9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

About our Pictures

We chose a pictorial montage of U.S. Cityscapes as a theme for our website because we believe it best represents the construction industry. “Buildings and objects” are perhaps the most tangible representation of the construction industry as a whole. Additionally, buildings (in particular) represent the places where we, as people, collectively “live, work and play” (to paraphrase an often used expression by the real estate development community). More importantly, finished buildings and objects are the culmination of construction projects – and such projects are the by- product of the collective effort of a great many. In the end, all completed construction projects become a part of our community and eventually, the cities that comprise our great nation. Next time you’re in the “big city”, take a good look around and marvel at what the human spirit has been able to accomplish.

In addition, we also chose a pictorial montage of U.S. Cityscapes since we provide our services on a nation-wide basis. When traveling throughout the , we often find ourselves in these great cities:

Anchorage

Located at the tip of the Cook Inlet, Anchorage is our nation’s northern-most city. It is by far, ’s largest city comprising more than 40% of the state’s population. Only City has a higher percentage of state residents living in one city. Though field operations are centered on the north slope of Alaska, oil and gas production is the most visible industry in Anchorage. The development and completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977 fueled a massive building boom in Anchorage and other Alaskan cities. Completed at estimated cost of $8 billion, the Trans-Alaska pipeline (and related facilities) was one of the most challenging engineering and construction projects ever undertaken in the U.S. Anchorage is also home to several airlines and its airport is world’s third busiest airport by cargo traffic (trailing only Memphis and Hong Kong).

Atlanta

The eighth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. (and second largest in the Southeast), Atlanta is considered a top business city and major transportation hub. Not only does it have one of the larger contingents of Fortune 500 companies within its boundaries, Atlanta also claims the title of having the world’s busiest airport. Atlanta’s skyline is punctuated with many high-rise and mid-rise structures spanning multiple districts within the city and in the surrounding metro areas. The predominant architectural styles of Atlanta have been characterized as modern and post modern vintage. The Bank of America building is the tallest building in Atlanta (8th tallest in the U.S.) and one of only two buildings listed in the top 10 that are not located in either Chicago or New York. Atlanta is also one of only eight U.S. cities classified as a “beta world city” (which means it is deemed as an important node in the global economic system).

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

Boston

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and is sometimes referred to as the unofficial capital of . A city steeped in tradition and early U.S. history, Boston is also one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S. while at the same time also being the second smallest city from a geographical standpoint. Among major U.S. cities, only San Francisco is smaller in terms of total square miles. The Boston economy, one of the nation’s strongest and most diverse, is powered by a broad range of sectors that include insurance, financial services, banking, retailing, private equity/capital management, biotech and tourism. In addition, metro Boston is considered one of the largest “tech” sectors in the country. The Port of Boston remains the oldest continuously operated industrial and fishing port in the Western Hemisphere. Though Boston features many high rise buildings and its skyline is impressive, it only contains one building ( Tower) that is among the 50 tallest in the U.S. Regardless, Boston remains a visually impressive city with it wide range of buildings and structures (both new and historical). The Central Artery/Tunnel Project (more commonly know as the “Big Dig”) was the largest public works construction project ever undertaken in the U.S.

Chicago

This is my original hometown and is one of the truly great cities of the United States and the world. Chicago is also home to some of world’s most interesting buildings and recognizable landmarks. The city is a virtual case-study for design and construction and represents some of the finest architecture in North America. Perhaps no other city in North America can offer such a diverse collection of construction projects through its myriad of buildings, bridges and structures. Chicago is the only other city in the nation that can rival New York in terms of total high rise buildings, yet it is significantly smaller than New York. However, Chicago does contain four of the six tallest buildings in the U.S., including the (formerly known as Sears Tower), which remains the tallest building in the country. Chicago also offers a historic collection of museum and fine art facilities, convention center space and sports venues. It is also easily walk-able and provides visually stimulating images throughout the city, regardless of location.

