TDSpirit Winter 2011 by TDIndustries

TDSpirit Winter 2011 Issue 29 - Summer 2011

TDIndustries Heads South

To Serve Booming Border Region

TDSpirit

Letter from CEO Harold MacDowell New Year’s Renewal

Ever notice there’s something funny about resolving to stop or to start doing something? New Year’s resolutions are about committing to removing barriers to personal growth. I like to think in terms of renewals—recommitting to the things that are important and that drive us, such as our spirituality, our families, our friends, our colleagues, and our careers. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to drop a couple of pounds, remember to walk the dog more, be early to meetings, and the like. I make these resolutions often. This year, though, as we close out one year and begin anew, I am going to focus on renewing my strengths and my passions. When I’m at my best, I’m at my best for others. For me, this means staying on point with our business and my personal vision and mission. After all, how can we achieve greatness if we are focused on the barriers and the obstacles instead of the vision itself? In an interview about the late Steve Jobs—may he rest in peace—his biographer Walter Isaacson described the zeal of the man in one poignant statement, which I’ll paraphrase here: It was as if Jobs could just will his way through his ability to believe. That notion encapsulates the entrepreneurial spirit of so many great people who are determined to achieve their goals. It’s the same spirit that is alive and well in our industry. Smart automation, energy conservation, green design, LEAN manufacturing, and other renew/reuse/restore initiatives are powerful forces that can drive our renewed focus. I invite our valued Partners and clients to join me this year in a “New Year’s Renewal.” Let’s each make renewed commitments to one another and to the passions that drive us. In so doing, we’ll be leveraging our strengths, staying focused on what matters, and giving that much more value to one another. The reward is in the journey, especially when the journey is aligned with the vision. I, for one, am renewed, restored, and ready to seize the day!

Renovación de Año Nuevo ¿Han notado que es un poco gracioso hacer resoluciones sobre dejar de hacer o empezar a hacer algo? Las resoluciones de año nuevo son acerca de comprometerse a retirar una barrera del crecimiento personal. Me gusta pensar en términos de renovación: volver a comprometerse con las cosas que son importantes, que nos impulsan; nuestra espiritualidad, nuestras familias, nuestros amigos, colegas y nuestras carreras. No me malinterpreten; me complace perder un par de kilos de peso, recordar pasear más al perro, llegar temprano a las reuniones, y así por el estilo. Hago esas resoluciones con frecuencia. Este año, sin embargo, al cerrar un año y empezar uno nuevo, me enfocaré en mis fortalezas y pasiones y las renovaré. Cuando yo soy mejor, también soy mejor con los demás. Para mí, esto significa concentrarme en el éxito de nuestro negocio y en mi visión y misión personales. Después de todo, ¿cómo podemos lograr la grandeza si sólo nos enfocamos en barreras y obstáculos en lugar de la visión misma? En entrevistas relacionadas con la nueva biografía de Steve Jobs, descanse en paz, su biógrafo, Walter Isaacson, describe la pasión del hombre en una declaración conmovedora, la cual parafrasearé aquí: “Es como si Steve Jobs pudiera simplemente usar la fuerza de su voluntad para impulsar sus convicciones.” Ese es simplemente el espíritu empresarial individual detrás de mucha gente grandiosa que conozco y que están comprometidos con el logro de objetivos. Es el mismo espíritu que sigue sano y salvo en nuestra industria. La automatización inteligente, la conservación de la energía, el diseño ecológico, la manufactura esbelta y otras iniciativas de renovación/reutilización/restauración son para nosotros fuerzas poderosas que representan el enfoque renovado. Apreciados TD Partners y clientes; les invito a acompañarme este año en una renovación de año nuevo. Renovemos nuestros compromisos, entre nosotros y con las pasiones que nos motivan. Al hacerlo, estaremos aprovechando nuestras fortalezas, nos enfocaremos en lo que importa y nos valorizaremos mucho más uno al otro. La recompensa está en el viaje; cuando el viaje se alinea con nuestra visión, yo personalmente me siento renovado, restaurado y ¡listo para disfrutar las oportunidades que brinda cada día!

Carpe Diem!

A publication of

TDIndustries is changing the face of mechanical construction and facilities services through lifecycle innovations.

Austin

2701 Gattis School Road Building “A” Suite 101 Round Rock‚ TX 78664 512-310-5052

Dallas

13850 Diplomat Drive Dallas‚ TX 75234 972-888-9500

Fort Worth

5700 Stratum Drive Fort Worth, TX 76137 817-590-9360

Houston

8801 Jameel Road, Suite 100 Houston‚ TX 77040 713-939-1986

Phoenix

1702 W. 3rd Street Tempe, AZ 85281 480-449-7690

San Antonio

12700 O’Connor Road San Antonio‚ TX 78233 210-564-6065

Richardson

Technology Manufacturing 1400 S. Sherman Street Richardson, TX, USA 75081 214-575-6479

Weslaco

1240 N. Vo Tech Drive Suite C Weslaco, TX 78596 956-568-4580 Please report any change of address, contact name, or additions by calling Matthew Stephenson at 972-888-9348 or by email: matthew.stephenson@tdindustries.com. We want to thank the Partners of TDIndustries who contributed to this issue of TDSpirit.

