloney
and James Kirbow won 1st Place - North Course and Ken Porter, Bob Nelson, Terry Lynch, Brandon Robinson and Scott Rhorick won 1st Place - South Course. –ab
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lectrical contractors and suppliers were all smiles at the 13th annual Casino Night Aug. 12. Attendees had a great time playing black jack and also took part in a cos-
tume contest. The Independent Electrical Contractors Texas Gulf Coast Chapter (IEC) hosted the event at the IEC office. –ab
Congrats to the winners!
1st Place – South Course winners
IEC members gather around the casino tables.
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
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Green Building Green building for future generations Tim Murray, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, GPCP, Senior Associate, Sustainable Design Leader EYP Inc. Houston, TX
In your opinion, what is the current state of the construction industry? I’ve been pessimistic about it for a while now and it keeps proving me wrong. It seems to transition to new sectors and smaller projects are able to emerge in this more relaxed market. The local green building sector has held steady with 579 certified LEED projects currently in the metro Houston area. What sparked your interest to get involved in your industry? I had always wanted to be an architect growing up in the boom of the ‘70s and ‘80s in Houston so I followed that path. An early employer made each of us volunteer with a unique industry professional organization.
All the standard ones were already taken, but I had heard of this upstart USGBC group in town. I went to three monthly meetings in a row and they asked me to become programs chair. Two years later, I was chair of the local chapter. I was a USGBC volunteer for five years before I ever participated in a LEED project professionally. Having children made me realize that promoting green buildings was the most significant contribution I could make in my chosen profession. What are a few trends you see in green building in recent years? Resiliency has really taken center stage since Superstorm Sandy hit New York. LEED has created three pilot credits
Advancements in sustainable building
that are excellent guides to developing a resilient building. Active Design promotes indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage physical activity. Also, green homes are starting to scale up beyond custom homebuilders. How do you define green building? Doing more with less to ensure quality of life for future generations. Efficiencies must be at all scales: energy, manufacturing, material and building reuse, even how we commute to and from green buildings. In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge the green building industry faces? LEEDv4 scares everyone. There will be a significant learning curve, but it is feasible. Materials transparency was one of the largest hurdles in LEEDv4 pilot programs, but manufacturers have responded quickly (and at great cost) in providing certifications and documentation for compliance. Standard HVAC systems are reaching their efficiency limits in the face of ever-strengthening energy codes. A local oddity is the resistance of the healthcare and multifamily sectors to embrace green building.
How has green building advanced over the years? It has become much more complex and integrated. An architect could accomplish a majority of the credits on their own in early versions of LEED. LEEDv4 will achieve ideal results only with numerous consultants and with a much more interactive project team. Also, the codes have become much more aggressive, in many cases leading the voluntary rating systems. What is on the horizon for your industry in Houston? Occupant health and well being is emerging as a primary focus. The WELL rating system was recently introduced and deals exclusively with occupant health and wellness. Has green building been successful? When Architecture 2030 began its Annual Energy Outlook in 2005, it projected a 16 quadrillion Btu increase by 2030 in building sector energy consumption. Actual consumption has steadily dropped since and their latest outlook has an increase of only 4 quadrillion Btus by 2030, which would represent a savings in energy cost of $4 trillion. EYP is a provider of building design, research and related consulting services. –ab have become more mainstream/expected with project outlines. The industry has also progressed from commonly starting with energy and water efficiency measures in mind to a more holistic approach that incorporates more outcome based strategies. We are moving beyond energy and water and toward human health and environmental equity.
What do you consider is the current state of the local construction industry? Houston is a national leader with respect to number of LEED certified buildings and total square footage of LEED certified projects.
What sparked your interest to get involved in your industry? My father was a general contractor so I have been involved in construction for as long as I can remember. My passion for sustainable design has grown from an understanding that our buildings consume a large amount of energy and thereby contribute significantly to pollution. I realized many years ago that I was able to make a positive impact by advocating for better design practices, technical innovation and user training.
