New Jersey Subs Association Awards Top Honors

The association names its top firms of the year and gives out its safety awards. Also, New York City civic groups have presented a policy guide on city planning and other issues in time for the mayoral debates.

Civic Groups Push Planning Policy

Three New York City civic groups have joined in an attempt to frame the debate for this fall's municipal mayoral election to address planning issues facing the city over the next four years.

The Regional Plan Association, the Center for New York City Affairs, and the Center for an Urban Future have released a report, distributed to the candidates and debate moderators, that outlines policy issues and provides proposals and recommendations by civic organizations, public officials, and academics.

The report encourages questioning the candidates about their understanding of regional planning issues and their proposals for waterfront development, open space, affordable housing, and the transportation system. The documents also encourage exploration of broader issues regarding the economy, employment, and social services. The organizations plan to host a forum this month regarding the issues.

Planning Awards for N.Y. Firms

The American Society of Landscape Architects has awarded its 2005 General Design award to New York-based landscape architect Thomas Balsley Associates of New York for the firm's design of Capitol Plaza, a new one quarter-acre public open space connecting 26th and 27th streets east of Sixth Avenue. It features bamboo groves and seating next to retail and cafés.

The society's Analysis and Planning award went to Rogers Marvel Architects, a New York-based architectural and open space planning firm, for its design of Battery Park City streetscapes. The project involved the design of improvements to parks, streetscapes, and perimeter security at the World Financial Center.

New Jersey Subs Honored

The American Subcontractors Association of New Jersey has announced the lineup of winners in its 2005 awards program.

The association honors individuals and companies that have made contributions toward improving the state's construction industry and achieving "higher levels of professionalism." The association will present the awards at a Nov. 12 black tie dinner in Whippany, N.J.

The association has named Fine Painting & Decorating Co. of Mountainside as its Subcontractor of the Year and Furino & Sons of Plainfield as its General Contractor of the Year.

Other winners were Gilbane Building, headquartered in Providence, R.I., and with regional offices in Lawrenceville, as Construction Manager of the Year and Stavola Realty Company of Tinton Falls as Developer of the Year. The association also named Pfizer Corp. as its Construction User of the Year and Thomas Manning of the Steamfitters Local Union No. 475 as its Labor Leader of the Year.

In addition, the association has awarded its 2005 Safety Award to Binsky & Snyder of Piscataway, Eii of Cranford, Fine Painting & Decorating, GAR Equipment of South Plainfield, and Schoonover Electric of Mountainside.

Concrete Association Report on Materials Life-Cycle Benefits

A report detailing advances in sustainable manufacturing of concrete contends the material's life cycle benefits exceed those of other building materials such as steel and wood.

Released in August by the Portland Cement Association, the report details the conservation of raw materials and minimization of energy consumption in the production of concrete. According to the association, the industry has reduced emissions by 33 percent since 1975, and outlines a voluntary target of a further 10 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 and a voluntary 60 percent reduction in the volume of cement kiln dust disposed per ton of clinker from 1990 levels.

In comparing cement's environmental impact compared to that of steel and wood, the report highlights the use of byproducts such as blast-furnace slag from steel plants and fly ash from electric power plants, both which can offset the need for depletable resources such as natural stone and gypsum. It also details efforts to recycle the industry's own kiln dust to reduce the use of limestone.

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