THE VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF GEORGIA

The Georgia

CONTRACTORVolume 8, Issue 2 March | April 2012

Special edition

featuring CEFGA SKILLSUSA &

GO BUILD GEORGIA

http://www.spsu.edu/

March | April 2012

Letter from the EditorMarch | April 2012

A D V E R T I S E M E N T SA4 Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Allison-Smith Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Athens Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Chattahoochee Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cummins Power South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Engineered Restorations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Georgia Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

Georgia Utilities Protection Center Inc. . . . . . Back Cover

Independent Electrical Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

JAT Consulting Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

PCL Industrial Construction Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Prime Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

RHD Utility Locating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

South Georgia Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

SPSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover

Willmer Engineering.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Dear Readers~

It is always a pleasure to talk about something positive—theCEFGA and SkillsUSA Competitions and Career Expo where7,000 students will see what opportunities are available to themby learning a trade and become construction industry’s futureskilled craftsmen.

Many students will compete in the SkillsUSA program andshow who is best in his chosen trade skills.

This is what it is all about, and our Governor has added theGo Build Georgia initiative to encourage students to considerthe many opportunities open to them in choosing a profession-al career in the construction field.

We are also introducing the students to the Future CityCompetition and hope they will also learn from such serioussubjects as building a nuclear power plant, while concurrentlyrealizing how impressive our construction industry is.

I hope you will like this very Special Edition dedicated tothis event and celebrating the future generation of dedicatedcraftsmen and women who are urgently needed to sustain ourindustry in the years to come.

R. Petersen-FreyEditor-in-Chief v

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4 The Georgia Contractor

www.thegeorgiacontractor.com

Managing EditorR. Petersen-Frey(770) 521-8877

Art DirectorPamela Petersen-Frey

(770) 521-8877

The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a maga-

zine designed around the construction industry associations and their

members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive,

editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton,

Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406

e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your

association and/or to A4 Inc.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the

associations or publisher nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content

or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or

advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the

written consent of the publisher.

The Georgia Contractoron the cover

ASK WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVEAND GO DO IT!

Scott Shelar, the Executive Director ofCEFGA, The Construction Educa-tion Foundation of Georgia, gives us

insight into how Georgia leaders are mak-ing it a priority in their administrations tore-engineer education and workforce devel-opment so that young Georgians thrive andGeorgia’s economy prospers.

See the story on page 6

USE A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUSTWITH YOUR TRANSLATION PROJECT,

because a little mistake in another language can have unpleasant results.

A4 INC. (770) 521 8877

“Gort! Klaatu Borada nikto.”

6Ask What Makes You Come Alive and Go Do It!

10Students Showcase Construction Skills at State Championship

13More than 7,000 to Attend 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSAState Championships; Largest Turnout in Event History

15Welcome from Ron Jackson, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia

16Georgia State Licensing Board Awards Experience for STC Associate Degree Graduates

18Bringing Go Build to Georgia

20Go Build Georgia: good for business, our citizens, and our state

22Georgia Tech Continues to Lead in Construction Education

24Construction Progresses on Georgia’s New Nuclear Units

26Fueling the Future: The Georgia Regional Future City Competition

30A Resource for Transportation Professionals

32Georgia Contractor News

34Winter Grading

The Georgia

Contractor

5March | April 2012

March | April 2012

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CONTENTS

6 The Georgia Contractor

Ask what makes you COME ALIVE AND GO DO IT!

on’t Ask What theWorld Needs. Askwhat makes youcome alive and godo it. Becausewhat the world

needs is people who have come alive.” ~ H. urman.

My wife is a medical doctor. I run a nonprofitorganization. Our son likes puzzles. Ourdaughter loves to dance. Even within our littlefamily, we are all very different. Differentthings make each of us come alive.

I believe that’s important to keep in mindas we think about education and workforcedevelopment, and as we each think about ‘whatwe want to be when we grow up.’

I have the pleasure of serving as a mathhelper for my four-year-old son’s class everyother Friday. Fortunately, it’s a four-year-oldclass, so I didn’t need to brush up on my alge-bra or geometry. No high-level math, thankgoodness! But, I’ve been amazed at how differ-ent every student is. As I work on “DinosaurSubtraction” or “French Fry Math” with myson’s classmates, it’s so interesting to see thatevery student is different. They have differentstrengths, different weaknesses, different learn-

ing styles, different abilitiesto focus, different ways ofcommunicating. Literallyevery child is different intheir interests and in howthey learn. This experiencegives me a whole newrespect for teachers.

I know our teachers real-ize this fact.

It is encouraging and inspir-ing to see that today threeelected leaders at the verytop of our government herein Georgia realize that everyyoung person is different.They not only recognize thisfact; they are making it a pri-

ority in their administrations to re-engineer edu-cation and workforce development so thatyoung Georgians thrive and Georgia’s economyprospers.

7March | April 2012

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8 The Georgia Contractor

It starts at the very top.

On January 17, Governor Nathan Deallaunched Go Build Georgia. Go Build is anationally-recognized marketing campaignand educational tool, designed to makepeople aware of career opportunities in thebuilding industry. Initially launched in Ala-bama, the Go Build campaign featuresMike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs and Ford com-mercial fame) as its champion spokesper-son. Rowe’s charisma and passion for theskilled trades, combined with a powerfulWeb site (gobuildgeorgia.com) make theGo Build campaign the best of its kind inthe nation. It leverages the fact that we areall very different, by giving individuals anopportunity to register, take assessments (todetermine their own strengths / weaknesses,likes / dislikes) and learn about more than100 career opportunities in the buildingindustry.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle is anothergood example of a leader who recognizeswe are all very different. He has workedtirelessly over the last five years with theDepartment of Education, the TechnicalCollege System of Georgia, local schoolsystems and business leaders to help estab-lish more than 20 Career Academiesthroughout the state. These career acade-mies give individual students an educa-tional path that excites and challengesthem. Career academies help high schoolstudents answer that all important ques-tion: ‘What makes you come alive?’

It is also very exciting to see the leader-

ship and direction of State School Superin-tendent, Dr. John Barge. All you have to dois look at DOE’s new mission statement torealize that Dr. Barge gets it: “Making Edu-cation Work for all Georgians.” Dr. Bargerealized early on—even before taking office -that Georgia’s education system was too nar-rowly focused on preparing all students totake standardized tests and all students toattend a four-year university. One of Super-intendent Barge’s first big achievements cameon February 9, 2012, when Georgia wasgranted a waiver from the U.S. Departmentof Education for No Child Left Behind.

“This is wonderful news for Georgia’sstudents, educators, and parents,” saidSuperintendent Barge. “No longer will we

be bound by the narrow definitions of suc-cess found in No Child Left Behind. Wewill now be able to hold schools account-able and reward them for the work they doin all subjects and with all students.”

This should be music to the ears of anyGeorgian who recognizes that we are allvery different and that we all need flexibili-ty in our education system to find out whatit is that makes us come alive.

We hope you find the 2012 CEFGACareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Champi-onships to be a grand opportunity to findout what it is that makes you come alive.That is the primary purpose. Enjoy andgood luck in your quest to find out whatmakes you come alive! v

Scott Shelar is the Executive Director of CEFGA - The ConstructionEducation Foundation of Georgia. Pictured at left is Scott’s family,four-year-old Martin, one-year old Sophie, and Scott’s wife of 16years, Kara Martin. CEFGA partners with construction compa-nies, trade associations, the Technical College System of Georgia,the Georgia Department of Education, and the Governor’s Officeof Workforce Development to support training programs andencourage students to pursue careers in construction through pro-grams like the 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo. CEFGA is building theconstruction industry one person at a time. www.cefga.org

LEADERSHIP IN

CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION

• Construction Management

• Sustainable Construction & Facilities

• Information Technology and BIM

• New Track in Program Management

• International Study Abroad Experiences

• Professional Internships

• Engagement with Industry

• Student Construction Association

10 The Georgia Contractor

STUDENTS SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS

11March | April 2012

t’s at the center of the Southeast’slargest construction event, and it’s tru-ly a centerpiece event.

