On The Scene   March 7, 2011 Our editors are everywhere�at all the industry events that matter most. When They're not speaking on panels, they're busy taking notes�and snapping photos�so they can inform their readers about what was said and who was there. Topping Out Topping Out In January, Balfour Beatty Construction topped out its 396 Alhambra Circle project in Coral Gables, Fla. The $130-million project includes remodeling a seven-story building and constructing a 15-story, 189,000-sq-ft office tower, which is precertified LEED Gold. Photo Courtesy Of Balfour Beatty Construction 2011 Outlook 2011 Outlook On Feb. 1, McGraw-Hill Construction welcomed contractors and

Fifteen former senior managers of Hillier Architects, a practice that sold itself to Scotland-based RMJM in a deal completed in 2007, have filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court to force RMJM to pay bonuses that were promised as part of the sale agreement. In completing the $24-million buyout of Princeton-based Hillier, RMJM agreed to pay-to-stay bonuses, in cash and stock, for senior Hillier managers. But as the economy worsened in 2009, RMJM CEO Sir Fraser Morrison, citing delays in projects, informed the senior Hillier managers that it would be unable to pay the bonuses on schedule and instead

Investigators will require months to determine the causes of two accidents that killed three union ironworkers on Feb. 8. Photo: Courtesy of Goldberg, Weisman & Cairo Ltd. Wrongful death lawsuit alleges that defective welds were a factor in fatal beam collapse. The family of the Chicago ironworker, Kenneth Puplava, 43, has filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging contractor negligence in the collapse of a steel structure that struck him at a suburban hospital construction site. The suit names the project’s general contractor, Pepper Construction Co., Chicago, and its steel erector-fabricator, Lejeune Steel Co., Minneapolis, which employed Puplava. Puplava

Public School 62, located on a 3.5-acre site at the intersection of Crabtree Avenue and Bloomingdale Road in Staten Island will be the city�s first net zero energy school upon its completion in approximately two to three years. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2012. Rendering courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, a New York-based architectural firm has been selected to design the 444-seat, 70,000 sq ft school which will include Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes. The plan for the school follows a request for proposals put out by the New York

Two ironworkers who fell to their deaths at a Manhattan renovation project Feb. 8 had been standing on a beam that moved unexpectedly, says a spokesman for the New York City Dept. of Buildings. Related Links: Ironworkers Fall to their Deaths The two workers, Brett McEnroe and Roy Powell, were employed by Cross County Contracting, Pine Bush, N.Y. They were installing steel in an elevator shaft at 150 West 83rd Street on the fifth level of a garage that was being converted into a recreation building for the Redeemer Presbyterian Church. F.J. Sciame, the project’s general contractor, released a statement

CASTILLO Margaret Castillo, principal at Helpern Architects and green-building expert, has been appointed as the new president of the American Institute of Architects, New York. She will be replacing outgoing president, Anthony Schirripa. “Design for a Change” is the theme that Castillo has chosen for her 2011 presidency. Gary E. Neuwerth of Dewberry has been selected by Rutgers University to receive the School of Engineering Medal of Excellence Award for Alumni Lifetime Achievement in recognition of a career spanning 41 years in the engineering profession. William J. Tinsley, Jr., previously a partner at Sills Cummis & Gross PC, has joined

Thomas J. DiGangi Jr. has been hired as executive director of Associated General Contractors of New Jersey, based in Edison. DiGangi’s comes to AGC from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, where he served as chief of staff, acting chief operating officer and vice president of operations before taking on the role of acting chief executive officer during the Corzine/Christie transition. DiGangi is also the founder of Triangle Strategies LLC, a consulting firm specializing in government and public affairs, and has previously served as director of government affairs for the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey. DIGANGI “We’re fortunate to

Snapshot   February 7, 2011 University of Buffalo Stadium Lights Replacement “I chose this particular photograph because I felt it was the strongest graphically,” says Meehan who moved back and forth between various levels of the University of Buffalo Stadium to get the best angles and perspectives of this O�Connell employee involved in the reclamation/recycling process of a light fixture on an older, downed light pole. The photo was taken in mid-August with a Nikon D300 and a 200mm lens at f10. Photographer: Keith Meehan Submitted By: Keith Meehan for O�Connell Electric Company, Inc. Victor, N.Y.

Skanska has been selected to construct an approximately five-story, 17,200-sq-ft intermediate and high school at South Hunter’s Point in Long Island City, N.Y., through a contract totaling $61 million. Rendering Courtesy Of Skanska South Hunter’s Point The 17,200-sq-ft Long Island City school is slated for completion in October 2013. The school will consist of 26 classrooms and include teaching facilities for 1,000 intermediate and high school students as well as laboratories, a music suite, gym, kitchen and cafeteria and a 4,736-sq-ft roof terrace. Skanska will be responsible for implementing the project ,which will be designed to meet Silver LEED certification.

Construction is ongoing at Bronx Community College ’s new 98,000-sq-ft North Instructional Building and Library, where a recent supply of building products and submittal services has been provided to help meet the project’s scheduled completion date. Photo Courtsy Of Park Avenue Building And Roofing Bronx Community College The 98,000-sq-ft building is scheduled for completion in January 2012. The North Instructional Building was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York to match the original classical-revival style campus that was the former location of New York University before it moved to Manhattan and the campus became Bronx Community College. The