Symons is the Best Buy

In 2001, Best Buy contracted with architects Perkins & Will and Opus Architects & Engineers to design a new corporate headquarters to consolidate their operations which were scattered around the Minneapolis area.

A unique design element of the Best Buy Campus is the 215,000 sq ft, two-level connector called the Hub. The Hub is intended to create an environment that is "fun, flexible and productive, while acting as a catalyst for learning, collaboration, community and creative solutions." Best Buy wanted the Hub to be an interaction space promoting what they call "casual collisions" between employees fostering a sense of familiarity, teamwork and an open exchange of ideas. The 1000 foot long Hub also links the four office towers to the 7,000 car, 2 million sq ft, five-level parking ramp.

Government Loans Available

As part of the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. government has provided extra funding for business loans. See http://www.GovLoans.gov for types of loans, qualifications, and applications.

ENR Features Economics of Construction

Like many construction-related sites, ENR.com is keeping a close eye on the economic health of the industry and publishing their analyses. Their latest 2nd Quarterly Cost Report, Razor-Thin Margins As Contractors Fight For Stimulus Projects, details how intense competition for projects has driven bids down to levels that threaten profitability.

More information from the Economics section of ENR.com is available at
http://enr.construction.com/economics/default.asp

Earth-Friendly Release for Concrete Forms

It used to be that "going green" meant paying a premium for poor performance on the jobsite. Symons new bio-based technologies can contribute significantly to LEED Credits while out-performing other older technologies.

Environmental Release EF

Environmental Release EF is an Earth-Friendly (EF) form release agent that contributes to LEED EQ Credit 4.2. It is designed for use on a wide range of forming materials, including wood, fiberglass, steel, aluminum, plastic and architectural form liners.

Environmental Release EF is a truly green, biodegradable material, containing no petroleum products.

Environmental Release EF is a water-based formula containing no VOCs, making it VOC compliant in all regions. It is ideal for architectural concrete, precast and general forming applications. The material is non-staining and minimizes concrete dusting.Environmental Release EF is NSD approved for use in potable water structures.

This and all the other Symons chemical products can be referenced from the Internet at: http://www.symons.com/products/brochure/chemical/chemical.htm

What To Do If the Bank Says "No"

It's no exaggeration to say that cash is in tight supply. The credit crisis has left customers, lenders and investors skittish, forcing businesses to re-examine their cash flow. But untapped sources of funds remain.

It's been increasingly difficult to find funding, whether from banks or private investors. If your business is short on capital, consider these alternative funding sources.

Read more in the article on Thomasnet.com

Quick and easy Round Pads

When Winnipeg contractor, Westland Construction Ltd., contacted the local Symons branch, they needed advice about forming two large round pads for tanks. It was a small job, but it had some unique requirements.

The forms for the two tank pads could not utilize turnbuckles with stakes anchored in the ground. Because of the geo-textile membranes underneath them, driving stakes for turnbuckles to plumb the forms was not an option.

Symons immediately suggested Steel-Ply. Because of the low pour height and the slow concrete placing time, it was suggested using 1" steel strapping, the kind used with banding machines, to wrap around the circumference.

Subsequently, the tank bases were completed ahead of time and under budget. Westland commented, "Had we done these in wood, it would have taken a lot longer and the results would not have been nearly as good".

The Projects Are Out There!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is the most sweeping economic recovery package in history. What makes the plan important to Symons is that a large portion of funds are targeted at construction projects.

The ARRA includes the largest new investment in America’s infrastructure since the interstate highway system was built in the 1950s. Plans include construction and modernization of roads and bridges, dams and levees, water treatment facilities, transit systems, high-speed rail lines, military facilities, and power plants.

As of mid April, nearly $60 billion of ARRA funds have been OKd for "shovel ready" projects, with about $12 billion of it already disbursed. In addition, states have already started work on some highway projects in anticipation of ARRA funds.
With these developments in mind, we all need to be looking for opportunities, including:

• Contractor customers who are changing their focus. It’s not unusual for a contractor to target treatment plants when there are fewer commercial projects. Let’s ask customers what they’re doing.


• Contractor customers who are expanding their business. It’s not unusual for a contractor to add capabilities, like a tilt-up contractor adding a structural forming division. Let’s watch for growing companies.


• Bridge and transportation projects with Max-A-Form applications. A rush to build these structures will likely create a rush to quote, engineer and supply materials. Let’s have some typical plans ready in advance.


• Power plants establish some long-term revenue streams. The size of these concrete-intensive projects can keep equipment-on-rent for months at a time. This balances the short duration of other smaller projects.

Stimulus plans centering on funds for construction projects are also an International phenomenon. Governments all over the world are looking beyond short-term stimuli and toward programs that will lay the groundwork for sustained growth, including infrastructure projects aimed at job creation and economic expansion.

2009 will be more competitive than ever, but it looks like it will be a year full of substantial opportunities for Symons to sell or rent concrete forming systems!