The 2012 SkillsUSA State Champi-onships return to the Georgia Interna-tional Convention Center on March

15-16, 2012.Showcasing more than 500 of the

state’s top high school and technical col-lege students, the construction-relatedSkillsUSA State Championships takeplace at the GICC in conjunction withthe annual CEFGA CareerExpo.

CEFGA and industry partners likethe Independent Electrical Contractors,the American Institute of Architects, theAtlanta Electrical Contractors Associa-tion, the Masonry Association of Geor-gia, the ABC of Georgia, and the GeorgiaBranch, AGC have sponsored the con-struction-related contests for more thanten years.

“These are the best young carpen-ters, masons, plumbers, electricians,welders, heating and air technicians inthe state of Georgia,” says Scott Shelar,

executive director of CEFGA—the Con-struction Education Foundation of Geor-gia. “It’s a perfect fit for CEFGA and ourpartners to support SkillsUSA in everyway that we can.”

In addition to trade associations,several private companies support SkillsUSA Georgia, including Lowe’s,Holder Construction Company, Pyra-mid Masonry, Shumate Mechanical, andLincoln Electric.

STATe ChAmpiONShip

eveNT

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12 The Georgia Contractor

SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit stu-dent organization that has developed morethan ten million workers through activepartnerships between employers and educa-tors. Hundreds of American industries haveturned to SkillsUSA as the source foremployees who exemplify ‘Champions atWork’ in both skills and attitudes.

SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower itsmembers to become world-class workers,leaders, and responsible American citizens.At the heart of this mission are SkillsUSA’score values: integrity, responsibility, citizen-ship, service, and respect. SkillsUSA Geor-gia is focused on serving high school andtechnical college students involved in Archi-tecture, Construction, Communication,Cosmetology, Public Safety, and Trans-portation pathways.

CEFGA and its industry partners sup-port all of the architecture and constructioncompetitions by designing the competitionproject, providing materials, prizes, and vol-unteer judges from industry. In 2012, CEF-GA and its industry partners will donate

more than $200,000 in material, equip-ment, prizes, and volunteer time to SkillsUSA Georgia.

In addition to organizing and judgingmore than 20 construction-related contests,CEFGA and its industry partners, like theAGC Young Leadership Program, sponsorGeorgia’s young state champions with trav-el scholarships to represent the state at theSkillsUSA National Championships inKansas City.

“The students who are part of SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Educa-tion Programs normally have the skills andthe work ethic we are looking for, which ishard to find today. It’s just a great fit for us,”says Debra Howell of Georgia Power, amajor sponsor of SkillsUSA Georgia.

The 2012 SkillsUSA State Champi-onships for construction-related competi-tions are organized by CEFGA—the Con-struction Education Foundation of Georgiaand more than 100 industry partners. Formore information please visit cefga.org,skillsusageorgia.org or call 678-889-4445.CEFGA, building the construction indus-try one person at a time. v

13March | April 2012

he annual CEFGACareerExpo and Skill-sUSA State Champi-onships return to theGeorgia InternationalConvention Center in a

big way on March 15-16, 2012. More than 7,000 attendees are expect-

ed at the eighth annual event. It will be thelargest event to date.

“The response has been tremendousthis year,” said event organizer and CEFGAExecutive Director Scott Shelar. “Schoolsare eager for their students to learn aboutcareer pathways, and companies are eager toconnect with new talent.”

The event is the largest of its kind inthe southeastern United States, combiningfun, interactive career exploration opportu-nities for students and a skills competitionfor the best, young construction talent inthe state of Georgia.

The CEFGA CareerExpo is divided upinto 12 different ‘Worlds,’ including The

World of Architecture & Engineering, TheWorld of Safety & Health, The World ofConstruction Management and GreenBuilding, The World of Electrical Contract-ing, The World of Plumbing, and TheWorld of Energy, for example.

Within each World, industry volun-teers demonstrate their industry in a fun,hands-on way. In the World of Masonry, forexample, students observe a Master BrickMason laying brick and block, then are giv-en an opportunity to work with ‘mud’ andlay brick to a line.

In the World of Tile Contracting, stu-dents meet professional tile contractors,who work with the students to design, cut,and install tile.

In the World of Energy, students meetprofessionals from Georgia Power, MEAGPower, Oglethorpe Power, and other energycompanies and learn how power plants arebuilt, and how power is generated andtransmitted.

In the World of Heavy Equipment and

More than 7,000 to Attend 2012 CEFGACareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships;Largest Turnout in Event History

Quick facts about the2012 CEFGA CareerExpoand SkillsUSA StateChampionships-7,000+ Attendees-800+ Industry volunteers,exhibitors, and guests-1,000+ Teachers, coun-selors, and parents-5,200+ Students-300+ Companies-200+ Schools-More than 200,000Square Feet of Exhibit andCompetition Space

The 2012 CEFGA Career-Expo and SkillsUSA StateChampionships are organ-ized by CEFGA - the Con-struction Education Foun-dation of Georgia andmore than 300 industrypartners. For more infor-mation please visitcefga.org or call 678-889-4445.

Utility Contracting, students operate equip-ment simulators and large pieces of con-struction equipment under close adultsupervision.

Each ‘World’ is sponsored by an indi-vidual company or trade organization, or insome cases a combination of companies andtrade associations. The industry volunteersrepresent more than 300 companies fromall over Georgia.

Each ‘World’ seeks to achieve the fol-lowing with students, counselors, parents,and teachers:• Emphasize safety and the importance of

safety in the building industry.

• Demonstrate green and sustainabilitypractices in the building industry.

• Provide Career Pathway Information(e.g. What are the careers? How do Ipursue a career in this area? How muchmoney can I make? What is the outlook?Where do I go for training?)

• Address how understanding of certainacademic subjects—namely Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math(STEM) is critical in the buildingindustry.

• Ensure that each World is hands-on,interactive, and fun.

Many companies concerned about an agingworkforce and feeling the need to reach outto the next generation find the CareerExpoa perfect way to engage and begin address-ing the concern.

“You walk into our warehouse at sixo’clock in the morning and you see all of theover-50-aged people. You start to worry as abusiness owner,” said Jeffrey Diamond,president of Goodman Decorating, a keysponsor of the CEFGA CareerExpo. “It’sincumbent upon me to work with programsthat inspire kids to want to come into mybusiness. The CareerExpo helps us getyoung people to think about our industry.”

“This event is very important to us,”says Greg Kadlick of Wayne J. Griffin Elec-tric, another long-term sponsor of the CEF-GA CareerExpo. “We get a lot of our youngplayers from CEFGA and SkillsUSA. It’show we build our company. If we don’t havenew blood coming in, we can’t expand thecompany.”

“The students who are part of SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Educa-tion Programs are a perfect fit for our indus-try. They normally have the skills and thework ethic we are looking for, which is hardto find today. It’s just a great fit for us,” saysDebra Howell of Georgia Power, a present-ing sponsor of the CareerExpo.

The event is also important to educa-tors and students. Covering more than

200,000 square feet of space, the CareerEx-po is a unique opportunity for students tolearn about dozens of careers pathways andto connect with hundreds of employers allunder one roof.

