ASPIRE Spring 11 - Aspire - The Concrete Bridge Magazine

FOCUSBergerABAMContinues toPioneerby Craig A. ShuttA precast, prestressed concrete spliced girder design was used in the Don E. Wickstrom Bridge in Kent, Wash., to avoid any piers orfalsework in the river. The girders feature 60-ft-long variable-depth haunched segments balanced on the piers. All photos: BergerABAM.One of the firstfirms involved withprestressed concretelooks to newinnovationsIn the 1950s, the founders ofBergerABAM created a revolutionaryinstrumentation and testing procedureto validate the use of prestressedconcrete, thereby ushering in a newera for bridge construction. Today,the firm remains a leader in the useof prestressed concrete for a variety ofprojects, including routine and first-ofits-kindapplications for transportation,marine, and building structures. And,with its eye firmly set on the challengesfacing the industry, it plans to continueto innovate with concrete in the future.“Concrete is generally consideredmore durable than steel and requiresless maintenance, especially in a marineenvironment,” says Bob Fernandes, vicepresident of BergerABAM’s Public Works‘We have a design-for-construction mentalityand we enjoy overcoming obstacles.’& Transportation Department. “The useof prestressed concrete allows the useof longer spans when required.”Although clients benefit from the firm’stechnical expertise with concrete, theyare also looking for other qualities whenthey hire the firm, he says. “Each clientis different, but I suspect the qualitiesthey appreciate most are the onesthat our founders used to succeed:creativity and persistence. Our companywas founded by individuals who wereentrepreneurs and contractors. We havea design-for-construction mentality andwe enjoy overcoming obstacles.”Constructability is a critical ingredientfor today’s projects, he notes. “Theneed goes beyond a bridge’s actualdesign to include a strong sensitivityto environmental concerns. Due toan increasingly complex regulatoryenvironment, we are generally requiredto document the entire constructionprocess in great detail in order to securepermits for the project. Obviously, thisneeds to be done early in the processif the design is to be completed in anefficient manner.”In some cases, the firm is required toengineer aspects of the constructionprocess, which it previously left to thecontractor, to ensure the client canfollow through on commitments madeto the regulatory agency issuing thepermits.“Following through and helping thecontractor execute the design are alsoimportant,” adds Chuck Spry, seniorproject manager, with BergerABAM’sPublic Works & TransportationDepartment. “Wherever possible, wetry to be open to project improvementssuggested by contractors that areconsistent with the client’s goals forthe project and the permits. In somecases, we have been able to get permitsaltered to implement a contractor’sideas that benefit the project. As6 | ASPIRE, Spring 2011