Civilian Climate Corps Local and Global Care Built on Relationships HIGHBURY CONCRETE The Best Type of Investment MOWERY CONSTRUCTION apeiron-construction.com | FEBRUARY 2023We create boundless opportunity With a wealth of experience in reporting, content creation and publishing, Apeiron Media, Inc – publisher of Apeiron Construction – was set up with a clear vision to shine a light on pioneering organizations and professionals throughout the construction industry. We take a nuanced approach to storytelling and our clients benefit from a comprehensive integrated marketing opportunity through our detailed suite of online media. Apeiron Construction delivers stories from across the industry to offer high-end, thought provoking content to our readers. Conducting fascinating in-depth interviews with industry leading Executives, Managers, Presidents and CEOs allows us to gain insight and perspective while having the privilege of telling impactful stories. Our unique approach to content creation allows us to gain expert commentary on an ever-changing industry, from the people that know it best. As a media platform, we believe that our world is boundless. We want to share this world with our clients. WWW.APEIRONMEDIAINC.COMWWW.APEIRONMEDIAINC.COMWelcome to the February issue of Apeiron Construction, our first of 2023. While the temperatures may still be low, there is a distinct feeling of newness and growth. The light is slightly brighter and it feels as though good things are around the corner. Construction is, as always, one of the first industries to recognize change. It is the litmus test for the economy and, all things considered, the signs are good. Projects are breaking ground at a phenomenal rate and companies are skillfully navigating any COVID related challenges. This month we have some fascinating stories from across the industry to share. From the development of wind energy in the coal mining homestead of West Virginia, to the micro homes that are creating tiny communities for the homeless residents of Austin, Texas. We also look at the novel ways that New York City is developing Green Construction from the ground up. Alongside all this, we continue to shine a light on some of the most innovative and skilled companies working across a number of sectors. As always, we strive to bring the best our industry has to offer. Thanks for reading! | 3 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION A note from the Editor APEIRON-CONSTRUCTION.COM APEIRONMEDIAINC.COM CHIEF EDITOR SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DIRECTOR OF SALES CREATIVE DIRECTOR DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER DAVID O’NEILL COLIN O’NEILL | MARK PETERS | PETER SWALE DARRAGH GILLIGAN | CHARLIE MCCANN GEORGIE DOWNES | CAROLINE EBBS | AOIFE CHANEY ERIC O'CALLAGHAN | EMMA KILCAWLEY HEMANI MARTIN FORAN | MANUELA ARMINI KAYLA BROWN LINDSAY BAILEY ALEX MULVEYNew York City has long been at the forefront of the green movement. From the demands placed upon businesses to retrofit buildings, to a more sustainable footing, right through to the Green New Deal which has revolutionized the way we think about sustainability, the city is pushing forward in earnest. It is therefore unsurprising that NYC is once again leading the pack in terms of green construction. Alternative energy, cooler buildings and energy neutral designs are all high on the agenda when it comes to the built environment. Buildings have long been acknowledged as the highest emitters of carbon in densely populated areas. As such, New York City has placed strict regulations on the decarbonization and modernization of its buildings. 10 Civilian Climate Corps – Local and Global Care14 Built on Relationships HIGHBURY CONCRETE 22 Green Asphalt – Infrastructure with a Circular Economy 26 Three Partners, One Rule, and a Leap of Faith EDGE GROUP 32 Building Relationships CANCRETE 38 Combining Forces in the Ontario Superstructure Market FRITZ-ALDER 42 Microhome Villages – Creating a Community from the Ground Up 46 The Best Type of Investment MOWERY CONSTRUCTION 52 The Art of Constructing Relationships ARTHUR FUNK & SONS 6 3 Positive News Stories 7 Industry Events 58 The “Skills” Needed to Build Georgia’s Construction Talent Pipeline AGC GEORGIA 64 Young, Diverse and with a Knack for Complexity NPSG DEVELOPMENT 68 Wind Energy in Coal Country 72 A Group Effort OMNIDUCT 76 When Empowerment, Commitment & Resilience are the Recipe for Success NATIONWIDE FIXTURE INSTALLATIONS 80 Growth Through Planning METCON 86 Problem Solving and Saving the World THIENEMAN CONSTRUCTION 90 Growth Built on Trust MID STATE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 96 Representing Members at the