ENR Texas & Louisiana Honors 2013 Best Projects

Out of more than 80 entries submitted for this year's ENR Texas & Louisiana Best Projects competition, an independent panel of judges named 27 winners, all of them featured online and in the December 16 print issue.

Best Health Care: An exterior view of the new $22-million University of Texas Moncrief Cancer Institute.

This year's winners were extremely diverse, representing a wide selection of construction projects in varied markets—projects completed in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013.

Many "firsts" made it into the winners' circle, including the first ultra-supercritical advanced-steam-cycle power generation facility in the U.S.; the first steel-arch and stress-ribbon bridge in North America; and the first Formula One racetrack in the U.S. Winners also included the restoration of a building from 1932 that had been vacant for 30 years and a seven-year bridge-widening project.

Each Best Project had to demonstrate innovation, exceptional quality and an ability to find creative solutions to daunting challenges.

To select the region's best, ENR Texas & Louisiana recruited an independent panel of six industry professionals, representing diverse fields of expertise. Read more about our judges here.

Another integral part of ENR's annual Best Projects competition is the Excellence in Safety Award, now in its second year. More than 50 entries vied for the award, with a separate panel of jurors selecting the safety winner, along with five merit-award winners.

In selecting the Project of the Year, the judges had a difficult time in making a selection considering the high caliber of entries. Five finalists were selected: 500 Fannin Building, First Baptist Church Dallas, George W. Bush Presidential Center, Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Pedestrian Bridge and the President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension.

Read on to learn about the successes and challenges faced by the teams on all of this year's Best Projects in categories ranging from airports/transit to water/environment:

 

Texas & Louisiana Project of the Year

George W. Bush Presidential Center (University Park, Texas)

Safety

Best Project: The John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant Project (Fulton, Ark.)

Award of Merit: Biomedical Research and Health Professions Building (Brownsville, Texas)

Award of Merit: Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston, Texas)

Award of Merit: GE Manufacturing Solutions – Locomotive Manufacturing Facility “Project Forward” (Fort Worth, Texas)

Award of Merit: San Jacinto College Allied Health Building (Houston, Texas)

Award of Merit: Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division | Manufacturing Facility (TARO 1) (Red Oak, Texas)

Airports/Transit

Best Project: Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC) Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (New Orleans, La.)

Cultural/Worship

Best Project: First Baptist Church Dallas (Dallas, Texas)

Award of Merit: Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas, Texas)

Energy/Industrial

Best Project: The John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant Project (Fulton, Ark.)

Government/Public Buildings

Best Project: College Station Fire Station #6 (College Station, Texas)

Green Project

Best Project: NASA Johnson Space Center Building 12 (Houston, Texas)

Health Care

Best Project: UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute (Fort Worth, Texas)

Award of Merit: CJMH C. Bryce Thomas MD Memorial Emergency Center (Jasper, Texas)

Higher Education/Research

Best Project: George W. Bush Presidential Center (University Park, Texas)

Award of Merit: Biomedical Research and Health Professions Building (Brownsville, Texas)

Highways/Bridges

Best Project: President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (Grand Prairie, Texas)

Award of Merit: Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project (Jefferson Parish, La.)

Interior Design/Tenant Improvement

Best Project: Sub-Zero Wolf Showroom (Dallas, Texas)

K-12 Education

Best Project: Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston, Texas)

Award of Merit: St. Andrew's Episcopal School - Dell Fine Arts Center (Austin, Texas)

Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development

Best Project: City of Dallas Klyde Warren Park (Dallas, Texas)

Manufacturing

Best Project: Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division | Manufacturing Facility (TARO 1) (Red Oak, Texas)

Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Developments

Best Project: BBVA Compass Plaza (Houston, Texas)

Renovation/Restoration

Best Project: 500 Fannin Building (Houston, Texas)

Award of Merit: Baylor T. Boone Pickens Cancer Hospital (Dallas, Texas)

