Schema 03

Issue 03/Spring 2017

A publication of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.

Building Communities On the Drawing Board for 2017 Choccolocco Park receives national recognition

Bringing new wastewater technology to the U.S. The men who walked 1,000 miles

GMC MANIFESTO We believe in community, collaboration and using the power of creativity and hard work to make a difference - in our hearts, homes, city, nation and world. We believe in hope, progress, beauty, and big ideas. We believe that people like us, need us. We are not just an engineering firm. We are not just architects. We are artists, designers, thinkers, doers, makers, and storytellers dedicated to doing great work, for good. We partner with passionate and likeminded individuals, businesses, organizations, and causes that have aggressive hopes and goals for tomorrow and beyond. Dreaming big is the only way to make big dreams come true, and we know that our solutions can only be as great as the people we serve.

Communities are built by people, not companies. And it is that foundational concept that drives how we approach every project, big or small. Because it’s the passion and drive of individuals that feeds the growth and development of what’s next. Together, we will be smart. We will be relevant. We will be meaningful. We will be kind, supportive, enthusiastic and – at the very least – the very best we can be. We are – and will continue to be – a collaborative organization driven by the power of building better, happier, healthier, thriving communities. And we are committed to working with folks who share our vision for realizing their full potential, because we know that great engineering and architecture helps make communities better, for everyone.

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ON THE COVER GIS team conducting walking surveys of 1,000+ miles of sidewalk in Birmingham.

CONTENTS Schema is a quarterly publication of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, designed to keep clients, business partners, employees and others informed on company news and to provide insight on industry trends and issues.

Don’t miss an issue!

Subscribe at www.gmcnetwork.com

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ON THE DRAWING BOARD

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CITY OF OXFORD HITS A HOME RUN WITH CHOCCOLOCCO PARK

11 RIVER BEND SOLAR ENERGY CENTER

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NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING TO RIVIERA UTILITIES FACILITY

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April

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THE UP & COMING: CONFERENCES & EVENTS

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BIRMINGHAM SIDEWALKS ASSESSMENT

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AROUND THE NETWORK

Spring 2017 3

ON THE DRAWING BOARD FOR 2017 From hotels and mixed-use developments, to schools and athletic facilities, here's a snapshot of projects currently underway.

Greenville Drive Fluor Field Improvements Greenville, South Carolina

Gerhardi Manufacturing Plant Montgomery, Alabama

In July 2016, German automotive supplier Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik announced it would build its first North American manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Ala., investing $37.9 million and creating 235 jobs.

The industrial manufacturing plant will be located on a 50-acre site in the Montgomery Industrial Park off Interstate-85 between Montgomery and Auburn. GMC was part of the Gerhardi recruitment effort and is providing geotechnical services for the site and industrial access roadway, which is being designed by the firm’s transportation division. In addition, GMC environmental is working to obtain the proper air permits and ensure the facility operates in compliance with the federal regulations established by Title V of the Clean Air Act. Construction on the plant will begin this year, with production expected to start in 2019.

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Major improvements at Fluor Field will enhance the instadium game day experience for Greenville Drive fans this season. A minor-league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Drive’s home field will further emulate Fenway Park, with the addition of 100 seats above the iconic Green Monster. The design includes a new headquarters office for the owner and his team with direct access to the Green Monster seats. These seats will sit more than 30 feet above field level, providing one of the most unique vantage points at the park. In conjunction with the Green Monster seating, the Drive front office will relocate to the second floor of the fieldhouse building, with an ADA-accessible bridge connecting to the seating area. Atop the building features amenities and rooftop seating overlooking Fluor Field and can accommodate groups of 100 people for game days or special events.

A special feature will be a new canopy providing shade and rain protection. The area will be capped off with new stadium signage. The project will be ready in time to host the South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers in their annual rivalry game at the field in early March. GMC is collaborating with the original team that led the design and construction of Fluor Field in 2005. The team includes DLR Group, Centennial American Properties, McLeod Landscape Architects and Trehel Corporation.