Cincinnati

As the first major inland city in the country, Cincinnati is the largest metropolitan area in the state of and 24th most populous in the U.S. Early architecture of the city was influenced greatly by the large influx of German immigrants. Cincinnati is home to numerous structures that are noteworthy due to their architectural characteristics or historic associations. The University of Cincinnati not only has many noteworthy structures, it has home to one of the leading design and architecture schools in the country. The Great America Tower at Queen City Square (which is currently under construction) will be the tallest building in Cincinnati upon completion. Greater Cincinnati also has one of the higher concentrations of Fortune 500 firms on a per capita basis.

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

Dallas

This is our home base and a vibrant city that is an ideal climate for business. Because our services are provided throughout the entire country, being centrally located in Dallas allows us to take advantage of Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (one of only two major airport hubs located in the geographical center of the U.S.) and its access to direct flights to virtually every major U.S. market in about 4 hours or less. Dallas is also home to some very recognizable buildings and landmarks that showcase the cutting edge of design and construction. The newest addition to the Dallas/Ft. Worth landscape is Cowboys Stadium, the crown jewel of sports architecture and construction achievement in stadiums.

Denver

Known as the “Mile-High City” because its official elevation is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, Denver sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, which serve as a stunning backdrop for this picturesque city. Denver’s impressive skyline is comprised of a number of unique buildings and structures, both modern and historic. Denver’s economy is diverse, broad-based and represented by many well-known organizations. In addition, the Denver metropolitan area employs more Federal workers than any city in the U.S., except , D.C. Opened in 1995, Denver International Airport is our nation’s newest and largest airport (by square miles). It replaced DFW in 1974 as the last major airport to be newly constructed. The project served as a virtual design and construction showcase for building new airports, yet DIA was beset with problems almost from the very beginning and was completed 16 months behind schedule and nearly $2 billion over budget.

Honolulu

Located on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the only “incorporated” city in the State of . Surprisingly to anyone who has yet to visit this travel and tourist destination, Honolulu is a very dense, busy and congested city. Honolulu also has more high-rise buildings than every U.S. city, except the big three of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Known primarily for tourism and as the gateway for the entire Hawaiian Island chain, Honolulu’s economy is also well-diversified and represents a broad range of industries, including real estate, manufacturing, finance, insurance, banking, shopping, retail and recreation. Honolulu is also home to Pearl Harbor, which despite the infamous attack Dec 7, 1941, remains the Headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Honolulu is also the southern-most major city in the U.S. (roughly 400 miles south of Miami).

Houston

As the fourth largest city in the United States, downtown Houston contains the greatest concentration of high rise buildings as well as the tallest building west of the River. While Houston contains a very broad and diverse demographic, it is perhaps best known as the energy capital of the world, where virtually all of the world’s major energy companies maintain an extensive network of operations. Houston’s broad-based economy has inspired a wide and diverse range of architectural achievements in its vast history. In addition to its impressive collection of high rise buildings, Houston is also home to outstanding facilities in fine arts, sports, university, aerospace and other public works. Though Houston’s “Astrodome” is now considered obsolete and its future is uncertain, it was once known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

Las Vegas

Billed as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is an internationally-renowned resort city that is primarily known for its gambling, shopping and fine dining. Las Vegas has a jaw-dropping collection of hotels and casinos like no other city in the world. Las Vegas hotels and their related facilities are among the largest and most expensive ever built. In addition, several are among the most luxurious and opulent. The Bellagio, Wynn and Palazzo were all developed at a cost in excess of $1 billion. City Center (which is still under construction), initially estimated at $8.5 billion, will cost several billion more than Denver’s airport. Omnipresent outdoor lighting fixtures along the Las Vegas Strip, as well as throughout other parts of the city, contribute to making Las Vegas “the brightest city” on earth as seen from space. If there is one city to visually gauge the very upper end of building construction, coupled with a seemingly “cost does not matter” attitude, Las Vegas is it.

