Austin Construction News December 2020

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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 20 H Number 12 H December 2020

Working with valor

Celebrating 35 years

L-R: Valor Commercial is a new venture (and adventure) for Fernando Villareal and Craig Fuller.

PWI Construction celebrates 35 years of project excellence and philanthropy.

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hen Craig Fuller met Fernando Villareal, the two immediately clicked. Fuller, a former Marine whose began his construction career as an assistant superintendent on a 1 million sf job, was working at a coatings company. Villareal, who was a subcontractor, had long worked in the wall coatings industry. The two never ran out of things to talk about, but their conversation kept circling back to mental notes each had made over the years of what they wish they could improve in the industry.

Fuller moved on to another company and Villareal established Villareal Commercial Coatings, but the two friends kept in touch. After a COVID-related layoff, Fuller started estimating with Villareal as a side job. That’s when Fuller saw for himself

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ity Electric Supply (CES)’s Nathan Jefferson started as a driver at CES’s Kyle location, and it was alongside the road that he met one of the branches’ biggest customers. Seeing a customer digging a ditch and running conduit, Jefferson stopped and asked if the man needed any materials to finish his work. The customer gave him a list of what he needed, and Jefferson dutifully drove back to the shop, grabbed everything on the list and drove the supplies back out to the man. That person has been a CES customer for 12 years now, and one of its biggest commercial customers. Jefferson went on to become a Regional Manager for CES’ South Texas markets, covering Austin, San Antonio and both groups in Houston.

“His is a great story exemplifying what City Electric Supply is all about,” CES District Manager Mehs Ess says.

the crew Villareal had built, and how much they respected their boss.

“I saw how they looked at him, and I said, ‘Fernando, I want to work for you,” Fuller says. “I’ve seen what you’ve built, you’re implementing all of the things we had talked about and I don’t want to do this on the side anymore.’”

The discussion soon turned to the two creating a partnership in a new company instead.

“We said, ‘Why don’t we do this the right way and go all in on this?’” Fuller says. “We both believed in it. I felt so strongly in our plan, our relationship and the ideologies that Fernando and I agreed upon.”

Two months ago, Fuller and Villareal continued on Page 14

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ounded in 1985 as Price Woods Homes, commercial general contractor PWI Construction got its start as a residential builder in Arizona. The firm quickly became a well-known and desired builder in the area. After building a reputation for quality work and precision, PWI Construction was selected for large-scale housing development which signified their presence as an emerging leader in the Scottsdale custom home category. As demand increased and markets shifted, PWI Construction entered the commercial construction market and built a robust portfolio of retail, restaurant, hospitality, and specialty construction projects across the nation.

Las Vegas-headquartered PWI Construction now has regional offices in San

Marcos, TX, Scottsdale, AZ and Boca Raton, FL and employs nearly 100 full-time employees nationwide. Rather than employing Business Development staff, the company has dedicated Client Experience Directors at each office who are responsible for strengthening PWI Construction’s relationship network and improving the client experience throughout the construction process.

The San Marcos office houses seven full-time employees: Director of Client Experience James Reigle, Talent Culture Manager Kristin Price, Marketing and Communications Manager Dominica Garza, Senior Estimator Priyanka Kansal, Senior Estimating Coordinator Linnea Bennet, Project Manager Julio Sepulveda continued on Page 14

Electric avenue

City Electric Supply in Kyle is one of seven Austin-area branches, and one of 39 Texas locations.

“And that’s giving our people the opportunity to succeed and rewarding them for doing their job.”

“I think CES does a good job of promoting from within,” says Ess. “I think a lot of my people started in a lesser role.

I started in operations in downtown San Antonio branch, became a branch manager two years later. Five years after that, they made me the district manager in Austin. The company is full of stories of people moving up from within.

“It’s not just personally to employees at CES branches, as far as moving up in their career,” Ess adds. “CES affords the branches a tremendous amount of freedom to buy from whom they want to buy from, stock what they’d like to stock, and to make deals with their customers that other distributors don’t allow: price flexibility and setting up terms with contractors and vendors.” continued on Page 14

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

A look into 2021

Timeless beauty

L-R Adolfson & Peterson Construction Austin team members L-R: Superintendent Matt Hooker, Business Development Manager Keenan Wilson and Project Manager Bill Wyman.

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s 2020 comes to a close, what can the construction industry expect for 2021?

“As far as COVID is concerned, COVID mandates are likely to remain in effect, perhaps even with the advent a vaccine,” says Brandon Gaeke, Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) Regional Manager Central Texas.

“Having said that, we at AP think Texas will probably fair better than other regions of the country in regard to construction. It seems that when recessions or slowdowns occur, Texas is the last affected and the first out. Right now, there is good public sector work in both the municipal and K-12 markets all over the state of Texas and will remain strong going into next year. On the private sector, hospitality is going to take a hit. Who is going to build a hotel when they are 10-15 percent occupied, which they currently have? However, once the commercial office markets figure out how to deal with social distancing and decide if they going to get away from cubes to closed door offices, go to having a reduced work force, and have people going to and coming back to the

office on a regular basis, I think we will see those markets start to open up. I also think that we will see companies moving into Texas from other locations for a bit more friendly corporate environment and that will serve to keep those markets a bit stronger than they would be necessarily in other parts of the country. We think that Arizona, Colorado and Texas are three places that will remain strong throughout 2021.”

As for Adolfson & Peterson, the company would like to continue their current market pursuits of K-12, higher education, medical and commercial office projects.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction was founded in 1946 by George Adolfson and Gordon Peterson. From its humble beginnings, the company has expanded into several regions including their Southwest region which focuses on Arizona; its Mountain states region focusing on Colorado and Wyoming; their Midwest region which operates in the Minnesota and Wyoming areas; and Texas, their Gulf states region. -cmw

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Teri Shelton, Moderno Porcelain Works Territory Sales Manager

stablished in 2018, Moderno Porcelain Works specializes in turnkey fabrication and install of large format porcelain slabs. “We install high quality engineered porcelain surfaces for the commercial and residential industry. We have 13 colors in our line of porcelain slabs in both matte and polished finishes,” says Teri Shelton, Territory Sales Manager.

“One might wonder, why porcelain?

Porcelain is a material that features several great benefits. It comes in an array of timeless designs which allow architects, designers and homeowners the independence to design for any application and project. Porcelain can be used from floors to walls to stairs to elevators and of course counter surfaces. It can be used to advance the beauty of any indoor or outdoor space. It is stain resistant, scratch resistant, heat resistant, UV resistant, thermal shock resistant and slip resistant. It can be vein matched to achieve the best possible design for any project,” adds Shelton.

Porcelain has been around for thousands of years. It is a raw material, ultracompact and compressed, manufactured out of small aggregates.

Just a year and a half in the game, Moderno, who is partnered with DC Partners, is blessed to be part of the Thompson Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

“The Thompson Hotel will be a great showcase for us as we are currently installing in the Thompson. Once it is installed, people can go in and see our porcelain.

”We have a total training program for our fabricators and installers with interns.

It is just an amazing training process that we offer,” continues Shelton.

Roberto Contreras started Moderno Porcelain Works. He has been in the surfacing industry since 1987. On Dec. 4, 2019, Moderno Porcelain Works opened its first design center to public.

Moderno Porcelain Works in a fabricator and installer of porcelain slabs. -cmw

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Human helper

Page 3

Industry FOLKS Kristian Lopez Commercial Contract Division Manager

Pinpoint Strategies Inc. Buda, TX

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L-R: Makita, named after the power tools the Water Storage Tanks Inc. team uses to earn their living with, helps human (and General Manager) Rob Turner manage his workday. –mjm

Putting responders first

Volunteers from Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors’ Central Texas office grilled over 750 hamburgers to feed military and first responders in early November. –mjm

orn and raised in Austin, growing up, Kristian spent most of his school holidays in Mexico with family.

“My older brother and I were forced to grow up quick and carry a lot of responsibility at an early age. We cut grass on the weekends with my father who worked construction during the week.

During the week my father would drop me off at school extremely early since he had to be at work downtown. Therefore, my brother and I were always the first student to arrive at the school.”

After school, Kristian joined the United States Marine Corps. He attended Austin Community College after serving in the Marine Corps and received his Associate of Applied Science, Construction Management. “My first born son, Alexander, was born while I was in college. Needless to say, I was motivated to complete my schooling and get to the workforce as soon as possible to support my growing family.

Therefore, I was working two part-time jobs and going to school full time with 17-plus credit hours in one semester."

Kristian chose construction management because most of his family worked construction and had been a part of it. “I have uncles who are wood framers, roofers, concrete contractors, etc. So you can say that it’s in my blood.

“I am married. My beautiful wife’s name is Jenny. We went to high school together but never really talked. While I was transitioning out of the Corps and into civilian life, we started going out and eventually got married. We will be

married 10 years this November."

He has four boys and another boy on the way: Andrew Moreno, 13; Alexander, 9; Vincent, 7; Valentin, 3; and the baby is due in December, name pending. Andrew and Alex are into gaming, coding and playing sports. Vincent is really interested in shooting, hunting and building/designing things. Vincent is a really good shooter for his age. Valentin is like a little Tasmanian devil as he gets into everything, but his chuckles always brighten up my day.

He’s the first one to run to me and give me a giant hug and kiss when I walk through the door, every day.”

His father worked construction his entire working career. He started out as a laborer and worked his way up the ladder until he was a safety coordinator for a general contractor.

“I always enjoyed watching things get built and overcoming issues along the way. I am the Division Manager for Pinpoint Strategies’ Commercial Contract Division. We deal with demolition, framing, insulation, sheetrock, ceiling grid/ tile, door frame, hardware installations, tape and float, painting and flooring. I enjoy the challenge that every day brings as no two days are ever alike. One day I will be in the office, the other I will be out visiting jobsites and talking with our clients and making sure they are getting taken care of.” -cmw

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Curtis Brown Owner ASD Consultants Austin, TX

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urtis Brown has overcome challenges to succeed in the construction industry. He has built a successful 26-year-old multidisciplinary firm, ASD Consultants Inc., and is nurturing the company’s next generation.

