Austin Construction News January 2021

Covering the Industry’s News

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On the move

Social distancing climbers

The ever-growing S I Mechanical LLC is moving to a new facility in Creedmoor.

Austin Energy is unique in that it offers a climbing school that feeds into its apprenticeship program.

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n early February, S I Mechanical LLC will be on the move again, this time making their home at 5198 FM 1327 in Creedmoor, TX. The triangle-shaped property, with a new 4,000sf fabrication shop lining one side and a two-story, 10,000sf office building bordering the other, promises more room for the mechanical contractor’s expanding staff.

SI Mechanical LLC has rapidly grown since Mike Irwin and Philip Shultz founded the company out of their homes in 2012 and staffed the operation with two employees. Thanks to Shultz’s strong relationship with contacts at Dell Computers’ Palmer and Round Rock campuses, S I started strong with industrial and tenant finish out work.

In 2014, Irwin and Shultz brought

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obert Sanchez used to have more to do with creating dishes than creating decks. Born in Houston, Sanchez had a 17-year career in the restaurant industry, first as a line cook and then working his way up to coowning restaurants. Sanchez moved to Austin in 2008 to enjoy the unique food, culture and music scene the city had to offer.

However, Sanchez had always been interested in construction, so when the time came to make a change, he jumped into the industry. After 10 years of learning everything he could from experienced foremen and general contractors, Sanchez decided to strike out on his own. With the blessing of his wife, family of five children and three stepchildren, previous clients and a heavy reliance on his faith, Sanchez founded Austin Built Construction in Round Rock.

on a third partner, Riley Sullivan, to pursue larger general contractors. Today, S I’s 120 employees focus on $20 million in work annually for Turner Construction Company, American Constructors, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, SpawGlass, Kitchell, Joeris and a few smaller GCs, with 90% of the work coming from school districts, universities, school districts, and government municipalities.

The steady growth in business has meant that the partners have had to regularly hunt for real estate that could accommodate their company’s size.

“We worked out of our homes for about two years,” Irwin explains. “Philip lives in Buda, and he had five acres that his house is on, so he built a metal continued on Page 14

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t’s graduation day at Austin Energy’s climbing school. But before the celebrations can begin, a 70ft confidence pole awaits those who can utilize their training, climb it to the top and ring the bell.

Austin Energy is unique in that it has its own climbing school. The program offers a consistent level of training for new lineworkers and specializes instruction according to Austin Energy’s needs.

Those who master the climbing school are admitted into Austin Energy’s 4-year apprenticeship program.

Austin Energy Craft and Field Training Program Manager Craig Ptomey oversees both the apprenticeship program and the climbing school, which is held onsite at Austin Energy with the

utility’s Craft and Field Training School.

It teaches a variety of skills, including the technique of climbing a pole, Austin Energy’s construction standards and multi-ple rescue scenarios. Applicants with or without prior experience or utility training are encouraged to apply.

The climbing school provides the student the ability to graduate, and with a passing grade, the new apprentice is accepted into the program. The Distribution Electrician Lineworker Helper is the focus of the first year, and an apprentice completes the program after finishing all four years of all required training, both in the classroom and on the job, to graduate to a journeyman lineworker.

While the idea of climbing new continued on Page 14

Recipe for success

L-R: Austin Built Construction’s Robert Sanchez and Alex Guthrie

Through his company, Sanchez offers deck building and maintenance, pergolas, patio covers, screened porches, stone patios, retaining walls, fire pits, remodeling and cabinet painting. In addition to Round Rock, the company services Austin, Kyle, Buda, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Georgetown to Jarell.

Sanchez has found that the fast pace and variety he used to find in the restaurant industry is in the construction industry as well, keeping him mentally stimulated as well as busy.

“Every job is a new design, has a new adventure and a new task,” he says. “We love to work with new people and make new friends. Seeing all of the work that we put in finally become a finished product and putting a smile on my customers’ faces I’d say is one of the most satisfying things about my work.”

Sanchez works with partner Alex continued on Page 14

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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The virus made them better

he pandemic has affected busineses nationwide, but it has actually affected Texas Solar for the better. The company has seen an 4000% increase in business during the past two years, with individuals and companies looking for ways to lower their energy costs and more people working from home.

Wade Turner, Director of Business Development, says demand is so great that the San Antonio -headquar tered company is expanding their reach and service scope in the Lone Star State.

“With more people at home, electric bills are going through the roof, which leads Texas Solar’s Wade Turner says a sharp increase in demand to three main catalysts in the means a company expansion in reach and service scope in solar industry,” he says. “First, the state. folks have more time to think about energy bills and contributing to the expectations,” Turner says. environment. Second, more people are With the landscape of solar demand turning to improvement projects because changing, Texas Solar is not just expanding they are at home more. Third, they are their service area, but also their service using much more electricity by being at scope. home. Solar is a greater benefit.”

“We are going to grow our commercial

Texas Solar currently has 88 employees footprint to include government work. We that install over 200 solar projects monthly, plan to begin to respond to the many ranging from roof installs to ground government – whether it is city, state, or mounts, with a concentration in major federal government – RFPs and RFQs. We’ve Texas hubs. Texas Solar’s Austin crews have been asked to enter the government and been meeting the increasing demand for municipal side for a while now,” Turner says. solar installations, but the company has “We’re going to continue to hire and had to navigate the new challenges of in- continue on a mitigated growth trajectory, person vs. remote work. trying not to grow too fast so that we can “We had a recruiting and hiring wholly serve each customers’ needs. Our challenge because of the pandemic, so we focus is on the individual experience as we have 75% of our workforce working grow to satisfy solar customers in Texas.” remotely and 25% working on site. It took Texas Solar is a solar installation us a while to manage that, but we’re over company. –mjm the hurdle and we are meeting customers’

Keeping with the spirit

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raditionally, Associated Builders & Contractors’ (ABC) Central Texas Chapter hosts its annual holiday party, a large event where they collect items to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.

Although local regulations prevented the event in the way we are used to seeing it held, their members still dropped by the office and donated to the Ronald McDonald House while meeting fellow members. Members brought toys, necessities and gift cards. In addition, the ABC membership raised $750 from their sponsors! “Thank you MW Builders, Joeris, Ryan Companies, DPR and our members for your generous donations and thoughtfulness,” says Jodi Bunyard, Director of Membership & Marketing. -cmw

Throwing down

Capital Industries LLC’s annual axe throwing team building event was held in December with the help of mobile axe throwing company Smacking Axes. –mjm

BBQ crew

Austin Commercial’s Central Texas team spent a December weekend preparing barbecue meals for families in the Austin community. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Lou DiBella Owner LDJ Gutters Austin, TX

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ou DiBella’s accent may not sound Texan, but his work ethic is as big as the Lone Star State! Hailing from New York, DiBella’s early interest in business and entrepreneurship has served him well since came to Texas and formed LDJ Gutters. Since then, he has grown his family-owned company to three Texas locations.

Where are you originally from?

I grew up in Staten Island, NY, where the streets were lined with duplexes and there were always kids playing outside.

Growing up, my dad and his brothers lived in Brooklyn until they moved to Staten Island, which is where he met my mom. He played football and baseball, and my mom was a cheerleader. They met at a football game and became high school sweethearts. My sister and I grew up on Staten Island.

What was your family and childhood like?

My dad, Louie, was my hero. We were best friends first and he was my dad second. He was the ultimate motivator and defined discipline. He was “Big Lou,” and I was “Little Lou,” or “Louie” as the kids on the block would call me.

On Sundays, my mom would cook for everyone and the door was open to anyone that wanted to come for dinner.

Her lasagna was the best. She always had to host Sunday dinner because I would only eat her cooking.

I went to Catholic school until 5th grade, but when I switched to public school, things changed for me. I started seeing the world differently and that became a turning point for me. I think this is where my entrepreneurial drive started to kick in.

When did you start acting on that entrepreneurial drive?

I started playing football and baseball at a young age, and I loved the competition. I also loved to hear the cheers when I made a good play or had a good game, but what I loved most was the look on my dad’s face in those moments. As a quarterback, I have had my fair share of concussions. In high school, I was part of another violent collision which added another concussion to an already long list of sports-related head injuries and was permanently sidelined.

