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FOR TODAY’S WOMAN IN CONSTRUCTION
February/March 2010
Building for the
Giants Member Tamara Crooks works on a project of a lifetime with the Dallas Zoo
Estimating for Contracting Firms Is it a Matter of Science or Art?
Building Tall A Look at the Past, Present and Future of Skyscrapers
Contractors & Lead Paint Safety New EPA Requirements
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION March 7-13, 2010
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK
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Contents In Every Issue
10
16
20
23
NAWIC Member Services
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Partners & Sponsors
7
NEF Foundation Focus
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NEF Member Services
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Industry Briefs & Events
34
Fun Facts
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29
Departments
Features
5 Association News: Under Construction by Dede Hughes, IOM 6 Visions: Building Buildings by Robin Fulton Meyer, CIT 14 Faces of the Industry 15 By the Book: What Construction Executives are Reading by Matt Stevens 28 Tech Tips: Lose the junk by Tim Elmore
10 Building for the Giants by Misty Hart
31 Chapter Spotlight by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. 32 Workforce: 11 Rules for Success by Richard Gorham 33 Pulse Point: Project Management —The Business of Green By Michelle LaBrosse, MSME, PMP & Erica Edmond, CAPM
26 10 Reasons Your Construction Project Needs ConsensusDocs
allas Chapter Member Tamara Crooks works with the Dallas Zoo on a D $27 million expansion project.
16 Building Tall: A look at the Past, Present and Future of Skyscrapers The desire to build tall is nothing new.
20 Live from Kandahar by Christine Hess Learn about construction life in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
23 Estimating for Contracting Firms by Matt Stevens Placing appropriate price proposals in the market gives a construction firm the best chance for continued success. Discover construction contracts drafted by expert construction professionals who have hundreds of years of combined experience.
29 Contractors & Lead Paint Safety Get up to-date on the EPA’s Lead Renovations, Repair & Painting Program Rule.
Cover photo by Michelle Milner February/March 2010
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insight By Misty Hart
Building a Magazine
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hen I first thought of the idea for this issue, I envisioned an issue covering different sectors of the construction industry. However, after a bit of brainstorming, it occurred to me that you, the NAWIC members, are definitely in the business of building buildings. So, why not take a peak into some of your construction projects? I was sure we had ladies who were working on interesting projects that would serve as useful, educational and entertaining information for the membership. I was certainly not disappointed! We have a member right here in Dallas, Texas, working with the Dallas Zoo to build a $27 million expansion, the biggest ever in the zoo’s history. I had the exciting opportunity to tour this unique project site. Read all about her story beginning on page 10. We also have a member working with the Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan building military construction. Learn about her life, career and dedication in Kandahar on page 20. To build on to this sturdy foundation, I added features to help you in your construction business. Becoming estimating experts will ensure that you keep working, and project success and project failure can sometimes boil down to your construction contracts. Discover the new ConsensusDocs to help you nail down the details of your construction project. Finally, to support the strong foundation of feature stories, I included department articles that will educate, inspire and motivate you. It’s all inside. Best,
Misty Hart, Editor
Member Services NAWIC’s member services are designed to provide you with discounts and special member rates. Visit www.nawic.org>Member Services for services offered and discount codes. Subscriptions Contractors Management Journal Engineering News Record PC Novice / PC Today PWC Travel Alamo Rent-A-Car* Avis Car Rental* Budget Car Rental* Enterprise Rent-A-Car* Hertz Rental* National Car Rental* NAWIC Travel Center*
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Magazine of the National Association of Women in Construction Core Purpose: To Enhance the Success of Women in the Construction Industry
NAWIC Office 327 S. Adams Street Fort Worth, TX 76104 Toll-Free: (800) 552-3506 Phone: (817) 877-5551 Fax: (817) 877-0324 Web site: www.nawic.org E-mail: nawic@nawic.org EDITOR Misty Hart mistyh@nawic.org Layout & Design AD SALES Michelle Milner michellem@nawic.org Print Services Summit Press PERMIT NO.12458. Volume 31/Number 3. The NAWIC IMAGE (ISSN 1081-6569) is published October/November, December/January, February/March, June/July, August/ September by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), 327 S. Adams Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104-1002 for members of NAWIC. NAWIC membership dues (include a $50 subscription to The NAWIC IMAGE) are $211, Active Chapter; $286, Corporate Chapter; $46, Student Chapter; $211, Member-At-Large; $36, Student Member-At-Large; and $140, International. A nonmember subscription is $50/yr; $70, foreign. The views and opinions that appear in articles in The NAWIC IMAGE do not reflect the official policies of NAWIC unless specifically indicated. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The NAWIC IMAGE, 327 S. Adams Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104-1002. Periodicals postage paid at the Fort Worth, Texas, mailing office. HOW TO CONTACT US: The NAWIC IMAGE, 327 S. Adams Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104-1002, (817) 877-5551, (800) 552-3506, Fax: (817) 877-0324, E-mail: nawic@nawic.org, www.nawic.org.
to donate a portion of their royalties back to NAWIC.
President-Elect Debra M. Gregoire, CIT Vice President Judy DeWeese, CIT Secretary Shirley S. Horne, CIT Treasurer Cindy Johnsen, CDS**, CIT Imm. Past President Pat J. McDonald, CCA*, CIT Region Directors Region 1 Jennifer L. McElroy, CIT Region 2 Anne H. Welch, CIT Region 3 Tina M. Laws Region 4 Janet P. Sullivan, CCA, CDS, CIT Region 5 Christine E. Barnhill, CCA, CIT, WBE Region 6 Anne M. Houchin Region 7 Sandy K. Field Region 8 Linda M. Champlin-Frank, CIT Region 9 Cathy Brady, CDS Region 10 Shawna C. Alvarado, CIT Region 11 Dove Sifers-Putman Region 12 Ellen Colglazier Region 13 Susan L. Jaske, CIT Region 14 Carol P. Henry, CCA * Certified Construction Associate ** Construction Document Specialist *** Construction Industry Technician NAWIC Staff Executive Vice President Dede Hughes, IOM dedeh@nawic.org IT/Web Specialist Tim Elmore time@nawic.org Membership Director Sandy Fite sandyf@nawic.org Bookkeeper Darlene Hutzel darleneh@nawic.org Communications Director Misty Hart mistyh@nawic.org Marketing Director Julie Lyssy juliel@nawic.org
Special Services Assurant Affinity Group Health Solutions* Civic-Checks of Paragon Enterprises* FedEx* Lorman Education Services* NAWIC Career Center* NAWIC Technology Center Office Max* Visa through Bank of America*
*These companies have agreed
Board of Directors President Robin Fulton Meyer, CIT***
Membership Assistant Lauri McCullough laurim@nawic.org Communications Assistant Michelle Milner michellem@nawic.org
International Affiliates
Administrative Manager & NAWIC Store Manager Theresa Provenza-Price theresap@nawic.org
ASSOCIATION NEWS By Dede Hughes, IOM, NAWIC EVP
Under Construction The NAWIC Office is still under construction.
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t the time of my last article, we had an expected completion date of the middle of January. Well, that certainly did not happen! We have experienced some rather interesting delays. I have a new appreciation for those of you involved in the every-day construction process. I was not aware that so many people would be involved in this process. We are working through the process and hope to have the project completed by the time you are reading this article. For those of you out in the
then averaged our scores together. It is amazing how close we always are in the alignment of the awards. This is one of the most rewarding events I participate in each year. The winners truly deserve to win, as the competition is awesome. I attended the CEO Symposium in Florida with President-Elect Debra M. Gregoire, CIT. This is an event sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives. We both had a chance to talk about the upcoming year, and how we can work together effectively for the Association. The President-Elect and I have been attending this event for many years, and it is always worthwhile. While President-Elect Gregoire and I have worked together on the board for a number of years, this program helps us learn more about one another and how we can best work as a team next year. We are looking for more ways to work with you, the NAWIC member, to enhance your career. This is very important, especially in today’s economy.i
“We are looking for more ways to work with you, the NAWIC member, to enhance your career.” field every day, I applaud you and your career. You must all have very broad shoulders, and we wouldn’t have so many wonderful construction projects without you and your tenacity. In other Association News, Associated Builders and Contractors is well on its way to the completion of a Diversity Manual for both employees and employers. I have been involved with this committee since its inception, and many dedicated professionals have worked diligently to make this manual a reality. When it is complete, it will be available to NAWIC members. The manual will be helpful, as we all strive to create a diverse and inclusive workforce. For example, there is a “Best Practices” chapter, a chapter on how to make these changes, and another on how to sustain the changes when they are made. We hope this manual will help positively change our workforce practices, so we can all work together in harmony. It does take time, and future successes will tell the real story. We will let you know when this valuable resource becomes available. I was asked, once again, to be one of the judges for ABC’s Excellence in Construction Awards. I flew to Washington, D.C., for the day-long judging with many of my industry peers. It is always such a rewarding experience to look closely at the wonderful projects built in the United States. Such pride and hard work go into all of these projects, and I wish everyone could win at the national level. Of course, everyone is a winner, as each entry had to win at the local level in order to progress to the national level. During the judging process, we worked in teams of two—independently and
Contact the Executive Vice President at dedeh@nawic.org.
2010 Annual Forums Dates
Region
Location
April 30 - May 1
1
Groton, Conn.
April 23-25
2
Gatlinburg, Tenn.
April 30 - May 1
3
Orlando, Fla.
April 9-11
4
Akron, Ohio
April 23-25
5
Rogers, Ark.
May 14-15
6
Topeka, Kan.
April 9-10
7
Frisco, Texas
April 23-25
8
Phoenix, Ariz.
May 13-16
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Eugene, Ore.
May 14-16
10
Vacaville, Calif.
April 16-18
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Charlotte, N.C.
April 23-24
12
Long Beach, Calif.
April 29 - May 1
13
Milwaukee, Wis.
April 9-11
14
Canandaigua, N.Y. February/March 2010
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VISIONS
By Robin Fulton Meyer, CIT, NAWIC President
Building Buildings
Builders are now choosing local materials, considering environments impact, and optimizing resource usage.
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o matter how a building is built, the structure must accomplish three things: 1) Keep the weather out; 2) hold itself and the contents up; and 3) hold itself up under the duress of weather. Attention to the effects of construction on the environment, the proper development of land, and the choices of construction methods at every stage of the building can affect the quality of a finished building as much as premium materials.
These methods and techniques present a great opportunity for women to show leadership in a growing sector.
