< PreviousWhile Celtic Sheet Metal has built its reputation providing a range of services in ductwork for large scale HVAC projects as well as sheet metal, the company has recently pushed itself furthering, venturing into airside projects such as fans and air-conditioning. With such a wealth of experience and industry knowledge, it is no surprise that this has resulted in some outstanding projects, such as the Jacob Javits Center and the Performing Arts Centre in New York. The Jacob Javits Center was a 1.2 million square foot expan- sion of the pre-existing New York City Convention Centre, handled by Project Manager, Conor Murphy. The project involved the addition of a four-story truck parking lot, which now allows for off-street loading and unloading. As Murphy shares, the result of this project has been a huge benefit to the surrounding area. “The number of deliveries that the convention center receives could block off traffic in the city for hours, but a multi-story parking lot allows for freedom of movement, both for deliveries and traffic’. There were aes- thetic additions as part of the project as well, such as large ballrooms, meeting spaces, and the rooftop garden. For this project Celtic Sheet Metal provided the full HVAC installa- tion, air-conditioning equipment, duct-work and worked with sub-contractors for the installation and piping. “Celtic Sheet Metal provided the full HVAC installation, air- conditioning equipment, duct-work and worked with sub-contractors for the installation and piping.” | 50 JULY 2023The More Rewarding Way to Manage Risk | alliant.com CA License No. 0C36861 © 2023 Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. Andrew Stergiou, Executive Vice President 347-330-7792 | astergiou@alliant.com For more information, contact us today: Congratulations Celtic Sheet Metal, Inc. Another of Celtic Sheet Metal’s standout projects is the Performing Arts Centre, which is located at the base of the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Centre. According to Din- negan, it’s a huge transit area. Additionally, with multiple trains coming into the Oculus Centre every day, it is very much prime real estate. The building itself is hugely intricate with one of the largest machine rooms that Celtic Sheet Metal had ever worked with, as well as multiple theatres throughout the build- ing which are both acoustically and light sensitive. Because of the history of the site, the project was a tremendous under- taking with an emphasis on structural integrity, safety, and consideration of its history. It was a ‘tremendous, tremendous undertaking’ for the company, and something that Celtic Sheet Metal takes immense pride in being a part of. | 51 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION The consideration and effort that Celtic Sheet Metal puts into all of its projects does not go unnoticed by the local com- munity. While credit is not its sole motivator, it is heartening to hear that Celtic Sheet Metal was awarded the High Wire Gold Safety Award last year. According to Von Dollen, this award is testament to the tweaks the company has made with regards to safety in recent years. While he agrees that the company has always valued safety highly, he feels that in the past, the company had work to do to ensure these strat- egies were executed successfully. “When I came onboard in 2018 as the Safety Director, there were great safety proce- dures in place but much of that workload fell in the hands of the project managers, while they were already in charge of projects and focusing on all the other tasks that being on a job site entail.” One of the first initiatives was to install a figurehead of sorts, someone that could not only take some of that burden off the project managers but work with other types of employees and their unique safety concerns at work. Van Dollen’s first concern was eradicating minor and avoid- able injuries in the workplace, so when he came in, he was able to upgrade regular job site PPE such as gloves, sleeves, and safety glasses. This was achieved through creating open lines of communication throughout the staff. The result was immediate. By listening to its employees, the company was able to get an understanding for where minor injuries or inconveniences were stemming from. | 52 JULY 2023Once the trials of new safety equipment had taken place, Celtic Sheet Metal brought in better fitting gloves, while adding helmets and individual safety harnesses into its repertoire. Von Dollen credits the company’s management team with giving him ‘total free rein’ to bring in or trial any type of safety equipment he felt was appropriate. Tellingly, he notes that, in the five years that he has been with Celtic Sheet Metal, not once has he been questioned on his deci- sions around procurement of safety gear or the addition of safety procedures. Beyond just affording its employees total safety however, Celtic Sheet Metal also goes to great lengths to support its locality by partnering with its employees and local organiza- tions to give back to families and communities in need. As a family-owned business, the importance of supports the local community is paramount. In addition to sizable charity dona- tions during the holidays, Celtic Sheet Metal often reaches out to community organizations, putting together ticket pack- ages, gift cards, family dinners and toys and clothing for kids. The reason for this is simple. Celtic Sheet Metal is acutely aware that without its community’s support it wouldn’t be where it is, so it reciprocates that support in kind. This sense of community extends across various other platforms also. Celtic Sheet Metal prides itself on wonderful working relationships and building ongoing partnerships. This is most evident in its relationship with PowerPak, who provide safety and job site supplies to the company regu- larly. The relationship began a number of years ago, formed