Alabama skyscraper reaches new heights

The RSA Battle House Tower in Mobile, Ala., reached its maximum height after the 115-ft. spire was placed on top of the building in mid September.

The two sections of the fiberglass spire were flown in by helicopter. With the spire in place, the 35-story building now stands at 745 ft., making it the tallest in Alabama. Construction of the skyscraper began in 2004 and should be completed by the end of the year.

The project has endured five hurricanes and two tropical storms.

Located adjacent to Mobile's convention center and a revived waterfront, the project represents a new era for downtown Mobile. The skyscraper construction is part of a larger project that includes the renovation of the historic, 238-room Battle House hotel.

Before its closure in the 1970s, The Battle House was where Mobile gathered to celebrate gala events for more than a century. The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) and the city ventured to renovate and expand the hotel and add a monumental Class A office and mixed-use tower.

The hotel expansion encompasses public space connections, with ballroom, meeting rooms and lobby, and extends out to form the first eight floors of the new tower with additional guest rooms.

Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (TVS) designed the project and Archer-Western Contractors is performing construction.

National Gypsum announces major paper expansion

National Gypsum Co., a manufacturer of gypsum wallboard, recently announced plans to more than triple paper manufacturing capacity at its Oxford, Ala., plant. The expansion will include installing a state-of-the-art paper machine with a tentative startup in late 2009.

The company will invest about $115 million in the project, bringing employment at the plant to 93.

"Our expansion in Alabama builds on one of National Gypsum's key operating strategies - vertical integration," said CEO Thomas C. Nelson. "By owning our own raw material supplies, including paper, we can better control costs and quality. The incentives offered by the State of Alabama and the support of Leon Smith, mayor of Oxford, helped make the expansion possible."

National Gypsum recently announced wallboard capacity expansions with new high-speed plants near Charlotte, N.C., and Phoenix, Ariz. The additional paper capacity will be needed to support these expansions. While the building is erected and the machine installed, National Gypsum will continue to produce paper on its existing equipment in Alabama.

"National Gypsum has had a highly successful operation at our Alabama plant for 50 years," Nelson said. "Our associates have produced excellent operating results. We know this new machine will be in good hands."

Golden & Associates to build clubhouse for Russell Lands

Golden & Associates Construction was recently awarded a $5.2 million contract to build a new 15,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse and recreational area for The Ridge at Lake Martin, Russell Lands' newest and largest residential development.

The project is slated to begin next week, with plans to be complete in summer 2007. Atlanta's Chapman Coyle Chapman & Associates is the architectural firm for the project. This is Golden & Associates Construction's first project for Russell Lands.

The clubhouse design has a craftsman style with rustic mountain influence. The building will have a fitness room, meeting room, kitchen and restrooms, and a see-through stone fireplace separating the great room from the gallery. Interior architectural details include 24-ft.-high vaulted ceilings, mahogany and cedar paneling, and custom millwork and trim.

The building's stone exterior will feature custom tapered columns and a wrap-around porch on three sides. The project will also include: two pools connected by a five-tier waterfall, two tennis courts, a pavilion with an event lawn area, and other outdoor amenities. A concrete and stone pathway will connect the outdoor areas to the clubhouse.

The Ridge is located in Alexander City, Ala., just off of County Road 138. Phase I of the development has 92 lots and Phase II has 112 lots.

Two pavement courses placed simultaneously at Auburn test track

Dynapac demonstrated its most recent innovation, which allows the simultaneous laying of the wearing and binder courses in a single pass, at the National Center of Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track at Auburn University.

More than 50 spectators witnessed the new technology - known as Kompact Asphalt Paving - that allows "hot on hot" monolithic pavement to be laid simultaneously in a single pass.

The Dynapac F-300 C/S twin-paver used during the demonstration consists of two hoppers: the upper hopper has a 25-ton capacity to hold the top course (wearing course) hot mix, and the lower hopper has a 45-ton capacity to hold the binder course material.

Both courses of pavement are placed simultaneously, "hot on hot."

The paver also consists of two screeds that are fed by the two different hoppers. The first screed has the ability to place the binder course while compacting it to a density of up to 97%, while the second screed places the top course directly over the freshly placed binder and compacts it to 92% density.

The screeds can be adjusted to reduce or increase compaction as required.

The designed permeable mix, formulated by the Georgia DOT, will reduce water accumulation, which will lower dangers of hydroplaning and truck back spray. In addition, the mix will assist in reducing noise pollution in residential living areas near designated highways.

The trial permeable mix pavement is placed at the assigned test section, which is sponsored by research funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The "hot on hot" mix consisted of an open graded mix for both the binder and wearing course. The top course (wearing course) consisted of 3/8-in. minus material, and the binder course consisted of .5-in. minus material. The desirable void content of this mix would lay between 22 to 26 percent.