“The CareerExpo gives a connectionbetween businesses and their workforcepipeline. These are kids that these business-es want to one day hire,” says Ron Jackson,Commissioner of the Technical College Sys-tem of Georgia, a presenting sponsor of theCareerExpo. “This event is an opportunityfor companies to meet kids and kids to seecareer opportunities in a real world environ-ment. Because of that, we are very support-ive of this event.” v

14 The Georgia Contractor

15March | April 2012

t’s my pleasure to welcome you to the2012 SkillsUSA state competition andCEFGA CareerExpo. This is an important event for theTechnical College System of Georgiabecause the state’s 25 technical colleges

offer a wide variety of programs related tothe fields of building and construction, allof which are vital to keeping our state com-petitive in the new, global economy. Thisannual competition and expo is an excitingshowcase for the amazing talents of thou-sands of young students who have made thesmart decision to train for careers in theskilled trades.

Developing a pipeline of highly-skilledtradesmen and tradeswomen for Georgia’sworkforce is essential to the state’s futuregrowth and prosperity. Recently, GovernorNathan Deal launched his Go Build Geor-gia initiative with the goal of attracting evenmore young students to jobs that willaddress the skills gap in the building andconstruction industry. It’s projected that inthe next year alone, Georgia companies willseek to fill more than 16,000 jobs in skilledtrades, and that number should only growin the coming years as older workers retireand more jobs emerge.

In today’s skilled job market, a basiceducation is no longer the simple ticket tosuccess. Instead, the most successful busi-nesses and industries want people who pos-sess the right combination of education,critical thinking abilities, work ethic, andtraining in the latest technology. As a result,jobs that once went to people who weregood at working with their hands nowbelong to men and women who excel inworking with their hands-in-hand withtechnology.

This is where the value of a technicalcollege education comes into the picture.Georgia has invested in a world-class tech-nical college system that’s known far andwide for its ability to educate men andwomen with the skills, knowledge, andexpertise that they need to compete for the

best positions and highest salaries. In fact,the Technical College System of Georgia isa leader in the national renaissance in tech-nical education. Today, people who oncethought of technical education as the old‘votech’ or a second choice to a traditionalfour-year college or university are now see-ing the excellent value of a skilled, technicalcollege education as the fast track to a suc-cessful career.

Georgia’s technical colleges prepare

people for work that they enjoy doing inprofessions that are in demand, like theskilled trades. Best of all, tuition at a statetechnical college is affordable at $75 asemester credit hour. With good grades, theHOPE grant will pay for most of thattuition. In addition, for students who qual-ify, the federal Pell grant will help pay thecosts related to a college education.

I encourage everyone to walk the floorof this year’s SkillsUSA state competitionand watch as these young but very talentedstudents put their exceptional work to thetest and contend to be recognized as thebest of the best.

These students are our future, the nextgeneration that will help us build a betterGeorgia, and the Technical College Systemof Georgia will be there to help them alongthe way.

All the best,Ron Jackson, Commissioner, TechnicalCollege System of Georgia v

Welcome Message from Ron Jackson, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia

Ron Jackson

I

16 The Georgia Contractor

he Georgia State Licens-ing Board for Residen-tial and General Con-tractors has determinedSavannah Technical Col-lege’s Associate Degree

in Construction Management now qualifiesstudents for licensure one year earlier. STCis the first technical college to receivedefined approval for two years of educationand one year of work experience for pro-gram graduates.

Until now, STC Construction Man-agement Associate Degree students wererequired to complete two years of experi-ence with a licensed contractor upon grad-uation to qualify for residential contractinglicensure testing. The board’s vote allowsstudents to apply for a license after STCprogram completion and one year of super-vised experience.

“As a female student, the ability toreceive my licensure in one year post gradu-ation speaks volumes about my work expe-rience, work ethic, and work quality,” saidSTC Construction Management studentAlice Ogden. “I appreciate that SavannahTechnical College pursued this agreementwith the General Contracting LicensingBoard.”

Another second-year constructionmanagement student, Nelly Wiley, is a mil-itary wife whose husband is stationed inSavannah, Georgia. Her dad has worked inconstruction, so she is very familiar with theindustry. She plans to work for a construc-tion firm once she graduates Spring Semes-ter with an Associate’s Degree in Construc-tion Management. Wiley will qualify forthe exam one year earlier and appreciatesthe hands-on training she’s received atSavannah Tech.

“Having an opportunity to get certifieda year earlier means being in the field, readyto be my own boss in less time,” explainsWiley. “Being an entrepreneur has been a

dream since I learned the word, and onlynow is it at my fingertips.”

Job placement for Construction Tech-nology has averaged more than 90 percentthe past three years, and all 33 departmentgraduates in FY2011 (July 1, 2010, throughJune 30, 2011) were placed into the work-force.

“Savannah Technical College has aproven track record of an excellent educa-tion program that has provided the greaterSavannah area with a trained workforce formany years,” said Executive Officer forHome Builders Association of GreaterSavannah Patty Rietkovich.

Part of STC’s construction technologytraining includes work on its energy auditbuilding. Students have the hands-onopportunity to learn and practice energyefficient construction techniques includingresidential energy audits and weatheriza-

tion. They learn how to calculate potentialenergy savings using utility rates and histor-ical energy usage data. Students also use theenergy audit building to perform inspectiontests such as building envelopes, mechanical& electrical systems, blower-door tests, atticinsulation, window retrofits, and heatingsystem upgrades. Savannah Tech is current-ly working with national standards for cer-tification in residential energy efficiency.

STC’s Department Head for Construc-tion Technologies, Dan Krautheimer, hasworked in construction for nearly twodecades. He was recently elected chairmanof Georgia’s Instructional Faculty Consor-tium Committee for the Construction Pro-gram. He will be in charge of running andcoordinating the bi-annual meetings andacting as program liaison for the TechnicalCollege System of Georgia.

“It’s an honor to know my peers see me

Alice Ogden works on Savannah Tech’s Residential Energy Audit Training Facility at the Savannah Campus.

Georgia State Licensing Board Awards Experience forSTC Associate Degree Graduates Savannah Tech is Georgia’s first technical college to receive approval

as a leader among them,” said Krautheimer.“I know we’re in a tough time for new con-struction, but updates and maintenanceprojects are necessary and certified con-struction managers are required by the state.And when the economy bounces back, we’llbe ready to answer the call.”

STC’s Construction TechnologyDepartment includes technical certificatesof credit (TCC) in certified constructionworker, concrete forming, constructionmanagement apprentice, construction man-ager, and masonry apprentice, as well as theassociate degree and professional diploma inconstruction management.

The certified construction workerTCC may be taken mostly online. Four ofthe five courses are offered online, allowinghigh school students dual enrollmentoption, fast-tracking career pathways for theTCC or a head start on the associate degree.Dual enrollment students can earn bothhigh school and college credit prior to highschool graduation.

“We’re giving our students moreoptions,” said Krautheimer. “If someonecan’t get to campus during the day, they’ll

be able to take some of the constructionclasses online.” The more theoretical classesare the ones offered online, because occupa-tional courses require hands-on instructionin a lab environment, notes Krautheimer.When fully developed, students will be ableto complete more than half of the Con-struction Management program online.

“Technical Education requires morelaboratory hours than most four-year insti-tutions, giving our students the distinctadvantage of going to a job site and under-standing the project from the ground up,”said Krautheimer. “My students work with-in the community now, with local contrac-tors acknowledged as experts in their field.Every project manager we’ve encounteredhas been blown away by what these stu-dents are able to accomplish, to code andon-time.”

