For U.S. Air Force veteranFreddie Jones II, making a trip tothe Birmingham VA Medical

Center can be exhausting. “If I have an appointment at one o’clock, I start traveling

at eleven a.m., because just circling around an area close tothe center to park takes up time, and you usually have towalk four of five blocks,” said Jones, who suffers from seri-ous vision problems and depends on his daughter to assisthim during medical visits. “If you have a condition thatrequires you to walk slowly, you can imagine how difficultthat makes things.”

The tiresome trek will soon be a memory, however, asconstruction continues on a $66 million outpatient servicesclinic and parking structure. The VA Primary Care Annexand parking deck was designed to help officials better servelocal veterans by relocating some services from the VAMedical Center, and providing a centralized parking locationfor patients, visitors and staff members.

“BL Harbert is pleased to construct this facility for theDepartment of Veterans Affairs,” said Gary W. Savage, BLHarbert’s president of U.S. Operations. “Our veterans haveso bravely served our country in many capaci-ties around the world to ensure our freedom.Helping to meet their health care needsthrough construction of a state-of-the-arthealthcare facility is an honor we embrace.”

BL Harbert International has teamed withthe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,developer Graham & Company and Austin,Texas-based Page architects to build the facili-ty, which will span an entire city block. It willbe located near the Red Mountain Expresswaybetween University Boulevard and 7th AvenueSouth in Birmingham’s medical district.

The project, slated for completion in fall of2015, calls for a three-story structure and eight-story precast parking garage.

The 730,000 sq. ft. (67,819 sq m), 2,300-space parking deck will provide much closeraccess to the Birmingham VA Medical Centerat 700 19th Street South. Currently, patientspark at the city deck at the corner of FourthAvenue North and 22nd Street and are bussed several blocksto the hospital.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates thenation's largest integrated health care system, with more than1,700 hospitals, clinics, community living centers, domicil-iaries, readjustment counseling centers and other facilities.

Thomas Smith, director of the Birmingham VA MedicalCenter, said the 66,000 sq. ft. (6,131 sq m) annex will houseseveral outpatient procedures, women’s health, mentalhealth and a number of lab and technical functions. The relo-cation of those operations from the existing medical center isexpected to allow for an expansion of the emergency room,

a new dialysis center and other improvements in the hospi-tal.

According to Jeffrey Hester Birmingham VA spokesman,“The new Primary Care Annex and parking lot is somethingwe are incredibly excited about, for a few reasons. First, theveteran population we serve has been growing at such aquick rate that we have outgrown the facility we are current-ly in. This new annex will allow us to move some of ourservices to decompress the main facility, and open up moreroom so we can continue to serve our veterans and give themthe quality care they deserve, even as we continue to grow.

“The other thing we’re excited about is the parking deck.If you were to ask one of our veterans what their biggestcomplaint was about the Birmingham VA Medical Center,there’s a good chance they would say parking. It has been anissue for us for years. We currently contract parking on thenorth side of Birmingham from the city. The new parking

VA Medical Center to Serve Birmingham Veterans

ALABAMA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

see VA page 2

BL Harbert photoThe project, which called for the removal of 6,000 cu.yds. (4,587 cu m) of dirt and material, has required avariety of equipment.

Page photoA rendering of the VA Primary Care Annex.

April 292015

Vol. XXVIII • No. 9Mobile

Dothan

Auburn

Anniston

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HuntsvilleFlorence

Decatur

BirminghamBessemer

Tuscaloosa

SelmaMontgomery

Phenix City

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65

65

10

85

20

20

59

59

565

220

72

31

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By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT

Page 2 • April 29, 2015 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Weather Among Several Challenges on VA Center Projectdeck will alleviate this situation.”

Hester pointed out the timing of the proj-ect couldn’t be better.

“The best time for a project like this isalways as soon as possible. This is some-thing that has been in the works for years,and we are incredibly excited that it is final-ly coming to fruition. We expect to see aneven larger increase in the need for VA care,especially as we draw down in Iraq andAfghanistan.”

Elliott Miller, BL Harbert assistant projectmanager, said construction is approximately65 percent complete. Challenges haveincluded demolition, historic preservationconcerns, a high water table, working in aninner city location and dealing with limitedspace.

“We have a portion of Seventh Avenueclosed. We require subcontractors to havetheir own flagmen for deliveries. We willreceive 1,350 trucks of precast delivery andcountless other deliveries. We’ve had a num-ber of drunk drivers crash into our construc-tion fence at night. The site is extremelytight. Subcontractors aren’t allowed to laydown more than one week’s material at atime.”

