Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News September 2017 by Construction News

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Joining forces

Currently celebrating 40

Staffelbach’s Jo Heinz, DLR Group CEO Griff Davenport and Staffelbach’s Andre Staffelbach

Co-founder Victor Jury, Sr. poses in front of Summit Electrical Supply’s first location in Albuquerque in 1977.

LR Group is ready to go big in the Big D. In August, Dallas-based design firm Staffelbach joined the integrated design firm, enabling it to establish a Dallas base to serve Texas clients, expand its interiors expertise, and reach new clients for its courts, education, healthcare, hospitality, performing arts, retail, sports and workplace studios. Staffelbach’s reputation as a strong interior architecture firm caught the attention of DLR Group, who wanted to expand its range of design services to include full service architecture and engineering as part of an integrated design process. Hall of Fame Swiss-born interior designer Andre Staffelbach FIIDA founded the firm in 1966, and was joined in Dallas 19 years later by Jo Heinz,

n acre of land in the small rural town of Cross Roads holds many building possibilities, especially if that acre is positioned next to a Walmart in a high-traffic area. One veterinarian saw the possibilities, recognizing 11930 US Hwy 380 as the perfect spot to build Village Veterinary Center, a 4010sf clinic that could serve the pet owners of Cross Roads and surrounding areas. The veterinarian approached Callaway Architecture’s Scott Stone and Kim Ward and Huffman Builders’ Jerry Huffman, Tim Huffman, Joanne Huffman and Gray Harrison with a detailed wish list. The clinic would need four exam rooms, a lab area, space for two treatment tables, surgery and x-ray rooms and an intensive care unit. The facility would also need to include a cat boarding room, dog boarding kennels containing 14 private cages and a bank of smaller cages, a full-service grooming

FIIDA. Together, they grew the firm to include 70 design professionals, including 23 licensed architects and interior designers. DLR Group has made its mark on major Texas cities with substantial design projects, most recently Dallas’ Canopy Hotel by Hilton, which will be complete in November. Operations will be immediately merged with full integration, and the firm will change its name to DLR Group/ Staffelbach effective Oct. 2. Staffelbach joins DLR Group offices in Austin and Houston and maintains a Dallas office led by Heinz. “Everyone in the firm is so excited about it,” Heinz says. “Staffelbach is 51 years old, and DLR Group is also celebratcontinued on Page 19

n Aug. 15, 1977, Victor Jury Sr., David Meredith and Victor Jury Jr. opened the doors of their first Summit Electric Supply service center. Located in a terra cotta-brown brick building, it was not unlike the color of the surrounding Albuquerque landscape. Inside, five employees were ready to help the customers they hoped would come through the doors. Came they did. The new company finished that first year with nearly a half million in revenue, cleared $2 million and opened a second location by 1979 and moved its headquarters to a new location in 1980. Seven years later, Summit opened its first Texas location in Dallas, originally naming it Sierra Electric Supply before

rechristening it Summit Electric Supply (it has since relocated to Irving). In just a decade, the company had grown to 76 associates in three locations and was pulling in $15.7 million in sales. The move to Texas proved to be a wise choice, and Victor Jury, Sr. relocated to Fort Worth and established a service center there the next year. At his retirement in 1990, Victor Jury Jr. took over as president and CEO, with Meredith retiring in 1999. Summit Electric Supply now employs more than 600 associates in 25 locations in five states, 15 of which are in Texas: Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Bryan/ College Station, Clute, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Irving, LaPorte, Midland, San Antonio, Victoria continued on Page 19

Animal instincts

Huffman Builders and Callaway Architecture’s project, Village Veterinary Center in Cross Roads, blends seamlessly into its rural setting thanks to the use of rugged stone and masonry.

area, two play yards, two private doctors’ offices and a clinic manager’s office. The team was eager to tackle the wish list, but the weather had other plans from the beginning. “Weather during pad prep and site utilities was a little bit of a challenge and did cause some delay,” Gray Harrison says. “We pushed as hard as we could go to get dried in as soon as possible so we could focus on the finish out as the weather improved.” Once the rain abated, the team completed the prep and the building started to take shape. To complement the land’s country setting, stone and brick were chosen for the building’s exterior, with cedar beams and a metal roof adding to the rural effect. Because the interiors would need to stand up to the wear and tear of a variety of animals but still appear welcoming to pet owners, Joanne Huffman selected interior design continued on Page 19

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

s the trade union and labor movements grew at the beginning of the late 19th century, different groups of trade unionists chose a variety of days on which to celebrate labor. Labor Day was first proposed in the United States in the 1880s. Early history of Labor Day dates its origin to a General Assembly of the Knights of Labor, which assembled in New York City in September of 1882. Oregon became the first state of the United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday. Prior to Labor Day becoming an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states officially celebrated Labor Day.

The “unofficial end of summer”

After Chicago’s Pullman Strike of 1894 in which thirty people were killed in response to riots and sabotage that caused $80 million in damages, the U.S.

Congress unanimously voted to approve legislation to make Labor Day a national holiday. President Grover Cleveland signed this legislation into law six days

after the end of the strike. This was President Cleveland’s attempt to shore up support among trade unions following the Pullman Strike. Labor Day is known as the “unofficial end of summer” as it marks the end of our cultural summer season. Vacations are winding down, and fall activities such as school and sports begin. Many school districts across the United States resume classes around the Labor Day weekend. Most start the week before, marking Labor Day as the first three-day weekend of the school calendar year, while others begin classes the Tuesday following Labor Day. I suppose to squeeze in one last weekend of family fun. -cmw

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The real thing

Product orientation

L-R: Don’t let the clever name fool you! Texas Counter Fitters owner Christopher Blackburn and sales manager Tiara Machac offer genuine granite, marble, onyx, slate, soapstone, travertine, quartz and quartzite countertops from the company’s 12,000sf Garland showroom and fabrication area. –mjm

Whether it’s about granite, faucets, fixtures or tile, the staff at Triton Stone Group in Dallas are happy to share their product knowledge with contractors. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Through the generations

L-R: Cody Mansfield, Steven Mansfield, Terry Mayfield and Justin Mansfield

onstruction is the lifeblood that runs through Steven Mansfield’s family. The owner of subcontracting company S&C Mansfield is actually the third generation to work in the industry – his father and grandfather were both general contractors. It was a natural course, then, for Mansfield to serve as an engineer in the Army working on construction and combat engineering projects in Afghanistan and in Texas. After he retired after 28 years as a Sergeant Major E9 to concentrate on his health, his brotherlaw Terry Mayfield asked if he would supervise construction jobs for his general contracting company, Mayfield Construction. Mansfield enjoyed the businesswith-family arrangement so much, he recruited his own two sons – 24-year old Cody and 21-year-old Justin – to work for the business as well. As he soon learned, there is a difference between supervising

soldiers, supervising civilians, and then … “There’s a difference supervising family,” he says, trying to hide a grin. He can’t hide his pride in his sons, though. Mansfield enjoys attending HVAC classes with Cody two nights a week, and is pleased to see Justin get his start in the industry. “They like it, although they want more money, of course,” Mansfield says with a chuckle. With more family in the fold, Mansfield is hoping to keep generations of family in construction for years to come. “I hope to have my own general contracting business someday,” Mansfield says. S&C Mansfield in Red Oak is a general subcontractor offering a range of exterior and interior services. General contractor Mayfield Construction is based in Royce City. –mjm

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the crowd at the Jul. 18 topping out of the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at the Star. Perkins + Will led the design of the 300,000sf campus, slated to become a recognized model for the holistic treatment of the physically active. –mjm

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Melissa Jones-Meyer . . . . . Dallas/Fort Worth Editor DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net 817-731-4823 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler The Dallas  Fort Worth Construction News Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler (ISSN 1547-7657) is published monthly by Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Construction News Ltd., dba Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, and distributed by mail to Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood construction related companies in the Dallas/ Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Adams Fort Worth metropolitan area. Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net

If you are a construction-related company in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin or Denton counties and are not receiving a free copy of the Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, call for a Requester Form, or visit our website. Counties for Digital Subscriptions only: Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker & Rockwall.

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Slide qualified

Brie Ramirez, architectural representative for Hawa Sliding Solutions/Hawa Group Americas in Dallas, takes pride in her company’s sliding products. –mjm

On the move!

TDIndustries has moved to a new Fort Worth location. The office staff are enjoying their new home at 2601 Northern Cross Blvd. Suite 201. –mjm

Star at the top

Dallas  Fort Worth

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All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba Dallas  Fort Worth Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time.

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Rolling (tile and) stone

Bedrosians Tile & Stone’s senior creative designer and product development guru Tylor Vavau says the company is opening three North Texas locations – The Colony, Farmers Branch and Plano – in the next four months. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

tranquil and calm. I think that’s why we work well together.

Nathan and Elisa “E” Lane Owners Fast Lane Metalworks and Kitchen Kandy Dallas, TX

eamwork definitely makes the dream work for newlyweds Nathan and Elisa “E” Lane, owners of custom metal fabrication company Fast Lane Metal Works and handcrafted hood range business Kitchen Kandy. The welded-at-the-hip couple is so in sync, they finish each other’s sentences, rarely spend a moment apart (even when motocrossing!) and hope it always stays that way. How did you meet? E: I grew up in Fort Worth, but went to school in Waco. He’s from Tyler, but also went to school in Waco. However, we didn’t meet until 2011 when we were adults. Isn’t that funny? Nathan: She was walking her dog … well, it’s my dog now … E: It was my dog until it met him and it fell in love with him. Now, he’s like the dog’s favorite person … Anyway, Nathan was riding a big red Dooley down the street. It was love at first sight for sure. How long have you been married? E: We actually got married last October. We had it at a ranch outside of Waco that belonged to a friend of ours. The first part of it was a “moto-wedding” morning, where everybody got to go in the back pasture where there was a track, although I was forbidden to ride by my mother because I might break my neck. We had the wedding right at dusk, outdoors with the fireflies. It was a wonderful day. My father and Nathan – the metal men in my life – made both of our rings, so that was very special for me. Nathan wanted to make our rings. He got some timascus metal, which is like Damascus metal that they make samurai swords with, but timascus metal is layered metal with titanium; it has a sort of rainbow finish. My dad is a trained machinist in the Navy, and he machined the blanks for Nathan and then Nathan did the finish work. The stone is aquamarine. This represents us as husband and wife – fire and water. He’s the fiery one and I’m very

L-R: Nathan and “E” Lane are just as close on the track as they are at the shop.