From left to right: Dave Peysen, Ron Golmon, Bob Richards, Steven Garza, Tom Brimer

TDIndustries Heads South

To Serve Booming Border Region WESLACO, TEXAS

The Rio Grande Valley—known locally as the Valley—has a boomtown feel. As the south Texas region grows, hotels, stores, and restaurants move in or expand. Manufacturing, health care, and municipal concerns arrive too. Many of these recent Valley entrants are longstanding clients of TDIndustries. And they began clamoring for TD to join them there. TD responded by opening a new Weslaco office to serve the 43,000-square-mile Valley community. The office has opened with three office Partners, 10 service field technicians, and 15 construction Partners. The Weslaco office is expected to be a full-service TD hub staffed with many Partners who’ll provide construction, facility management, system controls, and energy solutions to the bustling border region. “Thanks to the surge in demand, the Valley is now a separate geographic and business region, independent of San Antonio,” said Steven Garza, Vice President. “Our customers wanted us to have a local presence.”

Booming Border Business

Known for its farming, citrus crops, and maquiladora factories, the Rio Grande Valley benefits from the assembly and manufacturing plants that generate jobs and trade along the U.S.–Mexico border. Each day, thousands of Mexican nationals cross the 20 international bridges to shop and do business in Weslaco and in other towns along the border. The New York Times reported in 2011 that Rio Grande Valley employment surged by 42 percent in the previous decade alone. As TD’s clients expanded and sought attention, TD dispatched local service and maintenance teams from the San Antonio office to serve Corpus Christi and the Valley.

The ServiceLINK Advantage

Though demanding, servicing this remote geography worked thanks to TD’s ServiceLINK Online Portal, which kept technicians and customers connected, said Tom Brimer, Vice President. The portal is a customer service boon: a 24-hour telephone line puts TD customers in constant contact with technicians, who in turn accelerate service calls via GPS-enabled handheld devices. Technicians get updated status reports from arrival to parts pick-up to task completion. And customers get real-time data on service, scheduling, and cost histories, which they use for budgeting and planning. In fact, ServiceLINK is a key reason TD is so sought after by Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley customers, said Ron Golmon, Operations Manager. ServiceLINK simplifies TD’s delivery of service to area clients. “No competitors have this feature,” Golman said. “It takes us to a higher level and raises our standard of service.”

Growing—and Hiring—Locally

It’s highly unusual for a company to be asked by its customers to open a regional office, Garza said. This is a testament to TD’s dedication to its customers as well as its service-oriented culture and long-term relationships. TD plans to give back to the Rio Grande Valley by staffing its Weslaco office with qualified local workers. New construction clients—busy bringing infrastructure to the Valley’s growing urban centers—also are eager to partner with TD. “This year alone, construction and service revenues have grown substantially, with more work planned for next year,” Garza said. “We’re happy to be in the Rio Grande Valley with a physical presence,” Brimer said. “This office will allow TD to grow alongside the community,” added Dave Peysen, Service Manager.

TDIndustries’

“This is a world-class healthcare Million-Dollar Solution facility that will serve our community For Bush Airport for generations to come.” Mike Gresham, TD Senior Project Manager

HOUSTON, TEXAS

TD-utiliVisor–engineered improvements are saving Bush Airport more than $1 million annually. Big Opportunity

The people who run Houston’s Bush Airport know how to keep flight operations running smoothly. Now, thanks to a TDIndustries–utiliVisor partnership, building operations are reaching new heights of energy efficiency—and saving the international airport over a million bucks annually. “When we started in 2006, we saw a big opportunity to run the airport plant more efficiently and cut costs,” said James Venegas, Project Manager of the Bush Airport System for TD. He’s also the onsite facilities manager at the airport, which serves more than 40 million passengers each year. The central chiller plant—a 23,000-ton operation that cools nearly 3.2 million square feet of terminal space—was an obvious place to start boosting airport-wide efficiency. But Venegas didn’t stop there. “Our facilities management team found the best ways to get the system running better,” he said, “but we knew there was even more we could do.”

Data-Based Insight

Venegas wanted data to track airport facility operations and locate even more savings. This idea took flight when he partnered with TD Solutions Group leader, Ken Scheepers, and applied the utiliVisor constant plant monitoring system. The system provided instantaneous energy consumption information and allowed operators to make fast, accurate operating adjustments to maximize energy savings. Buildings rarely perform as intended, Scheepers noted. The utiliVisor system works by using comprehensive monitoringbased commissioning (MBCx) to keep building systems in tune. “Our data-based insight is a perfect way to get a handle on facilities’ deep systems,” Scheepers said of utiliVisor. “James’s expertise and interest in using our data to push for better performance made the partnership work.” At Bush Airport, TD and utiliVisor engineers first replaced malfunctioning energy measurement sensors and meters to get more accurate and holistic plant performance data. Usage information was then routed to the web every five minutes. Now, airport operations engineers know exactly how much energy is being consumed—in real time. The data is used to craft leaner and greener building operations strategies. “We not only have the systems knowledge and insight, we have predictive power,” Venegas said. This means that on a daily basis, airport operators can see which part of the system needs replacement and repair. The process also assists airport officials with long-term budgeting—a key tool in these tight economic times.

Cost-Saving Steps

During their five-year partnership, Venegas, Scheepers, and the onsite airport team have implemented some exciting energy conservation measures: • Improved plant equipment sequencing, operating the most efficient combination of steam and electric chillers • Rebalanced the energy used for gas consumption as well as steam and chilled water production • Recommissioned and reprogrammed sequences on the existing chillers’ hot gas bypass and inlet guide vanes • Sequenced chilled water pumps based on need to reduce pumping kilowatts

These TD-utiliVisor–engineered improvements are saving Bush Airport more than $1 million in annual operating costs. The team will next address serious issues in the airport terminal that Venegas and Scheepers expect will lead to even more energy efficiencies and cost reductions. And these top-flight solutions can help TD’s other airport customers, Ellington Field and Hobby, achieve similar savings. “The project owes its success to the 100 percent partnership between TD and the Bush Airport group,” Venegas said.

