Alabama 01 2014

By Cindy RileyCEG CORRESPONDENTThe latest school to open its doors in Tuscaloosa, Ala., is

teaching students both academic and job skills, while alsoproviding a safe place to gather during emergencies. A ribbon cutting was held for Tuscaloosa Career &

Technology Academy (TCTA), a 120,000 sq. ft. (11,148 sqm) $25 million dollar facility that includes six interconnect-ed buildings and a shelter that has its own power supply,backup generator and HVAC system.“Watching the dream unfold was amazing,” said TCTA

principal Kathleen Hughston. “It was an overall sense ofrejuvenation, to say the least. Although there were glitchesalong the way, and even adjustments currently being made,the facility is one the Tuscaloosa community should beextremely pleased and proud to support. The response to thenew school has been very positive from all perspectives,including business and industry, students and parents.” Located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard — the for-

mer site of Westlawn Middle School — TCTA providesenrollees with various college and career prepcourses of study, using state-of-the-art technologyand equipment. Described as a “working build-ing,” TCTA features classroom walls made ofsheetrock so they can be torn down and rebuilteasily. The revamped, skill-based curriculum focuses

on finance, engineering, transportation, buildingservices, media production, cosmetology, publicsafety, human services and medical sciences. Tohelp students better train, a mock fire departmentwas constructed on campus, along with a simu-lated hospital ward, complete with life-size man-nequins for training purposes.Cody Strickland, superintendent of construc-

tion manager Harrison Construction CompanyInc., said work began in spring of 2011, startingwith demolition work. “This involved asbestos abatement, moving

the city school board out of the building, thendoing the demolition with the use of large exca-vators and dump trucks,” said Strickland. “Wealso had to build an underground retention systemto control storm water run-off, and had to con-struct a building pad for the new school.”Major equipment used at the job site included John Deere

excavators, John Deere backhoes, lulls and Caterpillar skidsteers. Materials included concrete, steel, brick, metal sidingand metal roofing.

“Carrying out this project was actually fairly easy,because everything was coordinated very well with thearchitects and the contractors on site,” said Strickland. “Thebiggest challenges were the schedule and the safe room. Themost difficult task was scheduling the storm shelter with the

adjoining building to make them all come together at differ-ent stages.”TCTA’s campus is far from conventional, with a modern

design that suits students’ varied needs. The shop areas arebuilt with mostly CMU block and metal trusses and includethe automotive shop/classroom, masonry shop/classroom,electrical shop/classroom, welding shop/classroom and car-pentry shop/classroom. The classroom wing is a two-storybuilding made from steel on metal deck and concrete.Hughston believes the new structure comes at the right

time.“The previous building was built in 1969. The technolog-

ical demands of the equipment needed to properly preparestudents for the transition to college and or careers necessi-tated costly facility updates. Additionally, the old locationdid not provide space to grow new programs and expandcurrent programs. With the passage of PLAN 2020, the tim-ing seemed right to initiate a facility that created an environ-ment that not only met the needs for preparing students forpost-secondary programs for today, but would also have theflexibility to adapt to the ever-changing needs for the future. “In order to reflect the overall idea of college and career

TCTA Facilitates Learning, Keeps Students Safe

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 TCTA page 6

Harrison Construction photoCrews grade a gravel pad in front of the fire house toget ready for the fire truck dedication ceremony.

Harrison Construction photoCrews grade the dirt to pour a new sidewalk in front of theschool that ties into an existing sidewalk.

January 82014

Vol. XXV • No. 1Mobile

Dothan

Auburn

Anniston

Gadsden

HuntsvilleFlorence

Decatur

BirminghamBessemer

Tuscaloosa

SelmaMontgomery

Phenix City

65

65

65

65

10

85

20

20

59

59

565

220

72

31

231

43

78

5

72

431

280

82

231

31

43

80

82

231

84

84

52

431

331

45

98

84

82

CEG CORRESPONDENT

The latest school to open its doors in Tuscaloosa, Ala., isteaching students both academic and job skills, while alsoproviding a safe place to gather during emergencies.

A ribbon cutting was held for Tuscaloosa Career &Technology Academy (TCTA), a 120,000 sq. ft. (11,148 sqm) $25 million dollar facility that includes six interconnect-ed buildings and a shelter that has its own power supply,backup generator and HVAC system.