How did you each get your start in the construction industry, and how did you start working together? Nathan: It’s in my blood. I learned how to weld when I was about 9 years old, helping my dad work on his hot rod. I’m also a third-generation mechanical engineer, and grew up building things. I went to college and I was supposed to be an engineering major. Everybody warned me about how difficult it was, but I was bored out of my mind! Math’s kind of my thing; I had all of my textbooks read the first week of school. I figure things out pretty easily, and I like to problem solve. I started the business about 15 years ago in Waco, doing general metal fabrication and design work. E: I went to school for graphic design and I also worked in construction in the demolition industry. Because my father was a machinist, metal was one of the things that I really loved. And then I met Nathan … Nathan: About two years ago, we were about to get married and I wanted us to be a “mom and pop”–type business. I thought the vent hoods would be great for her to do. E: I was working out of state doing demolition work and sales, and he said, ”Just come home, and let’s do this business together.” The vent hoods are my area; I do design and sales. Any nerves about starting your own business, Nathan? Nathan: I didn’t really know any different. My dad started his own business when I was in the second or third grade, and then my parents got divorced. Anytime I was with my dad, we were working. I knew at a young age; I didn’t know what I was going to build, but I’ve always known I was going to build things for a living. Even if I didn’t have to work, this is absolutely what I would do; I would build things. E: Nathan was always a little entrepreneur and had all different kinds of businesses. Nathan: I sold Mom’s Christmas cookies … E: He made paintball guns … Nathan: I had a couple of paintball fields and some stores when I was in high school. I’ve been a business owner longer than I haven’t. When I was 15, my dad gave me $500 and a spare bedroom in the house and told me to do something. But that’s how I learned. I learned how to swim by my dad throwing me off the dock. I learned how to ride my bicycle with training wheels for an hour at my birthday party, and then as soon as the birthday party was over, the training wheels came off. E: He learned trial by fire. Nathan: My dad was always like, “You figure it out, quick!” There’s no delay; it’s sink or swim. E: But it was good for him. It’s intimidating what some people ask for at work, but he’s not intimidated. He’s always like, “I’ve got this.” What qualities does E bring that makes the business successful? Nathan: She makes me happy, and that’s huge. I grew up in that environment as a little kid tagging along with my dad and I wanted the same environment. E: He wanted a family business, and I think me coming in made that come true. Also, he’s a very creative person with a flood of ideas all day long and I think I help channel some of that. I’m very much a support. Nathan: She helps keep me balanced. I’m an only child, and being at the intensity that I am in my house, my shop and environment, it’s like “I am King Almighty!” It is “The Nathan Show!” E: I am very calm, very patient, very soft-hearted, more of a gentle person, and he’s just really fiery! But it’s a good thing, because he is just very motivated and excited about things.

Husband and wife and business owners Nathan and Elisa “E” Lane are personally and professionally welded together.

Nathan: Yeah, I don’t need sleep!

How has the business progressed over the years? E: It seems like the past few years, we’ve focused our efforts … Nathan: But nowhere near as fast enough as we should. A lot of it is we were in Waco – don’t get me wrong; I love Waco! But I think a large part of the reason we aren’t where we should be is because of the limited resources there, finding workers, finding the talent. There’s just more talent here in Dallas, and it’s much easier to find employees. E: We’ve been traveling for years just building our clientele. It made sense that we needed to be here. This is where the majority of our really awesome work is. Dallas is more our speed. The minute we felt the energy in Dallas when we came here, we said, “Wow, we need to be here.” For years, people were asking us why we weren’t here! Nathan: What kept us from moving here earlier was not knowing how we were going to move the shop. But finally, we just decided to keep the shop in Waco and open the design studio at 2146 Irving Blvd. in Dallas. How has it worked out, having the shop in Dallas? Nathan: It’s been great. Our showroom is an experience. People can come in, see the materials and samples, pick out what they want and we can design it. There will be some guys in the back building hoods, and next year we hope to have a full-size fab shop. We do something a little different. We take metal work and we add a little design, so that it is more polished and refined. I think we do a good job of connecting the two worlds. The designers sometimes can’t really convey to welders what they want and with us, they don’t have to do that. What do you do in your free time? Nathan: What free time? We normally are working out of the office from Tuesday afternoon to Friday mornings. Usually Sunday and Monday, I do Waco and then come to Dallas. Although, we are actually going on a vacation this year. She tricked me! E: I used to be travel agent. We’re going to Mexico. Nathan: She called me and said we were going on vacation. I was like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we don’t have the time,” but I guess I sort of agreed to it or something. E: Our downtime is really just for motocross. He was a national champion as a kid and we travel all over the state. Nathan: At first, she came to the track and was just taking pictures. Then she saw this girl ride by with her ponytail… E: I just like a pretty outfit! He’s more impressive than I am. I just do little jumps; I have a Honda 150 and he rides a PTM 450. Nathan: Even if there was more time, there is really nothing else we would rather do with it. Some of her favorite tracks are in Austin. I grew up on the road, so I’m like

yeah, we can go riding this weekend. If it takes four hours to get to the track, it takes four hours to get to the track. That’s just part of it. E: I want to have time to take our little RV to travel to a couple of states to do moto. That would be fun. Nathan: There are only a couple of times that I have gone riding without her since she started riding, and I totally miss her at the track, like, where’s my little “ripper?” What’s a “ripper?” Nathan: That’s what I call her, and it’s what we call those little kids that are just flying through the air on their bikes. They’re little rippers! Most of the time, the women practice with the kids … E: But I like that … Nathan: But I ride with her. I’m like security, a bouncer so that when a kid is running up on her, I’m there telling him to stay away from my wife! That’s sweet! What is it like to work together and spend your free time motocrossing together? E: I can’t see us ever doing it any other way. At first, I was kind of nervous working and motocrossing together, because he’s very intense; he is the boss at the shop. But more and more, we love it. When we’re not together working, we miss each other. We’re a team, and we work off of each other when we’re bidding and doing our design work. When we’re not motocrossing, in the evenings we’re back at the shop coming up with ideas. It’s what we love. We just live, breathe and eat metal! I think we live that life and we like to enjoy every ounce of what we do. Nathan: We have a very unique situation. We spend 22 hours a day together. E: And we don’t ever get sick of each other! I don’t know. Maybe someday we will, but I don’t think so. What do you hope the future will bring for the two Lanes? Nathan: The next plan is to have Dallas as the design studio, keep a central fabrication facility, and then almost open these up like Kinkos where people can come in and say, “Hey, I’ve always wanted this. Can you build this?” E: I hope we can get our business to a point where it’s a little more manageable – we’re so slammed at work – with a little more staff. And, of course, we’d love to have a family. I have two children from a previous marriage who are grown, but we would like to have a child together. Nathan: It doesn’t matter what our child does, we’ll have a company that if he or she wants to build guitars or drums, we’ll be able to help them design it! Fast Lane Metalworks offers custom architectural metal fabrication, finishing, installation, product development, CAD and creative design. Kitchen Kandy offers custom designed and handcrafted range hoods. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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Time flies

Floor planning

L-R: Robert Lamb started at Sempco Surveying Inc. six months ago while his colleague, Jerod Fortune, began with the Fort Worth company 11 years ago. Despite the time difference, they both enjoy their work as much as the first day they started. –mjm

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Sweet celebration

Family Christian Doors’ (FCD) owner Tony Green says he will celebrate his Richland Hills-based company’s 15-year anniversary next year by working as he always has (but he’ll also try to squeeze in time for a celebratory cupcake). –mjm

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Roof (time)line

Mikel Grant began his construction career at age 15 raising things with a forklift. Now, he is raising the roof at Jabeau in Fort Worth. –mjm

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Not limited to laminate

Specification representatives Lisa Portillo and Missy Walker of Wilsonart in Dallas are eager to share that the company is no longer only focused on laminate but is now specializing in an array of engineered surfaces. –mjm

L-R: Rick Farrell and Hank Holland, architects and design consultants and Woodwright Hardwood Floor Company in Dallas, enjoy helping clients select the right floor for their spaces. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Round-Up

Smart cookies

n Aug. 8, professional engineers around the world celebrated the second annual “Professional Engineers Day,” and JQ in Fort Worth engineered their own celebration as well, complete with a cookie cake! The day raises awareness professional engineering and recognizes licensed PEs for their contributions. –mjm

Cadence McShane Construction Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Craig A. Morris to Senior Vice President of Operations and Risk Management. With 30 years of dedicated service to the company, Morris he will continue to operate from the firm’s Dallas headquarters and expand his reach to include the support of construction assignments in the firm’s Austin, San Antonio and Houston offices.

Engineering consulting firm AECOM appointed James Selmser as its Texas healthcare director. With 21 years of construction management and business development experience, Selmser will collaborate on healthcare, commercial, higher education and industrial projects ranging from $5-$500 million. His appointment allows AECOM to continue its focus on providing healthcare and program management to Texas partners and clients. -mjm

Douglas Neri has joined Stantec’s Plano office as a senior project manager. Neri brings 14 years of expe-rience providing multi-national design and project management services for a variety of projects in both the public and private sectors. He will supervise project deliverables while working hands-on with the client and design team. -mjm

SmithGroupJJR announces the promotion of Kevin Glasscock AIA LEED AP to Science and Technology Studio Leaders in its Dallas office. He will focus on the needs of the firm’s current clients and grow market share in Texas’ research market. Since joining the firm in 2015 as senior project manager, Glasscock has led several high profile science and university projects. -mjm

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors (BCGC) is pleased to announce the promotion

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Screen test

Bill Brady, LEED AP to Chief Estimator for the company’s Ft. Worth office and their north Texas region, and Walter Roy, Jr., LEED to Senior Project Manager.

Submissions

Round-Up

Brady has more than 38 years of industry experience and joined BCGC last year and played a major role in the construction of various projects in the Dallas area to include transportation, healthcare, and K-12 educational facilities.

L-R: Tommy Davidson and Brett Benson of Security Screen Masters in Dallas “hammer” home the quality of their screens by giving customers hammers so they can take a whack at the products. –mjm

Roy has been with the company for eight years and has more than 13 years experience. -cmw

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 South Texas: STeditor@constructionnews.net

Too cool for school!

ow did local construction-related companies spend their summer? For many, a good portion of their time was spent making sure students had the tools they needed for an A+ school year! –mjm

Alliance Architects Inc. collected back to school supplies for Richardson ISD.

In what has become a company tradition, KPOST Roofing and Waterproofing distributed over 500 backpacks to its employees for their children at an August safety meeting.

McCarthy Building Companies employees, as part of the “Heart Hats” program, spent a day volunteering to renovate and enhance Mi Escuelita Preschool’s Casa View campus in Dallas. The team painted, replaced ceiling tiles and light fixtures, installed panic push bars on entrance and exit doors, repaired a playground gate and spread mulch in the play area.