Pelham City Schools New Fieldhouse Pelham, Georgia

Marriott AC Hotel

Brentwood, Tennessee Nashville continues to experience a major construction boom, with new developments cropping up all across the city. One of these developments is the Hill Center Brentwood, located halfway between downtown Nashville and Franklin. The 600,000-square-foot mixeduse development will include office, retail and dining space. GMC is currently working with Yedla Management Company on the planning and concept development of a new Marriott AC Hotel to be located within the development. AC Hotels by Marriott is borne of Spanish and European roots, with design that emphasizes simple, elegant spaces and the “essentials of a beautiful stay.”

Inspired by the contemporary traveler, AC Hotels’ signature elements include the AC Lounge, an open co-working space designed for both work and night life; AC Kitchen, with European-inspired breakfast; bartenders with local expertise; 24-hour fitness center access; and mobile check-in/check-out. The Hill Center Brentwood hotel will encompass approximately 140 modern guest rooms, with the bar and lounge on the main level. A members-only punch room on the top floor will feature an outdoor balcony with a view overlooking the development promenade and a nearby park.

Construction is underway on a new 14,500-squarefoot fieldhouse for Pelham City Schools (Georgia).

The pre-engineered metal building will encompass a 5,000-square-foot indoor practice field, 1,600-squarefoot weights area and two locker rooms for approximately 215 student athletes. The fieldhouse will also include a 1,200-square-foot team meeting room and a coaching office suite. The second story overlooks both the football field and indoor practice field, providing coaches and staff optimum observation regardless of which field practice is being held. A sloped exterior ramp leading from the fieldhouse allows players to run down onto the field, making a grand pregame entrance.

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DRAFT EXTERIOR RENDERING View 1

Ft. Benning Bldg. 3105 Training Barracks Upgrade Phase 2 Columbus, Georgia

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Foley, Alabama OWA reinvents the southern destination by combining a variety of entertainment options into an all-inclusive resort destination. The $500 million+ development in Foley, Ala., will provide the Alabama Gulf Coast with a true family friendly destination, offering retail, dining and entertainment in one location. Construction on phase one kicked off eight months ago, followed by the arrival of several theme park rides. Retail and dining spaces began sprouting up shortly thereafter.

More than 1,000 construction workers can be found onsite daily, with thousands of man-hours being put in to keep OWA on schedule for its summer 2017 opening.

Phase one, a $241 million investment, includes a 14-acre lake; 150-room Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel; more than 50 shopping, dining and entertainment venues; and a 14-acre amusement park. Sports fans can also join in the fun at the adjacent Foley Sports Tourism Complex, a $40 million, state-of-the-art complex managed by the City of Foley. The complex features a 90,000-squarefoot indoor events facility and 16 multi-use fields, also designed by GMC, making it a magnet venue for lacrosse, soccer and football tournaments, in addition to indoor athletic competitions, conventions, trade shows and other events.

GMC is responsible for the civil engineering design and geotechnical work on the 500-acre site, in addition to serving as the architect and landscape architect for the Marriott hotel and Foley sports complex and the landscape architect for the roadways and common areas.

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The Phase II Training Barracks Upgrade of Starship Barracks Building 3105 at Ft. Benning includes comprehensive demolition and renovation of the company office areas and sleeping bays, as well as renovation of the cadre areas over the battalion headquarters, including new company office layouts, new finishes and new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, communication and fire protection systems throughout.

The design features a more functional and efficient layout of the company laundry areas and latrines that will better    meet the needs of current operational requirements. The  existing precast concrete panels and windows at the sleeping bay towers will be demolished and replaced with new exterior wall construction and blast-resistant windows. New roof trusses and standing seam metal roofs will top the company towers. The latrines at each sleeping bay will be demolished and rebuilt with new finishes and fixtures, and the cadre areas will be renovated as sleeping bays for female trainees on the second level and Bachelor Enlisted Quarters on the third level. New architectural finishes were selected with the intention of fostering a professional environment for the entire soldier population, and to identify high-grade, nonresidential exterior and interior materials and finishes that combine aesthetic quality with longer life-expectancy, durability and ease of maintenance and repair.

