www.floridaconstructionnews.com MARCH/APRIL 2016 NASCC: The Steel Conference in Orlando April 13 to 15 Networking and education about steel construction concepts, techniques and products
AROUND FLORIDA We welcome your reports of interesting projects and opportunities. Send these by email to buckshon@floridaconstructionnews.com. CENTRAL AND NORTH Lung restoration center breaks ground in Jacksonville Construction has started for a new three-storey lung restoration center on the Mayo Clinic’s Jack- sonville campus. The clinic is partnering with United Therapeutics to develop technology that can sustain and rejuvenate lungs, making previously marginal lungs suitable for transplantation. The rejuvenation technology could triple the number of lungs suitable for transplant, solving the serious transplantation wait list problem. The project has been designed by the EwingCole archi- tecture, engineering and design firm, with participation from Prosser. The general contractor is Whiting-Turner. The lung restoration center is scheduled to open in 2017. Published reports do not provide details about the project’s dollar value. Florida Construction News combines a bi-monthly magazine with a weekly newsletter and a website (updated daily), delivering news, analysis and networking opportunities to Florida’s architecture, engineering and construction community. The magazine is distributed primarily online to 9,000 general contrac- tors, specialty contractors, developers, professional services and building owners throughout Florida. For more information on promoting your business to our au- dience and to request rates, see the advertising rates page on the Floridaconstructionnews.com website. You can also contact Chase at chasemarketing@sympatico.ca or phone him at 888- 627-8717 ext 212. You can send editorial news releases and announcements to Mark Buckshon at buckshon@floridaconstructionnews.com. Florida Construction News is published by Construction News and Report Publishing Inc. 332 S Michigan Ave, Ste 1032 - C319, Chicago IL 60604-4434. Publisher: Interim editor: Production and design: Administration: Chase Mark Buckshon Raymond Leveille Katherine Jeffrey, Kathy Lepage Printed subscriptions You can request a printed single copy for $12.95 (postage included) or a six issue printed subscription for $65.00 at the floridaconstructionnews.com website. Alternatively, you can read the digital version free of charge online at Floridaconstructionnews.com. © Copyright 2016 Construction News and Report Publishing Inc. 2 – MARCH-APRIL 2016 — Florida Construction News News and information about projects and activities throughout the state Osceola County selects Perkins + Will to design 500-acre tech campus The selection committee of Osceola County’s selection committee, in early March, chose architectural company Perkins + Will as the best candidate to master plan the large property that sur- rounds the Florida Ad- vanced Manufacturing Research Center. “We found them to have the best approach, and they seem to have the best ideas for what our plans are,” Rebecca Jones, Osceola County’s procurement services director, told the Orlando Business Journal. “They really drilled down on the tech market.” The tech campus will capitalize on the growing smart sensors market, expected to be valued at $154 billion by 2020, and will be designed as a live, work and play environ- ment. Jones said figures were not discussed during the meet- ing, but the scope of the project is expected to have a mas- sive economic impact. The research center alone is expected to transform the local economy by creating nearly 20,000 new high-tech, high wage jobs within 10 years with more than 80,000 total jobs related to the project and $482 million in tax revenue generated. Roger B. Kennedy Construction breaks ground for $4M seventh phase of Regal Oaks Resort, plus $12M Kenwood Place Apartments Altamonte Springs based Roger B. Kennedy Construc- tion has broken ground for the $4 million seventh phase of Regal Oaks Resort vacation club, for which Kennedy has constructed all prior phases to- taling $33 million. This brings the total value to $37 million. Located adjacent to Kissimmee’s Old Town attrac- tion, the resort is a develop- ment of CLC Regal Oaks, LLC, and was designed by Charlan Brock & Associates, Maitland, the contractor says in a news release. The latest 37-unit phase is slated for completion in Au- gust 2016. Kennedy also broke ground for the new Kenwood Place Apartments in Tallahassee under a $12.8 million contract with Wendover Housing Partners, LLC, Altamonte Springs. The new three-storey, 112-unit senior housing facility was designed by Slocum Platts Architects, Maitland, and is slated for completion in March 2017.