Using about 130,000 crayons, Halff Associates created a huge 2-sided mural, with one-side featuring a Halff engineer mentoring students at Grapevine’s Canon Elementary, which received that half’s crayons when disassembled.

Through its “Power of Work (POW)” initiative encouraging its employees to serve their communities, SEDALCO hosted its yearly backpack and school supply drive for economically challenged Fort Worth schools. This year, SEDALCO donated 28 fully supplied backpacks to Diamond Hill Jarvis and NorthSide high schools, Crouch, Knox and Thornton elementary schools and JP Elder Middle School.

The crayons on the other side of the mural were donated to North Texas school districts where Halff has offices, including a 20,000-crayon donation to Richardson ISD.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AIA - Dallas

PDCA

American Institute of Architects

Painting & Decorating Contractors of Amer.

Sept. 29: Women in Architecture: EMPOWERING Conference, 12:30pm

Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Fishing trip to Destin, FL

ASA - North Texas

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

American Subcontractors Association

Sept. 19: PHCC North Texas Lunch Meeting and Inspectors Forum, Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Dr., Farmers Branch, 11am

Sept. 28: Meeting and luncheon, Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O’Connor Rd., Irving, 11:15am

PHCC

ASCE - DALLAS

PMI – Dallas

American Society of Civil Engineers

Project Mgmt. Institute

Sept. 20-22: Texas CECON, Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa and Conference Center

Sept. 14: Dinner meeting, Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Dr., Farmers Branch, 6:30pm Sept. 28: Social hour, Blue Mesa Southwest Grill – Addison, 14866 Montfort Dr., Dallas, 6pm

ASCE - Ft Worth American Society of Civil Engineers

Sept. 20-22: Texas CECON, Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa and Conference Center Sept. 22-24: YM Camping Trip, Palmetto State Park, 78 Park Rd. 11 South, Gonzalez, TX, noon

PMI – Ft Worth Project Mgmt. Institute

Sept. 21: DFW Marriott South, 4151 Centreport Dr., Fort Worth, 6pm

RBCA

ASPE - Dallas/ Ft Worth

Regional Black Contractors Assn.

American Society of Civil Engineers

Sept. 22: Chairman’s Award Gala, Doubletree by Hilton Dallas Campbell Centre, 8250 North Central Expwy., Dallas, 7pm

Sept. 27: Fort Worth technical lunch Sept. 28: Dallas technical lunch

CFMA Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.

Sept. 21: Membership meeting, Hackberry Creek Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln., Irving, 11:30am

CMAA - North Texas Construction Mgmt. Assn. of America

Sept. 27: 8th Annual Golf Tournament, Tour 18, 8718 Amen Corner, Flower Mound, 8am registration, 9:30 am shotgun start

DACA - DFW Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.

Sept. 20: Membership meeting, Courtyard Marriott TownePlace Suites, 2200 Bass Pro Court, Grapevine, 11:30am

IEC - Dallas Independent Electrical Contractors

Sept. 13: Membership lunch meeting, IEC Dallas, 1931 Hereford Dr., Irving, 11:30am

IEC - Fort Worth Independent Electrical Contractors

Sept. 13: IEC Night at TopGolf, 2241 E 4th St., Fort Worth, 6:30pm

ICRI – N. Tx. International Concrete Repair Institute

Sept. 14: Membership meeting, Mattito’s Mexican Cantina, 3102 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, 11:45am

NARI – Dallas Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Sept. 12: NARI Night at Daltile, 2320 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy., Dallas, 6pm Sept. 28: Women in NARI (WIN), Blue Mesa Grill, 14866 Montfort Dr., Dallas, 11:30am

NAWIC - Dallas Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Sept. 18: Dinner meeting and 2017-2018 board of directors installation

NAWIC - Fort Worth Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Sept. 18: Installation dinner, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N., Fort Worth, 5:30pm

NTRCA N. Tx Roofing Contractors Assn.

Sept. 20: Clay Shoot, Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna Rd., Dallas, 8am

NUCA – N. Tx. Nat’l Utility Contractors Assn.

Sept. 20: Happy hour, Pluckers, 1709 Cross Roads Dr., Grapevine, 4:30pm

RHCA Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Sept. 8: Annual Clay Shoot Classic, Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna Rd., Dallas, 8am

SEAoT – Ft Worth Structural Engineers Association of Texas

Sept. 27: Monthly meeting, 809 at Vickery, 809 W. Vickery Boulevard, Fort Worth, 11:30am

TACCA - North Texas Tx. Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Sept. 13: Clay Shoot, Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna Rd., Dallas, 7:30am

TEXO The Construction Assn. S

e Sept. 14: TEXO Foundation Claybird Shootout, Dallas Gun Club, 3601 S. Stemmons Fwy., Lewisville, 8am

TGA – N. Tx. Division Tx. Glass Assn.

Sept. 18: Golf tournament, Iron Horse Golf Course, 6200 Skylark Cir., North Richland Hills, 10am

TPWA Tx. Public Works Assn.

Sept. 25: 3rd Annual Sporting Clay Tournament, Alpine Shooting Range, 5482 Shelby Rd., Fort Worth, 12pm registration, 1pm shotgun start

UMCA United Masonry Contractors Assn.

Sept. 25: Texas Rangers Night, Globe Life Park, 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 7pm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Sales and Use Tax and the Texas contractor: Solve the riddle! (Pt. 3) Stephanie M. Thomas, Principal Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, PC Houston, TX

s you know, sales tax rules in Texas vary depending on project type, contract type, property type and entity type. Let me refresh your memory on the four simple questions a contactor must ask at the beginning of the project to determine sales tax: • What type of project is it (new construction or repair/remodeling)? • What type of property (residential or commercial) is it? • What type of contract is it (lump sum or separated)? • What type of entity is it (tax exempt or taxable entity)? The answers to these questions will guide the way you charge and remit sales tax. See my articles from June and July for more details. Now, let’s focus on the guidelines for construction projects for sales tax exempt entities (also known as governmental agencies and charitable, educational, and religious organizations). Contractor’s sales tax responsibilities are relatively simple when working on a project for a sales tax exempt entity. Separately stated sales tax is never invoiced, regardless of contract type, property type or contract. Also, contractors may purchase certain items tax-free for use in the project. The following information is general and reflects current Texas sales tax rules only. Sales Cycle: Invoicing for a sales tax exempt entity. A contractor does not invoice sales tax exempt entities sales tax. Purchases Cycle: Sales tax the contractor should pay. If the project is for a sales tax exempt entity, the contractor may purchase incorporated materials, subcontractor labor and consumable supplies tax-free. The consumable supplies must be necessary and essential to the performance of the contract and completely consumed at the jobsite. An exemption certificate should be issued to subcontractors, incorporated material suppliers and consumable supply suppliers in order to purchase these items tax-free. The contractor may purchase taxable services tax-free if the following requirements are met: • the contract expressly requires the service to be provided or purchased by the contractor • the service is integral to the performance of the contract • the service is performed at the jobsite If all of these criteria are applicable, the contractor may issue an exemption certificate to the taxable service provider in order to purchase the service tax-free. Tools, equipment rentals, silt fencing, scaffolding, etc. are taxable to the contractor

regardless of the entity type (i.e. exempt or taxable). These items are tax exempt only if the exempt entity, not the contractor, purchases them. Note: There is an exemption for silt fencing components purchased by the contractor for use on tax exempt projects only. For additional information regarding this or other exemptions, please contact me or the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Required Documentation It is important that the contractor obtain the appropriate documentation that their client is exempt from sales tax. A purchase voucher, invoice or contract is sufficient proof of the exempt status of a governmental entity. For all non-governmental tax exempt entities, obtain a properly completed exemption certificate as soon as possible. We also recommend you confirm their exempt status online via the Exempt Organization Search and Verification link in the Searchable Taxpayer Information database on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website. Understanding your sales and use tax responsibilities will help you avoid any sticky issues with your customers and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. If you have questions or concerns about your sales tax obligations regarding tax exempt or any other type of construction project, please feel free to contact me. DISCLAIMER: The information provided above is general in nature and is not legal advice. The provider of the information makes no representation regarding the law and/or its application to any entity’s specific situation. Because state tax laws, policies, and applications are dynamic, please consult with a state tax professional for a complete rendition of the law as it may apply to your specific situation at a particular time. Brief Bio: Stephanie Thomas, CPA has helped clients with sales and use tax issues exclusively since 1998. Each month, Stephanie teaches Texas Taxes for the Construction Industry. Her new online class series starting in September will help construction companies and contractors understand their sales tax requirements. Her firm, Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, PC is a CPA firm that addresses state tax issues only. They help clients all over the country address sales and use tax audits, minimize sales and use tax deficiencies, and understand how to comply with applicable sales and use tax laws. Stephanie can be reached at (832) 5591564 or Stephanie@thomaspc.com.

OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Rule Stan Gregory, Safety & Risk Consultant INSURICA San Antonio, TX

n March 25th, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule regarding respirable crystalline silica. Under this rule, employers are now subject to new standards for protecting workers. As the construction industry approaches the required implementation date of September 23, 2017, it is a good time to review the highlights. What’s a Little Dust? Although silica looks like dust, it’s much more harmful to your lungs. Silica dust is a human lung carcinogen, and breathing it in causes the formation of scar tissue on the lungs, reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. Without proper protection, exposure poses a serious threat to workers. The most severe exposures to silica dust result from abrasive blasting, but those working in cement and brick manufacturing, tool and die, maintenance and the steel and foundry industries are at high risk as well. About 2 million construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in over 600,000 workplaces. OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 of these workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new permissible exposure limit (PEL). Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause kidney disease, silicosis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Here is some common construction equipment that can expose workers to dangerous levels of silica: Masonry saws Grinders Drills Jackhammers Handheld powered chipping tools Vehicle-mounted drilling rigs Milling equipment Crushing machines Heavy demolition equipment The construction standard does not apply in situations where exposures will remain low under any foreseeable conditions. This includes tasks such as mixing mortar, pouring concrete foundation walls and removing concrete formwork. What Does the Standard Require? The standard requires that employers limit worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica and take other steps to protect workers. The standard provides flexible alternatives, especially useful for small employers. Employers can either use a control method, or they can measure worker exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to

limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces. Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to do the following: • Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur • Designate a competent person to implement the written exposure control plan • Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica where feasible alternatives are available • Offer medical exams—including chest X-rays and lung function tests—every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year • Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure as well as on ways to limit exposure • Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams Important Things to Remember • OSHA’s final silica rule establishes a new permissible exposure limit for respirable silica. • Employers must implement specific measures to protect workers. • The intent of the rule is to reduce the risk of diseases caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica. • Employers in the construction industry must comply by Sept. 23, 2017. For additional information on OSHA’s silica rule, go to www.osha.gov/silica. Stan Gregory is a Safety and Risk Consultant and a leader on INSURICA’s Risk Management team. He has more than three decades of experience working with loss control, safety planning, and risk management for clients within the construction and energy industries. He can be reached at 210-805-5915 or sgregory@INSURICA. com.