Share about your background.

I grew up in Plaquemine, Louisiana from the late ‘60s to the mid-’70s when there was segregation. There were few opportunities for many Black children to socialize. We had our Black swimming pools and Black parks. Once integration started, rather than integrate, city officials closed all of the parks and pools where we gathered. There was little to do except walk around and ride bikes.

How were you introduced to the construction field?

I always had an interest in construction and thought that someday I would become a carpenter. I would build things around the house like picket fences, but I realized that I did not want to do this type of work permanently because I believed that to be a carpenter, I had to work outside all of the time, and it gets hot in Louisiana. I was 13 when I realized that the next best thing was being an architect. I knew that architects drew and were involved with building things. I assumed they could build parts of structures if they wanted, but I knew that it was not a requirement. I figured that it would allow me to be involved in construction and spend time outside when I chose to.

I was the first, from a family of 10, to enroll in college. I graduated from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge to obtain a degree in Architectural. It was a five-year curriculum and I graduated at age 23.

What path did you take after graduation?

After college, I worked for one of my professors who owned a small Black architectural firm in New Orleans. My tasks were simple. I remember drawing things like windows or toilets. We did not have

CADD during those days, everything was drawn by hand! I worked there for six months. I felt uneasy because the office was located in a bad part of town. It was only a few blocks away from the projects.

After leaving there, I got another job near Baton Rouge where they were building the first nuclear plant. A company from Boston had the contract. I worked there for a year and a half. I saw that a lot of my non-Black peers who did not have degrees were making a lot more money than I was. I brought it to my boss’s attention and was told that it would be addressed. Soon after the discussion, I learned that there was going to be a massive layoff. The reduction in workforce was said to affect over 300 people when in fact it only affected two individuals, me and another Black peer.

What happened after the layoff?

About a month or so after the layoff, I got married. My wife had graduated and was hired by IBM, Austin. So, we packed up and moved to Austin. I managed to get a job with the City of Austin and worked my way up. I moved up in level as far as I could go.

Once I received my architectural license, I applied at Brackenridge Hospital for the Director of the Project Management Department to manage the construction of the Children’s Hospital. I was hired and served as Director for three years. Of course, healthcare is forever changing. Many public hospitals transition to private hospitals.

This is what happened to Brackenridge.

The City of Austin gave Brackenridge, which was a city-owned hospital, to Seton, which is a private hospital. When I left Brackenridge, I went to work at the Austin airport as a full-time employee; I transferred there into the Aviation Department.

At some point, I lost my zeal to work for someone else. I went to the people who held the contract at the airport and told them that I would like to become an independent contractor, so they allowed me to quit and hired me as a contractor. I worked there for four years and was assigned to the first parking garage. I earned much more money as an independent contractor than I ever did as a full-time employee, so I paid myself what I was making as an employee and used the rest as seed money to staff my company. My company was four years old before I left the airport. I made sure that when I left, I had a company to step into that was in full operation. This is how ASD Consultants, Inc. got its start.

How did you – and how do you now – keep going in the face of discrimination?

Discrimination is a fact of life. You just deal with it! You learn not to expect anything, so you go into it knowing that you must work harder and smarter. I have never thought about giving up. My philosophy is to never let them see you sweat. When you hang tough, you come out of it better and stronger. Every time someone who discriminated against me sees one of my company signs on a construction site around town, I am saying

ASD Consultants’ Darien Brown, Curtis Brown and Rohan Bande

to them that they did not break me.

What do you enjoy about your work?

ASD Consultants does a wide range of projects – governmental, education, maintenance facilities, airports, fire and police stations, parks, and office buildings. My personal favorite is churches. I enjoy seeing them start from a vision to having that vision manifest into a building where people can praise God and expand their ministries. To see how grateful church members are when they finally get what they want is priceless. Right now, we have several church projects underway and the members cannot wait until we are finished.

They want to walk through the building practically every day to see how things are progressing. The most fulfilling part is seeing how proud they are when the project is completed.

My most notable church project is a private project for the Church of Christ. The church sits on 26 acres of land. We did the 20,000sf sanctuary first, 12,000sf administrative addition, and an $800,000 parking lot. Now we are starting a $6 million education building. We have also completed churches that are considered design-build projects where we not only do the construction but the design as well. We are soon to start renovations on a Lutheran church in Austin, Texas. We are very close to finishing a $2 million church in Dallas and just finished up a $.5 million renovation in Houston.

We are reaching out to lots of churches.

It is our goal to construct churches all over the country. We have teamed with a large company that does nothing but fund churches. They have tagged ASD Consultants as one of their preferred contractors.

This group’s mission is to invest over a billion dollars in Black churches within the next five years; they see that this is a market that has been overlooked.

What do you do in your free time?

I work out in the gym. I do a lot of yard work and I have a koi pond that I thoroughly enjoy. Before COVID, my family and I traveled a lot. We have been all over the

Austin

world. Of the wonders of the world, I have seen seven. We have traveled to India, Morocco, the Rock of Gibraltar, Europe, Cozumel, Cancun, Central America, and Cuba. One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen is Lake Como, Italy. The most intriguing place we visited was Germany when we toured Auschwitz. We have also spent time in London; my daughter just returned from studying there in medical school. Our most frightening experience was being on the island of St. Marteen during Hurricane Irma which was a category five hurricane.

What goals are you setting?

I want the company to become more diversified because it is not good to have all of your eggs in one basket. We do not want to be solely dependent upon one type of work. Finding and keeping the right balance is imperative.

We have 17 employees. My corporate office is in San Antonio, my largest office in terms of the number of employees is in Austin, and we also have a small office in Dallas. I recently promoted Darien Brown to President of our Construction Division and Rohan Bande to Sr. Project Manager of our Construction Division. They both work in my Austin office. Now that I have someone capable of handling the construction arm of my business, I have resurrected the professional services side. As of late, this is where I have been focusing my attention. I have acquired a Dallas engineering firm to be a full-service professional firm, in addition to construction, so that we can offer MEP and structural services. Being an architect myself, we are not only limited to the architectural aspects of design, we can now do all of the engineering in-house and then build it.

My goal is to continually grow, start to ease into semi-retirement, and turn the whole company over to Darien and Rohan.

I am also looking at one other employee who I may promote to join Darien and Rohan in running the company.

ASD Consultants is a multidisciplinary firm in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Page 5

Getting in the trenches

A new term

I L-R: Ryan Taylor and Kevin Avocato introduce H&E Equipments’ new line of trench safety products.

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n the construction industry, whether you are a laborer, superintendent, project manager or company owner, safety is your top priority.

In mid-November, H&E Equipment Services (H&E) announced its entry into the specialty rental business by adding a trench safety product line in an exclusive partnership with GroundWorks Safety Systems (GroundWorks). With exclusive U.S. rights across all 50 states, H&E is providing one of the most innovative and reliable trench safety products on the market today. Stronger, safer, and faster, GroundWorks Trench Boxes are becoming known as an industry disruptor.

H&E President and CEO Brad Barber says, “Over the last three years, we’ve expanded our fleet of earthmoving products to all branches across the U.S., positioning us to enter the specialty market. We have a long history in dirt, and GroundWorks offered the right product and reliability to enhance our earthmoving business.”

“It is the perfect setup,” adds Kevin Avocato, H&E’s Katy Branch Manager. “We have invested so much on the dirt side that offering a quality trench safety product goes hand in hand.”

The partnership also proved to be a natural fit for GroundWorks, according to its President and CEO Jim Foley. “We knew H&E was a solid company with a focus on earthmoving rental products, so our businesses were a good match,” says Foley.

“After hearing Brad Barber share his heart with employees regarding attitude and culture, we were incredibly impressed with the sincerity of the company, its leadership, and its focus on safety. We see that H&E takes care of both its employees and customers. We knew H&E is the type of company we want to align with.”

Ryan Taylor, an H&E Trench Safety Sales Representative, pointed out that the company is bringing in a lot of innovative inventory. “The strengths of the Ground-

Works products combined with H&E’s safety focus allow us to not only make sure everybody goes home safe at the end of the day—which is everyone’s goal in shoring and construction in general—but they also allow the innovation to shine through and the products to be as simple as possible to use,” says Taylor. “With this system, you eliminate pinch points. Workers are never under any kind of overhead load. You don’t have any of the typical hazards associated with standard trench boxes and trench shoring methods.

“The design is just one of the outstanding advantages to this system. GroundWorks has taken a lot of the old-style shoring out of the equation as far as slide rail beams and plates and things of that nature,” explains Taylor. “Just based on the simplicity and reliability of the system, jobs will be completed much faster and more efficiently.”

Trench boxes, one of the most difficult products to handle in the trench safety industry, are now much simpler and safer to use. With a zero-fail rate and less than a 1% repair rate, GroundWorks’ patented preengineered, hi-tensile steel products are revolutionizing trenching and shoring on job sites. Boxes can be assembled in under 15 minutes with only one machine, one operator, and one worker, dramatically reducing costs. They lock tight the moment they are lifted, eliminating the inherent danger and difficulty of setup and takedown.

“We had been planning our entry into the specialty rental business, and GroundWorks offered the product solution and culture to come alongside us to reach pipeline, oil and gas, chemical, industrial and civil projects. Together we can make trenching jobs safer, more efficient and cost-effective,” says Barber.

H&E Equipment Services was founded in 1961 and is one of the largest integrated equipment companies in the nation. -cmw

L-R: MYA’s first president Heather McKinney has passed the baton to the firm’s second president, Michelle Rossomando.

n its 37-year history, McKinney York Architects has only had two presidents.

The first, Heather McKinney FAIA RID LEED AP BD+C, has served as president since the firm opened in 1983. This year, McKinney passed the presidency baton to Michelle Rossomando AIA RID.