“Watching the dream unfold was amazing,” said TCTAprincipal Kathleen Hughston. “It was an overall sense ofrejuvenation, to say the least. Although there were glitchesalong the way, and even adjustments currently being made,the facility is one the Tuscaloosa community should beextremely pleased and proud to support. The response to thenew school has been very positive from all perspectives,including business and industry, students and parents.”

Located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard — the for-mer site of Westlawn Middle School — TCTA providesenrollees with various college and career prepcourses of study, using state-of-the-art technologyand equipment. Described as a “working build-ing,” TCTA features classroom walls made ofsheetrock so they can be torn down and rebuilteasily.

The revamped, skill-based curriculum focuseson finance, engineering, transportation, buildingservices, media production, cosmetology, publicsafety, human services and medical sciences. Tohelp students better train, a mock fire departmentwas constructed on campus, along with a simu-lated hospital ward, complete with life-size man-nequins for training purposes.

Cody Strickland, superintendent of construc-tion manager Harrison Construction CompanyInc., said work began in spring of 2011, startingwith demolition work.

“This involved asbestos abatement, movingthe city school board out of the building, thendoing the demolition with the use of large exca-vators and dump trucks,” said Strickland. “Wealso had to build an underground retention systemto control storm water run-off, and had to con-struct a building pad for the new school.”

Major equipment used at the job site included John Deereexcavators, John Deere backhoes, lulls and Caterpillar skidsteers. Materials included concrete, steel, brick, metal sidingand metal roofing.

“Carrying out this project was actually fairly easy,because everything was coordinated very well with thearchitects and the contractors on site,” said Strickland. “Thebiggest challenges were the schedule and the safe room. Themost difficult task was scheduling the storm shelter with the

adjoining building to make them all come together at differ-ent stages.”

TCTA’s campus is far from conventional, with a moderndesign that suits students’ varied needs. The shop areas arebuilt with mostly CMU block and metal trusses and includethe automotive shop/classroom, masonry shop/classroom,electrical shop/classroom, welding shop/classroom and car-pentry shop/classroom. The classroom wing is a two-storybuilding made from steel on metal deck and concrete.

Hughston believes the new structure comes at the righttime.

“The previous building was built in 1969. The technolog-ical demands of the equipment needed to properly preparestudents for the transition to college and or careers necessi-tated costly facility updates. Additionally, the old locationdid not provide space to grow new programs and expandcurrent programs. With the passage of PLAN 2020, the tim-ing seemed right to initiate a facility that created an environ-ment that not only met the needs for preparing students forpost-secondary programs for today, but would also have theflexibility to adapt to the ever-changing needs for the future.

“In order to reflect the overall idea of college and career

TCTA Facilitates Learning, Keeps Students Safe

ALABAMA STATE EDITION

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

Harrison Construction photoCrews grade a gravel pad in front of the fire house toget ready for the fire truck dedication ceremony.

Harrison Construction photoCrews grade the dirt to pour a new sidewalk in front of theschool that ties into an existing sidewalk.

Mobile

Dothan

Auburn

Anniston

Gadsden

HuntsvilleFlorence

Decatur

BirminghamBessemer

Tuscaloosa

SelmaMontgomery

Phenix City

65

65

65

65

10

85

20

20

59

59565

2 20

72

31

231

43

785

72

431

280

82

231

31

43

80

82

231

84

8452

431331

45

98

84

82

Page 2 • January 8, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

The Alabama State Department of Transportationreceived bids for transportation-related improvementprojects.Following is a list of some of the projects let.

Counties: Lowndes and MontgomeryContract ID: 20130628002Project: Planing, resurfacing, traffic stripe and countingunits on I-65 from 0.5 mi. south of SR-97 (MP 150.560) tothe relief bridge before Pintlala Creek (MP 159.886).Distance: 9.32 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $5,467,804 • APAC Mid-South Inc. — $5,636,021

County: JeffersonContract ID: 20130628005Project: I-20/59 lighting (Phase 1A) from 3700 ft. east ofthe Elton B. Stephens Expressway Interchange to 2000 ft.east of the I-20/59 split in Birmingham.Distance: 3.52 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Stone & Sons Electrical Contractors Inc. —$2,791,197