Construction News ON LOCATION

What’s in (s)tile?

Just ask Williams B. Pontel, commercial sales manager for American Olean Tile/Marazzi Tile (Mohawk Group), what style of tile is “in” – he’s in the know! –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

The Economic Loss Rule and construction defect litigation Part 3: Blurred lines, uncertainty, and recent legal developments Varant Yegparian, Associate Schiffer Odom Hicks and Johnson PLLC Houston, TX

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Electronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA launched August 1 Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

his is the third article in a three-part series about the economic loss rule. As previously discussed, the rule sorts legal claims by distinguishing whether a party can recover under contract or in tort. Thus, how the rule draws the line between contract and tort claims is vital for those in the construction industry. Indeed, if the rule sets a broad scope for contract claims, parties who rely on the certainty provided by certain contractual provisions (i.e., damages caps or attorney’s fees provisions) will be better off. Correlatively, if the rule sets a broad scope for tort claims, then parties who seek to avoid damages caps, attorney’s fees provisions, etc. will benefit. In either scenario, the rule’s ability to provide clear lines is of the utmost importance. However, recent Texas court decisions have blurred these lines—creating uncertainty for the construction industry. One of these decisions, Chapman Custom Homes, Inc. v. Dallas Plumbing Co., was decided by the Texas Supreme Court in 2014.1 In Chapman, a homeowner contracted with a builder to construct a home. The builder subcontracted with a plumber to install the home’s plumbing. The plumber’s work was defective and leaks damaged the home. The homeowner and builder both sued the plumber. Applying the economic loss rule, the appellate court determined (1) that homeowner could only sue the plumber in tort because its only contract was with the builder and (2) the builder could only sue the plumber for breach of contract because it did not own the (damaged) home. The court dismissed the builder’s claim because it could not recover on damaged property it did not own. And due to a pleading defect, the homeowner only asserted a contract claim which the appellate court dismissed because the homeowner had no contract with the plumber. The Texas Supreme Court reversed the appellate court’s ruling. In doing so, the court turned to a 70 year old case for the proposition that “having undertaken to install a plumbing system in the house, the plumber assumed an implied duty not to flood or otherwise damage the [owner’s] house while performing its contract.” This is where things get murky. The court seemed to use a tort theory—i.e., the obligation to not damage property which is outside the scope of one’s contractual work. However, the homeowner never

brought a tort claim—the only duty it claimed breached was contractual in nature. In discussing this implied duty, the Chapman court blurred the distinctions created by the economic loss rule by allowing a party to, essentially, use a contract (which was only for plumbing work) to recover in tort (damage to the whole home). Picking up on Chapman, the Corpus Christi appellate court used the implied duty to allow a party to sue a project engineer for damage to an apartment complex it purchased from the complex’s builder in USA Walnut Creek, DST v. Terracon Consultants, Inc.2 The Terracon court allowed the purchaser to sue the engineer for damage caused by improperly designing the complex’s foundation—including damage to the foundation itself—despite the purchaser not having a contract with the engineer. Seizing on the notion of an implied duty, Terracon presents another example of a court sidestepping the lines set by the economic loss rule by allowing a party to recover what essentially were breach of contract damages (i.e., improper construction and design services) from a party with whom it had no contract. If the results of these cases seem confusing, it is because they are. The implied duty discussed in Chapman blurs the distinctions set by the economic loss rule by allowing parties to recover contract damages under tort theories and vice versa. Allowing parties to avoid the economic loss rule’s restrictions in this way—and thus avoid limitations like damages caps or attorney’s fees provisions—upsets the contractual allocation of risk. And allowing parties to avoid the careful balancing of risk in their construction contracts represents a danger to those in the construction industry. Attention will have to be paid in the following years to see if the courts continue to blur these lines.

he Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched on Aug. 1, 2017, the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The Web-based form allows employers to electronically submit required injury and illness data from their completed 2016 OSHA Form 300A. The application will be accessible from the ITA webpage at https://www. osha.gov/injuryreporting/ita/. Last month, OSHA published a notice dar year counts as one employee, includto extend the deadline for submitting ing full-time, part-time, seasonal, and 2016 Form 300A to Dec. 1, 2017, to allow temporary workers. affected entities sufficient time to famil- Establishments that are partially exiarize themselves with the electronic re- empt from OSHA’s recordkeeping due to porting system, and to provide the new industry are not required to submit data, administration an opportunity to review regardless of establishment size. Conthe new electronic reporting require- struction industry employers are required ments prior to their implementation. Em- to maintain the OSHA 300 log if the employers have from August 1st to December ployer has 10 or more workers, though 1st 2017 to submit their OSHA 300A data in the requirement to submit data electronically only affects those employers with 20 the online system. Employers who are required to sub- or more workers. The data submission process involves mit data online are those employers that are already required to maintain the OSHA four steps: (1) Creating an establishment; 300 occupational injury and illness log, (2) adding 300A summary data; (3) suband have at least 20 workers at their es- mitting data to OSHA; and (4) reviewing tablishment. The electronic reporting the confirmation email. The secure webrequirements are based on the size of the site offers three options for data submisestablishment, not the firm. The OSHA in- sion. One option will enable users to manjury and illness records are maintained at ually enter data into a web form. Another the establishment level. An establishment option will give users the ability to upload is defined as a single physical location a CSV file to process single or multiple eswhere business is conducted or where tablishments at the same time. A third opservices or industrial operations are per- tion will allow users of automated recordformed. A firm may be comprised of one keeping systems to transmit data elecor more establishments. To determine if tronically via an application programyou need to provide OSHA with the re- ming interface. quired data for an establishment, you need For more information, please visit to determine the establishment’s peak https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/ employment during the last calendar index.html natarajan.joann@dol.gov year. Each individual employed in the es512-374-0271 x232 tablishment at any time during the calen-

Contact: Varant Yegparian Schiffer Odom Hicks Johnson PLLC 700 Louisiana Ste. 2650 Houston, TX 77002 Tel: 713.255.4109 vyegparian@sohjlaw.com 1 445 S.W.3d 716 (2014). 2 2015 WL 832273 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Feb. 26, 2015, pet. denied)

Construction News ON LOCATION

It’s a beautiful day

L-R: Beauty surrounds M S International sales representative Evelyn Rosales and northwest market representative Laura Armstrong – in the way of natural stone, countertop, landscaping tile and porcelain – every day! –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Best kept secret

Construction News ON LOCATION

For the win!

L-R: Don Damico and Howard Maddox of Champion in Fort Worth are always winning when it comes to window sales. –mjm

Construction News ON LOCATION

Going the extra tile

L-R: Anne Rhodes and Paula Greenroy of Emser Tile in Dallas help their customers choose tile with a smile. –mjm

Brenda Romano, Chief Executive Officer, VBX

wenty years ago, contractors were using fax machines, visiting plan rooms and handling mounds of paper to manage the bid process. The Builders Exchange of Texas (BXTX) was in the thick of it, publishing a printed Bulletin, operating a physical plan room and busily making blueprint copies for its members. Then one day, BXTX received its first CD Rom with plans and specs on it and realized that the world was moving rapidly toward electronic distribution. The organization immediately began to develop a technological solution and in 1997, the nation’s first online “virtual” plan room was launched in San Antonio. By 2008, the BXTX Board of Directors recognized that its creation was rapidly consuming the resources of the trade association and the risks and investment strategies were beyond the scope of a traditional non-profit organization. A decision was made to split the organization into two different entities: the non-profit Builders Exchange of Texas Education Foundation, dedicated to training and educating the next generation workforce, and the for-profit Virtual Builders Exchange (VBX), responsible for operating the online plan room service and develop additional technology-based services. Over the past decade, BXTX has focused on developing award-winning training programs while VBX has focused its efforts on creating better technology and greater awareness of Builders Ex-

changes and the services they provide. According to Brenda Romano, COO of VBX, over 200 Builders Exchanges operate across the U.S. and Canada and have since the late 1800’s. However, surprisingly few people know about them outside of their core membership. “Builders’ Exchanges are one of the Industry’s best kept secrets,” says Romano. “We’ve relied on personal relationships for most of our existence, the kind that were forged locally,” noted Romano. “That’s changing. Technology is shrinking our world. The trick is to make sure that we expand our geographic access while preserving our local relationships.” She added. “With that in mind, we developed collaborative software that allows local Builders Exchanges to work together so our members can see information in others states without logging out of their Home Exchange,” Romano explained. “It offers the best of both worlds – expanding our members’ reach, but keeping their local connections.” Currently there are 11 Builders Exchanges sharing our platform from six different states, (including Texas) and other exchanges are waiting to join. “Every Exchange is different and has its own identity, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together to provide a better service to the industry,” Romano added. ”It’s just another step in our evolution, and considering that our oldest Exchange was founded 150-years ago, we’re getting pretty good at evolving.” -rd

Construction News ON LOCATION

Cre8tive talent

L-R: Carol Mahagan and Donna Pilant are always looking to bring ideas to life at alternative stone company Cre8 Stone in Carrollton. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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drifting the flats. This is a great way to cover lots of water and locate fish without spending lots of time in the same location. Shrimp under a popping cork or your favorite lure is the preferred method when drifting. Whichever of these methods is your favorite, you can be sure that when you do hook onto a redfish, it will be one of the toughest fights in our bay’s system. These fish don’t know the meaning of giving up and will test your tackle to the extreme. Ideal redfish tackle should start with at least a 7’ casting or spinning rod in the medium to medium heavy weight. 7 ½ foot is preferred and used by most of the local guides. A 4000 class spinning reel of medium size bait caster spooled with 30 lb. braid and a 30-40 lb. fluorocarbon leader will make fighting Ol Mr. One Spot a breeze. Please remember to stay hydrated and protect yourself for the harmful UV rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen, at least SPF 30 or greater, 30 minutes before going out and wear light colored clothing. Keep plenty of water and Gatorade on the boat and be prepared for the unexpected. September weather is just as brutal as August, and heat indexes can reach well above 100 degrees, so stay cool!