Registration of new LEED registered projects has actually increased slightly, for both new and existing buildings, in anticipation of the updated Version 4 (V4)
What trends do you see in green building in recent years? Many green strategies/products
How do you define green building? I think that "Sustainable Building" is a more accurate description – but "Green Building" has better name recognition and a greater share of public consciousness - and refers to building / construction continued on Page 17
sustainable built environment. In Austin, the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, the first LEED Platinum certified hospital in the world, exemplifies the many benefits of LEED certification. The 32-acre campus used native, drought-resistant landscaping that saves an estimated 1.4 million gallons of water a year with an additional 1.7 million gallons in annual savings thanks to low-flow bathroom fixtures. The energy savings from high efficiency lighting and air conditioning is enough to power, heat and cool 300 averaged sized homes a day. Acknowledged as an industry leader in high performance healing environments, Dell Children’s Medical Center’s investment in healing gardens, healthy and high performance materials, natural light and energy efficient mechanical systems result in measurable environmental and health benefits to patients, staff and the broader community. Programs likes the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing (PACE) initiative are also making building energy and water efficiency more attractive and affordable for property owners throughout the state. First implemented in Texas in 2013, PACE finances 100 percent of the upfront costs for energy efficiency upgrades for industrial, commercial, and some residential properties, eliminating barriers like elevated initial costs and access to capital. PACE upgrades, like energy management and wastewater recov-
ery and reuse systems, are designed to reduce energy and water consumption, lower utility costs and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, while also contributing to the local economy through technology investment job creation for our local workforce. Emerging as a major economic driver in the United States, green building construction is rapidly outpacing overall construction nationwide, according to the 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study from USGBC. Between 2015 and 2018, green construction will account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs – more than one-third of the entire U.S. construction sector – generate $190.3 billion in labor earnings and contribute $303.5 billion to the gross domestic product. In Texas alone, green construction will contribute 1,259,000 jobs, $71.79 billion in labor earnings and $107.13 billion to the state’s GDP. Of those metrics, LEED-certified projects will account for 244,00 jobs, $14,41 billion in labor income and $21.39 billion to the state GDP. To learn more about LEED, USGBC and the green building community as a whole, join us for the 2016 Greenbuild in Los Angeles, Oct. 5-7. Greenbuild is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building and features three groundbreaking days of inspiring speakers, invaluable networking opportunities, industry showcases, LEED workshops and tours of Los Angeles’ green buildings.
David MacLean, Houston Operations Manager |N|V|5 Sebesta Houston, TX
Rating System implementation this Fall. |N|V|5 Sebesta sees continued growth in higher education and specialty laboratory. New office space has slowed.
LEED: Meeting the triple bottom line for Texas Gail Vittori, LEED Fellow, co-director Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems Board member Green Business Certification Inc. Washington, D.C.
