February 17, 2012
Please Save the Date! PC Construction is pleased to host the Spring 2011 quarterly meeting of the Vermont Healthcare Engineers Society (VHES) on Friday, March 9 at our corporate office located on Tilley Drive in South Burlington. Continue Reading →
February 14, 2012
PC Construction’s Eve Norris has earned the designation of Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) by the American Hospital Association. This accomplishment was highlighted with a feature story in a recent New England Healthcare Engineers Society (NEHES) newsletter.
When asked why she pursued CHC certification, Eve stated, “I have consistently challenged myself to take advantage of all educational opportunities that enable me to stay current in the construction industry at large, and additionally those that are specific to health care. Taking the CHC exam was a personal challenge as well as a confirmation of my experience in health care. This certification makes me an even stronger asset on PC’s resume when pursuing new work.”
Eve is currently a PC Project Executive focusing on the health care market.
Eve Norris on the site of a recent hospital addition project
February 10, 2012
February 9, 2012
I am pleased to honor Senior Estimator Andy Seaton today as the 2012 recipient of PC Construction’s Founding Principles Award.
Andy joined the PC team in 1979 and, over the past 32 years, divided his time between constructing projects in the field and estimating them in the office. During his earlier years with the company he traveled from Vermont and Maine to Virginia and Texas working on treatment plant and building projects. Nearly 20 years ago, he transitioned to the Estimating group, focusing on mechanical estimating and helping the company bring key projects into the win category.
Andy personifies what PC is all about: hard-working, operates with unquestionable ethics, and is a creative thinker who is always willing to pitch in where needed. He constantly and unselfishly mentors the other members of the Estimating group, providing silent leadership in a way that few can. Andy is always well-prepared for every challenge and is rock-solid when the pressure is on. He truly deserves this award.
The Founding Principles Award recognizes individuals within the company who exemplify the “PC Way” in all aspects of their work. Recipients embody the principles and values handed down by Angelo, Remo, and Jim Pizzagalli and their parents, Angelo G. and Theresa. The award acknowledges the accomplishments of individuals who exhibit a sense of urgency, go one step beyond with customers, pay attention to details, take personal responsibility for actions and consequences, recognize the importance of safety, and possess a can-do attitude. Recipients also demonstrate the utmost honesty and integrity, all while having fun doing things right and doing the right thing in a fashion that brings about team, company, and individual success.
Senior Estimator Andy Seaton (center) is congratulated by Project Executive Jeff Garner (left) and President Peter Bernhardt (right) after presenting him with the Founding Principles Award
February 8, 2012
PC Construction is using iPads in combination with cloud solutions to solve age-old problems in the construction industry.
It has always been a laborious manual task to update drawings and specs with the latest RFIs, design bulletins, and such. Think photocopier, scissors, tape, stacks of blueprints, and volumes of specifications. Now multiply that by each subcontractor having to get copies of each change document and updating their own set of plans and specs. In addition, field personnel need access to a lot of other documents such as shop drawings, current schedules, field sketches, O&M manuals, coordination drawings, safety information such as MSDS, etc.
This situation presents a host of problems. Continue Reading →
February 7, 2012
I had the pleasure of joining PC Senior Superintendent Mike Franzoni on January 31 as a judge for the Prince William County Service Authority Water Art Invitational.
The Water Art Invitational is an annual art contest hosted by Prince William County Service Authority where high school students are encouraged to submit artwork created around a specific theme related to safe treated drinking water and consumption. This year’s theme is “How public water improves the quality of our lives every day.”
This event is one I enjoy participating in for many reasons. It is so important to get the youth of today involved in topics of importance in the world around them. Continue Reading →
February 3, 2012
We are pleased to recognize our top Safety Projects of the Year for 2011.