Grand Hotel Renovation Point Clear, Alabama

Treasure Valley Hospital Expansion Boise, Idaho

In 2014, Nashville Architecture completed an expansion

at Treasure Valley Hospital in Boise, Idaho that maximized the building site. On opening day, the facility was already operating at full capacity. Treasure Valley went to work to acquire the medical office building next door to the hospital. Immediately following the closing of the property purchase, GMC began designing an expansion that will connect the hospital to the adjacent building, along with a renovation of the newly-purchased office space. The project will include the addition of two operating rooms, 13 extended-stay patient rooms, a central sterile processing suite, a pre-admissions patient clinic, expansion of the pharmacy, kitchen and dining facilities, on-site laundry, engineering department and receiving and storage facilities. The total project area is approximately 33,890 square feet, which includes the 14,000-square-foot addition; 10,311-square-foot medical office renovation; and 9,579-square-foot hospital renovation. Construction will begin this spring and will be completed in three phases, allowing the hospital to remain fully operational during construction. The expansion is expected to be completed in fall 2018 and has an estimated project cost of $10.5 million.

The Queen of Southern Resorts is getting a $32 million facelift that will redefine southern hospitality. Every room at the 170-year-old Grand Hotel will be given a new look, as the hotel joins the exclusive group of only 100 independent-style properties worldwide as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Designed by GMC architects, the renovation will take place on a buildingby-building basis to minimize disruption to hotel guests, beginning with the South Bay, North Bay and Marina House buildings. There are currently 23 different room types among the hotel’s 405 guest rooms. The renovation will streamline the look into three simple, yet elegant room designs, each intertwined with the hotel’s rich history. Rooms with two double beds are being replaced by two queen-size beds, and will have a tub to accommodate the needs of families. King rooms will have a sectional sofa that folds out into a queensize bed, in addition to a desk, armoire, flat-screen TV and modern necessities. The 54 rooms in the main historic building will be especially remarkable, featuring iron-post beds, hardwood floors and paneling. The 126 rooms in the Spa building will also be renovated to reflect the spa experience, and the 37,000-square-foot conference center will be revamped to give it a cleaner, more upscale look. Construction on the conference center will be completed in phases by the end of 2017, followed by the 126-room spa building and main historic building in April 2018.

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City of Oxford hits a home run with Choccolocco Park

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t its annual awards banquet on Dec. 2, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, the National High School Baseball Coaches Association announced the signature baseball field at the City of Oxford’s Choccolocco Park as the National High School Field of the Year. “The Big House,” as the baseball facility is called, was named Regional Field of the Year for the Southeast, qualifying it for the national award alongside eight other regional finalists.

A grand opening ceremony for Choccolocco Park was held on Oct. 16, 2016. Hundreds came out to celebrate the occasion, including more than 50 guests of honor from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who traveled 700 miles from Oklahoma to commemorate the project located on land once inhabited by their ancestors.

City officials learned of the site’s historical significance and recognition as a special place of healing by the Muscogee through discoveries made during the construction process. As a result, they asked architects and engineers to return to the drawing board to redesign the complex to reflect the history of the land and the people who once called it home.

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To commemorate the land’s rich history and profound spiritual heritage, the City, Muscogee (Creek) Nation and project team collaborated to develop the Choccolocco Park Interpretive Trail.

The three-plus mile walking trail winds through what was once the 19th century Muscogee (Creek) Nation town of Choccolocco and surrounds the park’s 30-acre lake. Interpretive signage details the different periods of time in which the Choccolocco Valley was inhabited, and is supplemented by reconstructed elements of the cultural landscape, including the Signal Mountain Stone Mound and Earthen Pyramidal Mound.

At the grand opening, Speaker Arnold Taylor of the Arbeka Ceremonial Ground delivered a powerful message, first in his native language, commending those involved in developing the park and their efforts to protect the sacred ground. “This place is tremendous,” he said. “Oxford, Alabama – you have something to be proud of, and I know you’ll take care of it.”

In addition to the nationally-acclaimed signature baseball field, the brand new 370-acre sports complex includes a signature softball field, four additional baseball fields, five additional softball fields, two

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Members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oxford city officials and members of the project team on the signature baseball field following the grand opening ceremony.

baseball/softball fields, 16 batting cages, four soccer fields, a full-scale track and field venue and two playgrounds.

One of the playgrounds is a state-of-the-art “Boundless Playground” and is designed especially to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, particularly physical limitations. The idea to incorporate the allinclusive playground was pitched to city officials back in 2014 by Michele Miller, the 2012 Ms. Wheelchair Alabama. Two years later, the Oxford native watched her vision come to fruition as children filed in to the playground following the opening celebration.