SOUTH Miami WorldCenter: City’s biggest construction project commences Work crews have started work in downtown Miami on the biggest construction project in the city’s history, which is also America’s second largest mixed-use urban develop- ment. Construction crews began drilling 400, 150 ft. deep steel structural support piles into the ground in February. Next they will lay the foundation for Miami Worldcenter – the city’s new retail, residential, entertainment and trans- portation complex. Phase one construction focuses on Paramount Miami WorldCenter. It is the project’s 700 ft., 60-storey, $500 mil- lion signature residential skyscraper. It will feature the world’s largest private urban amenities deck with resort style pools, bungalows, walking paths, gardens, tennis courts and a regula- tion soccer field. “You are literally going to see six blocks being de- veloped all at the same time,” Daniel Kodsi, Para- mount Miami WorldCenter CEO and master devel- oper, said in a news release. “This is basically step one of multiple steps in which you are going to see six buildings going vertical.” Kodsi says that Miami WorldCenter will intertwine Para- mount with six other residential and office buildings, an 1,800 room Marriott Marquis and convention center; the intermodal hub for the downtown MetroMover and Metro- rail elevated transit systems; the adjacent main terminal for the under construction All Aboard Florida high speed rail- road; and the Miami WorldCenter retail and restaurant promenade. It will feature an unprecedented collection of retail stores and a fusion of restaurants. The 27-acre Miami WorldCenter will be second in size only to New York’s Hud- son Yards development at 28-acres. In comparison, New York’s Rockefeller Center is 22-acres. Miami Beach park failure judgement results in landscape architect’s Chapter 11 filing A California headquartered landscape architect has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (see filing at link) fol- lowing a judgement against it because of the failure of a Miami Beach park. Hargreaves Associates Inc. filed the petition in San Francisco on Nov. 18, 2015 after the City of Miami Beach won a $1.3 million judgement in a lawsuit re- lated to the design of the oceanfront South Pointe Park where the city had to replace soil, sod and playground equipment after its com- pletion. The park opened in 2009. Hargreaves is appealing the decision and filed for Chap- ter 11 “to prevent the city from garnishing all of the money at once,” the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal re- ported. The city’s debt is the only major obligation in the filing. “Initial good faith attempts by us to assist the city were not reciprocated by changing city staff,” the company was reported as saying by the Miami New Times at the time of the initial controversy, before the suit was filed. “If we were allowed to continue, it would have led to earlier and more successful outcomes.” At the time, Miami Beach assistant city manager Jorge Gomez was quoted as saying that city engineers believed a flaw in Hargreaves’s irrigation plans may have been to blame for the dead grass. “The company also failed to plan for lightning strikes on the tall metal light fixtures along the waterfront, he says, and didn’t design the water fountain at the park’s entrance to meet county codes,” the Miami New Times reported. Seminoles announce $1.8 billion expansion plans for Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Florida’s Seminole Tribe has announced plans for a $1.8 billion expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, but the project may die on the vine because of the state’s failure to ap- prove a gambling agreement with the tribe. The proposal calls for a guitar shaped hotel with 800 rooms, according to the Sun Sentinal. The expansion was contingent on the state legislature’s approval of a deal reached between the tribe and Governor Rick Scott in December. That agreement would have gen- erated $3 billion in revenue for the state over the next seven years and grants the tribe exclusive rights to have roulette, craps, and other table games. The expansion would create 20,000 jobs, according to the Seminoles, with the hotel “trying to create something that is iconic, that creates international tourism coming to Florida,” says Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. This in- cludes cabanas and tikis “submerged in water.” However, the gambling agreement may not pass the leg- islature. In late February, the Senate Appropriations Com- mittee tabled bills that would have ratified the contract with the tribe, SB 7074, and the chances of the legislation being revived this season are remote, The Tampa Bay Times has reported. PHOTO: GOOGLEMAPS Florida Construction News — MARCH-APRIL 2016 – 3
