Send2Press Newswire

Dallas-Based Bosworth Steel Erectors, Inc. Wins National Award for Work on New Nationals Ballpark in D.C.

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:00:07 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- It has been a very, very good spring for John Bosworth and Bosworth Steel Erectors, Inc., the steel erection company he heads. Innovators in steel construction and modification, Bosworth Steel Erectors just won class III project of the year honors at the recent SEAA Convention (Steel Erectors Association of America - www.seaa.net) for steel erection on the new Nationals Ballpark in Washington, D.C. Their work on Nationals Stadium also earned Bosworth Steel project leaders Jim Avery, David Sweeney and Kevin Ritchey 2008 Craftsmanship Awards from the prestigious Washington Building Congress (www.wbcnet.org ) awarded last week in D.C.

The 41,888-seat stadium is the new home park for the Major League baseball team, the Washington Nationals (www.nationals.mlb.com) and the centerpiece of D.C.'s massive, new Ballpark District-a billion dollar, multi-use riverfront development little more than a mile away from the U.S. Capitol. The ballpark opened officially March 30 with the home team winning the season opener 3-2 against the Atlanta Braves.

Financing for the $611 million plus project was approved in December 2004. Steel erection on the stadium began in October 2006. The skeletal design and construction was divided into nine stages, a procedure that allowed the production and installation of one section of steel framework while engineers designed the next. The last crane pulled away on June 30, 2007. At 23 months, Nationals holds the record for the shortest duration build ever attempted for a major league baseball stadium.

"We had tremendous schedule pressures and the logistical challenges of building from the inside," said Bosworth of his company's work on the stadium, "but we completed the job on time to the day." Bosworth credits the union ironworkers who worked 60-hour weeks to erect the more than 7,800 tons of structural steel that shapes the iconic and impressive, 21st century limestone and glass form of the stadium. At the peak of the project, a team of 45 ironworkers worked with two heavy lift cranes (a 330-ton and 300-ton) to put the steel structure in place in record time.

A third-generation union ironworker himself, Bosworth came up through the ranks, following his father and grandfather in that trade and commitment to union principles of being the best and doing the best.

Today Bosworth is on the owner/manager side of the equation; with revenues above $30 million, Bosworth Steel (www.bosworthsteel.com) is one of the top erectors in the U.S. Though he has scaled the heights of his industry, Bosworth has not moved away from his respect for his roots as a union ironworker. He serves as president of the Signatory Contractors Association affiliated with District Council of Texas and the Mid-South (www.ironworkerstxmidsouth.com) - the organization representing union ironworkers in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and the central Gulf Coast. The District Council is part of IMPACT - the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (www.impact-net.org) a collaborative, national initiative between the Iron Workers Union and leading construction companies, fabricators and steel erectors. The coalition focuses on enhancing the industry from quality and safety perspectives and building market opportunity for signatory contractors and union ironworkers.

Bosworth is positive about the merits of his relationship as a business owner with the labor union central to his industry. For him it is about delivering a quality product, no matter how complex the job, on time and on budget and skilled, experienced manpower is essential in that delivery. "You know," Bosworth concludes, "I don't think for one minute that I could have built a company like this and gotten it to where it is today with its financial strength or been able to build projects like DC's Nationals Stadium without the skilled labor provided by the Ironworkers."

General contractors for Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium were Clark/Hunt/Smoot - a joint venture between Clark Construction Group, LLC of Bethesda, Md., Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis and Smoot Construction of Washington, D.C., three of the nation's leading general contractors. The sports architecture firm, HOK Sport (www.hoksport.com) and Devrouax & Purnell Architects/Planners (www.dp-architects.com) in a joint venture were lead architects and designers on the stadium complex. Engineers were Thornton Tomasetti/ReStl, a joint venture. Steel fabrication was done by Banker Steel Company, LLC.

Copyright © 2008 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Bosworth Steel Erectors, Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium

Media Advisory: NewsChannel 5 and ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Wants Cleveland!

