High-Strength Concrete

McHugh Construction Employee Newsletter

July 2019 Volume 16 No. 1

BLUEIn This Issue:

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High Strength Concrete

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Guess the McHugh Employee

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The McHugh Elevator Pitch: Hospitality

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Spotlight Interview

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Where in the World

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Let ’s Talk

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It shouldn’t come as any surprise that you wouldn’t use the same concrete to pour, say, a city sidewalk, as you would a 1,191-foot tall building. But suffice to say, the concrete used on Vista Tower is some of the most high-strength, impressive concrete in the world.

During the design phase of Vista Tower, structural engineering firm Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) was brought on board to figure out the specifications for the concrete

mix. Vista will be the third tallest building in Chicago so there are all sorts of exorbitant requirements to put in place a building of this size. These requirements were met by utilizing a few different strategies. Large outrigger or silo walls were used, along with a tuned mass damping system. A unique blow through floor was designed into the tower’s 83rd floor. The building also has a varied shape and geometry, with angles to break up the wind and the buildup of vortices. And, of course, very high strength, or high E modulus (or elastic modulus), concrete.

E modulus (which I had to look it up, even though Eamonn and Max use the word as if it’s as common as water) stands for a quantity that measures an object or substance’s resistance to being deformed elastically (or non-permanently) when a stress is applied to it. The E modulus value for the concrete used on Vista Tower was dictated by MKA. Their specifications were calculated for the design of the lateral bracing system to resist wind loads, as well as to control the building movement for the comfort of its occupants.

In designing the mix, extensive testing was performed on the

constituent parts including the parent rock and trial concrete mixes to achieve this. We needed to validate that we could achieve the strength and E modulus required by MKA.

The concrete used on this project was self-consolidating, similar to the concrete used at Trump Tower. This means that the rocks are suspended in the mix and that it doesn’t need to be vibrated. Because of this, spread testing was performed versus slump comb testing.

Additional mass concrete testing was performed to ensure the mix could handle a higher temperature differentials as well as a higher internal temperature because excessive heat of hydration can results in cracking and delayed ettrignite formation causing long term detrimental effects on concrete.

As Director of Engineering Eamonn Connolly explained, “Concrete is like bread. The best concrete comes from the best ingredients.” Cement and water are obviously two of the main ingredients, but the other important one is aggregate. And to make this very stiff, high-strength concrete,

some very high-strength aggregate had to be used. The aggregate came from limestone found in Prairie Material’s quarry in western Illinois. Prairie had to test the limestone to find just the right strength of rock.

The product being used truly ends up being chemistry in a truck, with stringent control over the most particular elements.

The requirement for the concrete was 12,000 psi. and we used concrete with a 16,000 to 18,000 psi breaking point. Vista Tower will redefine the Chicago skyline when complete, and it’s safe to say the essence of this building is concrete.

Vista Concrete continued...

Mission: To promote a seamless and positive experience with excellence and innovation.

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“Concrete is like bread. The best concrete comes

from the best ingredients.”

-Eamonn Connolly

VISTA TOWER CONCRETE

One part Cement

A dash of Fly Ash

A sprinkle of Slag Cem

ent

A helping of Fine Aggr

agete

A dollup of Coarse Agg

regate

Potable Water

A pinch of HRWR

Hydration Stabilizer

Viscosity Modifying Ad

mixtures

Limestone Quarry

Laboratory Testing

Our Vision: Dedication to the success of our clients, our people, and the McHugh heritage.

Guess the

McHugh Employee!

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1.) Q.) How many McHugh employees does it take to build a tower out of toothpicks and foam balls? A.) Many. Along with the help of an ACE Mentor student at their annual luncheon.

2.) John Kelly and wife Patrice attend the Magnificient Mile Gala.

3.) Congratulations to Vickie Travis-Woods who was the recipient of the WIN (Women Inspiring Now) Women of Worth Award! WIN is an organization that acknowledges women who are making an impact in our communities. Keep up the amazing work Vickie!

4.) Tom Stuit works the table at the annual ASA Construction Expo.

5.) Jared Natalino, Kathleen Arnold and Mayra Vega make some new friends at the Legendary Landmarks Celebration.

6.) The Nashville team was up bright and early to run the Hot Chocolate 5K. Jim Harvilchuck wanted to give everyone a fighting chance, so he ran it in jeans and construction boots.