• Webster Electric Company of Mississippi Inc. —$2,868,168

County: BaldwinContract ID: 20130628022Project:Widening, resurfacing, bike lane addition and traf-fic stripe on CR-4 (Cotton Creek Drive) from the intersec-tion of SR-59 to Cotton Creek Bridge in Gulf Shores.Distance: 2.26 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC— $1,914,538• Roads Inc. of NWF — $1,921,711• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc.—

$1,926,783• Hosea O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $2,135,815

County: MontgomeryContract ID: 20130628044Project: Planing, resurfacing, traffic stripe and fiber opticand signals on W.L. Dickinson Drive from CSX Railroadto 0.23 mi. south of SR-9 (U.S.-231) including industrialaccess improvements at Maxwell AFB (Gunter Annex)Cyber Commander.Distance: 1.88 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $2,334,561• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $2,527,609• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $2,756,622

County: CoffeeContract ID: 20130628017Project: Planing, resurfacing, and traffic stripe on variousroutes.

Distance: 26.65 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $3,970,239• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $4,622,968

County: JeffersonContract ID: 20130726001Project: Pavement rehabilitation (planing, resurfacing,guardrail, traffic counting units and traffic stripe) on I-459from CR-143 (Grants Mill Road) to SR-7 (U.S.-11) nearIrondale.Distance: 5.40 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $11,426,382• Dunn Construction Company Inc. — $11,977,238• Good Hope Contracting Company Inc. —

$12,567,877

County: JeffersonContract ID: 20130726010Project:Widening, resurfacing and traffic stripe on CottonAvenue (to include a roundabout and bus bays) from 10thStreet to Lomb Avenue in Birmingham.Distance: .48 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Veterans Landscaping Company Inc. — $2,521,967• Russo Corporation — $2,693,321• Carcel & G. Construction LLC — $2,897,661

County: ClarkeContract ID: 20130726014

Project: Bridge replacements and approaches (grade,drain, base, pave and bridges) on CR-15 over BassettCreek.Distance: 1.10 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• McInnis Construction LLC — $5,986,035• Murphree Bridge Corporation — $6,089,033• T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. — $6,173,151• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $6,363,242• Newell & Bush Inc. — $6,492,457• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $6,611,543• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$6,803,391• Tanner Inc. — $6,851,003

County: Clarke

Contract ID: 20130726025Project: Bridge replacements (grade, drain, base and pave)on SR-69 over Jackson Creek.Distance: .66 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $4,128,770• McInnis Construction LLC — $4,302,099• Murphree Bridge Corporation — $4,350,886• Newell & Bush Inc. — $4,611,961• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $4,936,682• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$4,982,055• T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. — $5,066,537• Tanner Inc. — $5,256,72

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 • January 8, 2014 • Page 3

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Page 4 • January 8, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • January 8, 2014 • Page 5



Deadly Tornado Reinforces Need for Safe Room in Schoolreadiness outlined in PLAN 2020, it wasimportant to not only create programs thatmet these needs, but also a facility that mir-rored this 21st-century approach to ensuringstudents were adequately prepared with theskills needed to transition to that next step,whether a four-plus year, two-year collegepath, an apprenticeship program or directlyto work,” said Hughston. TCTA serves students, grades nine

through 12, ages 14 through 19, from allthree of the Tuscaloosa city schools’ highschools. Students from the Tuscaloosa coun-ty schools also are welcome to attend.Hughston said considerable research was

done to ensure the overall effectiveness ofthe facility, including adequate classroom,lab and storage. Each classroom and lab areais visible from the hallway, allowing busi-ness, administrators and visitors to experi-ence what is happening within the classroomwithout having to interrupt the learningprocess. The hallway visibility is a means tointroduce students and guests to programareas they may not have been familiar withuntil now. In addition, the courtyard has aspacious outdoor classroom area, equippedwith sound and video technology that allowsmultiple classes to simultaneously benefitfrom various presentations and demonstra-tions. “TCTA also has its own fire house,

equipped with its own fire truck, used inconjunction with the Public Safety and FireScience program. This program is sponsoredby the partnership with the Tuscaloosa FireDepartment, and is already recognized as aflagship program throughout the state,” saidHughston. “Additional features include astate-of-the art animation, film, digital media

design suite, a health science hospital simu-lation room, a custom-created draftingdesign lab, a spa and salon suite that includesinstruction in hair, nails and therapeutic mas-sage and an eight-station automotive tech-nology lab with drive-through design.” Hughston is particularly impressed with