Stick frame construction, the most common form used in the United States, is seeing a shift from the traditional 2”x4” wood framing to 2”x6” wood framing in an effort to reduce the amount of lumber needed and allow for an increase in insulation volume. Recently, more builders have been substituting light gauge steel for wood framing, which has the advantage of being recyclable. Other, newer forms of construction materials seen include Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), a sandwich of two layers of a sheathing material (typically OSB) surrounding a foam insulation material (typically polystyrene); Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), hollow, block-like structures that stack together like bricks and are then filled with concrete; Adobe, a mixture of sand, clay and straw; and Rammed Earth, a mixture of clay, sand, gravel and either lime or Portland cement. Each of these building techniques has pros and cons for the various environments in which they are used. Builders must evaluate their merit, the availability of the materials, and their own comfort level and expertise. Strikingly, we are now making conscious choices about using local building materials; considering environmental impact; and optimizing resource usage, which historically was simply “the way it is.” For example, adobe has been in use since the Late Bronze and Iron Ages in Spain and the Middle East. It has also been popular in the Southwestern United States for decades. Why? Because its pros outweigh its cons in those environments, and the building materials are readily available. As the western United States was settled, grass (or green) roofs were common as well. Our past, once again, has met our present and is being touted as the wave of the future. For those wishing to design and build an eco-friendly build-
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ing, many options are now available. Architects, engineers and builders worldwide are now using construction methods and techniques that have been developed in response to local environmental concerns, the physical resources available and 21st century technological refinements. New sector language has been born to accurately capture the “why” for these new construction considerations: Eco-friendly construction, or green building, is building a building that is beneficial or non-harmful to the environment and resource efficient. This type of construction is efficient in its use of local and renewable materials and the energy required to build it and maintain it. Sustainable building is constructed using local sustainable materials, i.e. materials that can be used without any adverse effect on the environment, and which are produced locally, reducing the need to travel. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is seen as essential to sustaining the environment. Concrete is claimed to be a large source of carbon emission into the atmosphere. Scientists and cement associations are currently testing non-concrete alternatives. Architectural engineers are findings ways to build with recycled items such as old tires, blue jeans and paper. Construction waste management is becoming increasingly important to builders as well as rising landfill costs. Governments are pressuring them to reduce the amount of material that goes into landfills. These methods and techniques present a great opportunity for women to show leadership in a growing sector as well as advance their education in areas that allow them to stay on the cutting edge of construction for the future.i Contact the President: robinmeyer@verizon.net
Partners & Sponsors
Supporting NAWIC NAWIC Partners and Sponsors support women working in the industry. NAWIC’s Partners
NAWIC has signed partnering agreements with these organizations to promote various objectives of NAWIC’s core purpose, to enhance the success of women in the construction industry. • ACE Mentor Program of America..........................................................................................acementor.org • American Institute of Constructors..............................................................................................aicnet.org • American Road Transportation Builders.......................................................................................artba.org • American Society of Professional Estimators....................................................................aspenational.org • American Subcontractors Association..................................................................................asaonline.com • Associated Builders and Contractors...............................................................................................abc.org • Associated General Contractors of America.....................................................................................agc.org • Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering................................................................. aacei.org • Construction Financial Management Association......................................................................... cfma.org • Construction Specifications Institute........................................................................................... csinet.org • Federal Highway Administration........................................................................................... fhwa.dot.gov • FMI Corporation......................................................................................................................fmicorp.com • International Code Council.........................................................................................................iccsafe.org • National Center for Construction Education and Research............................................................ nccer.org • National Society of Professional Engineers....................................................................................nspe.org • Paxton/Patterson Building Skills...............................................................................paxtonpatterson.com • Society for Marketing Professional Services................................................................................. smps.org • Surety & Fidelity Association of America.....................................................................................surety.org • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers..............................................................................................usace.army.mil • U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau............................................................................. dol.gov/wb • Women Build of Habitat for Humanity International...........................................................habitat.org/wb • Women Work! The National Network for Women’s Employment...................................... womenwork.org To accurately load the web sites, you may need to type “www.” prior to the listed web address.
Media Ally
• Painting & Wallcovering Contractor (PWC) �������������������������������������������������������������������������paintstore.com
NAWIC Sponsor Spotlight MGM’s CityCenter Creates Unprecedented Opportunities for Minority-owned Firms CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. In all, MGM MIRAGE and Perini Building Company spent more than $700 million in construction and design contracts with minority-owned firms throughout the five-year CityCenter project. “As part of our Company’s Diversity Initiative, we undertook an aggressive approach to ensure that minority-owned firms had maximum opportunity to participate in the project,” said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter. “In many cases, these contractors increased the size of their firms as well as their bonding capacity, and gained a wealth of valuable experience in the process.”i
* Thanks to our Premier Sponsors!
The following companies take advantage of both Annual and Convention sponsorships, maximizing their support! Groundbreaker’s Club — $14,250 The Home Depot
Toolbox Club — $3,325 Big-D Construction Corp. Perini Building Company
Blueprint Club — $7,600 United Rentals Dollar amount represents total received for both Annual and Convention Sponsorships.
Join Our Growing List of Annual NAWIC Sponsors Diamond Level — $5,000 KBR (formerly BE&K Inc.) Kaiser Permanente The Home Depot *
kbr.com kp.org homedepot.com
Platinum Level — $2,500 Hohmann & Barnard Inc. United Rentals*
h-b.com ur.com
Gold Level — $1,500 Big-D Construction Corp.* CH2M Hill Doe Work-Wear, Corp. Hill International, Inc. Malcolm Pirnie Inc. MGM Mirage Perini Building Company*
Pizzagalli Construction Co.
pizzagalli.com
Tomboy Tools
tomboytools.com
Washington Division of URS
wgint.com
Silver Level — $750
big-d.com ch2mhill.jobs dwwclothing.com hillintl.com pirnie.com mgmmiragediversity.com perini.com
All American Asphalt
allamericanasphalt.com
Davis Constructors & Engineers Inc. Duit and TTK Construction Co.
www.davisconstructors.com duitconstruction.com
J.E. Dunn Construction Co. Manhattan Construction Co.
jedunn.com manhattanconstructiongroup.com
Mountainlands Area Plan Room Unit Company General Contractors
mountainlandsplanroom.com www.unitcompany.com
Walton Construction Co. LLC
waltonbuilt.com
For more information about Annual and Premier Sponsorships and benefits, visit www.nawic.org, or contact Executive Vice President Dede Hughes at (800) 552-3506. February/March 2010
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FOUNDATION FOCUS By Leona Dalavai Scott
‘Imagine’ What You Can Do … with NEF
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NEF President hopes theme will guide, inspire and most of all, help students of NEF to “imagine” the possibilities.
ancy Eaton, CCA, CDS, CIT, NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF) president’s theme for the 2009-2010 year is “Imagine.” “Imagine what you could do if only you do what you imagine,” says Eaton in explaining the theme. The theme may be simple, but she hopes it holds promise and motivation for members and nonmembers alike, as they take advantage of NEF’s educational offerings . Eaton challenges the construction industry to “Imagine” how the adult education programs NEF offers can benefit “My Self,” “My Community” and “My Chapter.” In a workshop at last year’s NAWIC Convention, Eaton asked attendees to consider how the various NEF classes available can benefit “My Self” to help them in their current jobs when discussing issues with clients, business associates and friends. Study groups are a popular method in learning and processing information, as it affords students the opportunity to come together and build their knowledge or help them to secure a job in their future. Eaton says that study groups are a great opportunity for friends to gather and learn from one another. In discussing “My Community,” Eaton says participants talked about the benefits of how Block-Kids, Build Design and CAD/ Drafting all reach into the community to educate people about the programs as well as the amazing careers that the construction industry offers. For “My Chapter,” Eaton says a lot of good ideas were generated about how to incorporate education into chapter meetings. One idea was to center a chapter’s monthly meetings for the year on a program based on adult education courses. For example, the Construction Industry Technician (CIT) course can be broken down into 12 chapters, and each section could be covered by an expert in that section’s subject matter. In addition, chapters could explore sponsoring adult education programs and charging a fee to the public to help with chapter fund-raising. To learn more about this or any of NEF’s educational programs, please visit www.nawiceducation.org or call (866) 277-2883.i Leona Dalavai Scott is a freelance writer for NEF.
Reminder: March 15, 2010 is the deadline to register for the next available Certified Construction Bookkeeping exam, which will be held on May 1, 2010. Please visit www.nawiceducation.org to learn about NEF’s new pricing structure for its courses, designed to give you more options.
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Benefit from NAWIC Education Foundation’s Construction Certification Courses! Certifications
Certified Construction Bookkeeping – CCB
■ Description: This certification will allow anyone to set up and operate a
simple bookkeeping system for a construction company. It covers the topics of general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivables, payroll and job cost.
Certified Construction Associate — CCA
■ Description: This certification is an advanced program of six home-study
courses in construction terminology, procedures and processes. CCA certification is based on completion of all six courses and by earning a grade of 75 percent or higher on all six exams.
Construction Document Specialist — CDS
■ Description: This two-part course covers the fundamentals of construc-
tion documentation. Part one, Construction Working Drawings and Project Manual, covers working drawings of all types. Part two, Introduction to Construction Estimating and Scheduling, covers estimating principles, preparation of the bid, quantity survey and project scheduling. CDS certification is based on a passing grade of 75 percent or higher on both exams.
Construction Industry Technician — CIT
■ Description: The CIT program incorporates the latest changes in the
construction industry and represents an overview of the construction industry and its processes. CIT certification is based on completion of this home-study program with a passing grade of 75 percent or higher.
Visit www.nawiceducation.org, and click “Online Training” to access more than 70 online environmental health and safety training courses. NEF has also partnered with HVACReducation.net and RedVector.com to provide quality training.
Contact NEF
For more information about NEF, its certifications or online training, contact the Foundation at its NEW location: NAWIC Education Foundation P.O. Box 549 • Clemson, SC 29633 Toll-Free: (866) 277-2883 Web: www.nawiceducation.org
Create a Leader Build a Strong Leadership Team with the Women’s Leadership Academy NCCER has partnered with the National Association of Women in Construction to create a leadership academy designed specifically for women. The academy provides women with the opportunity to elevate their careers and management and leadership roles within their company and the construction industry.
Who should attend? Business owners, education directors, office managers, project directors, project coordinators, project managers, project supervisors, and training coordinators
topics covered: Powerful language for women, leadership and management styles, negotiating techniques, time management, conflict resolution, problem-solving techniques, and gender-based power in business (To view course objectives, visit the Academy section of the NCCER Web site at www.nccer.org).
Prestigious Location The academy is held at The Nature Place in Florissant, Colorado. This natural, serene setting provides the ideal learning environment. Tuition includes all meals and lodging, and transportation is provided to and from the airport.
Program Credentials Once participants return back to work, they are asked to apply and implement a concept learned at the academy. Once the project is implemented and a report is submitted to NCCER, the participant will receive a certificate of completion, transcript, and wallet card from the NCCER National Registry.
to reserve your seat, register online at www.nccer.org/leadership
Academy Women’s
Leadership
June 19-22, 2010 The Nature Place, Florissant, Colorado Register Online! www.nccer.org/leadership N at i o N a l C e N t e r f o r Co N s t r u C t i o N e d u C at i o N a N d r e s e a r C h
February/March 2010
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Building for the By Misty Hart
Giants
The Dallas Zoo, the largest zoo in Texas, is on a mission: to provide their elephants a new home. Well, that’s one of the giant reasons it is in the process of building a new Giants of the Savanna habitat. Scheduled to open in May 2010, the $27 million project spans 11 acres and will take visitors on safari as they experience and learn about giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs and many other African species. hen visitation topped 670,000 visitors in 2008, the Dallas Zoo made plans for the largest expansion in the institution’s 122 year history. With the unanimous support of the Dallas City Council and the Dallas Zoological Society, the Zoo began its search for the highly specialized design and construction services that would be required to transform a dream into a reality.