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exas is a pioneer in the sustainability movement, stepping forward to find new and exciting ways to advance resource efficient buildings and create a healthier environment where we live, learn, work and play. Through the pursuit of LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the world’s premier green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Texans are taking advantage of the benefits of the triple bottom line - people, planet and profit. Buildings account for an enormous amount of global energy use and nearly 40 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. LEED certification positions new and existing buildings across all building types to achieve electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and high performance in key areas of human and environmental health. In fact, be-
tween 2015-2018, LEED-certified buildings in the United States are estimated to result in $1.2 billion in energy savings – the equivalent of 23.5 billion kilowatt hours – $149.5 million in water savings, $715.2 million in maintenance savings and $54.2 million in waste savings. This trend is not just sweeping the nation. Worldwide, there are more than 79,600 LEED commercial projects, comprising 15.3 billion square feet of space, more than 161 countries and territories. And in Texas, there are currently more than 1,700 LEED-certified projects totaling more than 333 million gross square feet – the equivalent to 305 Empire State Buildings – across each space type and sector. Texas also ranked eighth in the 2015 Top 10 States for LEED, an annual ranking of states in terms of square feet of LEED space per state resident, which showcases a commitment throughout the state to a
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Green Building Green building on its way to mainstream Lovleen Gill Aulakh, LEED AP BD+C, Director of Pre-Construction & Sustainability G2 Builders Corporation Austin, TX
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ow would you describe the current state of the green building industry? I would say the green building industry is gradually becoming mainstream. There is rising public awareness and demand for green buildings. This has led to progressive transformation in construction industry where now green techniques and materials are becoming more readily available at more competitive prices. This momentum is supported by various government incentives, rebates, grants and tax credits as well as more stringent energy codes and adoption of green codes by various cities all over US. Interestingly, the City of Austin is credited with adopting the very first green building program in the U.S. way back in 1990. And, since then, it has inspired many such programs including LEED, acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Have you seen an increase in your green building construction? Austin is seeing unprecedented growth right now and the construction industry is booming. On one hand, green buildings are becoming kind of a norm in public and institutional building sectors: for example, all City of Austin’s municipal buildings and all new buildings at UTAustin are required to be certified as LEED silver; on the other hand, green buildings are taking the commercial sector by storm – the number of green-rated commercial and multi-family buildings in downtown Austin and other large-scale developments is steadily increasing. With the advancement of City of Austin’s green codes, standards and incentives, green buildings are becoming more and more desirable and profitable. We are also seeing a gradual increase in
green projects that come our way. What are the ‘hot button” issues? I would have to say “Green Washing” has been a “hot button” issue in the green building industry for a long time. One aspect of “Green Washing” has been the trend of just scoring well on green scorecards to win tax breaks and grants by any means necessary. For example, targeting the cheapest and easiest green points like adding bike racks or electric charging stations which might never get used. What are the major changes in recent years? In recent years we have seen a lot of new green building materials and construction technologies coming to the market and gaining a lot of acceptance. For example, Low-E glass, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances and water sense labeled fixtures, Low VOC paint, recycled content carpet, bamboo flooring etc. have now become standard practices and are easily available at local stores. We are also seeing better construction waste management practices and op-
Putting a LID on design Tony Recine, Senior Engineer SPACECO Inc. San Antonio, TX
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s low-impact development (LID) gains momentum, civil engineering firms have gained the opportunity to incorporate LID components and educate clients as to the benefits of implementing LID in their projects.
“These incentives for low-impact development are relatively new,” says Tony Recine, a senior engineer with SPACECO Inc., who notes that the San Antonio City Council’s vote in February has incentivized the use of LID features, and this has led him to educate himself more about LID options and their benefits. “I am familiarizing myself to become more competent in the design and recommendation in these types of strategies to my clients, developers, and how that can impact how they utilize the site.” Though he notes that the environmental benefits are clear, Recine believes it will be more challenging to make the benefits of incorporating LID features clear due to the possible additional costs of trying to comply with the LID initiatives. He points out that a lot of these features are natural best management practices, such as bioswales, landscape elements designed to remove pollutants from surface water runoff, and pervious pavers, which allow rainwater runoff infiltration through the pavement surface.
“[These features] would seem initially like they’re less costly to install, and that may be true,” he explains. “However, it also calls for a reduction in the buildable space of the property, and of course, developers are looking to get as many residential dwelling units, or if it’s commercial, [as much] square-footage as they can lease out. So, you’re asking them to reduce the possible density of the property. “There could be zoning changes that can be made to give them higher density, and where they could make that up is in going vertical, but again, a vertical structure, as opposed to spread out, is more costly. There has to be a change in the way they think of developing the site. And by having these low-impact best management practices, these are also ongoing maintenance issues, in order for them to function effectively at improving air and water quality. So, there are at least tradeoffs and initial costs involved, and that’s why the city offers incentives.” On his first experience with LID on a
20% above average and have 12% more resale value than a conventional building.
