Projects of Note

Louisville Waterfront Park
Waterfront Wharf, Marine & West Packages

The Waterfront Development Corporation was established to revitalize the waterfront areas along the Ohio River between the Kennedy and Clark Memorial Bridges in downtown Louisville.

The project was designed by Moffatt & Nichols, Engineers of Raleigh, NC in association with Hargreaves Associates of SanFrancisco, CA under the project management of Bravura Corporation of Louisville, Kentucky. The total project value was
$23,646,865.

The following work activities were included in our contracts:

Site Work

• Security Fence
• Interior Construction Roads
• Storm drains
• Erosion Control
• Site utilities for electric, telephone, water and sanitary sewer services
• Landscaping and irrigation

Construction

• Sheet pile bulkheads and concrete caps
• Piles and concrete wharf structures
• Floating docks
• Utility systems
• Five-acre special events plaza
• Sixteen-acre park with walking paths and landscaping
• 900 ft x 30 ft wide fountain
  
• Utility systems
• Elevated concrete observation deck
• Public gardens

Demolition & Removal Work

• Existing waterfront structures, concrete, asphalt and other paving surfaces
• Tree root systems
• Miscellaneous plantings and shrubbery
• Existing building foundations
• Storm drains (some active)

Excavation & Fill

• Dredging of existing Waterfront
• Excavation of grades shown on drawings
• Construction of erosion control item
• Stockpiling excavation materials
• Backfilling
• Select structural backfill
• Removal and disposal of unsuitable material

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Kentucky Lions Eye Research
Institute Addition

The Kentucky Lions Eye Research Institute Addition is a three story, 30,000 square foot addition and renovation which significantly doubles the capabilities for both clinical medical services and academic ophthalmologic research while nearly doubling the size of the facility. The exterior of the limestone clad addition with gold mirrored glass relates visually to the existing building, built in 1966. The addition is attached to the existing structure with a three story glass atrium.

This renovation included modifications and additions to the existing facility to bring the building into compliance with requirements from the Americans with Disability’s Act.

The clinical sector includes fifteen opthamacology exam rooms, laser surgery rooms, diagnostic exam rooms, clinical support development rooms, as well as expanded patient waiting and patient support areas. The research facilities include ten laboratories with research/storage and administrative support areas and a diagnostic basement.

The $4.35 million project was designed by Godsey Associates Architects and is owned by the University of Louisville. This project was completed by American Contracting in the fall of 1996.

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University of Louisville
Academic Sciences Building

This five story steel frame, brick veneer building contains 102 private offices and suites, 6 conference rooms and laboratories including: large scale testing laboratory, electrooptics and surface analysis laboratory, electronics workshop, slide library, artificial neural systems laboratory (virtual reality), computer vision laboratory (virtual reality), photo lithography laboratory, x-ray room, cartography laboratory and drafting room, air quality laboratory, pollution control laboratory, food processing laboratory, microwave laboratory, computer laboratory, communiciations laboratory with radio frequency shielded chamber, bio-medical laboratory, bio-analysis laboratory, bio-reactor laboratory, ergonomics laboratory with environmental chamber, micro-electronics clan room, 6 instructional laboratories, and 3 flex laboratories.

The building’s unique architectural feature includes the two 2 1/2 story arches at the entrances that are four feet deep, two feet wide and weight 40,000 pounds each. The 2 1/2 story lobby has a barrel ceiling that matches the entrance arches. It features a monumental staircase, mahogany paneling and terrazzo floor.

The masonry exterior is cast stone at the base and brick above. The brick corbels over seven feet at the roof.

The large scale testing laboratory is housed in a separate building connected to the existing building by a tunnel.

The project was desingned by the Louis and Henry Group.

American Contracting constructed this $9,600,000 Academic Sciences Building for The University of Louisville, which was completed in late 1996.

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University of Louisville
Bass-Rudd Tennis Center

The Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, completed by American Contracting in the summer of 1994, was the first project in the University of Louisville’s “Field of Dreams” athletic complex. It is considered to be one of the top five collegiate tennis facilities in the nation, according to Tennis In Kentucky magazine and head Tennis Coach Rex Ecarma.