Rossomando joined MYA in 1998 after earning a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. She has served as Principal for the last 16 years and now oversees the firm’s business development and marketing. In 2003, the American Institute of Architects’ Austin chapter recognized Rossomando as Young Architectural Professional of the Year. In her previous role as Project Manager, she completed some of the firm’s most complex institutional projects including The Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin and The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos. Outside of the office, Rossomando serves as a board member of YouthLaunch, a non-profit focusing on the empowerment of youth.

“As President, I am honored to con-

tinue a legacy of design excellence and strong focus on client, employee, and community relationships,” Rossomando says. “MYA remains committed to the transformational power of architecture that engages, inspires, and belongs.”

Rossomando’s ascension to her new role is the final step in a six-year transition plan created to ensure sustained leadership and promote innovation and growth.

As Rossomando assumes her new responsibilities, McKinney will continue her service to clients as Principal. Rossomando shares operational and leadership responsibilities with principal Al York FAIA RID and partners Will Wood AIA RID and Brian Carlson AIA LEED AP BD+C.

MYA earned the 2007 AIA Austin Firm Achievement Award and the Texas Society of Architects Architecture Firm Award in 2013. Its notable local projects include the McGarrah Jessee Building, the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center, and the Admissions Welcome Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

General practice firm McKinney York Architects is in Austin. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Table to Two Barton

Pravo Construction relocated its headquarters to Two Barton Skyway.

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lmost five years ago, Pravo Construction’s workspace looked much different. Principal/CEO Daniel Bettencourt and Principal/Project Manager Drew Hanish would meet every morning at Hanish HQ (aka Hanish’s kitchen table), while client and employee meetings would take place at various Austin coffee shops.

Battencourt and Hanish then moved their team into the company’s first office space at 3102 Bee Cave and continued growing Pravo Construction into the general contracting company it is today – with “growing” being the key word. The company recently outgrew its office space, and on Nov. 1, moved into its new headquarters at Two Barton Skyway located at 1601 South Mopac Expressway.

The 3,331-sf Class A office space will allow the Austin-based commercial construction firm to meet its space needs for current and future employee growth.

The office is just down the road from its former headquarters but the amenities

the space offers make it feel like a world away. The Pravo Construction team can enjoy access to on-site food trucks, a fitness center complete with outdoor sand and volleyball court and an upscale tenant lounge. They will also appreciate the site’s ample parking, downtown views, and Barton Creek Greenbelt access.

Bettencourt praises the company’s new headquarters, noting that the space and its location make it ideal for more project meetings and client get togethers.

More space wasn’t the only consideration when selecting the new headquarters.

The space’s buildout also kept in mind what would be needed post-pandemic.

Included in the design was desk space that allows for social distancing and a hand sanitizing station for guests and employees.

Austin-based general contractor Pravo Construction specializes in corporate office, medical, industrial, manufacturing, restaurant, retail, and MEP Infrastructure upgrades.

–mjm

A high-rise high

On Nov. 19, STG Design’s Jack Tisdale, Daniel Bachelier, Kelly Henson, Kelsey Humphrey and Jim Stephenson celebrated the topping out of Natiivo Austin. The 33-story condo tower in the Rainey Street District is slated for completion next year. –mjm

Crackerjack team

L-R: EmpireWorks – Reconstruction and Painting’s Taylor Brown, Kasidy Schaub, and Allie Spaulding attend the Home Run Dugout Event at Dell Diamond Nov. 6., where their company sponsored a corn hole tournament. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Page 7

LEGAL Keeping Your Business Financially Afloat

Contracts Do Not Always Turn Out The Way We Expect

Steven Bankler, Owner Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd. San Antonio, TX

West W. Winter Attorney The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio, TX

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arren Buffett’s famous quote, “You never know who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out,” is eerily ominous this year. More than 100,000 small businesses have permanently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If your business is still in the fight, congratulations! But if you’re feeling a little drafty from lack of adequate “swimwear,” know that you’re not alone.

To continue in survival mode, you’ll need to hold on longer. Below are eight tax and business strategy tips that could help you stay afloat—and perhaps even thrive—as we head into 2021.

Pay your bills on time

Missing or being late on vendor payments and other bills can devastate a company’s financial standings, including credit. IRS penalties can be equally as devastating. Penalties for skipping payroll taxes are some of the most severe – simply failing to file can carry a 15% penalty, and the addition of a trust fund recovery penalty can make the business owner 100% personally responsible for repayment. And if you received a PPP loan this year, take the forgiveness process seriously. You may have heard that loans under a certain threshold will be automatically forgiven, but you must meet critical deadlines for forgiveness.

Sign the checks yourself and pay attention

Even when the economy is thriving, small businesses are four times as likely as large organizations to be victims of check and payment tampering and twice as likely to be victims of billing and payroll fraud. These crimes are often committed by trusted managers and employees and the losses can be destructive (often surpassing $100,000 over time).

We’re often brought in to conduct forensic audits to uncover inside fraud for small businesses. By that time, the fraud has usually been occurring for years. One easy way to prevent employee fraud as a business owner is to insist on signing checks yourself and to pay attention to the reports and invoices that pass your desk.

Stay ahead of tax rate changes

Changes are coming. It’s too early to speculate, but if President-elect Joe Biden has his way, taxes will rise for many small business owners. The corporate tax rate could return to 28% and tax cuts for individuals making over $400,000 annually may be rolled back. Some classic tax strategies could mitigate the effect on your business, such as accelerating what income you can to 2020 while deferring deductions until next year. And if you own a closely held business, what happens to the business will certainly affect your estate plan and vice versa. With estate tax rates in flux, a revisit of your estate plan is in order.

Take advantage of bonus depreciation opportunities Do you own depreciable property such as a company vehicle, machine, or building? Currently taxpayers can take a late election, revoke an election, or withdraw an election for the 2018, 2019, or 2020 tax years for these types of assets. You may elect 100% bonus depreciation, deduct the expenditures under Section 179 (“expensing”), or depreciate them over a 15-year life depending on your situation. The IRS recently released new revenue procedures with detailed rules for applying these changes, so the topic is worth another revisit before

year’s end.

Re-evaluate current and past business losses

The CARES Act suspended the limits on business loss deductions for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax years. That means you may be able to amend past returns to claim full losses and obtain a refund of some or all of the taxes you paid then.

You may also be able to carry those losses back up to five years. Additional tax changes for business owners—like those relating to qualified improvement property expenses—can affect previous years, too. Be sure to review tax returns from 2018 and 2019 to claim any additional deductions you may be owed.

Adapt to the new norm The volatility in the market, supply chain disruptions, delays and pivots, and the cost of new safety requirements will result in a bookkeeping challenge beyond anything seen before. With lumber prices soaring, energy prices fluctuating, the global supply chain as unpredictable as it is, and now with the presumption that environmental roadblocks will return, it’s not business as usual for the construction industry and won’t be for some time. But there is relief for many of these challenges (tax deductions, for one); you just need to know where to start.

Use the correct accounting method

If your business holds long-term contracts, be sure to re-evaluate your accounting method so that you can owe taxes when and only when you have the money. Small business contractors with annual gross receipts averaging $25 million or less may now be able to use the completed contract method of accounting to defer taxes on incomplete longterm contracts expected to finish within the next two years.

Receive help when it makes sense

Federal tax relief and small business loans are still being handed out. Many business owners don’t want the help but going it alone in the next year may not be a workable solution. Most of these relief measures are low interest and worth considering. Some—like the PPP loan—may even be 100% forgiven for those willing to put in the time and effort.

As a business owner, you know how to pivot. You know how to find opportunities. You may have never been tested like this before, but you have the skills to make it work. It’s time to consider tax breaks and other financial prospects that can take you that final leg to the other side of this long, strange year.

Steven Bankler has more than 43 years of experience in the accounting industry. Steven’s expertise lies in consulting, planning, tax, and asset protection as well as exit strategy services for closely held businesses.

He also provides litigation support (both as a testifying expert witness and a consulting expert), business negotiations and estate planning. Visit www.bankler.com for additional tax strategy tips and to learn more about Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd.

new federal appellate court decision is a must read for the construction industry. In D2 Excavating, Inc. v.

Thompson Thrift Construction, Inc. and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, a recent United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the Court reversed a half-million dollar judgment in favor of an excavation subcontractor in reliance on longstanding precedent.

Factual Background

According to the appellate court’s decision, Thompson Thrift Construction, Inc. was the general contractor for a new apartment complex in Corpus Christi, and D2 Excavating, Inc. was selected as the site grading and excavation subcontractor. The project subcontract included the following language:

Execution of this Agreement by the Subcontractor is a representation that the Subcontractor has visited the Project site, become familiar with local conditions under which the Work is to be performed and correlated personal observations with requirements of the Contract Documents.

The Subcontractor shall evaluate and satisfy itself as to the conditions and limitations under which the Work is to be performed, including without limitation: (1) the location, condition, layout, and nature of the Project site and surrounding areas; (2) generally prevailing climactic conditions; (3) anticipated labor supply and costs; (4) availability and cost of materials, tools, and equipment; and (5) other similar issues. Accordingly, Subcontractor shall not be entitled to an adjustment in the Contract Price or an extension of time resulting from Subcontractor’s failure to fully comply with this paragraph…This is a balanced site. It shall be this Subcontractor’s responsibility to balance site. Change orders for import/export will not be accepted….

The trial court found that Thompson did not actually determine whether the site was balanced, and D2 declined to investigate the site, instead relying on a software program and information received form Thompson to determine the site was balanced. About a month after D2 began its excavation work, it became evident that the site was not balanced, and much more dirt than expected was being produced. Not surprisingly, D2 and Thompson disagreed about who was at fault for the excess dirt. However, Thompson verbally agreed it would issue a written change order for the additional work once it was finished, and D2 continued excavating. Eventually it became clear to D2 that Thompson was not going to pay for removal of the additional dirt, and D2 stopped working after 98.6% of the excavation was complete.

