August 2009 Vol. 12 No. 8

Courthouse trifecta: Fresno carpenters renovate a three-in-one

The once-and future Fresno courthouse (pictured in an earlier time).

Outside, it’s almost balmy by Fresno’s summer standards, just under 100°F at 11 a.m. Inside the B.F. Sisk courthouse, it’s another story.

The courthouse project is a $54 million renovation with all the challenges that promises- working within the existing structure’s limitations, with demolition and construction happening side by side in places, and so on.

It’s also warmer- and darker- inside the five-story, 192,000 sq. ft jobsite. Fans and water coolers are placed strategically on every floor. Lights illuminate critical work areas. But even with the fans, the walls prevent much air movement. These are tough conditions- at least that’s how it feels to a visitor from the coast.

Dan House, Local 701, is the foreman for the Tracy-based Norment Security Group, Inc.

But for the hard-working Southern District and Central Valley carpenters, it’s business as usual. Mondays are the hottest, is all one Tarlton and Son Inc. employee notes. "Because the air’s been sitting all weekend with no circulation," Sam Kaboua, Local 9083, says, "it’s hotter on Mondays."

It’s not a complaint, just a fact. The teams of subs work steadily, installing metal framing for the walls, and doors with acoustic frames, renovating the courtrooms, putting in security systems, reinforcing the concrete columns to boost the building’s seismic rating, and so on.

The feds signed over the Sisk courthouse, which was built 1967, to the state in 2007 for the grand sum of $1 with the agreement that the building be used for judicial administration. The state is complying. Fresno’s new superior court building will get 15 renovated courtrooms and support offices.

Turner Construction, the construction management company for the project, is overseeing the work of more than 30 subcontractors and 30-plus union carpenters and drywallers.

Three Buildings in One

Ron Craig, Local 701, owner of Craig’s Contracting, has a big job ahead of his small team: installing the 500 doors in the courthouse. Craig pauses for a minute as one of his employees, Dylan Croff, Local 701, measures meticulously for a doorframe.

"The installation of the frame is the single most important part of framing a door," Craig says. "If it’s square, everything goes well. If not, everything else goes wrong."

Sometimes, Craig says, it takes up to 15 minutes to get the frame just right. Many of the court-house doorframes will also require acoustic grouting to manage the sound.

Sound is one of the factors that make a courthouse an interesting construction challenge. Think of these facilities as three buildings in one. It’s the office space for the judicial and administrative staff; it’s also the courtrooms and their supporting spaces- jury sequestration, judge’s chambers and so on. And finally, it’s a jail. In Fresno’s case, there’s a holding cell near most of the courtrooms, as well as nine more in the basement. In each of these areas, one should not be able to hear what’s happening in another. Courtrooms and office spaces can’t be disturbed by noise from the cells; juries must not be able to hear activity in a courtroom, and so on.

Local 701 Field Rep Bill Reeves calls Ron Craig "the most in-demand door guy in the valley. He’s an icon." Craig (right), owner of Craig’s Contracting, has been with Local 701 since 1990. Before that, he belonged to the Anchorage, Alaska local.

Evan Christin, Local 9083, works for Tarlton and Son.

Dave Miller, Local 701, is a Turner superintendent. He’s been with Local 701 since 1992, but it’s his first job for Turner.

Sam Kabuoa, Local 9083, has been with Tarlton for three years.

Second-quarter apprentice Nick Patzkowsky, Local 9083, says, "I enjoy coming to work. I’m learning a lot." He’s working for Tarlton and Son.

Manny Jara, Local 25 and Javier Garza, Local 701, put in the new concrete columns. They’re on the job with BCI.

Making the sparks fly, Jose Lopez, Local 9083, cuts metal blocks for the walls. He works for Tarlton.

"That dynamic of soundproofing and privacy changes the character of the construction assembly," says Barry Owen, Turner’s Project Executive, "and elevates it to a much more high-performing facility. These are value-added improvements because of privacy levels that must be maintained for judicial staff. And carpenters and drywallers are installing this stuff- it’s techy and requires a higher level skill set."

It’s just one of the requirements that make Sisk a challenge for the subcontracting teams here. Security is, of course, another. Norment Security Group, Inc., based in Tracy, is installing the state-of-the-art security elements at Sisk. For the milling and cabinet-making, Turner hired Fresno-based Woodworking Specialties. The shop is building the courtroom interiors- the judge’s area, walls, seating and so on. (Stay tuned to the September issue for a look inside this "LEAN" and clean, high-tech mill-cabinet shop.)

Even with all the specialty requirements of this renovation- and the challenges of summer heat in the Central Valley- the professionals carry on.

Manuel Soto, Local 1109, installs framing for the shaft walls and liner. He works for Tarlton and Son.

"I’m proud of the union carpenters down here," says Chadd Jayne, Local 152 and foreman for Berkeley Cement Inc. (BCI), which is doing the concrete work on the project. Jayne has hired all local carpenters for the team. "They’re great," he says, "they’re doing first-rate work."

Local 701 Field Rep Bill Reeves seconds Jayne’s vote of confidence. "Because work is sometimes so scarce, Central Valley carpenters must be incredibly well-rounded. They can do doors, concrete, countertops, frame something- you name it, they can do it."

"It’s great to have work," says Chadd Jayne, Local 152 and the foreman for BCI. He admits it’s a long commute from the Bay Area though; he goes home at least once midweek, usually.

Tarlton foreman Steve Andrews, Local 9083, says the company’s about halfway through its piece of the project. "Turner has been very, very good to work with. And this project’s design team," he says, "has been great." The subs can take their issues to the team, "and we work it out."

Lee Stasio, Local 701, welds security panels in place for the holding cells.

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