january 26, 2015 csi houston january program “the ... · resume? 6, 8 csi sponsor advertise-ments...

CSI Houston ChapterThe Construction Specifications Institute

January 2015

Inside this issue:CSI Houston ChapterJanuaryProgram 1

Leadership Directory 2

President’s Message &Holiday Party Pictures 3

Board Meeting Minutes 4

Sponsor Advertisements 5

Time to Brush Up YourResume? 6, 8

CSI Sponsor Advertise-ments 7

Strictly Smith-ly, “HowArchitect’s Decisions Make ItInto Specifications” 8, 9

Strictly Smith-ly, “TheImportance of TechnicalResources” 10

SCR Region Conference 11

CSI Houston Calendar 12

Houston Chapter Website:http://www.csihouston.org

January 26, 2015Board / Chapter

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CSI Houston January Program

“The Construction Outlook for 2015”One does not have to work long in the construction industry to learn how sensitivethis segment of the economy is to fluctuations at the local and national levels.

The boom and bust nature of this segment of the econo-my affects manufacturing (building materials), construc-tion, and design services. We learn to read the eco-nomic news to find about housing starts and unemploy-ment, but how does that affect us in the Houston area?For a number of years, the Houston Chapter CSI hasstarted the year by asking Pat Kiley to share histhoughts on the economic state of the construction in-dustry in the Houston area: How we did last year andwhat we can expect in the coming year. His connec-tions throughout the network of local government andinstitutional owners, private developers, builders, anddesigners, put him in a unique position to provide acomprehensive perspective about what new projects arebeing planned.

Pat Kiley is a founding principal of Kiley Advisors, a consulting firm that advisesCEO’s and Senior Executives on matters of Leadership and Strategy. His firmconducts research and publishes an annual forecast of the Houston commercialconstruction marketplace, and he speaks to many groups about the market out-look. The firm is retained by general and specialty contractors to assist with mar-ket strategy, relationship strategy, and leadership development and succession.His firm also conducts workshops and retreats with senior leaders of many com-panies and associations for the purposes of strategic planning, best practicesevaluations and team building.

Prior to founding the firm in 2004, Mr. Kiley served for 21 years with the HoustonChapter of Associated General Contractors of America, Inc., (AGC) a 1,000 mem-ber trade association representing General Contractors, Specialty Contractors,Suppliers and Service Firms. He was recognized for his work by receiving hisown association’s highest honor, The Master Builder Award, in 2004 and by anamed Scholarship Fund in 2006. Most recently, he was awarded an HonoraryLife Membership to the Houston AGC. He was inducted into the Construction Hallof Fame at Texas A&M University, Department of Construction Science in 2007.He has also been honored by the Minority Contractor community.

Make sure your plans for the new year include joining the Houston Chapter CSI

meeting on Monday, January 26, 2015, at the HESS Club for this program.

SPEC.TECTONICS

2014—2015 COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Programs Alex Bernard, CSI, CCPR(713) 407 7700

[email protected]

Membership Mark LeCrone(713) 907-5037

[email protected]

Certification Greg Quintero, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED AP(713) 356-1300

[email protected]

Awards Amy Salmeron, CSI, CDT713-460-5216

[email protected]

Continuing Education Mark Koehler, CSI(713) 781-6006

[email protected]

Public Relations/Marketing Grant Groeschel, CSI(713)-520-0155

[email protected]

Golf Tournament Holly Jordan, CSI, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP(713) 407-7700

[email protected]

Table Top Amy Peevey, PE, RRO, CDT(713) 467-9840

[email protected]

CIC Delegate Bill Fairbanks, CSI, CCPR(281) 227-3577

[email protected]

CIC Alternate Jeff Holstein, CSI, CDT

2014—2015 CSI HOUSTON SPEC.TECTONICS

SPEC.tectonics Editor Don Smith, CSI, CCS, RA, LEED AP(713) 688-0092

[email protected]