When my doctor refused to sign off on letting me continue to play football, I was crushed. After that, I gave up on sports and it was then that my desire to work and my competitive nature collided.

I started focusing my energy on different ventures. Business became my new playing field.

How did your path in business unfold?

At this point in my life, my parents had recently moved my sister and me to Brick, NJ and one of my teachers had noticed my willingness to work hard. He got me a job at a local mall in a store called “The Athlete’s Foot.” It wasn’t long before I became consumed with my love for business and worked as often as I could.

After I graduated, I couldn’t imagine not putting all of my energy into my work. Entrepreneurship was in my bloodline, but my dad had taken comfort in being able to provide for our family with a union job as a city worker. If I wasn’t going to college, he wanted me to follow the same path he had by getting a job that offered securities, like health insurance and a pension, like a lot of the men in my family had done.

It took some convincing, but with my parents’ blessing, my partner and I bought that same store I had been working for in the Monmouth Mall, and I owned my first business at the age of 19.

A few years later, I sold out my half of the business to my partner.

When and why did you come to Texas?

My buddies and I saw an opportunity in Dallas and eight guys in my crew moved out here. Mama DiBella and Big Lou followed as well to make sure we still had our Sunday dinners and a place to hang out and watch sports. We had to be able to watch our Yanks in the summer and our Niners on Sundays during the winter.

What did you do when you came to Texas?

LDJ Gutters owner Lou DiBella (second from right) with (L-R) son Luca, wife Francine, and daughters Livia and Louisa.

When I got to Dallas, I immediately took a sales job and that is where I met my wife, Francine. It was love at first sight!

She was smart, gorgeous, and a great cook – and also my biggest competition on the sales floor!

After getting my footing in Texas, I caught the entrepreneurial bug again and invested in a construction company that specialized in roofing and gutters. It wasn’t long before I was outworking the guys I had invested with and decided to go out on my own. LDJ Gutters was formed in 2012.

Alex, Hugo, Frank, Illya, Rey, and Jenni were a part of the team from the beginning, and they are still with me to this day. We quickly expanded our operations from starting out with one installation crew to the 20-plus crews we have now.

We have zero turnover with our staff and customers. I have always lived by the principal that if you take care of people, they take care of you. LDJ Gutters is a group of hard-working individuals that make it all possible to provide the highest level of service for our customers. We started in Dallas-Fort Worth, but we knew that the growth potential was always there.

What transpired in your personal life during this time?

While the LDJ family was growing, my family with Francine was growing, too. We settled down and, in 2013, Francine gave birth to our son, Luca.

Three years later, we were blessed with our first daughter Louisa and second daughter Livia a couple years after that.

I think about my childhood and how different it is that we now live on a street with only five homes and lots of space,

but the important thing is there are still always kids outside playing. Now, I enjoy watching my son play the sports I loved as a kid, and I get to be the hero to my two princesses.

Is your wife Francine involved in the business?

My wife is my biggest cheerleader and is always by my side but works hard in her own ventures as well. I was honored when she told me that she wanted to take on the LDJ brand name and branch off from her roofing and construction company to begin LDJ Roofing.

Despite the pandemic, LDJ Gutters has actually grown!

LDJ Gutters has had so much success in Dallas. We are excited that this year, we were able to branch out to Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Family-owned LDJ Gutters specializes in new construction, including multifamily projects, repair and cleaning services and property restoration. –mjm

Austin

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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Another door opens

A true trailblazer

Cedar Park Overhead Doors’ new Tarrytown Design Center is the company’s third location.

Molly McShane is trailblazing her way in the construction industry.

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hat’s behind Door No. 3? It’s Cedar President/Owner Don Grenier bought Park Overhead Doors’ Tarrytown Cedar Park Overhead Doors in 2004 with Design Center – the company’s his father-in-law, and has grown the third location! company to 50 employees, including his

Located at 2414 Exposition Blvd. Suite son Keaton, brother Ted, his in-laws and his C-100, the company’s latest garage design son-in-law. His wife, Karen, serves as halfcenter and showroom is strategically owner in the business. located to serve the company’s more Cedar Park Overhead Doors offers centrally-located Austin customers. commercial and residential garage doors, Whether clients are interested in con- garage door openers, and repair. –mjm temporary steel or rustic wood, representatives are on-site to guide them through their options and choose the best door for their commercial and residential structures.

The company also offers garage door openers and garage door repair.

The Tarrytown Design Center joins the company’s established and successful Cedar Park headquarters and Lakeway location. The company currently serves customers in Austin, Buda, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, Hutto, Lakeway, LeanCustomers entering the design center can der, Liberty Hill, Pflugerville, Round explore numerous door options for their Rock, Spicewood, and West Lake Hills. commercial and residential structures.

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olly McShane recently achieved two important career milestones.

She was recently named as the second CEO in The McShane Companies’ 35-year history. She is also the first woman to rise to the c-suite leadership level at the firm.

McShane, who earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from Boston College and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, started off at the company in 2002 as a project engineer. Since then, she has been on an upward trajectory, holding a variety of positions within the construction and development businesses and spearheading major initiatives across the company’s portfolio of services. She has particularly focused on expanding into new geographic markets and creating a more diverse workplace; during her role of Chief Operating Officer, the firm posted record growth. Before serving as COO at Cadence McShane, she was a Chief Investment Officer at Conor Commercial Real Estate for nearly 13 years.

As Chief Executive Officer, McShane manages McShane Companies’ overall operations and resources, focusing on creating, planning, implementing and integrating its strategic direction. She brings to her role extensive knowledge of the industrial, multi-family, office, healthcare and commercial market sectors, as well as a unique perspective of the entire commercial real estate development and construction process.

Jim McShane PE, who founded The McShane Companies in 1984, is retiring as Chief Executive Officer but will stay on as chairman. The announcement was made during the 2020 IREJ Real Estate Awards, during which he was receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The McShane Companies is comprised of McShane Construction Co., Cadence McShane Construction Co. and Conor Commercial Real Estate. It has regional offices in Auburn, Alabama, Irvine, CA, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Madison, WI. –mjm

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Golfing at the Twins

he Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Central Texas Chapter hosted their first event since the onset of the COVID pandemic. The event was held on Nov.2 at Twin Creeks Country Club. With beautiful weather and great camaraderie, everyone had a wonderful day visiting and just having fun. -cmw Winners: 1st Place: Sunstate Trench Safety 2nd Place: Andrews Mye 3rd Place: Ryan Most Honest Team: Hayes Modular Closest-to-the-Pin: Joseph Ciesynski,

Opifex Men’s Longest Drive: Jacob Lantz, Lantz Plumbing Women’s Longest Drive: Renee Carvan, DPR Putting: Cody Dudley, Oracle

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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He knows they’ve been good!

eckett Electrical Services LLC’s team is on Safety Santa’s “good” list, so a special visit was paid and gifts were delivered to the hard-working, conscientious members!

The company ensures no one ends up on the “naughty” list when it comes to safety. In addition to its partnership with

OSHA, the company is NFPA-70E-compliant and maintains daily, site specific Safety Analysis on every project. All field employees wear the appropriate safety gear, attend a weekly safety meeting and also hold a minimum 10-hour OSHA certification. –mjm

Safety Santa paid a visit to the good boys and girls at Beckett Electrical Services LLC. Concentration is the name of the game.

Golf Pro Jonathan

ABC’s Emerging Leaders Group (ELG) team

Safety Santa distributed gifts to the Beckett Electrical Services LLC team.

The Resource Guide Truck & Equip Dealers

Service Providers

Subcontractors

Suppliers

List your Company for Reference For Info, Contact: Buddy Doebbler Buddy@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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ACCOUNTING

BONDING

New Lease Accounting Rules: What They Are and How they Affect Contractors

What is Work-in-Progress Report and Why is it so Important for a Construction Contractor?

Michael Z. Moore, CPA, CCIFP Ridout, Barrett & Co., P.C. San Antonio/Austin, TX

Eric Schmalz, Principal Schmalz & Associates Surety Bonding Liberty Hill, TX

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he construction industry is an asset-intensive industry with prevalent and routine leasing activities that are recorded as either a capital or operating lease under the existing lease accounting rules. Under current guidance, if your leases do not qualify as capital leases, they are considered operating leases and the monthly payments are recorded as rent expense. The core principle of the new lease accounting standard is that any leases that are over twelve months in duration will need to be presented on the company’s balance sheet as a rightof-use (ROU) asset and a lease liability, either as a finance or operating lease.