through its shared history having once worked from offices in the same complex. In addition to that, however, the speed and consistency with which PowerPak can to Celtic Sheet Metal is highly beneficial. Von Dollen, Murphy and Dinnegan confirm that they can always rely on Celtic’s PowerPak rep- resentative to process and deliver Celtic’s orders quickly, efficiently and with care. With professional relationships like these, it’s no wonder that Celtic Sheet Metal has flourished as a company. However, it would be disingenuous to suggest that the company has reached this point through networking and relationship build- ing. At the heart of this company is a strong belief in the value of work ethic. By maintaining its focus on provision and con- sistency, this company is excelling. Having recently reached a quarter of a century in business, the evidence is there for all to see. Celtic Sheet Metal works hard for its staff, its collabo- rators, and its clients. With these ideals front and center, the company is sure to continue growing in the coming years. | 53 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL I t goes without saying that in the construction indus- try, waste is not welcome. With rising costs and the drive to create a more circular economy, the concept of materials ending up in landfill is not a palatable one. C&D (construction and demolition) waste includes a vast array of material. Steel, wood products, drywall and plaster, brick and clay tile, asphalt shingles, concrete, and asphalt concrete. These materials are unfortunately end up landfill, deriving from construction projects and sec- tors such as buildings, roads, and bridges. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, latest figures show that the C&D sector accounts for an astonishing 600 million tons of debris and waste every year. For an industry that is trying to change public perception and be seen as net positive contributors to the growing climate emergency, statistics such as these aren’t helpful. However shocking these figures may seem, headline statistics may not be the fairest method of passing judgement on a sector. In fact, if we drill down into the industry, changes are taking place in a variety of forms. Calls for the use of sustainable materials are growing by the day and environmentally friendly methods are gath- ering speed across the industry. The construction world is, despite the narrative that plays out in some quarters, playing its part. | 54 JULY 2023| 55 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAs with anything however, more can always be done. As we find ourselves in an industry that is no longer happy to accept carbon neutral, carbon negative has now become the goal in terms of generating emissions. So, with that in mind, where does material waste fit into the conversation? Within an industry where deadlines and efficiency are a core feature, it is interesting to note that unlike most other aspects of a successful business, the key may be found by simply slowing down. The United States is in the midst of a housing crisis. With widespread acceptance of this and stakeholders from every industry holding opinions on how it should be tackled, the market is not in a good place. However, the incredible truth is that despite this, hundreds of thousands of homes are demol- ished every year. The reasons for this are a combination of safety, location, and trends. Unfortunately, some homes are no longer fit for purpose. While this may be a bitter pill that we need to swallow, we can look for the potential positives. With these demolition projects racking up the aforementioned 600 million tons of debris each year, some can be salvaged. Unfortunately, by its nature, the process leaves much of these materials unusable. While concrete can indeed be recycled, a significant amount, some 145 million tons, also ends up in landfill. So, in an uneven landscape, where are the positives? The Birch Group is a Minneapolis non-profit construction company that specializes in the sustainable reuse sector. Having amassed a huge amount of experience across all facets of construction, the company is currently working on growing the number of clients that avail of its Deconstruction service. This process is not merely a token nod to sustainable practices, either. The company identifies savings for each client, explaining that by prioritizing ‘waste diversion’, resi- dential, commercial, and mixed-use renovation projects can yield significant cost savings. “With 27 years of experience in rehabilitating dilapidated residential, commercial, and mixed- use properties, we have an in-depth understanding of the expenses involved in property renovation, remodeling, and redevelopment. Our exceptional expertise in building material reuse makes us unparalleled in waste diversion initiatives.” Deconstruction is a term that can often be mistakenly grouped with Demolition services. While essentially, the result is the same on the ground, the process and benefits are markedly different. In fact, according to the Birch Group, the impact of deconstruction goes much further. “Our pur- pose is to revive and reinvigorate materials that have reached the end of their useful life, while also fostering a sustainable future for all. Through our work, we aim to revive commu- nities, promote environmental protection, and create job opportunities through workforce development.” By taking a considered and skilled position, each project is approached with care and planning. Birch Group describes its process in three parts, with decon- struction standing alongside the pre- and post- stages. From site visits and comprehensive inventories to Environmental Impact Reports and grant application documents, everything is covered. It is what happens during the deconstruction pro- cess itself that holds the most benefit for clients though. Led by experienced carpenters, the team carefully removes