PRE-FAB CORNER

Plenty of Pipe: A section of 30-inch chilled-water supplyand-return pipe. This is just 40 of the 600 feet of piping that will be used to connect the University of Texas–Southwestern hospital to its central utilities plant.

TDSpirit • • • WINTER 2011

Fossil Photo TBD

TDIndustries’ Timely Work

On Fossil Headquarters

RICHARDSON, TEXAS

Takes Building from Cube to Cool When Fossil leased its new headquarters location, a 535,000 square-foot building that had housed Blue Cross Blue Shield— the space was hardly hip. But the manufacturer of watches, handbags, wallets, and clothing saw a potential for the place to showcase what the company is all about: creativity, style—cool. TDIndustries also saw that potential. TD Senior Superintendent Greg Joiner was excited to strip the dated building, once filled with office cubes, to its bare essentials and leave exposed—loft-style—TD’s sheetmetal, piping, and other mechanical components. From the May 2011 get-go, the team faced challenges, the main one being the schedule: Joiner had just six months to complete a project that would normally take 12 to 18 months. Falling short wasn’t an option: Fossil employees had to move in by late September. “The building design was simple,” Joiner said, “but maintaining the schedule was not.”

Time-Saving Steps

Joiner used TD’s Building Information Modeling (BIM) process to speed the Fossil renovation. And he worked closely with architect Corgan Associates to develop the building systems while the interior was designed. Phil Claybrooke, Vice President at TD, credits Joiner and his team—including TD Superintendents Terry Baker and Jaycee Curry—for meeting the accelerated deadline. Everyone worked seven days a week—and nights and holidays—to keep up the pace. The team’s “all-hands-on-deck” ethic allowed Joiner to complete aspects of the renovation concurrently. “We developed building systems while the design was ongoing,” he said, including components to run off the existing dual-duct system. “This wasn’t easy given that the building relied on some equipment that was more than 30 years old.”

Fossil Photo TBD

TD Partners Step Up

Joiner relied on Partners from across TD to help with the Fossil schedule. The Business Systems Integration (BSI) group replaced a pneumatic control system with a direct digital control (DDC) system. And TD’s Service group helped repair the aging systems. Throughout, special steps were taken to transform vents, ducts, and pipes into finished materials that complemented the classic design. “Eighty percent of the project was exposed spiral sheetmetal,” Joiner said. “We took extra precautions since our materials would be on display.”

Function and Form Unite

These efforts paid off—Fossil employees moved in on time and can now convene in a building that works in function and form. In the finished space, reclaimed wood wall cladding comes together with TD’s exposed metals to produce that vintage 1960s—era look that is so reflective of—and integral to—the Fossil brand. “The building represents Fossil’s style and design philosophy,” Claybrooke said, “and displays the firm’s creative talents to clients who visit from around the world.”

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TDSpirit

Project Gallery Winter 2011

Southern Arizona VA Medical Center — Tucson, Arizona

The goal throughout was to maintain the building’s structural integrity and meet historic requirements. “The common areas were sandwiched on the third floor between apartment units,” Ausema said, “and so ceiling penetrations, layover, and coordination were of vital importance.” Plumbing was designed to avoid the existing horizontal plumbing in the post office’s ceiling. And that’s when Mark Gerstner, TD’s Coordinator, applied his high-tech touch. “We used 3-D AutoCAD to redesign almost the entire plumbing system,” he said. This perspective helped accommodate floor-to-floor penetrations and create raisedfloor layovers to avoid the post office areas and preserve the hand-painted frescoes and marble walls of existing spaces. Although the coordination and redesign work took a few months, that planning was crucial to the project’s November 2011 on-time, on-budget completion. “Our early work let us finish out the project smoothly,” Sutton said, “and the customers are very pleased with the result.” TUCSON, ARIZONA

Energy-Efficient Home Provides Comfort and Care to Aging Vets

U.S. Post Office — Dallas, Texas DALLAS, TEXAS

TD Stamps Out Problems to Deliver Renovation of Circa 1929 Building

Few renovations are simple, but remodeling the landmark 400 North Ervay structure into apartments and retail spaces was particularly delicate. TDIndustries not only had to install new HVAC and plumbing systems at the circa 1929 federal courthouse, it could not disrupt the first-floor U.S. Post Office. Workers also had to avoid the already renovated courtrooms and common areas throughout the five-story structure. David Ausema and Brian Sutton—respectively, TD’s Project Managers for HVAC and plumbing—combined hands-on and high-tech skills to stamp out potential problems at the downtown Dallas site. Following the January 2011 kick off, the team spent the first few months planning and redesigning the HVAC and plumbing systems. That’s when digital tools took a back seat to field personnel expertise: TD team members walked every floor with designers and workers from Gables Residential to determine the best routing, systems, and floor penetrations.

TDSpirit • • • WINTER 2011

TDIndustries’ green skills and design-build expertise helped erect a new home for aging service members. In June 2010, Haydon Building Corp. broke ground on the new 130,000-square-foot assisted living facility for WWII veterans at Southern Arizona Veteran’s Home. TD worked with Sullivan Engineering on design/assist work to supply the 120-bed home with highly efficient HVAC and other mechanical systems. Work on the facility, which contains activity rooms, common dining areas, a rehabilitation facility, and an outdoor courtyard, was not without complication. The five separate woodframe-constructed buildings needed to use up to 30 percent recycled material and conserve energy in other ways. Yet Haydon Project Executive Kevin “Cub” Carter and Superintendent Rob Bungener, having worked with TD in the past, knew they could entrust the job to Production Manager Doug Wallace and his team. Wallace relied on many others—Keith Mortenson, Sheetmetal Superintendent; Kevin Martinez, Mitsubishi Equipment Specialist; Jose Miranda, Sheetmetal Foreman; and Bob Wright, Coordination—to get the work done on time and on budget. TD’s green building experience was critical. A TDinstalled high-efficiency HVAC system—mostly made

up of Mitsubishi VRF air conditioners—provides each resident with control over room temperature. Variable speed condensers deliver added efficiency. TD installed other solutions to reduce energy use. “Building and bathroom exhaust systems were routed through energy recovery units,” Wallace said. “These units use the conditioned exhaust to pre-cool the incoming air, maintain building pressure, and boost overall efficiency.” Solar water heaters and window shading also help conserve energy. Veterans will begin to move into the facility in early 2012. “Individuals living here will be able to access needed care but still retain some independence,” said Project Manager Michael Minium. “It will be home to a few of the many who deserve our gratitude and thanks.”

Texas State University — San Marcos, Texas SAN MARCOS, TEXAS

Academic Center is a Green Jewel in Texas State University’s Crown

The new LEED silver—certified academic center rising on Texas State University’s (TXST) hilly San Marcos campus is shaping up to be a beautiful “green” gem—a standout feature in the school’s architecturally diverse crown. As a first stop for prospective students, parents, and other guests, expectations for the center are high. The space, set to open in April of 2012, will showcase the university during orientations and house classrooms, academic facilities, and social spaces. For TXST officials, precision work on the structure was an absolute requirement. Although TDIndustries’ LEED building skills made it a natural fit to work on the center with contractor Flintco, Inc., TD’s knack for the nitty-gritty won the day. “Our outstanding reputation for attention to detail won us the job,” said Blake Arapis, TD’s Project Superintendent. “TD’s history of success with Flintco—on Texas State’s Round Rock School of Nursing and its baseball/softball stadium—didn’t hurt us either.” TD further enhanced its reputation with a feat of onsite construction ingenuity. Using prefabrication expertise and tools such as TD’s Building Information Modeling (BIM), Arapis and his team assembled four levels of duct risers on the ground. Then, with the help of a tower crane, they raised the structure and set it into place before the roof was installed. “It was a vivid demonstration of TD’s exactitude and speed and our team pulled it off flawlessly,” Arapis said. He

saluted the crucial work of team members Roland Abarca, Project Manager; Kenneth Jorgenson, Piping Foreman; Josh Rodriguez, Plumbing Foreman; and Sheetmetal Foremen Oscar Benavides and Joseph Blue. Since the July 2010 project start, these and other milestones have impressed TXST officials. They are fully confident in the team that is building what promises to be an attractive, alluring, and environmentally sensitive new addition to the campus. HOUSTON, TEXAS

TD Tools Focus Work on University of Houston’s Ophthalmic Lab

To meet a six-month deadline to get the air on at a new ophthalmic research lab, a contractor needs a clear vision. When TDIndustries got this mandate from the University of Houston’s Medical School, its plans for meeting this milestone quickly came into focus. The plans involved using TD’s planning tools, prefabrication skills, and other methods to meet the tight rough-in schedule. A key directive was for the structure to be “air on” by November 2011, within just six months of the start date. As work with Tellepsen Builders began on the building—a new space for classrooms, research facilities, and, eventually, outpatient eye surgery—TD used Building Information Modeling (BIM) to provide 3-D coordination in the planning phase. Other tactics, such as prefabrication, accelerated the pace of work. “The project relies on these TD processes and technologies for speed,” said Randee Herrin, TD Project Executive. “They enable us to respond to aggressive timeframes and to changing situations in a timely and professional manner.” TD is installing a completely independent 2,250-ton central plant with a cooling tower, associated pumps, and pipe valve fittings. TD is also installing a steam clean system for the research lab’s vivarium. In order to maintain the tight schedule, TD used prefabrication to assist with the installation of the central plant and airhandling unit hookups. These tools helped Herrin meet that six-month “air on” deadline. But she credits her team for never losing sight of the schedule: Mike Phillips, Senior Project Manager; Jared Hothan, Project Manager; Mark Pucharich, Project General Superintendent; Eugene Ross, Piping Foreman; Chris Bailey, Plumbing Foreman; and Robert Fernandez, Sheetmetal Foreman. Herrin’s team is now within eyeshot of the client’s next goal: for the lab to be 75 percent complete by the end of 2011.

University of Houston Ophthalmic Lab — Houston, Texas

TDSpirit • • • WINTER 2011

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

TD’s Solid Playbook Keeps Skydome Open Though Renovation

Closing Northern Arizona University’s (NAU) legendary Walkup Skydome during football season is as unthinkable as an alumnus rooting against the Lumberjacks.