According to Miller, the modified playground equipment allows all individuals to interact without the fear of being left out. “Being able to see children play and knowing that no child will be excluded due to a disability is amazing.”

With all of its ancillary features, Choccolocco Park is able to accommodate the community in numerous capacities. The facility serves as the home field for Oxford City Schools’ baseball, softball and track teams and Jacksonville State University’s track team. It will also be the temporary home for the JSU baseball team while renovations of their home field are underway.

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Choccolocco Park is the host site for the Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament in May for the second year in a row, and the OVC baseball tournament for the next two years, beginning this season. The 2017 Dixie Youth World Series, one of the nation’s most competitive little league tournaments, will also be held at the park in August. High-profile events and tournaments such as these attract visitors from across the country and have a tremendous economic impact on the region. According to city officials, the complex has already brought in millions of dollars, with more opportunities already on the horizon.

Plans are also in the works to create a canoe/kayak trail along Choccolocco Creek in partnership with the Calhoun Soil and Water Office and Choccolocco Creek Watershed Conservancy, promoting ecotourism and environmental education for the area.

GMC led the project design team and provided landscape architecture, architecture and engineering services. Findley Frazer of Frazer Environmental was the lead environmental engineer, Eugene Turner Construction served as the general contractor and Robert E. Perry & Associates served as the lead cultural resource manager.

River Bend Solar Energy Center GMC Huntsville Survey Department completes work on the largest solar energy project in Alabama

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ocated on 640-acres in Lauderdale County, the River Bend Solar Energy Center features more than 300,000 solar panels on single-axis trackers that follow the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the project can generate 75 megawatts –enough energy to power more than 15,000 homes!

GMC provided pre- and post-construction services for the solar project. Pre-construction began with a topographic survey and ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey of the site. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys must be developed prior to most commercial real estate transactions where title insurance on the property is needed. The title insurance companies are asked to insure the land without exception as to the many matters which might be discoverable from a survey, and which are not evident in public records. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys are done in accordance with national standards set forth by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and the American Land Title Association (ALTA).

These surveys are highly complex and require in-depth title research before on-site fieldwork even begins. The completed survey depicts boundary lines, buildings, improvements, easements (access rights by service

companies, such as water, gas, phone, railways and other utilities), zoning, water boundaries, utility locations, evidence of cemeteries, possible encroachments, flood zone classification and other land-ownership features.

Post-construction, the team conducted a final ALTA/ NSPS Land Title Survey and as-built survey of the site.

The ALTA/NSPS Land Survey was done to verify no new title issues arose and to locate all new improvements that were requested by the financial lender. As-built surveys are performed during or immediately following construction to record variations from the original plans to what is actually built on the site. The team also conducted an ALTA/NSPS Land Survey of the operations and maintenance office site in Florence, Ala. Through utilization of renewable energy from the sun, the River Bend Solar project will decrease carbon dioxide emissions that would have been produced if the electricity had been generated using fossil fuels by approximately 105,000 tons per year. In addition to providing clean energy, the project is expected to generate more than $9 million in property taxes over its operational life, with the majority going to benefit the Lauderdale County School District.

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The men who walked

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1,000

miles

veryone is a pedestrian at some point in the day, whether you live in a big city or a small town, ride the bus or drive a car. And although walking is the most universal mode of transportation, it can also be one of the most dangerous.

GIS team drove every street within the Birmingham city limits conducting “windshield surveys.” Through this process, they were able to record locations and visually assess sidewalk conditions using the ArcGIS Collector application. This phase of the assessment took slightly less than a year to complete.

“Streets and their sidewalks—the main public places of a city—are its most vital organs.” This quote from writer and activist Jane Jacobs, whose ideas revolutionized urban and city planning, accurately identifies sidewalks as an essential component of a city’s transportation system.

The GIS team has moved on to the second and largest phase of the project, which takes the assessment a step (or several steps) farther. Equipped with a smart level, measuring tape, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and an iPad, they are now conducting walking surveys of every mile of sidewalk identified in phase one.

Sidewalks connect people to their destinations in a space reserved solely for them, accommodate safe routes for alternate transportation that are otherwise unfeasible and are especially important for those dependent on public transportation. Not only that, but they can help reduce crime through increased pedestrian traffic, increase foot traffic for retailers, improve health with added opportunities for walking and recreation and foster a greater sense of community through enhanced connectivity.

