Berlin Steel

September 2004 Job Profiles

PFIZER CLINICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

Erection Crew at Pfizer Clinical Research Laboratory “Tops Out” without a hitch.

MID ATLANTIC PROJECTS

		Bass Pro Shop in Harrisburg (PA 1723)

		East Lobby for 440 North Broad Street (PA 1702)

April 2003 Job Profile

LAWRENCE APARTMENTS, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

		The Lawrence Apartments project consists of seven new buildings ranging from 3 to 8 stories. Henderson Construction from Raritan, New Jersey is the General Contractor. J.L. Erectors is erecting, FEI is fabricating the structural steel detailed by BSCC, and Sharon Stairs was specified as the pre-designed stair manufacturer.
Our portion of the project includes structural steel for three of the buildings, penthouse framing for six of the buildings, and miscellaneous metals for the entire seven. Four of the buildings are block and plank construction and the three structural buildings are steel and plank. The structural steel portion is a unique design called "Girder Slab" construction. The total square footage of the structural portion is 127,000; the weight is approximately 452 tons and there are 14 stair towers.

		The appeal to using the "Girder Slab" construction is definitely the schedule. We were originally going to erect two of the six story buildings simultaneously but due to weather and site conditions we only had two cranes on the project for one week. The first two buildings were hung and planked in 4 weeks. Included in that duration were 5 days of down time
due to bad weather. So, the total erection days really only amounted to 17 days. The third building was started on March 24th and is the tallest of the three at 7 stories. The erection duration for this portion is approximately three weeks. Henderson Construction couldn't be much happier with the performance. It really has been an extraordinary effort by all parties involved thus far. Girder Slab construction is the first system to use precast slabs with an integral steel girder to form a monolithic structural slab assembly. The girder slab system consists of an interior girder known as an open-web dissymmetric beam or D-beam, supporting precast prestressed hollow core slabs on its bottom flange. Upon grouting, the Girder-Slab System develops composite action enabling it to support residential live loads. Grouting is easily achieved after slabs are set in place. The Girder-Slab System affords users advantages never before available with cast-in-place concrete superstructures. Headed by Dave Kelting, our detailing department stepped up to the challenges of learning the system and providing the shop and field with the required information to stay efficient and effective in completing the project.

		From preplanning the construction to erecting the last stair, the success of the project, Lawrence Apartments at Princeton University, has been a by-product of teamwork. The detailers deserve high praise for clear, precise information. Compliments to the crew at FEI for their craftsmanship and to the men who did an outstanding job erecting. "The fabrication was excellent and the steel fit great," said Dave Mullens of J.L. Erectors. Reported by Dennis Bachman, Mid-Atlantic Office

December 2002 Job Profile

UCONN FOOTBALL STADIUM
Miscellaneous Metals Portion of Rentschler Field

		As we entered the month of December, the UCONN Football Stadium was 80% complete and ahead of schedule for its August 30, 2003 opening. The horseshoe shaped open air facility is situated on 75 acres at the former Pratt & Whitney Rentschler Airfield.

It has a seating capacity of 40,000, expandable to 50,000. There are also 1,300 indoor club seats and 38 luxury suites located within the Press Tower. The structural steel Press Tower, which stands more than 100 feet above the playing field, has two, 174 riser stairs at the east and west ends. This work has been completed since September. The more than three miles of perimeter guardrail and 524 aisle rails are 90 percent complete and will be finished by the end of January 2003. 152 Powder coated aluminum rails within the tower will provide some indoor work during the winter.

		There are 44 sets of vomitory stair rails that access the seating. This work was delayed because of code differences between Ellerbe Becket (the architect) and the Connecticut State Building inspectors. With concessions made by both parties we can now expect this material at the jobsite in late January 2003.

The 10 foot high ornamental fences and gates at five locations is the means of fan access to the stadium. Thanks to Ben Padilla for his design and development of a complex situation, this material is now in production, has a scheduled delivery of early March and will be completed in late April.

There are also 30 sets of removable aluminum stairs that will provide access from the low level seating to the playing field. A mock-up of this was delivered to the job on December 16th.