Residential/Hospitality

Best Project: Museum Tower (Dallas, Texas)

Small Projects (under $10 million)

Best Project: Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Pedestrian Bridge (Fort Worth, Texas)

Award of Merit: Turrell Skyspace (Houston, Texas)

Specialty Contracting

Best Project: GE Manufacturing Solutions – Locomotive Manufacturing Facility “Project Forward” (Fort Worth, Texas)

Sports/Entertainment

Best Project: Circuit of the Americas/Formula One US Grand Prix (Austin, Texas)

Water/Environment

Best Project: LPV-3.2 West Return Floodwall (New Orleans, La.)

Award of Merit: T-Bar Well Field Development & Delivery Project (Midland, Texas)

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Tree splits E. Texas home during afternoon storm

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) - A tree nearly split an East Texas home in half Wednesday afternoon.

A female homeowner was inside the house, located on the 600 block of Oakdale Avenue in Longview, when the tree fell. She was not injured and was able to walk out of the home unscathed.

Firefighters on scene suspect that high winds from the afternoon storms knocked down the tree.

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Will you be able to vote on Texas independence?

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -

Members of the Texas Nationalist Movement say, if they get enough petition signatures, Texans will be able to decide if our state should secede from the union. 

The group will be collecting signatures in Tyler on Saturday. 

"We want to give Texans the opportunity to experience the freedom and liberty that Americans once had," said Shawn Bradley, the Smith County coordinator for the Texas Nationalist Movement, a nonprofit association seeking Texas independence.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Texas can stand on it's own in this world and be a leader in the world," Bradley says. 

First, the group has to get around 100,000 signatures on a Texas independence petition. 

"It's going to put on the Republican primary ballot the question, 'should Texas consider becoming an independent nation?'"

Bradley says concerns about our country's direction fuel his group's desire to secede from the union. 

"We all have common concerns about the embracing of socialism, the degradation of our economy through massive debt and inflationary monetary policies."

He understands not everyone agrees, but he sites the Texas Constitution as the reason Texans should have the choice. 

"All political power is inherent in the people and all free governments are founded on their authority. This is why we're going to the people because that is the source of all political power in our society," Bradley says. 

He hopes people on both sides can agree on the right to vote on Texas independence. 

We contacted our local representatives, State Senator Kevin Eltife and Congressman Louie Gohmert, among others, about the Texas independence movement. However, none of them wanted to comment on this issue. 

Bradley responded to their silence by saying, "I think that will change when I think there is enough evidence of popular support for the idea. When the people make it known they want this, then the politicians will follow suit." 

The group's petition signing will be Saturday from 9am-3pm at the corner of Loop 323 and Highway 155 in Tyler. 

To learn more about the Texas Nationalist Movement, click here. 

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Accident sends car into East Texas lake

HENDERSON COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -

Emergency crews responded to an accident Wednesday afternoon at Lake Palestine.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Jean Dark, troopers are assisting local fire crews at the scene of an accident involving a vehicle that went into Lake Palestine. The vehicle, an SUV, is almost entirely submerged in the water at this time.

The driver of the vehicle says she accidentally put the car into drive instead of reverse and drove into the lake. She made it out of the car without injury and swam to shore.

The Noonday Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Crews are trying to figure out how to retrieve the SUV from the lake. 

The accident is at the intersection of Highway 155 and County Road 189 in Smith County.

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East Texas man waives right to jury trial in 2012 murder case

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - The East Texas man charged with a September 2012 murder appeared in court Wednesday morning.

According to Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham, 70-year-old Anthony Miller waived his right to a jury trial and will enter a plea in the case October 4. He is charged with the murder of 34-year-old Adam Palacios of Tyler.

Miller was arrested June 3 after new information was gathered regarding Palacios' death, which occurred on County Road 35 in Tyler. Family members reported Palacios missing in September 2012. A few weeks later, Miller called authorities and led them to the man's body.