The certificate programs offer instruc-tion in the fundamentals of constructionand management of construction projectswhile the degree and diploma are designedto prepare students for a career in some con-struction supervision. Basic carpentry skillsinclude laying footings and foundations,

framing, roofing, and interior and exteriorfinishing. Management skills include prin-ciples of accounting, construction drafting,code review, scheduling, and contracting.Program graduates receive an associate ofapplied science degree in construction man-agement. v

March | April 2012 17

Savannah Technical College serves coastalGeorgia with quality, market-driven technical educationwith campus locations in Savannah, Effingham, and Lib-erty Counties. Serving more than 4,500 credit studentseach semester, Savannah Tech offers nearly 100 differentinstructional programs in Business and Technology, Pub-lic Service, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences inaddition to Adult Education classes, industry-specifictraining, and continuing education. The college serves asan economic and community development partner for theregion, offering corporate and customized training andassessment programs for business and industry. The col-lege is accredited bythe Commission onColleges of theSouthern Associa-tion of Colleges andSchools to awardthe associatedegree.

18 The Georgia Contractor

ith Georgia’sunemploymentrate still linger-ing above thenational average,the Governor’s

Office of Workforce Development alongwith other state agencies have a challenge toface. Getting Georgian’s the skills they needto get back to work has become a top prior-ity in 2012.

When creating solutions for Georgia’sunemployment, it is important to look atthe data that drives the decision. We mustask ourselves what is leading to the gap injobs and where is the availability in our statefor people to start careers? Having strengthin numbers through the use of valuable datais important to implementing programsand initiatives that will help the state ofGeorgia as a whole.

Behind each unemployed Georgian isnot just a number or a statistic; there is aperson striving for success for themselvesand for their families. Our mission is toprovide these people with adequateresources to achieve their employment goals.

Through Governor Nathan Deal’sCompetitiveness Initiative, the two mainareas of concern communicated were educa-tion and workforce. Through this initiativeand several industry roundtables, we foundthat there is also an urgent need for skilledlabor across the state.

Industries that rely on skilled labor willhave almost half of their workforce reachingretirement age in the next year with fewnew, highly skilled workers to take theirplace. As more workers retire, the larger theskilled labor gap becomes for Georgia.

After looking further into the job andoccupation data within the skilled trades inGeorgia, our office took action. Go BuildGeorgia, a skilled labor advancement initia-tive was launched through our office along-side Governor Deal on January 17, 2012 atthe state Capitol.

“Go Build is about providing Geor-gians with the training they need to fillthose positions. We want the citizens ofthis great state to build our airplanes,bridges, and automobiles,” said GovernorNathan Deal. “We need to take the neces-sary steps to ensure that Georgians areequipped to manage our energy and tele-com infrastructure.”

There is a predicted opening of 16,500positions in the skilled trades in Georgiaover the next year. Go Build Georgia aimsto create awareness of these new opportuni-ties and guide people to the right skill train-ing to be able to acquire a job in the skilledtrades.

For over two generations, we have beentelling our youth that you must earn a four-year college degree to achieve the ‘AmericanDream,’ but this may sometimes not be thecase. With a strong Technical College sys-tem already in place, Go Build Georgia will

work with the system to encourage studentsto explore the training programs and careeropportunities these colleges have to offerwithin the craft trades.

This program aims to educate thepublic at large about the salary and lifestylebenefits that go with the skilled trades.Instead of being constantly tied to yoursmart phone seven-days-a-week and 24hours a day, you could spend time withyour family and friends because in manyskilled trade jobs, when the day’s work iscomplete, your job is done.

The areas of focus for Go Build Geor-gia are energy, manufacturing, industrialconstruction, transportation and, telecom-munications career opportunities. These arethe sectors in Georgia that are sufferingfrom the skilled labor shortage.

Go Build Georgia will help linktogether educators, business and industryleaders, and tradesmen with a 13-stop

Bringing Go Build to GeorgiaBy Tricia Pridemore | Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

On January 17, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal and the Governor’s Office ofWorkforce Development launched Go Build Georgia. The press conference includ-ed remarks from Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power and Ron

Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia.

March | April 2012 19

regional tour across the state to meet withschool counselors and other key stakehold-ers in the program. The Go Build Georgiateam is visiting technical colleges and careeracademies to host the tour meetings. Ourgoal is to build a network for our schoolcounselors to be able to match studentswith training, business, and tradesmen. Wehave provided tool kits full of resourcematerials for the counselors as well.

Everyone working in concert helps toensure that each sector gets what they needto be successful in the future. Our goal is tokeep the lines of communication openbetween all involved with Go Build Geor-gia. We are looking for an all hands on deckapproach to solving Georgia’s workforcechallenges.

When companies look to Georgia, wewant them to see we have a strong stableworkforce ready to make their business suc-cessful. Our office aims to be able to buildand maintain a strong, skilled, and abun-dant workforce for the state for generationsto come. v

20 The Georgia Contractor

Go Build Georgia: good for business, our citizens, and our stateBy Paul Bowers, Chairman and CEO | Georgia Power

21March | April 2012

hen GeorgiaPower wasasked to workwith the stateon a new work-force initiative

called Go Build Georgia, my response wasan immediate and enthusiastic “Yes!”

My whole-hearted support is based onsome surprising statistics, especially thisone: Over the next year, it is projected that16,500 skilled labor jobs will be needed inour state. Industries—including the electricpower sector—that rely on skilled labor facea severe labor shortage in coming years dueto a rapidly retiring workforce. Go BuildGeorgia seeks to address this labor shortagethrough public outreach.

We must get the message out to ouryoung people and the public at large aboutthe many high-paying careers there are inthe construction trades. We must worktogether to increase awareness of the educa-tional and training opportunities we offer inour state to help citizens pursue theseopportunities.

The average salary of a skilled laborworker is 27 percent more than that of theaverage pay for Georgians.

Go Build Georgia encourages highschool and middle school counselors towork with students and their parents tomake them aware of options other than col-lege that can lead to well-paid jobs andlong-term success.

This initiative has the potential toenhance and uplift the quality of life formany of our citizens now and in the future.It can improve high school graduation rateswhile adding high-paying jobs to our state'slabor force.

A product of the Governor's Competi-tiveness Initiative, Go Build Georgia bringstogether education and business stakehold-ers to further develop our workforce, whichwill make our state more competitivenationally.

From a business and competitivestandpoint, the economic developmentimplications of Go Build Georgia are enor-mous. The United States has never been soglobally interconnected as it is today, andGeorgia is no exception. 

Companies look at a variety of factorsin locating and growing business and choos-ing the right place to invest.

In addition to a vibrant economy andtalented workforce, ‘Availability of skilledlabor’ is among the top reasons companieschoose a particular location. Every compa-ny evaluating Georgia for location asks for aprojected labor analysis to ensure they willhave a quality workforce today and tomor-row.  In some instances, Georgia falls shortof supplying enough of a certain job to

attract the investment—many of those arein the craft industries.

At Georgia Power, we are acutely awareof the need in our state for more skilledconstruction and craft labor professionals.Last year, contractors performing work atour plants employed approximately 5,600such workers.

Our demand for these types of workersshows no sign of waning any time soon.

We have major construction or mainte-nance projects ongoing in our business onany given day that require skilled workers.Construction of two new nuclear units atour Plant Vogtle site near Augusta alone willresult in the creation of more than 3,500skilled jobs.

All these projects require a workforceof highly-skilled construction craft laborprofessionals.

Go Build Georgia has the potential toboost economic development, improve highschool graduation rates, and add high-pay-ing jobs to our labor market.