The finance lease liability under the new standard is treated similarly to the capital lease liability under the old standard, but it is the change in treatment of the operating leases that the construction industry should be concerned about.

The addition of the operating lease liabilities on the balance sheet could seriously affect the company’s working capital, bonding capacity and debt covenants.

Working capital (current assets less current liabilities) shows a contractor’s ability to service upcoming obligations and is one of the most critical components of the financial statements, and is a major factor in the determination of the contractor’s bonding capacity. Under the new leasing standard working capital will decrease as the next twelve-month’s worth of operating lease payments are added to current liabilities, and the leased asset will be added to noncurrent assets.

Bank loans that require you to maintain certain financial ratios could be negatively impacted by the new lease standard as well. For example, a maximum debt to equity ratio could pass under the old standards, but fail after the operating leases are added to the balance sheet as liabilities.

The new lease standard originally issued in 2016 was set to be effective for the 2021 calendar year for private and notfor profit companies, but in June of 2020, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that provided an effective date deferral to the 2022 calendar year for private companies that have not yet issued their financial statements reflecting the adoption of the guidance. The deferral was intended to provide near-term relief for entities for whom the lease adoption was imminent. The accounting standard update pushes the new standard’s effective date back a year to 2022 giving private companies another year to analyze their leasing activities and to adopt the new guidance in their financial statements.

The FASB issued the new standard in an effort to improve lease accounting by providing a more faithful representation of a lessee’s rights and obligations arising from leases; by providing fewer opportunities for organizations to structure leasing transactions to achieve a particular outcome on the balance sheet; by improving understanding and comparability of lessee’s financial statements; and by providing users of financial statements with additional information about lessors’ leasing activities and lessors’ exposure to credit and asset risk as a result of leasing.

If your company has not adopted and made the transition to the new lease accounting standard than I suggest you contact your CPA as soon as possible for help analyzing your leases against the new lease standard and the affect it will have on your balance sheet and financial statements as a whole. Your CPA will also be able to help explain the changes and their affects to the users of the financial statements such as your bonding agent and banker. At first glance, adoption of the new lease standard seems relatively straightforward but as many public companies (who already adopted the standard) can attest, adopting the new lease standard can be quite complex and time-consuming, with many important nuances that can affect the amounts initially recorded. I recommend you start having conversations with your bonding agent and banker as soon as possible to see how they are addressing the change in the lease accounting standards and its affect on their internal processes and calculations, and to express your concern on how the new lease standard could potentially affect your bonding capacity and bank covenants even though you have not made any major changes to your operations. Early communication with these parties is key to make sure everyone is on the same page and to eliminate any potential surprises when you issue your year-end financial statements that reflect the adoption of the new lease standards.

Michael Moore, CPA, CCIFP has more than 12 years of experience in public accounting specifically servicing the construction industry across Texas and holds the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional(CCIFP) designation from the Construction Financial Managers Association(CFMA). Michael joined Ridout, Barrett & Co., P.C. in 2015 and became a partner with the firm in January 2020. Ridout, Barrett & Co., P.C. has been providing professional accounting, tax and business advisory services to the South and Central Texas construction industry for over 34 years.

Visit www.ridoutbarrett.com for additional information about Ridout, Barrett & Co., P.C. and the services we offer.

f you are a construction contractor engaging in projects with duration over 12-months, I would highly recommend discussing the merits of using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting with your CPA. Percentage of completion is considered the most accurate method for matching the revenue created through billings and the costs created by work performed. The foundation of this method of accounting is the comparison of total job cost versus cost to date as the project progresses. And we see this information presented on work-in-progress reporting.

Evaluating your cost incurred against your total cost estimate on a regular basis through the life of a project can be a powerful management tool. These reports allow owners, estimators, and project managers to periodically assess progress and profitability and attempt to stay out in front of problems.

Even if you don’t view work-in-progress reports as important, I can promise you that your bonding and banking companies do! A bond underwriter is taught to track profits by project for any deterioration or fade. It is likely that your banking and bonding will require interim financial reports including work-in-progress schedules. They will want to track your progress and remain confident the management of the construction company is periodically appraising project performance and updating cost estimates.

Below I will lay out the key elements that form the work-in-progress reports and, ultimately, your percentage of completion financial reports:

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Total Contract Price.

Pretty straight-forward, your total contract value will include all direct cost, profit and overhead on a project.

2. Estimated Total Cost. This will include every dollar of direct labor and material expense it will take to complete the project. By adding your total estimated cost and estimated profit together we have our total contract price.

3. Cost to Date. Running total of costs incurred to date on your project.

4. Billed to Date. Running total of the amount billed to date on your project.

Using these four project values, we can compute the various measures of a project in progress listed below and gain some insight into the accuracy of our estimates and management of project cash flow.

Percent Complete. Calculated by dividing Total Cost by Cost to Date. A good gauge of overall progress.

Profit Earned to Date. Calculated by applying your percent complete against total profit. So, if you have incurred 50% of total estimated cost, you have thereby ‘earned’ 50% of your total estimated profit.

Revenues Earned to Date. Your Cost incurred to Date + Profit earned to Date = revenue earned to date. This is important as we consider what you have earned against what you’ve actually billed.

Billings-In-Excess of Earned Revenues. Also known as “over-billings”, occur when Billings to Date exceed Earned Revenues to Date. Over-billings also show up on your balance sheet as a liability entry as it is technically not earned. Many bond companies view projects in a modest over-billed state to be healthy as the contractor has the potential to extract additional unearned cash flow from an owner or G.C.

Earned Revenue in Excess of Billings. Also known as “under-billings”, occur when Earned Revenues to Date exceed Billings to Date. As with Over-billings, the Under-billings also appear as a balance sheet entry, on the asset side as you’ve incurred cost for which you haven’t billed. While under-billing may technically improve your working capital calculation as an asset for accounting purposes, your bond company may view systemic under-billings as evidence of poor billing practices and cash-flow management. Under-billings create an opportunity for an owner or G.C. to benefit from you “financing” the work you’ve performed!

I know this is boring stuff when you’re a construction contractor used to building and action! But there is real value in reviewing project costs monthly and producing a work-in-progress report as part of your quarterly financial package.

Schmalz & Associates is an agency exclusively supporting contractors bonding needs. Eric Schmalz was an underwriter and manager for over 15 years working for Top 10 surety companies and now helps his contractor clients establish and maximize their bonding. Please call 512-640-6444, email eric@schmalzsurety. com or visit the website at www.schmalzsurety.com

We’d love to help!

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

OSHA

LEGAL Know Your Rights: Limitations and the Discovery Rule

Construction Cranes and Qualified Riggers Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

James Richards, Attornet at Law Cokinos | Young PC Austin, San Antonio, DFW, Houston,TX

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very construction professional should know two key legal deadlines: 1) the statute of limitations and 2) the statute of repose.

The statute of limitations is a law that prevents the initiation of a lawsuit after a certain period of time has passed. While different causes of action are subject to different limitations periods, the period of time is generally between one and four years. The statute of limitations begins to accrue on the date the injury occurred. For example, if the claim involved allegations of defective construction, the limitations period would begin to accrue on the date the defective work occurred. Importantly, however, a legal principal known as the discovery rule can extend the initiation of the limitations period to the date the injury or condition is discovered.

On the other hand, the statute of repose is the outer-most period of time one can bring a lawsuit, regardless of when the injury is discovered. For construction defect based disputes, this period of time is currently 10 years from substantial completion of a project (although legislation has been proposed in recent years to shorten this period of time). While substantial completion may be the date a certificate of occupancy is issued, this is not an absolute rule. Therefore, if a defective condition is discovered, even for the first time, 11 years after substantial completion, there will be few avenues that would justify a legal action.

Accordingly, owners, design professionals, and contractors must pay specific attention to when the injury was discovered as well as when substantial completion occurred in order to best protect their rights.

The most fact intensive issue in this process is often determining when the limitations period began to accrue. We th recently passed the 27 anniversary of a significant case regarding the limitations period for construction defect claims in Texas. In Bayou Bend Towers Council of CoOwners v. Manhattan Construction Co., 866 S.W.2d 740 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, writ denied) the Court held that even if the cause of a leak was not known, the limitations period begins to accrue at the time the nature of the injury

should have been discovered through the use of reasonable diligence.