D2 ultimately sued Thompson for breach of contract, quantum meruit, violations of the prompt pay act, and to foreclose on a statutory and constitutional lien.

Thompson countered that D2 beached the subcontract. At a bench trial, the district court held in favor of D2 on all claims, including $257,588.53 for the “excess” excavating work. Notably, the largest award was for $356,080.91 in attorney’s fees.

The Appellate Court’s Ruling

The Appellate Court began its analysis with the principle that a party is liable for breach of contract when it provides inadequate construction plans and the contract allocates to that party the risk of inaccurate plans. However and as the Court noted, the 100 year old default rule in Texas (the 1907 Texas Supreme Court decision known as Lonergan) is that the party doing the work bears the risk that it will end up being more difficult than anticipated unless the contract shifts that risk to the buyer of the services. The

Court explained that this rule is in line with the basic contract principle that “where one agrees to do, for a fixed sum, a thing possible to be performed, he will not be excused or become entitled to additional compensation, because unforeseen difficulties are encountered.”

The Court applied this default rule since the excavation subcontract did not allocate the risk to Thompson that the site would be unbalanced. There simply was no language whereby Thompson assumed any risk that the project would require removing more dirt than the plans had predicted. Also compelling was the fact that the contract placed such risk on D2 as it agreed to the language cited above, including that it was “familiar with local conditions under which the Work is to be performed and correlated personal observations with requirements of the Contract Documents, etc.” The Court further found that Thompson’s verbal change order was void for lack of consideration since change orders are modifications which must satisfy normal contract requirements including “a meeting of the minds supported by consideration.” The Court of Appeals accordingly vacated the $257,588.53 award for excavation of unanticipated excess soil.

Lessons Learned In order to avoid the longstanding default rule that the party doing the work bears the risk that the work will end up being more difficult than anticipated, it is essential to allocate this risk appropriately in the contract documents for every project. It must also be understood that many prime contracts and most subcontract agreements will not shift this risk to the upstream party and will also typically include language similar to that quoted above. As such, contractors and subcontractors will often be left in the same position as D2 as it relates to additional unanticipated work if this risk is not properly addressed during the negotiation of the project contract. Also important is the ruling that Thompson’s verbal change order was void, hence the need to get all change orders in writing and signed before acting in reliance. Finally, D2’s substantial attorney’s fees are not uncommon in construction litigation, which is typically document and expert intensive.

Accordingly, much consideration should be given to the decision to litigate, and such a decision should typically be made after other avenues to a resolution have failed.

For a complementary copy of D2 Excavating, Inc. v. Thompson Thrift Construction, Inc. and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland please email the author.

West W. Winter is the founder of The Winter Law Firm, PLLC, currently serves as President of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association, and has been repeatedly listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation.

The Winter Law Firm represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in all phases of the construction process, from contract formation through dispute resolution, litigation, and collection. West can be reached via email: west@ thewinterlawfirm.com.

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Lead in Construction Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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ead is a common hazardous element found at many construction sites. Lead is an ingredient in thousands of products widely used throughout industry, including lead-based paints, lead solder, electrical fittings and conduits, tank linings, plumbing fixtures, and many metal alloys. Although many uses of lead have been banned, lead based paints continue to be used on bridges, railways, ships, and other steel structures because of its rustand corrosion-inhibiting properties. Also, many homes were painted with lead-containing paints. Significant lead exposures can also occur when paint is removed from surfaces previously covered with lead-based paint.

Lead exposure comes from inhaling fumes and dust, and lead can be ingested when hands are contaminated by lead dust. Lead can be taken home on workers’ clothes, skin, hair, tools and in vehicles.

Lead exposure may take place in demolition, salvage, removal, encapsulation, renovation and cleanup activities.

Avoid Exposure • Use proper personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, clothing and approved respirators).

• Wash hands and face after work and before eating.

• Never enter eating areas wearing protective equipment.

• Never wear clothes and shoes that were worn during lead exposure away from work.

• Launder clothing daily; use proper cleaning methods.

• Be alert to symptoms of lead exposure (e.g., severe abdominal pain, headaches, loss of motor coordination).

Use Respirators • Wear appropriate respirators as directed.

• Conduct a user seal check each time a respirator is donned.

• Be aware of your company’s respiratory protection program; understand the limitations and potential hazards of respirators.

Prevent Further Exposure • Ensure adequate ventilation.

• When outdoors, stand upwind of any plume.

• Use dust collecting equipment, when possible.

• Use lead-free materials and chemicals.

• Use wet methods to decrease dust.

• Use local exhaust ventilation for enclosed work areas.

OSHA has regulations governing construction worker exposure to lead. Employers of construction workers engaged in the repair, renovation, removal, demolition, and salvage of structures are responsible for the development and implementation of a worker protection program. Construction projects vary in their scope and potential for exposing workers to lead and other hazards. Many projects involve only limited exposure, such as the removal of paint from a few interior residential surfaces, while others may involve substantial exposures. Employers must be in compliance with OSHA’s lead standard at all times.

OSHA has developed an lead in construction advisor to help employers comply with the law which can be found here: https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/oshalead.htm natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Wrapped up in giving

The Accounting team at Cash Construction Company were busy elves, wrapping gifts for children. Their efforts were part of the company’s partnership with Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Association (ACEA) in bringing holiday cheer to sponsored children of Mainspring Schools. –mjm

Christmas Snow (Somewhere Else!)

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Page 9

2020 In The Rearview Mirror

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines Power-Pole, AFW and AFTCO Clothing

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OW! What a wacky year 2020 has been for all of us. After a serious global pandemic was declared in late February, our world changed beyond the beliefs no one could imagine. Thousands of people died, businesses went bankrupt, school’s shutdown and politicians blamed our president for it all. On top of all of that, hurricane season was one of the most active since 2005 with a new record of named storms (29) with the formation of

Jess Fitzgerald of Wharton joins Steve Schultz Outdoors for a memorable hunt on the Chaparrosa Ranch. Buck was 8 points and scored 149” in. Check out those brow tines!

Theta in November. And on top of all of that, we had a presidential election that is now under controversy for fraud. I’m ready to put this year behind us.

Last month, I transitioned from the waters of the Coastal Bend to the brush of South Texas. It’s a time for me to really reset my mind after a long year on the water and do something that is just as enjoyable as fishing and that was a big part in my childhood. Typically, I spend most of November and December guiding South

Ryan Bartula of Clifton TX harvested this 140 class 10 pointer hunting with Steve Schultz Outdoors in Zavala County.

Texas free range whitetail deer, hog, javelins and a few quail hunts on the legendary Chaparrosa ranch near La Pryor, TX. This ranch encompasses nearly 100,000 acres of western Zavala County and is one of the few large ranches that offers free range, low fence, native deer hunting at an affordable price. Granted, fishing remains pretty strong along the Coastal Bend and Laguna Madre through the end of the year, but it’s a great time

for me to take a break off the water and spend quality time with my boys.

Winter months are also times to repair and replace worn out equipment.

Most of you know I replace my boats quite frequently. This eliminates unforeseen problems down the road during the busy part of the season. It’s easy to replace a rod or reel mid-season when one goes down, but a boat is a different story.

Take the time while the weather is not favorable to fish and replace fishing line on your reels or rusty hooks on your favorite surface plugs or corky’s. Take that rod in for repair that may have a broken tip or an insert missing from a guide.

If you have a boat, add fuel stabilizer to the fuel and flush motor with garden hose periodically thru the winter to keep seals lubed up and batteries charged.

I’m really looking forward to getting back on the water in January 2021. Hopefully fishing will be as good as it was this year and we can pick up where we let off.

Next issue, I will be reviewing some new products that are starting to show up in the mail. Until then, Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

My 2021 fishing calendar is open, and I am starting to book trips for the upcoming year. My whitetail hunts are almost full for this season, I still have a few dates to book if interested. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-8133716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Follow me of Facebook and Instagram @Steve_Schultz_ Outdoors. Good Luck and Good Fishing.

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

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

Indian Summer?

I

suspect that what we used to call “Indian Summer” has really just become “Texas Winter”!

Apart from that little October surprise cold snap we had, we have been enjoying some really nice weather. The long-range forecasts are indicating warmer and dryer weeks ahead, so except for a few short cold fronts, we may not see much change in the weather. The best part of that is that it is just nice to be outside! We get the colorful sunrises and sunsets of winter without the chill. We can stay out and enjoy the meteor showers without bundling up. Best of all, we get more nice days to go fishing and hunting!

It took a while for the lake water temp to drop enough to get the fish started into a fall pattern, but that is where they seem to be now. That means that the fish are biting good and slowly beginning to school up into their winter migration patterns. As it cools off the stripers and hybrids and white bass start to move upstream and that means a shorter boat ride for us to get to them!

The warm and sunny afternoons and mild nights encourage the catfish and crappie to come into shallow water to feed, so bank fishing is good too. The catfishermen have been having some nice catches on jug lines and trotlines too.

I have always loved winter fishing.

Except for the disruption of the cold fronts passing through, the stripers and hybrids will feed good to get ready to spawn in the spring and that makes the catching good. If white bass are your

thing, they are easily caught too! They best thing is no summer heat!

We seem to lose a lot of our winter fishermen because it just gets too cold for them. Not this year it seems! This is going to be a fun winter!

Now I know the hunters do have a harder time of it when it is a warmer winter. Most hunting clothes tend to be made to keep a body warm and nobody wants to sweat while they hunt. Cold weather seems to be instrumental in getting the deer into their rutting pattern, when the hunting really gets good. Hang in there! There will be cold snaps when you can’t fish. That’s when you hunt!

Even if there isn’t a lot of cold weather coming, nature will take its course and the deer will get moving. Just take advantage of the dried-out pastures and be sure your deer have plenty of feed and water to be attracted to, because those things will be in short supply this year and rutting takes a lot of energy. You need to also be careful when you bag a deer. Get it field dressed and on ice as quickly as possible because the milder temperatures can spoil your meat quickly. A deer processor can give you advice on the best way to get your deer to them in good condition.

