On April 15, opposing sides in a debate over the fate of a deteriorating, nine-year-old Seattle apartment tower presented their positions regarding the building�s future safety to Seattle�s Dept. of Planning and Development (DPD). McCarthy Building Cos. maintains the 26-story McGuire Apartments, with its corroding post-tensioned slab system, can be economically fixed. The owner disagrees. Photo: Kennedy Associates The contractor and owner for Seattle�s McGuire Apartments are at odds about �sick� tower�s cure. Image: Post-Tensioning Institute Post-tensioned slab The steps to post-tensioning are as follows: Place the tendons and nail anchors to the formwork, cast the concrete slab, remove the
The contractor for an occupied, 26-story apartment building in Seattle that has corroding post-tensioning cables disagrees with the owner�s assertion that the nine-year-old high-rise will become unsafe. McCarthy Building Cos. also disputes the cause and scope of the damage to McGuire Apartments, built for $33 million, stated by the local owner, Carpenter�s Tower LLC. Photo: Ken Lambert, The Seattle Times Problems of Seattle high-rise are too costly to fix, says owner. The contractor disagrees. On April 10, the owner announced plans to vacate the building over several months “due to extensive construction defects, which are financially impractical” to repair. A
Crews have filled in about 80% of nine voids leftover from a 2-mile tunneling job through Seattle�s Beacon Hill. Japan�s Obayashi Corp. did not discover the voids while boring the parallel, 1-mile tunnels as part of its $280-million contract, which has since increased to $312 million. Owner Sound Transit contends the contractor is at fault. Photo: Sound Transit Crews pump low-density concrete into tunnel voids found by drilling. The new, $2.6-billion, 16-mile Link Light Rail from downtown Seattle south to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport required tunnels and a station 180 ft deep beneath Beacon Hill. Obayashi in 2004 won the contract
James (Jim) Elmer , founder and president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash., was sworn in as Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) national chairman at ABC’s 2010 National Convention in San Diego on February 3. Elmer’s 38 years of construction experience includes working on several heavy industrial construction projects involving fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. Elmer began his involvement with ABC in 1986, and served as chairman of several committees, including the Government Affairs Coordinating Committee. He has also served as a member of ABC’s board of directors and the Legislative Committee. In 1998, ABC presented him
The Skanska Oregon office broke ground on the TriMet Merlo Bus Maintenance Facility to support many of TriMet’s Westside bus lines. The $13.5 million construction project is TriMet’s largest single project funded through the ARRA. Comprised of two buildings totalling 25,000 sq ft, construction includes a new fuel/wash building with lift equipment to raise buses for mechanical maintenance, a bus washing system and specialized fueling system. The second building houses a new LIFT operations building for the program providing door-to-door service for elderly and people with disabilities. TriMet breaks ground on the Merlo Bus Maintenance Facility in Portland, Ore. Related
WSDOT awarded the last of four Recovery Act projects to pave I-5 in Cowlitz County. Lakeside Industries Inc. of Longview was awarded the $4.57-million construction contract to pave approximately 17 mi of I-5 between Todd Road and the Kelso Weigh Station between mile posts 26.5 to 43.8 this summer. WSDOT is delivering this second tier stimulus project following lower-than-expected bids on initial Recovery Act funded highway projects in Washington State. Related Links: TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Site Work Completed for Olympia Building Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System Installation Continues Crews
CH2M HILL completed a 27.5-mi tundra ice road on the North Slope of Alaska, 11 days ahead of schedule and on budget. CH2M HILL completes a 27.5-mi ice road along the tundra of the North Slope, Alaska. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins Site Work Completed for Olympia Building Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System Installation Continues Savant Alaska, LLC hired CH2M HILL to be the lead contractor for the Badami Unit Redevelopment Project, 2009-2010 Tundra Winter road. The road was needed to transport equipment from the North Slope of Alaska to the Badami
The Ash Grove Cement Co. is on schedule with the $20-million voluntary installation of a new activated carbon injection mercury control system at its plant in Durkee, Ore. Upon completion in July, it is expected to achieve 75-80% mercury control efficiency. The pulse value assembly sits on top of the Ash Grove plant’s ACI system baghouse in Durkee, Ore. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Site Work Completed for Olympia Building “Foundations, structural steel, primary ductwork and the baghouse for the ACI system are now in
DBM Contractors, Inc., with support from alliance partner Pennine, completed the design/build installation of the ground improvement at the $255-million Washington State Department of Information Services building on the Wheeler site in Olympia. Crews installed 2,200 stone columns to a depth of between 15 ft and 30 ft to improve the soils below the structural foundations and to increase the soil bearing capacity, reduce static settlement and reduce liquefaction risk in the liquefiable soils. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System
Triad Associates’ board of directors has announced the promotion of David Hilgers, ASLA, LEED-AP, to director of landscape architecture. The position became available when Jeff Cox, ASLA, completed his year-long transition into the role of Trad’s new president. Scott Bigbie, who held Triad’s top spot for 26 years, will remain with the company, concentrating on human resources management, marketing and other strategic assignments. Hilgers earned a Bachelor of Science, Landscape Architecture degree from Washington State University and joined Triad in April 2006. Hilgers has over 14 years of experience in landscape architecture with an emphasis on campus design, urban parks,
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