The National WWII Museum awards $42 million expansion contract

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans has awarded Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Group LLC of Houston a $42 million contract as part of the $61 million next phase of the museum’s $300 million capital expansion. 

Across the street from the current museum facility, construction will begin within weeks on the advanced-format Theatre and the USO Experience and Canteen. This will be the first of six new pavilions creating the expanded WWII Museum campus, due to be completed in 2014.

There has been great anticipation for the theatre project, which will feature state of the art special effects, 4-D multi-sensory experiences and dimensional sound. The 250-seat theatre will premier a signature cinematic presentation being created exclusively for The National World War II Museum. 

The production, entitled “Beyond all Boundaries,” will immerse the visitor in the story and experience of the war that changed the world. Tom Hanks serves as executive producer for the project and Phil Hettema of The Hettema Group heads the extensive creative team. For 14 years, Hettema was director of all the creative attractions at Universal Studios. 

The theatre is projected to open in summer 2009. 

The architect for the expansion is Voorsanger Mathes LLC, which was formed by New York architectural firm Voorsanger Architects PLC and the New Orleans firm of Mathes Brierre Architects.

The USO Experience will feature a specially-produced rear screen audio/visual presentation, as well as live entertainment to put visitors in the time and place of the World War II era and show how famous performers and Hollywood celebrities used music and comedy to lift the morale of troops and home front workers. 

The audio/visual presentation and interior design themes were developed by Gallagher and Associates of Bethesda, Md., considered among the foremost exhibit design firms in the country.

The Federal New Market Tax Credit program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is designed to stimulate economic revitalization and community development in specific economically distressed geographical areas.

Satterfield and Pontikes operates from offices in Texas and Louisiana.

Wink Cos., Sunoco Inc. win CICE Award

Wink Cos. LLC and Sunoco Inc. were awarded a 2007 Construction Industry Construction Excellence (CICE) award by the Greater New Orleans Business Roundtable, for a project at the Girard Point Refinery in Philadelphia, Pa.

Sunoco recently completed a major revamp of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, expanding the overall capacity of the FCCU from 73,500 to 85,000 BPD. In addition to the feed rate increase, the unit upgrade included installation of flue gas treating technology and provided improvements in product purity, product recovery and efficiency.

Under the management of Wink’s project manager, Chuck J. Konechne, Wink Cos., performed engineering and procurement services for a significant portion of the project, debottlenecking the FCC main fractionator and product recovery section. 

The CICE was awarded on the basis of Wink’s performance in six areas.

The project embodied a number of key Construction Industry Institute (CII) principles.

Innovative Design Technology was the focus of Wink’s submittal - Use of 3-D laser scanning to obtain and document site data; using scanned data to create a 3-D model; and weekly on-line project meetings, with “real-time” review of the model by Wink and Sunoco in remote locations.

Richard Feemster, manager of technology applications at Wink, gave a presentation of the laser-scanning process from field scanning through creation of the model in AutoPlant, and demonstrated review and revision of the model as it had occurred in the Web-based project meetings. 

Raymond Toto, Sunoco’s venture manager for the FCCU expansion project; and Tim Ernst, the project manager, attended the GNOBR awards presentation on Dec. 6 and accepted the CICE award on behalf of Sunoco.
 
“The success of this technology on the FCCU expansion project has led Sunoco to adopt laser scanning as our standard for refinery revamp projects,” said Ernst.

Ryan Gootee General Contractors to restore, renovate Gus Mayer building

Ryan Gootee General Contractors LLC, a general contractor based in Metairie, La., was recently awarded the restoration and renovation of the four-story Gus Mayer building in downtown New Orleans on the corner of Canal and Carondelet streets in order to house a new CVS Pharmacy.

The project is comprised of three phases, including: 

Phase 1 – the removal and replacement of fire damaged portions; structurally reinforcing the concrete columns and installing a new elevator shaft.

Phase 2 – the building shell restoration, which includes the complete gutting of the building followed by the installation of a new roof system, storefronts, new stairs, elevators, fireproofing, electrical systems and fireproofing.

Phase 3 – the 1st and partial 2nd floor build-out of a new CVS Pharmacy.
The project is scheduled to be completed in one year.

Pelican Chapter ABC announces 2008 Executive Committee, board of directors

The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors recently announced the officers of the 2008 Board of Directors. An Installation Banquet was held Jan. 17 at The Hilton Capitol Center to install the officers.

The Executive Committee is comprised of Chairman Stephen Toups with Turner Industries Group LLC; Chair-Elect Scott Barringer with PALA-Interstate LLC ; Secretary James Watts with Jacobs Field Services North America Inc.; Treasurer Jeff Gould with JPMorgan Chase Bank; Vice Chair of Education and Manpower Mike Moran with Cajun Industries LLC; Vice Chair Member Growth Bryan Haymon with The Shaw Group Inc.; Vice Chair Member Services John Schempf with Triad Electric & Controls Inc.; Vice Chair Outlying area, Jay Dykes with Dykes Electric Inc.; Vice Chair Governmental Relations Tim Johnson, Advantous Consulting LLC; and Past Chairman Brent Boé with Performance Contractors Inc.

The Board of Directors include Barry Bernhard with Bernhard Brothers Mechanical Contractors Inc.; Mike Killgore with James Construction Group LLC, Lester Barback with Turner Industries Group LLC, Phil Detlefs with Delefs & Company Benefit Resources LLC, Steve Gaffney with ICT/Regions Insurance, Todd Grigsby with Cajun Industries LLC; Stephanie Lorio with Pelican Promotions Advertising Specialties; Red Lester with Triad Electric & Controls Inc.; Johnny Barbo with McNeer Electric; Joe Reljac with James Machine Works Inc.; E.P. “Topper” Breaux with E.P. Breaux Electrical Inc.; and Ronnie Gulino with Industrial Specialty Contractors LLC.