A skilled workforce is good for busi-ness, our citizens, and our state. v

22 The Georgia Contractor

he Georgia Tech Schoolof Building Constructionis proud to support thestate’s ‘Go Build Georgia’initiative, part of a feder-al effort to train and pro-

mote skilled tradesmen for careers in theconstruction industry. “We have been edu-cating students in Construction Manage-ment for over 50 years. We are excited to bea part of Governor Deal’s plan to promoteeducation in the Built Environment,” saidDr. Daniel Castro, Chair of Georgia Tech’sSchool of Building Construction. Dr. Cas-tro, an Associate Professor of Building Con-struction, was appointed Chair of theSchool in July 2011. He is a ProfessionalEngineer and an expert in material procure-ment, automation protocols, and sustain-able energy alternatives for buildings.

The School of Building Constructionat GT offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doc-torate degrees. Students can focus theirstudies in several areas of construction andemerging technologies for the industry,including: Construction Management, Sus-tainable Construction and Facilities, Infor-mation Technology and BIM, Project Man-agement, Residential Construction Devel-opment, and Facility Management. TheBuilding Construction program provides awell-rounded and challenging curriculummade up of a variety of construction man-agement, law, structures, estimating, sched-uling, management, accounting, physics,and other courses designed to prepare stu-dents for real-world construction manage-ment challenges. The school also providesstudents with exceptional opportunities togain practical experience through profes-sional internships. Undergraduate andgraduate students have been placed with avariety of firms in the construction indus-try, including general contractors, subcon-tractors, suppliers, federal agencies, real

estate development firms, consulting com-panies, and have interned in the multi-fam-ily housing sector. BC students haveworked on some on some of the state’smost exciting construction projects, such asthe Hartsfield-Jackson International Air-port expansion and the redevelopment ofFort McPherson. Students also have anopportunity to enhance their presentationand construction management skills, net-work with construction industry profes-sionals and compete against other universi-ties in competitions hosted by several dif-ferent national organizations, including theAssociated General Contractors of Ameri-ca, Associated Builders and Contractors,and the Mechanical Contractors Associa-tion of America. The school also recentlyexpanded its international reach, offeringtwo new international study abroad oppor-tunities in both London and Beijing. Stu-dents take courses, tour world-famous con-struction sites, and experience the cultureof Europe and Asia, both booming interna-tional construction markets.

The school remains committed to itsmission to provide an exceptional educationand takes a key leading role in identifying

and solving the industry’s major problemsand challenges, both now and into thefuture. The school is currently searching fortwo additional faculty members who will becharged with teaching both undergraduateand graduate students and conductingresearch. The school also recently launcheda new graduate track in Program Manage-ment, which trains students to manage aconstruction project or a series of projectsfrom the development of an idea throughpost-construction activities. The school alsoreceived approval to offer the nation’s firstPh.D. in Building Construction. Theschool will be admitting students in thisnew degree program beginning Fall 2012.The School’s current faculty continue to beengaged in cutting edge research. Some ofour current active research projects include:A/E/C/FM Integration and Project Per-formance Metrics, Economic DecisionAnalysis of Energy Efficient Buildings,Financial Risk Analysis of Public-PrivatePartnerships in Transportation InvestmentAnalysis for International ConstructionMarket Entry; Economic Valuation of Flex-ible Healthcare Design and Planning; Sus-tainable Material Selection; EmergingAlternative Energy Sources for Buildings;Machine Vision for Material Tracking;Constructability Analysis for RehabilitationStrategies; Innovative Portable ComputingApplications for Construction; SituationAwareness  (SA)-based Information NeedsAssessment in A/E/C/FM; ConstructionSafety; and Workspace Decision-Making.The School of Building Construction hous-es three research laboratories dedicated toinnovative technology and cutting edgeresearch in the construction industry. Thelabs are: (1) Economics of the SustainableBuilt Environment Lab (ESBE), directed byDr. Baabak Ashuri; (2) Construction Infor-mation Technology Laboratory, directed byDr. Ioannis Brilakis; and (3) CONECTech

Georgia Tech Continues to Lead inConstruction EducationBy Lisa Borello

Daniel Castro

23March | April 2012

Lab (Enhancing the Construction Environ-ment through Cognitive Technologies),directed by Dr. Javier Irizarry.

In addition to its research and educa-tion mission, The School of Building Con-struction continues its efforts to promoteeducation for middle school and highschool students around the state throughthe ACE Mentor Program, CEFGA, andthe Future Cities Competition. The schoolis also actively engaged in other communi-ty outreach efforts, including the AnnualGreen Awareness 5K, co-sponsored withthe Greater Atlanta Home Builders Associ-ation to benefit HomeAid Atlanta, a non-profit providing housing for homelesswomen and children in the metro area. Theschool will also be hosting the Jim DregerGolf Classic this October at the SmokeRise Country Club to raise funds for stu-dent scholarships and fund travel for stu-dent competitions. Through these eventsand other active partnerships with localschools, and the construction industry,Georgia Tech students and alumni areshaping the new built environment.

“I am so proud of our students andwhat they have accomplished,” said Dr.Castro. “I’m eager for our program to sup-port Go Build Georgia and provide the

opportunities for all students in Georgia todevelop skills and careers that will supportthe industry, our state, and the governor’sgrowth initiatives.” v

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The Georgia Contractor24

Construction Progresses onGeorgia’s New Nuclear UnitsBy Steve Higginbottom

Plant Vogtle Units Three and Four near Waynesboro, Georgia, took a major step forward Dec. 22, 2011,when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced it had certified Westinghouse ElectricCo.’s AP1000 reactor design. Georgia Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, owns 45.7 percent of thenew units.

25March | April 2012

The certification brings Southern Companysubsidiary Southern Nuclear one step closerto receiving the first Combined Construc-tion and Operating License (COL) for aU.S. nuclear plant.

“This is another key milestone for theVogtle project and the nation's nuclear ren-aissance,” said Southern Company Chair-man, President, and CEO Thomas A. Fan-ning. “The NRC’s action confirms theAP1000 design is safe and meets all regula-tory requirements. The commission nowhas all of the technical information neededto issue the Vogtle COL.”

Upon receipt of the COL, full con-struction can commence at the site. TheNRC will determine when a public vote onthe Vogtle COL will occur. Unit Three con-tinues on track for operation in 2016 andUnit Four in 2017.

Southern Company subsidiary South-ern Nuclear, based in Birmingham, Ala-bama, is overseeing construction and willoperate the two new 1,100-megawattAP1000 units for Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, theMunicipal Electric Authority of Georgia,and Dalton Utilities.

In addition to Plant Vogtle, SouthernNuclear also operates two other nuclearplants: Hatch, near Baxley, Georgia, andFarley, near Dothan, Alabama. Plant Vogtlewas constructed with the option to expand.

Why Nuclear?The most cost-effective, reliable, and envi-ronmentally responsible fuel source today,for mass or baseload generation of electrici-ty, is nuclear. Nuclear energy fits in South-ern Company’s mix of smart energy sources.It’s a proven technology that produces nogreenhouse gas emissions and can relievecost uncertainty caused by coal and naturalgas prices.

By 2030, electrical demand is projectedto increase 27 percent in the Southeast.Additionally, current and pending legisla-tion and environmental standards areimpacting electricity generation fueled bycoal. The company is planning to use

nuclear units to extend reliable and afford-able supplies of electricity in the Southeast.

