COLLEGE STUDENTS TODAY
PROJECT MANAGERS TOMORROW

One indicator that a company will sustain superior performance is its commitment to the professional development of its people. At American Constructors, Inc. we like to get a head start on this essential task.

The development of a top quality project manager starts with his or her first experience as an entry-level field engineer. Recent college graduates with some work experience and degrees in civil or construction engineering are excellent candidates for positions as field engineers in training to become project managers.

Providing summer internships is one of our most rewarding programs. This year American hosted a total of six interns from Purdue, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Texas A&M. During initial indoctrination, the interns visited our job sites and met everyone in the company. They learned our policies, observed firsthand the way we do business and the manner in which we conduct ourselves.

Each intern was assigned to a project so they could experience on-the-job learning while doing significant, meaningful work. The interns developed both greater under-standing of the overall project sequence and more in-depth knowledge of specific processes. Brian from Iowa State was surprised to learn how many good reasons there are for pouring concrete at three o'clock in the morning. Besides reducing the risk of heat exhaustion, he also learned that temperature during placement is a major factor in design performance of the finished concrete.

The interns also experienced the multi-disciplinary nature of a construction project team, allowing them to consider the various roles they might pursue when they graduate. Each intern was assigned a mentor to provide training, supervision, guidance, and feed-back.

Senior managers interviewed the interns to get their evaluations of our company, the intern program and their mentors. The feedback was excellent, and several reported that their expectations had changed considerably with exposure to actual field conditions.

Comments from the interns include: "I was very impressed with the wide range of things American Constructors teaches." "This is the best intern program I have ever seen." "I was challenged and really felt like I was a member of the team."

The quality of interaction between the students and everyone in the company has again reinforced our corporate value of continuous learning and professional development. Moreover, our interns were able to take along something extra when they returned to campus - their very own experiences with a real construction company, and its people, to use for reference.

NO TARDY SLIP FOR AMERICAN CONSTRUCTORS

The Round Rock Elementary School #26 project presented a myriad of challenges, but through teamwork and leadership, American Constructors, Inc. overcame each hurdle and readied Cactus Ranch Elementary well before the first day of school.

The goal: Transform the 13.5 acre site into a world class 94,500 square foot elementary school - complete with roads, parking, all site utilities, playfields and playgrounds.

Because of difficulties acquiring the property, work could not begin until late October 2000. This knocked the project three months behind schedule from day one, leaving less than 10 months until the first day of school.

Next came the rain - torrential rains that started on the very day that the project broke ground. Approximately 27 inches deluged the jobsite during the first five months of construction, stealing yet another two months from the project. This whittled the time available to complete this $11 million job down to a mere eight months.

In addition to the quickly advancing deadline, this demanding project faced further challenges. Cactus Ranch Elementary had to be completed while operating on a site with no paved public access, electricity, phone, water, gas or sanitary sewer service. In fact, paved public access, sanitary sewer service and gas service to the school site were not provided until late July 2001 - one short month prior to the start of school.

With all of these stumbling blocks stacked against us, you might wonder how this project was completed ON TIME and UNDER BUDGET. One word describes how this was accomplished: TEAMWORK! The collective effort of everyone involved produced the desired result. Matt Matthys, principal of Cactus Ranch, says, "When people come in to take a look, they are very impressed."

By developing and fostering a spirit of cooperation and teamwork, American Constructors was able to bring out the best in all parties involved in the project. This group effort, combined with the outstanding support of the subcontractors, suppliers, designers/engineers, owner and occupants, made this project a success for Round Rock Independent School District and American Constructors.

NEW CLOTHES, NEW SUPPLIES... NEW SCHOOLS

American Constructors, Inc. made the grade this year, by completing their school-work on time - and on budget.

The 2001 school year started success-fully for the company and three local school districts. American completed seven new ground up school projects for the school year, including three elementary schools, a middle school and a ninth grade center, as well as two high school additions. That makes well over 700,000 square feet of shiny new learning space - ready to house eager students toting crisp, clean notebooks and sharpened pencils.

Round Rock Independent School District welcomed students to the new Blackland Prairie and Cactus Ranch Elementary Schools and Ridgeview Middle School. Leander Independent School District debuted Charlotte Ann Cox Elementary and Eanes Independent School District opened the doors to their new Ninth Grade Center at the Westlake High School. In addition, students at Round Rock's Stony Point High School and Leander's Cedar Park High School returned to existing campuses to find added class-rooms and other new school facilities to help kick off the start of the school year.

Each of these projects presented their own unique challenge to American Constructors, but despite short construction schedules, property issues, and unpredictable weather, each school was opened ON TIME and ON BUDGET! For that, all the team members involved deserve nothing less than an A+.

AN ARCHITECT'S DREAM

Graeber, Simmons & Cowan Architects knew exactly what they wanted for their new downtown Austin office at 400 Bowie Street and they selected American Constructors, Inc. to help them get it.

"We like having our own space that feels like an architect's office - instead of ...someone else's building," says Trenton Wann, principal at Graeber, Simmons & Cowan.

The driving force behind the architect's design was the demand for interaction among employees. Wann values teamwork on the construction site, as well as in the office, and says that he always felt his firm and ACI "had the same mission in mind."

No nightmares here. Graeber, Simmons & Cowan settled into their new digs on schedule, and better yet - their dream space received the Citation of Honor from the AIA 2001 Design Awards.

ACCOLADES FOR AMERICAN

It's always a thrill to earn the respect and admiration of your peers -- and American Constructors, Inc. was fortunate enough to receive numerous awards this year for its contribution to Central Texas.

  • The Associated General Contractors of America Outstanding Construction Award was presented to American for the construction of Hudson Bend Middle School in Lake Travis - a project perhaps best known for being completed four weeks ahead of schedule and serving as a landmark to everyone driving along Highway 620 near Hudson Bend.
  • The addition to Stony Point High School in Round Rock received a Golden Trowel Award in the Block category from the Central Texas Masonry Contractors.
  • The AIA 2001 Citation of Honor Design Award was presented to the Graeber Simmons & Cowan architectural office building project in downtown Austin.
  • Texas Construction magazine ranked American Constructors #61 in their listing of Texas' Top 100 Contractors.
  • The Austin Business Journal acknowledged all of American Constructors' finished projects by ranking the company # 9 in the Top 25 Commercial Construction Companies, up from # 10 last year.
  • American takes safety seriously. That commitment to a safe workplace earned AGC's Excellent Safety Record 2000, as well as two awards in their Building Division for having an exemplary incidence rate.

    These prestigious awards shine a well-deserved spotlight on the spirit of team-work and commitment to excellence shared by each and every person on the American Constructors team.

    Hearty congratulations are extended to all for many jobs well done!

    CALIFORNIA

    American Constructors California has had plenty to celebrate lately - two projects have been recently completed, with another two underway.

    Henley Hall, a 300-student dormitory, marks the company's second venture with Chapman University in Orange, California. The recently completed dorm is located adjacent to a nearly identical dorm, Pralle-Sodaro Hall, built by the company eight years ago.

    A downtown Los Angeles community now has a new look thanks to Hope Village - an affordable housing project that provides a neighbor-hood environment in an urban setting, a convenient two blocks from the Staples Center. The brownstone feel of the 66 townhomes, individual yards, and stoop entries accentuate the residential character. The community courtyard includes a children's playground and a central laundry facility.

    American Constructors California is currently hard at work on a 276-unit luxury apartment complex at Studio City and 54 high-end villas at The La Costa Glen Continuing Life Community.