Northeast WWTP Improvements, Hickory, NC
A $21 million project for the City of Hickory Public Utilities Department that consists of modifications to an existing 6 MGD facility originally built in 1948. The primary scope is to provide a new process train switching from Aeration Basins to Oxidation Ditches, with the addition of a new Influent Pump Station, Grit Removal Structure, Oxidation Ditches, Secondary Clarifier, and SCADA System as well as renovations to the Disinfection Systems, Secondary Clarifiers, Odor Control, and Dewatering Facilities. In addition to the mechanical process construction, a new Laboratory Building is being built. Project completion is scheduled for June 2012, six months ahead of the contractual date. Continue Reading →
February 2, 2012
One of the best ways to try out a potential career and improve your chances for consideration with a great company is to obtain an internship or a co-op – preferably at least two or three during your college career. While some schools make this a mandatory requirement, others do not. Employers, however, look for relevant experience, especially internship or co-op experiences. If you are a Civil Engineering or Construction Management student, try to gain some field experience in roles such as a carpenter, mason, or other craft in addition to office experience working with a project management team on a large construction project. Continue Reading →
January 31, 2012
In May 2010, we were the low bidder on the Northeast WWTP Improvements project in Hickory, North Carolina for the City of Hickory Public Utilities Department. The Notice to Proceed followed in mid-July with construction beginning in August as a result of permitting issues. The project consists of modifications to an existing 6 MGD facility originally built in 1948. The primary scope is to provide a new process train switching from Aeration Basins to Oxidation Ditches, with the addition of a new Influent Pump Station, Grit Removal Structure, Oxidation Ditches, Secondary Clarifier, and SCADA System as well as renovations to the Disinfection Systems, Secondary Clarifiers, Odor Control, and Dewatering Facilities. In addition to the mechanical process construction, a new Laboratory Building is being built.
With no available space on the main 14-acre site for storage or stockpiling, a bridge was constructed across Falling Creek to an adjacent property to allow for material and stockpile storage. This city-owned property has been invaluable to the project. Concrete placement is complete and process piping and equipment are nearing completion for the first phase of the project. The end of the first phase will be highlighted by a night and day operation of nine tie-ins redirecting all incoming flow from the existing process train to the new process train.
Project completion is scheduled for June 2012, six months ahead of the contractual date.
January 27, 2012
I am very pleased to have recently ‘upgraded my hard hat’ to PC Construction. It has been a pleasure to discover the depth of services and professionalism that PC offers. Our team really strives to go above and beyond for our customers! Continue Reading →
January 25, 2012
At PC Construction, our core values are pretty simple. We, the employee owners of PC, are committed to:
Each of these values is important to the company in a different way. Delivering exceptional value to our customers allows us to form successful relationships which translate to positive experiences, a greater chance for successful projects, and a foot in the door for future work with clients. A satisfied client spreads the word about a job well done and a construction partner that is second to none. Continue Reading →
January 11, 2012
Participants in our Leadership Development Program (LDP) met in Washington, DC, for the annual LDP Academy, a two-day event that provides technical learning opportunities while encouraging networking and the sharing of lessons learned and challenges. Highlights of the Academy included presentations by PC Construction managers and executives as well as a tour of the DC Water Slurry Wall and Tankage project.
The Academy also focused on the sharing of experiences, tools, and ideas between the participants. Office Engineer Todd Riordan said, “I found the LDP conference to be an incredibly useful experience both from a team building standpoint and as an idea tank for ways in which we can help shape the company.”
Dating back nearly 40 years, our Leadership Development Program is one of a kind, providing entry level construction professionals with a flexible learning and development plan to guide their career in construction. The program builds upon the technical aptitude they gained previously in the college classroom setting by pairing it with on-the-job experiences and coaching from skilled construction professionals. Click here to learn more about our Leadership Development Program.
We are also pleased to welcome the newest addition to our Leadership Development Program – Mike Keenan. Mike is a 2010 graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology and is currently in his office engineering rotation on the UOSA Nutrient Compliance Facilities project in Centreville, Virginia. Congratulations, Mike!
Participants of the Leadership Development Program pause for a photo during a site tour as part of the annual LDP Academy
December 21, 2011
Since 2005, I have had the pleasure of participating on the board of the Northern Vermont Chapter of the American Red Cross. This organization is particularly important to me because in a crisis the Red Cross is often the first agency on site providing aid and assistance to those in need. This was never more apparent to than during Tropical Storm Irene.
One of their events I really enjoy is the Bears and Friends campaign. During the holiday season, Mary Meyers stuffed animals are offered for sale with all funds raised supporting the mission of the Red Cross. When I decided to launch this campaign at PC Construction last year, Maureen O’Brien, our Controller, had a great idea. She suggested we give people the option to keep their purchased bear or donate it to the Lund Family Center – supporting two causes with one good deed!
Our employees really embraced the giving spirit. This year 88 bears were purchased and Maureen delivered 50 of those to the Lund Family Center yesterday. In response to the delivery, Kitty Bartlett of the Lund Family Center said, “With these stuffed animals, we will have enough to match each child being adopted in the next year with an adoption day gift.”
Thank you to everyone for your support. Happy holidays to you all and best wishes for a safe and healthy New Year.
Photo provided by the American Red Cross
December 15, 2011
PC Construction has worked for Gwinnett County on several large treatment plant projects over the last decade, most notably at F. Wayne Hill WRF, Crooked Creek WRF, and Yellow River WRF. The current team on the Yellow River WRF construction project decided that it was time to give back to the local community by pitching in to help Gwinnett County Habitat for Humanity. They were seeking professional help on multiple projects. The Yellow River team, under the direction of PC’s Project Executive Rick Fisher and Senior Project Manager Bob Huie, selected a 1960s block home not far from the Yellow River jobsite. Continue Reading →
December 13, 2011
Struvite is a naturally occurring crystal of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. It’s composition is very similar to that of a kidney stone. Imagine millions of these stones in a pipeline, restricting flow and gradually decreasing the inside diameter of a pipe – one can see how this could be problematic. Continue Reading →
December 12, 2011
It is that time of year when most of us are knee-deep in strategic planning initiatives for the year ahead. While the design and construction economy is more difficult than most of us can remember, economic difficulties do provide an opportunity to rethink and reposition a firm’s unique strengths in an effort to gain a competitive advantage.
In this article I define strategy and some of its elements. I’m guessing the definition may create angst for some because of the quantity of varying definitions for strategy floating around in the business world. I settled on a particular definition after extensive research and an attempt to tie my findings into the design and construction environment. Continue Reading →
December 7, 2011
Last night I was proud to stand up with my team and accept the AGC/Vermont Best Builders Award in the Green Construction Renovation category for our work on The University of Vermont George D. Aiken Center Addition and Renovation project. I truly enjoyed working with a client so dedicated to sustainability on the largest higher educational campus in the State of Vermont, and the results of the team’s combined efforts certainly show. Continue Reading →
November 29, 2011
Our Director of Flight Operations, Don Ingham, has had a major goal throughout his 41 years with the company – to fly into all of the lower 48 states on company-assigned missions. On November 22, he was finally able to put a big check on his to-do list when the wheels of the PC jet touched down at Tulsa’s Riverside Airport in Oklahoma, the last of the 48 states needed to accomplish his own personal goal. Not one to bask in the glory of success, Don is already working toward his next objective – logging 25,000 hours of flight time, which he expects to reach next year.
Pilot Tom Randall congratulates Director of Flight Operations Don Ingham after landing in Oklahoma and accomplishing his career goal
November 22, 2011
One of my initiatives this year was to work with our project team in the District of Columbia and our Human Resources group to build a District-approved Apprenticeship Program for our projects in the Washington, DC area. Apprenticeship standards were developed for the Cement Mason, Form Builder, and Operating Engineer trades and all were approved by the District’s Apprenticeship Council. This month, our first apprentice joined the PC Construction team at our current project for DC Water. Continue Reading →
November 18, 2011
PC Construction began work on the Concord Hospital Surgical Center Renovation project this summer. The $8.6 million project consists of three phases. The first phase includes additions with two new inpatient operating rooms, two new outpatient operating rooms, and a loading dock. The second phase involves the renovation of their entire post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and Pre/Post Operation area including two additional operating rooms. The third and final phase is a small renovation for staff support and a waiting area. The total project duration is 18 months.