tions. All our waste haulers have good systems in place to process co-mingled or mixed waste and send the least minimum to landfill. In addition, the City of Austin has also been providing some great incentives for commercial recycling programs. In fact, at G2 Builders we try to accomplish five green goals with all our design build and fast-track projects: water conservation, energy conservation, indoor air quality, waste management and green material selection. One of the acknowledged disadvantages of green building has been the additional cost. Is this statement still true? How are the additional costs balanced against energy, water, or material cost? I feel with the new LEED V4 guidelines and emphasis given on passive solar design, deeper green strategies and holistic sustainable design this statement will soon become obsolete. We did a cost analysis for one of our recent design build projects – a 5,000-sf office building – it showed that an initial investment of 1-4% for incorporating green strategies like cutting edge HVAC system, solar PVs, efficient light and water fixtures, insulated building envelop etc. can pay for itself in just 5-7 years. In general, we don’t shy away from paying extra for better commodities and services. In the green building industry, even a 1% extra initial investment can provide a much superior product, which is good for environment, good for all the occupants and good for saving money in the long run in energy bills, operating costs and health benefits. In fact, if we consider the life-cycle cost of green buildings instead of upfront cost, we’ll find that green buildings are a total win-win. On an average LEED certified project, green buildings use 25% less electricity, have 19% lower operating costs, lease for
What makes G2 Builders green? We operate our company sustainably - just working with us means you are making a difference. We try to accomplish the five green goals I mentioned before. G2 also promotes LEED to all new design-build project owners by providing complimentary LEED scorecard analysis and, on request, we provide LEED cost analysis. We use PROCORE, a cloud-based software for our construction documentation that gives our employees flexibility to work from anywhere. It also saves paper as everything is archived digitally. All of our construction sites implement basic green strategies. We use solar powered construction cameras on our jobsites and promote teleconferencing to reduces the number of trips to the job sites. Earlier this year G2 Builders Corporation was recognized as an Austin Green business leader for our green initiatives. –cw
project, which he notes was simply the widening of a road with more than 5,000sf of impervious cover, the client specifically requested a design that would reduce stormwater runoff. After incorporating a bioswale feature using engineered soils and native plants to catch runoff from the roadway surface infiltrating to a special stormdrain design, the client had him redesign it to eliminate the LID feature because it turned out to be too costly and put the project over budget. Recine believes it will come down to the developer’s vision of the project. He feels that some developers will see the inherent value in spending more to incorporate these features, recouping that investment by drawing the kind of tenants they want to the site. LID components can add a natural and very nice aesthetic to the environment, and mixed-use development can reduce impact as well, since the property encourages walking or cycling. He cites the Pearl Brewery area as an example that incorporates many LID features. Some developers may also be interested in taking advantage of the incentives the city offers, perhaps giving them a break on compliance with other parts of their development’s codes, such as parking or other issues. Some features can be incorporated with a much smaller impact on initial costs and none to the developable space. For example, in a parking area that normally might have islands for trees and green space to reduce the heat sink of large amounts of pavement, those islands can be turned into bioretention cells that can treat stormwater runoff. This doesn’t
require any additional space and might not cost much more to build, but the plant life and infiltration has to be maintained so it functions as it needs to throughout its service life. As Recine notes that the city is incentivizing LID to help reestablish the hydraulic cycle closer to pre-development conditions to recharge ground waters and improve water quality among other impacts, he adds that the burden is on him to learn as much as he can about different LID techniques and land-use strategies. One of the educational tools he is using, available through the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), is the San Antonio River Basin Low-Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual. He describes it as comprehensive, covering best management techniques of rain gardens, planter box filters, permeable pavements and other ways to minimize pollutant loads. “It’s a change of culture that I think is going to take some getting used to – at least from my end,” he says of the LID practices becoming more common and incentivized. “I’ve been doing land development consulting for almost 20 years, and [LID] is something that I have to start thinking of and better understanding.” SPACECO provides civil engineering and surveying services in the residential, commercial and industrial markets. After being stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio as a military engineer from 1994 to 1998, Tony Recine has been working in land development consulting and civil engineering since 1999. –mh
Is the green market becoming more competitive? Please explain. Unlike a decade ago, when the green building industry was a niche market; it is now driven by consumers. Public acceptance, desirability and profitability of green buildings has resulted in the green market becoming more competitive. Newer and better sustainable products and services are launched every day by both industry giants and entrepreneurs. But that’s a good thing, because as they get more mainstream, prices drop and they become reachable to more and more people. For example, we now install solar powered cameras on our job sites and guess what! They are at least 40% more economical than the regular site cameras we used before.