Giants of the Savanna. The 11-acre site features a large savanna with grasses, trees and multiple swimming holes. The Savanna also features water holes and mud pits surrounded by natural landscaping and native African grasses.
After determining that the design/build delivery system was best suited for its needs, the Zoo sought competitive sealed proposals for the project. Competition for the project was fierce, with designers and builders from all parts of the country seeking the award.
As we toured the site, Crooks explained the many challenges to designing and constructing the project.
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Dallas-based MetalMan Design/ Build Corporation, with 15 years of experience building at the Dallas Zoo, and Sedalco Construction Services of Ft. Worth, Texas, formed a joint venture to seek award of the contract. To round out its team, the builders secured the services of CLR Design of Philadelphia, Pa., a highly respected firm specializing in zoological design. Based upon best value, the City of Dallas awarded the $27 million dollar contract to SEDALCO/MetalMan Design/ Build Corporation, a Joint Venture. NAWIC Dallas Chapter member Tamara Crooks, owner of MetalMan, was eager to get started on this challenging project. “This project is special because we had only 14 months to design and build the exhibit,” Crooks told us as she gave us the deluxe tour of the
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Workers were everywhere working steadily on their tasks. I couldn’t help but notice there weren’t many female construction workers. I personally saw one other female construction worker out of about 150 workers.
Facing the Giants Elephants are the largest zoo animals, weighing between 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.
Dallas Member Tamara Crooks stands on one of four Elephant Activity Sta-
Courtesy of CLR Design
tions overlooking the 11-acre project site.
(Photo by Michelle Milner)
“The schedule has been one of the biggest challenges since we had such a short time to both design and build the entire exhibit,” she explains.
tainly tell. With the team’s relentless dedication to the project, residents and tourists won’t have much longer to wait, as the grand opening is just around the corner.
To meet the demanding project delivery date, Sedalco/MetalMan used a fast-track design-build method. This system helped to reduce the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of the project.
“We are starting five new smaller projects outside the Savanna, which will also be ready for the May grand opening,” says Crooks. Once this project is complete, Crooks anticipates continued work at the Dallas Zoo. The zoo recently went from being owned by the city to being owned privately, and a lot of future expansion is planned.
“By using the design-build method of delivery, we enjoyed more freedom to make changes, and we were able to resolve constructability issues before they got to the field,” says Crooks. In addition to the time crunch, the weather also has presented a significant challenge. According to the National Weather Service, Dallas received approximately 43 inches of rain in 2009, which represents about 25 percent above normal averages.
An Industry Giant Crooks, a NAWIC member since 1999, became owner of MetalMan in 1998. She was recruited to MetalMan right out of law school by her partner and now husband, J.V. McLure. She is licensed to practice law in the states of California and Texas, with an emphasis on construction law. Crooks says McLure taught her the business side from the ground up.
“To have as much rain and still be on schedule is a testament to how this project has been managed. We have worked overtime, weekends and holidays. Our team, the zoo and the city have really stepped up to make this happen. We all want this project to be a success.”
“There is no better way to learn.” exclaims Crooks. “I fell in love with zoological construction, and it became my passion.”
With so many innovative features and ideas incorporated into this project, it is hard to imagine the Giants of the Savanna being anything but a giant success. Time will cer-
Crooks serves as project manager, handling the subcontractors and administrative side of projects. Being a construction lawyer helps in her project manager role, as she is very familiar with the
(Photo by Michelle Milner)
(Photo by Michelle Milner)
These barns will be home to impala, ostrich and zebra.
This man-made Strangler Fig Tree is the first of its kind at any zoo. February/March 2010
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legal aspects and implications of every project. McLure is the design/ build manger and is primarily responsible for overseeing the design of the Giants of the Savanna project. They have one other partner, Frank Argumaniz, who handles all field operations. (Photo by Michelle Milner)
I was especially impressed with Crooks’ laid-back, happy demeanor and giant personality; it went right along with the beautiful day. Managing a project of this magnitude can be demanding, but if she was under any stress, it didn’t show. With a smile, she greeted workers in the field by name and asked thoughtful questions about each one we encountered. Employees lit up when she spoke to them. People were definitely happy; this was a good place to work. Crooks says her involvement in NAWIC has been extremely beneficial, both professionally and personally, although she didn’t become active right away. She eventually learned that to get the most benefit from her NAWIC membership, she had to get involved.
The Cafe, constructed of Lodgepole Pine, will offer up tasty food and incredible views of the big cats from the large glass windows located in the dining area.
“I joined in 1999, and initially, I didn’t go to any meetings. After a year or so, I was asked to speak to the chapter about some aspect of construction law. At that moment, I began to really understand what NAWIC was all about.” (Photo by Michelle Milner)
Once she became involved, she realized the benefits NAWIC could provide her as a woman in construction. Through NAWIC, she has made numerous contacts and has utilized them in her business as suppliers and contractors. In addition to the business contacts, NAWIC provides a sense of camaraderie. “The support you get from other women in the industry is invaluable. Look around…it’s me plus one other woman on this entire construction site. With NAWIC, you meet and develop relationships with other women you can talk and relate to, who are experiencing some of the same things you are. These women are there for you professionally and personally.”
The large African elephant barn will hold up to nine elephants. Multiple adjoining outdoor yards will allow new elephants to be introduced and acclimated.
Crooks is passionate about her career, and she believes this is an essential ingredient to her continued success. Without it, she would just be working a job, but passion adds purpose to her career. “To me, there is no better feeling than to watch little children be in awe of the exhibits I have helped create. It takes a lot of hard work and imagination, but it is very rewarding,” shares Crooks.
And that’s advice we can take to heart — whether we are building a zoo, a business or even our own lives.i
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(Photo by Michelle Milner)
When asked what advice she would give to others in the business of building buildings, she advises, “You have to know what you’re good at. We are good at building specialized caging, buildings and habitats for zoos. If you put us on a project building a school, I doubt we’d be doing so well. We’d make it happen, but our passion is here. If your heart isn’t in it, it’s not going to be a success in the long run. Put your heart and passion into what you love, and you will be a success.”
A special soil mixture has been layered two feet deep throughout the Savanna, which will enable the Dallas Zoo to grow grass year round and ensure that the soil doesn’t become overly compacted under the feet of the large mammals.
A Closer Look Inside the
Giants of the Savanna
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(Photo by Michelle Milner
critical point of the Giants of the Savanna expansion is to safely increase interaction with the public and the animals. Below are some of the exciting and innovative features of the Giants of the Savanna. Café. Lions and Cheetahs, depending on which animal occupies that particular predator habitat, will actually be able to sit in the café! They will be separated from diners by glass. So this predator habitat will actually come into the dining room of the café! The concrete inside the café will be heated or cooled, depending on the weather. If it is cold, the concrete will be heated, and if it’s hot, the concrete will be cooled — which will attract the lions or cheetahs to the café glass. Base Camp Shelter. This will be the center of the entire exhibit. The thatched roof is really not thatch at all, but altered pvc strands that look like thatch. Hundreds of people can gather at this site to learn about the animals in the Giants of the Savanna. Zoo keepers will educate and entertain guests, and the area will be the site of entertaining shows with the animals. Strangler Fig Tree. This fig tree is actually made of steel and concrete which is artfully painted. It looks as real as can be! An elephant demonstration will take place at the fig tree. An elephant will be trained to pull a handle, which will shower the elephant and its viewers with water and a surprise! Night Houses. The animal night houses are not open to the public and are behind the exhibit spaces. All animal groups have their very own special night house, designed just for
them. The specialty fabricated caging and restraint systems, designed by MetalMan, are intricate and well-thought out. Some cage doors are hydraulically powered, so doors open and close at the touch of a button. The animals’ sleeping areas are made of special rubber flooring that has a natural feel and is better for their feet than concrete. Water Filtration Site. The site has an impressive water filtration system that changes and moves a quarter of a million gallons of water five times a day. Land Rovers. Traditional Land Rovers, like the ones you would use to go on an African safari, will be stationed throughout the Savanna. But these aren’t just your typical giant SUVs. They have been cut in half, horizontally. On the front-seat side, zoo guests can get in behind the wheel. On the back-seat side, separated by heavy-viewing glass, will be animals. Guests can take their pictures, which will look like they are taking a ride with some of the most dangerous animals in the safari! Elephant Activity Stations. A unique feature of this large habitat will be the multiple elephant activity stations located along the outskirts of the grassy savanna. These activity stations will encourage movement of the animals throughout the habitat, and provide excellent observation areas for the Zoo’s animal staff. In addition, the activity stations will be an integral part of the daily wildlife presentations visitors will experience during their visits.
Visitors will be educated and entertained at the Base Camp Shelter (front building). The 11-acre site will exhibit lions and cheetahs in the predator area, located right next to the café. Elephants, Giraffes and other animals will roam the Savanna. Large pool and wading areas will help the animals cool off during the hot, Texas summers.
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Faces of the Industry
Industry Trends
Members eagerly share their answers to the question: “What’s the biggest challenge in your construction business today?”
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Karen E. Mitchell | Colorado Springs, Colo., Chapter Office Manager, Double M Concrete, LLC “As the owner of a concrete business doing both residential and commercial flatwork, I have found that competition has really increased. Contractors who used to simply call and schedule their work now require bids and are really crunching numbers. The biggest challenge we currently face is positioning our company so we are visible to contractors and offer what others do not. We have begun offering multiple bids that include various options, such as allowing the contractor to supply the concrete as a cost saving measure for them. We have also kept ourselves informed about all the trends in the industry, so we have become a valuable source of information to our customers.”
Shannon M. McGill Oliver | Chattanooga, Tenn., Chapter Senior Service Coordinator, SimplexGrinnell Branch 288 “Trying to balance superior training and the appropriate number of required personnel for installation work versus last year’s economic slump has been our greatest challenge. It is always SimplexGrinnell’s goal to be the industry leader in fire protection services—that hasn’t changed. But locally, we’ve felt the economic crunch not only in the number of new construction projects, but by having to reduce our workforce as well. Any reduction in force of well-trained employees impacts the business long term. As the economy bounces back, we’ll need to increase our staff and further educate them to exceed industry standards, which can be a lengthy process.”
Carol O’Donnell | No. 1 of Rhode Island Chapter President, Construction & Rehabilitation, CRM Modular Homes “The biggest challenge in my construction business is obtaining approvals and permits in a timely manner. The permitting and approval process, whether it be for new construction, a modular build or remodel can be lengthy. The wait can cost us income, delays due to weather, as well as financing constraints.”
Judy C. Shively | Tucson, Ariz., Chapter Bond Manager, Koty-Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc. “Competition. Competition from out-of-county and out-of-state general contractors. Generals who don’t use local contractors, subcontractors or suppliers, but instead bring in their own crews and order supplies from out of the local area, affect our city and county on so many levels. Local generals and subcontractors don’t stand a chance of making a profit when non-locals are bidding at cost or below cost to ‘steal’ the project away from our own. The last few years of this are evident in the surety field. More generals and subcontractors are unable to maintain their surety bond programs at previous levels, or they lose them all together.”i
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BY THE BOOK By Matt Stevens
What Construction Executives are Reading
Illustration by Michelle Milner
Book: Who Moved My Cheese By Spencer Johnson, M.D.
