John Cyrier, President of Sabre Commercial, Leading Candidate for HD 17

 Congratulations to John Cyrier for his strong showing in the HD 17 State House of Representatives race held on January 6!  John netted 46% of the vote while his nearest opponent managed only 24%.  A runoff race is scheduled on February 17.

The Chapter PAC donated $1,000 to the campaign and the AGC Texas Building Branch PAC added $5,000 per a request from our Chapter.
 
Cyrier has worked for AGC member companies for more than 10 years as a contractor and is in his second year as chair of the Austin AGC chapter. He is president and CEO of Sabre Commercial. If elected, John would join Rep. Paul Workman as the second Austin AGC leader to serve currently in the
Texas legislature.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 Austin AGC Outstanding Construction Awards!    Over 150 people attended the annual celebration dinner on January 23rd at the AT&T Executive Conference Center. 

A copy of the evening's program with more information and photos of each project is available by clicking here.  Also, photos from the event can be viewed here.

 2014 Award winner projects:

Category Building 3: 
Solis Constructors, Inc. for FY 12 SOF C-130 Washrack Hangar

Category Building 4: 

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors for Pflugerville ISD Dearing Elementary

Category Building 5: 

Andres Construction for Gables Park Plaza Tower

Category Design Build 1: 

Chasco Constructors for Bartholomew Municipal Pool

Category Design Build 2: 

The Beck Group for Nutrabolt Corporation Headquarters

Category Health Care 1: 

Sabre Commercial, Inc. for Seton Medical Center Austin MRI Suite Renovations

Category Health Care 3: 

Rogers-O'Brien Construction Company for Forest Park Medical Center San Antonio

Category Industrial/Warehouse 2: 

Rogers-O'Brien Construction Company for INSYS Therapeutics Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

Interior Finish-Out 1: 

Sabre Commercial, Inc. for University of Texas at Austin, Student Union Building, Events Center

Interior Finish-Out 2: 

Sabre Commercial, Inc. for University of Texas at Austin, Active Learning Classrooms Renovation, McCombs School of Business

Interior Finish-Out 4:
The Beck Group for The University of Texas at Austin Norman Hackerman Building Level 2-6 Finish-Out

Specialty Construction: 

Chapter staff and several member firms continue to participate in stakeholder meetings with industry, residents and City officials.  The current ordinance expires at the end of March and contains the following provisions: 
  

- Establish 2am curfew for concrete pours in the Central Business District (CBD) and Public (P) zoning areas.  Curfew does not apply to concrete finishing.  

- Grandfather all projects in the CBD or P zones that have (or will file) for a building permit before December 1 

- Establish 60 day stakeholder process to develop a permanent solution. 

- Require sound and light mitigation plans to the city for overnight pours.

- Require notification of nearby residents and business owners of planned pours. 

- Direct the City Planning and Development Review Director to establish rules for allowing overnight pours under 'special' circumstances.

- No expansion of overnight pour permitting to the Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) zone as was recommended by City staff and supported by AGC.
   

More background information about the issue is available on the City website here. 

 With the Texas Legislature now in session, our lobbying team at the AGC Texas Building Branch is hard at work promoting and protecting the interests of the Texas commercial construction industry.  

AGC is actively and prominently supporting the higher ed community's legislative plan for funding building construction needs.  This includes $2.3 billion of tuition revenue bonds as well as a roughly $1.3 billion upward adjustment for the Higher Education Fund (HEF) which is up for its five-year recalibration.  Other priority issues include streamlining school background checks and tweaking breach of contract laws.  

AGC Chapters around Texas have formed a partner website,  texasconstructioncareers.com,  to help you find employment or an employee.  Check out the job bank page to post your resume or review potential hires.