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Page 17
Association Calendar
Round-Up
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC
NAMC
Associated Builders & Contractors
Nat’l Assn. of Minority Contractors
Sep. 8: Membership Drive: 2016 World Series of Membership Sep. 15: Fall BBQ Cookoff and Expo Sep. 21: Member Mixer For more information call 713-523-6222
Sep. 22: Member meeting, 6pm, Brady’s Landing, 8505 Cypress St. For more information call 713-843-3791
AIA American Institute of Architects
Sep. 9: Bowl-a-TAC, 6:30pm, Palace Bowling Lanes Sep. 14: Texas Wood Solutions Fair For more info: www.aiahouston.org
ASA American Subcontractors Association
Sep. 15: General Lunch meeting, 11am, “How New OSHA Standards Will Impact Production and Profitability of Projects Sep. 20: Associate Member Happy Hour, 4pm, Yellow Rose Distillery Sep. 28: Captain’s Party, 5pm Sep. 30: Fishing Tournament, 7am For more information call 281-679-1877
ECAT Earthmoving Contractors Assn. of Tx.
Sep. 9: Land Stewardship Workshop for Contractors; Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria; topics: water resource protection, wildlife management and invasive species, pipeline safety, and financial incentive programs available to landowners that implement conservation practices; field tour on local ranch; registration/$10 includes lunch and refreshments For more info, contact Clinton Faas at cfaas@texas-wildlife.org or 210-826-2904
FPA Foundation Performance Assoc.
Sept. 14: Monthly meeting, 5pm, HESS Club. Speaker: Mike Babin, Texas Department of Insurance For more info: www.foundationperformance.org
IEC Independent Electrical Contractors
TACA Texas Aggregate & Concrete Association
Sep. 27: Safety/Transportation Committee meeting; Gumbos Restaurant, Georgetown; 10am. Education Committee meeting, 1pm Sep. 28: Specification Committee meeting; Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., Conference Room, Austin; 10am. Environmental/Sustainability Committee meeting, 1pm Sep. 29: Industry Promotion & Marketing Committee meeting, Austin area, 10am For more info on these events, email Andrea Tilley at atilley@tx-taca.org or visit http://www.tx-taca.org/news-events/
TACCA Tx. Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.
Sep. 20: Membership meeting, 5:30pm, Crown Plaza Reliant, 8686 Kirby Sep. 30: Annual Shoot Out For more information call 713-781-4822
TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Sep. 9: Monthly meeting, 11am, HESS Club For more info; www.tspehouston.org
TXSWCCG Tx. Statewide Construction Credit Group
Sep. 18-20: Quarterly meeting coincides with NACM’s 2016 All South Conference at the Stockyards in Ft Worth. Contact lorid@lonestarmaterials.com for more info or visit nacm-all-south.com
JR Nunez has joined Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing in Houston as a project coordinator for waterproofing and caulking. He will assist in managing multiple projects by overseeing scheduling, change orders, billing, contracts, warranty requests as well as processing submittals. Jonathan Strellow has also joined the Houston office as a project estimator for roofing and sheet Metal. He will review plans and specifications to compose bids and estimates for projects, and assist in the review, negotiation and execution of contracts.