the school’s safe room, which reportedly canaccommodate up to 800 people. The struc-ture may be open to the public during severeweather, although the exact details are stillbeing worked out.“The discussions for needing such an area

were initiated after Enterprise High Schoolwas hit by a tornado, killing eight students.The April 27, 2011 tornado reinforced theneed,” Hughston said. “The event hall is amulti-purpose room that serves as a stormshelter that will withstand wind gusts up to250 mph. The walls are reinforced 15 inchconcrete walls secured on an eight-foot con-crete slab. “The ceiling is supported with concrete

trusses, like you’d see in interstate under-passes, with concrete slap atop the roofarea,” said Hughston. “The doors and win-dows have protective closures that furthersecure the facility. Within the security ofthese walls are restrooms and a serving areafor food. There’s a full-sized kitchen areaadjacent to the safe room, should there befood service needs due to extended shelterstays.” “We had a great opening, but we are con-

tinuing to perform work on the school tomeet the needs of the new programs,” saidJeff Johnson, executive director of facilitiesof Tuscaloosa city schools. “The school wasdesigned to be flexible, so that changes ornew programs could be added. Even theexisting programs are going through a

change from both the curriculum and equip-ment perspective.”The facility was built as a working build-

ing with exposed piping, electrical and firesprinklers, according to Johnson. This givesthe students a chance to see actual installedequipment that typically would be hiddenfrom view. In addition, since each instruc-tional space has specific needs, they had tobe custom designed. This includes cool-ing/heating, fresh air requirements, electricaland furniture requirements. WAR Construction of Tuscaloosa, Ala.,

served as the trade contractor for the generalpackage on the project. The work includedall building structures, CMU wall construc-tion, brick veneer exterior with metal studconstruction, metal roof trusses and roof sys-tem, landscaping and irrigation, bulb teesand erection, installation of doors, tubulardaylighting devices, specialties, signage,blinds and furnishings.“WAR began work once the building pads

had been established on site,” said AndrewJackson, WAR vice-president and projectmanager. “The main challenges involvedworking with all the other trades as one, inorder to complete the job on time.”

Despite owner delays and weather issues,Jackson said it was rewarding to be involvedin a project of this nature. “This is the first tech school in the state of

Alabama. It offers students everything fromwelding to singing R&B in the studios.”TCTA replaces the former Tuscaloosa

Center for Technology, which opened morethan four decades ago. A countywide one-cent sales tax initiative was the main sourceof funding for the new academy, which ispart of the Tuscaloosa city school system.Whether they’re planning to attend col-

lege or enter the workforce after high school,TCTA students are encouraged to get hands-on experience in their chosen field.Tuscaloosa City Council members, AlabamaDepartment of Education members andother elected officials were among the morethan 300 in attendance for the academy’sofficial opening. “This school is definitely a pacesetter for

our state, the southern part of the U.S. andeven the nation,” said Dr. Philip Cleveland,director of the Office of Career andTechnical Education WorkforceDevelopment at the Alabama Department ofEducation. “I have been in many parts of thenation, and I can tell you, you have a train-ing facility here that holds a candle to any-thing I’ve seen.” More than 600 students enrolled in cours-

es at TCTA for the school year that began inAugust 2013. For administrators, the newyear is filled with opportunity.“Preparing students for the next step,

whether college or career, is the ultimategoal,” said Hughston. “By aligning the pro-gram offerings with the identified workforceneeds for the next 15 to 20 years, the hope isstudents will have the skills they need to besuccessful and productive citizens of thecommunity. By meeting the demands of ourworkforce, as well as helping students findtheir fit for the future, the academy providesa 'win-win' scenario for growing and build-ing a relevant and secure workforce and aprosperous economy.”

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

TCTA from page 1

Harrison Construction photoCrews install gutters and downspouts on the building.

Harrison Construction photoAn excavator is used to place the air handler units forthe school on the concrete pads.

Harrison Construction photoCrews put in the curb and gutter in the front parkinglot of the school.


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

Following is a list of some of the projects let.

20130628002 Planing, resurfacing, traffic stripe and countingunits on I-65 from 0.5 mi. south of SR-97 (MP 150.560) tothe relief bridge before Pintlala Creek (MP 159.886). 9.32 mi.

• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $5,467,804 • APAC Mid-South Inc. — $5,636,021

20130628005 I-20/59 lighting (Phase 1A) from 3700 ft. east ofthe Elton B. Stephens Expressway Interchange to 2000 ft.east of the I-20/59 split in Birmingham. 3.52 mi.