Cunningham had a stellar team that made this project successful: Doug Wallace, Production Manager; Mike Wilson, Superintendent; Memo Rodriguez, Piping Foreman; Ron Klavinski, Sheetmetal Foreman; Gary Christensen, Plumbing Foreman; and Bob Wright, Coordinator. DALLAS, TEXAS

Energy-Saving Upgrades Valued by The Crescent

TDIndustries has a way of making itself invaluable to its customers. TD was there when The Crescent installed its mechanical systems in the 1980s. And TD is there now to assist the prestigious business complex as it modernizes and upgrades its systems. It’s a 25-year relationship that is paying off in multiple ways. TD’s experience is key. “In 2008, I assisted The Crescent budget its chiller change-outs, which had to be spread over five years,” said Ken Scheepers, an applied systems and energy advisory services consultant with TD Solutions Group. “My knowledge and experience of the plant and systems—and positive relations with the client—are valueadds for the current work.” TD’s expertise is also key. When TDIndustries replaced the first two of five chillers during fall of 2009, Scheepers and Tim Feeley, TD’s Project Manager, installed utiliVisor

NAU Skydome — Flagstaff, Arizona

So when TDIndustries was called on to keep the facility running through the 2010 season, while helping complete a multimillion-dollar HVAC and plumbing renovation, it knew planning and execution would be critical success factors. TD Project Manager Patrick W. Cunningham and his team realized their work would be scrutinized. “This was a high-profile project,” Cunningham said, “and people around NAU were watching progress eagerly.” The prestige and history of the Skydome only added to the pressure. It’s the third largest clear-span timber-framed dome in the country. In addition to being home to the Lumberjacks, the facility is used for other sporting events, including track and field, and it hosts premier conferences. At 268,000 square feet, the dome seats 10,000. But the facility hadn’t been remodeled since 1977. It needed ADA compliance upgrades; athletic and coaching amenities, including showers, bathrooms, and rooms for weight lifting and hydrotherapy; and press box renovations. TD’s tasks were to install a new air conditioning system and supply plumbing to the new functional spaces. TD added a 120-ton air-cooled chiller with 30-fan coil units. Two heat exchangers were tied into the existing central plant’s high-temperature, hot water system to heat water and supply domestic hot water. “The client’s expectations of us were high for on-time completion and seamless turnover,” Cunningham said. “Barton Malow hired us because of our expertise in the sports facility market.”

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The Crescent — Dallas, Texas

to continuously record and measure the entire chilled water plant’s operational efficiency and costs. With this valuable information and minor controls changes, TD assisted in reducing the complex’s overall energy costs. Since July 2010, TD’s web-based continuous energy oversight service allowed The Crescent to cut more than 1.47 million kilowatt hours of electricity and save more than $116,000. “Building operators and TD’s Operation Center engineers—who act as virtual operators—can now remotely view the operations’ energy use and cost in real time,” Feeley said. “The insight allows them to observe and adjust the daily operations as needed, which improves overall efficiency.” Another key asset derived from TD’s long relationship with The Crescent is that Partners know the facilities inside and out. That means tenants aren’t bothered when TD replaces the complex’s air handlers, cooling towers, or chillers or takes steps to reduce the buildings’ carbon footprint. “The idea that we can save a good customer thousands of dollars—and, in the process, make its job easier by documenting and reporting previously unavailable data— is like gold for us,” Scheepers said. “We hope to be this valuable to The Crescent for the next 25 years.”

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

TD Overcomes Complexities to Reach New Heights on Air Base Transformation

To gain liftoff on a project to transform Brooks Air Force Base into a new science and technology hub, TDIndustries’ plans were put to the test. Brooks Development Authority sought a contractor that could modernize old buildings on a large site, navigate knotty financing, and maneuver around other potential problems. TD’s proposal for the new Brooks City-Base passed with flying colors. Chosen as the prime contractor for the design-build, work on the 100,000-square-foot project started in June 2011. TD first had to surmount a number of complexities:

Cook Children’s Medical Center — Fort Worth, Texas FORT WORTH, TEXAS

First-Class Health Care Center Gets Best-inClass Service

Building a new medical office building for Cook Children’s Medical Center isn’t child’s play. When Linbeck got the project, it needed a partner with design-assist experience and planning prowess. For these skills, it turned to TDIndustries. To complete the new health care facility, which will deliver services to children throughout the Southwest, TD is using all the tools in its tool belt. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one such tool helping to construct the 284,283-square-foot facility, which will hold six operating rooms and spaces for radiology, labs, dialysis, and a pharmacy. TD is supplying the systems for steam, chilled and heating water, fully ducted supply and return, and reverse osmosis. “We used our BIM Cave which is a room dedicated to multi-trade BIM collaboration to assist in coordinating the project,” said Aaron Rice, TD’s Project Executive. “In fact, our BIM capability and our design-assist capability were major reasons TD was hired.” To help manage a project of this size, Matt Terry, TD’s Project Manager, utilized the MISOP planning tool. Trimble Total Station technology helped the team lay out the underground plumbing, sleeves, and wall penetrations. Last Planner, Constraint Logs, and Pull Scheduling enabled TD and other trades to meet every milestone in the project schedule. These tools have been vital to keeping the project— which started July 2010 and must be done by December 2011—on time and on budget. Also keeping the project moving are Mark Jackson, Senior Superintendant; Jeremy Kieschnick, Superintendant; Alberto Sandoval, Plumbing Supervisor; Richard Ortega, Sheetmetal Supervisor; and Mike Hancock, Lead Coordinator. “The project is on a very tight timeline to finish, and all of TD’s project management methods are essential for keeping everyone on track,” Terry said. The end result will be a first-class health center for children.

• A shift in operations from a single-payer private entity to a multi-tenant public entity • Retrofitting most of the 60-year-old buildings with stand-alone, energy-efficient HVAC systems • A funding mandate that energy-and-operations savings finance the project within 10 years And much of TD’s work had to be done to occupied buildings. “We needed to get two base buildings onto their own HVAC systems without disturbing the tenants who remained,” said Tom Brimer, TD Vice President. Two of the Kennedy-era buildings—where NASA researched the moon shot—are still used for Air Force research. One contains atmospheric testing equipment and another has a centrifuge for pilot testing. To upgrade the facilities, TD installed new mechanical systems: two air-cooled chillers, pumps, hot-water boilers, and a process-steam boiler. Working overtime, Brimer and his team—including Steve Garza, TD Vice President; Harley “Doug” Burchard, Superintendent; Cheryl Hollowell, Payroll Manager; and Jennifer SanPedro, Payroll Specialist—have sent the customer’s mood soaring. Work is on budget and will be finished on schedule by November 2011. “We’ve kept them operational with very few interruptions,” Brimer said. “The facilities remain equipped for research, but now cost far less to operate.”

Cook Children’s Medical Center — Fort Worth, Texas

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TDIndustries

Has a Saving Solution for All Markets

Small Buildings Win Big with TDSAVES Energy-efficient building solutions are not only for huge facilities. Mid-sized buildings—schools, banks, churches, offices, retail spaces—can also optimize performance and cut costs Yet TDIndustries discovered that a lot of mid-market customers thought their energy costs were fixed. “Many owners and facility managers of small and mediumsized buildings assumed they had no control, and so they never sought a solution to improve performance,” said Tom Brimer, Vice President. “Some of these owners and managers didn’t even look at their gas, water, and electric bills.” Even if these customers had sought a solution, they may not have found one. That’s because sellers of energy-saving programs tend to focus on bigger buildings.

Customized Components

With TDSAVES, this is no longer the situation. Tailored with the middle market in mind, this TD-engineered building performance solution is designed specifically for owners and operators of smaller sized facilities. Launched in October 2011, TDSAVES was crafted using strategic components of utiliVisor, the comprehensive monitoringbased commissioning tool TD uses for large operations. “We were able to scale the product and streamline the energy-auditing process for medium and small environments,” said Dan Edwards, TD’s lead Energy Engineer. TDSAVES starts with education. “We first let our clients know they actually have some control over their energy usage and may be able to lower their costs,” said Tracie Garza, Sales Manager. “It’s a great value-add for our clients but we first let them know the bottom-line potential.”

A Three-Step Solution

Once a client signs on to TDSAVES, TD experts work with the facility team to implement a three-step process: Step 1. Using U.S. Department of Energy data, TD utilizes a proprietary software tool to compare the facility’s utility and energy costs with similar buildings in the region. Based on this data, a Building Efficiency Report is generated for the owner or manager.

TDSAVES is available in every market that TD serves. The program can be implemented with zero impact on tenants and facility operations. For Garza, the main selling point of TDSAVES is its positive environmental impact. “Facility managers and building owners serve a customer base increasingly concerned about a warming climate,” she noted. “By implementing TDSAVES and reducing the carbon footprint of their buildings, our clients can show their customers that they care about people and the planet.”

LEAN INNOVATION At the beginning of 2011, the TD Manufacturing group set a goal of creating and implementing 150 process improvements to promote efficiency and LEAN principles. In May, that goal was met, and so a new stretch goal was set: 300 process improvements by the end of the year. As of Dec. 1, 2011, the group had implemented 310 process improvements. This feat illustrates that LEAN principles are not a fad, but a way of life at TDIndustries.

Step 2. Next, TD places specialized sensors to monitor the building remotely over a two-week period, collecting temperature, humidity, air-quality, light-levels, and other data to show how the facility consumes energy. TD uses the information to recommend methods— from the simple to the complex—to get the building running at peak efficiency. Step 3. Finally, TD works with the client to develop a long-term plan for continued utility cost reduction.

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TDSpirit

Career Milestones

August 2011—December 2011

40 35

Phil English Multifamily

Tim Edwards Major Projects Jerry Harper TDManufacturing Stephen Richmond Major Projects

30 25 14

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Chuck Stroud Jr. Special Projects

Terri Covert Major Projects Mike Phillips Houston

Randy Bailey Technology John Gonzalez TDManufacturing

Bobby Clouse Jr. Dallas Service Coley Canter Professional Services David McClane Major Projects David Fowler Central Texas Dennis Grissom Major Projects

Hammer Simpson Dallas Service John McCutcheon Jr. Major Projects Michael Frank Dallas Service Mike Haga Special Projects Modesto Alfaro TDManufacturing

Paco Casales Major Projects Ramiro Villanueva Houston

Felipe Hernandez Jr. Houston Misty Jackson Professional Services David Torres Jr. Technology Louisa Taylor Professional Services Sonia Taylor Central Texas

Stacy Thomas Professional Services Manny Mendoza Central Texas

Not Pictured

Amando Acuna Special Projects Shanna Ashley Phoenix Brent Baugh Major Projects Larry Benton II Facilities Management Mel Bowman III Central Texas Juan Calzada Major Projects Joe Carlisle Fort Worth Pedro Castillo Major Projects

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Ricardo Chavez Major Projects Jose Cornejo Facilities Management Aaron Corral-Hinojosa Phoenix Joel Ellis Facilities Management Dai Faison-Alexander Dallas Service Martin Figueroa Houston Bob Grable Facilities Management Miguel Guzman Phoenix

Not Pictured

Bob Halcarz TDManufacturing Steve Harris Facilities Management Eddie Hernandez Major Projects Bobby Hull Fort Worth Erneto Jandres Houston Kenneth Johnson Technology Lee Lacy III Dallas Service

Travis Laurendine Facilities Management John Lowe Central Texas Joe Lynch Major Projects Judy Mayberry Professional Services Jim Bob McGuire Major Projects Abraham Mendoza Major Projects David Mercado Facilities Management