Heart of the Nation AGC OF DC 5 | APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWith all that is happening around us, it can be easy to miss some of the advancements that are being made in the construction industry. Let’s shine a light on some good news stories that are making our world a little better. AREMI In every corner of the globe, when it comes to environmental reform, we are always told to do more. The message is clear; the planet is on an unsustainable path and we humans that inhabit it are called to action. Notwithstanding the glaring omission of including large scale businesses in this conver- sation, it seems at though a crude tool is being used here. Everyone needs to recycle, everyone should live sustainably, everyone should ‘go electric’. The problem with these rigid demands is that not everyone is in a position to follow them. It is widely regarded that families experiencing unemploy- ment or poor housing solutions are in a difficult position when it comes to buying more costly, yet sustainable, foods or items. When this is viewed on a larger scale, even greater problems emerge. Recognizing the need for climate equity is a vital aspect of any initiative. The Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (AREMI) launched at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023 recently to great fanfare. Those behind the initiative, philan- thropic groups and environmental organizations, are driven to empower African countries by sharing skills, information and opportunity. “Our goal is to drive investment and mobi- lize action in African countries to scale up renewable energy manufacturing capabilities. This international Initiative will help drive the financial, technical, and socioeconomic invest- ments required to unlock the continent’s potential for up to 1.2 Terawatts of clean energy, 14 million new jobs and 6.4% growth in GDP by 2050.” www.seforall.org Wastewater Forests The idea of growing large swathes of greenery and trees in Egypt seems fanciful. The country is a staggering ninety-six percent desert and the small part of what is left has been carved up between cities and farmers. With such a large portion of the country being desert land, it could seem as though Egyptians are comfortable with the yellow and blue of sand and sky. What may not be as well known, however, is the ecological danger that these deserts possess. Deserts cover one third of the earths surface and it is estimated that they are expanding by thousands of square miles each year, taking over otherwise essential land for food and growth. So, what can be done about this? The answer is as startling as it is innovative. Trees. Through a combination of intense heat and locally sourced wastewater, Egypt’s Separium For- est is irrigated with treated wastewater and as a result, the trees have grown over three feet wide in under twenty years. According to Hossam Hammad, a Professor of agriculture at Ain Shams University in Cairo, the benefits of using this water are incredible. “The wastewater is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen,” something that has supercharged the trees. With these trees offering the ability to slow down deserti- fication as well as stopping erosion, providing shade and moisture, it seems as though the decision to use wastewa- ter has given Egypt a chance of clawing back some of that ninety-six percent. atlasofthefuture.org/project/serapium-forest | 6 FEBRUARY 2023Vision Zero As populations increase, so too do various other factors. Each one intrinsic to the balance and success of a location. The natural progression of an increased volume of people is widespread growth. Production, costs, litter, traffic; when more people arrive, they do not travel alone. It is not surprising to learn that in recent years, as the number of cars, cyclists and buses have crowded our streets even further, the number of road fatalities has also risen steadily. Across various states, figures are trending upward at an alarming rate – roadway deaths increased by 20% between 2020 and 2021. However, Jersey City is an outlier in this regard. As the only city in New Jersey to adopt Vision Zero, an international traffic safety framework that aims to eliminate road fatalities, Jersey City is succeeding where many others have failed. Incredibly, through a series of initiatives, educa- tion and innovative road design, Jersey City did not have a single road death throughout the year of 2022. While many have attempted Vision Zero, it seems that the Garden State has discovered the secret to safer roads. visionzeronetwork.org MARCH 14 – 18, 2023 | LAS VEGAS, NV conexpoconagg.com MARCH 13-16, 202 | LAS VEGAS, NV convention.agc.org