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:48:11 GMT

CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- NewsChannel 5 and ABC need your help! Do you know someone whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover? If so, the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition want to hear from you. Host Ty Pennington and his crew have been all across the map and are ready to drive that bus into a northeast Ohio neighborhood. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition airs on WEWS NewsChannel 5 each Sunday at 8PM.

What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover?
The show producers are in search of real heroes - people that have amazing strength and who have put their own needs aside to help someone else. In addition to heroics, the producers are looking for families whose homes are in dire need of help. They don't want to tear down a nice looking house - they want to see houses that look like they might fall down on their own!

To be eligible
A family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives.

To nominate a family
Visit NewsChannel 5's website, www.newsnet5.com, and follow the instructions. The deadline is March 24th, 2008 so don't delay!

Nominations must include
1. The names and ages of each member of the household
2. A description of the major challenges within the home
3. Explanation of why this family is deserving, heroic, or a positive role model in their community
4. Photos of the family and a photo of the home
5. Don't forget to include a contact phone number

About WEWS NewsChannel 5
The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.

The company's portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro; daily and community newspapers in 18 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics; Shop At Home, which markets a growing range of consumer goods directly to television viewers in roughly 55 million U.S. households; and Shopzilla, the online comparison shopping service that carries an index of more than 30 million products from approximately 55,000 merchants.

All trademarks acknowledged.

Copyright © 2008 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, WEWS NewsChannel 5 Cleveland, Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Martha Rose Construction, Inc. Joins U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Bodman to Launch Builders' Challenge in Orlando, Fla.

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:43:04 GMT

National building performance program to feature new E-Scale

ORLANDO, Fla. - Feb. 14 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Martha Rose Construction, Inc., joined today with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to announce a new national energy-saving initiative - the U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge. Martha Rose was at the Builders Challenge kick-off event held at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida.

"For Marsha Rose Construction building high-performance homes has been a core business model for the last 4 years," said Martha Rose. "We welcome this voluntary initiative for builders, and look forward to working with DOE to build consumer awareness of the benefits for buying highly energy efficient homes."

The EnergySmart Home Scale, or E-Scale, will serve as a tool for marketing energy-efficient homes. Consumer interest has been increasing in the top energy-performing homes, and now there is a tool that clearly allows builders to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

"Martha Rose believes it is possible to build new homes that are more efficient than code by 30 percent or better at little or no net cost," continued Martha Rose. "Achieving these efficiencies does require sophisticated design and installation techniques that go beyond standard industry practice, but the competitive advantage of these homes with their high quality means faster sales. And, we believe this kind of high-performance building is the right thing for our nation, our natural environment, and our customers."

The challenge program encourages U.S. home builders to adopt the E-Scale on a voluntary basis, and also to utilize best practices for home design and construction. The initiative seeks to accelerate use of successful whole-house design and construction practices that have been developed and verified through DOE research in its Building America program.

About Martha Rose Construction, Inc.
Martha Rose Construction has come to lead the Puget Sound region in Building not-so-big, zero-energy use homes in low-impact developments. "Building high performance homes makes us part of the solution when it comes to our world's energy challenges. Working with the Building America Team insures that we accomplish this goal with clarity and efficiency." More information: www.Martharoseconstruction.com.

About the U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge
The U.S. Department of Energy has posed a challenge to the homebuilding industry - to build 220,000 high performance homes by 2012. Homes that qualify for the Builders Challenge must achieve a 70 or better on the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), meaning that they will use at least 30% less energy than a typical new home built to code. The E-Scale allows homebuyers to understand - at a glance - how the energy performance of a particular home compares with others. Through the Builders Challenge, participating homebuilders will have an easy way to differentiate their best energy-performing homes from other products in the marketplace, and to make the benefits clear to buyers.