The most challenging aspect of this project involves replacing the existing loading dock with a new three-story dock in the exact same location without compromising its 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week operation. Some of this was handled with the construction of a temporary dock and daily coordination with construction equipment and hospital supplies coming and going. In addition, the expansion is constructed adjacent to their existing operating rooms so much of the work has to occur during second shift hours to minimize disruption to procedures.
This is a very exciting and challenging project. Close coordination and constant communication with the great staff at Concord Hospital helped get the project off to a successful start.
November 17, 2011
A couple of months ago, I received a call from two old friends who do volunteer work with the Make-A Wish Foundation of Vermont. They asked for my assistance to install a large therapeutic whirlpool tub in a house in Burlington, Vermont, so that a developmentally-disabled little girl could bathe while receiving greater therapeutic benefit. With the enthusiastic support of PC Construction and our company president, this project got underway last week. Required work includes a complete rebuild of the bathroom, including wall and tile flooring work, new structural beams and column supports, and plumbing and electrical work.
PC has been fortunate to be joined by the team of Avonda Air Systems, Bates & Murray, Dubois & King, and Vermont Gas, who are all donating labor and material for this project. Bob Avonda, Albie Bourne, and Tim Dall, in particular, deserve a huge “thank you” for stepping up and taking on this project despite their current workload. Neil Durda, Office Engineer with PC Construction’s Special Projects team has been invaluable in helping get this project off the ground. In addition, TFM Construction is providing carpentry work at reduced labor rates.
It was great to see all of us pull together to get this project done for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and, most importantly, for the family whose lives will be greatly enhanced by the outcome.
Installing drywall during the renovation of a bathroom involving the installation of a large therapeutic whirlpool tub
November 15, 2011
In September 2010, PC Construction was the low bidder on the Brattleboro Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade project located along the Connecticut River in Brattleboro, Vermont. The team received the Notice to Proceed on this $22 million project in December 2010 and construction began in April 2011. The main components of the project include a new headworks building, primary clarifiers, pump gallery, thermophilic digester tank, sanitary pump station, and plant water pump station. The project also includes modification work to the existing secondary clarifiers, dewatering building, digester complex, control building, chlorine building and contact channels, and selector building with a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) system. Continue Reading →
November 8, 2011
November 3, 2011
Sixteen MBA students from Switzerland’s University of Freiburg recently visited PC Construction for an afternoon of learning about our company and general business practices. The Freiburg MBA program has a student exchange agreement with The University of Vermont. This agreement allows The University of Vermont MBA students to visit Switzerland to learn about Swiss business models and students from the Freiburg program to do the same in the United States.
I happen to serve on the Board of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center along with the chair of The University of Vermont’s MBA program. As he talked about the exchange agreement, we thought it would be great to have the Switzerland students learn about PC.
During the two-hour meeting, these students, many of whom are working professionals in engineering and construction, learned about ESOPs, the PC culture, and the dynamics of construction in the United States. It was a unique opportunity to share our culture and to learn about the construction environment in Switzerland.
October 25, 2011
At the Design Build Institute of America National Conference in Orlando, Florida, PC Construction employee owners Mike Angeli and Mike Franzoni accepted a prestigious 2011 Design-Build Excellence Award for the $109 million H.L. Mooney WRF Expansion and Upgrade Stage 2, Phase 1 project in Virginia.
To be considered for a National Design-Build Award, projects must demonstrate successful application of design-build best practices as defined by the DBIA Design-Build Manual of Practice. These include early integration of key team members during the proposal process via a proposal charrette or other collaborative outreach efforts and close coordination between design and construction team members from the design development stage through field construction.
