Masonry Magazine December 2011 Page. 42
INDUSTRY NEWS
Blend bricks, a product design used exclusively for this project. While the majority of materials used consisted of shale from the project site, kaolin from nearby areas was required in regional manufacturing as well in order to meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials.
River Bluff High School currently is on schedule to open during the summer of 2013.
UNT's Apogee Stadium Receives LEED Platinum Designation
The USGBC awarded the University of North Texas Apogee Stadium a LEED Platinum Certification, making it the first newly constructed collegiate football stadium in the nation to achieve the highest level of LEED certification.
The UNT System led the construction of the stadium, which was designed by HKS Sports and Entertainment Group and built by Manhattan Construction Co.
The UNT System commitment to building green grew from an initiative by Jackson to construct future buildings to meet or exceed the latest efficiency and environmental standards. It also supports UNT's commitment to sustainability, which was deeply underscored when it became the first large public university in Texas to sign on to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2008. There currently are three LEED Gold certified buildings on UNT System campuses: the flagship campus in Denton, UNT Dallas and the Health Science Center in Fort Worth, with two more awaiting certification.
The 31,000-seat Apogee Stadium features luxury suites, an amenity-filled club level, a Spirit Store, a corporate deck and a unique end-zone seating area. In addition to hosting UNT events, it will serve the entire North Texas region as a venue for outdoor concerts, community events, high school games and band competitions.
Apogee Stadium achieved another first, with the completion of three wind turbines that will feed the electrical grid that powers the stadium, using a $2 million grant from the State Energy Conservation Office.
Sustainable design highlights include reduced water and energy consumption, the promotion of sustainable and recycled materials, and improved indoor environmental quality.
The project team included HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, Architect; HKS DesignGreen, LEED Consultant; Manhattan Construction Co., construction manager; HKS Commercial Interiors, interior design; Smith Seckman Reid, mechanical engineer; Aguirre Roden, electrical engineer; Jaster-Quintanilla, civil engineer, Rogers Moore Engineering/Walter P Moore, structural engineers, Caye Cook & Associates, landscape architect; and Henneman Engineering, commissioning agent.
Delegates at IPAF US Convention: Stop Paying Lip Service to AWP Safety
Frank discussions on what is appropriate training for aerial work platform (AWP) operators and how to keep operators safe marked the first-ever IPAF US Convention held in November in Chicago.
Brad Boehler, Skyjack president, provided industry data and statistics that identify leading potential hazards that