7. McHugh team members spend the evening networking with architects at the McHugh Student Design Gallery.

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Understandably, it’s easy to get swept up in your own project or department, focused solely on your day-to-day tasks, but it’s also important for all of us to be knowledgeable about the company we work for, and able to give an informed “elevator pitch” when asked about the company. So set a challenge for yourself over the next few months -- let someone know about the hospitality work McHugh performs. You may get a few “you do that?” responses. I know I have. Here are a few ways you can help spread the word!

THE McHUGH ELEVATOR PITCH:HOSPITALITY

SUCCESS IS IN THE DETAILS

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Straighten Those ScrewsThe Peninsula Hotel required all screws to be aligned exactly vertically or horizontally.

Chandelier ExpertPrior to hanging the chandelier at the Blackstone Hotel, some minor damage had to be repaired. This required flying in a chandelier expert from Prague to restring the fixture.

BY THE NUMBERS

Answer Key1.) Mike

Meagher2.) Dan Jordan

3.) Kate Ivanova

4.) NatalieErvin

5.) Shelly Griggs Parrilli

6.) RandyBullard

7.) TerezSturrup

8.) CorinneBlotnicki

9.) Brian Hardy

10.) Ray Cisco

11.) LisaKlein

12.) ElizabethTheis

13.) SharonDunlop

14.) JoelKuna

15.) Andy McDonough

16.) RombertLazo

17.) BrendaStivers

18.) DeniseMiller-Dearing

19.) Gina Alexander

20.) Bryan Carlson

1,000,000 SF

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New ConstructionMcHugh has built 11 ground up hospitality projects.

Adaptive ReuseIncluding Kimpton Gray, Virgin Hotel, & Westin Cupples Station

Total Hospitality ProjectsCompleted

RenovationsLuxury lobby & restaurant renovations to guestrooms & MEP improvements

Meeting/Public Space

Guestrooms

Only the BestKate Ivanova flew to Carrara, Italy to hand select the stone blocks for all the finishes at the Ritz-Carlton.

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How did you get your start at McHugh and what was your first project? I started in estimating right out of college. A friend of a friend knew John Sheridan and that McHugh was looking to hire. I sent my resume to John, came in for a three hour interview the next morning, and started the following Monday. I worked for John and Dave Alexander in estimating for about 16 months. At that time, we were basically required to train our replacement in estimating before we could get out of the office and out on a project.

My first project on site was the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at the Great Lakes Navy Base (1998), which included 9 dorm buildings. It was the first design-build project for the Navy and was a LEED Pilot Project. As difficult as it is now to get the subcontractors to fill out the LEED paperwork, it was WAY harder then. I was often the first person to ever ask subcontractors what percentage of recycled content was included in their materials and I mostly got silence on the other end of the phone.

Who was your mentor in the industry? I have quite a few people to thank for helping me throughout my career. I learned a lot from Dave (Alexander) and John (Sheridan) coming out of school– who have completely different styles.

I have worked with John on multiple projects since, especially renovation work. Those projects are especially challenging but fun. During the Blackstone Hotel I worked closely with Tom Gilbertson, our MEPFP consultant, and just tried to act like a sponge around him. I also learned a lot from Tim McCord while working on the 3 towers at 840 LSD. He’s one of the most technically savvy construction people I’ve ever met. And Bruce Lake was always someone I could sit down with and bounce things off of to make sure I was heading down the right path. I still talk to all of these people and I’m lucky they’ll share their knowledge with me.

What’s the biggest ‘lesson learned’ you’ve experienced on a project? We held a training class about logistics and scheduling last year. I reluctantly shared a big mistake about what I thought was a great logistics plan for our project at 200 N Jefferson. Everything was great until the train went by and the crane operator couldn’t hear the bucket man on the ground. If the crane operator can’t hear, he stops picking the load. Clearly that wasn’t going to work for the whole job so we basically had to flip that operation to the other side of the site. It’s such an obvious mistake looking back, but it really taught me to look at the entire surrounding area for blocks away, as well as the project inside the fence, when putting a plan together.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of and why? I think I’m most proud about the many different positions I’ve held and the types of projects I’ve been lucky to be involved with in some way. Estimator, PE, Concrete PM, MEPFP Coordinator, Superintendent, PM, SPM, Ops Manager and now VP. I’ve worked on high rises, bridges, an airport, historic renovations, and gut rehabs. I’ve also been able to be involved in really cool projects like the Blackhawks and Bulls Training Facilities, renovations inside the United Center, 100 year old buildings like The Blackstone and the Old Colony Building. There’s really no other company that takes on the different kinds of challenges we do. There is a lot of pride when I take a step back and look at what the people at McHugh have accomplished.