GMC’s planning department has been working with the City of Birmingham, Ala., to enhance its transportation system through development of the 2020 Sidewalks Master Plan. In tandem with this plan, GMC’s geographic information systems (GIS) specialists are performing an inventory of all of the sidewalks within the city’s rightof-way—more than 1,000 miles of sidewalk—to identify areas not in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

During phase one of the ADA assessment, the 12 SCHEMA

Each day, they plan their route, park at the designated starting point and begin collecting data as they traverse the sidewalks. In one day, they may assess more than three miles of sidewalk or walk 6,000+ steps. Through these walking surveys, they collect three types of data: curb ramps, sidewalk obstructions and sidewalk slope points.

• Curb ramps, which cut through or are built up to a curb, provide accessible routes for people with disabilities to transition safely from roadways to curbed sidewalks and vice versa. The GPS coordinates are recorded and a photo of each curb ramp is attached for reference. Other attributes taken during a 17-point inspection are also recorded, including length, width, cross slope, running slope, landings, and flare measurements, to name a few.

• Sidewalk obstructions represent any areas along the sidewalk that are not ADA-compliant, such as cracked or busted sidewalk, displaced sidewalk

The Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 Data Collector & Zephyr II Antenna provide centimeter accuracy in real-time.

The palm-sized iSXBlue II + GNSS receiver uses Bluetooth connectivity to send data to the iPad and provides sub-meter accuracy in real-time.

The Trimble R2 GNSS Bluetooth receiver is capable of providing subfoot accuracy in real-time through the Bluetooth connection and can be mounted on a pole, a backpack or a car.

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The GIS team (Tabb Sanford and Josh Wright) surveys sidewalks in Downtown Birmingham.

joints or overhanging or obstructing vegetation. • Sidewalk slope points are taken in intervals of 150 to 200 feet. The running slope, cross slope and sidewalk width are recorded for each segment, and two photos, one from each direction, are taken.

They are able to collect data with sub-foot accuracy, which is sent to the iPad in real-time using Bluetooth. This method creates an interactive digital map that is updated as each point is collected. This map will feature links to photos of each documented location, and presents the data in a way that can be easily understood and shared.

See an example at http://tiny.cc/sheffieldmap.

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City officials can use this information to establish priorities for sidewalk repair and construction throughout the community. Coupled with the master plan, which acknowledges sidewalks as an essential component of the city’s overall transportation system, leaders will be able to justify the inclusion of sidewalks in other street improvement projects, and sidewalk construction/repair as standalone improvements.

Every improvement is a step in the right direction to enhancing pedestrian safety, improving connectivity throughout the city and creating a truly multimodal transportation system.

First U.S. installation of Nereda technology to be utilized at Riviera Utilities facility GMC to utilize Nereda technology as design basis for new advanced wastewater treatment process at Riviera Utilities facility

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iviera Utilities executed a contract with GMC to design a wastewater treatment plant expansion utilizing Nereda® granular activated sludge technology as the basis of design. The new advanced wastewater treatment process will be designed for the Wolf Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility in Foley, Ala. Use of granular activated sludge for biological treatment will be the first installation of such technology in the United States. The Nereda® Aerobic Granular Sludge Process will replace the current extended aeration oxidation ditch process that currently serves approximately 4,720 residential and commercial customers.

“Improving and protecting water quality for current residents and future generations utilizing the Alabama Outstanding Waters of Wolf Bay is our number one priority,” Lee Kibler, Operations Superintendent Water/ Wastewater for Riviera Utilities said. “We are delighted to be involved in the game changing advancement of the reclamation process of wastewater in the United States through utilization of the Nereda Aerobic Granular Sludge Process at the Wolf Creek Treatment Facility.”

This first-of-its-kind project is the result of successful collaboration among GMC; Riviera Utilities; Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc., of Loves Park, Ill., the exclusive supplier of the Nereda® technology in the U.S.; and Cahaba Spring 2017 15

Water Solutions of Pelham, Ala., the local Aqua-Aerobic representative in Alabama.

fourth quarter of 2017 with completion and commissioning expected as early as the third quarter of 2018.