WCA Women Contractors Association
Sep. 1: Luncheon, 11:30am, Maggiano’s Little Italy, 2019 Post Oak Blvd. For more information call 713-807-9977
Sep. 21: Monthly meeting For more information call 713-869-1976
Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) has promoted Warren Green, PE, to the position of chief technical officer. Green, who is one of the firm’s vice presidents, will serve as the technical liaison across all of the firm’s business groups, assist with staffing plans, participate in project pursuits and develop and oversee technical presentations and publications. Green holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University. Necia E. Bonner, RID, IIDA, LEED AP, has joined Kirksey Architecture as a senior associate and director of healthcare interiors. Bonner brings more than 17 years of experience in healthcare interior design and expertise. Her focus at Kirksey will consist of healthcare interior design as well as business development. Bonner has a BFA from the University of Houston in Interior Design with a minor in Architecture. Chuck Vojtech, CSI, CDT has been named vice president-sales for Rob Pelletier Construction Inc. In addition, Elizabeth Ledford, CPA has been appointed controller.
Bryan Jones AIA, LEED AP has joined the Shepley Bulfinch Houston office as a director. He brings 20 years of Texas-based healthcare expertise to the firm.
Submissions
Sep. 10: APEX Awards Gala, 7pm, The Astorian For more information call 713-843-3700
Sep. 14: Member Lunch, 11:30am, Saltgrass Steakhouse For more info: www. gulfcoastphcc.org
Round-Up
AGC Associated General Contractors
PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Nia Beatty, PE, has joined Johnston LLC as practice leader - mechanical engineering. Beatty brings more than 35 years of engineering and project management experience in healthcare and research design. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston.
This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month). Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio: saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin: austineditor@constructionnews.net Dallas/Ft. Worth: dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston: houstoneditor@constructionnews.net
continued from Page 15 — Advancements in sustainable building practices that are environmentally responsible and make use of materials and resources efficiently. This should also include the construction practices/worksite conditions and transition into a building's operation and maintenance and eventual demolition - the whole life-cycle of the project. In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge the green building industry faces? The perception that building healthy, sustainable and high-performing buildings is cost prohibitive. While some green strategies/technologies do have a cost premium, there is a definite ROI for these upgrades. Commercial office buildings are built to a high level of high performance because the market demands it. This is not true for all school systems or residential homebuilders. We need to do a better job of educating these consumers about the opportunities available to them from green buildings. How has green building advanced over the years? The industry had gotten better at le-
veraging systems thinking over employing individual strategies. “Return on Green Investment” is a standard mantra for most advanced developers, designers and contractors. Manufacturers have continued to roll out products that differentiate themselves from their completion and attract Green designers and consumers. Any good designer should be able to create a building that is 20 percent more energy efficient and uses 25 percent less water than current code, without a cost premium or very short ROI. What is on the horizon for the green building industry in Houston? Houston is already a leader in advanced design and construction. We have some of the best practitioners right here. It is an exciting time to be in the Green industry. I see a number of critical things happening here that are very exciting. a.) LEED Version 4 (V4) takes full effect this fall. It will raise the bar on minimum expectations and allow for better accounting of both the embodied energy of a product and the chemical risk involved in placing that product in your breathing zone.
b.) The adoption of a Texas wide increase in the energy code takes place shortly. Everyone will need to up their offerings. c.) The City of Houston has recently approved an energy and water efficiency program called PACE, that will immediately remove most barriers to the implementation of upgrades to older commercial and industrial buildings. d.) There is growing interest in the WELL Building Standard that focuses squarely on the health opportunity inside a building. e.) USGBC Texas Gulf Coast is working hard with stake holder to better understand how we can provide better buildings to historically under represented developers, school systems, communities and individuals. f.) Recent flooding has highlighted the need for better design solutions. USGBC’s Neighborhood Development Rating System offers some proven pathways to success in this area. We are working to understand how we might help. g.) This is Houston. We like to lead, not follow! –ab |N|V|5 Sebesta is a provider of full-service engineering, energy performance, commissioning and sustainability services. –ab
NEXT MONTH October 2016
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Eyeing success
Women of the world
NAWIC’s South Central Region represented seven chapters in Texas, four in Louisiana, and ones in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee at this year’s AMEC.