2014—2015 CSI HOUSTON WEBSITE

Webmaster Logan Vits, CSI, CCPR, LEED AP(281) 703-5201

[email protected]

2014—2015 CSI HOUSTON FOUNDATION

President, Al Pasek, CSI, CCPR(713) 880-4343

[email protected]

Past PresidentGreg Roberts, FAIA, FCSI, CCS, ACHA, LEED AP

Vice President Bill Fairbanks, CSI, CCPR

Secretary Diann Reid, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP

Treasurer Bob Cook, CSI, AHC

Committee Chair James Sandoz, CSI, CDT

Director Jeff Holstien, CSI, CDT

Director Don Smith, CSI CCS, RA, LEED AP

JANUARY 2015 - PAGE 2 CSI HOUSTON

CSI HOUSTON CHAPTER

2014—2015 CHAPTER OFFICERS

President Neil Byrne, CSI, CDT, CPA(281) 354-1100

[email protected]

Past President Robert P. Byrne, CSI(713) 632-4790

[email protected]

President Elect Holly Jordan, CSI, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP(713) 407-7700

[email protected]

VP Finance/ Admin. Chuck Vojtech, CSI(281) 227-3577

[email protected]

VP Professional Development Tim Wilson, CSI(832) 289-6765

[email protected]

VP Member Services Tom Atwell, CSI(713) 877-8879

[email protected]

VP Public Services Don Smith, CSI, CCS, RA, LEED AP(713) 688-0092

[email protected]

Secretary Betsy Finch, CSI(713) 806-3401

[email protected]

Treasurer Bill Fairbanks, CSI, CCPR(281) 227-3577

[email protected]

2014—2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director through 2015 Amy Salmeron, CSI, CDT713-460-5216

[email protected]

Director through 2015 Grant Groeschel, CSI, AIA, LEED AP(713) 934-4891

[email protected]

Director through 2016 Don Ude, CSI(281) 685-0164

[email protected]

Director through 2016 Logan Vits, CSI, CCPR, LEED GA(713) 703-5201

[email protected]

Director through 2017 Jeff Holstien, CSI, CDT(281) 850-4659

[email protected]

Director through 2017 Alex Bernard, CSI, CCPR(713) 407 7700

[email protected]

Board Advisory Director Doug Frank, FCSI, CCS(281) 660-6246

[email protected]

CSI SOUTH CENTRAL REGION (http://www.scr-csi.org) / INSTITUTE LEADERS (http://www.csinet.org)

SC Region President Melody A. Stinson, CSI, CCS, AIA, LEED AP Institute Director Kirby M. Davis, CSI, CDT(405) 942-7337 (203)

[email protected] irby-

[email protected]

SPEC.TECTONICS JANUARY 2015 - PAGE 3 CSI HOUSTON

January 2015President’s Messageby Neil P. Byrne, CSIPresident, CSI Houston Chapter

Happy New Year! 2014was a successful year atCSI Houston and I aim tobuild upon that in 2015.We closed out the calen-dar year strong with ourannual holiday event.The wagon build and toydrive benefiting ShrinersHospital for Children wasa fun way to do some-thing charitable duringthe holiday season. Ithank those that attendedand especially the teamthat helped put the even-ing together.

In Chapter news, our very own Holly Jordan is runningfor Institute Director. We need the Houston Chapter tocome together and do our part to help elect Holly.Please join me in voting for Holly when the electronicballots come out. Also, be on the lookout for our CDTcamp to get those that our interested in taking the CDTexam some valuable preparation.

Our much anticipated January meeting will feature PatKiley and his annual economic outlook. This is ourlargest meeting every year and no doubt it will beagain. Table tops are available to purchase as well.

I look forward to seeing you all at the January meeting.

Remember, please do your part to increase member-

ship and member participation at CSI Houston!

At each monthly meeting, the Chapter encourages Indus-try Members to provide a table top display of their prod-ucts and services for the inspection and education ofthose attending the meeting.

The table top display is also encouraged to be presentedduring the social hour and after the program for anyquestions by attendees.