“GMC is honored to work alongside Lee Kibler and his staff at Riviera Utilities on the Wolf Creek Wastewater Facility,” Bobby McClure, GMC Vice President of Water Resources and Treatment said. “We are equally excited to be teaming with the Aqua-Aerobics and Nereda utilizing granular activated sludge technology for the first design in North America. We believe this project will be a catalyst for all parties to improve the options and efficiency in which sequencing batch reactors are designed and operated. The Nereda technology and the alliance with Aqua Aerobics is no doubt a new tool in our portfolio that we plan on using to assist our clients in the development of efficient and cost competitive processes.”

“GMC is to be highly commended for their willingness to actively pursue technology that is sustainable due to the energy requirement reduction, cost effective through tankage size reduction and more operator friendly by simplifying nutrient removal,” Kibler said. “The engineering and operations staff at the Wolf Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility look forward to moving wastewater treatment to a new level for the citizens of Foley by working with engineering thought leaders such as GMC, AquaAerobic Systems and Royal HaskoningDHV, in pursuit of our facilities’ expansion.”

The Nereda Aerobic Granular Sludge Process represents an evolution in activated sludge treatment replicating the same effluent quality as a well-designed enhanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) facility but without the use of chemicals by using the patented aerobic granular sludge technology. The dramatically reduced footprint and low energy requirement of the Nereda process provides a competitive alternative technology for high performance BNR wastewater plants.

The new design of the Wolf Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility will consist of a three-basin Nereda biological system capable of treating an average of 3.5 million gallons per day and 10 million gallons per day at peak flow. Construction of the treatment plant improvements for Riviera Utilities is scheduled to begin during the 16 SCHEMA

Nereda is the name given to Royal HaskoningDHV’s (The Netherlands) biological wastewater treatment technology (also known as AGS) that purifies water based on bacteria growing into compact granules. The technology was invented by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and developed in a unique public-private partnership between the University, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), the Dutch Water Authorities and Royal HaskoningDHV. Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. is an applied engineering company specializing in total water management solutions in the areas of aeration and mixing, biological processes, cloth media filtration, membranes, disinfection and process control. The company is the exclusive supplier of the Nereda® Granular Activated Sludge Process in the United States.

The Up & Coming March

12–15 March

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

South Carolina Environmental Conference Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

National Surveyors Week

19-25 March

20–22 March

22 – 24 April

9–12 April

23–25 April - May

28-1 May

3–5 May

9-10

May

20–23 May

24–26 Tennessee Airports Conference Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Georgia City & County Managers Association Spring Conference Athens, Georgia

Alabama’s Water Environment Association Annual Conference Orange Beach, Alabama

Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Aviation Executives Annual Conference Knoxville, Tennessee

Association of County Commissioners of Georgia Annual Conference Savannah, Georgia

South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association Annual Conference Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Georgia Rural Water Association Spring Conference Jekyll Island, Georgia

May

30–31 May - Jun

30–1 June

4–5 June

7–10 June

10–13 June

10-14 June

16–21

Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention Birmingham, Alabama

Georgia Economic Developers Association Spring Workshop Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia

Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors 2017 Summer Conference Orange Beach, Alabama

AL-FL Rural Water Joint Technical Training Conference Orange Beach, Alabama

Tennessee Association of Utility Districts Annual Meeting & Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee

Georgia School Board Association Summer Conference Savannah, Georgia

Tennessee Municipal League Annual Conference Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Georgia A4LE, Inc. (formerly CEFPI) Summer Conference Callaway Gardens, Georgia

Alabama Association of School Boards/School Superintendents of Alabama Summer Conferences Orange Beach, Alabama

Spring 2017 17

Around the Network Larry Watts honored with George Goodwyn Community Service Award The George Goodwyn Community Service Award was presented at GMC’s 2017 Shareholder Meeting to Director of Planning Larry Watts. The annual award is given to an employee who exemplifies outstanding leadership and a commitment to community service. Throughout his more than 35 years as a professional planner, Larry has acquired numerous accolades, from election into the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows, to national project awards from the industry’s most highly-acclaimed institutions. He has been instrumental in revitalizing and transforming communities all over Alabama and has been a key player on revolutionary projects and statewide and regional initiatives, including the founding of the Alabama Scenic Byways Advisory Committee, Your Town Alabama and Alabama Communities of Excellence. He is actively involved in community outreach with residents of West Birmingham through First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, and along with his wife Pam, has been a missionary to Panama for several years, helping establish and improve a small community there. His current passion is serving on the Southern Rail Commission as a governor-appointed commissioner, where he strives to enhance and revive passenger rail throughout the Southeast.