all identified reusable materials. At the helm is deconstruction expert, Petrina Rhines. | 56 JULY 2023Having completed a carpentry apprenticeship three years ago, Rhines decided to pursue a more innovative approach to the reimagining of the city’s decaying buildings. By picking apart each building, removing materials in a manner that leaves them in reusable condition, the projects are disassem- bled, rather than flattened. In addition to that, the materials are then sold by the Scrapbox Salvage store, a non-profit sal- vage company that aims to “reclaim and harvest everything from lights, flooring, windows, doors and more for resell to the public.” With a new inventory arriving in store each week and assistance with accessing tax savings and installation grants, the store is proving to be a huge hit. This partnership stems from a shared view of how materials should be treated. Instead of bulldozing, we should slow down a little and look at what we are doing. According to Rhines, the reason for setting up Birch Group is a simple yet vital one. “Essentially, we’re trying to keep as much trash out of the waste stream as possible. We’re doing all of this by hand too, so we’re also reducing a lot of pollutants that would go into the air.” While deconstruction by hand certainly has its benefits in terms of salvageable materials and environmental practices, it may not be the most effective tool to combat 600 million tons of waste. Thankfully, that is where education comes in. With a staff of 25 and growing, Birch Group is certainly seeing its message spread locally. By sharing information about the process even further, the hope is that it may catch on to become something remarkable. Birch Group has struck up a partnership with Hennepin County and Reuse Minne- sota, a professional network to advance the reuse sector, offering workshops and presentations to a number of local high-schools. By reaching the community at a younger age, Rhines is hopeful that things will change over time. Only one year in, Rhines and Birch Group are changing the narrative. While it may still be early days, it seems that deconstruction and the benefits that come from it could potentially be life-changing in more ways than one. “The training for deconstruction careers is short. You can learn on the job and get started in a career in a short period of time. College isn’t for everyone, and we are just showing students that there are other opportunities out there. More than anything though, we’re trying to catch them while they’re young and instill in them sustainable business prac- tices. Hopefully they will carry that sustainability mindset through their lifetime, and they will become lifelong learners within the sustainability world.” www.thebirchgroup.org | 57 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY MANUELA ARMINI W ith technology and innovation making giant strides forward every year, it seems logical that many work- ers will fear for the future of their roles. As AI capa- bilities continue to develop and grow, there is a worry across the industry that robotic automation might replace workers in both factories and manufacturing plants. The reality, however, is far from it. In fact, it is extremely encouraging. With robots performing simple repetitive tasks, employees can instead have the opportunity to upskill, advance and ultimately take on better-paid positions. This is the philosophy at Americase Fabrication & Construction (AFC), an AISC Certified steel fabrication company based in Ennis, Texas. For Cole Morgan, President of AFC, automation, and robotics are a resource that should be welcomed throughout the industry. Morgan explains how automation has been crucial to the success of AFC and as a result, it has enabled the company to open new positions. "It has allowed us to continue adding high-paid, high-skilled jobs, because we can now get more business by allowing robots to do the unskilled work." A relatively young company, AFC's vision is to create opportunities for personal growth, enabling its dedicated workforce to develop their skillset and pursue career advancement. AFC opened its doors in October 2017 as a sheet metal shop in partnership with Americase LLC, a precision aluminum manufacturer based in Waxahachie, Texas. | 58 JULY 2023While the partnership has proved to be a huge success, reach- ing the start point was not always smooth sailing for Morgan. Having owned and sold a hot dip galvanizing company in Big Spring, TX, his aim was to pivot into the steel fabrication sec- tor. A potential steel fabricator acquisition proved a frustrating endeavor until a chance conversation with a high school friend – who happened to be the owner of Americase LLC — resulted in the foundation of a steel manufacturing company. Equipped with a laser and press brake, AFC initially oper- ated out of a 3000-square-foot facility. Year after year, the company multiplied in size until, in January 2019, the company’s continued growth meant that it would require a larger premises. The following year, while producers across the country were being forced to shut down, the demand for solar canopy producers and installers was skyrocket- ing. Despite stringent restrictions that were put in place in other states, Texas-based AFC was permitted to continue. The company took advantage of this and began producing and installing both parking garage tops and ground-mount solar carports and canopies. As Morgan explains, this period in the company’s history has huge significance in terms of its current status. "We had always doubled in size each year, but the canopy business really jump-started our structural steel fabrication. In 2021, we purchased a much larger 80,000 square foot facility in Ennis, Texas, and set up our subsidiary company, AFC Solar, which completes installations in the field for the solar canopies." | 59 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >