By Cindy RileyCEG CORRESPONDENT

As a dramatic transformation of Montgomery, Ala.’s,largest four-year university continues, construction crews areputting the final touches on a state-of-the-art football facili-ty. Hornet Stadium is among numerous projects underwayat Alabama State University (ASU), as part of a five-phase,$600 million master plan projected to be completed in 2035.“There’s so much activity on campus, alumni who haven’t

been here for a while are amazed by the transformation,”said Tommy Lawrence, program director, TCU Consulting,who is helping to oversee ASU construction projects.“The impact the new stadium is having on students, fac-

ulty, staff and the community is remarkable,” Lawrence con-tinued. “I believe the number of applications for enrollmentis the highest ever. There’s a huge economic impact not onlyfor the city of Montgomery, but for the surrounding area and

even the state. “In regard to the stadium and what it means to students,

alumni, players and friends of the university, they will for thefirst time in many years walk on to a competition field thatis their home, and they can enjoy the benefits of their hardwork and dedication. It is a beautiful facility second to nonein this area. And due to the hard work of the university,design team, program manager and a professional contrac-tor, the stadium will have been programmed, designed andconstructed in 24 months. It will be on time and within budg-et. It’s been a tremendous team effort.”Rabren General Contractor is the prime contractor for the

stadium. Since 2005, Rabren General Contractors has com-pleted 10 projects at Alabama State totaling $120 million. Phase I of the stadium started in April 2011, according to

Ron Anders, Rabren business development director whopointed out, “The most common and biggest challenges withstadium construction are the coordination and installation of

structural components, and precast seating. All of these itemsrequire detailed shop drawings, proper planning, hoistingstrategies and excellent fabrication and delivery coordina-tion.” Dealing with cast in place concrete seating and precast

upper seating are among the challenges construction teamshave faced, as they work to complete the highly anticipatedfacility, which is located adjacent to the north Hall Streetentrance way and runs at a slight angle alongside I-85. Thescoreboard end zone, nearest I-85, is situated facing to thenorthwest. The main entrance into the stadium will eventu-ally be linked to a campus-wide pedestrian corridor. “The stadium has unique lower bowl seating effect with

artificial turf,” said Anders. “The east end zone area servesas locker rooms, media, coaches offices and a recruitinglounge and office/locker space for other athletics on campus.The south sideline area consists of club lounge space and

Alabama State University’s Transformation Continues

ALABAMA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

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

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see ASU page 2

Photo courtesy of David Campbell/ASUThe upper seating has been covered for inclement weather, giving the stadium a unique element.

October 172012

Vol. XXIV • No. 21Mobile

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SelmaMontgomery

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Page 2 • October 17, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Stadium Already Making Its Impact Felt on University

typical bathroom and concession spaces.The main concourse and entrance is locatedon the south side of the stadium facing thecampus. A retail store, kitchen, ticket andrestaurant space is adjacent to the mainentrance.” The upper levels on the south consist of

20 suite lounges, upper concession levelsand upper seating, along with a press box atthe top of the upper south sideline. The upperseating has been covered for inclementweather, giving the stadium a unique ele-ment. The east end zone foundations andstructural components were designed forfuture growth. North sidelines have typicalconcession and restroom spaces. The westend zone will be green space with an elec-tronic scoreboard above the main concourse.Heavy structural steel and precast ele-

ments were installed with two 250-ton (226t) cranes as part of the construction. Theproject is tracking to be complete byNovember 22, 2012.“The stadium is located adjacent to the

Life Sciences building. The hoisting ofstructural steel and precast was a challengein these areas, but the university has beenexcellent to work with,” Anders explained,“As you drive by the stadium you can see theupper deck, but entering the stadium fromthe main concourse and entry plaza you willexperience a field level 30 ft. below the mainconcourse. The lower field level and southsideline elements are very impressive.”Sports Turf Company Inc., was contract-

ed by Rabren to construct the synthetic foot-ball field inside the stadium.

“Sports Turf has consulted with the gener-al contractor, owners’ representatives andother site specialties to ensure that the fin-ished product will be of the highest quality,”said Sports Turf Company project managerTodd Wiggins. “Sports Turf will establishthe final subgrade for the field at a maximum0.5-percent slope from crown to fieldperimeter, install the field drainage systemthat connects into an underground detentionsystem, install the six-inch gravel rockdrainage layer and oversee the installation ofthe AstroTurf GameDay Grass, which ismanufactured and installed by AstroTurf.“We have mobilized and hope to be fin-

ished by mid-October. The work involvesgrading, drainage and synthetic field surfac-ing.”According to Wiggins, “Rabren has done