The presentation fee is $200 for members and $250 fornon-members, or free with a Golf Sponsorship pledge.

Contact: [email protected]

December 2014Wagon Assembly and Toy DriveBenefitting the Shriner’sHospital for Children


CSI Board Meeting MinutesHouston Chapter CSILocation: HESS Building – 5430 WestheimerRoad – Houston, TXSeptember 22, 2014

Present: Alex Bernard, Betsy Finch, Bill Fairbanks,Chuck Vojtech, Don Smith, Doug Frank, Holly Jordan,Jeff Holstein, Neil Byrne, Tom Atwell

President Neil Byrne called the meeting to order at4:02 p.m.

The September 2014 Board Meeting Minutes wereapproved.

Vice President Reports:Finance/Administration: Chuck VojtechTreasurer’s Report: Bill FairbanksBill distributed the current Income & Loss Statement.He reported he had not received the final invoice forthe golf tournament from Falcon Point.

Professional Development: Tim WilsonContinuing Education: Greg QuinteroNo report.

Technical Committee: J. Peter JordanNo report.

Member Services: Tom AtwellPrograms: Alex BernardAlex reported he is working on finalizing the plans forthe November program, City of Houston Code Chang-es.

Membership: Bill LunsfordNeil reported Bill resigned his position. Neil also re-ported the chapter membership is at one hundred andseventy-six members.

Awards: Amy SalmeronNo report.

Table Top Display: Amy PeeveyNo report.

Public Services: Don SmithSpecial Events:Golf Tournament: Holly JordanHolly reported the tournament goals set by the commit-tee were exceeded, ninety-seven players signed up forthe tournament and eighty-five actually played.Holiday Event: Holly JordanHolly stated the charge for the event is $10 per personand also attendees would be encouraged to bring a toyor toys to donate. The charity for the event is theShriners organization.

SPEC.tectonics: Don SmithDon reported the current newsletter was posted to the





chapter website.

Electronic Communications: Logan VitsNo report.

Other Business:

SCR Planning Conference:Neil reported the spring meeting would be held April 16-18, 2015 in Lubbock, Texas.

New Membership Campaign – R.U.N. CSI:Neil reported he is still working on this program andwould like to introduce this to the members at the Janu-ary meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Betsy Finch, CSIChapter Secretary

WHERE IS YOUR BUSINESSADVERTISEMENT?

A quarter page ad is only $250 for 12 issues

A half page ad is only $500 for 12 issues

A business card ad is only $225 for 12 issues

Contact Don Smith at

(713) 688-0092 or [email protected]

for more information.


Time to Brush Up Your Resume?By Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, CSC

It's been ten years since my firm took the plunge andbegan moving from AutoCAD to Revit. There was a lotof behind-the-scenes researchand discussionin the precedingyear, after whicha test team wasassembled andtrained. A realproject was se-lected for live-fire testing, andwe were on theway. About twoyears later, wedid our first all-discipline project. In the next two years,the entire production staff received a full week of train-ing. By the time the economy collapsed in 2008, Revitwas our primary program, and today, it is used for vir-tually all of our work.

When the decision was made to commit to Revit, a fewof our users made a presentation to the rest of the of-fice, showing some of BIM's capabilities. Many ofthose who watched were impressed by a simpledemonstration that showed simultaneously a plan, anelevation, and an isometric view of part of a model.The presenter showed that moving a door in any oneof the views changed the other views in real time.

As I watched, I remember thinking, "Someone is goingto be out of a job." It should be no secret that, as firmsbecome more familiar and more efficient in their use ofBIM software, they will no longer need those peoplewho formerly translated the changes made on onedrawing to related parts of other drawings. From there,it's not difficult to imagine a program, or a collection ofintegrated programs, that would allow a single design-er to operate without any support staff. Carry thatthought a bit further, and it is quite possible to do awaywith structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers.

We all like to think we're essential, but computers andautomation have been putting people out of work for along time, and it seems the rate is increasing. And,even though many people accept this as fact, it's com-mon for them to believe that their jobs are safe. But arethey?