Los Angeles

Affectionately known as the “City of Angels”, Los Angeles is one of the largest U.S. cities by both area and population. It also contains one of the broadest and most diverse economies. Not only is greater Los Angeles considered the “entertainment capital of the world, it is one of the world’s leaders in business, international trade, culture, media, science, technology, fashion and education. These attributes, among others, make Los Angeles one of the most substantial economic engines within the United States. As such, L. A. offers an amazingly diverse collection of buildings, structures and institutions in the country. The U.S. Bank Tower is the tallest building in Los Angeles, in the State of and on the West Coast. It is also one of only two buildings ranked among the ten tallest buildings that are not located in either New York or Chicago.

Miami

The southern-most major city in the continental United States, Miami is the 4th largest “urbanized area” in the U.S. (trailing only New York, Los Angeles and Chicago). Perhaps best known as a major hub to South America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Miami is also renowned for its tourism, entertainment, performing arts, high-end residential living and sports. In addition, it serves as a major shipping and transportation hub. With its impressive collection of , Miami’s skyline is ranked third most impressive in the U.S behind only New York and Chicago according to the Almanac of Architecture and Design.

Minneapolis

With an impressive collection of high rise office buildings situated in the central business district, the Minneapolis skyline ranks 2nd in the Midwestern United States (trailing only Chicago). Abundantly rich in water (lakes, rivers, wetlands, waterfalls and creeks), Minneapolis has an equally impressive collection of bridges and structures. Known as the primary business hub of the upper Midwest, the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St Paul) is home to the most Fortune 500 companies on a per capita basis. Like most major U.S. cities, Minneapolis also has a broad-based and well-diversified economy and is rich in fine arts, education and sports.

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

New York

Considered by many to be the epicenter of the “free world”, New York in a word is: Unbelievable. Easily containing more high rise buildings than any other city (and in the most concentrated geographic area), New York City has perhaps the most recognizable skyline in the world. From a culturally significant and relevance standpoint, New York stands as a leader among all cities, both within the U.S. and world. The “Big Apple” has so many large-scale construction projects in its storied history that to focus on only a few would be an injustice to all others. However, even today, the majesty of The Empire State Building still “towers” over the Manhattan skyline and serves as a central landmark, which is why it was selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.” Of course, though they are now gone, it is impossible to forget the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center that were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

Philadelphia

The largest city in and the sixth largest in the United States, Philadelphia was once the centerpiece of early American history. Today, Philadelphia is punctuated by a mix of historic and modern architecture that reflects the city’s rich history. The City Hall building once held the title of world’s “tallest habitable building”. Known as the city of “Brotherly Love”, Philadelphia is one of only four U.S. cities that have at least two buildings over 900 feet tall. The recently completed Comcast Center is the tallest building in Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to its impressive Center City skyline, other notable Philadelphia landmarks include historical row houses, museum and fine arts facilities, bridges, hospitals, hotels, sports venues and a variety of campus buildings from Philadelphia’s “Big 5” universities (Penn, St. Josephs, Villanova, Temple and LaSalle).

Phoenix

As the 5th most populous city in the U.S., Phoenix is also one of the largest cities in the country by land area. Known as the “Valley of the Sun”, metropolitan Phoenix remains a major recreation, tourism and retirement community due to its arid and warm climate in winter. Conversely, Phoenix has the highest average daily summer-time temperature of any major city in the U.S. Historically dependent on agriculture, Phoenix (like other Sun-Belt cities) has experienced rapid population growth since the 1970’s. More recently, except for Las Vegas, Phoenix was considered the fastest growing major city in the country. Expectedly, growth has brought a construction boom to the area and the related buildings and structures represent a wide range of architectural styles. Phoenix is one of only three metro areas in the U.S. that have a franchise in each of the 4 major sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) and each team has their own dedicated venue (no shared facilities).

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

Pittsburgh

Historically known as “The Steel City”, Pittsburgh’s image today has changed dramatically from its roots as an industrial city and continues to rank high among all U.S. cities for its cleanliness and livability. Situated at the confluence of the “Three Rivers” (Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio), Pittsburgh is also known as the “City of Bridges” because of its nearly 450 bridges. Pittsburgh is also home to many other unique and notable structures and high rise buildings, the tallest being the U.S. Steel Tower (which was the tallest building outside of New York or Chicago at its time of completion in 1970). Like other major U.S. cities, Pittsburgh is well known for sports and their related facilities, but have one unique distinction over all other U.S. cities – each of its major sports teams (Steelers, Penguins and Pirates) share the same team colors of black and gold, which are the official colors of the city.