The conference opening keynote speaker was the legendary NASA Apollo 13 Commander, Captain James Lovell. Captain Lovell regaled in stories of the ill-fated mission and spoke on how teamwork, collaboration, and ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking all combined to turn an impossible situation into success. Applying these same techniques and skills are crucial to the success of design-build projects.
October 20, 2011
October 14, 2011
October 7, 2011
Mike Cecil, our Director of Business Development for the Water Treatment market, has earned the status of Assoc. Designated Design-Build Professional by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). This certification is achieved through demonstrated knowledge of design-build and alternative project delivery methods through education, experience, and examination. Mike joins PC Project Executives Mike Angeli and Rick Fisher who both achieved the Designatated Design-Build Professional certification in 2010.
DBIA is the industry’s preeminent resource for leadership, education, objective expertise, and best practices for the successful integrated delivery of capital projects. The institute promotes the value of design-build project delivery to ensure success for owners as well as design and construction practitioners.
The use of integrated delivery methods is rapidly gaining popularity and acceptance because owners realize the importance of collaboration between their teams and the designer and contractor. An important aspect of design-build and Construction Management at Risk project delivery is the integration of the contractor with the engineering firm during the design phase of a project.
Some current and recent alternative delivery projects for PC Construction include the Hopewell Water Treatment Plant, H.L. Mooney Water Reclamation Facility, Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility, and DC Water Main Process Train.
Mike Cecil, PC Construction's Director of Business Development for Water Treatment, has earned the status of DBIA Professional
October 5, 2011
The Canal Water Treatment Plant has undergone a number of upgrades over the years, but none included work on the Raw Water Intakes or High Service distributions portions of the plant. PC Construction began work on a new Raw Water Pump Station and the complete renovation of High Service Pump Station #1 in August 2010.
Many of the existing buildings on the plant date back to the early 1900s. High Service Pump Room #1 was built in 1909 and the outside appearance of the building remains just as it was then. Keeping the original appearance of the site buildings was a top priority for the City of Columbia—a challenge considering one existing structure requires renovation and four entirely new structures will be constructed. The team has worked hard to maintain the original historic appearance of the buildings and the result flows nicely with the existing plant structures.
A few of the unique challenges the team faced revolved around what are usually ordinary procedures. One was to construct a cofferdam in the canal that supplies raw water to the plant. Since the canal had been carved out of granite in the late 1800s, accommodations had to be made to the typical cofferdam. With the help of a consulting engineer and a local marine contractor, the team devised a double walled cofferdam that could sit on top of the granite since it could not be penetrated. The space between the two walls was filled with sand, giving the dam the weight required to hold back the water in the canal. The solution proved to be successful, the work is complete, and the cofferdam has been removed.
Another challenge was to create a reliable bypass pumping system that would allow the city to pump the necessary water to their customers while the team completed a very complex distribution piping replacement within the plant. It was also required that the system discharge at 155 psi, adding a layer of difficulty to this portion of the project. The team came up with a plan that would use electric pumps in place of diesel to increase the reliability and cost effectiveness of the system while producing the pressure needed in the system. The bypass system is currently providing water to the city’s distribution lines, allowing for continued progress on the plant piping.
Completion is expected in February 2012, about six months ahead of schedule.
September 30, 2011
The Yellow River WRF project team recently completed the work required to process wastewater flow through the final phase of the new plant facilities and began discharging the reclaimed water into the Yellow River. The new plant was put into service in stages over a 21-month period, starting with the new Influent Pump Station in September of 2009 and concluding with the new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Facility. The plant is currently processing 10 MGD and producing high quality effluent that is well within its new permit limits. Continue Reading →
September 28, 2011
PC has been through a lot of change recently—in addition to all the adjustments required by the economic turmoil, we’ve adopted a new name and moved into a new home. I always look forward to our corporate get-togethers as a way to regain our bearings. The 2011 Field Office Manager Seminar was no exception. Field Office Managers, Operations Assistants, Project Controllers, and Accounting Associates assembled with representatives of the Accounting, Human Resources, Legal, Risk Management, Project Controls, and Purchasing teams to discuss recent and upcoming changes. FOMs and the presenters had many constructive conversations concerning everyday issues in the field, such as tracking compliance expiration dates or improving communication about subcontractor schedules. Field Office Managers left with a few more tools in their belt, presenters left with additional tasks on their to-do list, and everyone who attended has a better sense of how their roles impact the overall company.