Nearly anything that is repetitious is now done by ma-chines, controlled by computers. Entire factories nowrequire only a few humans to watch the process, andeven their jobs are in danger. It's interesting that manyof the jobs left to humans are basic services, or manu-al jobs that are too varied or complex for computers -at least for the moment. In high school, I worked in aWard's warehouse, a huge building full of thousands of

products. At the time, it would have been difficult toconceive of a way that machines could find, select, anddeliver those products as well as a human. To see howeven these jobs are being replaced, watch this videoabout Amazon's new warehouse: http://youtu.be/6KRjuuEVEZs?t=10s. The only humans stillat work are stuffing shipping boxes, something a com-puter will probably be able to do within a couple ofyears.

Some people argue that all of this automation frees usfrom menial work, and will allow us to pursue moreinteresting work. That may be true, but in most cases,the people put out of work cannot simply move on to ajob that requires more education and experience.That's clear in the case of those who work in ware-houses or factories, but it's also true of people withyears of college education and experience. Will thestaff architect move on to become a programmer forAutoDesk? Possibly, but not without more education.

The problem is, computers are not limited to simplejobs. If you can define how to do something, you canprogram a computer to do the same thing. Watchingrobots in an assembly line, it's clear they can performcomplex operations. And while computers and robotsonce were built to do just a few things, current modelscan be reprogrammed as required for different jobs,and some now are able to learn and reprogram them-selves.

What about your job? We talked about staff architectsalready, but what about engineers? They already relyon computers to do all the calculations that were donemanually many years ago. Don't you think it's possiblefor a computer to analyze a BIM model, evaluate vari-ous structural systems, and choose the one that's bestfor the project? Couldn't the computer also be able tocompare several HVAC systems, plumbing designs,and electrical options, and choose the best? Someonemay have to tell the computer if cost or performance ismore important, but even that decision could be auto-mated. Hardware specifiers amaze me with all theyknow, but again, if you can describe how they decidewhich hardware to use, a computer can do the samething - and it can be done in the architect's office.

Surely, there is no way to completely eliminate archi-tects! Don't be too sure. Early in October, I watched aninteresting video (http://vimeo.com/107291814) thatdiscussed the possibility of a computer completely de-signing a building based on program requirements, siteconditions, and building codes. I'm sure architects willobject, saying there's no way a machine could infusethe building with the subtle expression and style thatcould come only from a human. Well, maybe, exceptthat the majority of buildings don't have much style, orhave a style that strongly suggests use of a cookie cut-ter. Throw in some of that innovative design that is in-distinguishable from the aftermath of a tornado, andI'm not sure architects we would know if a building had

continued on page 8

SPEC.TECTONICS JANUARY 2015 - PAGE —7 CSI HOUSTON


continued from Page 6

been designed by an architect or by a computer.Furthermore, I suspect that the program could con-tain several recognized style options, so a givenbuilding could resemble Gothic, Romanesque, Chi-cago, Art Deco, Postmodern, or any of the Revivals.

What about construction workers? In the past, eve-rything was done in the field, but more and morework is moving into factories. Modular constructionfurther reduces the need for on-site workers, and 3Dprinting may eliminate more. With the right infor-mation, we won't need estimators or schedulers,and driverless trucks are in our future. Sensors onbuilding components and maintenance items will tellcomputers what needs to be done, and robots willdo it.

The bottom line is - the bottom line. Companiesdon't exist to hire people; they exist to make moneyfor their owners. At first glance, robots look expen-sive, but if a robot costs $25,000 and must be re-placed after two years, the cost works out to about$6.00 per hour - if it works only eight hours a day.No one knows how all this will play out, but it's sureto be interesting.

The bottom line is - the bottom line. Companiesdon't exist to hire people; they exist to make moneyfor their owners. At first glance, robots look expen-sive, but if a robot costs $25,000 and must be re-placed after two years, the cost works out to about$6.00 per hour - if it works only eight hours a day.No one knows how all this will play out, but it's sureto be interesting.