San Diego

The second largest city in California, San Diego is an extraordinarily picturesque city with its impressive collection of buildings, structures and bridges. The city is adjoined by the San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean and is set upon a naturally hilly geography. These elements, along with its large Spanish ancestry, have combined to create many inspiring architectural achievements and notable city landmarks. San Diego also has a large military presence and is home to one of the largest naval fleets in the world. In addition to being a major presence in the defense industry, San Diego’s economy is also strong in manufacturing, biotechnology and tourism. With a climate considered ideal virtually year-round and with its natural beauty, San Diego is often touted as one of the best places to live.

San Francisco

A world-renowned city, San Francisco was the principal banking and finance center of the West Coast in the early 20th century. Today, San Francisco remains a major player across a diverse and broad spectrum of many major organizations. San Francisco is among the very top U.S. cities for international destinations and tourism because of its many unique landmarks, demographics and cultural characteristics. San Francisco’s architectural and construction pedigree (including its famed bridges, cable cars, sloped streets, waterfronts, Alcatraz and many other various structures) need not take a back seat to any other city. For these reasons and others, San Francisco remains one of the most photographed cities in the United States as well as the world.

9446 Hilldale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 221-3371 or (214) 221-3378 www.wiszco.com

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

Perhaps one the most recognizable landmarks in the world, and certainly one of the most photographed, the Golden Gate Bridge represents an architectural, engineering and construction marvel. While many projects can rightfully claim to be one of the “wonders of the world”, the Golden Gate Bridge deserves considerable merit as one of the greatest and most spectacular projects ever constructed. As a tribute to modern society's ability to achieve the unachievable, the American Society of Civil Engineers sought nominations from across the globe for the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World”. The seven chosen projects pay tribute to the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century. Only two projects in the U.S. were selected. One of them was the Golden Gate Bridge. To appreciate its significance, grand splendor and sheer magnitude, one only has to walk out to the middle of the suspension bridge and simply stare outward in any direction.

Seattle

The Pacific Northwest’s largest and best known city, Seattle is a city of many great cultural and topographical landmarks. In addition, Seattle boasts many significant structures, perhaps none better known than the “Space Needle”, which is the tallest observation tower in Seattle (and third tallest non-building structure in the U.S.). The downtown Seattle skyline boasts several buildings in excess of 500 feet and also contains other landmarks such as Seattle Center and the famous Pike Place Market. Except for Los Angeles, Seattle contains the highest number of high rise structures on the West Coast and the is the 2nd tallest building on the West Coast.

St. Louis

Once the fourth largest city on the United States, St. Louis once hosted both the World’s Fair and the Olympic games in the same year (1904). Known as the “Gateway to the West”, the Gateway Arch (which is the tallest monument in the U.S.) remains the iconic symbol of St. Louis as well as one of our country’s most recognizable structures. Today, St. Louis remains one of the 20th largest urban areas in the nation. Rather than tall buildings, St. Louis is better known for its diverse collection of neighborhoods, each with their own unique architectural history. The history of St. Louis is steeped in tradition and includes transportation (steamboats, aviation), performing arts, music, industry and sports. And, perhaps no other company in the country is more closely associated with their city than Anheuser-Busch is with St. Louis.

Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., contains a plethora of national and historic landmarks. Furthermore, the wide range of architectural styles is clearly evident in the area’s buildings and structures. Six of the top ten buildings in The American Institute of Architect’s 2007 ranking of “America’s Favorite Architecture” reside in the District of Columbia. Washington D.C. is served by three major airports (Reagan National; Dulles and BWI) and the Metrorail is the considered the second-busiest rapid transit system in the country (behind the New York City Subway). Though Washington D.C. is devoid of many high rise buildings, it does offer many other unique and large- scale projects. The Washington Monument is the highest structure in D.C. and is the third largest monument in the country.