• Stone & Sons Electrical Contractors Inc. —$2,791,197

• Webster Electric Company of Mississippi Inc. —$2,868,168

20130628022Widening, resurfacing, bike lane addition and traf-fic stripe on CR-4 (Cotton Creek Drive) from the intersec-tion of SR-59 to Cotton Creek Bridge in Gulf Shores. 2.26 mi.

• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC— $1,914,538• Roads Inc. of NWF — $1,921,711• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc.—

$1,926,783• Hosea O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $2,135,815

20130628044 Planing, resurfacing, traffic stripe and fiber opticand signals on W.L. Dickinson Drive from CSX Railroadto 0.23 mi. south of SR-9 (U.S.-231) including industrialaccess improvements at Maxwell AFB (Gunter Annex)Cyber Commander. 1.88 mi.

• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $2,334,561• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $2,527,609• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $2,756,622

20130628017 Planing, resurfacing, and traffic stripe on variousroutes.

26.65 mi.

• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $3,970,239• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $4,622,968

20130726001 Pavement rehabilitation (planing, resurfacing,guardrail, traffic counting units and traffic stripe) on I-459from CR-143 (Grants Mill Road) to SR-7 (U.S.-11) nearIrondale. 5.40 mi.

• APAC Mid-South Inc. — $11,426,382• Dunn Construction Company Inc. — $11,977,238• Good Hope Contracting Company Inc. —

$12,567,877

20130726010Widening, resurfacing and traffic stripe on CottonAvenue (to include a roundabout and bus bays) from 10thStreet to Lomb Avenue in Birmingham. .48 mi.

• Veterans Landscaping Company Inc. — $2,521,967• Russo Corporation — $2,693,321• Carcel & G. Construction LLC — $2,897,661

20130726014

Bridge replacements and approaches (grade,drain, base, pave and bridges) on CR-15 over BassettCreek. 1.10 mi.

• McInnis Construction LLC — $5,986,035• Murphree Bridge Corporation — $6,089,033• T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. — $6,173,151• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $6,363,242• Newell & Bush Inc. — $6,492,457• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $6,611,543• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$6,803,391• Tanner Inc. — $6,851,003

20130726025 Bridge replacements (grade, drain, base and pave)on SR-69 over Jackson Creek. .66 mi.

• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $4,128,770• McInnis Construction LLC — $4,302,099• Murphree Bridge Corporation — $4,350,886• Newell & Bush Inc. — $4,611,961• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $4,936,682• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$4,982,055• T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. — $5,066,537• Tanner Inc. — $5,256,72

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


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Volvo Construction Equipment

YOU’RE ABOUT UPTIME, FUEL EFFICIENCY AND COMFORT.THAT’S SMART.

Smart Works.Birmingham, AL205-841-6666Mobile, AL

251-633-4020Montgomery, AL334-262-6642

Huntsville / Decatur, AL256-350-0006Oxford, AL

256-832-5053Pensacola, FL850-479-3004

www.cowin.com




Deadly Tornado Reinforces Need for Safe Room in Schoolreadiness outlined in PLAN 2020, it wasimportant to not only create programs thatmet these needs, but also a facility that mir-rored this 21st-century approach to ensuringstudents were adequately prepared with theskills needed to transition to that next step,whether a four-plus year, two-year collegepath, an apprenticeship program or directlyto work,” said Hughston.

TCTA serves students, grades ninethrough 12, ages 14 through 19, from allthree of the Tuscaloosa city schools’ highschools. Students from the Tuscaloosa coun-ty schools also are welcome to attend.

Hughston said considerable research wasdone to ensure the overall effectiveness ofthe facility, including adequate classroom,lab and storage. Each classroom and lab areais visible from the hallway, allowing busi-ness, administrators and visitors to experi-ence what is happening within the classroomwithout having to interrupt the learningprocess. The hallway visibility is a means tointroduce students and guests to programareas they may not have been familiar withuntil now. In addition, the courtyard has aspacious outdoor classroom area, equippedwith sound and video technology that allowsmultiple classes to simultaneously benefitfrom various presentations and demonstra-tions.