I hope you can get out and find you some great hunting and fishing this winter. Be safe and be careful and if you get a chance to donate some deer to Hunters for the Hungry or some other food bank organization, please do so. We do have a lot of hungry folks you can help out.

Happy Holidays!

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Page 11

Two with nature

the path along the lower pond edge. As visitors pass through the structure, the rhythm of the frames creates movement toward a central point, revealing larger openings and views to the garden beyond.

Oculi, by Haddon+Cowan Architects’ Sean Taylor, Joe D’Elia AIA NCARB, and Sergio Hermoza (Associate AIA), aligns different views into one, encouraging visitors to examine their own perspectives.

The series of disks are installed at eye level and arranged on an axis connecting two primary viewpoints located on each

M

bridge. Each disk is placed at a different angle to the main axis to allow visitors to encounter various points where sculptures and other visitors are framed by an oculus.

Visitors to the garden who arrive before dusk are in for a special treat as the sculptures transform as day falls into night.

Founded around the work of American sculptor Charles Umlauf, the UMLAF Sculpture Center is located at 605 Azie Morton Rd. in Austin and is open TuesdaySunday. The exhibition runs through Mar. 4, 2021. –mjm

Parallel Flux daytime view

issing the wonder of nature? The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and American Institute of Architects’ Austin chapter presents Design Shine, an annual juried exhibition showcasing budding talent in architecture and design. Two winning projects from two local teams were selected from numerous impressive proposals that drew upon themes of resiliency and empathy in uncertain times.

Parallel Flux, created by Chloe Malek and BOKA Powell's Alex Sandlin, Ashley Brumit, Max Strauss, and Miren Urena, is a series of eight rotating parabolic curves affixed to orthogonal frames on

A team installs Parallel Flux in the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden

Oculi daytime view

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Way of the future

ony McCorvey Jr.’s dream of becoming president of his family’s business, McCorvey Sheet Metal Works, began when he was 5 years old.

He started with the very grown-up responsibility of being a tin bender in the Galena Park Sheet metal manufacturing facility. As he grew older, school summers and holidays were spent in the shop until he finally was old enough to install ductwork on site. After graduating from Southwestern University, he returned to the family business and started his career in earnest by assisting Shop Superintendent (now Vice President) Billy Ware.

An important turning point came in 2012, when Way Engineering, a 94-year old business, became available for purchase. Having witnessed how mechanical contractors were investing in their own sheet metal operations, he saw an opportunity for McCorvey Companies to control its future. He convinced his father Tony McCorvey Sr., owner of McCorvey Sheet Metal Works since 2002, to purchase Way Engineering. The adjustment from being a sheet metal contractor to a mechanical contractor was a new way of thinking for the McCorveys, but Tony Jr. helped to grow Way Engineering into one of the nation’s largest mechanical contractors. In 2001, he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Way Engineering Ltd. In 2017, Tony Jr. transitioned to becoming Vice-President of McCorvey

Companies’ Mechanical company, Way Mechanical. Today, Way Mechanical specializes in commercial air conditioning, plumbing, piping, and system maintenance. With offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Way Mechanical offers design/build assist, preconstruction, commissioning, building information modeling, and quality control.

On Nov. 22, it was announced that Tony Jr.’s dream came true – he was promoted to President of Way Mechanical and Way Engineering.

Mechanical Contractor Way Mechanical’s Texas locations include Austin. –mjm

Grads make the grade

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Texas recently celebrated its fourth-year plumbing graduates, whose final year largely consisted of online classes due to COVID-19. PHCC-TX Plumbing Apprentice Instructor (and photo snapper) Jeff Porter can’t hide his pride in them, even behind the mask! –mjm

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Page 13

If you could have anything for Christmas this year, what would it be and why?

It would be a 500-gallon texture rigged sprayer, because that would allow me to bring on a really good crew that we’ve been trying to bring over. They are awesome guys, and if I can get that rig, I can put it to work enough that I can bring Hector and his whole crew over and make them mine! That would be a fantastic Christmas present.

Craig Fuller Valor Commercial I don’t think it would be an item. I would want this pandemic to end because I would like the world to go back to what we know as the norm.

Janan Buisier City Electric Supply It would be my family. This pandemic has been so distancing for everybody, and having family away and not being able to see them, it makes me really miss them and value the time missed.

Isabel Rodriguez U.S. Lumber Brokers A fishing trip and vacation!

Jacob Lehmann Paragon Construction Management I’d like to see my family. I have family that lives in Canada and being across the border right now is definitely a challenge, so that’s what I want for Christmas, is to be with my family.

Troy Gouveia Better Fire & Protection For the country to get stabilized and peaceful and not have any kind of eternal war, for lack of a better word, because it’s getting kind of touchy out there. If that happens, people of the country can get

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Back and even better

back on their feet, and hopefully, the politicians will start doing what they need to do for the people and not personal interests. A lot of people are hurting, so my wish would be that we would settle down politically and put the country back in a position where you can truly realize your dream if you want to go after it.

Curtis Brown ASD Consultants I’m most interested in getting my 4-yearold son an electric bike, so I can go dirt bike riding when he is 5 or 6. I’ll be one step closer to getting there!

Yann Curtis CCP Shotcrete + Pumping During COVID and being home because of the AGC Austin office renovation, I started getting into gardening, which I had not done before. I would like to continue growing some spices, so I asked for a hydroponic gardening pod, so I can continue to garden even in the darker months. I already got cowboy boots for my birthday, so I can’t ask for those.

Phil Thoden Associated General Contractors – Austin A vaccine, so we can go back to living a normal life!

Amy Teykl ATX Construction Clean I would have the ability to share the holiday with my family, immediate and extended. As many can probably relate, this year has been rough with the limited family interactions. Looking forward to the possibility with a Christmas miracle!

Kasidy Schaub EmpireWorks – Reconstruction and Painting

In memoriam…

years ago this week, their ilbert Lopez Limón, family officially incorpoSr. passed peacefully rated Frank Limón & at home with his family Sons Construction. GilNov. 8. In his final days bert and Bertha showed he enjoyed time with his incredible leadership as children, was looking one of the first minorityforward to Thanksgiving owned businesses to be and got to celebrate the certified by the State of news of Joe Biden’s vicTexas and earning govtory, for whom he enthuernment contracts for siastically cast his mail-in infrastructure, bridge and ballot. highway projects from At 78 years old, GilFort Worth to San Antobert lived many lifetimes, Gilbert Lopez Limón, Sr. nio. He set an example from being a young rebel and later a cool OG, to being a devoted for other business owners by showing son, brother, husband, father and tremendous heart and integrity in all of grandfather, trustworthy contractor, his dealings, and like his father and prudent businessman, loyal friend, mother, always provided for la comunitraveler, hunter, fisherman, and casino dad. Later Gilbert would even lay the foundation and the tilt walls for their and bingo player.

Gilbert was born on Mar. 25, 1942, in family restaurant that opened in 1992 on Austin, TX to Frank and Aurora “Dora” East 7th St, the first building of its kind in Limón (née Lopez). The second of seven East Austin which still stands today.

After decades of hard work and huschildren, Gilbert grew up helping his family with their businesses including tle, in the late 1990s, Gilbert and Bertha their grocery store and later a bakery in closed their business and sold their real Montopolis. At an early age Gilbert estate investments to be able to retire in worked alongside his dad learning the their 50s, enjoying time with their grandropes of the concrete and construction children and traveling. Always known as a business. At the time they were the only cool head and steady hand, throughout Hispanic-owned concrete company in his life and in retirement, he enjoyed fishtown and helped build some of Austin’s ing and hunting, especially with family first neighborhoods from Northwest and friends at their ranch in Colorado’s Hills to South Austin. Gilbert attended Grand Mesa and at their home along Zavala Elementary, Fulmore Middle the Gulf Coast in Port O’Connor, TX. They School, and Travis High School. also enjoyed weekends at any casino that

On Feb. 13, 1960, Father Donnelly of welcomed them with VIP status.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribuDolores Catholic Church married Gilbert and his devoted wife Bertha (née tions in honor of Gilbert’s life may be Mendez). They began their family and made online to the Capital of Texas welcomed three children, Debra Ann, Alzheimer’s Association to further reGilbert Jr. “Pimpo”, and Catherine Marie. search for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

As young parents, they were active in More than anything, he wished to have the church, community, business and compassionate treatment and care for his politics, in the era of growing political wife Bertha in her final years, and that a and business power for Chicanos and cure would be found for all those experiLatinos in Austin. encing dementia. Final arrangements for Ever the entrepreneur, in 1980, 40 a memorial service are pending. -cmw

A

After a four month renovation, AGC’s Austin chapter has re-opened its doors and is ready for use.

fter four months of renovation, The Associated General Contractors of Texas’ (AGC) Austin office is ready for visitors. It has been a makeover long in the making for the office at 609 S. Lamar Blvd.

“We’ve been at this location since 1947 and the building was built in 1970,” Phil Thoden, AGC Austin President and CEO explains. “It was largely a redoing of the interior. It’s a completely new building, with the exception of a few interior brick walls; the exterior is largely the same. It’s basically the same footprint, with some exceptions.

We still have the same large classroom and same downstairs with almost 2,000sf. We have a classroom upstairs as well, but we’ll see how much we use them at the same time. We have seven offices here and also a kitchen.”

Renovation rather than relocation was the most sensible route for the Austin chapter.

“We have a great building that’s paid for in a great location, and it serves our needs perfectly. It’s 5,000sf, so it’s perfect for our staff as well as training,” Thoden says. “It has 29 surfaced parking spots in the

heart of Central Austin; it’s not downtown, which is actually better. It works really well for us.”

The renovation also gave consideration to the space occupied by long-time tenant Veliz Construction of El Paso, whose growth needed accommodation.

The office reopened mid-November.