Berlin Steel has also been contracted to furnish and install the framing for and the installation of the large screen, state of the art video matrix scoreboard.

The Berlin Steel erection team, headed by Superintendents Mike Guay and Jeff Miller, need to be commended for their outstanding performance in coordinating and overcoming various adverse situations. From the detailing aspect, Tom Godbout and his staff at Ocean State have done an outstanding job resolving a multitude of changes and challenges turning this into a successful project.

Finally, we would like to wish success to UCONN coach Randy Edsall, his players and staff as they enter their second season of Division IA College Football. "Go Huskies"!!!!

Reported by Ray Baran, Project Manager/Miscellaneous Estimator

November 2002 Job Profile

BERLIN STEEL OFFICE EXPANSION UPDATE

		The current offices of The Berlin Steel Construction Company were constructed in 1965. A first addition was added in 1972, and a second edition followed 10 years later in 1982. Modular buildings were added in 1996 to temporarily handle our need for additional space.
In 2002, twenty years after the second addition, Berlin Steel is undertaking our third permanent addition to the original office building. The new addition will handle the additional staff in our Estimating and Drafting departments, as well as future staffing needs of the company. The modular buildings have been relocated, the footings and foundation walls are in, and steel erection began on September 30th. Final completion is just around the corner in 2003. Reported by Bob Smith, Office Expansion Project Manager

July 2002 Job Profile

CONNECTICARE, FARMINGTON, CT

		ConnectiCare chose the Farmington location (Route 6 near the intersection of New Britain Avenue and I-84) because of its close proximity to their current location on Batterson Park Road, also in Farmington. This new 100,000 sq. ft. facility will house its customer service and technology center.
Tomasso Group is handling the general construction of this building, which is among the largest office buildings currently under construction in the state of Connecticut. Berlin Steel furnished 462 tons of structural steel, together with 43 tons of deck/joist. The actual dimension for the 3-story building is 350 feet long by 105 feet wide. Site conditions were favorable for erection - open site for easy crane access. The job was detailed and fabricated by B.K. Iron Works of Quebec, Canada. Our customer was Casle Corporation. The Project Manager was Bill Wadsworth and the Site Superintendent was Mike McInerney. The Architect/Engineer was Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. Pat Sayers was the Field Foreman for Berlin Steel. This was another fast track project by Berlin Steel that came in onschedule, without compromising quality or safety. Congratulations to all! Reported by Jim Wilson, Project Manger

BRADLEY AIRPORT NEW CONCOURSE & TERMINAL

Congratulations to the entire Berlin Steel Team on the highly successful completion of this very significant and challenging project.




From Estimating, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, through Planning, Detailing and Purchasing, to Erection, this complex project was performed on time with the professionalism and attention to safety that has become a hallmark of Berlin Steel over its long history. Particular accolades go to Mario DeRoia, Drafting Manager, Don Ouelette, the General Foreman for the Concourse, and Pat Sayers, the General Foreman for the Terminal.

		We are pleased to have been a key participant in the development of thisimportant project. The final product is an impressive building, that as we frequent the airport over the coming years, the participants can look backand be proud of the accomplishment. Reported by Mike Belcher, Project Manager

RENTSCHLER FIELD PROJECT FOR THE UCONN FOOTBALL STADIUM

On Monday February 25, 2002 we conducted a Topping Out ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the steel erection phase of the 1,000 ton UCONN Football Sadium Pressbox.

This marked an important milestone in the progress of the 40,000-seat stadium which is scheduled to open with the start of the fall football season in 2003. The event was attended by over two hundred people including dignitaries representing national, state, and local government, the UCONN Athletic Department, members of the football team, Hunt/Gilbane, and the other contractors.

UCONN football coach Randy Edsall spoke expressing his gratitude to the ironworkers and his pride in the new state-of-the-art facility. Seven UCONN football players attended and signed the topping-out beam.

Mike Belcher congratulated the entire erection team and especially Mike Guay, our field superintendent, and Bianca D'Avignon, the detailing job captain. He wished Coach Edsall and his team success in the many years of big-time college football to come at the University of Connecticut.

Reported by Mike Belcher, Project Manager