Jerry Millership Central Texas Daniel Molina Jr. Technology Robin Newton Major Projects James Page Facilities Management Mauricio Payan Central Texas Alfredo Perez Facilities Management Gonzalo Porras Major Projects Rhonda Prieto Facilities Management Jim Pry Houston Brian Ransom Major Projects Shawn Riley Major Projects James Saldana Central Texas Terry Shiflet Jr. Facilities Management Jose Solis Major Projects Frank Taylor Major Projects Joe Thanoulith TDManufacturing Ruben Torres Special Projects Larry Truong Facilities Management Kim Ulloa Facilities Management James Venegas Facilities Management David Vivas Technology Tim Walls Special Projects Paul Washington TDManufacturing Jason Welty Technology

Not Pictured

Elbert Williams Facilities Management Garfield Williams Jr. Major Projects Sonny Yargo Jr. Facilities Management

Nicole Schauster is the 2011 TDIndustries Diversity Champion

• Exhibits a commitment to diversity • Demonstrates excellence in his or her approach to valuing diversity and fostering equal opportunities • Treats others with dignity and respect • Creates a positive work environment

A Diversity Champion displays many of the following characteristics:

• Challenges and overcomes obstacles in mainstreaming diversity and equality

• Places a high value on diversity and fairness • Leads in the areas of diversity and equality • Serves as a role model/mentor who recruits, hires, and promotes diversity leaders

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TD GIVES BACK MARION, TEXAS

TD Volunteers Help Build Specially Adapted Family Home for Disabled Vet

TD Develops Precision Skills for Specialized Work Thanks to an enterprising group of TDIndustries’ Partners, team members can now be specially trained in process piping and other skills to better serve TD’s growing high-tech marketplace. TD Technology team members Frank Grelle, Joel Stewart, and Jason Cinek conceived of the specialized training program about a year ago, during a period of rapid growth. The resulting T2 (Technology Tech) Program is based on a simple premise: high-tech manufacturing facilities are unique environments and are best served by highly skilled workers. “The goals of the training program are to reduce the learning curve, enhance safety, and raise our baseline skills to a standardized level,” Cinek said. “Rather than being trained solely on the job, Partners arrive on site with a specific skill set.” With the help of TD Training Director Steve Luce and guidance from the Construction Education Foundation, Grelle, Stewart, and Cinek developed the curriculum for T2, a five-phase program that mixes classroom work and mentored field training. Classes cover basic industry concepts, safety issues, and technical skills needed to fabricate ultra-high-purity stainless piping; process mechanical piping; and install complex exhaust systems. Technology team leaders serve as subject matter experts and conduct most of the classroom training. To maximize the effectiveness of hands-on learning, TD Technology Partners designed and built a full-size lab—complete with overhead and under-floor piping/exhaust systems—to simulate actual jobsite conditions. The first class began in Dallas in February 2011 and 13 students graduated in August 2011. Soon after, TD Technology Partners based in Austin began a T2 class. By the end of 2011, a second group will graduate and a third session will begin. Partners who complete this rigorous training then become mentors to others, continuing the cycle of process improvement and excellence that will drive TDIndustries’ growth in the high-tech sector.

When the national nonprofit Homes for Our Troops put out the call for volunteers to build a new family residence for Army Spc. Craig Andrade—an Iraq War veteran severely disabled by a roadside bomb in 2005— the construction industry’s response was immediate. Hardin Construction, TDIndustries, All-Tex Pipe and Supply, Ferguson Enterprises, and many others donated services, supplies, and labor to build the specially adapted home for Andrade. TD Partners — including Jim Jones, LeRoy Rouse, Stephen Oaks, Erek Stone, Mauricio Payan, Harley Burchard, Sam Garcia, Jesse Hernandez, Danny Lozano, Gadrian Salazar, and Austin Jones spent weekends installing it. The home was built to ease the former specialist’s mobility and independence who lost his legs in the 2005 blast. When Andrade, his wife, and three young children moved in Nov. 11, 2011, several TD Partners were on hand. “It was a very emotional event,” said Jones, TD’s Coordination Manager. “We gave our time, but that in no way compares to the sacrifices made by Andrade and his family on behalf of the country.”

Learn more at:

www.homesforourtroops.org

TDSpirit • • • WINTER 2011

Why TDWiki TDIndustries has more than 1,700 Partners working on hundreds of projects at any given time. Every one of these projects presents challenges that require us to create innovative solutions. This raises several questions: How do we ensure that these innovations not only stay with TDIndustries, but are easily found by others? How do we harness all of that collective learning into a powerful tool for every TD Partner on the job? These challenges were met by the creation of TDWiki. The mission of TDWiki is to provide a web-based, collaborative, sustainable library of process solutions, forms, and documents critical to the day-to-day operation of TDIndustries. This library was created to promote collaboration and to gain the collective mindshare of Partners across all geographic markets, industries, trades, and projects. The TDWiki will transform the daily behaviors of our Partners in many positive ways.

TDIndustries

Uses Technology to

Develop Innovative Solutions Where We Are Now

We determined that we needed a place to hold and share current and new best practices. We wanted the platform to be easy to use, electronic, searchable, sustainable, and cross referenceable. Based on these requirements, a team was assembled under the leadership of Joel Cureton to develop the platform and start gathering best practices. The team focused on two primary areas: the technical platform of SharePoint and the content path. The technical path was supported by Scott Castleberry and our IT department. The content path began with our construction teams and was driven by a group of Production Managers from across all geographies that included Gary Barr, Jimbo Bunnell, Bobby Cole, Tim Edwards, Dwight Matthews, David Perdue, Joel Stewart, and Doug Wallace. This group worked to develop “standard operating procedures” that would be documented and, ultimately, housed on our new platform, TDWiki. What this means to our clients is that TD Partners have access to a searchable library full of lessons learned and best practices for almost any situation. The tool increases productivity and efficiency and reduces errors and safety incidents.