While the pandemic dampened plans for an open house celebration, Thoden says an AGC milestone next year will be the perfect chance for the industry to enjoy the new space.

“We’re really excited,” Thoden says.

“It’s the 75th anniversary next year and we’re going to be doing a lot of fun stuff with that.”

There are still some things the AGC Austin staff plan to put on the wall first.

“We’re going to have the original cover sheet of the plans along with the renovation set from the 1980s and then our current plans framed up on the wall soon, which will be neat,” Thoden says.

The Austin Chapter of the Associated General Contractors was founded as part of the AGC of America. –mjm

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC

NAWIC

Associated Builders & Contractors

National Assn. of Women in Construction

Dec. 9: Merry & Bright Holiday Celebration and Toy Drive, HBA Phillips Event Center, 8140 Exchange Dr., 3-5pm.

Dec. 16: Construction Executive’s 2021 Economic Forecast Webinar, 1-2pm. For more info, contact Jodi Bunyard at 512719-5263 or email jbunyard@abccentraltexas.org ACEA

Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.

Dec. 7: Santa Delivers Gifts, Mainspring Schools.

Dec. 10: Membership Luncheon, Norris Conference Center, 2525 Anderson Ln., 11:30am-1pm. For more info, contact Silvia Pendleton at 512-893-7067 or email silvia.pendleton@aceatx.com.

ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

Dec. 15: ASCE Virtual General Meeting, Zoom Webinar, 11:30am-1pm, $10 Suggested Donation. For more info, visit www.austinasce.org or call Jenni Peters at 512-910-2272 CLC Construction Leadership Council

Nov. 6 – Dec. 4: Operation Blue & Brown Santa. For more information, email Toni Osberry at tonio@agcaustin.org CTSA Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.

Dec. 8: Holiday Lunch Online Event. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at 512-255-6373

Dec. 2: NAWIC Austin Holiday Party 2020, Cherry Coatings, 1911 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park, TX, 5:30-8pm. For more info, contact Danielle Dlugosh at ddlugosh@ henselphelps.com SEAot

Structural Engineers Assn. of Texas

Dec. 3: Virtual Chapter Meeting. For more info, call 512-301-2744.

TSA Texas Society of Architects

Dec. 11: 2020 Leadership Retreat. For more info call 512-478-7386 or go to www.texasarchitects.org.

TSPE

Texas Society of Professional Engineers Travis Chapter

Dec. 9: TSPE Travis Online Luncheon, Zoom Webinar, 12-1pm. For more info, go to www.tspe-travis.org TXAPA Texas Asphalt Pavement Assn.

Dec. 10: TXAPA Live, 2-3pm. For more info, go to www.texasasphalt.org.

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

A tee-rrific time

ommercial and Industrial HVAC company HTS hosted its Austin Golf Tournament last month with air conditioning system design and service company DXS. The customer appreciation event was hosted last month at River Place Country Club with safety measures in place, and bright blue skies made for a beautiful day on the course. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Valor Commercial established Valor Commercial. The company offers tape, bed and float, interior and exterior painting, wallpaper and texturing jobs of all sizes. They recently began brightening acoustical paneling and purchased a continuous flow taper that promises to cut production time by 75%. The business partners also hope to expand into drywall.

“We want to be at a level where we have the ability to do everything from framing all the way out,” Fuller says. “A company that can bid a larger project is always more appealing to a general contractor,” Fuller says.

In addition to growing their business, treating their crew well is a priority for the pair.

“We want to create a whole new culture in the business. We want to force folks to change and really take care of their people.” Fuller says.

With the year ending, the plan is to finish the jobs Villareal Commercial Coatings has and focus solely on Valor Commercial.

“We’ll start the next batch of jobs under Valor Commercial. We want to keep everything separate, but the DBA

will stay in place in the hopes that one day, we can grow large enough to maybe make it a subsidiary,” Fuller, who serves as CEO, explains. “We’re taking the work Fernando has done with Villareal Commercial Coatings, his wonderful crew and the fantastic contacts he has and bringing it all over.”

The “click” that Fuller and Villareal had at their first meeting has carried over to starting this venture, as well.

“Fernando is so good out in the field; the crew just reveres him. There’s not a question I have heard them ask him that he hasn’t been able to answer,” Fuller says.

“Likewise, I know how things need to be structured in order to win bids with the general contractors. My wife has a marketing degree, and she was more than happy to design a logo, come up with a name and design a website. It fit together even better than I thought it would.”

The company is off to a good start.

One month in, Valor Commercial has already landed it’s first-year sub job.

“It was a really good feeling!” Villareal says.

Wall coating company Valor Commercial is in Pflugerville. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — PWI Construction

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Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

ASD Consultants announces the following promotions in its Austin office: Darien Brown was Rohan Bande has been promoted to President promoted to Senior of the company’s ConProject Manager in the struction Division. Brown company’s Construction earned his Bachelor’s Division. Bande joined Degree in Urban PlanASD in 2018 as a Project ning with a minor in Engineer. A native of Engineering from TrinIndia, Bande earned ity University in San his Master’s Degree in Antonio. Brown joined ASD in 2012 and Construction Management from the Unipreviously served as Site Superintendent, versity of Texas at Arlington. He has since Quality Control Inspector, and Project Man- accumulated experience in Project Manageager. He is also certified by the United States ment and Construction Management. -mjm Corp of Engineers as a Quality Control/ Quality Assurance Inspector. -mjm EquipmentShare is pleased to announce the addition of Trevor Schauenberg as the company’s Executive Operating Partner. In his new role, he will support the executive team with financial strategy and leadership. As former president and CEO of Industrial Finance at GE Capital, he brings 28 years of progressive leadership experience. -cmw Christopher P. (Chris) Schram PE recently was promoted to Department Manager/Senior Associate in Terracon’s Austin office. Schram will manage the construction materials and testing department and serve as an authorized project reviewer for the materials service line. Schram earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas in 2007 and is a member of the American Concrete Institute. -mjm

Ray McCoy has joined Structure Tone Southwest to lead the company’s Austin operations as the new Regional Vice President. McCoy brings 25 years of construction experience and will oversee strategic growth, business development, client relationships and overall operations for the Austin office. -mjm Steven Crauford PE has been promoted to Associate Vice President at Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. Crauford joined the company in 2013 and has more than 20 years of experience in design and management of large master-planned communities and complex infrastructure projects. For other multiple single family, commercial and infrastructure projects, Crauford has provided the roadway, drainage, and utility infrastructure design. -mjm

and Project Coordinator Judi Price. The San Marcos office has built many impressive projects over the years, including several at the Domain, such as David Yurman, Paul Martin's, Soul Cycle and Suit Supply.

In addition to notable projects, the San Marcos office, led by PWI Construction’s Culture Committee, participates in two to three community or philanthropic events per year in addition to nationwide community initiatives. In 2019, the office participated in a group volunteer event at the Hays County Food Bank sorting food collections.

The office also held an Angel Giving Tree donation drive supporting The Salvation Army. This year, the San Marcos office held a school supply drive supporting the Kids in Need Foundation.

“We have a unique set of core values described as “p.i.e.: people, integrity, and excellence,” Garza says. “Our management team and employees embody these values as part of our mission to delivering superior

service and adding value to each stage of the construction process. Similarly, we invest in our employee experience by offering a community-driven culture and a familyorientated work environment.”

While 2020 has been an interesting year for many companies in the construction industry, it has been a milestone worth celebrating for PWI Construction.

“This year marks our 35-year anniversary which has presented an opportune time to reflect and look forward,” Garza says. “We are proud of what we have accomplished thus far, the reputation we have built, and the many friends we’ve made along the way. As our history has shown, to be successful in this industry, you must be flexible and open to change. We will continue to serve our core markets, while expanding our markets served.”

General contractor PWI Construction is in Scottsdale, AZ, San Marcos, TX and Boca Raton, FL. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — City Electric Supply

City Electric Supply is a family-owned electrical wholesale distributor in Dallas.

The company was founded in 1951 by Tom Mackie in the United Kingdom and expanded to the United State in 1983.

Today, CES employs more than 3,000 people in over 500 branches across the US. Thirty-nine of those are Texas locations, with seven in the Austin area.

Austin North, which opened in 2007, is managed by Abelardo Padilla. The Cedar Park branch, open since 2019, is overseen by Robert Kerstetter. Arthur Carruth manages the Hutto branch,

which originally opened in 2008 and moved this year. The Kyle location, CES’ oldest Austin-area branch, was established in 2007 and is run by Tyler Miller.

Branch manager Richard Fallis heads the Marble Falls store, which has served customers since 2008. The Oak Hill location, which opened in 2008, is helmed by Matt Winrow, and the Pflugerville office has had Keith Kellum as its branch manager since 2013, six years after it opened its doors. Within these Austin-area branches are 28 Austinarea employees, including Ess. Ess hopes to open two new Austinarea branches in the next couple of years to add more coverage.

“My goal is to have a City Electric Supply branch within 20-30 minutes of a contractor doing work anywhere in our territory. That’s what will help all of our branches thrive,” Ess says.

“What makes Austin-area branches so special is the people and their willingness to go far and beyond for their customers,” he adds. “We’re a small staff, so we’re going to do more than just a small slice of distribution that a lot of other suppliers do. But as a result, I think we have our hands on the project more. We’re more hands on. I believe it’s a strength in our ability to really become personally involved in the contractor’s business.”

CES continues to grow, and Ess encourages people in the area to grow with the company.

“We’re looking to hire in the Austinarea! “We’re always looking for good people who’d like to work in distribution,” he says.

City Electric Supply is an electric supply company with seven Austin-area locations.

–mjm

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Industry FOLKS

Victor A. Salazar Superintendent

Coburn and Company Austin, TX

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ictor A. Salazar, who was born in Sabrinas, Coahuila, Mexico, didn’t speak English when he moved to the U.S. Thanks to his uncle Hector who introduced him to the construction industry when Salazar was 18, he was able to find a way to support himself while he learned the language.