Do you have a general philosophy you try to live by?Ha – I’m not sure I would say there’s one philosophy. As a PM, my philosophy was to take away people’s excuses for not getting their job done. All the subs have pressure from GCs to complete their work, and if they run into a roadblock, they’ll just move on to the next project. Do as much as you can during the precon stage to get the job set up because there are always fire drills when you get on site. Also, I always hear Bruce saying, “trust but verify” when dealing with many situations.

Legendary Landmarks Celebration

Brian HardyVice President

SpotlightInterview

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What advice do you have for new hires at McHugh?My best advise for new employees is to get involved. Come in the office and help estimate your next project. Volunteer to help with the various committees and training. Go to any of the different kinds of events offered. If you only stay on your project, you won’t know about all the different kinds of projects we do. You’ll only know the subcontractors on your job. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions – it’s foolish not to utilize the tremendous people here and their expertise as a resource.

Many would think being in the construction industry would make renovating your own home a breeze, what was the toughest part about turning your 2-flat into a single family home?The schedule killed me. Looking at the amount of work to be done, it shouldn’t have taken that long. We relied a lot on guys doing side jobs, especially on the weekends. When guys had their own lives to tend to, the place sat for a week or two until they were available. I couldn’t imagine trying to do that project without the resources we had. Sharon’s brother is a great carpenter and general contractor and we were lucky that he was between projects to “run” the job for us. I’m still not done – there’s a railing I look at every morning that has to get stained. I will never try to do another project like that again!

What is your favorite Cubs moment/memory? I have had a lot of fun in and around Wrigley, since I grew up on the north side. I’ve been in a season ticket group for about 20 years, so I’ve seen a lot of bad baseball, and we somehow managed to still have a good time. So watching the World Series victory was the biggest joy… and relief. They sure didn’t make it easy. I was lucky enough to go to Game 5 of the WS, the game that started the comeback in the series – I suppose paying for 20 years of tickets finally paid off. Hopefully this current team has at least one more in them.

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters MCPON Plackett Manor, Great Lakes Navy Base, IL (1998)

The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, IL (2008)

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We’ve got some serious travelers among our employees! Don’t forget to take your McHugh gear with you when you head out of town and send us a pic! We like to post them on social media and quiz our followers for a chance to win some swag!

Where in the World?

Shelly Griggs Parrilli takes her delayed honeymoon in Oahu, Hawaii.

Chris Johansen visits the home to the ‘Miracle on Ice’ in Lake Placid, NY after completing another ironman.

Bryce Bloxsom takes in the view in Tuscany, Italy.

Shane Jenkins out for a ride in the Smokey Mountains.

Eric Kostecki visits the Sedlac Ossuary aka Bone Church in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.

June Aswal at the Taj Mahal.

Ricky Stevenson visits the Pitons in St. Lucia.

Kate Ivanova skis the Dolomites in Italy.

Shelly Griggs Pariilli stares down a crocodile (or is it an alligator?) in Lakeland, FL.

Jen Gee and family visit the Happiest Place on Earth.

Mike Meagher ponders his next trip while hanging out in the Bahamas. Dan Jordan took a trip to the everglades.

Tom Sampey stands in the middle of Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan.

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Employee Milestones• Rick Tilquist - 40 years• Joel Kuna - 30 years• Mike Harkin - 30 years• Rick Locasto - 25 years• Ryan Keane - 20 years• Kevin Morley - 20 years• Tim Watson - 20 years• Ryan Fitzpatrick - 20 years

BirthsCongratulations to Shane Tresch and his wife, Karissa, on the birth of their son, Rhys; Chris Luther and his wife on the birth of their son, William; Shawn Fitzpatrick and his wife, Cris on the birth of their son, Colin Joseph; and Laura Garcia and her husband Manny on the birth of their daughter, Stella Constance.

CondolencesOur condolences to Natalie Ervin on the loss of her brother, Alex Wilson; to Bob Soldan on the loss of his mother, June White; to Ray Cisco on the loss of his mother, Mary; to Ed Schweiger on the loss of his wife, Tammy; to Carol Anderson on the loss of her brother, Frank; and to Bob Mortimer on the loss of his wife, Maggie.

EditorShelly Griggs Parrilli

BLUE is provided for employees of James McHugh Construction Co.

Please do not distribute outside the company.

Let’s Talk!

Thank you Safety Calendar participants!Thank you to everyone who’s children or grandchildren submitted drawings for the McHugh Safety Calendar contest! The calendar and fence banners turned out great! Pictured above are two of the winners with their artwork, Dan Jordan’s sons, Henry and Edward.

And one more Guess the McHugh Employee!

Just for good measure...Which is which? Dan Jatis / Dustin Hoffman