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ho moved My Cheese is a thoughtful management parable about managing change in our lives. It confirms compelling truths many of us forget in our complicated daily existence. Specifically, author Spencer Johnson writes about how to approach the constant change endemic in our professions. He weaves into the book’s story the basic laws of life that help clear a person’s thinking about emerging trends. Like all parables, the book accomplishes two aims: to teach concepts and to make one think about the concepts’ application to his or her life. Johnson uses familiar phrases such as “handwriting on the wall” and “change happens.” He cleverly names the two little people “Hem” and “Haw” (what some people do in the face of changing demands on their lives). “Sniff” and “Scurry” are the two mice (what people should do upon discovering an emerging trend). Johnson couples this with unfamiliar, but insightful, phrases such as “The quicker you let go of old cheese, the quicker you will find new cheese,” and “It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation.” The idea of searching for cheese in a maze is silly at first. However, the situation and challenges become more real as the reader progresses. Sniff and Scurry represent those who research and act to find the next change, however awkwardly. Hem and Haw are two little humans who embody indecision and outright stubbornness against change. The characterizations
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This book is a superior primer for adopting new trends.
prompt the reader to ask, “Which one am I?”; “What is my team’s attitude?”; and “Does this apply to senior management as well?” The brilliance of the cheese analogy is that it is a meaningless object in business. Cheese can be money, employment, profits, housing or even human sustenance. The reader can substitute his or her own change issue (work, spouse, relationship, idea, asset, etc.) in place of the cheese and understand the dynamics of his/her personal situation. The parable is a roadmap and a call to action. To deal with change and to improve your situation, apply the parable and its expressed rules, i.e. finding new cheese. This book is a superior primer for adopting new trends in construction. Changes in the industry since the millennium are striking. “Green,” “Lean” and “Virtual Design and Construction” are the three major ones. Construction firms and other industry shareholders are trying to adapt and benefit. However, the natural process of changing industry norms is not outlined in the book. This would have made it a bit more complex and longer. Maybe there should be a sequel.
sion of this book’s content is helpful to battle this danger. Some contractors have made Who Moved My Cheese part of their staff training. It is effective in explaining one of the three constants in construction: Death, taxes and change. It is a quick read (96 pages) in large type, so employees can easily do this as homework in a single week. No one can force change, but we can facilitate people’s understanding of it and, therefore, lessen resistance. This speeds up adoption of a new trend while competitors may still be in the storming stage; this can only work to your advantage.i Matt Stevens, an industry veteran of 35 years, is a management advisor who has worked exclusively with construction contractors since 1994. He performs Strategic Planning, Business Evaluations and Lean Productivity Improvement as well as seminars, including five-day Business Management Boot Camps for Construction. He is the author of McGraw Hill’s book, Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day. He is pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Florida. Reach him at mstevens@stevensci.com.
One of the most difficult people-management challenges is keeping employees from becoming stale. Facilitating a discusFebruary/March 2010
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Building
Tall With the opening of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in January, attention has been on the world’s most anticipated skyscraper, which has been under construction since 1994. The opening of the world’s tallest structure ended years of speculation about its height, which topped out at 828 meters. This makes the building 320 meters taller than the previous world’s tallest structure, the 508-meter Tapei 101 —the difference being equivalent to an 80-story-plus tower! The desire to build big is nothing new, and the race to build the world’s next tallest structure isn’t over. While skyscrapers currently under construction are not projected to surpass the Burj Khalifa, plans are being made to build “supertall” towers. At the time Taipei 101 broke the half-kilometer mark in height, it was already technically possible to build structures towering more than a kilometer above the ground. However, kilometer-plus structures present architectural challenges that may eventually place them in a new architectural category. Even so, proposals for such structures have been put forward, including the Mile-High Tower to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Burj Mubarak Al Kabir in Kuwait.
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A Look at the Past, Present ig buildings have been used to show off power and wealth; to honor leaders or religious beliefs; to stretch the limits of what’s possible; and even as simple competition among owners, families, architects and builders. Some of the most dramatic buildings of the past include the pyramids in Egypt, the skinny towers stretching toward the sky in Italian hill towns and the gothic cathedrals of France. While these types of buildings may look very different from each other, they all have one thing in common. They were built with masonry or stone walls supporting most of the weight, including that of the floors, the people and everything the rooms contained. Because of this, the height of these buildings was limited by how massive and heavy they had to be at the base.
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Removing the Obstacles
Two developments in the 19th century paved the way for a whole new type of building: the skyscraper. The first was the development of a safe elevator. Primitive elevators of various designs had been used for centuries, and starting in the mid-19th century, steam-operated elevators were used to move materials in factories, mines and warehouses. However, these elevators were not considered safe for people; if the cable broke, they would plummet to the bottom of the elevator shaft. In 1853, an American inventor named Elisha Graves Otis developed a safety device that kept elevators from falling if a cable should break. This new development had an enormous impact on public confidence. Later in the century, the switch to an electric motor made the elevator a practical solution to the problem of getting up and down tall buildings. The second development took place in Chicago. In 1871, Chicago suffered a devastating fire. In the years that followed, however, instead of recovering slowly, the city experienced explosive growth, and it quickly began to strain against its natural boundaries. By the 1880s, the available land for new buildings in this area could not keep up with demand; the only alternative was to build up. In order to achieve the desired height, construction techniques had to change. A new method of building was developed that used a grid of steel beams and columns strong enough to support any stresses or forces a building might experience, including both the weight of the floor and the building contents, as well as the force of wind or even, in some areas, earthquakes. And with this new building method, the skyscraper was born, and the race for the tallest building began.
Modern Materials Since the birth of the skyscraper, builders and engineers have continuously looked for ways to improve building methods and
and Future of Skyscrapers The Burj Khalifa, is the world’s tallest building standing at 2,684 feet. In comparison, the Empire State Building is 1,250 feet tall.
materials in order to make structures stronger, taller and lighter. Skyscrapers are built to last, so they must be made of materials that are strong; durable; resistant to the sun, wind, rain, frost, and snow; and affordable. Concrete is one of the most common materials (beyond the steel supports) because it is enormously versatile. Its composition can be changed depending on the needs of the building. It can be reinforced to make it stiffer and stronger by setting steel mesh or bars into the concrete. Additives can also make it set or harden faster or slower, depending on the needs of the design. Another very important material is glass. Because the steel skeleton now supports the main loads of the building, the outer skin only serves to keep the weather out and let light in; the more light the better. So glass walls became very popular beginning after World War II because they are weatherproof while providing ample natural light, and also because they are so much lighter and cheaper than masonry or concrete.
The Forces of Nature As buildings became taller and lighter, particularly the popular modern glass boxes, skyscrapers began having trouble with the wind, and they began to sway, some more than two feet in any direction! Engineers came up with new solutions for this problem, first installing diagonally braced steel trusses between
central elevator shafts to create a stronger core, and then moving most of the beams and columns to the outside edge of the walls in order to make a stiff tube. A more unusual solution was devised to control sway in the 1970s called a tuned mass damper. This is a giant concrete block or weight, mounted with springs and shock absorbers on a lubricated plate, designed like a pendulum to move in one direction when a computer senses the structure has begun to move in the other, in order to counterbalance the motion.
Building Badly Of course, with new technological developments, problems can occur. One dramatic and very visible example was the John Hancock Tower in Boston, now considered the city’s most spectacular building. The structure is a tower of mirrored glass. But almost from the beginning, the glass panes failed. The problem started during a winter gale in January 1973 while the tower was still under construction. When huge panels of glass, each weighing 500 pounds, shattered and fell to the street below. The streets and sidewalks were roped off as engineers tried to figure out what was going wrong. By April, at least 65 panels had fallen and were replaced by plywood. Theories and rumors persisted, including that the tower was swaying too much, causing the windows to pop out, or that the tower’s foundation was settling so significantly that it broke the windows. The truth February/March 2010
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Fun Facts About Skyscrapers The Eiffel Tower
The Empire State Building
The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1889. It was built for the World’s Fair to demonstrate that iron could be as strong as stone while being infinitely lighter. And in fact the wrought-iron tower is twice as tall as the masonry Washington Monument, and yet, it weighs 70,000 tons less! It is repainted every seven years with 50 tons of dark brown paint.
The Empire State Building is designed to be a lightning rod. In fact, it is struck by lightning about 100 times each year!
The Home Insurance Building Called “the father of the skyscraper,” the Home Insurance Building, constructed in Chicago in 1885 (and demolished in 1931), was 138 feet and 10 stories tall. It was the first building to effectively employ a supporting skeleton of steel beams and columns, allowing it to have many more windows than traditional masonry structures. This new construction method made people worry that the building would fall down, leading the city to halt construction until they could investigate the structure’s safety.
The Chrysler Building In 1929, auto tycoon Walter Chrysler took part in an intense race with the Bank of Manhattan Trust Company to build the world’s tallest skyscraper. Just when it looked like the bank had captured the coveted title, workers at the Chrysler Building jacked a thin spire hidden inside the building through the top of the roof to win the contest. Subsequently, it lost the title four months later to the Empire State Building. Chrysler also decorated his building to mirror his cars, with hubcaps, mudguards and hood ornaments.
Future skyscrapers T
he following skyscrapers are either approved or due to be completed in the near future: • Construction of the Pagcor Tower, started in 2009, will be the second-tallest, free-standing structure in the world when it is completed. Standing at a height of 665 meters, the tower will be located in Manila Bay near the Mall of Asia. • The Lotte Super Tower 123, a mixed-use skyscraper in Seoul, South Korea, will stand 555 meters (1,821 feet) in height upon its scheduled completion in 2014. The tower will house retail space, residences and a luxury hotel. • Construction of the 133-floor, 640 meters Digital Media City Landmark Building in Digital Media City, Seoul, South Korea, started in 2009, which will be the second-tallest building in the world when it is completed in 2015, housing the world’s tallest observatory and hotels. Being constructed at the fastest speed among major skyscraper projects by South Korea’s Samsung C&T (who also built Burj Khalifa), the supertall is the first skyscraper to contain an entire city inside a building, including the world’s largest aquarium, a luxury department store, shopping
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John Hancock Center In order to strengthen the John Hancock Center against Chicago’s famous winds, engineers included five enormous diagonal braces on the exterior walls of the building. These diagonals block the view from two windows on each floor. A clever rental agent, however, has made these sightless windows a status symbol, and it actually costs more money to rent these rooms!
The Sears Tower On a clear day, you can see four states from the top of Chicago’s Sears Tower: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. To make sure your view is clear, the building features six robotic window-washing machines mounted on the roof.