“I first started in Lubbock, TX where I lived for a year. My uncle taught me a lot of this trade – tape and float,” Salazar remembers. “Then, I moved to Austin in 2005 and I started in a company as a helper. I worked there for three years.

I learned from teammates all that it takes to do professional finishes on walls.”

Salazar was laid off when the recession hit Texas in 2008. Trying to support his family, which included a newborn, Salazar took on small jobs.

Fortunately, another relative stepped in to help by introducing him to commercial painting and special finishes company Coburn and Company.

“After looking for places to apply, I heard of Coburn from my cousin Antonio,” he says. “I was surprised when they hired me because there wasn’t much work back then, especially in construction. They had been in business for a long time, and they had built a reputation with customers. Because of that, they were able to keep everybody busy through the recession.”

Since then, Salazar has steadily stepped up in the ranks as his experience has grown.

“I started as a tape and floater. I learned, little by little, the paint trade.

After three years of being a painter, my superintendent gave me the opportunity to become a foreman. As foreman, I was in charge of leading a group of fellow workers. I started with little jobs.

After having more experience, I took over more complicated jobs such as Drop Box, U.S. Attorney’s offices, and Apple, just to name a few. Last year around this time, I was asked to become a superintendent. I was excited and grateful for this new opportunity to grow in the company.”

“I enjoy seeing different job sites and seeing the difference day by day,” Salazar says. “They become a creation from being just studs and drywall to having beautiful finishes, like carpet, millwork, lights, tile and paint! In addition, I also enjoy that I never stop learning. There is so much talent in this company, ideas, and suggestions from painters, delivery people, estimators, and accounting that help me do better.

I also like that we use technology to be more efficient these days.”

Salazar especially appreciates that the new position, even with the added responsibilities, allows him to spend his weekends with his family, rather than working overtime as he did in the past.

“One of my hobbies is spending my weekends sometimes doing a few projects at my house,” Salazar says. “I love to spend time with my family, my wife Yessica and my two daughters, Isabel and Linny, and our two dogs. I enjoy visiting family in town and out of town. Cooking is also a hobby. I like to cook for my family!”–mjm

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

Carving out some fun

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very year, Embree Group Special Projects Coordinator/Asset Administrative Assistant Stephanie Williams comes up with a fun event to complement the office’s annual blood drive. For the first time ever, the Georgetown office held a Halloween pumpkin contest on Oct. 30, and employees voted for their favorites. The team had a gourd ol’ time and may have just created a new Halloween tradition. –mjm

The first place team, Gandy Division, was Sheerin Ager, Erin McDaniel, Dave Ogden, and Justin Horn.

The Halloween pumpkin carving contest was held during Embree’s annual blood drive.

đ&#x;Žƒđ&#x;Žƒđ&#x;Žƒđ&#x;Žƒđ&#x;Žƒ

The creepy contenders.

Kate Mayfield and Falyn Meyers carved out a second place spot.

Up for the big job!

The ATX Construction Clean team recently completed their biggest job to date: Kalahari Resort and Conventions in Round Rock. The country’s largest indoor water park opened in November. –mjm

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

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Helping hands

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The Austin office project engineer peer group

uring a year when so much help was needed in local communities, general contractor JE Dunn lent several hands to make a difference in theirs.

JE Dunn Vice President and Make-aWish Austin Board of Trustees member Lou Campero launched a volunteer construction program in association with Make-aWish Central Texas to help plan projects, source materials and build construction wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Recently, Campero enlisted the support of his JE Dunn coworkers and business partners in the construction industry to make one 5-year-old boy’s wish for a superhero treehouse come true.

JE Dunn is also deploying their skilled volunteers to facilities across Austin to complete much-needed infrastructure improvements. Most recently, the Austin of-

fice’s project engineer peer group collaborated with the United Way and Reggio Emilia Multilingual Preschool Academy in Southwest Austin to put their skills to work.

Twenty-six project engineers dedicated their day to making improvements around the school including raising the main walk path into the school and placing 15 yards of river rock to improve the school’s drainage, a long-standing issue the pre-school had been facing.

JE Dunn has been a close partner to United Way for Greater Austin since 2007.

This October, they ran their 12th annual employee giving campaign – and more than 30 team members stepped up to donate almost $25,000 to support the greater Austin community.

General contractor JE Dunn is in Austin.

–mjm

JE Dunn made a 5-year-old’s Make-a-Wish come true.

A JE Dunn volunteer cleans preschool playground equipment.

JE Dunn VP Lou Campero helps build a superhero treehouse.

Grateful gang

The Burt Group (TBG) team members wear their gratitude with attitude in matching “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed” shirts to celebrate the Thanksgiving season! –mjm

A donation with heart

U.S. Lumber Brokers owner Benjamin Baker recently donated blood and learned that, due to lack of funds, the blood bank’s stress balls were being covered with Ziploc bags so that the balls could be reused. Last month, Baker and team members (l-r) Todd Roberts, Isabel Rodriguez and Michael Mender surprised the bank with a donation of 1,000 new stress balls. –mjm

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West Harbour Marina at Lake Austin

room that is away from the efore June 2019, the docks, and we had to run dry wooden docks at Lake underground piping to these Austin’s West Harbour docks up through these cavities Marina had constrained slip to feed the sprinkler system. sizes and usability, and some “It’s a very specialized applicahad even collapsed into the tion. I’ve done this a long time water. A developer enlisted and I’ve seen it done maybe Paragon Construction Manageonce,” he says. “The fact that we ment President Jacob Lehmann, had to do this on the side of Lake Project Manager Jacob Cacy Austin with the water table, we and Superintendent Clint Walker had certain grade levels that we to oversee demolition of the needed to maintain to protect existing docks and build a new the integrity of the piping. But, 26-slip marina. The dock owners at the same time, we had to stay had a unique request however: out of the water table.”

They wanted fire protection City officials made frequent systems installed on the docks. visits to the project, and every

“There is a lot of complexity effort was made to ensure to the piping system to do a dry transparency. system on a dock like this,” “We worked closely with the Lehmann says. “How do we make In this first-of-its-kind-in-Austin project, a fully dry fire protection system was installed with a dry City of Austin and the fire it work?” manual standpipe on Lake Austin’s new West Harbor Marina boat docks. marshal’s office to complete this Fortunately, Lehmann could rely on Better Fire Protection Principal/Co-Owner Troy it was requested by the owner for the protection of the project. A lot of the inspections they did were inspections they have never done before, since these types of projects Gouveia, Project Superintendent Buck Minor and On-site end users.”

Foreman Jeremy Lyon to meet the challenge.

The team had to plan where the fire protection don’t exist,” Gouveia says. “This project was success “Jacob brought us on board in the conceptual phase piping was going to be run, coordinate beam penetra- ful because of hyper-communication with everybody when they were working with the architect and the tions through the cavity of the deck, and have specific involved. Jobs like this are heavily coordinated. The actual scope of work was small, but the time, communication structural engineer on the development of these docks. locations for each beam.

Our main scope was to provide a fire sprinkler system “Given the fact that it was dry system, all this pipe and coordination it took to actually get through the and a fire alarm system for protection of these docks,” had to slope to a drain. There was a lot of pre-planning construction phase of this project was substantial. I have Gouveia says. “The type of system that was installed on and pre-coordination work before Jacob was able to to commend every trade on this job.” the project is fairly common for outdoor fire protection, start putting up a structure involved with the sprinkler “It’s one of a kind,” Lehmann says proudly of the but as far as the complexity, occupancy and the type of system,” Gouveia says. “We had to balance available completed docks. “The combination of a fully decked project, I would say this project is the first of its type in water supply and the size and slope of the piping. These out platform lift, a finished ceiling system, fire Austin to ever be built.” beams were built in a fashion that could only handle suppression and the scale the developer was able to let “Many of the issues came from these docks being penetration size that was a certain size before they were us build to is unprecedented. We have dock builders who helped us on the project who receive publication framed with solid beams,” Gouveia explains. “Main overloaded.” piping runs through these structures, so we needed a “The water table and underground utilities were also subscriptions about docks all around the United States, way to conceal all the piping but still run through these challenging, and it was definitely a challenge building on and they said they had yet to see anything of that caliber solid beams. Jacob engaged me early on to talk about the side of the lake,” Gouveia continues. “In the preplan- ever on a fixed pier system like we have.” –mjm the available water supply from the City supporting the ning process, we talked with Jacob about putting valves install of the sprinkler system. From a code interpretation on the dock but, due to the aesthetic nature of the project, Better Fire Protection perspective, the sprinkler system was not required, but we went away from that. Our dry valve is located at a riser Austin, TX

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Lyttle Law Firm

The original design utilized a non-locking he stunning new build for Lyttle Law main electrical panel and was not located Firm gives off a Frank Lloyd Wright properly on the building. As per Austin feel. But the structure of the project, Energy’s mandate, one must be able to constructed by Trimbuilt Construction see the transformer, the meter and the Inc., is truly a blend of many different box in the same line of sight. Unforstyles. The exterior is adorned with custom tunately, this plan allowed potential for a metal panels and accented with beautiful member of the public to shut down the western red cedar in the soffit of the power manually from the street. The overhang. switchgear could have been moved to Upon entering the reception area, another location, which would not have visitors are greeted by the warm welcome been cost effective for the client, and it of western red cedar on the ceilings and was ruled out. The issue was overcome stairwells, as well as many custom light by custom-designing an Austin Energyfixtures throughout. Up the stairwells and approved stainless-steel cover with a lock through the custom designed doors, a in place. This measure allowed the team stunning, yet livable, suite awaits. to protect the building’s constant power

Five main challenges faced the Trimbuilt supply by blocking off access from the Construction team during construction. general public to the main power switch.