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Built for the Long Haul

A key feature of the TDWiki is that all content is driven by TD Partners. Any TD Partner can suggest a new piece of content or request a change to an existing piece of content on the TDWiki. Each piece of content has an “expert owner” whose role is to filter these comments and make changes when necessary. Each piece of content is reviewed at least once a year by its expert owner to ensure that it is still relevant and up to date. TD’s entire Construction Process Manual has been migrated to the TDWiki and core processes for Facility Management and Truck-Based Service teams are now being added. This library will put every TD Partner one mouse click away from the collective experience gained by TDIndustries over the last 65 years.

PARTNER PROFILE

Vice President, TD San Antonio

Steven Garza

The Right Mix

Garza is particularly adept at making sure TD has the right mix of business within the fluctuating construction marketplace. He joined TD’s San Antonio operation in 1998 with experience in federal minority contracting that became an enormous asset. Sensing the public work opportunities in San Antonio—linked to the area’s military installations—Garza positioned TD to win key government contracts. TD’s entry into the military market coincided with his formal move into business development. “We concentrate and excel at doing design-build and design-assist projects,” Garza says. “My role is to help that effort.” Garza’s market insight helped TD weather the post–9/11 period, when military work slowed. He moved to balance TD’s project portfolio with more private-sector work. He adjusted yet again in 2008 when the recession hit and the government was a main source of project work. In three years, Garza’s grown TD’s military market tenfold. “Government work grew a lot faster the second time around,” he says.

The Right Partner

To his customers and colleagues in San Antonio and now in the Rio Grande Valley, Steven Garza is known as a “the face of TD.” In his 13 years as Partner, Garza helped grow TD’s San Antonio construction business from $2 million to $20 million, and he has plans to hit the $35 million–mark by 2020. “Just when you think a slowdown is coming, Steven is there with another project,” says Dwight Matthews, TD Vice President. Matthews marvels at Garza’s ability to bring in work that keeps his crews busy. “I don’t know how he does it.” “Steven is a strong leader on our team,” says TD President Bob Richards. “He has been integral in the growth of our business, our Partners, our customer base, and our vision to provide and build great careers.” Garza credits his successes to an excellent team of project managers, field personnel, and other Partners. But clearly his special skills are satisfying customers and building long-term relationships.

That’s probably because Garza helped make TD San Antonio an attractive partner for government at all levels. Garza and his Partners have mastered the nuances of government contracting. “The government operates in a totally different system—it’s very structured, very specific,” Garza says. “We understand its roles and processes.” Garza and his Partners have built TD’s systems to be governmentcompatible. That means TD can offer certified payroll, cost accounting, quality assurance training, and other governmentfriendly capabilities. In fact, within TD, Garza and his Partners in San Antonio are now a leading source of information for military and government work. Garza says excellent execution and strong client relations lead to repeat business. “Clients in our current markets have helped us transition into our newest market, the Rio Grande Valley,” Garza says (see cover story). “Our existing customers have asked us to perform services for them in this market as well. This has allowed us to work with clients who we know want the services that TD excels at providing.” “We work really hard to build and maintain our relationships,” he says. The result is that public and private work in the Valley over the past year—like TD’s military expansion before that—has taken off. For Garza, TD is poised to accelerate growth in the Valley and in more markets: “I’m eager to show all our potential clients what TD can do for them.”

TEXAS CHILD DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Bent Iron Invitational Nets $8K for Texas Child Development Nonprofit

From left to right: Logan Harper and Tim McNew of TD, Matt Carter of McMillan and James, Matt Carthey of Holt Lunsford Commercial

TD Fort Worth team members recently hit the links and in the process netted $8,000 to help Texas children get a healthy start in life. The proceeds from the October 17, 2011, Bent Iron Invitational charity golf tournament went to Childcare Associates, which provides early childhood development services throughout Texas. TD team members organized and sponsored the event, inviting vendors and even competitors to participate. Although many TD Partners were involved, key players helping to tee up this successful outing included Tim McNew, Logan Harper, John Baker, and Pam Holland. “The tournament was so much fun we plan on making this an annual event,” McNew said.

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13850 Diplomat Drive | Dallas‚ TX 75234

San Marcos, Texas

Problem: Deteriorating cast iron lines at the performing arts center had the facility managers at Texas States seeking in a tough situation. They turned to the TD Service team in Austin for a solution. Situation: The day after signing a service agreement with TD Austin, managers of the lakefront facility called with a dire plumbing emergency. TD technicians arrived on site to discover they needed boats to get a visual on the lines. With the help of three flat-bottom vessels, 14 sets of chest waders, and anti-shock cordless equipment, TD inspected the pipes. Technicians immediately saw that cast lines were collapsing and moved quickly to limit the damage.. TD’s Paul Wilson didn’t dance around the challenge: “You could be plumber all your life and never run into a problem like this.” Solution: TD technicians first installed new above-water pipes that will eventually submerge. Working in chest-high water, technicians replaced all cast iron piping with PVC to prevent rust and corrosion. Rust-resistant stainless steel riser clamps and hangers firmly affix the pipes, which are now properly sloped and distanced to ensure drainage to the city manhole. Result: This was the largest service job TD Austin had ever done. It was not only pulled off accident-free, it came in under budget. And it was completed in just eight weeks. The successful result for the performing arts center prompted the university to call on TD to do even more work.

TD SOLUTIONS CORNER

TD choreographs repairs to fix leaky pipes at Texas State University’s (TXST) Performing Arts Center