The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Maine handed out the Annual Build Maine Awards to six Maine Contractors in April. The awards ceremony was held at the Augusta Civic Center in conjunction with the Annual Construction Exposition. Matt Marks, Chief Executive Officer of AGC Maine, said the awards “showcase the achievements of Maine contractors in completing large and complicated projects that meet the needs of clients and the local community while respecting the environment.”
AGC Maine conducts the Build Maine Awards competition each year at this time. Entries are judged on contribution to the community; innovation in construction techniques or materials; meeting the challenge of a difficult job; environmental sensitivity; responsiveness to client needs and customer satisfaction; and safety.
Cianbro Corp. of Pittsfield with WBRC Architects of Bangor won the Building Renovation award for the renovation of the former Cumberland County Civic Center. Now known as the Cross Insurance Arena, the award was given for the project’s contribution to the State of Maine, the City of Portland, its representation of what Maine Companies can achieve, and the project team’s accomplishments in the areas of safety and productivity. The Cross Insurance Arena is a newly renovated 118,400 square-foot facility, with 37,800 square-feet of arena additions and convention center, constructed with over 220,000 safe hours including zero lost time injuries. The Cross Insurance Arena Renovation Project was completed on schedule and under budget.
CPM Constructors of Freeport won this year’s Special Community Service Award for its work in recruiting and coordinating a group of Maine contractors to donate their services, equipment and manpower to rebuild a washed out road stranding two Maine families. The project also won a 2015 “AGC in the Community” Award from AGC of America, and was recognized at the AGC Annual Convention in San Juan, P.R.
The reconstruction of Turkey Ridge Road in Freeport, Maine was a remarkable instance where members of Maine’s engineering and construction industries – including seven members of AGC Maine – were able to come together on short notice for a three-day “power-build” at the busiest time of the construction year to help neighbors who were in distress.
Gorham Sand & Gravel took first place in the Municipal/Utility category for the construction of the South Portland Sewer Separation project. This diverse, complex, and innovative project presented Gorham Sand & Gravel (GSG) with many challenges. The scope of work included the installation of a new separated storm drain system on ten streets in the Thornton Heights area of South Portland. New sanitary sewers were also installed on six of these streets. The work also included the installation of new water mains, services and appurtenances for Portland Water District in Main Street (U.S. Route 1), Carignan Avenue, Gerry Avenue and Tremont Street. The work included areas of street edge-to-edge pavement removal, shimming and re-paving, new slipform concrete curbing and bituminous sidewalks.
The project also included the construction of a 2-acre multi-cell subsurface gravel wetland storm-water detention basin with landscaping and under drained soil filter storm-water treatment practices. This is the first one installed by the City of South Portland, and it goes well above the existing requirements for storm-water detention basins.
Landry/French Construction of Scarborough, a new AGC Member, took first place in the Building Category for the construction of the new State of Maine Office Building in South Portland. The project overcame many challenges, had a positive impact on the State of Maine and the City of South Portland, and was completed in record time.
The new 88,000 sq. ft., two-story State of Maine Office building constructed by Landry/French represents a significant contribution to the Greater Portland community in the way social services are delivered to citizens. Prior to the construction of this new facility, residents had to go to as many as four different locations to receive the services needed. The new building consolidates under one roof the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Veterans’ Services, and the Career Service Center, which saves the State of Maine more than $23 million. This fast-track project included a number of innovations in construction techniques including the off-site fabrication of the shell of the building. This “panelized construction” technique enabled Landry/French to complete the framing, waterproofing, sheathing and window installation all at one time.
Sargent Corporation of Stillwater took top honors in the Municipal/Environmental Category for the final closure of the Presque Isle Landfill. The project required the design, permit approval and construction of a landfill capping system for the closure of 9.2 acres of a municipal landfill and the modification of the exiting landfill gas collection system, as required by DEP in the landfill operating agreement with the City. The existing interim cap on the Phase 1 landfill had infiltration issues and the existing leachate collection system was compromised and needed to be replaced. The options were to place a temporary closure system which would have a limited life or to construct a permanent closure system at a significantly higher cost.
Sargent Corporation was selected to work with CES of Brewer on the final design and to provide input on constructability. A Design-Build contract agreement was developed and executed between the City and the CES-Sargent joint venture. With the use of the “Design-Build” method, the entire design, approval and construction took only seven months, where normally it could take between one to two years.
Scott Construction of Portland won the first place award in the Bridge Category for the Mill District Pedestrian Bridge between the cities of Saco and Biddeford. The project involved the construction of a two-span prefabricated pedestrian bridge extending from Biddeford to Saco over the Saco River. An eight ft. wide, 130 ft. span extended across the Saco River, and a second 35-foot span extended from the bridge pier on the Saco side to the existing mezzanine level of a renovated mixed-use mill building with occupied commercial and residential space. The project also included partial demolition of the concrete abutments and bridge piers followed by modifications and construction of the abutments and piers to support the bridge; installation of a stairway; removal of the existing utility bridge; and earthwork, paving, site lighting, bridge railings and other incidental work.
Chartered in 1951, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Maine is the state’s largest construction industry trade association. The Association maintains an office in Augusta and has 180 members statewide. Member companies include general contractors, sub-contractors, and service and supply providers. For more information visit www.agcmaine.org