Georgia Branch, AGC Presents Build Georgia Awards

The Georgia Branch, Associated General Contractors (AGC) recently presented its 2006 Build Georgia Awards. The awards were presented at the association's annual convention in Amelia Island, Fla.

Contractors submitted projects in three divisions — Design-Bid-Build, Design/Build, and Construction Management — depending on the delivery system used to complete the project. Within these three main divisions, entries were divided into groups depending on the company's gross construction revenue for the previous fiscal year, then further divided into subcategories for new construction, renovation or interior work.

The Georgia Branch, AGC's Build Georgia Awards program was launched in 1989 to recognize contractor members and their construction teams "for outstanding performances on some of Georgia's most remarkable projects."

Top honors in the 2006 Build Georgia Award Competition were awarded to the following companies and projects.

Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Ga.

Design/Build, New Construction, Over $100 Million

Building a major aquarium brings "a new set of challenges," notes Chris Britton, senior project manager for Brasfield & Gorrie, contractor on the recently completed Georgia Aquarium. Among the challenges were dealing with numerous unique and highly specialized trades as well as a variety of unusual materials. The project, completed in 28 months, has quickly become a major attraction, and it's proving highly satisfactory to visitors and fish alike.

Collins & Company

Holy Innocents' Episcopal School—South Campus, Sandy Springs, Ga.

Design-Bid-Build, New Construction, Under $5 Million

This project, which represented Collins & Co.'s 26th project for Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church and School, was described as "the most challenging one to date" by company president Gary Newell. Extensive negotiations with neighbors helped clear the way for the project, which was the first Holy Innocents construction on the south side of Mount Vernon Highway. The project included not only construction of two athletic fields with a parking lot and restroom facility but also improvements to Mount Vernon Highway (which separated the new facilities from the rest of the campus) as well as a pedestrian tunnel under Mount Vernon Highway to link the north and south portions of the campus.

Cork-Howard Construction Company, Inc.

The Center for Family Resources, Marietta, Ga.

Design-Bid-Build, Renovation, $20–$50 Million

Cork-Howard Construction Company took on a challenging six-month schedule to turn an old Sears facility into a new 62,000-square-foot Center for Family Resources for Cobb County. Crews stripped the existing structure down to its steel frame, then constructed a new two-story rotunda entrance and added a new roof and exterior. Because of the tight schedule, much of the new steel was field-fabricated at the site. Additionally, a 20,000-square-foot daycare center was constructed, as were new administrative facilities, new intake facilities and a new multipurpose banquet hall. Other project elements included construction of a new food distribution pantry and loading dock.

Gay Construction Company

The Balzer Theater at Herren's, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, Renovation, $50–$100 Million

The Theatrical Outfit Inc. named Gay Construction Company to manage construction of its new state-of-the-art theater facility, located in the former Herren's Restaurant, which opened in Atlanta in 1934. The new facility features a 200-seat theater with a 21-by-60-foot stage, plus related facilities and administrative offices. The building's original façade was maintained, and the project was the first LEED-registered assembly facility in the region, achieving silver certification.

Hogan Construction Group, LLC

Gwinnett County Instructional Support Center, Suwanee, Ga.

Design-Bid-Build, Interior, $20–$50 Million

When Gwinnett County decided to relocate its Board of Education personnel into a single campus, the county chose Hogan Construction Group as the contractor to complete selective demolition and subsequent build-out of an existing two-building manufacturing facility to turn it into the facility the county required. Work on the 386,000-square-foot manufacturing facility began only following extensive preconstruction planning. Double shifts were used during the first three months of the six-month construction phase, which included not only renovation and reconstruction but also installation of high-tech security and presentation systems, with close coordination with Gwinnett Schools IT personnel. Additionally, the construction team had to closely interface with a data center project that was going in at the same time under another contract.

Holder Construction Group, LLC

Goizueta Business School Center for Research & Doctoral Education, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, New Construction, Over $100 Million

The new 86,000-square-foot Goizueta Business School Center for Research & Doctoral Education at Emory University in Atlanta represents the second phase of work at the site. The new construction includes classrooms, faculty offices, meeting rooms, and a café. The new facility is connected to the existing phase one facilities by a bridge, and one challenge facing the project team was to construct the newest phase so that the overall facility looked like a single project.

Holder Construction Group, LLC

GSFIC Trinity Washington Building Renovation, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, Renovation, Over $1 Million

Holder Construction Group's renovation of the GSFIC Trinity Washington Building in Atlanta included a $14-million upgrade and tenant build-out on the 11-story building as well as a $4-million tenant build-out for the Georgia Building Authority. Prior to the start of the build-out phase, the project team completed restoration of the exterior façade and replaced the exterior windows. Work also included upgrades to the electrical and mechanical systems. The building was being used during this work, requiring careful coordination to ensure that building systems were operational throughout construction.

Lusk & Associates, Inc.

Plant Atkinson MSW Transfer Station, Smyrna, Ga.