NASCC: The Steel Conference in Orlando April 13 to 15 Networking and education about steel construction concepts, techniques and products Florida Construction News staff writer The annual North American Steel Construction Confer- ence (NASCC) in Orlando from April 13 to 15 will attract thousands of visitors and more than 200 exhibitors to learn about the latest steel construction concepts, techniques and products. “The planning committee spends a lot of time not just determining topics but also selecting the top experts to speak,” said Scott Melnick, vice president of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), which sponsors the event. “Our sessions range from highly technical subjects – such as a discussion of stiffness reduction within the di- rect analysis method for composite design – to business 4 – MARCH-APRIL 2016 — Florida Construction News topics, such as staff retention in construction employment. We offer more than 125 sessions.” Melnick says the event provides powerful networking opportunities. Last year’s conference attracted a record breaking 4,582 attendees involved in the design and con- struction of steel buildings and bridges. “It’s the perfect place to talk with structural engineers, steel fabricators, steel detailers and erectors,” he said. “We’re even starting to get some general contractors and architects.” Exhibitors will demonstrate “everything from bolts to structural engineering software,” he said. “If you’re a steel fabricator, the steel conference is bet- ter than a candy store. All of the major equipment suppliers are there and they all have their big machinery up and run-
ning. You can walk the show and compare machines and really get a feel for what you might next want to purchase for your shop. Likewise, structural engineers and detailers can talk with and see demos of the major software offer- ings.” Melnick suggested three “must attend” programs and activities at the conference: David Zweig “This year’s general session features David Zweig, au- thor of Invincibles,” he said. “In addition to being a great speaker, his topic should really resonate with our atten- dees, especially the structural engineers.” The conference dinner The conference dinner is always a highlight, Melnick said. “This year we’re expecting a fantastic evening and we’re renting out three adjacent venues including a Blues club, a country music venue and a piano bar. There’ll be great food, great entertainment and 1,500 of your closest friends to talk to.” The most powerful session “If I had to pick one session to attend, I’d go with ‘Lessons I wish I had known starting out: The engineer edi- tion’. This fast paced 90-minute session features five top engineers each presenting for eight minutes and then a rollicking question and answer session. We offered a sim- ilar session last year and it was standing room only.” This year, the Steel Conference is co-located with the World Steel Bridge Symposium, offering 21 sessions specifically for bridge designers and highway officials. Ses- sions range from “Accelerated Bridge Construction” to “Ad- vanced Analysis Techniques for Design and Erection.” The conference also incorporates the Structural Stability Re- search Council’s Annual Stability Conference. For information about conference registration and the event program, visit www.aisc.org/nascc. Florida Construction News — MARCH-APRIL 2016 – 5
What ahW is it s the Dowco co Group? ?upor G D wo Dowco ocwoD Consultants Ltd. tdLstntalsuno CocwoD C . es s W itn Ex pe r t C e r ti fie d T r ai ni n g– RIS RISA A Technologies eiog s Private tavi Pr Ltd. .dLte T echn ol od el C o or din a ti on &M an ag em en t– On li n eI nd us try Dowco has been providing steel detailing and consulting services since its inception in 1970. During this period the company has grown from a modest three -person three-person outfit to one spanning five locations across three countries, with 250+ employees and growing . growing. CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND INNOVA TION COLL ABORA TION ABORATION COLLABORATION an dC on str uc tio n V ir t ua lM Dowco’s cultural heritage is one where pursuit of innovative technologies has realized close relationships with our clients and provided the highest value possible for each project. Above all else, Dowco is dedicated to developing and maintaining integrity and trust between its clients and throughout the industry . industry. www.do w co.co m www.dowco.com info@do w co.co m info@dowco.com (604) 606-5800 I m p le m en ta t ion C o ns ult ing – F a br ica tio n W We e strive to provide all our clients with solutions to ensure each and every project is delivered on time and within budget. As part of your team we offer our expertise and organizational capabilities to overcome any challenges, making your experience with us as efficient and professional as possible. TE OUR GLOBAL PRODUCTION TEAM AM od eli ng an dD et ail ing –B IM Utilizing the latest in collaborative technologies we bring each of our locations together acting as