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pproximately 400 women from across 127 international chapters of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) attended the organization’s 61st annual Meeting and Education Conference (AMEC) Aug. 17-20 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio. More than 100 attendees were attending the four-day conference for the first time. On Wednesday evening, the Fiestathemed welcome party in the ballroom served up Tex-Mex. Thursday morning’s general session kicked off with the Joint Base San Antonio Honor Guard presenting colors and 323D Army Band “Ft. Sam’s Own” vocalist SSG Nakita Fox singing the national anthem. The NAWIC Founders and Scholarship Foundation (NFSF) awarded more than $65,000 in 51 scholarships to students attending trades and colleges. Also, the executive vice president, Dede Hughes, announced her retirement as of Dec. 31 after 20 years serving in her appointment. In addition to motivational speaker Jennifer Lee helping members “Make
EyeSite Surveillance works with clients to minimize the impact of construction site theft and vandalism.
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L-R: Sandy Field, receiving the Executive Spotlight Award, and Jennifer Swinney
Great Things Happen,” several workshops were held from Thursday through Saturday on topics ranging from impacting your work environment to understanding Blue Beam better. The conference also included the NAWIC Officers Workshop, open to chapter members, as well as the gala and passing of the gavel. –mh Photos by Jacqueline Associates
he early days at EyeSite Surveillance were exciting and filled with many challenges that led the company to where they are today. Now, the company is expanding into the Houston market. The owners are Jason Gratton, Dean Olson, Scott Carpenter and Dave Gratton. Nancy Cagle, is the Houston sales manager and Ray Shaffer is the Texas operations manager. “The Houston area is a very large metropolis, similar to Dallas/Fort Worth plagued by the same issues of theft and vandalism,” Shaffer said. “We have the products and services that can help solve the problems builders are facing.” EyeSite Surveillance has worked with Operation Finally Home - an organization that builds mortgage free homes for veterans wounded during combat missions overseas. “We provide security and time lapse video for the construction of the home
and the dedication ceremony; which we turn over to the builder and veteran after completion,” Shaffer said. Current progress is also updated to the company website daily so family, friends, and the community can see the progress live at anytime and from anywhere. When not at work, EyeSite Surveillance employees stay active in the community and are members of local associations. The company participates and sponsors events such as golf tournaments, clay shoot tournaments, barbecue competitions and fishing tournaments. Employees enjoy hobbies including cooking, BBQ competitions, hunting, fishing, shooting, health and fitness and community service. “Building a great team to serve our customers and community is our number one priority,” Shaffer said. “After that, Austin and San Antonio are great areas we would love to serve and add value.” –ab
continued from Page 1 — Training in session “We have hosted graduation events at 1st Person Shooter Live which has tactical laser tag” Burton said. “The event is held inside of Scream World (the haunted house). Our last social in late July was at VFW Post 10352 in Spring.” ACS recently became a member of Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) and also completed its first two training classes in June and July. Veterans have received introductory Ironworking Level 1 training. The company uses the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker curriculum. Empire Steel, Postel International and Steelco have already hired ACS ironworkers for projects. “In the future, we would like to expand outside of Ironworking,” Burton said. ACS hires military veterans and trains them to become ironworkers. –ab
A training tower provides real-world environment for learning ironworking skills in a safe, controlled environment.