So maybe it's time to update your resume - or havea computer do it for you.

© 2014, Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA,CSCAgree? Disagree? Leave your comments at http://swconstructivethoughts.blogspot.com/.





“Strictly SMITH-ly”

How Architect’s Decisions MakeIt Into Specifications

By Donald F. Smith, Jr., CSI CCS RA LEEDAP

I am always amazed at the creative ways thatdecision makers communicate their desires.Shortly after I took over writing specifications fulltime and was quite busy, I had a project architectin the firm I work for approach me and tell methat he had “a project that would start next monthand that it had glass in it.” So far, so good, Ithought.

In a week or two after our first encounter, heshowed up again and pronounced “Don, its goingto be bronze glass.”

After weeks passed and a few more of thesebrief encounters, a picture was beginning to de-velop. I had no reason to believe that he was notcompletely serious, but I started to wonder whyanyone would communicate in such a way thatwould make the listener doubt their sanity. Noth-ing was ever written down, not even on thesmallest of “Sticky Notes.” The flow of this al-most monotonous information was endless. Iwas beginning to believe I was the butt of somevery cruel joke.

It was as if every little scrap of a information wasengraved on a grain of sand on an endlessbeach that was shifted and re-deposited by theaction of each new wave as time went by.

At least with computers, you have the benefit ofthe day-time group to help you sort things out.

Continued on page 9


Continued from Page 8But, it still does nothing to help sort out thechanges impact on the related work of othersections.

I left engineering school shortly after my secondyear in college began for many reasons, includ-ing the premonition that I would be picking prod-ucts out of catalogs for someone else to use forthe rest of my life.

It’s funny how these little daydreams come backto haunt you.

But anyway, it has always amazed me how atide of emails containing cut sheets of catalogswith multiple items each with multiple optionsand accessories arrive without a manufacturer’sname or decisions marked to show what iswanted. It makes you wonder what they arewilling to seal and sign.

Review comments are likewise troublesome.Especially for projects for a local school districtclient. Review comments are normally handledin the form of comments in a pdf file. There isnot just one version but overlapping commentsfrom the several required submittal dates and nomention of what is superseded or now followinga new decision path.

This is where I have to remind the reviewer thatI work in the “Non-Fiction” department of ourprofession and cannot fabricate fact based onwhat I think is required.

An example of this is a request from a projectarchitect for a generic roofing spec. It was earlyin the Design Development phase of the projectso I responded “Sure, what kind of roof is it; claytile, sheet metal, modified bitumen?” Then acurious look appeared on her face and sheturned and walked away from me.

I keep going back to Yogi, my personal philoso-pher . . .

"If you don't know where you're going, you mightwind up someplace else."

Yogi Berra

… Just my opinion,

Donald F. Smith, Jr., CSI, CCS, RA, LEED™AP

WHERE IS YOUR BUSINESSADVERTISEMENT?

A quarter page ad is only $250 for 12 issues

A half page ad is only $500 for 12 issues

A business card ad is only $225 for 12 issues

Contact Don Smith at

(713) 688-0092 or [email protected]

for more information.


Time is an important concept for what ever thesource may be. If you are familiar with MasterFormat, a section number followed by and abbre-viated subject source and date acquired I think isthe bare minimum to keep track of things andgives a good starting point to consider when toweed and replace old material. Certainly itemsthat are no longer valid, out of date, or no longeravailable should not be kept to be selected bythe unwary. Sometimes you also need to applya personal test. Would I spend my own moneyon this for a current project?

It is important that the resource library be intui-tive, easy to use quickly, and available to all.Information that cannot be accessed quickly willnot be access at all.

The “eighty percent rule” should be used. Thatis, things that show up routinely in eighty percentof your particular area of practice should bereadily available with links to other sources ofgeneral interest.