Bass-Rudd features six indoor and six outdoor courts built to meet or exceed all amateur, international and professional standards. The courts are built of 24” crushed stone of varying sizes, 4” of asphalt and 9 layers of prescription tennis court surface with intermediate layers of soil stabilizing and asphalt stabilizing fabrics. The facility is used for collegiate matches and tournaments, physical education and intramurals, and by facility, staff and alumni in a club setting. There are separate locker rooms for students, teams, and club members.

A large room on the second floor, complete with kitchen, overlooking the six indoor courts is used by the athletic department for meetings and receptions and can be reserved by club members. The room opens onto a public viewing and outdoor balcony for exterior court viewing. The project is built on the highest elevation on Belknap campus and provides an excellent view of the entire campus and downtown Louisville.

Architectural features of the building include the four 200,000 lb. trusses which carry the entire roof structure, curved masonry and stone walls on the balcony and second floor viewing area, bold oversized brick pattern, and green architectural standing seam roof. The projects’ exterior color scheme was borrowed from other campus buildings.

A lighted soccer field was constructed adjacent to the tennis center as a companion project. The project was designed by Browing Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. Total project cost was $3,300,000.

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Marine Animal Care Center

The MACC located just north of Long Beach was funded by the Los Angeles School District with a dual purpose in mind. The first was to provide a facility the in Los Angeles area where injured or sick sea mammals could be cared for, and hopefully cured. The second was to provide a facility where interested students could learn about the ocean and sea mammals. The design/build project included three gunite pools, a recirculation life support system of pumps, sand filters and ozone/bromine disinfection. Responsibilities included the Project Management of the design and construction of this new facility including start-up and 1-year warranty. This facility was constructed in 1991-1992 and since then the facility has added 3 additional pools and aids from 150 to 300 animals per year.

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Biosphere II – Oracle, Arizona

The Biosphere II is a 3.5-acre project with five ecosystems. They are marsh, ocean, rainforest, savannah and desert. Responsibilities included the construction of the water systems, ocean, wave generator, tidal marsh, Savannah River and a rain forest river system. Coordination with multiple contractors and subcontractors on the project was a requirement. The project was completed on time and within budget.

Responsibilities included the Project Management of the construction of the environmental water systems including the 1 million gallon ocean, with tidal marsh and scrubbing system, where we worked with the Smithsonian Institute. In addition, we developed the wave generating system as well as vacuum water pumps. The facility was constructed in 1987 –1990 and since then scientists have spent 2 years in the facility. It is under the control of Columbia University where various studies continue today.

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New Albany Wastewater Treatment Plant

The New Albany Sewer Board contracted with American Contracting & Services, Inc., on August 17, 1993 for modifications and additions to the existing wastewater treatment facility. The average flow into the plant was approximately 8 MGD. The following items were the main scope of work:

Off-Site
Construction of new raw water supply line, connections to existing utilities. Includes all excavation, materials, pipe bedding, connections, installing valves, erosion control, maintenance of traffic and restoration of damaged sidewalks, lawns, etc.

Oxidation Ditches

• New concrete oxidation ditches.
• New equipment.
• Aluminum gratings and handrails.

Headworks Facility

• Concrete foundations and walls.
• Structural steel, masonry veneer, interior finishes.
• New equipment.

Administration Building

• Concrete foundations.
• Structural steel frame building, steel siding.
• Offices.
• HVAC, plumbing, electrical complete.

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Metropolitan Sewer District Headworks Project

The Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment Plant (MFWTP) is the main wastewater treatment facility in Louisville, KY treating anywhere from 100-150 MGD. The preliminary treatment modifications are just another step MSD is taking to update systems within the plant and to efficiently treat wastewater. The project consisted of the modification of existing wastewater treatment facilities and the construction of new treatment facilities, including process structures and buildings. The work completed will provide MSD with additional preliminary treatment headworks facility and includes the following work elements:

Demolition Of Existing Facilities

• Grit Channel #4.
• Ohio River interceptor piping.
• Rubbertown force main piping.
• Southwestern Branch interceptor piping.
• Grit loading building flooring.
• Pad-mounted transformers PMT-1, -3, -4
• Miscellaneous piping.