Summer fishing heating up! by Capt. Steve Schultz

Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Diawa Reels, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, and AFTCO Clothing.

ishing continues to be staying strong during the dog days of summer. While most of the guides are still catching limits of trout, I have started seeing some reds show up at the cleaning table. This is a good sign this early in the month as I only see it getting better as we finish out August and get into September. When targeting reds in the Laguna Madre, you can start by running the flats early in the morning looking for schools that have not been pressured throughout the night. Usually these schools are in one to two-ft. of water and will push a wake of water when they hear you coming. Having a soft plastic or a spoon tied on your

Mark Kirshner poses with his 26-in. speck he caught last month fishing with Steve Ehretsman of Athens, GA. Limits of trout and several reds were caught fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

rod and a quick hand will give you an advantage when you find a school. If that’s not your game, you can anchor on some of the many sand pockets or grass lines along the King Ranch shoreline where redfish frequently travel. Live croakers and piggy perch work well with this method as does

cut bait, such as skipjack, menhaden or crab. Another method which I see most weekend fishermen doing is

September dates available are 6, 11, 12, and 28. October is also a great month to fish. October dates available are 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24. Don’t wait, these dates won’t last long. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-3343105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Eyes off the prize

Shark peek

The first total solar eclipse in 38 years occurred Aug. 21, and the Aguirre & Fields Fort Worth team came prepared! Armed with eclipse glasses, pinhole projectors and a camera with two ND filters taped to it, the team safely viewed the phenomenon. –mjm

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

Texas Style

★ San Antonio ★ Austin ★ Dallas/Fort Worth ★ Houston

American Pipe Supply president Blair Franklin and his family enjoyed a July trip to Kiawah Island, SC. The vacation was especially memorable for Franklin’s 14-year-old son Jake (front) who landed his first shark – a 5 ft. Bonnethead (the guide standing behind Jake is Cpt. Shane Green, owner of Lowcountry Lazy Charters)! Franklin says the shark was released immediately in good health to be caught another day. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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

Coffee Shop

ome of my earliest recollections are of going with my dad down to the local café in the pale morning light. I was only about 4-years-old and I mostly remember the doughnuts, frothy little glasses of “Old Bossy” milk from the tap and all the guys would give me their little glass bottles of cream from their coffee to drink. It was a warm comfortable place to hang out with my dad and his friends while the rest of the world woke up. In those days the conversation was mostly about hunting and fishing and rebuilding old cars. When I was grown we had changed towns, but the coffee shop was still a constant. Folks gathered at a local café that would tolerate the coffee drinkers’ endless refills and smoking and banter for the occasional breakfast order. All the usual suspects were there; a constable, a doctor, a lawyer, a couple of deputies, some city workers and a handful of ranch hands in their well-worn jeans and sweaty straw hats. Everybody had a job to get to, just not yet. Needless to say, coffee shops were different then. Mostly everyone was at least acquainted with each other. We didn’t have Wi-Fi and we communicated with each other on a face-to-face basis and knew that, God willing, we would see each other at the coffee shop in the morning. There was lots of drowsy, good natured ribbing and joke telling and talk about the weather, gossip and advice. Somehow I think this all goes back to

In the meantime, everyone’s still fishing

What kind of outdoor are you?

ver since we began our first Construction News paper in October 1998 for the San Antonio area, the center of the paper has always been devoted to outdoor. Each paper after that in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston has followed the same path. The folks in our industry work hard and play hard and The Great Outdoors

section is a place to show your peers just how much fun YOU are having and making them a little jealous is okay too. Hunting, fishing and other types of outdoor adventures are always welcome. Don’t be shy and there is never a cost. So contact your Construction News editor and be a part of the Great Outdoors. -bd

Send us your photos and stories. Outdoor activities and sports Fishing • Hunting • Biking • Racing Hobbies • Crafts • Entertainment

the campfire thing. It goes back to when we would crawl out of whatever cave or pile of sticks we had slept in and gather around the last precious embers of the night’s fire to rebuild the flame and huddle in its glow as the rest of our clan woke up. The topics of conversation were probably about the same. Did we all make it through the night? Is everyone well? What are we doing today? Did I tell you about the time we cornered a mastodon? I think that is what I love most about doing my radio shows. People call in to the show or email me later to say they enjoy listening while they are drinking coffee on the back porch, or on the way to work or fishing. I hear from folks from all over the country and sometimes the world about how our shows have become a part of their weekend morning routine. I like to think that my show can help us to rediscover that old coffee shop vibe in a world where the old neighborhood coffee shops are hard to find and people have gotten too busy to enjoy them. We talk about the weather and give the tidal info for people heading for the coast. We shoot the breeze, pick at each other and even have a bunch of interesting guests who really do know what they are talking about when it comes to hunting and fishing. We talk to people who are working to make the world a better place by supporting our returning veterans and helping to feed folks in need and keeping you up-to-date on outdoor conservation. If you find yourself awake early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us! It’ll keep you out of trouble until the rest of the tribe wakes up! On Saturday, 5-7AM Ken Milam’s The Great Outdoors is on WOAI Newstalk 1200 am in San Antonio and on 1300 The Zone in Austin from 5–8 am. On Sunday, 6 – 8 AM The Sunday Sportsman is on 1300 The Zone in Austin. Both shows are also on your free iHeart radio app so you can listen anywhere! They are even offered as podcasts if you are not up that early. Join us!

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Going to the dogs

very day is “Take Your Furbabies” to Work Day” for Nathan and Elisa “E” Lane of Fast Lane Metal Works in Dallas. The couple brings their 8lb., green-mohawked toy poodle “Ted” and their two mastiffs, “Nina” and “Lita” to the shop with them to greet customers, keep an eye on the office and test out the floor for napping purposes. “They have the run of the shop,” E. says with a laugh. “All of the guys love them, and they love the guys.” –mjm

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A new addition

Security Screen Masters’ Tommy Davidson welcomed a bull calf to his family. Born to “Grandma” at Davidson’s Caddo Mills ranch, baby is doing well and eating well, which is to be expected – Davidson says little ones like these grow quickly, reaching 500lbs in six months. –mjm

For E Lane, every day is a chance to bring the dogs to work.

Red bullmastiff Nina takes a break with Nathan …

… and a quick kiss.

Toy poodle Ted shows his style at the shop by rocking a green ‘hawk.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

The Meyer Family’s week off

onstruction News editor Melissa Jones-Meyer and her family were all packed and ready for a weeklong Vancouver vacation when news of wildfires in British Columbia broke, causing smoke and attraction closures. Dashed were dreams of whale watching, crossing the Capilano Suspension Bridge, zip lining through forestry and enjoying blissfully cooler temperatures. With only 24 hours to make other plans (and hopes of an alternate beach vacation cancelled by storms), the family decided to reroute their travel to where Ferris Bueller took his day off: Chicago. The temperatures were still cool. Architecture river tours and speedboat thrill rides replaced whale watching. The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago rivaled suspension bridge scenes. The Blue Man Group elicited screams of laughter much like a zip line would. The Field Museum featured incredible natural exhibits. And although there was no twisting and shouting from a parade float, the family thoroughly enjoyed their last-minute getaway! –mjm

The family enjoyed an extreme thrill boat ride offering high speeds and full 360-degree spins and a narrated tour of architecture along the Chicago River.

Avery and his new blue friend.

The Field Museum featured exhibitions including “Jurassic World” and “SUE,” heralded by the museum as “the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered.”

Melissa’s son Avery, 12, sits on The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago. The glass box extends 4.3 feet out from the Willis Tower’s 103rd floor (1,353 feet up in the air!) offering 360-degree views spanning up to 50 miles and four states.

Chicago fun...

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ September 2017

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

THIS TH MON Jan: Construction Forecast Mar: Construction Education May: Concrete Industry July: Electrical Industry Feb: Construction Safety Apr: Women in Construction Jun: HVAC & Plumbing Aug: Service Providers

Synthetic grass is green, and not just in color Marco Gortana, ,Vice President of Sales Synthetic Grass Pros Dallas, TX

ow would you describe the current state of the green building industry as it pertains to your business? Meeting with architects, construction specifiers, building product representatives and designers, the discussion of synthetic turf in the green building industry does come up with some of the complex and wide-ranging issues around the use of sustainable building materials, like synthetic turf, for healthier buildings. What are major changes in the industry in recent years relating to the type of work you do? Being in the industry of synthetic turf for over 12 years now, we have seen a huge movement toward the use in many different installation applications for synthetic turf. Nearly every new apartment being built has some sort of synthetic turf aspect to its design – amenities ranging from dog parks, putting greens, amenity decks poolside as well as courtyards, bocce courts and mini soccer fields. Another field where we see the increase of our business is schools; many of the ISD’s in the metroplex are converting their rubber mulch or wood mulch playgrounds into synthetic turf playgrounds with 1” or 2” pads to sustain the fall heights required by IPEMA. One other area we see the use

of synthetic turf is upgrades to existing office buildings, apartments, doggie day cares, new hotels, hospital upgrades and private businesses. What makes synthetic turf a more environmentally friendly choice for builders? The Environmental Protection Agency conducted studies and found that an hour of using a gas-powered lawn mower is the same as driving a car for over a hundred miles. Installing artificial grass cuts down on pollution and reduces your carbon footprint and not to mention the obvious reason, water consumption. As the water situation gets worse with water resources being low, it comes as no surprise as to why artificial grass would make the best choice. Not to mention that investing in

Encouraging sustainable design Amanda Tullos, owner and founder GreeNexus Consulting Houston, TX

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Have you experienced an increase in business? Slowdown? We have started to work with a lot more general contractors than we were in the beginning, and we really like working with them. We really like getting on site and seeing what they’re doing and helping them troubleshoot any issues associated with materials and indoor quality. Some things that seem to have changed over the 6 years of our business is we’re starting to get asked about office buildings again, but we originally had a lot of office buildings, and it was an interesting time because even though the economy was supposedly low, it seemed like it was still booming in Houston. Now we’re seeing some office buildings creep back in, but we’re seeing a lot of state and county buildings, and schools that are being requested. While things are still moving, a lot of things may be a little slower to start on the design side. What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? It seems like when one slows down, the other one advances, so while it’s been a little slower on the commercial side, it seems like it’s gaining on the state and local government side. Are you finding that more GCs want to be greener? Yes. Usually by the time we get called in to assist with it, it’s because they’re required for documentation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification, but I think most of the firms want to do the right thing. I think the thing that’s really interesting about the LEED Certification process is that if you’re doing one LEED project, then on the design side, a lot of that in-

formation may already be included in specifications like, “Why not use the low VOC paints and coatings?” whether it’s a third party certified project or not. I think is much better for the installers because they do not have to breathe in all that stuff. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? Right now there’s a lot of changes happening because LEED version 4 was released last November so the industry is getting their heads wrapped around what those changes and impacts look like and, I think, in the larger scheme of things, it’s going to have a really good, positive impact overall. There’s still some getting used to the changes in the requirements for the materials in this new version 4, and while the market has come up on some things, like environmental product declarations which are made by the manufacturer or the industry, there are some other newer testing requirements that the market is still catching up on. Overall, I think the shift is good be-

GREEN BUILDING Sep: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment

manures and fertilizers are not only expensive, but it is also considered to be harmful to the environment. With a real lawn, there’s the need to use fertilizers and other chemicals regularly. When it rains, that leads to runoff that carries those chemicals into lakes and other bodies of water. It also allows those chemicals to seep deeper into the water table. Since there is no need to use fertilizers on an artificial lawn, it’s easier to protect the water supply for the future. One of the acknowledged disadvantages of green building has been the additional cost. Is this statement still true? Obviously, the cost for synthetic turf is substantially higher than regular turf installation. The upfront cost is a tough pill to swallow but over the years the return on investment is much quicker than most people think. Also, the use of these areas dramatically increases as the synthetic turf can be utilized very soon after a rain with no side effects like standing water or mud. A prime example of this is when the Dallas Arboretum converted their wedding area lawn to synthetic turf for this reason. Since 2017, they can schedule many more wedding venues at a more consistent schedule hence capitalizing on an increase in revenue, and the same goes for dog parks and school parks.