a good job of scheduling, so time is not asbig a factor as normal on this type of job. Theproject is still a fast-track project thatrequires commitment from all the contrac-tors involved, but it’s being managed veryeffectively. That is not always the case fromour perspective. The other major factorwould be weather. Rain can always impedeprogress and push a schedule.”To complete the assignment, Sports Turf

will use tractors that have been customizedto be operated utilizing laser controls, alongwith excavators, bulldozers and smoothdrum rollers.“This project will involve a combination

of Washed #57 and #89 Stone, whereapproximately 2,400 tons make up thedrainage layer. The perimeter of the field hasa collector line that is 24 inches in diameter,

and is approximately 1,300 feet long.Approximately 95,500 square feet of syn-thetic turf will be needed.”Six to ten crew members will be used for

the task, depending on what the scheduledictates.Sports Turf Company, Inc., which has

been in the business of constructing athleticfields, tracks, and tennis courts for more than20 years, is no stranger to ASU construction.“This project will mark number four for

us with Alabama State University, “ said

Wiggins. “STC finds it an honor that wewere able to be part of the team that is help-ing to improve the campus and the athleticfacilities for the university.”Dan Allman of Musco Lighting LLC,

added, “We’re providing the sports lightingsystem. The purpose of the sports lightingsystem is to provide illumination for the fieldof play and the stadium bowl. The first prod-uct was shipped in April 2012 with comple-tion scheduled for September 2012.”

Photo courtesy of David Campbell/ASUThe most common and biggest challenges with stadium construction are the coor-dination and installation of structural components, and precast seating.

Photo courtesy of David Campbell/ASUHeavy structural steel and precast elements were installed with two 250-ton (226t) cranes as part of the construction.

see ASU page 6

ASU from page 1

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • October 17, 2012 • Page 3

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Page 6 • October 17, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Alabama Family Uses Timber Framing to Build HouseBy Ana RodriguezTHE BIRMINGHAM NEWS

CHELSEA, Ala. (AP) A house built without nails. It might seem impossible to many nowadays, but at one

point, timber framing, as it is called, was standard practice.It’s seldom done anymore. But for one family in ShelbyCounty, it seemed like the perfect way to build a lakefrontguest house. When O.G. Touchstone, — Tut, as he likes to be called —

set out to build on 26 acres along the outskirts of Chelsea, heimagined a simple place: a cabin on a private lake, no elec-tricity, a wood-burning stove. “Then the girls got involved,” said Tut as he shook his

head, his boots deeply embedded in the red mud by thebuilding site. The design, said Tut, took approximately one weekend to

complete. The family — his wife, Kathy; their children,Jody, Green and Jesse; as well as Green’s wife, Erica, andJody’s husband, Nathan Orrison — all pitched in with theirideas. Soon, the simple cabin grew to be around 3,000 sq. ft.,said Tut. “I got it back down to 1,100 square feet,” Tut said. The one thing they could agree on was that they wanted it

to be unique. Six out of the seven family members aredesigners in some respect — ranging from architects to land-scape designers. Tut himself was a landscape architect beforehe retired. Jody was the first to suggest post-and-beam construction,

also known as timber framing. Jesse, the youngest son whowill be the primary occupant of the house, suggested thedog-trot design, including a breezeway open to the roof inthe middle of the home. When searching for a builder, Tut found who he thought

was the perfect man for the job in Thomas Downs, owner ofSouthern Timber Framer LLC. Downs spent two years in

Maine learning techniques used by timber framers. After hebuilt a small timber frame during a week-long course, he washooked. “This type of construction is basically unheard of in the

South,” said Downs, as he lined up the next peg. John McGee, an engineered wood and components sales

manager at 84 Lumber in the Birmingham area who hasbeen in the construction business since 1986, said that he hasonly known of one or two buildings erected with traditionaltimber framing techniques. “That’s very rare,” McGee said when he heard about the

Shelby County project. “It’s a very unusual framing tech-nique. It’s a pretty extreme, old-school building style thatyou just don’t see anymore.” Rather than traditional sheet-rock construction with studs

and nails, the Touchstones’ construction plan entails usingheavy pine timbers connected with mortise and tenon joints.Diagonal bracing adds extra support, while wooden dowelshold the joints in place. Tongue-and-groove details, whichallow the wood floor to fit together like a puzzle, reduce theneed for metal and nails. Although he uses a computer to help with measurements,

the precision needed to ensure a smooth fit means measuringmore than twice. Downs cuts the pieces off site, creating apuzzle of sorts that he puts together on location. “I’ll measure everything for about a week and a half,” said

Downs, “and then we’ll spend another week cutting all thewood. All of it, though, will go up in about five days.” Once the frame of the structure is built, Structural

Insulating Panels will be used to create the walls of the cabin.Although the timbers will only be visible from the inside ofthe house because of the use of SIPs, the design offers a lesscomplex construction plan and better heat insulation. The unique construction will be mirrored inside by the

personal touches requested by each of the family members:

• Tut wanted a heated floor. “Brick gets too cold in thewinter,” he said. • Erica wanted window seats. “We have to listen to Erica.