Bayou Bend Towers is a condominium regime in Houston, Texas that was substantially completed in 1981. The co-owners of the condominium were aware of leaks as early as 1982 and retained experts to detect the source of the leaks and repair them. Although the co-owners claim they did not discover the cause of the leaks until 1990, the Court held that they had been on notice since the discovery of the actual leak, not the cause of the leak. At the point of discovery of the injury (in this case the leaks), the discovery rule imposes a duty to exercise reasonable diligence and undertake further inquiry to discover the extent and nature of the injury. It is irrelevant if corporate officers change and later learn of the injury.

Although certain defenses and the type of project (public vs. private) can alter the limitations timeline, the Bayou Bend case continues to highlight the importance of closely examining at what date the injury occurred for purposes of calculating the limitations period. Therefore, at the outset of any legal matter, it is important to complete the following check-list to best protect your rights:

• When was the project substantially complete?

• When was the alleged injury (condition) discovered?

• Is there a way the claimant should have been on notice of the injury (condition) prior to the date they alleged it was discovered?

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hen is a qualified rigger required?

Employers must use qualified riggers during hoisting activities for assembly and disassembly work (1926.1404(r)(1)). Additionally, qualified riggers are required whenever workers are within the fall zone and hooking, unhooking, or guiding a load, or doing the initial connection of a load to a component or structure (1926.1425(c)).

Who can be a qualified rigger?

A qualified rigger is a rigger who meets the criteria for a qualified person.

Employers must determine whether a person is qualified to perform specific rigging tasks. Each qualified rigger may have different credentials or experience.

A qualified rigger is a person that:

• possesses a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or

• has extensive knowledge, training, and experience, and • can successfully demonstrate the ability to solve problems related to rigging loads.

The person designated as the qualified rigger must have the ability to properly rig the load for a particular job. It does not mean that a rigger must be qualified to do every type of rigging job.

Each load that requires rigging has unique properties that can range from the simple to the complex. For example, a rigger may have extensive experience in rigging structural components and other equipment to support specific construction activities. Such experience may

have been gained over many years. However, this experience does not automatically qualify the rigger to rig unstable, unusually heavy, or eccentric loads that may require a tandem lift, multiple-lifts, or use of custom rigging equipment. In essence, employers must make sure the person can do the rigging work needed for the exact types of loads and lifts for a particular job with the equipment and rigging that will be used for that job.

Do qualified riggers have to be trained or certified by an accredited organization or assessed by a third party?

No. Riggers do not have to be certified by an accredited organization or assessed by a third party. Employers may choose to use a third party entity to assess the qualifications of the rigger candidate, but they are not required to do so.

Does a certified operator also meet the requirements of a qualified rigger?

A certified operator does not necessarily meet the requirements of a qualified rigger. Determining whether a person is a qualified rigger is based on the nature of the load, lift, and equipment used to hoist that load plus that person’s knowledge and experience. A certified/qualified operator may meet the requirements of a qualified rigger, depending on the operator’s knowledge and experience with rigging. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

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While the above list is only part of a good legal strategy, it involves a series of questions every construction professional should know. Timing is everything in construction, both during and after a project.

James Richards is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and regularly represents contractors, owners, individuals, and related professionals throughout the State of Texas. James is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with Highest Honors (summa cum laude) and SMU Dedman School of Law, cum laude.

Happy New Year!

Blue Label Granite LLC Co-Owner Rebecca Roque celebrated her first day as a 30-year-old at the company’s Buda office, which was decorated for her special day. – mjm

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Page 9

t Photos

Trevor Boatright and Brandon Dewbre teamed up on a pair of Chaparrosa Ranch studs. Both deer scored 156” and were killed in December with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Ready, Set, Go - 2021

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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or the last several months I’ve been staying busy guiding deer hunts on the Chaparrosa Ranch. It’s been a blessing and a well-deserved break from being on the water for almost nine months straight. I must say it’s a great place to social distance from the everyday world. The only downside is being away from my wife and kids, but they get to come visit and hunt when I get a break from clients. Our hunting season will be rapping up by the time you are reading this column and I will be gearing up for the 2021 fishing season.

I’m really looking forward to another banner year on the water. As most of you know, last season’s fishing stayed strong throughout the entire year. I really don’t see why it won’t be the same again this year. As of now we have had a warmer winter than normal. This should get the fish moving in late February and early March just like last year. Barring a hard freeze with temperatures staying in the 30s and low 40s for an extended time, we should be in store for another banner year.

For you hard-core anglers, January and February are the months to key on large sow trout. Wade fishing trips usually are more advantageous then fishing out of the boat. We will be keying on shorelines and rock structures in the Baffin Bay Complex. Those of you who would rather stay in the boat can still be successful drifting over deep rock structures not accessible to waders. Typically, we begin our day throwing soft plastics or suspending

lures when wading. If we are fishing out of the boat, soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork usually is the technique for best success. The key to having a successful day is being able to read the water around you and have confidence in your ability to catch fish.

I’m excited to announce that this month I will be taking delivery of a 2021 Shoalwater 23-ft cat. This is the ultimate saltwater fishing machine that will get you in the shallowest of bays where the trophies live. The new Mercury 300HP outboard will be the power behind this rig. These engines have made a bold statement in the outboard industry and I’m excited to be a part of their Pro-Staff.

My 2021 fishing calendar is open, and I have already started to book trips for the upcoming year. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail me at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @ Steve_Schultz_Outdoors.

Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Page 10

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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

Happy Better New Year!

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e have finally cleared 2020. That year was a high hurdle to jump.

We experienced so many unexpected trials last year that we could never have anticipated! To be fair though, we got to see some amazing things like the birth of another grandbaby and the development of the Covid-19 vaccines, and more ways to fight it.

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty excited and hopeful for the new year. Just the notion that we can slowly start getting back to normal in the coming months has me feeling optimistic. I sure hope 2021 lives up to my expectations!

Expectations have a lot to do with fishing you know. We sure have been seeing some folks come fishing with some funny expectations lately. I wonder if it is because these last several months people have had more time to follow all kinds of fishing and hunting shows and podcasts and such on social media. There sure is a lot of them to choose from now too. They can be pretty entertaining.

Now for the reality check. If you have ever tried out a new recipe for biscuits like your Granny’s or a new way to barbeque a brisket or maybe a video for how to replace your headlights, then you know how much difference there is between what you see and what you get! The creator of a video can’t know your oven is 15 degrees off and that’s not what Granny’s biscuits tasted like, or you don’t have all the tools called for in the repair video; and the barbeque, well good luck with that one! I think barbeque must have a certain measure of love and luck to come out just right.

The same goes for fishing shows and such. You can learn some things from watching fishing experts in lots of places.

Just try to remember it is just a show.

Over my forty-year fishing career, I have been the focus of some of these shows.

What you must remember is that you get the most action per second of footage, if

it is heavily edited so you only see the very best moments of what might have been a day or two of shooting. I’m amazed at how many people come on a guided fishing trip expecting it to be four hours of that kind of canned action!

To get the most out of a fishing trip, guided or on your own, do yourself a favor. Leave the expectations at home. Approach every trip with an open mind and open eyes and ears. Just be there and experience what the day brings. No two guides are alike, nor are their boats or the body of water you are fishing. The weather is never the same and always keeps you guessing, and the fish have a big say in the whole process too. We can only give it our best effort and do what we can with what we get.

That’s my philosophy anyway. I only hope I can follow my own advice about my expectations for 2021!

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Page 11

Family fishing

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exas Solar’s Wade Turner and his daughter Jordan enjoyed some family time fishing in Rockport, TX. Their poles were kept plenty busy; the duo caught numerous red snapper and a shark that Turner said was “delicious, but not as delicious as the red snapper!” –mjm

Wade Turner and his daughter Jordan spent some family time together fishing in Rockport, TX.

Turner and his daughter Jordan caught their share of red snapper.

Baby shark do-do-do-do-do

Horsing around

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lthough GSC Architects’ HR Director and Comptroller Barbara Bucher spends her weekdays in a desk chair, in her free time you’re likely to see her in a saddle. As President of Seguinbased riding group Alamo Kountry Kickers Inc., she can be spotted on horseback rides mostly in and around New Braunfels.

