Construction Today 2018 - Volume 16, Issue 3 - 116
Commercial | AUSTIN COMMERCIAL - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CENTRAL TEXAS HERITAGE HALL The multi-purpose facility will cover approximately 65,000 gross square feet. there's a monitor up there that allows sunshine and natural light to come through." The lobby will feature a grand staircase as well as bridges on each floor. "There also will be a lot of nice finishes, plaster and Setting Standards Austin Industries has a safety record that is 85 percent higher than the national average in its industry. "Our management team, both in the field and at the highest levels of our corporate leadership, asserts remarkable accountability for safety - our benchmark for evaluating job performance and project success," it says. The company requires safety execution plans and job safety checklists on all of its projects. "Our ability to avoid unsafe conditions and lost-time accidents is largely a result of extensive training and excellent safety practices," it says. Austin Industries also has safety professionals and staff members visit its jobsites to ensure its employee-owners have implemented training and safe practices. "Employee-owners are empowered to stop work if they see an unsafe act and correct it," the company says. "Safety performance is managed, measured and required on a project-wide basis," Austin Industries adds. "We recognize and reward excellence among our employee owners, as well as our subcontractors." 116 CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3 « millwork," Risien says, noting that the exterior also will provide spaces for students. Located in Killeen's hill country, Heritage Hall will have an amphitheater where students can meet with friends and hold events. "The grounds also are going to be heavily landscaped and really nice," he adds. Although the university is not aiming for LEED certification on Heritage Hall, it will aim for efficiency. These features include a rain collection system and cistern tank for irrigation. "That's pretty green," Risien says. Up to the Task Building a project on campuses while classes are still in session can be challenging, but Austin Commercial has been up to the task. By capturing the whole site with construction fencing, "It hasn't been a problem," Risien says. "We've always been aware that the students and faculty are there." 'They wanted a building that engaged the students and kept them on campus.' The company also has worked on a site with open spaces, which gives it plenty of room to work while students safely commute to classes. "There's a lot of room out there," he says. Austin Commercial's largest challenge on the project has been Mother Nature, Risien notes. The company coped from late winter