Construction Of New Process Structures And Buildings

• Ohio River interceptor diversion box and extension.
• Influent junction box.
• Aerated and flow splitting/measurement influent channel.
• Screenings and Grit Processing Building.
• Grit removal chambers.
• Aerated effluent channel.
• Drain pump station.
• Rubbertown parshall flume.
• Load center L-7.

Modification To Existing Process Structures And Buildings

• Add conveyors and floor to existing Grit Loading Building.
• Replace aeration headers and diffusers in existing aerated channel and primary sedimentation tank influent channel.
• Add parshall flume to Southwestern Branch Interceptor.

Site Development Construction

• Retaining wall.
• Roads and pavement.
• Soil grading and site drainage.
• Yard process piping system.
• Electrical power distribution for process structure and site lighting.
• Process instrumentation and control system.

The contract amount was $7.6 million and was completed on May 19, 2000. MSD instituted a partnering philosophy for this project. A partnering meeting took place on April 14, 1998 involving MSD, American Contracting, Subcontractors to American Contracting, the architects and engineers. We established guidelines for problem resolution, “pinch-points” for anticipated problems, progress meeting guidelines, missions and goals for the partnering process, and a chart showing the levels of authority for problem resolution. MSD was also open to Value Engineering suggestions from American Contracting and its subcontractors.

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Harrison County, Indiana Bridge Rehab

This project consisted of building a temporary bridge and runaround, as well as, the removal of the old bridge (arch bridge). We also reconstructed a new bridge with concrete girders. Everything was built on solid rock.

Setting new beams on a permanent structure. Final stage of removing the temporary bridge.

Utilizing a state-of-the-art demolition process ( Hydrodemolition ) and a rapid-set concrete ( Latex Modified Concrete ), American completed this bridge-deck overlay project in record time.

This 3,700 foot structure was completed in 60 calendar days. The project was completed on time and below budget.

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Pickwick Dam Bridge Rehab
I-65 Weekend Challenge

Can you imagine that $3,000,000 of road and bridge repair could be done in two weekends? The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Gohmann Asphalt & Construction and American Contracting & Services, Inc., together joined forces to do exactly that. From Friday night at 9 p.m. to Monday morning at 6 a.m., over 200 hourly employees, 100 salaried employees and hundreds of pieces of equipment did what a few skeptics said was impossible - completely remove and replace all the bridge joints from the Kennedy Bridge to I-264 along I-65 in Louisville, Kentucky, utilizing only 2 weekends. The work was completed on time, with no significant injuries and the owners were so pleased, the Transportation Cabinet wants to try it on other stretches of interstate in the near future. We just can’t wait!!!

Thanks to mother nature for the fine weather, and the dedication of all the employees at American Contracting & Services, Inc., the impossible was done.

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Perry County, Indiana Bridge Rehab

This project consisted of a new pre-cast box culvert. Several other culverts were extended. This project was 2 miles long and a new storm sewer was installed. Road was widened to 3 lanes with center lane being the turn lane. A new curb and gutter was placed for total project length. Gabions were placed at several locations. Due to soil, a majority of the project had to be undercut 2’ and 18” #2 stone with 6” #11 stone capped with 6” #53 stone. New asphalt was placed over the entire project. This project was finished on time and below budget.

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Hughes Group Office Renovation

American Contracting began renovating this 52,000 sq. ft. facility located on Highway 62 in Jeffersonville at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant in early 1999 and was completed in February 2000. This building is now owned/occupied by Hughes Group, Inc., & Subsidiaries, which includes American Contracting’s business office, as well as other leased tenants.

As you can see above, this historic building was very badly damaged from years of neglect and is now a beautifully renovated, state of the art office facility.

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