Return on investment for the synthetic turf in new development is approximately three years for an area of 2,000sf. No added expense for an irrigation system or other costly maintenance materials are needed, ultimately saving the customer and the environment. Is the green market becoming more competitive? The synthetic turf industry has become more competitive over the last five years, especially in the Texas commercial market. I hear the same thing every day from architects, general contractors and commercial landscapers about the need for synthetic turf in their projects. What is on the horizon for your industry? The horizon looks very bright for the synthetic turf industry, with the scarcity of water being the main concern as well as maintenance concerns. I truly believe the industry will grow leaps and bounds. As far as the technology, we have seen a huge leap in the improvement of our products over the past three to five years with the introduction of “Cool Turfs” and, considering the future, we will see more improvements and positive changes in the technology of the turf. Synthetic Grass Pros of Dallas is a synthetic turf installation company. –mjm

How are additional costs balanced against energy, water or material cost?

cause it’s focused a little bit more holistically rather than one claim. What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? There’s a lot of information going back and forth, so I think the challenges that we see are staying on top of getting all the data compiled and submitted because the primary focus of any team is to get the job done on time, on budget, and all of this stuff is just like icing on the cake; so for us it’s a matter of making sure we’re in regular communication with the teams and following up on information. What are the cost increases relating to your industry? It depends on the context. There’s the cost side and then there’s the value side. Let’s say we have a developer coming in from California and they already have a really high expectation of environmental performance of their building, well the cost increase is going to be negligible because they’re already having those expectations. But if you have a developer who’s building a retail center and they’re just going to flip it, then the cost to go green is a different context. It depends on which strategies are targeted.” What is on the horizon for your industry? I think that city code requirements are going to start following-up from behind. We have voluntary programs like LEED, WELL, and Sustainable Sites Initiative, but now it’s kind of being pushed forward by city code requirements. Energy conservation requirements like the City of Dallas, which has a green permitting requirement for new buildings, and first-time tenant fit outs, and you have some different paths you can take. LEED is one of those paths, it’s voluntary yet re-

quired in a way, but they also have another path, which is the International Green Construction Code, so they’ve adopted certain measures in that program so we’re also a third party reviewer for that. I think it’s interesting how all of these interplay because in the older version of LEED, at first the energy requirements seemed like they would be too hard to reach, but it’s really not that much more than what you’re required to do by code. What are the rewards of the industry? I love to see when I read these national articles about how the U.S. is really doing a good job on getting our emissions down overall. Teamwork for all of these factors combined makes me feel like what we’re doing is having an impact. At the end of each project, we have a score and we know which points were earned, but I think in the larger picture, it’s really exciting when I have a client comeback to me and say “We know that the energy model said we were going to save this amount, but compared to other buildings in our county, this building is saving 50% energy compared to the other ones.” What are some keys to being successful in the industry? Keeping in communication with the clients and following through with getting everything submitted. We always want all our clients to be happy with what was delivered on what we proposed. GreeNexus Consulting is a sustainability consulting services company –te

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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GREEN BUILDING Sep: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment

A green horizon

process before they [products and equipment] can say, “Green” or “Sustainable”.

Glen Screws, President Glen Screws Construction LLc

What are the major changes in the industry in recent years relating to green building? Some of the major changes we are seeing is a lot more companies asking upfront for more environmentally safe products, less carbon footprints. Years ago, no one knew what we know now. There are some great products that have been proven to really impact the industry.

Austin, TX

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The construction industry as whole is doing fine. There are new projects and new products coming on board every day. Each city faces its obstacles. Our challenges are still the same, lead times for permits are still lagging and the shortage of labor has always been a factor. The Green sector is almost a norm and is catching on with almost every project, both commercial and residential. Austin is and will remain one of the top LEED promoters in the nation. Have you experienced an increase in business? Slowdown? I can’t speak for other cities but Austin and its surroundings areas are faring quite well. Just look downtown. Almost, if not every, building is LEED certified by Austin codes. From site work to debris removal to the paints, the “Green” affect has caught on. What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? Everyone wants to live in and around Austin. Our city and infrastructure is business friendly. As I stated earlier, Austin loves a “Green Envelope” and what it represents to the people here.

How has this increase/slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business? The increase has caused a shortage of trained and skilled workers. Projects are being pushed back months just due to the lack of qualified trades. I want to see the government step up and help push “Trade Schools” for the ones that want to learn a great trade in the construction field. What are the “hot button” issues in the green building industry of construction? For me, it’s the “Green” products that are being introduced but not proven yet to drive down cost and energy bills. Some of the equipment and products out there have not been tried and true yet to make energy savings statements. I think there should be a better regulatory

Creating a greener state Jonathan Kraus, Executive Director USGBC North Texas Dallas, TX

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry and have you experienced an increase or slowdown in business? For the most part I have seen a strong carry over from 2016 across the state. Parts of Texas are experiencing slowdowns in some sectors. The office market in Houston as an example, but overall it looks to be strong. Our Chapter members cross many disciplines – design, engineering, construction, real estate, and building operation – and each peaks at a different part of the project cycle with many in the design and engineering areas continuing to bring on staff to handle increasing workloads. What are driving factors for these increases and slowdowns? This too seems to be regional, and there is direct correlation to other economic factors. Parts of the state are experiencing a slowdown in the office market, which is directly tied to oil and gas prices. Other areas are booming in the same building sector due to corporate relocations and expansions in the tech sectors. Have these increases and slowdowns affected your association and how

you conduct business? As a Mission-based nonprofit, we maintain our primary objective to transform the way buildings are designed, built, and operated across the state. The last down turn did show a need for the USGBC Chapters in Texas to reorganize, and in 2015-16 we consolidated from four collaborating entities to a single more effective organization. What are the “hot button” issues in the green building industry? Some of our primary concerns are in-

What is the most significant challenges your industry faces? Labor shortages? Cost increases? Training? Labor is a major challenge, and that all ties into training. There is a large gap in the trade sector. We need more qualified labor on about every level of trade in the construction industry or we are going to be in big trouble. Cost increases are just part of growth. When things slow down so do costs. What are the cost increases relating to green building in your industry? The cost increases we have experienced have dramatically come down the past few years. We are currently seeing about a 3 to 7 percent increase in projects that want “green”. Depending on what clients want, the savings over time can be significant. It can be as simple as products such as Control 4 or as complex as a HVAC system, lighting design, or smart design.

dustry education, perception of extreme cost increases, and “Green Fatigue”. We are also placing more emphasis on improving existing buildings, and adding evaluation for a buildings true performance. What are the major changes in the green building industry in recent years? One of the biggest changes is the implementation of the 2015 EICC, which codifies many of the energy efficiency best practices that have been recommended for years. What is the most significant challenge the green building industry faces? Educating all sectors of the building industry on the options, costs, and benefits of green building practices and certification. Perception of excessive cost is also common -- studies have documented 3-5% increases, as opposed to 10-15% claimed by some. What are the cost increases relating to the green building industry? Costs associated with sustainable building vary as much as they do with any building type: you can build a very expensive non-green building, you can build a cost effective sustainable build-

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

How are you dealing with these challenges? We try and stay informed of what is on the horizon and make sure they are proven. We listen to our architects and designers, as they are a great resource for new and innovative products. What is on the horizon for the green building industry? Changes in technology; changes in codes; ordinances or laws; other? From my perspective, we are seeing the “Green Movement” becoming a normal practice soon. With the technology out there we are going to see new LEED categories. Cities are adopting new codes and practices. Austin is pushing the envelope in every category. What are the rewards of the green building industry? The rewards are simple. We are saving our environment. What is the key to being successful in the green building industry? Staying educated on the industry is the key. Educating the client and public of what being “Green” can be is another key to being successful. GSCAustin and Glen Screws Construction LLc are an Austin based high end residential and commercial construction company that has been in business over 30 years. -cmw

ing. Following a fully integrated building process should provide a more cohesive project team and agreed-upon goals from the beginning of the project – reducing/eliminating costly change orders. How is your association dealing with these challenges? We have done a good job of educating design professionals around sustainable principles, and only a fair job for construction and the related trades. We are developing ways to address these gaps in knowledge. Additionally, we are working with owners and developers to demonstrate the short-term and longterm advantages of sustainable building. What is on the horizon for the green building industry? I see more performance-based certification methodologies and evaluation of a building’s full life cycle. We are beginning to see an increase of information from product manufacturers and more robust reporting of operational data from buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a private 501(c)3, membership-based nonprofit organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction, and operation. -cmw

Texas Style ★ San Antonio ★ Austin ★ South Texas ★ Houston

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

NEXT TH MON

SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS

If you would like to represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact your DFW Editor for an Interview Melissa Jones-Meyer 817-731-4823 dfwEditor@ConstructionNews.net

Views of green San Antonio, TX

David White, Building Envelope Services Mgr. Raba Kistner Jeff L. Haberstroh, V.P., Senior Project Manager Project Control

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Jeff: Booming! We continue to see positive movement in K-12, Higher Ed, and Municipal work. The private sector is recovering strong and will continue to gage the activities and positive decision with the current administration in Washington. There is great optimism that a revised tax plan and final outcomes with health care will boost the market even further. David: The construction industry in our region is real steady. It seems to be in a better state than other regions. It appears that there is still plenty of building going on.

design and design peer review on the older buildings downtown has been a lot of steady work and we’ve had really interesting projects.

