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BUSINESS NEWS AEGION CORPORATION RECEIVES PROJECT OF THE YEAR HONORS FOR TWO INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS PROJECTS Aegion Corporation announced that Trenchless Technology magazine has recognized two pipeline projects from Aegion’s Infrastructure Solutions platform in its 2016 annual awards for top trenchless pipeline construction projects in North America. Aegion’s recently acquired Fusible PVC pipe technology received top honors in the New Installation category while the InsituMain cured-in-place pipe technology received Runner-Up honors in the Rehabilitation category. In the New Installation category, more than 14,000 feet of Fusible PVC pipe was used in two long distance horizontal directional drill casing installations to house 230 kV power transmission lines beneath an environmentally sensitive area for a large southeast utility. Frank

required working with multiple government entities, general contractors, and engineers during the planning phase, and included installation during inclement weather in Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon State Park. Charles R. Gordon, president and CEO of Aegion, said, “I am proud our company has been recognized by Trenchless Technology for these two projects, which demonstrate the versatility of our technologies as well as the expertise of our sales, engineering, and operations teams. Aegion acquired Underground Solutions’ Fusible PVC pipe technology to not only strengthen our portfolio of pipeline rehabilitation technologies, primarily in pressure pipe applications, but also to add an experienced and dedicated sales force able to work with customers to promote our entire range of engineered solutions.”

Firsching, president of Aegion’s Infrastructure Solutions platform, said, “This project set the record for our longest HDD installationof Fusible PVC pipe to date, and tested the ingenuity of our engineering and operations teams to solve the unique technical and logistical challenges presented by twin 7,000 linear foot crossings under the intercoastal waterway. The successful completion of this project is the latest demonstration of the advantages of Fusible PVC pipe in long distance HDD projects. It also demonstrates the benefits of non-metallic casings in underground power transmission applications.” Aegion’s project received recognition as Project of the Year Runner-Up in the Rehabilitation category. The next-generation InsituMain CIPP product infused with specialized glass materials for increased structural stability was used on the project. Completion of the project

eggs, salad, fruit) versus processed foods that can be left on the counter. 4)Make getting healthy a team sport. ❚ ❚ Create competitions between teams or different office loca- tions to encourage more walking, biking, or participating in team sports over the course of a work week. ❚ ❚ Consider creating a community garden (if you have the real estate available). Studies show that people are more likely to eat more healthy foods if they have a hand in growing their food as a community, even more so than if they grow it on their own! 5)Create healthy “nudges” to take the stairs. ❚ ❚ Paint the stairwell a lighter color so that it appears brighter and less foreboding. ❚ ❚ Add artwork to give it a personal touch and add visual in- terest. ❚ ❚ Pipe in pleasant music. Some companies are actually tak- ing music out of elevators and putting them in the stairs to make the stair experience more desirable. ❚ ❚ If your local building code will allow, install a magnetic “hold open” on the stair door (which will release in the case of a fire). Psychologically, having a staircase that is more open feels safer, which increases use. ❚ ❚ Want a really simple trick to nudge stair use? Studies show that by just by putting up signs that explain the health benefits of taking the stairs (such as a sign in the elevator lobby that shows how many calories you can burn), stair usage increases by 54 percent! LEIGH STRINGER is senior workplace expert for EYP Architecture & Engineering . Learn more at leighstringer.com. She lives in Washington, D.C. “We are so focused on work, on getting things done, that we’ve changed the way we eat, move, and sleep in a way that is actually counter-productive.”

LEIGH STRINGER, from page 9

❚ ❚ Adjust your work environment. Even if your organization does not provide desks that move up and down, mak- ing small adjustments, like moving or adding a computer monitor, turning on a task light or re-orienting furniture can make a major difference in your posture and your pro- ductivity. 2)Nurture “biophilia.” ❚ ❚ Add natural elements into the workplace by putting small plants or a water feature on your desk or nearby. These ele- ments are soothing psychologically and reduce stress. ❚ ❚ Move your desk or any workspaces occupied by people next to a window if possible. More natural light will de- crease eye strain, improve well-being, and if you sit close enough to a window, it can help reset your circadian rhythm and sleep cycle. ❚ ❚ Use features in the workplace that mimic nature, such as pictures of trees and water, building elements that mimic shells or leaves, furniture with organic rather than geomet- ric shapes, and wood with a visible wood grain. These fea- tures, referred to as “natural analogues,” can have the same biophilic impact as the real thing. 3)Leverage choice architecture to improve eating habits. ❚ ❚ Reduce the number of unhealthy foods that are available. Work with your local food service provider or local restau- rants to provide healthy options for meetings and events. ❚ ❚ “Hide” unhealthy foods in the kitchenette or break room by putting them in opaque or translucent containers (ver- sus healthy food like fruit or nuts in glass containers). Companies that provide subsidized snacks are starting to opt for refrigerators with glass doors to encourage employ- ees to grab healthy foods with a shorter shelf life (boiled “Putting yourself and your health first isn’t selfish, it’s exactly what we all need to do to make our businesses thrive.”

THE ZWEIG LETTER December 19, 2016, ISSUE 1180

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