one cooperative and cohesive unit. This facilitates the allocation of specialized people, at the right time, no matter the location. Our current technologies and processes are such that scaling a project to meet schedules can be achieved quickly and efficiently . efficiently. Modeling and Steel Detailing Services - Bridge Modeling and D Detailing – BIM I Implementation C Consulting – F Fabrication and C Construction Virtual Model Coordination & M Management t – Online I Industry y C idge M odeling etailing mplemen ta tion onsulting abr ica tion dina tion anagemen ndustr and nd Consulting Services secirveSgint lsunoC t SDE Steel e Detailing agnliitaeDle Ste Phi Philippines eni se Inc Inc. . l ipp A LEADING LE ADING STRUCTURAL STEEL DETAILING DET AILING ORGANIZATION ORGANIZA TION DOWCO vic es -B r id ge M M odeling Modeling and S Steel Detailing S Services es - Br Bridge M Modeling and D Detailing – BIM I Implementation C Consulting – F Fabrication and Construction Virtual Model Coordination & Management t – t eel D etailing er vic idge odeling etailing mplemen ta tion onsulting anagemen 6 – MARCH-APRIL 2016 — Florida Construction News GROUP OF COMPANIES
Dowco reaches for the future with digital speed steel detailing International business builds on North American knowledge, experience Florida Construction News staff writer The steel construction detailing business is experiencing a global revolution, and the changes have both increased the service delivery speed and integration potential for own- ers, designers, contractors and fabricators, says Brian Pyper, executive vice president of Dowco Consultants Ltd. “Clients know we’ve been in the business for decades,” he said from the company’s head office in suburban Van- couver, B.C. “There’s a good reason for Dowco’s longevity. We have highly skilled people utilizing the latest technolo- I Industr gies and processes to increase the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and efficiently with clients.” Pyper remembers the days just a quarter century ago when detailers worked with drafting tables, paper and slide rules. No one then could have predicted the industry today – a globalized business with hundreds of employees onshore and offshore working simultaneously in a globally inte- grated virtual environment, leading to comprehensive and extremely responsive details and instructions that support both Building Information Modeling (BIM) and efficient steel fabrication. Today, we take what would have been the two-dimen- sional model on paper, and convert it into a virtual model in the three-dimensional environment. And there’s lots of talk about the multiple dimensions of cost, and schedule that incorporates the 3D structural model into the entire project cycle from earliest design to the actual building opera- tions.” Structural detailers have always been important for the steel industry. The process of turning high level conceptual designs from architects and engineered design drawings and specifications into workable shop and construction drawings to generate the actual structural components re- quires specialized talents and skills, such skills that can only be acquired through time and experience. The importance of effective detailing cannot be under- stated, Pyper says. High quality detailing ensures efficient fabrication practices and constructability minimizes poten- tial design and construction conflicts. This of course saves significant time and money during the higher labor inten- sive areas such as fabrication and construction. “A detailer must understand every phase each compo- nent takes through the life cycle of a project, from the early design drawings through the late stages of project comple- Florida Construction News — MARCH-APRIL 2016 – 7
tion and beyond. The detailer needs to know whether each assembly and its components can be fabricated, and whether the bolts and welds specified are sufficient, if and how the steel can be shipped, and/ or whether members clash on site, and/or whether the steel will be architec- turally exposed. These and many more questions must be answered by the steel detailer to ensure the project passes from concept to reality in the most economical method for the client.” The detailing business evolved in the middle part of the last decade, when (with the Internet) offshore businesses began entering the world market, with lower labor costs. Dowco initially responded by working with some offshore contractors. Pyper says however, the company decided the best approach would be to actually own and run its own offshore production operations directly. Today, Dowco has offices in India and the Philippines, but unlike its offshore competitors, it also maintains a sub- stantial employment base at its offices in the Vancouver and Toronto areas. “We have North American knowledge and experience you can only get through time,” Pyper says. “You cannot gain this