September 26, 2011
This is a guest blog by a Marathon Health representative. PC does not endorse nor attest to the fitness of Marathon Health or any other vendor that contributes to our blog.
At Marathon Health, our mission is to inspire people to lead healthier lives. In turn, we help employers stabilize healthcare costs. It’s a simple equation that yields powerful results. Continue Reading →
September 23, 2011
September 11, 2011
I have heard this question so many times in the past few weeks and everyone seems to instantly understand the reference. Even more, we all remember right where we were and exactly what we were doing when we heard about or witnessed the dreaded attacks on September 11, 2001.
For me, I was just entering my second month working at PC and was deep in concentration typing a letter. Someone mentioned that a plane had crashed into a building in New York but, at that point, the true magnitude of the situation had not yet come to light. The hours that followed were heart-wrenching. Continue Reading →
August 31, 2011
August 19, 2011
I recently joined four other employees from all over the company at an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Conference. The event, hosted by the New England Chapter of the ESOP Association, was the first ever presented entirely in Spanish. The goal for the conference was to empower Spanish-speaking employees to contribute to their company through a deeper understanding of and appreciation for employee ownership.
I certainly don’t speak Spanish but the others joining me from PC Construction are bilingual and this conference was part of their training to become “ESOP Ambassadors” for our Spanish-speaking population. Trade Superintendent Oni Ramirez, Field Engineer Abe Torres, Staff Estimator Gerry Torres, and Field Office Manager Mayra Villatoro-Espinal met the challenge head-on. They participated in presentations and exercises designed to get them thinking about people coming together to accomplish something meaningful, such as constructing a facility for a client, while creating a high performance workplace – all which is very important in an ESOP.
We were asked to build the result of PC Construction’s high performance workplace using just balloons. So we built a chain, with the links of the chain representing the employees of PC and the colors representing the various cultures in the company (also our hard hat colors). Our explanation is that the chain (the company) is strong because of the links (employees). At each end of the balloon chain were balloons with smiley faces that represented the positive attitudes throughout the company that lead to positive outcomes.
Oni, Abe, Gerry, and Mayra will present our new ESOP awareness presentation to Spanish-speaking employees later this year. Their enthusiasm for increasing understanding of the ESOP and more effectively communicating with all of our employees has been invaluable.
August 17, 2011
Every company has a corporate “culture” — a set of values that builds bonds with their employees, customers, and partners. PC Construction’s culture is a combination of the values and traditions of the individuals who make up the company and those that were passed down from the Pizzagalli brothers. It is apparent that certain elements of our culture are critical to our continued success and are never to be compromised, namely dealing in an ethical and honest fashion. This, and more, is what came to be informally known as the “PC Way.” Continue Reading →
July 28, 2011
I recently had the pleasure of moderating and giving a presentation at an Executive Outreach Breakfast in Washington, DC. The gathering, sponsored by our proposal partner for the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project, Ameresco, was held to inform local community leaders of potential opportunities for vendors and subcontractors for the CHP project as well as the recently awarded Main Process Train project, both at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C. Some of the guests I was able to interact with on a personal level included members of The District of Columbia Building Industry Association, the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince Georges County Economic Development Department. Continue Reading →
July 27, 2011
Many of you have heard of the Shriners Hospitals and the tremendous work they do for children across the country. One of the many ways they raise awareness and funds to support of their efforts is through the playing of All Star Football games. One of those games exists in Vermont and it is called the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl and it pits the finest graduating seniors of Vermont against those from New Hampshire. It occurs annually on the first Saturday in August and this year marks the 58th playing of this classic. It is considered quite an honor to be selected as one of the 36 players from each state, just as it was for me to be selected to coach Vermont’s defense in this year’s classic.
