Conveying the Material

The Dallas Museum of Art was established in 1984 and is situated in the heart of downtown Dallas, Texas. Access Construction Equipment was asked to assist with refurbishing the Fleischner Courtyard. The new design was initiated in order to make the landscape more resilient and practical. The surface of the courtyard, previously concrete, was to be completely removed and replaced with a surface of decomposed granite on structural soils. The transformation would be no small task.
THE ISSUE
Understandably, the City of Dallas had many stipulations regarding keeping the road free of equipment during the construction period to allow traffic to flow as close to normal as possible in the area. The job site was not easily accessible due to the proximity to busy roadways, as well as surrounding Native American Art that could not be disturbed. Construction materials and personnel could occupy, at most, three parking spaces on the street during the day. All construction equipment and debris had to be pulled in from the street and the sidewalk every evening.
THE SOLUTION
Access Construction Equipment was able to offer a unique solution using its Miniconveyor portable conveyors. “With the tight access conditions and the amount of material that needed to be moved, we knew that Miniconveyor would be the efficient answer,” says Larry Leach, president of Access Construction Equipment. “The ability to move our equipment off the street and sidewalk every night and move the tonnage required made this the perfect application for the conveyors.”
The 10-foot sections of Miniconveyor used for this job weigh only 200 pounds each, offering the portability necessary to move them each and every day. At only 20 inches wide, Miniconveyor was also able to navigate between small spaces, not disturbing the treasured artwork surrounding the courtyard. The conveyors were strategically placed between and around existing pieces of Native American Artwork, safeguarding them from any damage. While Miniconveyor is portable, they also offer the power and versatility needed for the job.

Featured Image: Concrete and dirt was loaded onto 80 feet of Miniconveyor conveyors by mini excavators inside the courtyard. The conveyors moved the materials out of the courtyard, across the sidewalk, and directly into dump trucks waiting at the street.
Above: When the demolition stage was completed, the 8-foot pit where the courtyard used to be needed to be refilled with the new materials. Miniconveyor units have reversible belts; so with a little adjustment, the conveyors were ready to take the new materials in the opposite direction. 
THE PROJECT
In the first phase of the job, the concrete initially covering the courtyard surface had to be broken up and removed. Not only was 10,000 square feet of concrete removed, the work required removal of soil 8 feet deep from the entire area. All of this concrete and dirt was loaded onto 80 feet of Miniconveyor conveyors by mini excavators inside the courtyard. The conveyors moved the materials out of the courtyard, across the sidewalk, and directly into dump trucks waiting at the street. Access Construction Equipment manufactures a variety of conveyor accessories including a cantilever kit, which gives the conveyors the ability to overhang a dump truck. At this project, the cantilever proved invaluable, allowing the dump trucks to drive right underneath the discharge end of the line of conveyors for loading. When one truck filled and pulled away, the next truck would quickly move under, in adherence with the city’s conditions to keep the roadway primarily free of work vehicles and equipment. It took a total of 100 full-size dump trucks to haul away all of the concrete and dirt removed by the conveyors.
When the demolition stage was completed, the 8-foot pit where the courtyard used to be needed to be refilled with the new materials. Miniconveyor units have reversible belts; so with a little adjustment, the conveyors were ready to take the new materials in the opposite direction. The street end of the conveyor run was easily lowered from its previous cantilever position, placed on legs, and topped with Access Construction Equipment’s skid steer hopper, now becoming the load end. Because of the small amount of space allotted at the street, dump trucks brought the new dirt and materials to the street and dumped it there for a Bobcat with an 8-foot bucket to pick up and load onto the conveyors. The courtyard was quickly refilled with the new materials brought in by another 100 dump trucks.
POWER OF PORTABILTIY
Miniconveyor units were easily moved from the street each day throughout the project. At the end of the workday, the conveyor units on wheels were simply brought in from the sidewalk and the street for storage, allowing pedestrians and commuters a safe route. Each morning, the units were easily returned to the ready position to begin work again. Access Construction Equipment was proud to be a part of the 3-year endeavor to revamp this vital area at the Museum. Access Construction Equipment’s Miniconveyor is capable of moving 50 tons per hour allowing for completion on its portion of the project well ahead of schedule. “The conveyors were the way to go on this job. Because of the tight space, bringing machines in and out was impossible and wheelbarrows would have taken forever,” says John Newell, the general contractor on the project with No-DigTec. “Miniconveyor moves the materials so efficiently the work went quickly.”
THE FINISHING TOUCH
Fleischner Courtyard at The Dallas Museum of Art now is more ecofriendly. While supporting the new vegetation, the new surface enables guest to walk comfortably, even in high heels. The frail Bradford Pear Trees were replaced with hardy Cedar Elms. The space continues to fulfill its original intentions of providing an inviting space for both children and adults to be used for educational purposes, as well as museum events. ■
For More Information: Access Construction Equipment’s Miniconveyor continues to provide unique solutions for difficult jobs, such as this one at the Dallas Museum of Art. Check out the YouTube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8JeLl0Ds8M. For more, visit www.accessconstructionequipment.com.
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Modern Contractor Solutions, August 2015
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