Bucher and Greg Bennett, Alamo Kountry Kickers’ Captain of Scouts, delight in their herd of 10 Palaminto

Paint horses: Letty (15), 005 (13), Freckles (11), Playboy (9), Sweet Pea (3), Arabella (2) Roscoe (1.5), Slick (1.5, Moonshine (8 months) and Clinch (8 months). Each horse, of course, comes with its own temperament and personality.

“Letty, 005 and Freckles are all of our Momma mares.

Letty and 005 compete for top b****. Freckles is Clinch’s momma and is our Eeyore; she’ll get where you want her to go but she’ll do it in her own time,” Bucher says.

“Playboy is the sweetest, gentlest stallion you will ever

meet. Sweet Pea is just the right amount of sassy and sweet. Arabella loves attention and wants it to be all about her. Roscoe is calm and mellow. Slick is stubborn and learns the hard way. Moonshine has a bit of an attitude and Clinch is still a Momma’s boy, but he is our baby. Letty is currently pregnant and due late spring.”

Austin-based GSC is an architecture and interior design firm. –mjm

The herd enjoys a lazy, grazy day L-R: Sweet Pea, Slick, and Moonshine

This team’s a hit!

Sweet, gentle Playboy

S. Watts Group enjoys teaming up, both in the office and on the softball field!

This year, the Austin commercial general contractor formed a softball team, and had a ball bonding and competing. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Thanks for all they do

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lenty of food and fun for everyone! Elliott Electric Supply in Austin created a moment among a busy holiday season to treat their employees in thanks for the many ways they help their customers. The Austin office is just one of the full-service electric supply distributor’s 155 locations. –mjm

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Awards in the Air

G Drywall celebrated their successes in 2020 with an awards ceremony and annual Christmas party! Held Dec. 12 at Cedar Park’s Urban Air Adventure Park, the company thanked their team for all of their hard work during the year.

Several awards were given at the event. Noe Mondragon and Miguel Perez won the Leadman/Mechanic Award, while the Game Changer Award went to Aurelio Limas. Juan Ruiz earned Foreman of the Year and Stephen Rodriguez was named Newcomer of the Year. The GC of the Year went to Turner Construction, and L+W Supply won the Supplier of the Year Award. Carlos Torres nabbed The Leadership Award while Carlos Rivera and Uriel Martinez teamed up to take home the Work-Horse Award. And last, but by no means least, Hays County Jail + Eastlake @ Tillery was crowned the 3G Project of the Year. –mjm

Foreman of the Year – Juan Ruiz

Game Changer Award – Aurelio Limas (center)

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Page 13

Association Calendar

What are you planning to do different in 2021?

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors

Jan. 11: OSHA 30 Spanish, ABC Office, 2600 Longhorn Blvd., 8am-4:30pm. For info, call Jodi Bunyard at 512-719-5263 or email jbunyard@abccentraltexas.org AGC Associated General Contractors

Jan. 20-22: UTA-ETI – Introduction to Water and Wastewater Regulations, 8am5-m.

Jan. 26-29: UTA OSHA #510, 8am-5pm.

For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512-442-7887 ASCE

American Society of Civil Engineers Texas Section

Jan. 12: January Technical Webinar: Challenges and the Future of Construction Materials in Civil Engineering Projects, 121pm, $25 Member, $75 Non-member, $15 Government, Students Free. For more info, go to www.texasasce.org.

1pm. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at 512-255-6373 NARI National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Jan. 13: Forecast Meeting, Zilker Lodge Sunshine Camp, 2225 Andrew Zilker Rd., 11:30am-1pm, $30 Members, $45 Non-Members.

Jan. 21: Prop to Pro Virtual Meeting, 11am-12pm.

For more info, Kayvon Leath at 512-9976274 or email kayvon@austinnari.org SEAot

Structural Engineers Association of Texas

Jan. 28: Virtual Chapter Meeting via Gotowebinar. For more info, call 512-301-2744 TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Jan. 13: TSPE Travis Online Luncheon, $10. For more info, go to www.tspetravischapter.org

CLC Construction Leadership Council

Jan. 27: CLC Happy Hour. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512-442-7887 CTSA

Central Texas Subcontractors Association

Jan. 12: Lunch Membership Meeting, Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Round Rock, TX. 11:30am-

Angel army

I would say enjoy more family time, have more fun with them on random days, not just holidays. For instance, we had a family day yesterday; we took my nieces to the movie and enjoyed spending time with them. Little moments like that stay in your heart and in your family’s hearts. I would like to capture more of those moments.

Isabel Rodriguez, US Lumber Brokers Professionally, our focus is to improve our communication with customers. I think everybody takes that for granted. For a lot of the phone calls we, as owners, get, the root cause is always lack of communication.

It’s not that there was miscommunication, it’s that the information wasn’t communicated. I think people sometimes assume that everyone knows the plan and what is going to happen, but in reality, they don’t.

Improved communication is our main focus and we’re trying to add some additional training for our field superintendents and foremen for safety, and time management, critical decision making and organization.

Mike Irwin, S I Mechanical I plan in 2021 to devote more energy to the success of folks around me than I have been. This pandemic has taught me that we really are all in this together. I’m going to work for the benefit of those around me a little bit more than I did in 2020.

Wade Turner, Texas Solar On the professional side, I will encourage myself to spend time continuing to learn more about my craft and my industry.

Sometimes I get too bottled up into the day-to-day, and normally I book myself out to five days a week. I’m out in the community, and I love to network, but I am going to scale back a bit both personally and professionally. I’m definitely going to get healthier

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in all of the senses of that word. And I want to spend quality time with friends and family just as soon as it’s safe to do so. I want to spend more time with my parents; they’re still healthy. COVID taught us a lot of things. It made us slow down whether we wanted to or not. I think what I want to do differently next year is just be better. I want to be a better me.

Diane Kerlin, Austin Energy First of all, we’re going to offer more contact with our customers. We’re going to offer visual bids and Facetime bidding. We’re fully expanding with a lot more crews and a lot more people. On top of that, we’re going to have more availability. We are going to be available seven days a week to come out and give a bid on any day that works for the customer.

Robert Sanchez, Austin Built Construction Personally, I might be getting a house this year. All of the home improvement projects and stuff to do with that should be fun.

Brian Bateman, CEC Facilities Group My main 2021 goals, professionally, are to help roofers navigate the commercial roof restoration industry, helping to establish the processes and strategies they need to implement. Additionally, I want to expand my business venture, Roofers Going Digital, a unique agency that helps roofers establish their brands forming a digital presence.

We work to incorporate marketing strategies with premium content in order to develop organic growth and leads. Personally, I plan to continue to work on my professional and personal development, and I plan to take courses.

Francisco Serrano, Instacoat Premium Products

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

McCorvey Companies and Way Mechanical is pleased to announce the promotion of key members in its Austin office.

K Friese + Associates in Austin continued its tradition of volunteering at the Salvation Army Angel Tree gift distribution event, which was held as a drive-thru this year. –mjm

Equipped to serve

ASCO Equipment, Longhorn Rentals Buda, HCLI Rentals, Rock N Dirt, and Top Gun Rentals in Central Texas teamed up to assemble 200 meal boxes for families in need.

The meal boxes were distributed Dec. 19 in Hays County. –mjm

McCorvey Companies and Way Mechanical announce the appointment of Chris Schwarz, Vice President – General Manager of the Way Mechanical Austin office. Schwarz joined the Way team in early January in the corporate office in Houston as Director of Preconstruction. –mjm

McCorvey Companies and Way Mechanical are proud to announce the appointment of Richard Zink as Operations Manager of the Way Mechanical Austin office. Zink joined the Way team as a Project Executive last March at the company’s corporate office in Houston. –mjm

Raul Garcia was promoted to Associate Principal in Method Architecture’s Austin office. Garcia leads the firm’s public and K-12 team and oversees the Central Texas region ground-up and tenant interior projects. Garcia brings to his new role over 20 years of experience designing and managing architectural projects, with a focus on public and education projects. –mjm

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) announces that Lisa Lattu PE has joined the firm as a senior project manager. Lattu will be responsible for providing project management and growing LAN’s water resources and planning services. Lattu brings 15 years of experience as a managing engineer at Houston Public Works, and 24 years of experience as a water management professional to her role. –mjm

One Source Commercial Flooring LLC announced the appointment of Dan Rudkin to General Manager of its newest location in Round Rock. Rudkin, a 30-year flooring industry veteran, joined One Source in 2015. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of the greater Austin location’s sales and operations serving general contractors and facility owners in the Central Texas markets. –mjm

Ken Smith, Senior Vice President of Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc., has been named the leader of its Central Texas Business Unit. Headquartered in San Antonio, the Unit also serves clients in the Austin market and South and Central Texas.