In preparation for the August 6 game, I will spend ten days in a prep school dormitory with the 36 young men and my fellow coaches, practicing three times a day in between classroom and lecture time. The highlight for the team is a trip to Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. From what I am told, this trip is a life-changing experience, one that helps the team fully understand what they are working so hard for and brings to light the meaning of the Shriner motto – “Strong leaks run so that weak legs may walk”.
This year we are certainly hoping to bring an end to Vermont’s eleven-year losing streak but what we are really putting our effort into is helping provide hope and help to sick children during their times of need. Over the past 57 years, the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl has raised over $4.5 million for Shriners Hospitals for Children and we are excited to add to that this year.
I will provide some updates through the week, especially after the visit to the hospital. If you are in the area and in the mood for a good game, stop by the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl in Windsor, Vermont on August 6 at 2:30 p.m. Admission goes towards this tremendous cause.
Coach Kevin McCarthy and Assistant Mike Yesolonia
Kevin McCarthy, Senior Vice President at PC Construction, shares a laugh with the team
July 15, 2011
On June 30, a contract signing ceremony for the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Cambi/Main Process Train construction project was held at DC Water’s headquarters in Washington, DC. In addition to representatives from PC Construction, CDM, and DC Water, attendees included Cambi’s technology director, Merete Norli, who traveled from Cambi’s corporate office in Asker, Norway for this important event.
The $208 million joint venture between PC Construction and CDM is unique in many aspects. It is just the second construction project undertaken by DC Water utilizing the design-build delivery method and it will be the first treatment plant in the United States to incorporate the Cambi thermal hydrolysis process into their facility. At the completion of this project, the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant will be the largest thermal hydrolysis process plant in the world.
Engineering and design is underway with construction activities scheduled to begin in January 2012 and completion expected for October 2014.
Click here to read Cambi’s press release.
June 30, 2011
As you may remember, my last blog post focused on all the changes around us at PC Construction. To some, change is seen a threat, a deviation from the norm. For others, it is viewed as freshness, opportunity, and progression. With our corporate name change and headquarters move now almost a month behind us, it is clear to those doubters that change is indeed good! Continue Reading →
June 22, 2011
On June 16 the Portland Society of Architects honored the Portland Museum of Art, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, and PC Construction Company with a 25 Year Award for Architectural Design Excellence for the Payson Wing project. In accepting the award on behalf of the Portland Museum of Art, Director Mark Bessire noted the enduring quality of the landmark building’s design and construction, noting “the building’s relatively small maintenance budget speaks to the high quality workmanship when it was built.”
Paul Stevens, Portland Society of Architects President, noted the tremendous leadership of Superintendent George Smith while recognizing PC Construction for its role in the project. Architect Henry Cobb gave attendees a retrospective look back to the project’s origins and his vision for the building that led to a cultural revival of an entire city. Now 84 years old, Cobb summed it up best in an interview with the Maine Sunday Telegram when he stated, “The building, if I may say so, is very well detailed and very well built.”
Portland Museum of Art’s website speaks to the project’s history:
In 1976, Maine native Charles Shipman Payson promised the Museum his collection of 17 works by Winslow Homer. Recognizing the Museum’s physical limitations, he also gave $8 million toward the building of an addition to be designed by Henry Nichols Cobb of I. M. Pei & Partners. Construction began on the Charles Shipman Payson Building in 1981, and within two years the $8.2 million facility was opened to the public.”
We were pleased to be the construction partner on this historic project nearly 30 years ago and to be invited back in 2000 to complete the LDM Sweat Gallery and McLellan House Renovations for the Portland Museum of Art.
Read more about Harry Cobb’s look back on the prestigious Payson Wing project by clicking here.
Facade of the Portland Museum of Art (Photo by Craig Becker)
June 16, 2011
At the recent Gannett Fleming annual stockholder meeting, Senior Vice President Butch Bedell and I took part in a roundtable discussion and presentation highlighting some important issues associated with the design-build delivery method. Other panel members included industry experts Jack Gallagher, President of American Water, and Bill McGuinness, Executive Vice President of Skanska/USA.