continued from Page 1 — Golden regal Patsy serves as CFO and president, Wayne is the vice president and general manager, and their two children have joined as well. Daughter Amy Gono Collins came aboard in 2012 and is learning Patsy’s controller/chief financial officer job. Son Chad Gono joined in 2013 as chief operating officer and is credited with contributing to Regal’s shift in culture. In its Texas branches, Regal Plastics boasts close to 1,000 years of employee experience, and they enjoy celebrating the company’s evolution together, whether with branch parties for “wins” or the annual barbecue/pool party. “Our employees are everything! If it
wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be Regal Plastics,” Gono Collins says. “We have had a major shift in company culture in the last few years. It may be because more “youth” has gotten involved, but either way, it is a fun place to work!” As Regal Plastic continues to grow, its future is as ambitious as its past. “[We plan] to separate ourselves from the competition, to be the leader in our industry, to expand and to have fun!” Gono Collins says. Regal Plastics is a wholesale plastic distribution and custom fabrication company catering to retail business, and small and large companies. –mjm
continued from Page 1 — Marking a milestone Founded in Aug. 2003 by Bode and William Key, vice president, IBC Builders of Texas is a full service commercial general contractor serving Houston and all of Texas. The company employs 15 people. –ab
Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Page 19
30 years of sculpting sand
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rchitects, designers, engineers and contractors headed to East Beach in Galveston for the 30th annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) Sandcastle Competition Aug. 20. More than 60 teams had their eyes and shovels set on winning the Golden Bucket Award. The judging of the sandcastles was rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique and utilization of the site. –ab
1st Place Gold Bucket and Best Team T-shirt Award and Kidtastic! - Disney Edition Award: Finding Gory - Kirksey and Metzger Construction
2nd Place Silver Shovel & Best Cinematic Award and Tallest Standing Structure Award: Curse You Sand Baron! DowChemical
3rd Place Bronze Shovel and Best Traditional Castle Award: The Junk Yard -Gensler and Harvey
4th Place Honorable Mention and Best Costume Award: Game of Bones - Ziegler Cooper Architects
6th Place Honorable Mention: The Jungle Book Brown & Gay Engineers and Hoar Construction
5th Place Honorable Mention: Slay the Dragon Page and Bartlett Cocke
30th Anniversary Award: Whiting and Turner
Best Meme Award: Guess Who Else is Turning 30 HKS and JE Dunn Construction
Houston-centric Award: Urban Octopus – Tellepsen and HOK Best Architectural Icon Award: FKP Architects and AEI
The Sydney LeNoir Public Favorite Award: Little Shop of Horrors - HDR & HPCC Annual AIA College Challenge Award: The Glasgow Riverside Museum - Prairie View A&M University - SOA – AIAS Best Team Signage Award: Labyrinth - Cre8, Matrix and Durotech
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Houston Construction News • Sep 2016
Growing in new markets
Summertime fun
Attendees line up for hotdogs and hamburgers.
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ichelieu Hardware has acquired Cornerstone and the company name is now Cornerstone – A Division of Richelieu. The company held its annual Summer Sale Big Event at the Houston location in July. Customers came out to eat James Coney Island burgers and hotdogs, enjoyed Kona Ice snowcones and played games including a virtual simulator. Cornerstone – A Division of Richelieu provides builder’s hardware, decorative hardware, lighting and supplies. –ab
BGT Interior Solutions provides the turn-key interior finish package for multi family projects.
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Randy Wilkin won a $1,500 gift certificate.
Sixteen vendors showcased products and offered raffle prizes during the afternoon.
n the early 2000s, BGT Interior Solutions specialized in providing natural stone flooring and countertops to custom luxury builders in the Texas market. Next, the company began to specialize in custom turn-key interior finishing packages to fit any multi family, commercial, hospitality or residential applications. Keith Wagner is the president and CEO and Jared Kinchen is the vice president. “In 2009, at the time faced with a construction industry economics crisis, we went in global search to Asia looking to expand product lines,” Wagner said. This search lead to the addition of interior solutions of hardwood flooring, carpet, tile, vinyl plank flooring, sinks, mirrors and cabinets. “Thru this process we established our niche in comprehensive product packaging and we were able to set ourselves to be a single point of contact for cost and material management,” he said. According to Wagner, besides Hous-
President and CEO Keith Wagner has worked in the construction industry more than 20 years.
ton, the company has project locations in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Nashville and Phoenix. Activities employees participate in outside of work include the Houston Rodeo Barbecue Cook-off and local golf tournaments. They are Houston Texans fans too. “In the future, we plan to keep expanding to new markets and new product lines to stay with in the market trends,” Wagner said. BGT Interior Solutions is a construction industry provider of luxury interior finishes. –ab