–mjm

Page 14

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

New Lawrence Group leader

continued from Page 1 — S I Mechanical

S I Mechanical’s new fabrications shop and office space offers more room to work.

I. Earl Swisher, who founded Lawrence Group’s Austin practice, is passing the baton

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to the office’s new managing principal, Luma Jaffar.

awrence Group’s Austin office is beginning 2021 with new leadership. Luma Jaffar AIA RIBA LEED AP BD+C has joined as the Austin office as managing principal.

Luma took over the reigns in December from managing principal I. Earl Swisher AIA NCARB, who founded the firm’s Austin practice in 1999. Swisher has enjoyed 22 years with the Lawrence Group and 42 years in his profession.

Jaffar and Swisher will continue to work closely through mid-year to ensure clients, partners and staff experience a smooth transition.

Jaffar brings 25 years of experience to her new role. She most recently served as managing partner and director of architecture for KGA Architecture’s Austin office. Prior to that, she was a Senior Project Architect/Manager at Aguirre Corporation for six years, and a Project Manager at R. Gill and Associates.

Jaffar’s expertise includes municipal, healthcare, hospitality, education work-

place and housing design. Her combination of operational skills and design skills help position the Austin office for growth. She will focus on client relationships cultivating design services, developing and implementing strategic plans and promoting organizational success.

“I am looking forward to a new chapter in my career with Lawrence Group, and I am very excited for the opportunities we have ahead of us. With the change in leadership, we have the opportunity to build on previous successes and also grow into many other markets that fit our extensive expertise.

My focus will be to deliver exceptional design experience, provide high quality professional services to our clients, and provide a positive and encouraging working environment for our talented team to help them succeed and grow.”

Located in Austin, Charlotte, New York and St. Louis, Lawrence Group is one of the nation’s largest building design, development, and project delivery firms. –mjm

Cool day cold ones

L-R: Cool Roof Concepts President Daniel Lakstins enjoys a cold one and catches up on the latest with Instacoat Premium Products’ Marketing Director Francisco Serrano. –mjm

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In memoriam…

ark Howard Peabody Contractors Inc. (PGC). a.k.a. “Honey,” beloved PGC did a lot of work for husband, father, son, broThe City of Austin, The Unither, uncle, grandfather versity of Texas and jobs all and dear friend to many, over Texas. died from complications Mark lived for his time of ALS on Nov. 27. with family most of all.

Mark was born on He loved music, fishing, Dec. 27, 1952 in Tucson, AZ Words with Friends and to Howard Peabody and chores of any kind, but Joan Lyon. On May 11, 1974 especially those related to he married the love of his Mark Howard Peabody, trash removal. He was fiercePeabody General life, Shelley, and recently ly loved by all and will be Contactors Inc. celebrated 46 years of deeply missed. marriage. Theirs was a union revered No services are planned at this and admired by all who knew them. time. The family is planning a celebra At the age of 25, Mark started his tion of life when it is safe to do so. own company in Buffalo, WY, Mark’s In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family Masonry, capitalizing on the stone and requests that you please consider a brickwork talent he developed as a donation to alstexas.org in Mark’s teenager. In 1982 Mark, Shelley and name. ALS is a terminal disease with their three children settled in Dripping no cure and any amount would be Springs and for nearly 37 years, Mark greatly appreciated. -cmw and Shelley ran Peabody General

building on his property and we officed out of it for a year and a half. We bought two half-acre lots near downtown Buda, with one of the acre tracts already having a building on it, which is our current office location. We also lease a metal building that is further down on South Loop 4, still in Buda, and that’s where we have our fabrication shop. We bought this four-acre tract in Creedmoor three years ago as an investment property, and we were going to build some warehouse office buildings on it to lease out as an investment. When we realized we needed a bigger building, we really struggled to find something; everything was either too big or too small.

We wanted to stay south in the Buda/Kyle area. That’s when we realized that we had this piece of property that is almost paid off, so why not just change the plans? We already had development and civil plans done for lease spaces, so we went back to the drawing board, redesigned everything for the office and fabrication facility over there, putting everything under one roof.”

S I implemented a system in their ductwork which uses UV and ionization to fight viruses like COVID-19, which reassures the staff. Employees are also excited to have more space to work. The partners ensured the new facility had

extra room to accommodate 10 years’ growth, having underestimated that need in their current facility.

“We laid everything out so we wouldn’t run out of room anytime soon.

We put all of the managers around the perimeter with offices and put superintendents and draftsmen in the center.

Upstairs and down, we have a conference room and break room, and several bathrooms. The fab shop will also have a two-story office area – 1200 sf each – downstairs and upstairs. The sheet metal fabrication superintendent and piping fabrication superintendent will both office on the second floor, with office windows that look out over the second floor throughout the shop, and a training room downstairs,” Irwin says.

After the move, the partners hope to show off the new space with an open house, but understand the celebration may have to wait.

“We kind of want to see how things play out,” Irwin says. “We want to have everything moved over prior, but we would definitely like to have it.”

S I Mechanical is a mechanical contractor offering HVAC and plumbing services. – mjm

continued from Page 1 — Austin Energy heights and engaging in hands-on work may seem appealing, the climbing school is not for everyone, and potential applicants should carefully consider if they are right for this line of work. Men and women who apply should enjoy working outdoors, be physically fit enough to carry and lift up to 50lbs. and be able to think quickly. Also needed are a high school diploma, math skills, and computer experience and effective communication skills. A Texas commercial driver license – or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of employment – is needed as well. One of the most important requirements, however, is how an applicant feels about confined spaces and especially heights, since they will be required to climb safely up to 100 ft.

“Apprentices that have an unknown fear of heights usually resign when they discover they cannot work from heights,” Ptomey says. “Applicants who discover a fear of heights are encouraged to look for other employment opportunities within

the City of Austin at austincityjobs.com.”

The program usually has 20 to 40 applicants twice a year for 16 spots a year.

Due to COVID-19, only six graduated this year. The program is normally structured with lessons taught in a classroom, however, due to the pandemic, a lab was set up that allowed social distancing of at least six feet between students. Masks were also worn during instruction and, while challenging, the students and instructors overcame the inconvenience.

“Applicants selected for our onsite orientation and interview day have the opportunity to learn about the program and if selected are hired to gain on-thejob experience prior to attending our climbing school,” Human Resources Advisor Senior Diane Kerlin says. “Interested applicants can send their resumes to diane.kerlin@austinenergy.com.”

Austin Energy is the third largest cityowned electric utility and seventh largest public power, which includes utilities not owned by local government. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Austin Built Construction Guthrie, custom deck builder and Owner/ Operator of Big Decks and More, and Glen Burchers of Rock House Design.

“For the new year, we’re going to be joining forces to build for the good people of the Austin area as many awesome projects as possible,” Sanchez says. “We are looking forward to expanding, getting a new building and having more crews on

the job for the new year. I care for my clients as if they were family and I will ensure any job that Austin Built acquires will be done with the upmost integrity, professionalism and there will always be guaranteed satisfaction.”

Austin Built Construction in Round Rock offers built deck areas, cabinet painting and remodeling. –mjm

Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

Page 15

Santa’s helpers

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anta’s helpers were in full force this holiday season. Despite the difficult year the world embraced, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) was determined not to let it affect the innocent at heart. Keeping the spirit of giving alive, CLC hosted Operation Blue & Brown Santa Nov. 6 thru Dec. 4. The toy collection campaign was a true success as evident in the photos provided by CLC members. -cmw

L-R: Dominique Revada, Laura Malek and Robert Havins, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, collect toys at the Bartlett Cocke office.

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Roby Bennett, Jay-Reese Contractors Inc. donates toys for Operation Blue & Brown Santa.