She’s carrying the families’ first set of twins — my grandba-bies.” • Kathy wanted lots of windows. “If I get Kathy’s

approval, everything else will be OK,” said Tut of his wife. Tut expects the house to be livable by Thanksgiving, but

said he will probably put another year of work in before it iscompletely finished. The plans call for a 10-ft. ceiling fan, a12-ft. screened porch, a 9-ft. open porch and an outdoorshower. “I wanted it,” said Tut when asked about the outdoor

shower. “I like to take showers outside. Eventually, we’ll putsomething inside. For now, the grandkids can use a sheepand goat trough,” he said with a chuckle. Eventually, Tut said he plans on selling the remaining

land, property he and his friend, Tommy Turpin, boughtsometime in the 1980s: a total of 150 acres surrounding alake that holds 87,000 coppernose bluegill fish. He will sell one lot a year — a total of 10 lots, ranging

from four to nine acres each, eventually developing a subdi-vision that will feature estate-style homes. Tut said he willnot be involved in the building of the homes, but will havesome regulations for buyers. They won’t be allowed toremove more than 10 percent of the trees on the property, forexample. Recently, Tut sold 20 acres to the Shelby County Board of

Education where they will build a new elementary school.With the funds from that sale, Tut said he was able to beginwork on a paved road off of Highway 47 that will serve asthe main road to the subdivision. For now, the house will serve as a residence for Tut’s son,

a place for Tut to stay while he works on the property, and aplace for the family to visit, tucked away in the woods.

Library Renovations, New Residence Halls Taking ShapeAs for the different construction tasks

involved in dealing with field lighting work,Allman said, “We are providing fixtures andpole structures on the non-press box side ofthe field. The fixtures placed on the pressbox side of the field will be mounted onto acatwalk above the roof. Musco GreenGenerations series fixtures will be providedfor the event lighting. Supplemental HotRestrike fixtures also are used for providingthe stadium egress within the confines of thestadium bowl. Materials will include mainlysteel for the poles and crossarms. All enclo-sures for the electrical components are alu-minum.“Musco is extremely excited to be

involved in the stadium project. With theconclusion of the stadium construction,Musco will have product on football, base-ball, softball and intramural facilities atASU.”Lawrence pointed out, “The budget for

the stadium is $62 million and will have tick-et sales of 26,500. The stadium has spaceavailable to expand to seating for 50,000.This facility is scheduled for completionprior to the ‘Turkey Day Classic’ onNovember 22, 2012. This ball game isbetween Alabama State University andTuskegee University. This will be the firsthome game in their own stadium for ASU.”The new ASU Football Complex and

Weight Room was overseen by McWhorterConstruction, Anniston, Ala., and IngramConstruction, Montgomery, Ala. The pro-gram budget for the entire facility wasapproximately $7.5 million. The IntramuralField/Baseball Complex Project and SoftballComplex were headed by RabrenContracting and Platinum Construction,Birmingham, Ala. The total program budgetfor these two projects was $5.7 million.Other projects being designed, under con-

struction or already completed on the ASUcampus include the new $30 million,

250,000 sq.-ft. Ralph David Abernathy Hall— the second largest construction project inthe history of the university, the Sky Loungerenovation, Benson Hall demolition,Acadome conference room renovation, theLevi Watkins library addition, a new resi-dential complex and a $25 million StudentServices Center, which houses registration,admissions, student services and S.G.A.offices. The Center also offers a cyber café,bookstore, post office, computer lab, foodcourt, ballroom and theater.Additions to and renovation of the Levi

Watkins Library cost roughly $21.7 million.The Student Services Center features anInternet Café, meeting rooms, a small audi-torium and study rooms designed for under-graduate and graduate students. The renova-tions also include a courtyard and anenlarged area to store writings pertaining tothe Civil Rights Movement. The makeoveris an addition of 60,500 sq. ft. to the existing87,000-sq.-ft. building.

Also included in the ASU transformationare two new residence halls. Each buildinghas suite-style rooms, computer labs, groupstudy rooms, common areas and laundryfacilities at a cost of approximately $15 mil-lion. At 80,000 sq. ft. each, they will accom-modate 500 students.Founded in 1867, in Marion, Ala., ASU is

one of the oldest institutes of higher learningthat was established as a school for African-Americans. With students of all races cur-rently enrolled at ASU, the school offersdozens of undergraduate and graduatedegree programs. Close to 6,000 studentsattend ASU, which lists among its alumnicivil rights pioneers Reverend Ralph DavidAbernathy and Reverend FredShuttlesworth.

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

ASU from page 2

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • October 17, 2012 • Page 7

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