Nuclear generation is projected to bemore cost effective than traditional coal andgas resources. Vogtle Units Three and Fourare expected to save Georgia customers up to$6 billion in lower electricity rates over thelife of the units as compared to a coal or nat-ural gas plant. Nuclear energy is estimated tobe between 15 percent to 40 percent lessexpensive than wind generation and 50 per-cent to 80 percent less expensive than solarin the southeastern United States. Nuclearcapacity can be built to meet local energydemand growth in Georgia. Wind and solarhave limited availability in the Southeastand do not offer economic-scaled options.

Construction ProgressesThe construction of the two new electricgenerating units at Plant Vogtle continueswith more than 1,700 personnel focused onsafety and quality in their everyday tasks.Work at the site is being done under what’sreferred to as a “Limited Work Authoriza-tion.” Approved by the NRC, it gives SNCthe authority to perform specific safety-related work such as pouring foundations,installing backfill and doing specified workon the ‘nuclear island’—the area where thenuclear-related components for the newunits will be placed.

Approximately 300 sections of ten-footdiameter concrete and steel CirculatingWater System (CWS) pipes are being put inplace for Vogtle Unit Four. Most of the Vog-tle Unit Three CWS piping is already setand has been covered with concrete andsoil. The CWS pipes will be used to recircu-late large quantities of water between theunits’ two cooling towers and their respec-tive turbine building condensers.

Several million cubic yards of specialsoils were backfilled and compacted duringthe excavation of the two new units. Morebackfilling will take place in the years aheadas the turbine building is constructed.

The nuclear islands for Units Threeand Four were lined with retaining wallsand now extend 40 feet into the ground.

The first components that will be putin place inside the nuclear islands are theCR-10 modules. These are the cradles onwhich the containment vessels will sit.Work is currently under way on the UnitThree CR-10 at the Containment VesselCradle Assembly Pad. Once in place, eachCR-10 module and containment vessel bot-tom will be surrounded by concrete.

Between the two nuclear islands is thecircular platform for the heavy lift derrickcrane. The platform is surrounded by a 300foot diameter rail-track. This will allow thecrane to place the 1,000-ton sections of thecontainment vessels and large structuralmodules inside each of the nuclear islands.The first parts of the crane assembly arebeing placed on the track now, and the 560-foot boom is being assembled.

Some 3,500 construction workers willbe employed on the site at the height ofconstruction. The new units will bringsome 800 permanent positions to the BurkeCounty site. Plant Vogtle Units Three andFour represent a $14 billion investment inthe state of Georgia. The Georgia PublicService Commission certified $6.1 millionof that for Georgia Power as a 45.7 percentowner of the new units.

In June of last year, Southern Compa-ny, on behalf of Georgia Power, acceptedthe first conditional commitment in loanguarantees from the DOE. Negotiationsbetween Southern Company and DOEcontinue, and guarantees should be final-ized after the company receives the Com-bined Operating License.

These loan guarantees will result inGeorgia Power customers saving approxi-mately $20 million in interest costs annual-ly over the expected life of the loans. Thattotal savings will depend on the final termsof the loans.

Southern Company’s exceptionalfinancial strength and 30-year history ofsafely operating nuclear plants make it a sol-id, credit-worthy candidate for the DOEloan guarantee. The company is uniquelypositioned to meet the obligations of itsDOE loan guarantee commitment, which,when combined with other regulatorymechanisms, will provide customers nearly$1 billion in benefits.v

Plant Vogtle Units ree and Four construction site with Vogtle Unit Four backfill, circulat-ing water pipes and nuclear island, and in the background, the assembly of heavy lift derricklower sections (blue in color) and Vogtle operating Units One and Two.

The Georgia Contractor26

Fueling the Future: The Georgia Regional Future City CompetitionTony Rizzuto PhD. | Associate Professor | Architecture Department | Southern Polytechnic State University | Chair Georgia RegionalFuture City Steering Committee

27March | April 2012

ur era is increasingly definedby growing concerns with sus-tainability and the environ-ment, population increases,and the need for cleaner ener-gy. Addressing these concerns

requires innovation and creativity, and anincreased awareness in our citizenry ofhow cities and regional centers operateand thrive. Educational programs andcompetitions play an important role indeveloping this increased awareness in thenext generation and help to secure ourfuture success.

The 2012 Future City Competitiondid just that by challenging its Competi-tion Teams with its theme Fuel YourFuture: Imagine New Ways to Meet OurEnergy Needs and Maintain a HealthyPlanet. Now in its 19th year, Future Cityhas gained national attention and acclaimfor its role in encouraging middle schoolstudents to take an interest in science,technology, engineering, and math(STEM), using hands on applications.

Combining research, SimCity4Deluxe software, and hands on modelmaking, Future City helps students dis-cover how they can make a difference inthe world by designing a city of the futurefor 50,000 inhabitants. This flexible,cross-curricular educational programgives students an opportunity to do thethings that professionals in the Engineer-ing, Architecture and Constructionindustries do: identify problems, brain-storm ideas, design solutions, test- retest,build, and share their results. With this atits core, Future City builds students 21stcentury skills.

Working with a sponsoring Educatorand Professional Mentor, CompetitionTeams, comprised of three middle schoolstudents (sixth, seventh or eighth grade),complete the four components of thecompetition:• A Virtual City designed in SimCity4

Deluxe software• A Research Essay and City Narrative• A Scale Model of a portion of their

city• A Presentation of their design

concepts

O

First Place Winners

28 The Georgia Contractor

Each Competition Team is asked todesign a city for 50,000 residents 150 yearsin the future. The virtual city componentof the competition develops an awarenessof how cities function and the kinds ofinfrastructure they require to thrive andprosper. The 500 word City Narrative pro-vides an introduction to the their visionincluding information about their generalconcept, life and people, location, creativeand innovative infrastructure solutions,housing, city services, and economic base.This essay is accompanied by a 1000 wordresearch essay wherein students conductresearch on the year’s topic and use thisinformation to create an innovative solu-tion for the future. As part of their presen-tation, Competition Teams are required tobuild a scale model of part of their cityusing recycled materials. Each model mustalso have at least one moving part. On theday of competition, each student on theteam contributes to a seven minute presen-tation to the judges that introduces boththeir city and its unique and creative inno-vations for the future.

Teams from across the Georgia Regioncompete in the preliminary round for twen-ty Special Awards and the chance to moveon to the finalist round where the top fiveteams compete for the chance to win theGeorgia Regional Competition. The win-ning Team receives an all-expense-paid tripto Washington D.C. to represent ourRegion in the National Future City Com-petition. This year’s First Prize winner was“Nevaeh (QA2)” from Queen of AngelsCatholic School.

The Georgia Regional Future CityCompetition is one of the largest in thenation. This year on January 21, 2012, 142Competition Teams participated on thecampus of Southern Polytechnic State Uni-versity (SPSU) in Marietta, Georgia. Inaddition to the 426 student competitors,their Educator Sponsors, and Mentors, theevent also had over 180 judges and onehundred volunteers participate.

To be a success the Georgia RegionalFuture City Competition relies on thestrength of the professional communitywho serve as Mentors, Judges, and Volun-teers. Working with educators, Future City

Second Place Winners

Third Place Winners

Fourth Place Winners

29March | April 2012

Mentors serve as coaches, providing insight,helping in problem-solving, and bringingsubject area expertise as they work withindividual student teams. All mentors areprovided with a Mentor Handbook and areprovided online training via Bentley Men-tor Center for Excellence courtesy of Bent-ley Systems. Judges review the various com-ponents of the competition, including theVirtual City design in Simcity4 Deluxe, theResearch and City Narrative Essays, and onthe day of competition, the Scale Modelsand Presentations.