abcconvention.abc.org | 7 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION“CONEXPO-CON/AGG SHOWS US THE FUTURE OF OUR INDUSTRY, WITH INNOVATION, EQUIPMENT AND IDEAS YOU CAN’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.” — GRANITEROCK, AROMAS, CA TAKING CONSTRUCTION TO THE NEXT LEVEL. MARCH 14-18 / 2023 / LAS VEGAS / NEVADA 2.7M Square Feet of Exhibits 130,000 Attendees 1,800 Exhibitors 150 Education Sessions REGISTER at conexpoconagg.com Save 20% with promo code SHOW20HERE’S HOW CONEXPO-CON/AGG IS PUTTING SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT: SUSTAINABLE TECH ON DISPLAY Across the show floor, sustainable technologies, products and practices will be on display. Here is a sampling of what will be featured: Volvo Construction Equipment has already announced they will bring several electric and autonomous pieces to their stand in the Festival Lot, including their EC230 electric excavator pilot, their Zeux autonomous concept wheel loader, and their HX04 prototype hydrogen articulated hauler. Just steps away, Caterpillar (Booth F-9127) will bring four battery electric machines as well as a series of prototype batteries for off-road equipment ranging from 48-600 volts. And may more. THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP One of the biggest sustainability efforts on the part of CONEXPO- CON/AGG directly is a newly announced partnership between the show and the Arbor Day Foundation. CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the Arbor Day Foundation are working toward planting 130,000 trees in forests of greatest need, one for every show registrant. Additionally, CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibitors and attendees can contribute to the Arbor Day Foundation’s funds, allowing them to further their goal of involving themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees around the globe. When you’re ready to get your badge and start putting together your education plan for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, register here. HERE’S A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THE COURSE OFFERINGS AT CONEXPO-CON/AGG THAT CENTER ON GROWING YOUR CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES: WHY GEN Z EATS SUSTAINABILITY FOR BREAKFAST — Dave Bolderoff, CEM [Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts] Never before in the history of mankind have there been five different generations of individuals active in the labor pool. Learn what it takes to motivate these younger workers, and how construction companies can leverage new and existing sustainability initiatives to attract them into your talent pool. BE THAT ONE GUY — Vicky O’Learly, MA [Ironworkers International] Not working to bring women onto the team excludes more than half the available talent pool from hiring efforts. This session shows construction professionals, especially business owners and leaders, what they can do to change the culture on their job sites. BUILDING BLOCKS OF AN EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT BUDGET — Richard King, CPA, CGMA, CCIFP & Kevin Reimert, CEM, STSC [Schlouch, Inc.] Even small pieces of construction equipment can be a significant capital expense. This session asks attendees if they are getting the best use out of that equipment, and how to generate the data to prove it, focusing on processes, inputs and workflows. With construction technology around sustainability significantly advancing in recent years, CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 is already set to have a tremendous focus on sustainability. “The construction industry and CONEXPO-CON/AGG are evolving in many ways to adapt and showcase sustainable technologies, products and practices supporting a more sustainable world,” said Wuesthoff. “More than ever, show attendees will see sustainability in action.” GET READY FOR CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 CONEXPO-CON/AGG has been about the business of building since the very beginning. However, companies that build are facing new headwinds when it comes to building their busi- ness and educating their leadership and staff. That’s one of the key reasons construction professionals need to attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 14-18. 2023 in Las Vegas. “The biggest value in making the trip to Vegas to come to CONEXPO-CON/AGG is learning, and I don’t mean just learn- ing about the latest and greatest equipment on display,” said CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff. “The edu- cation offerings at CONEXPO-CON/AGG continue to stand out for focusing on helping construction professionals build their skillsets and overall businesses acumen.”Next >