Community ready to turn the Page on overcrowded schools GMC helped Williamson County Schools facilitate a community meeting regarding the master plan and expansion of Page Middle and High schools in Franklin, Tenn. Hundreds from the community attended, including members of the school board and county commission. Superintendent Mike Looney and GMC Architect Jay Purkey presented proposed plans for both campuses and then sought feedback from parents during a question and answer session, in addition to giving them an opportunity to fill out comment cards. Preliminary design plans will expand the district’s footprint to accommodate its rapidly growing student population, which is expected to increase by about 20,000 students over the next decade. The proposed master plan would expand common areas, add new classrooms and enhance the athletic facilities. Parents were also thrilled to see a turn lane into the school included in the proposed plans. If Phase I of the plans is approved by the school board and funding by the county commission, construction could be completed as early as Fall 2018 for the middle school and Fall 2019 for the high school.

“Best is the Standard” On Feb. 1, Clemson University officially opened its $55 million football operations center designed by GMC and HOK. University President Dr. Jim Clements described the new home to the 2016 College Football Playoff National Champions as “145,000 square feet of the best of everything.” The state-of-the-art building is the largest and most programmatically inclusive football-specific training facility in the nation and is designed to support the day-to-day activities of players, coaches and staff. A home away from home for many of the athletes, the complex features 1.5 acres of outdoor leisure and entertainment space, hydrotherapy, training, weight equipment and technology, a steam room, recovery room and Gatorade fuel bar. A slide connects the centralized players’ concourse to the lobby, bringing Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s focus on fun to the forefront of the design, in addition to the inclusion of miniature golf, bowling, a movie theater, gaming lounge and basketball, volleyball and bocce ball courts. Compelling graphics and displays throughout the facility celebrate the Tigers’ storied history and reflect the Clemson spirit, including a scale replica of Memorial Stadium’s famous Hill and Howard’s Rock. “This was truly my dream,” Swinney said at the grand opening. “I wanted to move the best team in college football into the best building in college football, and that’s exactly how it worked out.”

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Historic Courthouse receives recognition

Airport Planning & Engineering takes off in Georgia GMC was awarded a five-year contract to provide airport consulting services in connection with the Airport Capital Improvement Plan at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport in Statesboro, Georgia. The team’s first task will be a resurfacing project for the 6,000-foot-long primary runway.

Located on 834 acres 40 miles northwest of Savannah, the airport supports the Georgia Southern University athletic department, alumni and guests, as well as major corporations based in Statesboro. Other users include the Georgia Forestry Commission, which maintains a base of operations at the airport and three aircraft to help fight forest fires; the Air Evac Life team helicopter, which provides emergency air medical services to the region; The Jumping Place skydiving; and the local fixed-base operator, MidCoast Aviation Services, which provides flight training and aircraft rental. The U.S Air Force Auxiliary’s Civil Air Patrol Statesboro “Eagle” Composite Squadron (GA451) also operates search and rescue and other training missions from the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport.

The Limestone County Courthouse renovation received the Alabama Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America 2017 BuildSouth Award in the renovation under $5 million category. Originally constructed in 1916 in downtown Athens, Ala., the historic courthouse is where Circuit Judge James Horton made the famous decision to set aside the conviction of Haywood Patterson, one of the defendants in the Scottsboro Boys case, in 1933. The renovation improved the structural integrity of the 98-year-old building while also adding state-of-the-art HVAC, electrical, data and communications systems. Ground penetrating radar was used to locate the existing concrete floor joists to position new plumbing and conduits, and all of the existing wood trim was removed, refinished and reinstalled. The Alabama AGC commended the efforts of those involved with the project, noting that, “Together the community saved a treasured piece of history that now better serves the public.” Martin & Cobey Construction, the program manager for the project, received the award and presented plaques to the Limestone County Commission and GMC Huntsville Director of Architecture Robert Littleton. The courthouse officially reopened in January.

Spring 2017 19

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