Taipei 101 Taipei 101 is comprised of 101 stories and reaches 1,667 feet high. It was ranked as the world’s tallest building when it was topped out in 2003, but it lost the title this year to the Burj Khalifa (formerly called the Burj Dubai). A 660-ton pendular mass damper helps the skyscraper withstand tremors from earthquakes and typhoon winds. Source: “Skyscraper Facts.” Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 03 Feb. 2010 <http://www. infoplease.com/spot/skyscraperfacts.html>.
malls, clinic center, high-tech offices, first-class apartments, six to eight star hotels, a concert restaurant, a broadcasting studio and an art center. • Construction of the Shanghai Tower started in November 2008. The tower will be 632 meters (2,073 feet) high and have 127 floors. The building will feature a glass curtain wall and nine indoor gardens when it is completed in 2014. • Construction of the 151-floor, 610 meters supertall 151 Incheon Tower in Songdo International City, Incheon, South Korea, started in 2008, which will be the tallest twin towers in the world when it is completed in 2014. • Construction of the 110-floor, 510 meters supertall in Busan Lotte World, Busan, South Korea, started in 2009, which will be the third tallest building in the world when completed in 2013. • Construction started for a 610 meters (2,001 feet) skyscraper in Chicago; however the estimated completion date is unknown, as the project is on hold. The Chicago Spire, with 150 floors, would be the second tallest residential building in the world if completed. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it would
was that the material itself failed. The window units had been manufactured using a fairly new process and the design was fatally flawed. Ultimately, all 10,344 windows had to be replaced, and the building has been safe ever since.
The Race for the Sky In the early 20th century, corporations built skyscrapers for the promotional value to increase name recognition. Among the early skyscrapers in Manhattan were the Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower (700 feet, 50 stories), the Woolworth Building (the world’s tallest from 1913-1930 at 792 feet, 60 stories), the Bank of Manhattan (927 feet, 71 stories), and the heavily decorated Chrysler Building (briefly the world’s tallest in 1930 at 1046 feet, 77 stories). The Chrysler Building soon lost its crown to the Empire State Building, built during the Great Depression by a real estate developer, which reached a stunning 1,250 feet and 102 stories. The Empire State Building would reign supreme among skyscrapers for 41 years until 1972, when it was surpassed by the World Trade Center (1,368 feet, 110 stories). Two years later, New York City lost the distinction of housing the tallest building when the Sears Tower was constructed in Chicago (1450 feet, 110 stories). And 24 years after that, for the first time, the tallest skyscraper was no longer in the United
States at all, but in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Petronas Towers were built in 1998 (1483 feet, 88 stories). Taipei 101, completed in Taiwan in 2004 (1,670 feet and 101 stories), held the title as the tallest building in the world until January 2010, when the Burj Khalifa (formerly called the Burj Dubai), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, became the world’s tallest building at 2,716 feet and 160 stories. The Burj Khalifa contains the world’s fastest elevators, 20.7 acres of glass, and uses an estimated 250,000 gallons of water per day. Today, skyscrapers are an increasingly common sight where land is expensive, as in the centers of big cities, because they provide such a high ratio of rentable floor space per unit area of land. However, they are not built just for economy of space. Like temples and palaces of the past, skyscrapers are considered symbols of a city’s economic power. Not only do they define the skyline, they help to define the city’s identity.i Source: “Skyscraper History.” Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 03 Feb. 2010 <http://www. infoplease.com/spot/skyscraperhistory.html>.
Got Talent? also hold the title of North America’s tallest free-standing structure. • 1 World Trade Center is now under construction and is the tallest tower comprising the redevelopment of the site of the former World Trade Center following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Its antenna will reach a height of 541.4 meters (1,776 feet), a height representing the year of the United States Declaration of Independence. • The 308 meters (1,010 feet) Tour Generali in Paris La id you know NAWIC offers opportunities to build Défense, scheduled to bethrough completed in 2013, is an entirely your education its partnership with Lorman Education green building officeServices? skyscraperLorman set to beEducation the tallest Services buildcost-effective training opportunities that meet ing provide in Paris and the second tallest in the European Union the needs, enhance the skills, restore knowledge, and after the Shard of Glass of in London. build competencies NAWIC members. This partnership provides a convenient way for NAWIC to keep • Construction of London’s Shard of members Glass started inup with CEUs, as some classes are offered online or in cities March 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in May 2012, around the country. Course topics include Environmental in time for theConstruction London Olympics. AtLand 310 meters (1,017 feet), Concerns, Issues, Development, Public Works, Water Law, Real Estate and Engineering. To learn it is set to be the tallest building in the European Union.
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more about the variety of classes offered and how you can
Source:www.wikipedia.com sign up, visit www.nawic.org.
If not, we do! Access some of the most talented professionals in the construction field through NAWIC’s online Career Center at www.nawic.org. Reach the most qualified candidates by viewing resumes and posting your job openings. Plus, job seekers can search for jobs, post an anonymous resume, and create job alerts.
It’s easy to get started, just go to
www.nawic .org, and click on
“Career Center.” February/March 2010
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By Christine Hess
The rugged, majestic mountains in Southeastern Afghanistan.
Live from Kandahar at a Glance Who: Christine Hess, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers What: Military Construction Where: Afghanistan Engineer District – South When: January 2010
Another Day in Afghanistan It’s a crisp and clear morning as I make the short walk to work. I am glad I have my jacket on, although I may not need it for the walk to lunch. Here in Southeastern Afghanistan, the temperature swings are significant. Daytime highs may be in the low 60s, with nighttime lows in the mid 30s. Despite the fine sand and the mud when it rains, I find the environment rather invigorating. There is a rugged beauty in this land. The sky is vast, the mountains are jagged but quite magnificent, and the stars at night have a clarity that is most inviting. Even with my limited experience here, I can sense the depth and history this place carries. Kandahar is foreign to me yet somehow has a sense a familiarity. It is a land of paradoxes and of culture clash; a true crossroads in time. Recently, on a site visit, we passed a dreadfully decrepit apartment building, but it was equipped with numerous satellite dishes. What a contrast! Kandahar Air Field (KAF) is a busy place — it is the largest North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) base in the world and has a population of roughly 20,000 inhabitants. My extended
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backyard is literally an airfield with all types of planes, jets and helicopters coming and going constantly. Apparently, KAF is as busy as London’s Gatwick Airport. Here in Kandahar, I am working on mostly military construction projects: barracks, dining facilities, roads, infrastructure and various projects that support the troops and base operations.
An International Operation Including military, civilians and contractors, roughly 40 nations work at KAF. In addition to every-day operations and support, many different nations are involved in construction of various projects, both on and off the base. Coordination among the stakeholders is critical. We meet weekly with our counterparts to review and discuss ongoing and upcoming projects, potential issues and areas where we can learn from others’ experiences. Meetings are conducted in English, and I am always impressed with the mastery of technical terms the non-native English speakers seem to have. Dining facilities and their menu choices are reflective of the international population. I enjoy shepherd’s pie, the variety of curry, and treacle tart. However, every so often I do like to get a Whopper from Burger King. It is not quite the same as back home, and they are sometimes out of beef patties. It is still a nice treat.
Working Environment Our workforce here at the Corps office is a dynamic mix of both military and civilians, active duty and reservists, all representing a wealth of background and experience, and of course, distinctively different personalities. And yet, somehow, this diverse group is able to come together and bring out the very best. I am
A site visit “outside the wire” requires wearing our protective gear.
continually amazed at the synergy and the positive dynamics here. The schedule is intense. We work seven days a week and long hours each day. With the planned surge, our workload for facilities to support the troops will only become more aggressive. The pace is demanding, but many of us thrive on that. I am reminded of the projects we did in architecture school. Being here is like being on one long charette. A certain pride comes when you push yourself beyond your perceived boundaries.
out actually signing up. I most definitely feel like I am serving. Second is the desire to be part of something bigger — some greater good that will have lasting meaning, and meaning with significance. When I was in Iraq, many days I felt like a humanitarian aid worker. Here in Kandahar, my opportunity to interact with the locals is limited, but the work I do on base — military construction — will support the troops and the mission. The group generates a lot of positive energy that fosters teamwork
Why Afghanistan? I am often asked why I came here. Before Kandahar, I spent two years in Iraq working in a variety of places on a variety of assignments, working with the Corps of Engineers on construction as well as capacity development projects. It is a very different lifestyle — definitely for those with a sense of adventure and a curious, inquisitive nature. As things wound down in Iraq, I found myself looking eastward and longing for that next chapter, for new experiences — experiences to impact who I was and the way I viewed the world. I think the answer to the question, “Why are you here?” is different for each individual, but I believe there are some common things we are all looking for in this assignment, whether we realize it or not. One is the desire to serve. I thought long about joining the reserves but left it until late in life. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, we work alongside the military, and in Afghanistan, we wear a uniform six days a week. Many of my friends on base just assume I am in the Army. We live in barracks and eat in the chow hall alongside the soldiers and officers from many other nations. I think this is as close to being in the military as you can get with-
Pre-engineered components help us expedite construction. February/March 2010
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Being a Woman in Construction in a War Zone Throughout the base, there are women soldiers, officers and civilians from many countries, all working in various capacities. Women are still outnumbered by men, but when you work in a largely male industry, I think eventually you stop seeing people as male or female and simply see them as peers and colleagues. All of my adult life, I have worked in or around construction. I honestly no longer notice that I am often the only woman on a project or in an office or at a meeting. However, I am very often not only the lone woman on a job site, but I am also the only Western woman. The crews of our construction companies are typically non-Western, so I am definitely an anomaly. But wherever I have gone, I have always felt welcomed, accepted, and with
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Challenges and Satisfaction Every day, we are challenged with typical construction issues as well as issues unique to this environment, like security, intense weather, availability of a skill set of work crews, not to mention logistics for delivery of materials and equipment. We find tremendous satisfaction in the work we do. Construction is about thinking creatively and solving challenges, and when you find solutions to huge challenges, it is incredibly rewarding. It is also satisfying to know the work we do directly and indirectly supports our reason for being here. The facilities we build will house troops, give them dining halls, office space, and will expand the infrastructure of the base for power, water and waste water. Indirectly, we support the Afghan community by offering not only employment but on the job training — giving people skill sets that they will keep forever. There are also numerous projects we are building “outside the wire,” such as schools, clinics, enhancements to water and power supply and road improvements. All of these projects can become a very solid foundation
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and unity. I think it comes from an underlying belief in what we do, as well as a belief that we are making a difference here.
The group generates a lot of positive energy that fosters teamwork and unity, and I think it comes from an underlying belief in what we do, as well as a belief that we are making a difference here.
time, valued. I lived in Turkey a few years, and my Turkish is still pretty good. So, I have the opportunity to converse with the folk from the Turkish construction companies and even do some translation. This is challenging but definitely interesting, and I think it helps build good rapport. As far as a touch of softness or femininity, I find myself enjoying putting on a splash of color of makeup in this desert environment, and I also like to wear puffy “scrunchies” — khaki color, of course, to comply with the uniform code.
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for the future of Afghanistan, as this place becomes strong from the inside out.
I am very proud to be a woman in construction, and I am very proud to support the Corps in its mission here. I hope to share more articles with you spotlighting some specific projects and types of construction. Until then – Essayons!i Christine Hess is a Member-at-Large. You can reach her at christine.b.hess@usace.army.mil.
Estimating for Contracting Firms
A Matter of Science or Art?
Estimating is the one critical and primary step for all contractors. Getting work means building work. If a contractor cannot acquire work, he or she may be just a pricing service. Pricing work profitably means knowing your costs. Earning margin on jobs means a contracting business is profitable. Placing appropriate price proposals in the market gives a construction firm the best chance for continued success. By Matt Stevens
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stimating in an inconsistent and unreadable fashion poses many problems, including lack of information for field staff and tracking ability for the company owner once the bid is won. Both threaten the revenue dollar with higher costs and slower turns. Below are steps for determining accurate cost and appropriate profit margin on a bid proposal. Quantity of work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Quantity takeoff is one of the most tedious and risky steps of contracting. It demands that the quantity of
work be derived from pictures and written words. It has to be accurate. Zero times any number is zero. Using an overly complete checklist and having a triangulation method keeps counting errors to a minimum. As we know, words are inaccurate. A picture, or a set of plans, is worth a thousand words. Still, plans are becoming less clear and detailed. Starting the RFI process in the takeoff stage and pursuing it until the bid day is the only effective tactic for eliminating inaccurate assumptions. February/March 2010
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“Winning projects means building projects and earning profits. If you can’t win work, you are just a pricing service.”
Technology has improved accuracy, consistency and speed tremendously. Digitizers, Software, Assemblies, CAD, etc. all cut hours out of the quantity takeoff process. Some studies show digitizers used with take-off assemblies reduce time spent to half; others report even more. However, it is still a human endeavor. To ensure excellent performance, the estimator must employ a thoughtful and disciplined process.
”
The quality of plans and specifications over the past two decades has diminished. Unfortunately, this trend will continue, for many reasons. One is that design groups are forced to produce plans in less time with lower fees. This results in less time spent in creation and review of bidding documents. They feel the same pressure contractors do – lower price and higher speed. Construction professionals have to have a process to address this issue.
With it are associated office space, vehicle, technology and miscellaneous costs. Appropriately allocating this overhead is critical. A company’s cost has to be recovered; otherwise, it pays for finishing a project. Overhead allocation depends on several factors. The most important is an accurate budget. Besides the overall numbers, it must delineate the labor / material / subcontract / equipment content. An accurate budget leads to better bidding results. Only a handful of formulas capture the realities of overhead recovery for contractors. The dual-rate or direct-cost methodology is the most accurate. In our single-digitnet-profit–before-tax business, we don’t have room for errors or guesses. Said differently, the difference between loss and gain is razor thin.
”
A picture, or a set of plans, is worth a thousand words.
Cost of work – Without accurate cost numbers, a company will bid too high or too low. Either situation creates undesirable consequences. The contractor will get work at a loss or not win any work at all due to a high price. Solid and predictable cost data can be derived from several sources: • Field experience; • Company cost records; and • Observation of crews – yours as well as others. Certainly, your cost figures should be unique to you. The use of costing services such as Mean’s or Walker’s are a last resort. These services can be valuable and should be used in certain circumstances. However, day in and day out, your cost structure cannot be public information. Remember, unit pricing must be what you do work for. That is, your actual cost or productive rate. Never bid “what we should do it for” or “what we did it for in the past years.” The margins we work with don’t allow for that. Overhead – The labor content of a project directly affects overhead costs. In other words, field labor causes companies to hire payroll clerks, safety professionals and operations managers.
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At this point, a contractor should know his breakeven cost. If he or she has done the work of knowing the costs and checking counts, he/she will be confident of this estimate. From here, the poker game starts. The client negotiates for a better price, among other things. The contractor is weighing the proposed construction contract. He assesses the speed required, the price requested and the quality or scope demanded. As you know, furnishing all three leads to bankruptcy. Providing two of the three can make for a reasonable agreement. Profit Margin – what is a reasonable markup on a project? What factors increase it or decrease it? How can we determine this before a bid? There are several factors to consider: • Riskiness of project • Length of project • Your backlog • Competitors’ backlogs • Labor content • Which competitors are bidding
“the estimating process is mostly science, not art. ”
• How many competitors are bidding • Client’s character • Subcontract content • Project location • Other variables With each factor, we should be increasing or decreasing our price. Improper pricing makes us miss opportunities or win jobs we will regret getting. Beware, contractors who use bidding models give themselves the best opportunity to win consistently. Said another way, we can never predict what will happen on one particular project, but we can on a group of 100 projects. Over the long haul, good practices will give us superior results. As a simple example, contractors used to (some still do) take three envelopes with them to a bid opening. One to submit if there are less than six bidders, one to submit if there are more and one if there are no other bidders. That basic system, done consistently, has netted construction companies additional profit without opening a toolbox. Contracting starts at the bid stage. Winning projects means building projects and earning profits. If you can’t win work, you are just a pricing service. Without a superior estimating process, the rest of the business is more difficult than it should be. The field is where the majority of the risk and 80 percent or more of construction firms’ costs reside. The estimate should help the project staff clearly understand the job’s costs, its technical details and its material needs, among other factors. In other words, estimators should be field sensitive. Another key determinant is the number of qualified leads you have to bid. Have dozens and you will win something profitable. Have just one and you cannot walk away if price is the client’s only selection criteria or the terms and conditions of his/her contract are onerous.
put to paper. All in all, the more logic based and hardwired, the faster and less problematic it is. Making subjective decisions in each step only clouds what the final cost and proper profit margin should be. In summary, the estimating process is mostly science, not art. It starts with a correct count and continues using your unique costs. From there, the science continues from general-condition calculations to overhead costing and, lastly, the cut/add. This final step is where some art creeps in. Hunches and intuition are factors here. Overall, two estimating factors affect a contractor’s profitability: being accurate about the cost of the job and being able to estimate many jobs. Combined, these two are a winning start for any construction contractor.i Matt Stevens is president of a management advising firm, Stevens Construction Institute, Inc., which works only with construction contractors. He has been practicing since 1994. McGraw Hill published his book, Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day. The bundle of book/CD of 50 excel templates/10 online case studies is available at www.stevensci.com. Stevens’ next book is The Practical Construction MBA. Sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.contractorsblog.com.
Great work is the product of a singular vision expressed through a hundred different skills.
www.manhattanconstruction.com
Certainly, this is a start. It is a very complicated process, and the client influences part of it. There is a long process map when February/March 2010
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10
Reasons Your Construction Project Needs ConsensusDOCS
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onstruction contracts can make the difference between project success or failure. ConsensusDOCS contracts were collaboratively developed by owners, contractors, subcontractors, specialty contractors, sureties and design professionals in order to advance a project’s best interest. ConsensusDOCS contracts fairly allocate risk while aligning the entire project team with the owner’s goals. Fairly assigning risk reduces costly contingencies and adversarial negotiations, ensuring owners get the best contractors, the best prices and the best project results. Discover the top 10 reasons your projects need ConsensusDocs.
and that planning begins with the best contractual foundation with the best team possible. By using fair documents that do not shift risks inappropriately, contractors don’t have to increase prices to account for unknown risk. ConsensusDOCS’ straightforward language provides owners with real benefits by assisting them in acquiring the best prices from the best contractors.
#1 Owners Sit in the Drivers Seat
The Architect/Engineer’s authority and corresponding responsibilities are aligned properly with the owner’s goals. ConsensusDOCS contracts allow owners to obtain greater permission to use the design documents for which they paid. A balanced approach allows projects to proceed in using design documents while respecting intellectual property rights.
ConsensusDOCS contracts are the first widely accepted, standard construction contracts written and endorsed by owner organizations. Owners are given full control to be an active participant and ultimate decision-maker on the project, rather than being treated just as checksigners. While owners may choose to delegate responsibilities to other professionals, such as contract administration, those decisions are left to their discretion and control.
#2 Save Transactional Costs and Time Rather than negotiating the same one-sided terms or drafting legal documents from scratch, begin your project with an owner-endorsed contractual foundation. By bringing all parties to the drafting table to reach the first consensus standard contracts, ConsensusDOCS took out the hardest part of negotiations for you. ConsensusDOCS allows for easy editing of contract terms at the click of a button, reducing the time consuming process of revising contracts.
#3 Attract the Best Contractors and Get the Best Pricing Better end results only happen through proper planning,
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#4 Better Project Results Every provision in the ConsensusDOCS family of contract documents was written to advance the project’s success. ConsensusDOCS help owners maintain their rights to contest claims and change orders, while ensuring constant project progress. Owners have the most to gain or lose in a project, and saving time and money are integral to better project results.
#5 A Balanced Contract Gives Owners a Greater Role
#6 Prevent, Mitigate and Resolve Disputes and Claims Before problems become intractable, innovative dispute resolution and mitigation procedures require parties to meet to resolve disputes early. Parties communicate directly. If not successful, a third-party or review board gives an objective decision. ConsensusDOCS contracts provide a strong financial incentive for parties to independently resolve arbitration claims.
#7 Establish Positive Working Relationships and Direct Communications
Parties are expressly encouraged to communicate directly and affirmatively agree to act ethically, which provides the basis for a positive team environment. By establishing positive relationships, parties are better focused on project results and better aligned with the owner’s program throughout the construction process. ConsensusDOCS help owners resolve contentious claims
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“ConsensusDOCS reflect the future of the industry, where you have the owner, contractor or construction manager and design team working together in a collaborative environment to deliver the best possible project at a cost-effective price. The documents contain language that tends to make a project work that way.” — Terry Wooding, Executive Vice President, Petra Construction Corp., North Haven, Conn.
through innovative claims mitigation procedures, while avoiding unnecessary layers of reporting.
ConsensusDOCS Endorsed by 23 Leading Industry Associations
#8 Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM)
ConsensusDOCS were drafted by expert construction practi-
and Electronic Communications
tioners and professionals with hundreds of years of combined
The BIM Addendum is the first and only standard document to comprehensively address the legal ramifications of using the new transformative technology of BIM. The BIM Addendum defines permissible reliance on the model, addresses intellectual property rights, and facilitates management through a detailed BIM Execution Plan. The Electronic Communications Protocol allows secure reliance upon electronically transmitted information while providing management and administration flexibility.
experience. Owner organizations played a key role in devel-
#9 IPD Agreement Takes Collaboration to a Higher Level The ConsensusDOCS 300 Tri-party Collaborative Agreement offers the construction industry’s first standard integrated project delivery (IPD) standard contract. The owner, design professional and constructor all sign the same agreement and form a core management team to further the project’s best interest. Projects using an IPD and Tri-party approach have already yielded greater efficiency and elimination of waste throughout the construction process.
#10 A Balanced Approach to Liability Exposures Achieving better project results, with fewer headaches and without assuming unnecessary risk, is a goal for all parties. Owners drafted a mature approach to consequential damages and liquidated damages that provides strong financial incentives for performance. ConsensusDOCS’ provisions trigger parties to communicate to articulate liquidated damages and exclusions from consequential damages. ConsensusDOCS standard construction contracts are organized into five convenient series providing more than 80 individual documents, including General Contracting, Collaborative (IPD/ BIM), Design-Build, Construction Management, Subcontracting and Program Management. A variety of free additional resources are available at www.ConsensusDOCS.org. If you have questions regarding ConsensusDOCS, e-mail info@ConsensusDOCS.org, or call (866) 925-DOCS.i
oping ConsensusDOCS, the construction industry’s only standard contracts endorsed by 23 leading construction industry organizations. • National Association of State Facilities Administrators (NASFA) • The Construction Users Roundtable (CURT)** • Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) • Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)* • Associated Specialty Contractors, Inc. (ASC) • Construction Industry Round table (CIRT) • American Subcontractors Association, Inc. (ASA)* • Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC)* • Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) • Lean Construction Institute (LCI) • Finishing Contractors Association (FCA) • Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) • National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) • National Insulation Association (NIA) • National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) • Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) • National Subcontractors Alliance (NSA) • Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) • Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI) • National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) • National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) • The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA)* • Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)* * NAWIC has signed partnering agreements with these organizations to further NAWIC’s Core Purpose. ** NAWIC is a member of this organization.
Source: www.ConsensusDOCS.org February/March 2010
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TECH TIPS By Tim Elmore, NAWIC Web/IT Specialist
Lose the Junk
I sat staring at the 15 inch CRT monitor in front of me and heard the bleeps and hiss of the modem trying to connect. And then I waited…and waited.
A
ll I wanted was to look at my e-mail because I had no
dispose of it or refurbish it. I recently used a service from Dell and
signal on my iPhone. This is a true story that happened
Goodwill Industries called Reconnect (www.reconnectpartner-
to me over Christmas 2009. While it is funny, it got me
ship.com). All you have to do is go online, put your zip code in
thinking about people out there using outmoded tech in their
to find the nearest drop off, and take your stuff to their location.
homes and possibly even in their businesses! Ouch.
You might also find a local charity or organization to donate to, or
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean that you have to go out and get brand new computers right now. But if you are using a computer more than five years old, it’s time to start thinking about it.
you could put an ad on Craigslist.com or in your local paper. Also, Best Buy has a recycling and trade-in program on its site (www. bestbuy.com).
I know we are in an economic crunch right now, but this means
Before you drop off an old computer somewhere, make sure you
computer makers and retailers are making some great deals, too. I
have either erased the hard drive, destroyed it beyond repair, or
am always one for a great deal, and being still somewhat of a kid,
are reusing it (back up hard drive). You don’t want your personal
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I like to get new “toys” every now and then to play with. Let me start the ball rolling on where you can research and buy new equipment for your home and office, and later I will tell you how to get rid of your old equipment.
I tend to purchase most of our computers
from Dell (www.dell.com). They provide a very good product and have great deals all year
“Reviews are a great way to see how the merchandise you are considering buying has worked for other users.”
round. But I also try to do some research with
other sites, too, such as Newegg (www.newegg.com) and Amazon
(www.amazon.com). I have found they generally have the lowest prices. A few others are out there: www.tigerdirect.com, www. pcmall.com, www.macmall.com (for the Apple people out there) and www.cdw.com. When I research a particular item, I start with product reviews from other buyers. Reviews are a great way to see how the merchandise you are considering buying has worked for other users. Check it out before you buy. I also like to use CNET (www.cnet.com). They have editors’ picks, research and comparisons, and they also have online retailers to help you find the lowest price. Now that you are getting some new and updates equipment, what are you going to do with the old stuff? Remember, it’s very important to be environmentally conscience; disposing of computer equipment in the garbage bin just won’t do. But don’t fret. There are places you can take your old tech, and they will either
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information getting into the nefarious hands of a hacker. So, there you have it. Go out and get some new equipment. It
might help your productivity and your sanity. And feel good that you helped the world out a little bit by recycling or donating your old tech. Until next time.i Have a “tech tip” or a piece of software you would like to recommend? Contact Tim Elmore: time@nawic.org
Contractors & Lead PaInt Safety Beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes, childcare facilities and schools built before 1978 must be EPA certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
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ontractors play an important role in protecting public health by helping prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that
contains lead. Even small amounts of lead can harm children and adults. Be prepared for these new requirements by adopting the following work practices.
Talk to the Residents Explain the steps you will take to protect residents from lead: Set up work areas that will not expose residents. Minimize the dust. Leave the work area clean. When working in homes, childcare facilities and schools built
The Facts About Lead • Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults. • Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible. • Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978. • Projects that disturb lead-based paint can create dust and endanger everyone exposed.
before 1978, you must provide the Renovate Right pamphlet, available at www.epa.gov/load, to residents or the facility operator before the job begins. You must also provide information to
What to do Inside
families whose children attend the childcare facility or school.
Use signs to keep residents out of the work area.
Set Up Safe Work Areas
Remove furniture and belongings, or cover them securely
Select appropriate personal protective equipment. Review items you need to safely perform the work. Ensure your workers have appropriate eyewear, clothing and respiratory protection for the job. The work area should be contained so no dust or debris leaves the work area.
with heavy plastic sheeting. Use heavy plastic sheeting to cover floors and other fixed surfaces like large appliances in the work area. When appropriate, use heavy plastic sheeting to separate the work area from the rest of the residence. Close and seal vents in the work area, and if necessary, turn off forced-air heating and air conditioning systems. February/March 2010
29
What To Do Outside Mark off the work area to keep non-workers away. Cover the ground and plants with heavy plastic sheeting.
To order a cleaning verification card and detailed instructions visit our www.epa.gov/lead, or contact the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-LEAD (5323). These simple practices ensure your jobs are better, cleaner and
Close windows and doors near the work area.
safer. Your customers will notice the difference. To learn more
Move or cover play areas near the work area.
about working safely with lead and upcoming requirements,
Minimize the Dust
contact the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-LEAD (5323), or visit EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/lead.i
Mist areas before sanding, scraping, drilling, and cutting. Score paint before separating components. Pry and pull apart components instead of pounding and hammering. Always use a shroud with HEPA vacuum attachment when using power tools and equipment.
Do Not Use These Dangerous Practices Open flame burning or torching. Sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools unless equipped with a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment. Using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.
On a Daily Basis: Put trash and debris in heavy-duty plastic bags. Wrap waste building components, such as windows and doors, in heavy plastic sheeting and tape shut. Ensure everything, including tools, equipment and even workers, are free of dust and debris before leaving the work area. HEPA vacuum the work area. Wash up and change out of work clothes before you and your workers go home. Remember, you do not want to bring leadbased paint dust home and expose your family. Remind residents to stay out of the work area.
When the Job Is Complete: Remove the plastic sheeting carefully, mist with water, fold
need to know • Currently Federal regulations require contractors to provide a copy of the Renovate Right pamphlet to owners and occupants before starting work in pre-1978 housing. Contractors must also provide the pamphlet to owners and operators of childcare facilities and schools built prior to 1978 and provide information to parents or guardians of children under age six who attend. • Beginning April 22, 2010, renovations in target (pre-1978) housing and child-occupied facilities must be conducted by certified renovation firms, using renovators with accredited training, and following the work practice requirements of the rule. • Firms must have at least one person on staff who is trained in lead-safe work practices. This training requires an eight-hour course provided by an EPA-certified trainer. A full list of certified trainers is available on the EPA Web site. Training costs average $200 a person. • Remodeling companies have to be certified by the EPA. Firms can now apply for the $300 certification. The training and certification have to be renewed every five years. Learn more about the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule at www.epa.gov/ lead/pubs/renovation.htm.
dirty side in, tape shut, and dispose of it. HEPA vacuum all surfaces, including walls. Wash the work area with a general purpose cleaner. Check your work carefully for lead dust because hazardous amounts may be minute and not easily visible. If you see any dust or debris, then re-clean the area. Perform a final clean-up check. Use disposable cleaning
Source: “Contractors Safety During Renovation.” EPA.
cloths to wipe the floor of the work area and compare them
www.epa.gov/lead.
to a cleaning verification card to determine if the work area was adequately cleaned.
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Chapter spotlight BY JOHN F. DOE
NAWIC, The Home Depot & the Girl Scouts
The NAWIC Atlanta and Northwest Georgia Chapters and The Home Depot team up to introduce local Girl Scouts to the construction industry.
T
he Atlanta and Northwest, Ga., Chapters of NAWIC teamed up with NAWIC National Sponsor The Home Depot to provide an exciting construction workshop for the Greater Atlanta Girl Scouts on Saturday, Jan. 9. The girls learned construction safety and basics while utilizing creativity and experiencing the satisfaction of building something with their own hands. The girls were mentored by NAWIC members and The Home Depot personnel,
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NWGA President Angie McElroy, CIT, assisting one of the young girl scouts with her birdhouse.
ors given to them. They were also given a goodie bag that included Girl Scout pencils, temporary tattoos, Home Depot stickers, a participation certificate and their coveted Construction Badge to add to their vests. The event was so popular that all parties agreed to organize more events like this and Miss Fix It workshops.i
“We had more than 50 participants ranging in ages from six to 15.”
including the director of construction. Event organizer, Atlanta Immediate Past President Stephanie Golias, CIT, said the response to this event was overwhelming. “There were 105 slots available, and 175 girls who wanted to participate. Unfortunately, we experienced some bad weather that left behind icy roads throughout the state. Despite the icy roads, we had more than 50 participants ranging in ages from six to 15. Each girl was given her own Home Depot apron with her name on it and a Home Depot Kids Workshop pin. The girls built birdhouses using pre-cut wood pieces, glue, nails and woodscrews, while deftly handling hammers and screwdrivers to assemble. They were even assigned “homework,” which was to paint their birdhouses at home with watercol-
The girls pose with their built birdhouses and participation certificates. February/March 2010
31
WORKFORCE by Richard Gorham
11 Rules for Success The following eleven rules provide a quick list of key actions leaders take to ensure ongoing growth and success.
T
he following 11 goals for success are universal in nature. At some level, you can apply each objec-
tive to your own life, and improve yourself and the environment in which you live. Incorporate these into your daily routine, and watch your results multiply. Review each item in your mind, and conduct your own personal assessment of how strong or weak you are in that particular category.
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“Take a genuine interest in your employees’ professional goals.”
4. Build your reputation on integrity,
8. Plan for Success. Know where you are
quality and value. Don’t do anything that
going and how you are going to get there.
might compromise your integrity. Once
Too many businesses exist day-to-day
your reputation is tarnished, it is difficult
without any long-range plans, goals and
to redeem yourself in the eyes of your cus-
objectives. Where do you want your com-
1. Work smarter, not harder. It’s not
tomers as well as your employees. Main-
pany to be in one, three and five years?
how much you do, but what you do and
taining your good name must remain at
Draw up a specific plan of action.
how well you do it. There are better ways
the top of your goals and objectives.
to run your business than by brute force.
9. Take advantage of change. Changes
5. Always better your best. Constantly
in your market are inevitable — use them
strive to improve your products and ser-
to your advantage. Be a leader, not a fol-
vices. If you have a good idea, rest assured
lower. It is far better to err on the side of
others will work to make a product that’s
daring than to err on the side of inaction
2. Strive for accuracy first, then build
even better. In order to not be outdone by
or complacency.
momentum. Since you do not have a sec-
others, you must continue to seek to im-
ond chance to make a good impression,
prove your own product or service.
Create a work environment where people are recognized not only for their results, but also for their character and integrity.
it is important that you always do things right the first time. It is much better to introduce an excellent product a little later than planned than it is to impetuously release something that you know has problems. Your work is your signature, make sure it’s worth something very valuable! 3. Find a niche. Some goals and objectives sound simple enough, but this one can be tough to achieve. Start by becoming an expert in your field. Stick to what you do best. It may not be necessary to invent something brand new yourself. Take something that is already in the marketplace and improve it enough so you can call it your own. Provide the simple twist to the product that will outsell all others.
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10. Think before you act, and spend time wisely. There is nothing so useless
6. Be creative. Adapt and apply innova-
as doing efficiently that which should not
tive techniques from outside your specific
be done at all. Don’t spend your time on
field. Step out of your comfort zone. Our
small items that are time-suckers. Focus
goals for business should be no more in-
on the big issues and do them first.
tense than our goals for life. Continuous learning is key to our sense of self-fulfillment and personal growth.
11. Always promise a lot . . . and then deliver even more. Provide your customers with more than they expect. Go the ex-
7. Listen and respond to your custom-
tra mile to give exceptional quality, excep-
ers’ needs. Success comes when you give
tional service or exceptional value. Your
your customers what they want. Visit your
customers will remember and reward you
customers, and ask them what you can do
with their continued business.i
to improve your product or service. Users of your product know exactly what you need to do to make it even better. They’ve already wished it could do more. Ask them to tell you about their wish-list/upgrade ideas. Sell solutions, not products.
Richard Gorham is president of Leadership Tools, Inc. Access more of his leadership articles at www.leadership-tools.com.
PULSE POINT By Michelle LaBrosse, MSME, PMP & Erica Edmond, CAPM
Project Management: The Business of Green
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How Green Are Your Projects?
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eing Green is not just Kermit’s theme song anymore. It’s everyone’s. Green tips are top of mind everywhere we turn. So, when we think of project management, how can we apply some “green thinking” to our projects? Here are our top five ways to bring some green ingenuity to your every day project management.
“So, when it comes to greening up the planet, who better to lead the charge than Project Managers?”
1. Green Materials Maven. Are you using materials that have been recycled, and are you recycling the materials you’re currently using? Regardless of what industry you work in, just a little research can make a big difference in your project’s carbon footprint.
• Support and buy the products of other vendors and suppliers who are eco-friendly. • Support virtual office employees or car-pooling and ride sharing if in a suburban area. • If you’re in a rural area, can you create a wildlife trust around your company’s property?
2. Packing Green. Packing materials for products can produce a lot of waste. Can you use recycled materials for packing like old newspapers? Also, biodegradable packing peanuts and environmental friendly soft foam are available.
4. Make a Commitment to Green. When you make green more than a passing fancy, you show your team and your customers that you mean business. You’re not just being trendy; you’re making changes that impact the world around you.
3. Green Team. There are hundreds of ways to make your office greener; here are just a few to get you started: • Use coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam. • If you are a small or home-based office, you can produce your own energy. Visit www.cheetahpower.com for more information. • If you can’t produce your own energy, look for a supplier producing green energy in your area. • Put automatic timers or sensor lights in your bathroom, conference rooms or spaces not occupied the majority of the day. • Use as much natural light as possible in the design of your office space. • Use energy-saving light bulbs. • Switch off computers, photocopiers and other equipment when not being used. • Buy office equipment with the best energy ratings. • Use green materials when building a new office, like bamboo instead of wood flooring. • Use refillable versus disposable pens. • Buy green products for your office – everything from toilet paper to recycled paper for printing. • Promote a “reuse” mentality, and lead by example. • Promote “think before you print.” • Use environment friendly or natural cleaning products.
5. PR With Heart & Soul. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of bad news out there. Your customers do want to hear about the good things you’re doing. So, if you have a green initiative or a project with a green heart and soul, talk about it. Get the buzz going. Green PR is only bad when it’s insincere. So, when it comes to greening up the planet, who better to lead the charge than Project Managers? Who knows better than you about tackling something large with small milestones that make a big difference! So, Kermit, it can be easy being Green. Just bring a project manager on board to get it done.i Michelle LaBrosse, MSME, PMP, founder of Cheetah Learning and Cheetah Power, is an engineer and an entrepreneur with expertise in both aerospace and mechanical engineering. Erica Edmond, CAPM, is a marketing intern for Cheetah Learning and Cheetah Power. Learn more about Cheetah Learning and Cheetah Power at www.cheetahpower.net.
What’s Your Pulse?
Are you using materials that have been recycled and are you recycling the materials that you’re currently using? What ways have you made your office greener? Go to www.nawic.org > Member Center, and click on “Pulse Point: How Green are Your Projects?” to complete a brief survey. The results will be published in the April/May 2010 issue of The NAWIC IMAGE. February/March 2010
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INDUSTRY BRIEFS Read the latest construction headlines and news. Crystal Vision Awards: Call for Entries Take time out to nominate outstanding advocates for women in construction for NAWIC’s 16th Annual Crystal Vision Awards. NAWIC is accepting nominations through March 18, 2010. The awards recognize individuals for their outstanding vision and achievements to advance the role of women in construction. NAWIC recognizes a member of the Association and a non-member. “These awards identify and honor the men and women who see beyond the invisible barriers that impede the progress of women, especially in nontraditional fields,” says Susan Levy, founder of the Crystal Vision Awards and past NAWIC national president. “Nominees must demonstrate the courage to act on their vision by gradually breaking down those barriers through policy change, setting precedent, and taking risk.” Winners will be recognized at the Association’s 55th Annual Meeting and Convention, Sept. 1-4, 2010, in Louisville, Ky. Go to www.nawic.org to print a nomination form, but hurry, the March 18 deadline is fast approaching!
Advocacy Efforts under the Regulatory Flexibility Act Saved Small Businesses $7 Billion in FY 2009 Small businesses realized $7 billion in firstyear cost savings and $745 million in annually recurring savings as a result of fiscal year (FY) 2009 efforts to help agencies comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The law requires agencies to review the economic impacts of proposed regulations on small entities and consider less burdensome alternatives. The figures are reported in the FY 2009 edition of the Office of Advocacy’s annual “Small firms are better equipped to do what they do best—grow the economy—when they are given regulations that are less burdensome and duplicative,” said Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Susan M. Walthall. The Regulatory Flexibility Act was enacted in 1980 in an effort to give small businesses, small nonprofits, and small government entities a voice in the rulemaking process. For more information and a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy Web site at www.sba.gov/advo.
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Delmar and the Code Council Introduce Code Basics Series to Illustrate International Building Codes Delmar, part of Cengage Learning and a leading provider of learning solutions for ongoing career development and education, and the International Code Council, the publisher of the International Building Codes, recently released the “Code Basics Series” based on the Code Council’s 2009 Codes. Developed as a resource for building professionals, the series is currently comprised of three books – Building Code Basics: Building, Building Code Basics: Residential and Building Code Basics: Fire. 1. Building Code Basics: Building focuses on commercial buildings and details the general purpose of the code. Code references are paired with non-technical explanations, making this an ideal tool for anyone in or entering the field of design, construction or inspection of commercial buildings. 2. Building Code Basics: Residential focuses on residential buildings and follows a logical construction order, beginning with site work and foundation topics and ending with fire and life safety and environmental requirements for a finished building. The book also discusses requirements for plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, electrical system and equipment. 3. Building Code Basics: Fire features comprehensive coverage and strong, clear connections between building and fire-related concepts and the International Fire Code® requirements that govern them. The book covers firefighters’ response to buildings, fire department access to roadways, firefighter protection systems, sprinkler systems, hazards in buildings and communities, compressed gasses, combustible liquids, and basic requirements for storage and use of hazardous materials. These are one-of-a-kind products that ask “What does the code mean and how do you use it?” The series gives detailed, full-color illustrations, real world examples, code references, and valuable tips to help professionals retain information, making these practical books essential for anyone working with the codes. For more information about the Code Basics Series or to purchase one of the books, please visit www.InformationDestination.Cengage.com.
Industry Events March 17-20 AGC’s 91st Annual Convention/ CONSTRUCTOR Expo, Honolulu, Hawaii www.agc.org
April 7-8 McGraw-Hill Construction’s 2010 Global Construction Summit • New York, N.Y. http://construction.com/events/ globalsummitny
April 24-25 Green Expo • Richmond, Va. www.getgreenexpo.org/About/foundation. html
May 5-7 Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) 2010 Spring Owners Leadership Conference • Pittsburgh, Pa. www.coaa.org
May 10-12 The Sustainable Building Series: Green Retrofits • New York, N.Y. www.sustainablebuildingsseries.com
May 17-19 Uptime Institute Symposium 2010: Data Center Efficiency & Green Enterprise IT New York, N.Y. http://symposium.uptimeinstitute.com
May 19 Green BIM, How Environmental Performance Modeling is Improving Sustainability Boston, Ma. http://construction.com/events/greenbim
June 15-16 ENR/CURT Construction Business Forum Arlington, Va. • http://construction.com/ events/enrcurt2010/
FUN FACTS Efflorescence – a deposit of soluble salts, usually white in color, appearing on the surface of concrete and masonry construction. Source: www.constructiondictionary.com
Concrete is the most used building material in the world. Hardwood, the Natural ‘Green’ Choice It takes less energy to make products from wood than other materials. Making products from aluminum, glass, plastic, cement or brick can require as much as 126 times more energy than making them from wood. The Forest Service reports that more hardwoods grow than are harvested each year in the United States. In the last 50 years, the volume of hardwoods in American forests has nearly doubled. Supply is increasing, and it is sustainable. They are ideal for healthy environments. They don’t trap dust, dirt and other allergens. Source: www.hardwoodcouncil.com
Pulse Point: Flu Preparedness Taipei 101 To Be World’s Tallest Green Building Taipei 101, famous for being one of the world’s tallest buildings, is set to get some major eco-upgrades in an effort to save money, reduce its impact, and gain the much coveted title of “World’s Tallest Green Building.” In 2007, the Burj Dubai surpassed Taipei 101 in terms of height, but the Taiwanese building won’t give up the fight, throwing down $1.8 million in energy efficiency upgrades, which are expected to yield $20 million annually in savings and make it the Earth’s greenest building that’s also closest to the heavens! Source: www.inhabitat.com
The December/January issue of The NAWIC IMAGE featured the article, “Are You Prepared for the Flu?” We asked to take your pulse on the issue, and here’s what you said:
62 percent said their companies do not have a flu preparedness plan.
50 percent said they feel pressure to stay at work when sick. 37 percent said they have been vaccinated for the H1N1 virus. 20 percent said they plan on being vaccinated. 87 percent said they believe having a flu preparedness plan is important.
Top 10 America’s Favorite Structures
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Harris Interactive compiled a list of America’s best works of architecture, based on interviews with AIA members and a poll of about 1,800 adults. Here is the list, which was released in February 2007.
#1 Empire State Building, New York, N.Y. #2 The White House, Washington, D.C. #3 Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. #4 Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C. #5 Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Calif. #6 U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. #7 Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. #8 Biltmore Estate (Vanderbilt Residence), Asheville, N.C. #9 Chrysler Building, New York, N.Y. #10 Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C. Source: “America’s Favorite Structures.” Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 03 Feb. 2010 <http://www.infoplease.com/spot/americas-favorite-structures.html>. February/March 2010
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