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The Industry’s Newspaper Page 6
A generational trade
Managing risk
L-R: Rodney “Rod” and Mical Shotwell at a fishing trip last year in Alaska.
Weatherization Partners Ltd.’s vice president of risk management Corey Ball
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andblasting and painting is in the Shotwell blood. Ask Mical Shotwell, COO of Shotwell & Son Inc. The company started in 1956 by his grandfather and great grandfather. Shotwell tells us the company started in his great grandfather’s backyard, which is astonishing to know that they’ve “grown to a facility that is over seven acres in size.” But, before today Shotwell remembers coming on board 15 years ago. He started working with his father, Rodney “Rod” at the age of 16-17. “I learned a lot and I was really self-taught,” said Shotwell. As time took over, it was also time for his father’s retirement. This meant Shot-
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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 16 H Number 5 H MAY 2018
ecently KWA Construction completed a $17 million, three-story mixed income apartment community in Fort Worth’s Renaissance Square. Renaissance Heights apartments introduces a residential element that seeks to bridge the poverty gap by putting education centers, health care facilities and parks close to low income residents. The apartment completion even received praise from the Trump administration. The Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson visited the apartments recently in his 2017 “Listening Tour.” Renaissance Square Phase I of Renaissance Heights consists of 140 one, two and three-bedroom mixed-income units, 85 percent of which are affordable housing. KWA Construction, a Dallas based general contractor, has been in the multifamily industry since 2004 and has developed a great amount of expertise in HUD developments as well as the specific documentation and application requirements associated with these proj-
well would be stepping up to the plate and taking things into his own hands. And, so he did. A tradition Shotwell keeps going within the company involves his grandfather’s smoker that was built in the ‘70s. For decades during their traditional company Christmas party they would use the same smoker to cook briskets and hams. To paint a picture in our heads of what the smoker looks like Shotwell said, “It’s big about the size of a pick up truck.” Oh, and all the cooking is done themselves. “Family ran business and homegrown food too,” said Shotwell. He believes that there are not many family owned businesses still around in continued on Page 17
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oisture intrusion is a leading cause for construction litigation. Owners, developers and builders are always on the lookout for ways to reduce their risk. With the recent decrease of skilled labor, quality assurance on a project is in high demand. That’s why Weatherization Partners Ltd. implemented a risk management program last year. “As a distributor of DuPont™ Tyvek® building materials, we focus heavily on the building enclosure. Managing water and air intrusion in a building is incredibly important,” explains Corey Ball, the company’s vice president of risk management. “Our stance is we want to be involved with all of the different trades that interact with the building envelope. That’s why we spend time training and re-
A new renaissance
Renaissance Heights apartment community
training installation crews so that we help our partners manage their risk. Building codes demand more energy efficient structures, so we want all the products that go into the wall assembly to be integrated correctly to make it perform accordingly. The reality is getting these products put on correctly is crucial to how well the wall system performs, and with different trades that are in contact with the weather barrier, we are proactive in our job site support.” The company–wide program caters to national production, multi-family developers and homebuilders. For large projects, Weatherization Partners has a process in place that begins at the arch-itect level. It continued on Page 17
ects. They build higher density, suburban developments that give residents of all income levels access to comfortable and convenient living. The Owner of Renaissance Heights is Columbia Residential. The property is located west of 287 near Berry Street southeast in Columbia’s Renaissance Square. The square has a variety of quick serve restaurants and shops for clothing, housewares and other merchandise and services. Usually the residential structure goes in first and then the shops and other buildings around come after. This project, however, completed the apartments last. The apartment complex is a total of 193,000 sf. There are five buildings total. The community is surrounded by green spaces and tree-lined pathways connecting it to nearby schools in walking distance to shopping, health clinics, grocery stores, Cobb Park and a YMCA facility. Infrastructure for biking, pedestrian-friendly activities and a playground for children helps create a thriving neighborhood. continued on Page 17