Refineries in Louisiana and Texas to be focus of HCU projects

Fluor Corp. announced recently that the company signed contracts with Valero Energy Corp. to provide engineering, procurement, construction and construction management services for its Unified Hydrocracker (HCU) Program projects at its St. Charles, La., and Port Arthur, Texas, refineries. The contracts for the HCU Program expansion projects totaling $1.2 billion were booked in the second quarter of 2008.

The two projects are part of a major growth program for Valero at its St. Charles and Port Arthur refineries. They have been designed to capitalize on the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel transportation fuels through the addition of two hydrocrackers.

Fluor’s Calgary, Houston and New Delhi global execution centers will perform the work for the new expansions.

Group Contractors receives piling contract for Woman’s Hospital

Group Contractors LLC, a subsidiary of Group Industries LLC, a Baton Rouge-based industrial and commercial construction company, was recently awarded a $4.2 million contract for piling work on the new Woman’s Hospital to be constructed on Airline Highway.

The massive project will require Group to utilize two cranes to drive a total of 1,688 concrete piles. The piling work will begin in August and will be completed in December.

Group Industries is located at 15055 Jefferson Highway and has offices in Louisiana and Texas. Founded in 1996, the company recorded more than $100 million in revenue for the last two years. Group Industries now operates two subsidiary companies, Group Contractors LLC, an industrial construction company, and Arrighi Construction LLC, a commercial construction company, all headquartered in Baton Rouge.

Cajun Constructors receives floodwall contract

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, awarded a $48.5 million contract to Cajun Constructors Inc. for the construction of almost 4,000 linear ft of floodwall along Peters Road in front of Boomtown Casino. The floodwall will connect to other sections of wall that Cajun is currently constructing along Peters Road.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early August and will last about 20 months. The project will employ about 100 craftsmen, many from the New Orleans and surrounding areas.

The floodwall, which will be constructed to an elevation of 14 ft, will provide protection to the Harvey area and will include nine floodgates and nine drainage structures. During normal operations, the drainage structures will allow storm waters to empty from areas surrounding local businesses through the wall and into existing drainage structures.

“This project is the final task order of a $250 million Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC). Cajun, the Corps and the West Jefferson Levee District are excited to have the final reach of floodwall that will provide flood protection from the newly constructed floodgate at Lapalco Bridge to Hero Pump Station under construction,” said Euclid Michel, senior vice president of the Public Works Division of Cajun Constructors.

Approximately 21,900 cubic yards of concrete will be placed by Cajun Constructors, and Cajun Deep Foundations, LLC, acting as a subcontractor to Cajun Constructors, will drive approximately 2,000 steel H-piles to an average depth of 127 feet and will install approximately 3,900 linear feet of steel sheet piles to an average depth of 60 feet, which will set the foundation for the wall.

This contract is one of four task orders in which the USACE has teamed with Cajun to provide flood protection to the area. Cajun Constructors recently completed flood gate structures at Bayou Segnette and 3,200 linear feet of reinforced concrete floodwall from Boomtown Casino to Hero Pump Station along Peters Road.

Cajun Constructors, Inc. and Cajun Deep Foundations, LLC are headquartered in Baton Rouge and are subsidiaries of Cajun Industries LLC.

Landis Construction returns to Orleans Parish

Landis Construction Co. LLC recently announced its return to Orleans Parish.

Landis is restoring and renovating 8300 Earhart Boulevard as its new headquarters. The three-story, red brick building was originally built in 1911 as a chewing gum factory for the American Chicle Co. and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Landis’ occupancy, which will begin at the end of 2008, will mark the first time the building has been used primarily for office space.

Designs underway for Dufrocq Elementary School renovation, addition

An aging 2-story school located in the heart of Mid-City Baton Rouge is currently getting a $15 million major renovation and addition. Dufrocq Elementary, named after Baton Rouge’s first mayor, was built in 1922 on a Civil War Battle site.

The existing building occupies an entire city block and its renovation will revitalize a school in a community that is richly dense and diverse. The 47,000 sq ft addition is being adjacently constructed on a previously developed but unused piece of land. To make the improvements, two city blocks will be joined together, removing the middle street.

Remson|Haley|Herpin Architects of Baton Rouge designed the renovation so that there will be the reuse and maintenance of more than 95% of existing structural members and exterior walls. To restore the 30,000-sq-ft building, all of the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems will be replaced and all the old wood windows will be replaced with energy efficient aluminum/ insulated glass windows - designed to reference the aesthetic of the old windows.

The school’s program includes Montessori-style learning which requires exterior learning spaces and the vegetated open space is greater than the footprint of the building. Therefore, much attention is being paid to the connection between classrooms and the exterior. Additionally, classrooms throughout will have large picture windows to introduce as much as 90% natural light into regularly occupied spaces.

East Baton Rouge Parish School Systems in conjunction with Program Managers, CSRS/The Facility Group, are the owners and managers of the project. Cangelosi Ward General Contractors LLC will be wrapping up construction in time for the fall semester of the 2009 school year.

Walton Construction to build Andrew H. Wilson Elementary

The New Orleans Division of Walton Construction Co. LLC was recently awarded the renovation and construction contract for the second school in the Recovery District Initiative, Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School.

This $25 million project includes extensive renovation of the original 48,000-sq-ft three-story school, and construction of a new 50,000-sq-ft three-story building. The two buildings will house classrooms, administrative areas, cafeteria, kitchen, gym, and other related areas.

The project includes some selective demolition of the existing building as well as site and utilities demolition. Construction is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to be completed by December 2009.

“The rehabilitation of this school is another significant step towards recovery for the City of New Orleans,” said Bill Petty, president of the New Orleans Division of Walton Construction. “It is a privilege to be a partner on this project because this school will make an immediate, positive impact on the children and parents who have returned to New Orleans.”

In addition to Walton, the project team includes the owner, State of Louisiana Department of Education and architect, HMS Architects.