Delivering gifts and smiles

espite COVID, the Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Association (ACEA) delivered gifts to the children at the Mainspring Schools in Austin. This is ACEA’s 20th year bringing smiles to youngster with an opportunity to see Santa. The non-profit preschool caters to kids ages 0-5, providing them with high-quality early education, nutrition, and family services. Many of these children are in foster care or come from a low-income family. ACEA members provided two gifts to the 76 children and their teachers, one they can open at school with Santa and one they get to take home with them. Each year, ACEA members quickly sign up to sponsor the children and this year was no exception.

In recent years, the program has expanded to include the teachers who fill their wish lists with general classroom supplies. The children look forward to visiting with Santa (a.k.a. Frank Del Castillo with Ashton Woods) and enjoy getting to spend one-on-one time with him. Although this year presented some challenges, the weather cooperated, and the presents were handed out outside. Santa and his helpers all had negative tests and wore facemasks or a face shield to ensure everyone’s safety. -cmw

Happy New Year Austin!

Dropping off, doing good

L-R: US Lumber Brokers’ Mario Balderas, Michael Mender, and Luke Wheeler dropped off a generous load of materials at Habitat for Humanity. It was part of $40,000 in building materials owner Benjamin Baker donated to the organization. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

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CONSTRUCTION • E • C •EQUIPMENT T

YMCA Moody Natatorium

Electrical installation in YMCA Moody Natatorium required 360 Electrical Contractors’ expertise.

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MCA Camp Moody, just south of Austin, is set on 85 acres of breathtaking natural wonder, complete with scenic limestone bluffs overlooking Onion Creek. However, a new man-made wonder on the land is also sure to impress visitors.

YMCA Moody Natatorium is the first structure to be built on the multi-use site, and its purpose is two-fold: Not only is the state-of-the-art facility a beautiful environment in which campers can practice their backstrokes, it inspires donors to consider investing in the property’s ongoing development.

The natatorium’s centerpiece – the large pool enclosure including support areas east and west of the centered pool – called for skilled electrical installation. 360 Electrical Contractors Inc. was relied on by JE Dunn to perform installation in the freestanding, pre-engineered structure.

The 360 team faced challenges from the project’s start. One was planning the

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ogers-O’Brien Construction‘s expertise transformed five city blocks of east downtown Austin into Saltillo, an exciting new development merging dining, shopping, music and entertainment. The community and Capital Metro collaborated for more than 20 years to revitalize this property and increase rail and bus ridership. With the skill of RO’s team, they were able to achieve this milestone.

Encompassing over one million square feet, Saltillo includes 115,000 sf of retail and restaurant space, 150,000 sf of office space, four below- and aboveground parking garages, 1.4 acres of open spaces, and public art. Two blocks are dedicated to residential space, with A-frame roofs lending a townhome feel to the units. Featuring one of the region’s most diverse mobility infrastructure programs, the district includes the MetroRail station, as well as pedestrian paseos, an extension of San Marcos Street, electric vehicle stations, reserved Car2Go spaces, a B-Cycle station and an extension of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway extending to and beyond Zilker Park.

The RO team expertly navigated several challenges on the project. From the start, the preconstruction team closely collaborated with the owner and architect on different concepts to secure the City of Austin’s approval. Many redesigns were needed before the city signed off on the overall project plan.

When the original tenant changed, the design did as well, with RO having to decide how to execute and build the new conceptual design that had been delivered to them.

All details of lighting installation above the 251,052-gallon pool had to be finalized before the pool was filled with water.

The YMCA Moody Natatorium is the first structure built on the 85-acre site. Its centered pool is flanked east and west by support areas.

installation around the pool and its related overhead enclosing structure. The potential for long-term erosion of the electrical installation within the enclosure was also a concern. All details concerning the lighting installation above the 251,052-gallon pool needed to be finalized before filling the pool with water. Obstacles unique to the time and place were present as well: COVID-19 posed a threat to the supply chain and a thriving rattlesnake population called this particular site home. Thanks to 360 Electrical Contractors Inc.’s organization and communication skills, however, all concerns were efficiently resolved.

To ensure a safe and smooth installation, the 360 staff extensively planned and coordinated with Structures Unlimited Inc. (SUI), the nationwide provider and installer of the structure. Before erection work began, all parties participated in several planning and coordination meetings. The entire time the SUI team was

erecting the structure, the 360 staff was onsite as well, even during weekends.

During 360’s coordination with SUI, it was determined that all conduit/wiring within the aluminum structural members could be pre-installed while they were staged on the ground prior to erection.

Holes were drilled in the structural members aligning with the light fixtures’ mounting locations. Preplanning minimized labor time to work at the pool structure’s upper level on scissor lifts. When the time came, 360’s upper structure work consisted only of mounting and connecting the light fixtures, which exceeded 360’s initial expectations. For exit fixtures and receptacles that required routing conduit/wiring through both vertical and horizontal structural members, field staff and SUI staff worked together to ensure proper placement of 360’s work. continued on Page 18

Saltillo

Rogers-O’Brien Construction helped transform a former railyard into Saltillo, a five city block multi-use development merging dining, shopping, music and entertainment.

Before construction, site work included the removal of 45,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil (2,188 loads) due to an old freight train that had previously run through the property.

Updating the aging underground utilities systems while achieving permanent power also created challenges. The team worked with Austin Energy to find a solution, with heavy-duty generators brought in to power the office buildings in the meantime.

With the development encompassing

five blocks, the team strategically phased the construction. The original plan was to work from east to west, with construction starting at block four and ending at block one. Ultimately, the sequencing changed, forcing the design and the RO teams to overcome delays in drawings caused by the rearrangement.

With Fair Market directly positioned across the street and the area heavily trafficked by cars and pedestrians, RO minimized disruption and prioritized safety. The RO team also had to consider

their own safety; with the development’s south side bordering Capital Metro’s rail line, an entire side of access for construction was eliminated. The project team, new to working adjacent to a rail line, educated themselves about the federal guidelines to ensure adherence.

When digging began, the team hit bedrock, requiring further digging. The site’s close proximity to a river meant the hole’s bottom continued to fill with water.

A ditch was dug around the hole and high-end electric pumps were used to remove the water, which was sent to a filtration system to avoid polluting the surrounding environment.

Among RO’s scope of work, the RO team completed the interior finish-out of the eight-story glass office building’s main lobby. The general contractor also tied in the brand identity of two bigname tenants to block one’s overall design.

Key to RO’s success were time management and use of technology. Design changes early on meant the team worked on material procurement in real time to avoid schedule disruption. Also, building cushion time for material deliveries on a project this large required planning and foresight. To be ready to work once the materials arrived, the team removed soil and dug holes to prep the site for construction. Structural details on the perimeter walls were also changed to make construction more efficient. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and iPads utilized in the field allowed RO to immediately communicate with trade partners. Drones were also implemented to view site progress. continued on Page 18

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Wimberley, TX golf course

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olf course maintenance, especially in Texas, is not for the faint of heart. First, there is the unforgiving Texas heat, which can quickly parch a course without a generous watering schedule. In addition, high traffic from shoes, bags and carts can quickly tear up natural turf.

Legacy Turf & Greens/Celebrity Greens in Austin designs and installs synthetic PGA-caliber putting greens, golf greens and synthetic grass that significantly reduce golf course maintenance. Environmentally friendly (and friendly to golfers with allergies), the artificial greens require no watering, fertilizing, mowing or lawn maintenance. Extremely durable in high traffic areas, the synthetic grass stays clean and can also be used in apartment complexes, offices, playgrounds, schools, colleges, and other commercial areas.

Green year-round, the synthetic turf is great for all climates, especially withering Texas summers. Best of all (especially for golfers) the synthetic turf putts true and offers real grass performance.

Recently, Legacy Turf & Greens/ Celebrity Greens, which has experience with large-scale golf projects, designed and installed a 30,000sf synthetic golf green in Wimberley, TX. Using the most

synthetic greens on the market, the company transformed a hardscrabble plot of land into a lush-looking golfing oasis.

The Par3 consists of multiple tee boxes, fairway waste area, fairway sand bunker, a massive sand bunker at the back corner of the 4,0000sf green. The green has six cups and has every break from sliders, double breakers, uphill, downhill, and a flat area to sharpen any golfer’s game.