Keep your ears open for comments on whatworks and what doesn’t work. The Internetchanges so quickly that it might be a goodsource for the need for change. You need toseek out and fix every time someone tries to usethe resource and can’t get the information thatthey need. If it is the go to place, everyone willuse it. The specifier is a good choice to collect-ing and have a final say on weeding, but shouldnot be the only source as a good technical libraryshould address different points-of-view.

Technical resources are especially important todesigners and project architects early in the pro-ject. A preliminary Table of Contents early in SDand DD with cut-sheets of major items to be in-cluded in the roof and exterior enclosure walls,may help develop well thought-out building sec-tions based on Codes, project goals and budg-ets.

"In a time of drastic change it is the learners whoinherit the future. The learned usually find them-selves equipped to live in a world that no longerexists. "

Eric Hoffer

… Just my opinion,

Donald F. Smith, Jr., CSI, CCS, RA, LEED™AP

“Strictly SMITH-ly”

The Importance of TechnicalResources

By Donald F. Smith, Jr., CSI CCS RA LEED AP

Drawings and specifications rely on design deci-sions founded on fact, not intensions. Codes,standards, and technical specifications are notguidelines in the sense of general areas of agree-ment or disagreement, depending on your point ofview, They belong to broader categories of mini-mum requirements for safe construction, habitationand use, as well as general agreement as to whatworks and what does not. Or I would say an agree-ment of how things work, and in some sense alsoareas that they may not work or work well.

Architecture is the art and science of designing andbuilding, especially habitable ones, and also themethod or style of building. Building Codes are acompilation of requirements for the minimum re-quirements for safe construction and habitation. Ithas always amazed me that they are often viewedas a line in the sand. Almost a dare on how close aparticular design can get to the line of what is per-mitted. History tells us that great architecture re-sults from the art and science of construction andhow well the structure performs and the joy andpracticality that it brings to the occupants over along period of time. In today’s society, people don’tfight to preserve poor architecture, but rather to pre-serve the culture of the past, how people lived andhow we got to where we are today.

A good technical library contains Codes, standards,industry specifications, historical styles, types ofconstruction, technical literature and periodicals onwhat works, how it works, and information on whereit doesn’t work. The modern library is in a state oftransition. Use of printed material is declining withmaybe the exception of preserving the historicalrecord. Internet sourced material seems to beingincreasing, but changes so frequently that maintain-ing links to sources can be problematic, so muchso, that quick access comes at a price. I prefer amix of Internet links, local copies of manufacturer’sdata and scans of published articles filed by subjectfor quick retrieval. Samples, if kept, are useful, buonly if marked as to what they are, who they wereobtained from and when they were obtained. It isimportant to remember that items with a naturalrange of variation such as masonry, stone, andwood are difficult or impossible to closely match.


Melody Stinson, AIA, CCCA, CCS, CSI, LEED APCSI South Central Region 2014-15 PresidentContact: [email protected]

63( &�ගඍඋගඖඑඋඛ�LV�D�PRQWKO\�SXEOLFDWLRQ�RI�WKH�+RXVWRQ�&KDSWHU��&RQVWUXFWLRQ�6SHFLILFDWLRQV�,QVWLWXWH��&6,�+ඝඛගඖ�GRHV�QRW�DSSURYH��GLVDS�prove, sanction, or guarantee the validity or accuracy of any date, claim, or opinion appearing herein. Republication rights are granted to the CSIand its chapters for original articles printed herein, provided proper credits are given. The Houston Chapter is incorporated under the laws of theState of Texas, and is chartered by the Construction Specifications Institute.

CONSTRUCTIONSPECIFICATIONSINSTITUTE

Visit CSI Houstonon the Web

www.csihouston.org

Jan. 2015 through Feb. 2015

SPEC.TECTONICS JANUARY 2015 - PAGE —12 CSI HOUSTON

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18 19 Martin LutherKing Day

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25 26 CSI HoustonBoard / ChapterMeeting– Hess

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8 9 10 Planning Mtg,3:00 pm, 2010 N.Loop 610, Ste. 170

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