experience in books or through online courses. In our industry it is all about having the years in business in experience and skills.” Accordingly, Dowco has some 90 employees in Canada. Meanwhile, its offshore labor force helps the company re- main competitive on pricing – and because Dowco pays better wages than the offshore norm, it attracts the best talent everywhere in the world. This has spurred rapid growth for Dowco. “About 18 months ago, we were at 100 people, by the end of the year, we had 220 and by the end of this year, we will have 300 employees,” Pyper said. “Through or- ganic growth and planned strategic acquisitions we’re looking at, we want to be as big as some of our large Chi- nese and Indian competitors.” This workforce size expansion has been coupled with rapidly improving technology. Files can now be worked on collaboratively in real-time, avoiding delays and potential errors. The offshore and Canadian labor force combination enables Dowco to offer 24-hour service, and exceptionally rapid turnaround for fabricators. With enough depth and scale in its labor, it can also take on the largest projects without stress. The future includes more BIM integration and coordina- tion, while continuing the North American steel detailing trade. “We’re trying to keep to our vision to continuously promote structural steel detailing in North America,” he said. Technology will continue to evolve to be better and faster as the digital revolution continues. “We’re working to develop a global business with a unique multinational culture, based on the concept that when the work gets done, it gets done right, and on time.” For more information, see www.dowco.com. 8 – MARCH-APRIL 2016 — Florida Construction News
Greenbrook delivers speed, quality and economical detailing for steel fabricators and contractors Florida Construction News staff writer Greenbrook Engineering Services has achieved enviable results in delivering high quality, rapid, and competitive de- tailing and BIM coordination for steel fabricators and con- tractors. “Detailing has finally been viewed as a critical piece of work in the construction value chain, rather than as some- thing you have to live with,” says Greenbrook president Murli Balu. “Before it was a paper and fax based technology, with printed documents,” he said. “Now there are various soft- ware tools that can provide the same results, and using the Internet as a means of communication, it is a lot faster and more economical.” Greenbrook fits well into this model. Most of the com- pany’s skilled employees work from a delivery center in Bangalore, India, but Balu and other key technical repre- sentatives are based much closer to their clients (Green- brook’s office is in Middlesex, NJ.) The technology has sped up service – tasks that could take days now can be completed in minutes – and reduced costs. (Balu says Greenbrook has been able to reduce its fees by about 18 to 20 per cent over the past six years.) “Our competitive advantage is we’ve got greater access to talent and cost savings,” he said As for the future, “we are moving more and more into a virtual construction environment to ensure that field fit and jobsite coordination among various trades is extremely smooth.” For more information about Greenbrook, see www.greenbrookengineering.com. GREENBROOK Engineering Services is a professionally managed company promoted by people who have pioneered Knowledge Processing Outsourcing in the construction industry. We are a steadily growing company serving the entire construction value chain. We provide Architectural Drafting, Walk-throughs, Material Take-offs, Connection Design, 3D Modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Steel Detailing and Offshore Derrick Modeling. Our customers include Architects, Structural and Mechanical Engineers, Steel Fabricators, Offshore Derrick Suppliers and Design Build Firms. GREENBROOK ENGINEERING BIM • COSOURCING • 3D MODELING Over the years, Greenbrook Engineering has built a strong reputation of being a reliable service provider. With a consistent application of proven project management methods, we have the reputation of executing large projects for our customers and delivering them successfully within the required timeline. Designed with CONSTRUCTABILITY and ERECTABILITY in mind! sales@greenbrookengineering.com www.greenbrookengineering.com Florida Construction News — MARCH-APRIL 2016 – 9