Through industry partnerships and existing programs, the Builders Challenge will promote the use of market-tested and cost-effective energy efficiency strategies. The Challenge will support, recognize, and reward builders for achieving higher levels of energy efficiency. DOE's goal is that, by 2030, new home buyers will have the option to buy a cost-effective Net-Zero Energy Home (NZEH) anywhere in the United States. Learn more at: www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge.

Copyright © 2008 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Martha Rose Construction, Department of Energy Builders Challenge

Colorado State University - Pueblo Contracts with Southern Bleacher to Jump-start Tradition with New Stadium

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:53:05 GMT

PUEBLO, Colo. - Nov. 8 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- On September 6, 2008, The Thunderwolves of Colorado State University - Pueblo will be doing something they haven't done in 24 years - cheer on their football team. And, to mark the event, the Thunderwolves will be doing so in their newly constructed football stadium. Yes, strike up the band and bring on the cheerleaders, Southern Bleacher is going to deliver on a long-held dream by delivering a state-of-the art football stadium.

Acting as both the general contractor and design team, Southern Bleacher engineer and salesman Jim McCain will bring back excitement lacking since the football program's demise in 1984.

The multi-million dollar project was jump-started by Friends of Football, formed in early 2006. Originally was made up of 14 people, Friends of Football's goal was not only to get the hometown team back in pads, but as alumni, they were alarmed by slowly declining enrollment and knew a successful football program not only could attract a broader scope of students, but also could enrich campus life. As successful businessmen, Friends of Football also realized bringing back football could help the local economy.

The new facility is a hillside construction with seating for both home and visitor. Fashioned like a bowl, the facility will have 3,230 seats on the home side and 3,230 seats on the visitor side with a total seating capacity of 6,460.

Stated Garrett Pettus from Southern Bleacher, "As both the general contractor and designer, the Southern Bleacher team takes special interest in seeing this project to successful completion. Not only do we hope to lay the foundation for a successful Colorado State University - Pueblo program, but deliver on our promise a little early as well by completing the project by April 1, 2008!"

Southern Bleacher Company is a 3rd generation, family owned and operated company that takes pride in their commitment to excellence.

Media Contact:
Garrett Pettus
Marketing
Southern Bleacher
+1-800-433-0912
gpettus@southernbleacher(.com)

Copyright © 2007 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Southern Bleacher Company, Thunderwolves of Colorado State University

Nearly 3,000 in Attendance as the Black Knights of Towanda Baptize Their New Stadium and Multipurpose Complex Constructed by Southern Bleacher

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:57:00 GMT

TOWANDA, Pa. - Sept. 24 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- What better way to kick off a football season than to do so in winning fashion in front of nearly 3,000 spectators all seated in a newly constructed stadium and multipurpose complex? The Black Knights of Towanda, Pa. certainly can't think of a better way! And the Southern Bleacher Company, based in Graham, Texas, was pleased to partner with the dedicated architectural firm Highland Associates, construction manager Quanta Group, Towanda school district personnel and countless volunteers of the Towanda community to bring the project to fruition in time for not only the fall football and soccer seasons, but for generations of athletes to come.

The stadium, located on the Towanda School District's consolidated school campus, is the result of a community-wide master plan that identified the need for a multi-purpose stadium complex to serve the community and the school district.

Said State Senator Roger Madigan, "It is a project that makes the whole community proud. It enhances the quality of life, which strengthens our ability to promote economic development."

The team at Southern Bleacher worked in unison with architect Highland Associates, construction manager The Quanta Group, school officials and numerous volunteers to bring the $4.2 million project to completion in record time. The project included new restrooms, concession stands, a press box, lighting, home and visitor bleachers and parking with direct access to the stadium as well as a large plaza for open-air congregating.

Stated Garrett Pettus from Southern Bleacher, "This project was an extremely special undertaking for us because of the immense community support that we received throughout the tight construction schedule this summer. Not only did the local community fund approximately two-thirds of the project, but contractors pushed all of their resources to make this project a reality. In the end, this project has brought the community closer together and will be a prize for generations to enjoy. Go Black Knights!"

