News roundup: HGOR chosen to design new green spaces in Atlanta

Updated Jan 8, 2018
A rendering for Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry. Photo: HGORA rendering for Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry.
Photo: HGOR

Landscape architecture and planning firm HGOR has been tapped by the Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed for two multimillion-dollar projects involving the city’s parks and green spaces.

The city of Atlanta hired HGOR with the task of developing a comprehensive concept and Phase One design for Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry. The $26 million park is scheduled to open in 2019 and become the largest gathering space in Atlanta that will highlight the quarry lake and expansive views.

Phase One’s design will include trails leading to the overlook area of the quarry-turned-reservoir and a gateway entrance at the intersection of Johnson Road and Grove Park Place.

The other project HGOR is helping with is the $100 million plan to expand Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The expansion will allow the city to create an improved gateway entrance to the park, a connection to the Atlanta BeltLine, improved trails and additional green space and forested land.

HGOR worked on a pro bono basis with the city of Atlanta and the Piedmont Park Conservancy to make the case for this acquisition and created early vision concepts of the Northern Gateway.

“Having served on Piedmont Park Conservancy’s board for 12 years, I believe these two projects will be tremendous additions to Atlanta’s green space and will help shape and define our city for generations to come,” said Robert Hughes, HGOR founding principal.

HGOR has created the master plans and designs for other park projects including the Grant Park Gateway Project, Liberty Plaza and Atlanta Memorial Park. The firm has provided solutions for parks, campuses, communities and mixed-use space in 34 states and six countries. It has received over 80 planning and design awards.

Techniseal introduces new hardscaping adhesive

Techniseal, manufacturer and distributor of products for exterior surface installation and maintenance, has introduced StructureBond.

The product is a construction adhesive that bonds with almost any construction materials and is applied with an easy-to-use gun applicator.

Photo: TechnisealPhoto: Techniseal

According to Techniseal, StructureBond is the strongest adhesive on the market. Its foam formula has less filling material than traditional adhesives providing more room for polyurethane. It can also penetrate porous materials like concrete and brick better.

“StructureBond addresses many challenges that contractors consistently face when using traditional tube adhesives,” said Phil Graves, director of sales for Techniseal. “Because the product doesn’t dry up once opened, construction experts are finding that a single StructureBond can go a long way! Indeed, when properly store, weeks can go by between applications. In the end, pros finally get to use every drop of adhesive they pay for.”

The product can be used for jobs such as seating walls, fireplaces and kitchens.

Case says Micheline Tweel tires are now a factory option on skid steer loaders

Michelin’s X Tweel SSL All-Terrain airless radial tires are now a factory approved option on all Case Construction Equipment skid steer loader models.

The airless radial tires function like a pneumatic tire but remove the risk and downtime of punctures and flats. Case is the first skid steer loader OEM to offer the Michelin X Tweel SSL from the factory.

Photo: CasePhoto: Case

“Case offers a broad range of skid steer tires to meet the needs of a variety of applications from general dirt work and landscaping, to road-building, excavation and mining/aggregate environments,” said George MacIntyre, product manager of skid steer loaders for Case. “The addition of airless radial tires to our lineup of factory-available options expands our current offering and shows our commitment to advanced technology, as well as our dedication to providing our customers with a growing array of machine options that can have a positive impact on total cost of ownership.”

The airless radial tires provide stability and comfort, increasing productivity and decreasing driver fatigue. The tires have a strong wear life that is two to three times better than a pneumatic tire at equal tread depth. The energy transfer within the poly-resin spokes also diminishes the bounce associated with pneumatic tires.

The Michelin X Tweel SSL is a single unit, removing the need for complex wheel/tire mounting equipment. There is also no air pressure to maintain once the tires are bolted on.

Ruppert Landscape promotes two employees

Mike Felts has been promoted to the newly created position of corporate administrative manager, and Sean Davitt has been promoted to branch manager of Ruppert Landscape’s Maryland landscape construction branch.

Mike FeltsMike Felts

“We created the corporate administrative manager position in an effort to better position our company for continued growth and development and to support departmental and divisional initiatives,” said Phil Key, company president. “We believe this position will be a tremendous asset in providing additional support to help us meet our goals.”

Felt has been with Ruppert for seven years and has held a number of positions including production manager, operations manager and branch manager. Before joining Ruppert, he worked for a general contracting company in North Carolina and served six years as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he was deployed in Afghanistan for two years. He has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Virginia Tech.

“Mike has set the tone with his Maryland landscape construction team by working right alongside them as they had one of their most profitable years to date, leading by example and putting the company before himself more times than I can count,” Key said. “He will be instrumental in helping us create and define this new position from the ground up.”

Felts will work alongside Key to assist in managing corporate departments and their initiatives, executing the five-year plan and providing operational support in areas like sales, collections and acquisitions.

Sean DavittSean Davitt

Meanwhile Sean Davitt has been selected to fill Felts’ previous role as branch manager for the Maryland landscape construction branch.

Davitt has been with the company since 2010, starting as an estimator after working as an intern for a few summers. He was most recently the operations manager of the Maryland landscape construction branch. He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from West Virginia University.

“Sean is very well-like by all who work with him, he is hardworking, committed and a great delegator – providing the perfect amount of direction and follow-up for project success,” said Bob Jones, president of the landscape construction division.

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