The Hill Country setting along with the natural landscape was retained in the build. A pavestone cart path runs along the fairway up to the front of the green complete with a low water crossing.

The creek that runs through the middle of the fairway has a continuous flow of water achieved by two pumps. LED lighting illuminates both catch pools, with fountains highlighting the area.

“I am very excited to have had the opportunity to build such a synthetic turf, one-of-a-kind masterpiece for such an amazing client!” Eddie Joseph, Owner of Legacy Turf & Greens, says.

“They are completely blown away by what we created and completed for them.” –mjm Before and after: Legacy Turf & Greens/Celebrity Greens transformed this parched plot of land into a golfing paradise using synthetic turf.

Legacy Turf & Greens/Celebrity Greens Austin, TX

Audie Murphy Memorial Veteran’s Hospital hospital continues to use these areas.

Due to the existing circumstances, the AirCO team had to work with, it required them to think outside of the box in finding solutions and scenarios to get the new HVAC equipment installed. One such solution was figuring out how to get two chilled water coils into the hospital and into their final resting place. These coils weigh 1,500 lbs. each and span over 12 ft. long. The AirCO team had to figure how to get them into the second floor and then up to the mechanical room that sits in the interstitial space above ceiling. The solution was partnering with a crane and rigging company to hoist the coils through a second-floor window and then lift the coils into the mechanical room with rigging equipment. This unit is now serving three operating rooms for the hospital.

It is in difficult situations and projects like this one,

Chilled water coils are hoisted to the second floor.

AirCO team members lift the chilled water coils into place.

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udie Murphy Memorial Veteran’s Hospital has been open since 1973, serving veterans for nearly half a century. With a hospital this old, many cannot imagine the challenges a 48-year-old hospital can bring to the project. This is yet another reason AiRCO Mechanical takes a lot of pride in doing such a difficult job that many would turn away from.

As AiRCO Mechanical’s branch in San Antonio has grown, opportunities to help improve the HVAC systems at Audie Murphy Memorial Veteran’s Hospital have not been passed up. AiRCO takes great pride in helping to make sure our veterans have a functional and operating hospital that can serve them as they served our country.

The overall project consists of changing out a total of 10 HVAC air handling units that serve three floors of the hospital. AiRCO Mechanical has already replaced two air handlers that serve multiple operating rooms. It is also AiRCO’s task to make sure the areas being affected are kept with temporary cooling and heating as the

that AirCO Mechanical relies on teamwork. Being able to do a construction project takes many to complete. Not just having your own team work together but having others work together is the formula to success. This is not just for the challenging projects but for any project.

AiRCO looks forward to making and maintaining many new relationships with contractors.

“Too often we get so immersed in our work and projects that we fail to sit back and appreciate the valuable service that we, as a construction company, provide to our greater communities. We must never forget that, in the end, AiRCO’s ultimate product, for any project, is the most valuable commodity a building contains throughout its life – comfort,” says Operations Manager Rob Huddleston.

AiRCO Mechanical is a mechanical contractor providing heating, cooling and energy solutions in Central Texas. -cmw Statue of honor outside the Audie Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in San Antonio

AiRCO Mechanical San Antonio, TX

If you are interested in your project or portion of a project featured in Project Showcase, contact your Austin city editor Melissa Jones-Meyer 817-966-3156

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021

continued from Page 16 — 360 Electrical Contractors Inc.

To address potential long-term corrosion in the pool enclosure, all lighting and power circuits serving this area were identified and then the conduit layout/routing was defined. The 360 team created an extensive network of under-slab conduits requiring multiple back-checking on their part to account for all circuits. To accommodate the wiring in the small space within the bottom of the box beams, the wiring was pulled first. Then, as the box beam was being lowered in place, the wire was routed through a small access hole in the beam. Junction boxes were placed on the beams’ surfaces, which provided space to route and splice all conductors. This provided a long-term reliable installation within a corrosive environment.

The 360 team’s ability to see around corners proved to be invaluable.

Throughout this project, 360 Electrical Contractors provided numerous budget proposals for additional scope of work items on the site, including a remote restroom facility that was incorporated into the project. Also, in response to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, an alternative design for a transformer and distribution panel were created that saved approximately four weeks on the project schedule. To ensure quality control, BIM 3D Modeling was

implemented for layouts and clash detection. Staff was also present on site during each concrete pour as well as placement of CMU Block to ensure all raceways remained intact and damage-free.

The skill and expertise 360 Electrical Contractors Inc. brought to the project ensured that visitors will safely enjoy the YMCA Moody Natatorium for years to come. The project won the 2020 Associated Builders and Contractors’ Central Texas Chapter’s Excellence in Construction and Safety Merit Award in the Specialty Contractor Electrical, Commercial category.

“We are proud to have been able to serve as a contributing member on a project established for the purpose of providing lasting years of experiences and memories for the youth and families of Austin and the surrounding communities,” 360 Electrical Contractors Inc. president Rita Conner says. “We consider it a rare opportunity to participate in a project with this magnitude of lasting contributions to the community.”

360 Electrical Contractors Inc. in Pflugerville is a full-service commercial electrical contractor. –mjm 360 Electrical Contractors Inc. Pflugerville, TX

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Mutual admiration society

he White Construction Company‘s Westminster Expansion project team had a few fans watching them work on the senior living facility. The residents on the building’s third floor wrote letters of support to the workers and found many ways to show their appreciation. Touched, the project team in turn presented their “Third Floor Admirers” with Tiff’s Treats and a banner signed by the team. –mjm Westminster residents admire White ➤ Construction Company’s project team work on the expansion project

The crew hang a banner to show their thanks for the residents’ support.

continued from Page 16 — Rogers-O’Brien Construction Thanks to Rogers-O’Brien’s expert planning and execution, timely completion of the project was achieved, with the owner meeting their predetermined lease requirements. The project impressed Associated Builders and Contractors’ Central Texas Chapter, which named it the 2020 Merit Award Winner in the General Contractor Commercial $25-$100 Million category. It has

also impressed the community, which can now enjoy the many offerings of this lively former-railyard-turned-mixed-usedevelopment.

General contractor Rogers-O’Brien Construction is located in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. –mjm Rogers-O’Brien Construction Austin, TX The crew signed the banner in appreciation.

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Safely celebrating the season

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he GSC Architects team celebrated the holidays in a new, Texas-countrycharm-filled way! The group traveled to HR Director and Comptroller Barbara Bucher’s home on her country property in Niederwald, complete with an 11-acre farm populated with horses, chickens, dogs and cats. Not to be left out, animals on neighboring farms, including a herd of cattle and a trip of goats, stopped by for photo ops with the guests.

The 100% outdoor event held up the highest COVID-19 sanitation standards, with abundant signage and sanitizer jars at every station and event. As they arrived that afternoon, guests followed step-bystep instructions to drop off wrapped white elephant gifts to be exchanged later

in the day. A cornhole tournament then commenced, followed by individual cocktails and mason jar margaritas. Tables scattered across the lawn provided ample space for the team to sit and play pen-topaper holiday games together but at a safe distance. GSC’s friends Bennett’s and A Rose Catering made individual meals or barbecue steak, chicken or salmon with sides, which the team ate at four massive tables. Finally, under a sky so clear that Saturn and Jupiter could be spotted amongst the stars, a socially-distant gift exchange took place near an after-dinner bonfire’s warmth.

GSC Architects is an Austin-based Architecture and Interior Design firm. –mjm

Furry field trip

Does your pup have cabin fever? Wimberley Glassworks in San Marcos allows furry companions to watch the business’ glassblowing demonstrations, as long as they can view the show from their owner’s laps. –mjm

Making wishes come true

The GSC played pen-to-paper holiday games at the many tables spread out at the event.

Rosendin’s Pflugerville team and The Rosendin Foundation donated wish list items for families in need of assistance during the holidays, as well as coloring books and crayons for the children. –mjm

GSC President Tom Cornelius makes a toss at the company’s outdoor holiday party.

Horses joined GSC guests Jemme and Paul Thompson for the perfect pastoral photo op.

Parks and re-creation

Page Southerland Page volunteers removed invasive species and planted native plants to support Pease Park Conservancy’s ongoing improvements, which include work by Page’s Branding & Graphics team on the Kingsbury Commons area renovation. The company is also an 84-acre collective donor. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • JAN 2021