TECHFLOW: Achieving detailing success through strength, experience and technology Florida Construction News staff writer Techflow Inc. has achieved success in steel detailing through its strength, ex- pertise and technology, says Birming- ham, Alabama based executive vice president Joel Hicks. “Strength is in the numbers – we have more than 350 detailers in five offices in India along with our U.S. office in Trussville, AL (a suburb of Birmingham),” Hicks says. “Our detailers go through rigorous training, continuing education and certi- 10 – MARCH-APRIL 2016 — Florida Construction News fication and are backed by experienced team leaders and managers in India and our project and management support staff in the U.S.” Hicks is president of the National In- stitute of Steel Detailing (NISD) and says he has been working with other organi- zations to develop new training tools for BIM certification and detailer training to improve the industry. He says that over the past few years, the industry has shifted to an environ- ment where many fabricators are using overseas detailers. “There is a need for the manpower and lower labor costs, but this has its inherent challenges of com- munication barriers, non-familiarity with U.S. and AISC standards, as well as time differences. Our business model allevi- ates these challenges and allows for bet- ter communication with fewer problems and faster turn around, while still taking advantage of the lower prices.” “Our U.S. office handles all customer contact and job setup and management to ensure adherence to customer and in- dustry standards,” Hicks said. “We are always on call for our clients, with a high level of experience both in our overseas offices and here.” “Our project managers average well over 20 years experience in detailing and engineering. We utilize the latest tech- nology on the leading software platforms with dedicated crews using Tekla Struc- tures, SDS/2 and BoCad.” The business has achieved NISD certification and ac- tively participates in AISC and ISD com- mittee work and programs. Hicks says Techflow also contributes effectively in new work flows, including Building Information Modeling and Inte- grated Project Delivery (IPD). “We are working to revolutionize the way projects are done,” he said. “We can work with the design team during the design phase and develop the detailing model inte- grated with the design model. This elim- inates any of the issues that come up when the detailing is done as a follow- on trade.”
Techflow, Inc. & Techflow Engineers (I) Pvt. Ltd. has emerged as a global leader in steel detailing. We have been breaking the boundaries of geographical limits and developing at lightening speed. Building upon our deep roots in India (Navi Mumbai), we have stretched across the globe establishing our offices in the U.S. in order to better serve the U.S. market, giving a much needed manpower boost to the steel fabrication industry. Our commitment to quality has provided a high level of trust with our clients. Worldwide, our customers believe in us and have entrusted Techflow with detailing their most challenging and complex steel structures. They depend on Techflow to stand up to the challenges of maintaining their expectations for quality and adherence to industry and client specific standards. Through this trust and execution we have strengthened our business base and customer relations to a new level. Our project list includes some of the most recognized and notable structures, some of which required a unique approach to the job, utilizing the latest technology and workflows while maintaining a time honored approach to quality. For all your steel detailing and coordination, BIM management, estimating and consulting needs, whether for the commercial, industrial or sports and entertainment markets, you can depend on Techflow. Florida Construction News — MARCH-APRIL 2016 – 11
Here’s how to build your business in Florida’s architecture, engineering and construction community You can achieve measurable results, within days If you have upcoming events, business announcements, appointments and opportunities, and wish to attract some quick responses, you will be rewarded with publicity opportunities with Florida Construction News. Your message will reach 7,592 readers in the weekly eletter*, and in the past month, the Floridaconstructionnews.com website attracted 1,426 unique visits with 4,490 page views. As well, there are extended opportunities in the Florida Construction News online magazine. There’s more. While we welcome news releases and announcements from everyone, advertisers will always receive priority. (We’ll still publish plenty of non-advertiser supported content, of course.) And we can provide you with tracking data and response information so you know how well your advertising is working. Your one-time $395.00 investment provides: • A block/banner advertisement in the weekly eletter for four weeks; • A banner advertisement (multiple pages) on the floridaconstructionnews.com websites; • Opportunity to highlight your event or busi- ness in a guest column or news release; and • Weekly response tracking reports. For more information, please visit the Your Business Promotion/Publicity page at Floridaconstructionnews.com, or email Chase: chasemarketing@sympatico.ca. You can also call toll free at 888-627-8717 ext 212. * Data based on elist mailing March 10, 2016.