Southern Polytechnic State University(SPSU) houses and sponsors the GeorgiaRegional Future City Competition, provid-ing administrative, logistical, and practicalsupport and overseeing all operational func-tions of the Competition. If you would liketo get involved or sponsor the competition,please contact the Georgia Regional Coor-dinator, Professor Tony Rizzuto Ph.D. attrizzuto@spsu.edu. v

Fifth Place Winners

30 The Georgia Contractor

ore than one infour U.S. bridgesare structurallydeficient or func-tionally obsolete.The need to

replace or improve them with ever-shrink-ing resources is driving innovation and cre-ativity in financing, design, and delivery.

Some of the latest developments include:A growing preference for tolling. Nearlyhalf (48 percent) of Americans whoresponded to a recent HNTB AmericaTHINKS survey said in the future theywould prefer to pay for the maintenance ofexisting bridges and construction of newlocal bridges with tolls rather than highersales taxes (16 percent), higher gas taxes (12percent) or higher property taxes (eightpercent). Technological advancements aremaking tolling a more acceptable option formotorists and opening up vast pricingopportunities.

Leaps in accelerated bridge constructionInnovative methods include the use ofbridge movement technology to maneuverbridge sections into place, as well as anentirely new bridge design that eliminatessuperstructure joints.• The Lake Champlain Bridge project in

upstate New York was completed in justover two years. Crews constructed themain span off site at the same time theapproach spans were built. The centerarch was then floated into position on thewater and lifted into place.

• The U.S. Highway 6 Bridge, ademonstration project in Iowa, eliminatedall superstructure joints (to reducemaintenance costs) and used ultra-highperformance concrete (to produce ahighly efficient, durable structure). Theproject:• Reduced construction time and bridge

closure by 90 percent.

• Shortened bridge replacement to twoweeks of traffic disruption.

Less expensive retrofits and rehabilitationsEngineers are developing solutions thatresult in effective, long-lasting infrastructure.• The Huey P. Long Bridge in New

Orleans was widened using a span liftstrategy that was faster than traditionalstick-build methods and minimizedimpact to local commerce and thecommunity.

Continued design-build adoptionNew York became one of the newest statesto approve design-build legislation inDecember 2011. Its 1955 Tappan ZeeBridge could be the next major U.S. span tobe replaced using design-build. If it’sapplied, the multi-billion dollar projectcould be designed in one year and con-structed in four.

As an industry, creativity, innovation,and inspiration in the engineering anddesign process are the drivers that will max-imize our investment and deliver real eco-nomic growth.

For more about bridges or to downloadHNTB’s “Limited resources offer opportu-nity to think about bridges differently”viewpoint, visit:http://www.hntb.com/point-of-view.

About the Author~Zoli, a 2012 ENR Newsmaker and a 2009MacArthur Foundation Fellows winner, ischief bridge engineer in charge of technicalaspects of HNTB’s bridge practice. ContactZoli at (212) 915-9588 or tzoli@hntb.com.

Transportation Point Extra is distrib-uted by e-mail to professionals in the trans-portation industry. To be added to the list,send your request to requests@hntb.com.

©2012 HNTB Companies. All rightsreserved. Reproduction in whole or in partwithout written permission is prohibited.

Photo courtesy of the John D. and CatherineT. MacArthur Foundation v

A Resource for Transportation ProfessionalsAdvances in funding, bridge construction, and program delivery help owners do more with lessBy Ted Zoli, PE | National Bridge Chief Engineer | HNTB Corporation

Ted Zoli

31March | April 2012

© Andy Ryan, Photo Courtesy HNTB

The Georgia Contractor32

GeorgiaNewSContractor

Skanska Welcomes Bill Morrison andJim Viviano to its Atlanta OfficeSkanska USA announces that Bill Morri-son and Jim Viviano have joined the com-pany’s Atlanta office. Morrison will serveas a vice president, and Viviano will serveas senior director of business developmentfor Georgia.

Bill Morrison joins Skanska as anAtlanta native with more than 25 yearsexperience in construction, program man-agement, and real estate development. Inhis new role, he will focus on growing thebusiness, primarily in the higher educa-tion and commercial sectors, as well asguide the strategic growth of Skanska inthe region.

Previously, Morrison worked withJones Lang LaSalle’s Project DevelopmentServices group and was a senior vice pres-ident at Carter, where he spent 11 years inCarter’s Development and Program Man-agement group. He is a Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design(LEED) Accredited Professional.

Morrison graduated from the Geor-gia Institute of Technology with a bache-lor’s degree in building science andreceived a master’s in business administra-tion from Emory University’s GoizuetaBusiness School. Today Morrison mentorsmasters in business administration stu-dents at Emory University and is an activealumnus of Georgia Tech.

With more than 25 years experiencein architecture, project management, andbusiness development, Jim Viviano willmanage Skanska’s business developmentactivities in Georgia markets to identifynew clients, develop relationships withkey architects and engineers, and growSkanska’s portfolio in the state.

Viviano comes to Skanska from

Cooper Carry where he spent six years asassociate director. Previously, he spent tenyears as director of design for MayDepartment Stores Company in St. Louis,Missouri. He is also a licensed architectand a Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design (LEED) Accredited Profes-sional.

A native of Texas, Viviano graduatedfrom the University of Houston with abachelor’s degree in architecture.

Outside of work, Viviano is memberof many local and national organizationsand sits on the board of directors ofLambda Alpha International, an honoraryorganization devoted to intelligent landuse and community development.

“In the new year, we’re excited to begrowing and expanding our team withseasoned professionals like Bill and Jim,”said Skanska USA Executive Vice Presi-dent and Georgia General Manager JohnReyhan. “Their esteemed careers andexperience will add great value and cus-tomer service to our clients throughoutGeorgia, and help us seize growth oppor-tunities in the region.”

IEC Georgia and Graybar provide2011 Code Change class in AugustaThe Independent Electrical Contractors(IEC) held a 2011 Code Change class inAugusta on Friday, January 27. The newchanges were effective January 1, so it isimportant that those working in the elec-trical industry are aware and adjustaccordingly. This informative session wassponsored by IEC partner, Graybar, a topsupplier of high quality components,equipment, and materials for the electricaland telecommunication industries. IEC isappreciative to Jeff McFadden of Graybar

who provided the location and lunch tothose in attendance.

IEC instructor Terry Rogers providedcontractors and inspectors with the updat-ed changes on grounding and bondingclarifications, new ampacity tables, identi-fication and marking requirement forfault current, disconnects, and otherdevices. The class filled quickly andincluded inspectors, designers, as well aselectrical contractors.

IEC Board President and local con-tractor Mike Fleming, welcomed theattendees and was happy to see such anoverwhelming response to the training.Based upon the success of this partnershipbetween Graybar and IEC, there are plansin the works to provide additional trainingprograms across the state of Georgia. Tofind a listing of these training seminars, goto www.iecgeoriga.org.

For additional information, contactNiel Dawson, Executive Director at (770)242-9277.

IEC is a trade association for merit shop elec-trical contractors. IEC offers a wide array oftraining programs for apprentices and expe-rienced electricians, personnel referralincluding loan/borrow programs, and pro-vides a broad range of informationalresources for electrical contractors in Atlantaand Georgia.

Georgia DOT wins Gold at AmericanConcrete Pavement Association’s22nd Annual Excellence in ConcretePavement AwardsThe Georgia Concrete Paving Associationis pleased to announce that the GeorgiaDOT has won a Gold Award in the Divid-ed Highways—Rural category for thewidening and reconstruction of I-95 in

33March | April 2012

Glynn & McIntosh Counties, Georgia.This award was presented at the 22ndAnnual American Concrete Pavement Asso-ciation (ACPA) Meeting in Indian Wells,California, recently. The construction teamfor the I-95 project was the Georgia DOTand APAC-Tennessee Inc., Ballenger PavingDivision (the prime concrete paving con-tractor).

