A Highrise Project

Our Team at Empire recently completed a project along side VTECH Skylights at The Plaza of the Americas located in Dallas, TX.

The atrium of this commercial complex in downtown Dallas is world-famous for its natural lighting, much of which pours directly through the ceiling that soars 170 feet above the floor. The original construction was completed in 1980, and the building has withstood a lot of wear and tear in the meantime; Dallas is known for high winds and large hail, which wreak havoc on traditional skylights. But the building’s owner wasn’t about to give up the natural light for a more durable roof.

Installing skylight adapters on a high rise

The largest adapters for Plaza of the Americas needed to span 24′ – a bit too big for the freight elevator. And at 15 stories, the roof is too high for a crane. We opted to fly them up with a helicopter.

Navigating an urban landscape in a helicopter is serious business. Doing it with a thousand pounds of metal dangling from a cable is much more so. We enlisted the expertise of the seasoned operators at 5 State Helicopters and committed a generous crew of our finest installers. Waiting for clear weather with the minimal wind was an unfortunate reality, but was necessary to the project’s safety and success.

With a team on the ground, a team on the roof, a pilot in the air, and constant communication between all parties, we executed a safe and seamless lift. The helicopter bore the adapters from a nearby parking lot – closed off to all but our ground crew – up to the roof. With remarkable precision, it lowered it directly into place over the 24′ square opening. The rooftop crew was on-hand to guide the apparatus and complete the installation. Six trips in all, the plan went off without a hitch.

With the adapters in place, completing the installation of the 292 skylights was business as usual. VTECH Skylights install in minutes. They come out of the box in one piece and attach with polyurethane adhesive and a handful of stainless steel fasteners.

The atrium at Plaza of the Americas now has a beautiful, robust skylight system that is guaranteed to far outlast the roof it’s installed on.

Source: VTECH Skylights

Tyler Lea from Empire Roofing and Malachi Flores from Skylights Over Texas talk about the project. An installation of this magnitude involves a great relationship and communication between two companies to get the job completed on time.

CPR Training in the Workplace

Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. What makes these more dangerous is that they come on the most unexpected occasions and unless there is someone around with the proper knowledge to provide immediate medical attention, the person in trouble, could end up getting deeper into it. This is just one of the reasons why we invest time and money in preparing our employees for the worst-case scenarios.

Jorge Argueta from NSTCS demonstrating CPR Training to the Class

Looking at it long-term, CPR and first aid training also provide employees with the knowledge to avoid accidents in the workplace. Part of the training phase teaches us about the impact of cardiac arrests and certain accidents on their bodies. Thus, they will take the extra effort to assure that these incidences will never happen again.

No one wants to see a coworker fall victim to cardiac arrest or injury requiring CPR, but we do need to ensure we are ready for those moments. This is perhaps the biggest benefit of giving employees proper CPR training. Cardiac arrests are a matter of life and death. The fate of the worker suffering from a health concern will depend on the steps taken seconds after he gets into trouble. According to recent data, 90% of people who suffer from cardiac arrest die before they reach a hospital or medical care facility.

People are motivated to work for a company that consistently shows that it is concerned for the people under its roof as well as on our roofs. Every year Empire Roofing incorporates CPR training as part of our safety culture which helps increase employee morale.

Providing our employees with CPR and first aid training is just one of the many ways we show that we care for the health and well-being of our teammates. As workers feel more motivated, they are able to work better.

Empire Roofing partners with Dallas Community

A community is only as strong as the foundation laid by the people surrounding it. Empire Roofing has always been involved with our local community and charities. Here recently Matt Kelley V.P of Empire Roofing reached out to Dr. Terry Flowers who is the Headmaster and Executive Director for St. Philips School & Community Center in South Dallas.

TYLER LEA (LEFT), DR. FLOWERS (CENTER), MATT KELLEY (RIGHT)

The mission of St. Philip’s School and Community Center is to provide an excellent school and compatible community services to children, their families, and other residents of southern Dallas, and in doing so, to develop mutual community involvement. The facility serves as a private, non-denominational Pre-K-6th grade elementary school, community center, food pantry, Meals on Wheels depot and athletic complex.

Empire Roofing donated Reroofing to 3 buildings that St. Philips purchased which were in bad conditions. Our hope was to be able to begin the process of revitalization for the community. This is the first phase in the rebuild for this South Dallas community.

This project was not possible without the hard work of the Empire team: Tyler Lea (Project Manager), Gabriel Esquivel (Superintendent), Gabriel (G3) Esquivel III (Superintendent), and Jose Davila (Foreman). Thank you to everyone involved that turned this vision into reality!

“EMPIRE TURNED THEIR SUCCESS INTO SIGNIFICANCE” - Dr. Terry J. Flowers

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AFTER:

Empire Roofing Gives Back

“We live in a moment that calls for hope, light, and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another.

Our Empire Roofing staff makes it an effort to give back in any way possible. This time our amazing staff took part in providing lunch and snacks to the children of a local church. Partnered with Iglesia San Miguel of Fort Worth and Father Sergio Diaz we were all able to volunteer for an afternoon.

Empire Roofing has been involved with the community and the church for numerous years. The children are very thankful for the care and interest that goes into the events Empire puts together for them.

Cardiovascular Health in the Construction Industry

Construction work is demanding, and long commutes, difficulty creating a workout routine, physical exhaustion and muscular-skeletal injuries can create risk factors for cardiovascular health, according to constructionexec.com. Additionally, construction workers have a higher incidence of tobacco use, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is a chronic health condition that may occur with other health conditions, including depression, diabetes and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. The American Heart Association reports 25% of construction workers are obese, 25% use tobacco, almost 50% do not get enough exercise and one in 25 have diabetes. So creating healthy workplaces for these workers is crucial.

The American Heart Association has been working to help the construction industry understand the prevalence of cardiovascular health risk factors with its Hard Hats with Hearts initiative. Construction companies have been expanding heart health programs and education, offering free access to health coaches and providing free biometric screening.

Following are some steps industry leaders can take to help educate workers and prevent cardiovascular problems.

• Offer adult and infant CPR training in your organization to increase the odds of survival in case of sudden cardiac arrest.

• Consider the benefits of providing automated external defibrillators at job sites.

• Encourage healthy eating with nutritious food choices in vending machines and heart-healthy snacks and beverages during meetings.

• Initiate a workplace warmup program focusing on dynamic movement of large muscle groups rather than static stretch and flex programs.

• Implement a biometric health screening program for employees and dependents.

• Ensure cessation programs include all forms of tobacco, including vaping.

• Participate in a regional Hard Hats with Heart initiative to learn more about incorporating heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention into your company’s program.

• Share information with employees and dependents about blood pressure reduction and heart disease and stroke prevention, such as risk factors, warning signs and how to seek help during medical emergencies.

Source: NRCA