After the project passed the permit review Owner-supplied custom light fixtures process during the construction phase, also proved to be an obstacle. The owner Project Manager Troy Saint and Superinsourced and purchased specialty light tendent Erick Burns kept noticing somefixtures which were designed and instalthing was off. The distance between the led into a level ceiling. The lighting could overhang and the electrical wires seemed not be installed into the new vaulted too close for comfort. The original survey Trimbuilt Construction constructed Lyttle Law Firm’s new Austin office. ceiling without modification. Trimbuilt indicated there was enough space. He called Construction Inc. contacted the manufacin Austin Energy to re-survey.

After the surveyor’s investigation, it was deemed that request, Saint and Burns delivered three options. The turer and obtained custom-made extension rods to his instincts were correct. The civil engineer had incorrectly client chose Trimbuilt’s plans for a beautiful rainwater retrofit the lighting into the vaulted ceiling. This saved collection walkway. the client from replacing or re-ordering another custom surveyed the distance from the pole, not the wire.

The invert elevation at the city’s manhole was not $25,000 fixture.

Due to site constraints, the building could not be Finally, the team had to figure out how to resolve physically moved on the property without encroaching consistent with the city’s as-built plans that showed on the patio and rain garden plans for the back of the the invert lower than it actually was. After a trench was the building’s noisy A/C units. After the A/C units were building. Through direct collaboration with the city, the dug to open up the existing manhole, the team had to beautifully installed near the founder’s work area, it owner and the design team, Trimbuilt ended up cutting re-survey the grade. It was immediately determined was determined that the buzzing of the unit would be back the exterior fascia more than three feet in order to that the invert was too high for suitable water flow. A a distraction. Instead of moving the unit, Trimbuilt civil engineer was called out, and it was determined redesigned and rearranged the interior ductwork. conform to Austin Energy compliance codes.

The second challenge concerned storm drain and that a pump and power source needed to be installed Thanks to this quick thinking, the noise pollution was rainwater collection, and how the client could walk from to resolve the water flow issue. Today, the rain garden eliminated at a minimal cost. –mjm their parking spot to the back door. Once Trimbuilt offers a zen-like respite and peaceful walk to the Trimbuilt Construction began building, it became evident that a suitable parking lot.

Austin, TX walkway didn’t exist in the current plan. To address this The third challenge was the main electrical panel.

Austin Construction News • DEC 2020

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City of Leander Lakewood Skate Park

eander boasts two skateparks, with the second, Lakewood Skate Park, having opened this fall.

Located at 2040 Artesian Springs, the skate path snakes through several hundred feet of junipers and mature oaks, offering long skate lines and plenty of chances to practice combo tricks. Within the skatepark, challenges include a flat rail, down ledge, four-stair set, banked manual pad complex, volcano, bank-to-manny pad and a quarter pipe section.

Yann Curtis, owner of SPA Skateparks and Curtis Concrete Pumping (CCP Shotcrete + Pumping) has earned a reputation for designing and building world class skateparks. “The 150-plus acre project was designed and master planned by Halff Associates. They brought on a subconsultant that specializes in skatepark

The skatepark boasts a flat rail, down ledge, four-stair set, banked Manual pad complex, volcano, bank-to-manny pad and a quarter pipe section.

steel fabrication that goes on, aside from the reinforce-ment.

Every edge of every ledge, stair, or rail is all metal detailed to withstand the abuse of the users. The concrete features are all formed and cast on site as well. For embankments or any sort of transitional areas, they are all shot via wet mix shotcrete. All concrete surfaces are specified to a Class A steel trowel finish."

The SPA Skateparks team, all of whom either are skateboarders or BMX riders, ensure the concrete surfaces offer a perfect ride. The site dictates the skatepark’s design, and not the other way around. SPA consults with each community’s

The volcano, a transitional area, is placed with wet mix shotcrete.

design, New Line Skateparks, which is a company that we work with for design-build projects. Pflugervillebased Prime Construction was selected as the General Contractor. Our scope of work was to provide the turnkey concrete skateboard park terrain,” he says.

Being a skatepark contractor for 15 years inspired Curtis to create the related company, CCP Shotcrete + Pumping, with brother Jamie Curtis. CCP is a shotcrete contractor of structural finish walls, tunnel and culvert linings and other applications for commercial, civil and infrastructure sectors.

“We do a lot of concrete and metal detailing when it comes to skateparks,” he says. “There is a lot of on-site

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Skateboarders in the community had a say in what features they wanted the design to include.

skateboarders to learn what they want. Each skatepark is unique and custom to that community.

“If you were to ask a group of skateboarders what they would like in a skatepark, we find it’s a majority of plaza type terrain – anything you would see in a downtown environment, like stairs and ledges and rails to slide down. A close second place would be replica swimming pools, which we sometimes call ‘bowls.’ We don’t have a catalogue, so they can’t say, ‘I want page 22 of the catalogue for X dollars.’ These are so customized; it’s all dictated based on the site, the budget and the public’s input.

“This one in particular is really nice,” he adds. “The skate path is a meandering path-like skatepark with areas that jut out organically. There’s a very natural feel as you make your way between the wooded areas all around. In skate lingo, we would call this terrain lower-level, technical plaza terrain. We’re not creating massive grade changes or deep bowls underground.

We kept it at or above grade to maximize the budget for this amenity within the park.”

“Personally, I do love this one,” Yann says. “It represents how a professionally designed and built skatepark doesn’t have to be of a multi-million-dollar scale to serve the community. This is the second skate park in Leander, and I doubt it will be the last.

I’m always happy with the value that cities get from skateparks. I regularly follow up with park’s directors, city managers and council members. The feedback is often that their skatepark is the most-used parks facility in the parks system, and it’s obvious they’ll need another in a different part of town.

Lakewood Skate Park’s grand opening was this fall.

“Our team tries to skate it first, but many times the kids in the community are so on top of it, they might beat us to it,” he says with a laugh. “So long as they let the concrete dry, I don’t have a problem with it!”

SPA Skateparks is a turnkey, design build contractor of public spaces and world class skateparks. CCP Shotcrete + Pumping is a shotcrete contractor. –mjm SPA Skateparks and Curtis Concrete Pumping Austin, TX

University of Texas Eddie Reese Outdoor Pool

he University of Texas at Austin Eddie Reese Olympic Pool is a world class, 50-meter length pool that takes swimming to a new level with state-of-theart technology with Flynn Construction and the design-build contractor. The project began in 2012 when the original contract was signed for a standard gunite pool and training facility. When the design was 90% complete, the project was placed on hold.

Six years later, in 2018, UT instructed Flynn to commence design but founded upon a Myrtha modular laminated stain-less-steel pool manufactured in Italy. Myrtha pools are respected for their track record producing world record results in the competitive swimming world.

With Flynn Construction’s 20-year track record of designing and building commercial pools, Flynn was ready to provide proprietary design-build services for UT. The project management team consisted of Principal in Charge Patrick Flynn, Project Manager Russell Alabastro, Estimator Landon Wolf, Project Superintendent Hal Faulk, and Project Engineer/Safety Coordinator Braxton Arnold. The Flynn team worked with Dorothy Fojtik, Project Manager for the University of Texas.

The design team included Studio 8 Architects, Counsilman-Hunsaker Aquatics, DB Structures, Jose I. Guerra, Coleman and Associates, and Datacom Communications.

The scope of the project included the site development and construction of the Olympic pool located beside the Jamail Swim Center on the UT campus. This is the only pool in the country with an elaborate mechanical heating and cooling system utilizing chilled water and steamed heat. Due to space limitations, the mechanical system was fabricated by Systecon. The team then mounted it on a custom skid design and dropped it into the support building with a crane. Flynn worked closely with Shawn Allan at Jose I. Guerra designing a chilled water and

The Myrtha pool’s stainless steel system manufactured in Italy required specialized design solutions.

The University of Texas Eddie Reese Outdoor Pool is ready for swimmers, thanks to Flynn Construction.

heating system for the pool to maintain water temperature at 72 degrees throughout the year.

With a start date in May 2019, the pool presented many demanding coordination challenges. Studio 8 Architects worked with the design team to provide innovative design and construction solutions. The pool’s namesake, Eddie Reese, selected to use a Myrtha stainless steel pool

system manufactured in Genoa, Italy for the pool construction. Designing and fabricating a pool from Italy required special coordination in scheduling manufacturing, shipping, storing materials, security, and quality control. Upon delivery to Austin, each pool component went through a quality and inventory inspection prior to being catalogued in storage.

The Myrtha pool required specialized design solutions including a 12-inch reinforced concrete slab, concrete piers, surge tanks, chilled and heated water systems, gravel backfill, security wall and fence, and electronic security. Drone technology images were utilized to provide crucial site information to plan work and identify safety concerns on the project.

During the final months of the project, the COVID-19 crisis hit and created additional challenges. Flynn was defined as an essential critical infrastructure provider so was able to continue working, but now had additional restriction and safety concerns to manage.

Flynn had to create an innovative disease program to implement within 48 hours and submit to UT for approval. As expected, the delays in spring 2020 impeded supply chain deliveries and availability of subcontractor personnel.

As a testament to the uniqueness of this project, Flynn was awarded a 2020 Excellence in Construction award by Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter in October. The Flynn team believes the Eddie Reese Outdoor Pool is a great addition to the University of Texas athletic program and is proud to have been the design-build contractor.

Flynn Construction is in Austin.–mjm Flynn Construction Austin, TX

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Trick or treat

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hosts, goblins, zombies and more filled workspaces around town as Halloween descended upon the construction industry looking for a fun. Would it be a trick or a treat? -cmw

Alterman

Austin Air Conditioning Inc.

Bilt Rite Scaffold

Austin Air Conditioning Inc.

Dovetail Custom Wood & Metal

PWI Construction Pet Costume Winner Yogi the Mummy (owner is Talent Culture Manager Kristin Price)

Austin Air Conditioning Inc.

Austin Air Conditioning Inc.

Solar Freedom

Cornerstone Architects

Solar Freedom Cornerstone Architects

Solar Freedom

Cornerstone Architects

Cornerstone Architects

Cornerstone Architects

Cornerstone Architects