Have you experienced an increase in business? Slowdown? Jeff: Definitely an increase! We have experienced gains in many of our market sectors and see that trend holding through Q3 of 2018. David: We have experienced a consistent 10-15% annual growth over the past few years. The past two years have definitely been busy for us. On the roofing side, the April 2016 Hail Storm has really kept us busy.

How has this increase/slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business? Jeff: We try to manage our labor need to be “just-in-time” as a project is awarded. It is almost impossible to keep a bench waiting on the next project. This also causes stress to hire from competitors or compete with a compensation package that will attract the best-seasoned people. David: The increase has affected us. Right now it is hard to find qualified staff. We have experienced much growth in Austin and Houston and have to assist those markets with San Antonio based consultants on top of being extremely busy in San Antonio also. As a consequence, we’ve been spending a lot of time on the road trying to cover all of our projects.

What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? Jeff: It would be my thoughts that federal reserve sending strong indicators that interest rates will continue to stay low and that financial institutions have begun to put a larger amount of available capital into the market. I see the public sector bond market being a significant contributor to the increase as well. Most major cities are planning large bond referendums for this November and May next year. The focus being on infrastructure to support large growth swings. David: For our roof consulting services, the April 2016 Hail Storm has been keeping us real busy. Then the big hailstorm occurred out in Midland/Odessa a few months ago and we are getting calls to go out there and look at roofs. In addition, with all of the downtown revitalization work happening, our waterproofing and building envelope forensic work have been real steady. The building envelope

What are the “hot button” issues in the green building industry of construction? Jeff: I believe it has boiled down to a point’s game. LEED was great 10 years ago when we needed a template to achieve a successful project with respects to saving energy cost and delivering a building that provided for better indoor quality of life. Today designers try to manipulate the scoring numbers to achieve a particular certification and check the box. David: Solar is still a “hot button”. LEED seems to have subsided a little, or so it may seem, but we are seeing a lot more designs with solar in mind.

Construction News ON LOCATION

They want floor and floor!

L-R: With all of the building in the area, Bernie Decelles, Chris Dormody and Randy Eilts of Parterre Flooring Systems want to see more and more floors installed in North Texas. –mjm

What are the major changes in the industry in recent years relating to green building? Jeff: The 2015 Energy Code! The adoption of this standard for energy has moved the needle in a positive direction for the end user so that everyone is constructing towards a more efficient consumption of energy. This has a ripple effect as its trajectory will improve the built environment when existing buildings are renovated and it will force new construction to follow the path laid by USGBC. David: The major changes recently have been the change to the Energy Codes. They have actually changed quite a bit and the way we look at insulating buildings has changed pretty dramatically. What is the most significant challenges your industry faces? Labor shortages? Cost increases? Training? Jeff: Labor and Training. Labor has fallen to an all-time low in the construction industry. The Texas market and, the country as a whole, remain strong and there is no slowdown on the horizon, which will continue to challenge the skilled labor force. The oil sector has dropped off in recent years and is now again making resurgence in the various plays across the state. The result of the oil slowdown did not replenish the labor losses that were experienced in 2012. We need to change the direction at the high school level by providing a positive view towards the trades. There should be emphasis towards certified trades and skilled craftsman in the development of CTE curriculum to capture more students that have the aptitude and desire to have skills and get rewarded in the process. David: I think labor is still a significant challenge. Getting qualified and trained individuals to perform Building Envelope (Roofing and Waterproofing) related work is always going to be a challenge. Unlike Electrical, Plumbing, etc., we really don’t have an apprenticeship or training program. A lot of times we lack adequate/thorough training for entry-level individuals. What are the cost increases relating to green building in your industry? Jeff: Initial cost have caught up with sustainable initiatives in recent years. The 2015 energy code has taken this to the next level adding as much as 10-15% to new construction. Owners need to be educated on the awareness of the cause and effect of buildings brick and mortar material increases not just the cost for the plaque on the wall. David: As the codes change and new “testing” requirements are being added during the construction phase, we are seeing General Contractors have to budget for this. With commissioning and testing and balancing of equipment in new buildings, you are seeing the cost increase with those requirements and also with ensuring that the building is being constructed properly as to meet these requirements. How are you dealing with these challenges? Jeff: Educate, educate, educate! We must provide our owners all of the information, layout the options, describe the causes and effects, present multiple solutions and choices so that carefully informed decisions can be made. Provide for the best opportunity for their project to achieve the desired outcome within the available funds or i) increase the budget or ii) cut back the scope to get the desired outcome.

David: As the roofing design consultant, we are making sure that the Architects that are leading the design, the owner and contractor are all aware of the project requirements. With the new code changes in affect, it seems like everybody is still getting used to the new requirements and actually what the new codes are. What is on the horizon for the green building industry? Changes in technology; changes in codes; ordinances or laws; other? Jeff: All of the above! Technology will change the industry as computerized equipment advances in coming years. The codes need to keep up with the rapid advances in technology as Smart Building draws from advances in building automation systems. Our legislators need to relax the efforts to effect laws and ordinances that will increase unfunded mandates to cities and allow the market to drive the positive changes towards conservation. The AEC community want to (and in many cases adopt policy) design towards a more resource conscious conclusion for their clients. David: The major changes recently and going forward will be the changes to the Energy Codes. They have actually changed quite a bit and the way we look at insulating buildings has changed pretty dramatically. What are the rewards of the green building industry? Jeff: There are many rewards, although we must choose the one that best fits for our clients and our projects. Today you can’t achieve everything on every project. Extended consequences are in the form of having to pay for building new power generation, or delivery of additional water, or keeping operating cost low for profitability. Extending equipment life cycles for maintenance and operations rewards. Again, educate the owner to provide the best chances for reward that is right. David: Well, the rewards are supposed to be a building that is built efficiently and environmentally responsible. Or, one that is efficient from the beginning through the end of its life cycle. What is the key to being successful in the green building industry? Jeff: Best management practices (BMP’s) will set you up for success every time. Knowing what is right, practical, and achievable on each project will most certainly provide you success. Not every project is the same and what worked in Dallas will not work in Seattle. David: I think just understanding it. Sometimes we get too caught up in “efficient” or “sustainable” and end up with a building that doesn’t perform well or is way out of budget to even construct. We might have checked all the boxes as far as building “green” or having a “sustainable” building, but have parts and pieces that are not compatible, or materials that we actually cannot obtain and then have a price tag that is way over budget. Proven Project Management Experience Project Control (a Raba Kistner Company) is a Texas based construction Project Management firm with over 38 years of experience managing a wide range of construction projects. Raba Kistner Inc., founded in 1968, is an Engineering News-Record “Top 500 Firm,” operating in fourteen different markets in Texas, Utah, New York, Oklahoma, Florida and Mexico. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. -cmw

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

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NEXT TH MON

SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS Staying on top of green Scott Lee, Director of Operations, North Texas Joeris General Contractors Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

he construction industry is generally healthy, especially in Texas. We continue to see a large volume of work and expect that to continue for the near term. This has helped to bring fees up from their unsustainable lows of a few years back, although they have not rebounded to pre-recession numbers. Challenges continue to be seen with labor shortages. This contributes to rising costs. But most of the vertical markets continue to build. The industry continues to see change in light of new technologies. This will continue, but the speed of change will increase. Joeris is fortunate to have experienced an increase in business. 2017 will be a record year for our firm. Vertical markets we build in – K12, Higher Ed, Healthcare, Retail and local Government have all seen steady backlogs. This reflects the robust Texas market, the business-friendly atmosphere and increasing state population. It also reflects Joeris’ ability to weather downturns through our diverse portfolio and strategic practices, including always hiring when the right person comes along. We sense a shift in focus in the green building industry. There is a move away from building certification to focus on design and construction using sustainable materials that truly make sense for the local environment. In the infancy of green building, it became a trend to design and build green. We have all moved beyond being trendsetters. It is about doing the right thing. Designing and building for efficiency and sustainability should be the standard. By not focusing on certification and paperwork, architects, engineers and constructors can focus on implementing sustainability that makes sense. Labor shortages and knowledge drain are significant issues facing our industry. As boomers retire, there are not enough people entering the industry to replace them. That is just the numbers side of the equation. The knowledge that boomers take with them is critical. There was a period when schools shifted from skills training to singular focus on college readiness. This hurt industries that rely on skilled trades. We have a gap because the younger workforce didn’t make their way up through the ‘hands on learning’ of years past. We are seeing a renewed focus on skills training through CTE and programs that focus on workforce training. We must fill the gap until these younger people enter the workforce. Industry training becomes critical, through associations or in-house programs. With green building, cost increases were seen in certification – hard costs of the process and soft costs of producing documentation. Without certification, cost increases are related to materials specified or additional time needed for

implementation of sustainable elements. New codes being adopted by municipalities are beginning to require green building elements, so added costs are less visible. However, these are typically offset by lowered building operations costs and result in a better building environment. Additional costs directly related to contractors are minimal. These might include additional dumpsters for separation of materials and training of personnel. We find most clients for certified buildings understand costs associated and plan for it in project budgets. For clients building under new codes that require elements of green building, we are spending more time with the design team educating clients on codes and how they impact costs. Many of the green building elements result in a better building for their users. Adoption of green building practices as standard procedure is on the horizon, along with advances that make sustainable technology more affordable (i.e. changes in energy production, cheaper solar, hydro, wind); and tightening of codes related to energy/water usage as well as emissions – specifically at the local levels. This is a result of focus on quality of life as developers build new communities and we see more urban infill projects focused on live work play and the adoption of additional green elements in new building codes. The rewards of sustainable building are intrinsic. It’s a sense of doing the right thing and providing for a better environment – leaving something equal to or better than you found it. Doing no harm as you build. From a business perspective, it provides an opportunity to market your firm as one that cares about the community. This is important to clients and to potential employees! The key to being successful in green building is staying informed on current standards and building codes to help clients make informed decisions that make sense for their project. Joeris is celebrating 50 years of building Texas, in markets ranging from K-12, Higher Education, Retail, Municipal, Religious, Medical and more from our offices in San Antonio, DFW, Austin and Houston. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Joining forces ing it’s 50th, so this is an exciting way for Staffelbach to evolve. It elevates our firm to the next level. There are more services, more sectors more prominence nationally, internationally and globally. It allows us to ensure the continuity of the Staffelbach design legacy we are so proud of and we are so excited to be a

part of DLR Group.” DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and building optimization for new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse. Staffelbach is a specialized group of interior designers, architects and planners. –mjm. Photo credit: DLR Group

continued from Page 1 —Currently celebrating 40 and Waco. It also operates a service center in Dubai, UAE and has divisions dedicated to marine, EP&C and international sales. As the company celebrates its 40th anniversary, Victor Jury Jr. looks back at the journey he can only describe as “amazing.” “We opened Summit with a small business administration loan and five people, three of which were my dad, Mr. Meridith and myself,” Victor Jury says. “From that day forward, the foundation of our business has been our core values and our commitment to providing every customer with truly outstanding service. Our people deliver on our promises dayin, day-out. We’ve built one of the best teams in the industry and I’m proud to be

a part of the success we’ve achieved together.” Additionally, Todd Bockenfeld, District Vice President, North Texas said, “It is exciting to experience such a significant milestone. Summit’s core vision of customer service remains in place and is a testament to the original vision of Summit’s founders. We are looking forward to continuing to serve our customers and expand our reach with an eye towards the future while celebrating the previous 40 years.” Summit Electric Supply is an independent electrical distributor serving local contractors and multinational corporations, offering over 1.8 million products from more than 1500 manufacturers. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Animal instincts