Southern Bleacher Company is a family owned and operated company that takes pride in their commitment to excellence.

For more information, visit: www.southernbleacher.com/towanda

or, contact:

Garrett Pettus, Marketing, Southern Bleacher
+1-800-433-0912, gpettus@southernbleacher(.com)

Copyright © 2007 Send2Press® Newswire, a unit of Neotrope®
TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, architectural firm Highland Associates, Southern Bleacher Company

University of Sioux Falls Selects Southern Bleacher and Millers Sellers Heroux to Give Them First Home Field Advantage

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:42:00 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Sept. 20 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Southern Bleacher Company, based in Graham, Texas, is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with architectural firm Miller Sellers Heroux, Southern Bleacher recently completed its portion of the impressive Sanford Health Sports Complex that includes the 2006 NAIA National Champion Cougar's football complex.

Thanks in part to a generous donation of land and support from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Sioux Falls Christian Schools, the new facility was completed in time for the Saturday, September 1st 2007 season kickoff against Dana College.

An integral player in the construction contract, Southern Bleacher manufactured and installed the patented Interlock 2000 Decking System at Sanford Health Sport Complex's newly constructed Bob Young Field. The impressive structure boasts a lower section with 9 rows x 400' sporting black riserboards and purple backrests. The upper section compliments the lower with 11 rows x 178' featuring black risers and stadium chairs with gray seat pans and purple backs.

As a crowning touch, Southern Bleacher also installed their architectural Vertical Rail System. The Vertical Rail System is a smart alternative to traditional chain link guard rail because, in addition to being safer than traditional chain link, it offers a clean, attractive and stylish contrast to the horizontal lines of the decking.

"From the onset, the Southern Bleacher team shared in The University of Sioux Falls vision that the Sanford Health Sports Complex, and specifically Bob Young Field, will usher in a new era of excellence," stated Garrett Pettus. "Now, thousands of USF faithful can sit comfortably with impressive vantage points and enjoy the fruits of the USF Cougars' hard work and cheer them on to another NAIA championship."

Southern Bleacher Company is a family owned and operated company that takes pride in their commitment to excellence.

For more information, visit: www.southernbleacher.com/usf

or, contact:
Garrett Pettus
Marketing
Southern Bleacher
+1-800-433-0912
gpettus @ southernbleacher.com

Florida International University Selects Southern Bleacher and Odebrecht to Build Their Dream Stadium

Fri, 11 May 2007 21:00:00 GMT

MIAMI, Fla. - May 11 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Southern Bleacher Company, based in Graham, Texas, is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with lead contractor Odebrecht of Coral Gables, Florida, Southern Bleacher will provide seating for Florida International University's vast stadium expansion. "This will be the crown jewel of FIU's athletic department," Athletic Director Pete Garcia said. "The stadium will be the vehicle that will take the athletic department to the next level."

An integral player in the construction contract, Southern Bleacher will initially install 14,000 chairback seats and bench seating to expand seating capacity to 18,583 for phase two. Additional phases will expand seating to 43,057. When completed in 2008, the new stadium will be the only Division I on-campus football stadium south of Orlando in Florida.

"We look forward to building an excellent facility; one that will enhance the campus environment and contribute measurably to FIU athletics, student life and the broader community," said Gilberto Neves, CEO of Odebrecht Construction, Inc.

Garrett Pettus of Southern Bleacher added, "The FIU project represents a significant achievement for both our company as well as the university, its fans and perspective student athletes looking to build a championship program."

Since 1946, Southern Bleacher has set the standard of excellence in design and manufacturing of sports stadiums and entertainment venues; they are the nation's largest stadium manufacturer. The FIU contract announcement follows May 9, 2007 rave reviews Southern Bleacher received for their newly-unveiled Richmond International Raceway TORQUE Club (http://www.catchfence.com/press/050907g.html).