Weather also has been an issue for crews.“We’ve spent $75,000 on stone to keep

the site accessible and equipment moving,”said Miller. “Wind has been a factor when itcomes to erecting precast.”

Masonry work has already been complet-ed, along with structural steel, demolition,drilled shafts, structural cast in place con-crete, roofing, precast erection, elevators,

MEP, metal stud/drywall and curtain wall.Paving and landscaping are among the

tasks that have yet to be carried out.The project, which called for the removal

of 6,000 cu. yds. (4,587 cu m) of dirt andmaterial, has required a variety of equip-ment, including six different cranes, four dif-ferent drill rigs for deep foundations, lulls,excavators, forklifts, man lifts and pumptrucks.

Civil Consultants Inc. (CCI) ofBirmingham provided the civil engineeringand site permitting for the project.

“Working in an urban environment thathad so much grade relief — a 42-foot ele-vation difference across the site — presenteda set of unusual challenges that requiredunique design solutions and extensive coor-dination among multiple disciplines,” saidCCI Managing Principal David Moon.“Excavating almost vertically right next tothree existing streets was handled through adesign build approach with RussoConstruction providing the design and con-struction solution for the retaining wall, andPSP’s structural engineer working closelywith the geotechnical engineer to finalize theretaining wall designs.

“One of our significant challenges wasproviding a reasonable grade approach forthe driveways into the garage off 24th and25th streets, because those two streets are sosteep, and there was very little room to workwith,” said Moon. “It took close coordina-tion with the precast deck consultant andtheir structural engineer to get that workedout.”

The architectural firm Page was responsi-

ble for the overall design of the new struc-tures.

“The project site is close to US Highways31/281 and State Highway 149, allowingconvenient access for veterans and the med-ical center employees who will park in thegarage,” said Page communications directorNancy Fleshman. “The annex is a three-story steel framed structure with brick bandsas the primary exterior material. The brickbands are unique to each level. More darkbrick is provided at the first floor to providea base for the building. A lighter brick bandand thin medium-tone brick at the top of thebuilding provide a cap for the structure.

“In addition to the mix of colors, the brickcourses and individual bricks are pulled outto provide a slight shadow line and differen-tiation to the masonry work. The darkerbrick bands also house the annex’s punchedwindows. The garage provides parking forthe annex patients and staff, but is providedprimarily for the medical center patients andstaff. The precast concrete garage is fourbays wide and eight floors high.”

Fleshman said the size of the site was achallenge

“The site is small, relative to the amountof building and parking garage being placedon it. Additionally, there is a significant ele-vation drop on the site, sloping over 40 feetfrom the southeast to the northwest corner.The design of the project is sensitive to thesite context. The three-story, brick annexbuilding responds to the aesthetics of the his-toric district on the north side of the site. Thegarage is tiered back into the hill on the southside, reducing the apparent height to that of

a four to five-story garage on the south ele-vation. A living, green wall is also providedon the south garage elevation to enhance thearchitectural appearance.”

The project was planned and designed toachieve LEED Silver Certification, in addi-tion to meeting federal energy efficiency andconservation requirements.

“The first floor to the second floor heightwas increased to facilitate bus and van circu-lation access, accommodating shuttles forpatients and staff to the medical center fiveblocks away. Additionally, the second floorto third floor height was increased to helpprovide more accessible parking spaces. Thegarage has three entrance points on three dif-ferent levels to help facilitate vehicles mov-ing into and out of the garage.

“The annex and garage structures are notconnected, but there are canopies that pro-vide covered access between the two struc-tures at the patient entrance and at thestaff/service entrance.”

A large garden is planned between the twostructures.

“This courtyard serves as an enhancementto the site, because it will be carefully land-scaped with trees and hardscape appropriateto the area. The shading and sunlight thecourtyard will receive will function as an ori-entation device, as well as provide a quiethealing garden, away from the noise, hustleand bustle of city streets.

“Everyone on the project team has beenvery motivated and inspired to provide anoutstanding health care facility for our veter-ans. From the exterior garden areas to the

VA from page 1

BL Harbert photoBL Harbert International has teamed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,developer Graham & Company and Austin, Texas-based Page architects to build thefacility, which will span an entire city block.

BL Harbert photoThe VA Primary Care Annex and parking deck was designed to help officials betterserve local veterans by relocating some services from the VA Medical Center, andproviding a centralized parking location for patients, visitors and staff members.

see VA page 6

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 29, 2015 • Page 3

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Madison, AL256.350.0006

Mobile, AL251.633.4020

Montgomery, AL334.262.6642

Oxford, AL256.832.5053

Pensacola, FL850.479.3004

Atlanta, GA404.696.7210

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Page 4 • April 29, 2015 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 29, 2015 • Page 5

Page 4 • April 29, 2015 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 29, 2015 • Page 5

Page 6 • April 29, 2015 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Courtyard to Serve as Enhancement to Medical Complexlight-filled interior spaces, every design deci-sion was made with the goal to provide a wel-coming, peaceful and healing environment. Ithas been an honor to work on a project thathelps make the lives of our veterans better.”