The panel fielded questions from some of the nearly 150 engineers in attendance, with a focus on future trends, ways engineers might improve, and important qualities necessary for the success of design-build projects, to name just a few.
When asked the question “What one piece of advice can you give to improve our future success with design-build,” the panel agreed that selecting the people with the right personality traits is key. This was a bit surprising to some who have never been involved with a design-build project. They imagined success would relate directly to engineering, technical, or organizational skills. Mike added that those skills can be learned, whereas personality traits are inherent. Collaboration, communication, and trust are just as important to the success of a design-build project as are technical aptitude.
Jack Gallagher of American Water stated that design-build has become their preferred delivery method and is now used for the majority of their capital projects. He envisions this trend to continue, and remarked that they do not necessarily select teams based on low cost, but rather on best value, the past history of the engineer and contractor working together, and the ability to function in a collaborative fashion.
June 14, 2011
PC Construction began installation of the first sections of the slurry wall for the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract 1C project in Washington, DC. The slurry wall in this application is used as a cut-off wall between the plant site and the Potomac River to prevent any possible contaminants leaving the site and entering the Potomac River, which boarders the west and south side of the Denitrification Tank. This slurry wall has reinforced-concrete walls which are excavated by a special clam shell bucket mounted to a crane to a minimum depth of 57 feet. The walls are 24 feet long by 3 feet wide. Excluding the four corners there are 70 straight wall panels required to complete this structure.
The slurry walls are constructed by starting with a set of guide walls that are 4 feet deep and 1.6 feet thick. The guide walls are constructed on the ground surface to outline the desired slurry wall and guide the excavation. As the excavation progresses downward, the trench is kept full of slurry to prevent it from collapsing. The outward pressure from the hydraulic head pressure of the slurry and the difference in gravity between the slurry and the surrounding groundwater, keep the trench in place during excavation.
After the desired depth is reached a process called de-sanding is performed, whereby the slurry is cleaned in order to place concrete. Once the de-sanding process is complete a 57 foot tall, 58,000-pound reinforced cage with tie-back trumpets is lowered into the hole followed by 170 cubic yards of tremie concrete. As the concrete is placed in the trench, the slurry is displaced back into holding tanks and ready for the next panel.
In order to meet the tight schedule demands for this project, PC Construction workers and the slurry wall subcontractor are working around the clock in shifts.
June 13, 2011
The United States is obsessed with leadership as is evidenced by the many best-selling books about leadership. These books often spin a good story promising that a person can be a great leader if he or she will adhere to their rather simple formula (which is why they sell – a compelling story and simple formula). Most of us realize that leadership isn’t easy nor is it a formula.
There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are books on leadership. Books have given us the theory of the “hero as leader,” the “servant as leader,” or the “leaderful” organization, to name a few. There are even more characteristics identified for good leaders than there are definitions. Some of these characteristics include influencing others, visionary, wise, good judgment, and special insight. I find it difficult to imagine one person who possesses all the qualities ascribed to a good leader – or even someone with a handful of the qualities identified.
Is leadership about strategy or is it about making the lives of individuals better – or both? Do leaders manage people while managers manage things? Do leaders blaze a trail or do they keep us on a trail?
Most of what is touted as “leadership” is more than likely skills we generally equate with “management.” Management, like leadership, is encompassed by many of the theories, but each theory and characteristic has its place within a given time and setting. An office engineer role, for example, requires management and leadership skills, being a project engineer requires leadership and management skills, a project manager is a leader and a manager, an executive is a leader and a manager. The implication is that each position requires leadership and management skills, but the skills are used differently in each role.
A good employee development program and succession plan identifies what is different about each role, focuses on assessing people’s competency, and then on building relevant skills. Don’t throw away the “leadership” books, but don’t assume they provide a silver bullet that explains what leadership is or should look like in your organization.
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