This project involved reconstructingthe existing roadway, which was comprisedof two 12-foot lanes of nine-inch continu-ously reinforced concrete pavement(CRCP), a four-foot inside asphalt shoul-der, and a 12-foot outside asphalt shoulder.

The new typical section comprises a12-foot shoulder, three 12-foot lanes, andone 13-foot lane of 12-inch CRCP, as wellas an 11-foot asphalt shoulder.

The project scope also includedreconstruction of eight ramps for twointerchanges, as well as two ramps at awelcome center.

A value engineering proposal providedby APAC-Ballenger saved GDOT $3.7 mil-lion. Other highlights included changingthe proposed asphalt shoulder to concrete;elimination of a traffic stage; and use of aconveyor to transport concrete over Inter-state traffic. Also, a two-track paver wasconverted to a three-leg paver and existingconcrete pavement and reinforcing steelwere recycled for other projects.

The ACPA awards program recognizescontractors, engineers, and project ownerswho completed outstanding projects in2011, as determined by an independentpanel of judges. Winning an Award for

Excellence in Concrete Pavement providesthe contractors, engineers, and owners witha level of prestige that can assist them in thedevelopment of future projects.

Gainesville Public Safety ComplexWins DBIA AwardThe Design-Build Institute of America(DBIA) bestowed a Regional Design-Buildaward for best public project over $15 mil-lion on the Gainesville Public Safety Com-plex at its annual awards dinner. HeeryInternational served as the design-builderfor the $18 million project.

The Gainesville Public Safety Complexencompasses two facilities on a single cam-pus: a 52,340-square-foot police depart-ment and municipal court, and a 28,000-square-foot fire station. The outwardlystraightforward project was actually rathercomplex, involving land swaps and neigh-borhood revitalization, incorporating newtechnology and requirements in lawenforcement, and adding the second facilityin the design/construction mix.

The city of Gainesville chose Heery asits design-builder under a contract in whichHeery and the contractor provided designand construction services under a singlecontract. Using an integrated project deliv-ery method, Heery was able to provide vir-

tually all services in-house with its archi-tects, interior designers, engineers, andproject managers filling the key roles.

“The design-build team took advan-tage of the decline in construction pricingto realize savings for the owner,” said KipPadgett, City Manager. “Not only was $1.3million returned in savings, but nearly $2million in enhancements were added to theproject, including paving the surroundingcity streets, security system, additional fur-nishings, upgraded finishes, and additionalequipment.”

Tony Varamo / Metropower NamedIEC Member of the YearTony Varamo, Workforce Developer ofMetropower Inc., was named IEC Memberof the Year at a recent awards ceremony forthe Atlanta Chapter IEC.

Metropower Inc., an IEC memberelectrical contractor since 1980, has longsupported the association through not onlymembership, but participation in IEC’shigh-quality training programs.

When Tony came on board,Metropower’s commitment to the IEC andindustry significantly increased because ofhis involvement on the Apprenticeship &Training and Safety Committees, participa-tion at job fairs, and volunteering at otherIEC and industry events.

Metropower has offices and IEC mem-bership in Columbus, Macon, and Albany,Georgia. In 2011, Metropower was also therecipient of the IEC Atlanta Safety Award.The IEC is proud to have both Metropow-er and Tony Varamo as active members ofthe Atlanta Chapter.

Known for its high quality trainingprograms, IEC provides electrical appren-ticeship training as well as continuing edu-cation training across the state. Other serv-ices include legislative advocacy on the stateand national levels, networking opportuni-ties with industry professionals, and otherbusiness support services to help independ-ent electrical contractors be successful. IECAtlanta provides services and support to theAtlanta-Metro area and is part of theNational IEC, which has 60 chapters and3,000 members nationwide.

For additional information, contact NielDawson, Executive Director at (770) 242-9277.

uring winter projectmanagers find them-selves scrambling tobring projects to apoint where they are‘in the dry’ so work

can continue unhampered by wet weatherbrought on by winter. Unfortunately, notall projects get to that point before the win-ter rains begin. These are some measuresthat can be taken to help keep grading mov-ing along if you are required to ‘move dirt’during the winter.

Standard summer practice is to grade abuilding pad to subgrade elevation, leavingit flat while foundations and walls are con-structed. During winter construction, thispractice can spell disaster. As the soils getwet and construction equipment crosses thesite, the subgrade can lose its strength,requiring undercut to prepare for slab con-struction. Grading the building pad ‘high’and crowned will help protect the slab sub-grade from direct contact by heavy con-struction traffic. When the time comes toconstruct the slab, the additional soils canbe cut to subgrade elevation with little or noadditional undercut necessary. This tech-nique is especially cost effective if the build-ing pad is ‘in cut.’ An alternative techniquewould be to grade to subgrade and place astone base. The stone should be a well grad-ed stone such as crusher run, commonlyreferred to as 21A in some areas. Compact-ed crusher run tends to shed water, wherewashed stone (an open graded stone) willhold water. On larger construction sites it isgood practice to establish a network ofroads to channel construction traffic. Theseconstruction roads can be better stabilizedwith crusher run or geotextiles so access tothe site can continue during the worstweather conditions. Construction roads willtypically require maintenance during thewinter. Equally important, the contractormust enforce access discipline so theseaccess ways are properly utilized. While sitegrading can be accomplished during the

winter period, it comes with a greatercost. Grading generally takes moretime due to wetter soils and more‘weather’ days. Frequently soils arewasted because of frost and highermoisture contents. These costs andextra time are a reality and shouldbe figured into the project sched-ule and budget. Strategies toreduce the impact of weatherduring winter grading include:1) Working larger areas witheach lift. Placing soil over alarger area can allow the soilsmore time to dry before the nextlift is added. 2) Work wet soils with lightequipment. Wet soils can be compacted ifthey are within a compactable moisturerange. However, repeated crossing of thosesoils with heavy equipment, such as dumptrucks or pans, can cause the soil to start‘pumping’ even if it was previously com-pacted and stable. These wetter soils canbest be worked by pushing them out into alift with a self-propelled compactor from asingle dump point. Winter is also an excel-lent time to employ chemical stabilizationof wet soils using lime, cement, or stableflyash, as appropriate. Lime can be used tohelp dry any soil, and can be used withsome clays to improve the soil. Cementcan also be used to ‘dry’ soil, and as a sta-bilizing agent. Properly employed with theappropriate soils, both lime and cementcan be used to create nearly ‘weatherproof ’subgrades. Flyash should only be used as alast resort as not all flyash is stable. Ask fora certified laboratory swell test on materi-al. If one cannot be supplied, do not useflyash. Finally, there is no substitute for‘good housekeeping.’ The site should besloped to clear water quickly, and channel-ize it away from the work area. Pot holes,rough areas, and wheel ruts need to be reg-ularly filled in to facilitate rapid clearing ofrain or snow melt.

In closing, winter construction willincrease the cost of construction, especially

site grading. However,careful planning and proper execution canreduce these costs and help make your proj-ect even more successful. We hope this Les-son Learned is beneficial to you in achiev-ing that goal.

Respectfully,

ECS Corporate Services, LLC © 2012 ECSCorporate Services, LLC All Rights Reservedv

34 The Georgia Contractor

Winter GradingObservations & Lessons from the School of Experience By ECS Corporate Services LLC.

March | April 2012 35

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