Durable and easy-to-clean finishes were selected for Village Veterinary Center, a 4,010sf vet clinic and boarding facility.

elements with consideration. “First impressions are vital to attracting and retaining clients; not only did we pay close attention to the building’s curb appeal, but we also paid close attention to the interior reception and exam rooms,” Joanne Huffman, who provided interior design for the project, says. “The main reception is quite spacious, and the ceiling heights are tall giving the space a sense of grandeur. We also wanted ample daylight to flood the space, so in order to achieve this we planned for large picture windows around the main entry and reception. The client wanted a relatively open floor plan with extra wide hallways to reduce bottlenecks and allow for high traffic and flow. We used a variety of warm and coordinated colors for the main facility, specifying warm-colored luxury vinyl wood plank for the flooring and matching

that color with a warm plastic laminate for the doors. In the exam rooms, we added pops of bold colored cabinets to keep the spaces without direct sunlight feeling bright.” Even with the weather delays, the team completed the turn-key project in an impressive time span of 10 months, and was happy that their client’s vision was fulfilled. “We were really pleased with the end result,” Tim Huffman says. “Dr. Hurst is great and her patients love her. Business is booming and it has just as much to do with her, her staff and the range of services she offers and it does with fresh new surroundings.” Huffman Builders, which operates from its locations in Plano, Denton and Cedar Park, offers construction services in all aspects of specialty medical facilities and turnkey medical/professional offices. –mjm

Construction News ON LOCATION

Floor rapport

L-R: Cody Raesz of Raesz Custom Floors catches up with April Little, regional sales manager at Woodline Parquetry. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Hosted by Construction Industry Associations

Under a new roof

Tee-rrific!

L-R: John Burns’ Ryan Masten and Steve Groh, National Trench Safety’s Jose Serrano and Driver Pipeline’s Miguel Estrada scooped up the scrambler prize Aug. 16 at the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) TopGolf event. Cobb, Fendley & Associates’ Rory Smith took the “TopGolf” trophy with a 285 score and Aaron Graff got “Top Chip” at 179. –mjm

Two wins in a row!

RDG Roofing Supply

he second Wednesday in August is always a pretty big deal – it’s the day of the Not So Mini Trade Show! Hosted by the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA), the Aug. 9 event took place at Austin Ranch, which was a larger venue than in previous years. More space meant more opportunity for attendees to see more of the latest roofing products from local vendors. –mjm

L-R: Anton Cabinetry’s Paul Witsaman, Mark Beers and teammates Gary Greenway and Montie Simms (not pictured) placed first for the second year in a row at American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) Clay Shoot Aug. 25 at Alpine Shooting Range. Greenway won top score (97) and Simms earned second highest score (92). –mjm

Flower power Summit and Independent Insurance Group

Firestone

etworking was in full bloom Jul. 27 at the TEXO Women’s Forum Summer Networking Event! Held at TEXO Dallas Conference Center, over 30 women in construction planted both socializing seeds and pretty countertop gardens. –mjm

Fused in first place

The ladies show off the flowers of their labor.

L-R: FSG Electric’s Steve Bradbury, Randy West, Terry Simmons, Robbie Dennett and Rob Wilson (not pictured) took top prize at the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Fort Worth/Tarrant County Clay Shoot. The team competed against 131 shooters at the event, hosted Aug. 4 at Alpine Gun Range. –mjm

TEXO Women’s Forum planted the seeds for socializing at its networking event.

The ladies were provided with planter materials to create their masterpieces.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Page 21

Blast from the past 10 years ago this month Meshing daily

he Western Group was established in 1934 as Western Fence and Wire. They set out to conquer the fencing industry, but later found a better niche in the market according to Sandra Fletcher, general manager at the Fort Worth division of the company. “This is a family–owned company that is in its third generation. We were already in the fencing business and decided to focus more in the woven, welded and perforated materials area.” Some of the work completed at The Western Group is used as a valued element of everyday construction. Maybe you’ve seen security screens at jails and prisons or looked through the architectural mesh to view animals at the zoo. The woven and welded wire is also used as space mesh in parking garages and as room dividers for the inside of many buildings in the metroplex. Fletcher says nothing at their DFW plant can be duplicated by anyone else because the key to their mesh success is a bunch of motivated meshing employees. “When I worked at another company,

I constantly had personnel problems. I’ve never had a problem here. We have a very diverse group of employees from welders to high tech machine operators. They work well together and take a lot of pride in what they do. Many of the employees have been with us for years. You won’t find more solid workers anywhere.” Michael Liar, national tech mesh sales manager says the company’s friendly atmosphere also spills over into being environmentally friendly. “Protecting the environment is important. LEED certification has also become huge in the construction industry. The galvanized wire material we use is about 97 percent recycled and our stainless steel is about 70 percent recycled material. We take pride in knowing that all of our products can be recycled 100 percent at the end of its life.” The company also provides screens for the mining and sand/gravel industries. In addition to their Fort Worth facility, The Western Group has several offices in the United States. -LL

Success with old-fashioned style

he trees have been removed and now an empty piece of land awaits the arrival of a temporary office from Acton Mobile. They have been designing mobile office trailers for 37 years. General Manager Rodney Shrader says the days are long gone when contractors had to sit in their pick–up trucks to look over blueprints. Shrader says the company is growing. Their newest office is in Fort Worth, and they are hoping to expand growth in Texas and beyond. “We are definitely in expansion mode and hoping to open offices in southern Louisiana.” Shrader says there is one reason for the success of the company, the employees. “Our employees are our number one asset and they are treated as such also. We know a happy employee means a good employee. I mean our workers are just outgoing, enthusiastic, customer service oriented, very dedicated to the doing the right job and they are dedicated to the construction industry. A lot of our employees have been in the construction

HOLT CAT adds Corpus

industry for years.” Shrader says they are more than coworkers– they consider themselves and their customers a part of a big family. Shrader says he realizes Acton Mobile is not the only provider of temporary office buildings in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so his company makes an effort to be unique and cater to those who are often forgotten. “A lot of companies in this industry focus on major projects and doing business with the government. We don’t focus in that arena. We look for mom-andpop type companies that need a job site trailer. That’s what makes us unique. We don’t chase big money deals, and we reach out to people and build relationships. I cannot stress customer service enough because that’s what has gotten us to the next level.” According to Shrader, the folks at Acton Mobile must be doing something right. In just a few years, they have seen a growth of 50 percent in the metroplex. He says it is doing business the old-fashioned way with a handshake and a smile. -LL

Fencing the market

ore than 200 employees, HOLT CAT® customers, executive leadership, city and state officials attended the HOLT CAT Power Systems official ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new HOLT CAT Fabrication & Packaging facility in Corpus Christi, TX. This facility will provide 20 additional HOLT CAT® employment opportunities, which is more than a 60 percent workforce increase. -rd

Peter Holt, CEO, in front, L-R: Allyn Archer, president and COO; Bob Stratton, vice president and general manager; State Representative Abel Herrero, and Commissioner Oscar Ortiz

The Cain Fence Family

ave you ever wanted to get into a place, but a fence surrounding the area stopped you? The fence probably stopped you for your own good. Jason Geesy, general manager of Cain Fence Company believes fences make good neighbors, but he also believes it keeps construction job sites safe after hours. “I remember one time in another state several kids went on a job site where someone had left the keys on a tractor. The kids drove the tractor and one child was hurt. So not only do fences make good neighbors, fences keep contractors out of trouble. However, you still see a few construction job sites that are open,” said Geesy. Geesy says he knows the expansion of the company will allow Cain Fence to better meet the needs of contractors around the state of Texas. According to Geesy, the company is growing really fast! They’ve

bought several area fencing companies in just two years. “Oh, I’m excited we are growing. We recently bought A & M Rent A Fence in Duncanville. We are now one of the largest fencing companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Contractors now have the comfort of dealing with one person for everything.” Geesy believes it is safe to say they have the market fenced in and it won’t stop here in the metroplex. They plan on expanding the company to the Mid West and the East Coast. They refer to themselves as the supermart in the fencing industry. Cain Fence Company has been around since 1984. The company is a full service fencing company. They offer temporary and permanent fencing as well as erosion control. The company serves the Dallas/Fort Worth area and also has offices in Oklahoma and New Mexico. -LL

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ September 2017

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

JOB SIGHTS

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Give him a break

Andreas Martinez of Woodcrest Construction in Fort Worth enjoys tearing it up every day in his demolition work. –mjm Javier Alvarez stuccoes the exterior of the new Planet Fitness coming to Fort Worth’s Camp Bowie West. D. Edward Contractors serves as the project’s general contractor. –mjm

Construction News ON LOCATION

Electric blue

L-R: Albert Ruiz Jr. and John Johnson help renovate the upcoming Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ in Fort Worth for Billy Woodrich. The project, located at 7709 Camp Bowie West, is scheduled for completion in the fall. –mjm

Manager/electrician Coty Billy of Fort Worth probably won’t give you the shirt off his back – it helps him get the word out about Michauel’s Electric in Waxahachie, where he has worked for six years. – mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • September 2017

Good times, good times Employees that play together enjoy their days together, which is why Jordan & Skala Engineers in Dallas make it a priority to enjoy their group dynamic outside of the office. “Once a month, we do some fun activity,” Andrew Smith, principal at Jordan & Skala Engineers, says. “We did rock climbing last month, and this month was go-cart racing. Two months ago we climbed ropes, and we’ve gone bowling. [One month, the company’s] walk was in McKinney to raise money for a little girl with childhood arthritis.”-mjm

Riding carts was just Jordan & Skala’s speed.

The crew rocked the Dallas indoor rock climbing outing.

The J&S group tested their dynamics at “Group Dynmanix.”

Jordan & Skala employees laced up their tennies to help a girl battle childhood arthritis.