“TCTA also has its own fire house,equipped with its own fire truck, used inconjunction with the Public Safety and FireScience program. This program is sponsoredby the partnership with the Tuscaloosa FireDepartment, and is already recognized as aflagship program throughout the state,” saidHughston. “Additional features include astate-of-the art animation, film, digital media

design suite, a health science hospital simu-lation room, a custom-created draftingdesign lab, a spa and salon suite that includesinstruction in hair, nails and therapeutic mas-sage and an eight-station automotive tech-nology lab with drive-through design.”

Hughston is particularly impressed withthe school’s safe room, which reportedly canaccommodate up to 800 people. The struc-ture may be open to the public during severeweather, although the exact details are stillbeing worked out.

“The discussions for needing such an areawere initiated after Enterprise High Schoolwas hit by a tornado, killing eight students.The April 27, 2011 tornado reinforced theneed,” Hughston said. “The event hall is amulti-purpose room that serves as a stormshelter that will withstand wind gusts up to250 mph. The walls are reinforced 15 inchconcrete walls secured on an eight-foot con-crete slab.

“The ceiling is supported with concretetrusses, like you’d see in interstate under-passes, with concrete slap atop the roofarea,” said Hughston. “The doors and win-dows have protective closures that furthersecure the facility. Within the security ofthese walls are restrooms and a serving areafor food. There’s a full-sized kitchen areaadjacent to the safe room, should there befood service needs due to extended shelterstays.”

“We had a great opening, but we are con-tinuing to perform work on the school tomeet the needs of the new programs,” saidJeff Johnson, executive director of facilitiesof Tuscaloosa city schools. “The school wasdesigned to be flexible, so that changes ornew programs could be added. Even theexisting programs are going through a

change from both the curriculum and equip-ment perspective.”

The facility was built as a working build-ing with exposed piping, electrical and firesprinklers, according to Johnson. This givesthe students a chance to see actual installedequipment that typically would be hiddenfrom view. In addition, since each instruc-tional space has specific needs, they had tobe custom designed. This includes cool-ing/heating, fresh air requirements, electricaland furniture requirements.

WAR Construction of Tuscaloosa, Ala.,served as the trade contractor for the generalpackage on the project. The work includedall building structures, CMU wall construc-tion, brick veneer exterior with metal studconstruction, metal roof trusses and roof sys-tem, landscaping and irrigation, bulb teesand erection, installation of doors, tubulardaylighting devices, specialties, signage,blinds and furnishings.

“WAR began work once the building padshad been established on site,” said AndrewJackson, WAR vice-president and projectmanager. “The main challenges involvedworking with all the other trades as one, inorder to complete the job on time.”

Despite owner delays and weather issues,Jackson said it was rewarding to be involvedin a project of this nature.

“This is the first tech school in the state ofAlabama. It offers students everything fromwelding to singing R&B in the studios.”

TCTA replaces the former TuscaloosaCenter for Technology, which opened morethan four decades ago. A countywide one-cent sales tax initiative was the main sourceof funding for the new academy, which ispart of the Tuscaloosa city school system.

Whether they’re planning to attend col-

lege or enter the workforce after high school,TCTA students are encouraged to get hands-on experience in their chosen field.Tuscaloosa City Council members, AlabamaDepartment of Education members andother elected officials were among the morethan 300 in attendance for the academy’sofficial opening.

“This school is definitely a pacesetter forour state, the southern part of the U.S. andeven the nation,” said Dr. Philip Cleveland,director of the Office of Career andTechnical Education WorkforceDevelopment at the Alabama Department ofEducation. “I have been in many parts of thenation, and I can tell you, you have a train-ing facility here that holds a candle to any-thing I’ve seen.”

More than 600 students enrolled in cours-es at TCTA for the school year that began inAugust 2013. For administrators, the newyear is filled with opportunity.

“Preparing students for the next step,whether college or career, is the ultimategoal,” said Hughston. “By aligning the pro-gram offerings with the identified workforceneeds for the next 15 to 20 years, the hope isstudents will have the skills they need to besuccessful and productive citizens of thecommunity. By meeting the demands of ourworkforce, as well as helping students findtheir fit for the future, the academy providesa 'win-win' scenario for growing and build-ing a relevant and secure workforce and aprosperous economy.”

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

Harrison Construction photoCrews install gutters and downspouts on the building.

Harrison Construction photoAn excavator is used to place the air handler units forthe school on the concrete pads.

Harrison Construction photoCrews put in the curb and gutter in the front parkinglot of the school.


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