Southern Bleacher's comprehensive services include budget analysis, estimates, proposal drawings and specifications at no cost. Clients will benefit from their vast experience in addressing the myriad of building-code requirements, accessibility issues, safety requirements and lines of sight that fans will cheer about. Southern Bleacher's products grace soccer fields, college campuses, school districts, NASCAR tracks and rodeo arenas across the U.S.

From concept to reality, Southern Bleacher is customer driven works closely with planning committees and project architects to create facilities that are timeless and cost effective.

"We have made our mark in the industry by constantly finding new ways of addressing facility designs and seating systems required," Pettus said. "Solving our customers' needs, while providing superior and innovative products, has always been a top priority."

For more information, visit: www.southernbleacher.com/fiu.

Southern Bleacher Scores a Touchdown for Stanford University with New Football Stadium

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:53:00 GMT

STANFORD, CA - Aug. 11 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The Southern Bleacher Company, based in Graham, TX, has constructed, in part, a brand new football stadium for the University of Stanford in California that is scheduled to open in September of 2006. In June of 2005, Stanford University's Board of Trustees gave preliminary approval for a major re-building of Stanford Stadium; the 85,500-seat facility has been the home of Stanford Football since 1921.

The trustees approved a concept plan presented by the Department of Athletics that will modernize almost all facilities within the stadium, and reduce the stadium's capacity to 50,000 seats for the purpose of bringing spectators closer to the field.

The stadium was demolished following the Stanford versus Notre Dame Game on Thanksgiving weekend of 2005. Fans across the country who were viewing the football game were able to observe the demolition equipment in the area that surrounded the old stadium and was immediately put into effect after the game.

The grand opening is scheduled for September 16, 2006, where Stanford players plan to kick off with their Navy opponents. Southern Bleacher executives will be in attendance on opening day in Palo Alto, CA.

"Southern Bleacher was pleased to work with Vance Brown, General Contractor for the project," Garrett Pettus, Marketing, Southern Bleacher, said. "In addition, our sales representative, David McClendon, Mechanical Engineer and Texas-Tech University graduate, was an integral part of the project and has been with Southern Bleacher since 1988."

Building plans include a number of changes such as more comfortable seating; improved sightlines; improved egress and ingress for circulation; renovated and increased number of restrooms; locker rooms and concession stands; a distributed sound system; additional matrix video board; a new Skybox; improved ADA accessibility; and seismic retrofitting.

The re-building of Stanford Stadium cost approximately $90 million. The project was funded by the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER) Investment Fund, and from friends of Stanford University who are passionate about the program and understand the vision for the stadium.

As a result, the new stadium was completed without incurring any long-term debt and will mark the beginning of a new era for Stanford football. With support from fans, the University, and the Department of Athletics, the Cardinal football team is poised to regain its national prominence.

"The new stadium will retain the earthy exterior and extensive landscaping of the historic stadium," Pettus said. "The insertion of new stadium elements within the confines of the existing landscape will result in a modernized facility that will reside within the historic stadium's 'footprint.'"

Since 1946, Southern Bleacher has set the standard of excellence in the design and manufacturing of sports stadiums and entertainment venues; they are the nation's largest stadium manufacturer.

Southern Bleacher's comprehensive services include budget analysis, estimates, proposal drawings and specifications at no cost. Clients will benefit from their vast experience in addressing the myriad of building-code requirements, accessibility issues, safety requirements and lines of sight that fans will cheer about.

Southern Bleacher's products grace soccer fields, college campuses, school districts, NASCAR tracks and rodeo arenas across the US.

From concept to reality, Southern Bleacher is customer driven. They work closely with planning committees and project architects to create a facility that is timeless and cost effective.

"We have made our mark in the industry by constantly finding new ways of addressing facility designs and seating systems required," Pettus said. "Solving our customers' needs, while providing superior and innovative products, has always been a top priority."

Southern Bleacher is a family owned and operated company that takes pride in their commitment to excellence.

For more information, visit: www.southernbleacher.com.