TXI’s Honey Island Operation christens new energy-efficient electric dredge

The TXI Honey Island Operation christened a new, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly electric dredge recently in Pearl River, La., in honor of a former long-time TXI employee, Dennis Courtney, who was attacked and killed at his home in April 2005. 

“Courtney was a hard-working, loyal employee of TXI who other employees strongly believed undeniably deserved having this dredge named in his honor,” said Tom Curran, sales representative and long-time friend of Courtney. 

More than 200 people from across the country attended the christening ceremony, which was performed by Father Thomas McCann of St. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church in Pearl River, La.

The bottle-breaking rite was carried out by Dennis Courtney’s widow, Jennie Courtney. A large number of Courtney family members from Louisiana attended the event, which honored Dennis in one of the most prestigious manners possible as this dredge has an average life span of more than 20 years and offers the latest and greatest in dredging technology available.

The new electric dredge will increase production capacity and efficiencies, lower operating costs while providing dependable, high-quality products. Dredging Supply Co., based in Reserve, La, supplied the dredge.

Texas Industries Inc. is a supplier of construction materials such as cement, aggregate and concrete products. 

Pelican Chapter-North Louisiana opens Shreveport plans room

A new Pelican Chapter Associated Builders and Contractors plan distribution facility opened at 719 Marshall St. in downtown Shreveport, La., in October. 

The plans room is in partnership with Ridgway’s of Shreveport.

The ABC plans room is fully equipped to handle projects that are published for private bid as well as public bid and has the ability to securely limit distribution only to contractors as chosen by the contractor or the client. The plans room has the latest in computer technology, access to the internet and the necessary equipment to review drawings/plans on site.

Ridgeway’s latest technology and innovative products such as PlanWell and Sub Hub are also available on site for ABC members as well as handling all reprographic needs.

DOTD announces results of Nov. 14 bid letting

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) considered bids totaling more than $51 million at its Nov. 14 public bid opening.

With a bid of $16,885,359.89, James Construction Group LLC, Baton Rouge, was the apparent low bidder on the state’s most expensive job, a project in Lincoln Parish calling for installing drainage pipe, asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on La. 33 from Interstate 20 to La. 821.

DOTD receives national award for innovative Baton Rouge intersection

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has received a national award for its innovative “Continuous Flow Intersection” (CFI) on Airline Highway at Sherwood Forest Boulevard in Baton Rouge.

The award from the National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) marks the second consecutive year in which DOTD has been honored by the group of government and private industry transportation leaders. In 2006, NPHQ gave DOTD its Partnership Award for the planning, communication and implementation of the contraflow evacuation of the New Orleans area prior to Hurricane Katrina.

The CFI concept eliminates “conflict points” at an intersection by allowing vehicles to cross over opposing traffic several hundred feet before the intersection through a series of carefully timed traffic signals. The NPHQ called the CFI concept “another revolutionary technique to address operational issues.”

A recent study shows the intersection is handling more traffic than it was before the CFI was installed but is moving the traffic faster and with fewer crashes.

“The CFI concept is indicative of the innovative thinking taking place at DOTD,” Secretary Bradberry said. “When construction dollars are limited, it is even more important that we not only think outside the box but ask if we’re limited to a box in the first place.”

The CFI was designed for DOTD by ABMB Engineers, a Baton Rouge firm. Mike Bruce, a principal in the firm, noted that the Baton Rouge CFI was the first of its kind in the country.

“We’re very proud that DOTD decided to try the CFI and we’re hopeful that we will be able to offer this as a real traffic solution at other intersections,” Bruce said.

Because the CFI is a new concept, DOTD formed a task force to study its effectiveness and the public’s perception of how well the intersection is working. The findings show:

• Congestion time at the intersection has been reduced by as much as 40 percent during the evening rush hour, which is the intersection’s worst congestion period.

• CFI has allowed approximately 10 percent more traffic to pass through the intersection.

• The number of crashes at the intersection has been reduced by 27 percent since the CFI has opened.

• About 92 percent of drivers are satisfied with the operation of the CFI.

• About 87 percent of drivers believe the traffic congestion has lessened.

• About 74 percent of drivers believe travel time has decreased.

• About 68 percent of drivers believe safety has increased.

Stanley Consultants recognized by CE News magazine

Stanley Consultants of Baton Rouge, La., has been named by CE News magazine as one of the “Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For.”  

CE News hosts the “Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For “competition to recognize and reward firms that have outstanding work practices. Stanley Consultants ranked second in the large firm category and fourth overall in the nationwide competition. 

Stanley Consultants, located at 721 Government St., has provided engineering, environmental and construction services to Baton Rouge and the surrounding area since 2006.

This annual award is presented to the firms that rank highest in the submittal process, which includes a corporate statement of qualifications, employee satisfaction survey and personal interviews with firm members. About 19,000 employees from 145 firms nationwide participated in the competition and provided feedback about how satisfied they are with their firms’ offerings.

This marks the sixth year that Stanley Consultants has entered the competition and the sixth year it placed in the top 20. In 2002, Stanley Consultants was named the nation’s top firm to work for.

Stanley Consultants has long been recognized for its excellent work environment.  The company has been repeatedly honored by AARP in its annual “Best Employers for Workers Over 50” competition. This year AARP ranked Stanley Consultants as the country’s fifth best employer for workers over 50.   In 2005, Stanley Consultants received the nation’s top ranking.

Stanley Consultants provides engineering, environmental and construction services worldwide. The firm has 17 domestic and 11 international offices, and employs nearly 1,700 people worldwide.