Miller will remain in the Smith County Jail until his hearing in which he will plead and be sentenced.

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Suspects wanted for stealing large number of electronics from E. Texas business

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) - Local authorities are looking for two suspects who stole a large number of electronic devices from an East Texas store.

According to the Longview Police Department, two unknown suspects broke the glass in a display case and took multiple iPads. The alleged thieves then exited the store and loaded the stolen merchandise into a white Cadillac SUV.

The theft occurred at the Walmart Supercenter located at 4006 Estes Parkway.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects or has information on this crime is asked to contact Detective Gary Shirley with Longview police at 903-237-1199 or Gregg County Crime stoppers at 903-236-7867.

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E. Texas representatives weigh in on possible Syria deal

(KLTV) - East Texas representatives said Tuesday’s developments only make them more confident that military action is not the solution in Syria. Texas leaders in Congress have been vocally opposed to the use of force in the region over the last few weeks, many promised to vote no if taken to a vote.

Tyler Liberty Alliance president Joseph Yazdanpanahi believes the deal between Russia and Syria is one the government should be considering.

“We should be skeptical,” he said. “But at the same time, we should do what is in America's best interest and sending a bomb over to Syria and killing more people doesn't seem like a solution.”

Yazdanpanahi lead a rally last week against US intervention in Syria.

“If we do send a bomb over there, how is that going to stop more chemical weapons from being used?” he said. “What about retaliation? Is Iran going to retaliate? They are allies with Syria”

Local leaders in Washington agreed. US representative Jeb Hensarling held a telephone town hall Monday night. He said after talking with East Texas residents, “It is clear that the American people are not convinced of the need to move forward with the President’s plan.”

“This is a very bipartisan issue,” said US Representative Louie Gohmert. “The people on both sides of the aisle, I’d say a majority, are not supportive of the President striking in Syria.”

Yazdanpanahi, who still has an aunt living in the region, said it comes down to bigger problems to tackle here at home.

“With all of the conflicts, with the national debt crisis, with the economic situation, why would we want to have any more involvement that's not in our absolute best interest and an absolute necessity?” he said.

The president has scheduled an address to the nation on the issue for Tuesday at 8 p.m.

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Attorney files official complaint against East Texas district judge

SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -

An official grievance has been filed against a Smith County judge who ordered deputies to arrest a Tyler attorney at his dying aunt's bedside.  

In July, longtime defense attorney Clifton Roberson was considering taking action against Smith County 114th District Court Judge Christi Kennedy. Roberson says he was brought to the courthouse in handcuffs when he went to see his aunt in the hospital instead of going to a hearing. Roberson's attorney says the complaint was filed with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct last week.

The complaint and any results from the commission's investigation could remain confidential, unless the review board takes public action against the judge.

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Texas A&M '12THMAN' license plate auctioned off for $115k, to be given to veteran

DALLAS, TX (KLTV) -

DALLAS (AP) - A Texas A&M "12THMAN" specialty auto license plate has been awarded to a Houston resident for a record winning bid of $115,000. 

According to ESPN, the winner, Tony Buzbee, an attorney from Houston, will be presented with the plates during the second quarter of Saturday's football game versus Alabama. Buzbee, who is a former officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, plants to give the plates to a decorated war veteran who graduated from Texas A&M.

"I'm not saying who it is yet, but I see him as a 12th man to our country," said Buzbee. "He did a lot more than pay $100,000 for a license plate."

Kim Drummond with Austin-based My Plates says bids stalled at about $42,000 at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. But a bidding war ensued that shot the price upward by the noon deadline.

My Plates, the state customized license plate contractor, auctioned off 10-year rights to the plate. The winner can renew rights to the plate after 10 years for $795.

The previous record for a specialty plate was a bid of $25,000 in January for "HOUSTON."

Copyright 20123 KLTV. ALl rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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