Protection Engineering Consultants (PEC)of San Antonio, Texas, provided blast andphysical security design support during thedesign and construction of the project. PECevaluated the entire site for physical securityrequirements.

“PEC performed engineering analyses andreviewed drawings and details to documenthow the site features and building structuraldesign satisfied the life-safety blast design andphysical security requirements,” said CarrieDavis, PEC project engineer. “The primaryobjective of the physical security design is toprovide unobtrusive protection for VA facili-ties, while safeguarding the veterans, staff andvisitors. PEC’s role is to ensure cost-effectivesolutions are constructed and implemented thatprovide the appropriate level of physical secu-rity to the Primary Care Annex.”

Graham & Company President MikeGraham said, “We believe this $60 milliondevelopment on an old car lot that had been

vacant for several years will bring other devel-opments to the area. This clinic will offer theadvantage of free parking, out of the weather,in a secured environment, and it will serve as aparking annex for the VA hospital located just ashort shuttle bus ride away.

“Keeping the project on schedule through awet winter, and working in a tight urban envi-ronment has been challenging, but our contrac-tor has done an exceptional job, and we arevery pleased with their work. The most reward-ing part of this development is providing a stateof the art medical facility for those veteranswho have given so much to our country. Weowe them so much, and they are well deservingof a top-notch clinic with secured parking. Weare grateful for being involved.”

Jones, who served in Vietnam and nowworks as a veterans' advocate, knows first-handwhat the project will mean to those whoanswered the call, but sometimes feel forgot-ten.

“After all these years, we are still healing.This new clinic helps with the process. This hasbecome part of our cry out.”

(This story also can be found onConstruction Equipment Guide’s Web site atwww.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG

VA from page 2

BL Harbert photoAccording to Jeffrey Hester Birmingham VA spokesman, “The new PrimaryCare Annex and parking lot is something we are incredibly excited about...”

The Alabama State Department of Transportationreceived bids for transportation-related improvementprojects.

Following is a list of some of the projects let.

County: BaldwinContract ID: 20141107031Project: Intersection improvements (grade, drain, base,pave, and signals).Location: On CR-65 at the intersection of SR-42 (U.S.-98).Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• H. O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — 1,025,914• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$1,184,406

County: BaldwinContract ID: 20141107032Project: Roundabout installation.Location: On CR-64 at the intersection of CR-13 inDaphne.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• H. O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $1,173,058• Gulf Equipment Corporation — $1,293,426• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$1,491,899

County: ClayContract ID: 20141107036Project: Bridge replacement (grade, drain, base and pave).Location: On SR-9 over Little Hillabee Creek.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• The Bridge Builders of Alabama LLC — $2,993,558• McInnis Construction LLC — $3,243,276• Newell & Bush Inc. — 3,401,451

County: LowndesContract ID: 20141107047Project: Resurfacing and traffic stripe.Location: On SR-8 (U.S.-80) from MP 100.143to MP 106.018.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $1,817,592• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $1,941,414• Midsouth Paving Inc. — $2,216,784

County: MobileContract ID: 20141107049Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe.Location: On SR-17 from the I-65 interchange in Prichardto north of SR-158.

Contractors and Bid Amounts:• H. O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $1,674,897• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $1,708,148• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$1,717,402

County: MobileContract ID: 20141107050Project: Resurfacing and traffic stripe.Location: On SR-158 from just west of the I-65 overpassto the intersection of SR-13 in Saraland.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —$1,439,818

• H. O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $1,498,178• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $1,525,844

County: MarengoContract ID: 20141107053Project: Safety widening, resurfacing, and traffic stripe.Location: On SR-10 from east of SR-13 (MP 45.681) toeast of SR-25 (MP 53.485).Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• H. O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $1,843,985• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $1,907,950

Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega • Calhoun • Russell • Walker • Lawrence • Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Morgan • Shelby• Bibb •Hale • Fayette • Marion • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • St. Clair• Chilton • Escambia• Montgomery • Jefferson • Russell • Fayette • Conecuh • Coffee • Geneva • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega •Bibb • Coffee • Calhoun • Russell • • Walker• Lawrence• Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Bibb• Hale • Fayette • Monroe •Clarke • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega

Alabama…

‘The Yellowhammer State’ Highway Project Lettings

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 29, 2015 • Page 7

Page 8 • April 29, 2015 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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