Design-Build-Bid, New Construction, $5–$20 Million

The Plant Atkinson Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Station, said to be the largest of its kind in the southeast, was constructed on a 23-acre site — and completion faced a state-mandated deadline to be up and running by a given date. The project included a 2,000-square-foot vehicle maintenance building, a 6,000-square-foot trailer storage building, and a 32,000-square-foot transfer building. Heavy rainfall during complicated construction of the project required the contractor to bring in crushed stone to stabilize the site. Despite the challenges, the contractor worked extra hours with additional workers to finish construction ahead of schedule.

C. D. Moody Construction Company, Inc.

The Leadership Center at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At-Risk, New Construction, $5–$20 Million

C.D. Moody Construction Company served as general contractor during construction of the new $10.8-million Leadership Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta. This 74,000-square-foot facility features five levels and two wings. One wing houses a 10,000-square-foot conference center with a pre-function area featuring 20-foot ceilings, plus a 308-seat auditorium. The four-story second wing includes faculty offices, classrooms, lecture rooms, and a computer lab.

New South Construction Company, Inc.

Atlanta International School Sports & Activities Center, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, Interior, $50–$100 Million

Students were among the most interested observers during New South Construction Company's Atlanta International School Sports & Activities Center project in Atlanta, a project located near the center of an active campus. Included in the project was construction of a new competition gym and related facilities, plus renovation of the existing gym and construction of new music classrooms and new music practice rooms. Throughout the construction process, careful attention was given to ensuring the safety of students, and student visits to the site were also scheduled.

New South Construction Company, Inc.

College Park Public Safety Complex, College Park, Ga.

Design-Bid-Build, New Construction, $50–$100 Million

New South Construction Company was the contractor chosen to build a new Public Safety Complex for College Park, a facility designed to replace an aging 40-year-old facility previously in use. The project was designed to house fire, police and judicial facilities in a single 60,000-square-foot, $10.5-million facility. In addition to a 911 call center, fire truck bay, firefighter sleeping quarters, and detention center, the new facility features a computerized firing range and state-of-the-art security. With these many uses in one facility, soundproofing was a major consideration.

New South Construction Company, Inc.

Whitefield Academy Multi-Purpose Building, Mableton, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, New Construction, $50–$100 Million

Whitfield Academy wanted a new multi-purpose facility that would blend with the rest of the campus. To create the facility while meeting the budget, the school chose New South Construction Company as general contractor to a facility around a pre-manufactured metal building that would be finished with stone veneer, redwood barn doors, trellises, and canopies, with window openings added to further enhance the building's appearance.

The Potts Company

Turner Chapel AME Church, Marietta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, New Construction, $20–$50 Million

The $21.7-million Turner Chapel AME Church project is a 118,500-square-foot, three-story facility that includes a new sanctuary with more than 3,000 seats as well as education facilities, administrative offices and a fellowship hall. Built on some 800 augercast piles, it features concrete foundations and walls. Some of the poured in place walls have heights of as much as 90 feet. A steel truss assembly supports the roof and multi-level ceiling as well as the catwalks above the sanctuary. Two sides of the structure feature glass walls 80 feet high.

The Potts Company

Walton County Government Complex, Monroe, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, Renovation, $20–$50 Million

The four-story, 160,000-square-foot Walton County Government Complex, constructed by The Potts Company, brings Walton County's government into a single facility. The new facility houses a variety of county functions, ranging from the elections and IT departments to the Board of Commissioners officers, district attorney offices, and tax and tag offices, among many. Superior, juvenile, probate, and magistrate courtrooms are also located there. Because of the multiple users, noise reduction was a major consideration, and noise-reducing materials and construction techniques were utilized through the project.

Rogers Construction Company

Hopkins Elementary School Additions and Modifications, Lilburn, Ga.

Design-Build-Bid, New Construction, $20–$50 Million

Rogers Construction Company was the contractor on this project, which consisted of a 90,000-square-foot, three-story classroom addition, with the middle floor connected to the existing single-story facility. Other project elements included a new 6,000-square-foot activity building and playground, as well as a new parking lot. Major project elements included sitework and demolition, plus construction of retaining walls and three retention ponds. A live sanitary sewer was also relocated. The work also included 85,000 square feet of renovation of the existing facility, carried out during summer, as well as renovation and expansion of the cafeteria, kitchen and media center, completed during the school year.

Chris R. Sheridan & Company

100th Anniversary Renovations of St. Joseph's Church, Macon, Ga.

Design/Build, Renovation,$20–$50 Million

When Chris R. Sheridan & Company was named contractor for a renovation project marking the 100th anniversary of St. Joseph's Church in Macon, Ga., he was following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, one of the church's founders. In fact, four generations of the Sheridan family have ties to the church. This renovation brought a number of challenges, including restoration of 4,600 square feet of irreplaceable stained glass. In addition to in-depth cleaning of floors and statuary, other project elements included painting, new decorating and new lighting, as well as restoration of ornamental plaster.

Stroud and Company

Star Software, Warner Robins, Ga.

Design/Build, New Construction, $5–$20 Million

Stroud and Company was the contractor chosen for the Star Software facility in Warner Robins, Ga. Star Software, which supplies the Air Force and others in the defense sector, was concerned that its new facility would meet Department of Defense security standards. According to Charles Stroud, president of Stroud and Company, a major challenge was to build a secure facility "without the feeling of being in a prison."

Turner Construction Company

1180 Peachtree, Atlanta, Ga.

Construction Management At Risk, New Construction, Over $100 Million

With a price tag of $105 million and a height of 647 feet, the new 1180 Peachtree project is the tallest building constructed in Atlanta since 1992. This 41-story commercial high-rise includes 670,000 square feet of space and features not only office space but also retail space on the first two floors, high-end restaurant space, and 1,200 parking spaces in a parking garage constructed on floors 3–14. The project has earned gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In the future, the building will be tied to the new Atlanta Symphony Hall.

J. M. Wilkerson Construction Company, Inc.

Hardman Farm Phase I Stabilization, Sautee Nacoochee, Ga.

Design-Build-Bid, Renovation, $50–$100 Million

The Hardman Farm near Helen, Ga., one of the few circa-1800s dairy farms remaining in Georgia, was preserved for future generations to enjoy thanks to this unusual project completed by J.M. Wilkerson Construction Company. Eight months were required to complete restoration at the site. The project involved work on some 22 historic buildings, among them a 7,000-square-foot, two-story dairy barn that was near collapse. That particular structure was jacked off its foundation, realigned into an upright position, and strengthened with a hidden steel structural frame. Rotted wood was removed, and roof and siding were replaced. A similar procedure was used to restore the site's other buildings.

Honorable Mention

The 2006 Build Georgia Awards Program also recognized a number of projects with Honorable Mention recognition. Honorable Mention award recipients included the following:

• Alcon Associates, Inc. for Thomas County Middle School/Hand in Hand Primary School, Thomasville, Ga.

• Cork-Howard Construction Services, LLC for The Southern Company, Atlanta, Ga.

• Gilbane Building Company for the CDC Environmental Health Laboratory and Energy Plant, Chamblee, Ga.

• New South Construction Company, Inc. for the Savannah Country Day School's New Middle School Building, Savannah, Ga.

• The Potts Company for the DeKalb County Administrative Building Renovations, Decatur, Ga.

• The Potts Company for the Putnam County Courthouse Expansion, Eatonton, Ga.

• Rogers Construction Company for the Habersham EMC Engineering & Operations Facility, Clarkesville, Ga.

• Stroud and Company for the New Orthodontic Office for Dr. Don Spillers, Warner Robins, Ga.

• Turner Construction Company for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Thomas R. Harkin Global Communications Center, Atlanta, Ga.

• Warren Associates, Inc. for the Center for Ambulatory Services, Macon, Ga.

• Warren Associates, Inc. for the Medical Center Parking Deck Expansion, Green Deck, Macon, Ga.

Specialty Contractor Awards

The Build Georgia Awards program also recognized a number of Specialty Contractor projects. Those recognized included the following:

Harcon, Inc.

905 Juniper Street project, Atlanta, Ga.

Specialty Contractor, Concrete,Over $1 Million

This project, a mixed-use condominium development, included condo space on the upper levels with parking and retail space on the two lower levels. The structural design was complex. Weather was a factor early in the project, and safety was emphasized throughout. Harcon developed a site-specific fall protection plan that included 100-percent tie-off while framing elevated slabs, weekly safety talks and 10-minute toolbox talks each morning.

Innovative Roofing Group, Inc.

Seaboard Industrial Project, Atlanta, Ga.

Specialty Contractor, Caulking/Sealants/Roofing, $250,000–$1 Million

This project involved replacement of 120,000 square feet of roof with more than 500 roof penetrations. The building was occupied and remained open for business throughout the project.

Mayberry Electric, Inc.

24/7 Gateway Facility project, Atlanta, Ga.

Specialty Contractor, Electrical, $250,000–$1 Million

On this project, Mayberry Electric handled design and construction of all electrical and fire alarm systems during renovation of 250 former jail cells into living quarters for the homeless. A major challenge was routing conduits in a facility designed to be secure, noted Paul Mayberry, president of Mayberry Electric.

Metro Waterproofing, Inc.

The Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Ga.

Specialty Contractor, Caulking/Sealants/Waterproofing, Over $1 Million

On the Georgia Aquarium project, Metro Waterproofing handled waterproofing on foundation walls, the building exterior, and the ticketing plaza. The project also included sealing more than 100,000 square feet of masonry interior as well as some 30,000 square feet of fountains and reflecting pools.

Taylor Commercial, Inc.

Lake Ridge Apartments project, Dunwoody, Ga.

Specialty Contractor, Finish/Painting

Taylor Commercial handled installation of more than 200,000 square feet of siding during renovation of Lake Ridge Apartments, a 39-building facility with an age of about 30 years. Taylor Commercial also installed new gutter and downspouts.

The 2006 Build Georgia Awards also honored Taylor Commercial, Inc. for the London Townhouses project in Atlanta, Ga.

The Georgia Branch, Associated General Contractors, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., is a 78-year-old non-profit trade association made up of over 575 general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and service providers in Georgia. For information on Georgia Branch, AGC activities, visit www.agcga.org .