LA Hard Hats Offers Front Row Seat for Downtown Construction

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 06:45AM

LA Hard Hats National Geographic

Construction crews work on the roof of Evo, star of the new series LA Hard Hats.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The X Games, kicking off today at Staples Center and L.A. Live, aren’t the only entertainment putting Downtown on the screen this weekend. Sunday marks the premiere of LA Hard Hats, a National Geographic series chronicling the construction of Evo, the third building in the South Group collection.

The series is all about construction, with each episode focusing on a different trade at work on the site. This week I talked to Jim Stammer, who managed the Evo job for general contractor Howard S. Wright.

Jim’s worked on many projects. So did the production make the job feel different? “Certainly they did at first, a lot of the folks on the job were intimidated by the big furry microphone in their face,” Jim told me. Pretty quickly, though, the workers got used to ignoring the crew and going about their work.

Jim said that the National Geographic crew knew when to let the crew just do their jobs. “They were a good team player.”

And how did the show come out? “It’s the real deal. These guys aren’t actors, so they pretty much tell it the way it is.”

How well does it do on educating the public about what’s really going on up on construction jobs? “From that perspective, I think they did a great job.”

LA Hard Hats premieres Sunday evening on National Geographic Channel.



Comments

1
Dana Gabbard writes:

There was a very good 4 hour documentary on the building of the Caltrans building on the History Channel in 2004 as part of the Modern Marvels series titled Building a Skyscraper which seems in a similar vein. Hope to get a chance to see this one.

# on Jul.31.2008 AT 12:33 PM
2
Claude Rallins writes:

Why wait ‘till Sunday? A video from the series, showing how EVO used a “Mud Cement Layer” to simultaneously build up AND down. A first in skyscraper construction history! is on I LOVE LA TV - http://www.ilovelatv.com (click player to see playlist)

I live a few blocks away and love bearing witness to the EVOlution of downtown L.A.!

# on Jul.31.2008 AT 01:53 PM
3
Julie Stammer-Edling writes:

I am not only extremely impressed with the magnitude of the evo project, but elated that my brother did such an incredible job managing it all. If anyone could coordinate such a project, Jim’s the one. I am in awe and very proud of my brother. He accomplished a feat that not just anyone could do. Great job!!!!!

Julie

# on Jul.31.2008 AT 06:37 PM
4
Cameron writes:

I loved the show. It fascinated me to see what it takes to build something in a city like LA. Having it showcase LA was awesome.

I just wish it was longer…seriously. I love how you feature one trade then another. I learned a lot

# on Aug.04.2008 AT 10:24 AM
5
keith lagatta writes:

im watching the current eppisode in which the plumber has been downgraded from a skilled craftsman to a puzzle erector.. shame on you half scab plumbers putting in cast iron that was precut at the shop… you people are ruining our great industy…

# on Aug.04.2008 AT 07:27 PM
6
keith lagatta writes:

proud union plumber of local #1 NYC… shame on you for letting them air this nonscence. shame on you for installing prefab cast iron.. i accually did jus puke

# on Aug.04.2008 AT 07:30 PM
7
Go Los Angeles Card writes:

This sounds like a great series. I will def. have to check this out.

# on Aug.05.2008 AT 08:17 AM
8
Tim writes:

Keith, instead of ranting, why didn’t you explain how it SHOULD have been done. At least people would have learned something. Right now, all we learned from your post it that you puked.

signed, another union member (different craft)

# on Aug.05.2008 AT 11:46 AM
9
John writes:

I hope CAL-OSHA is not watching!

# on Aug.06.2008 AT 02:04 PM
10
John writes:

I have worked with some of these guys before, I have to say they have done a great job. Being a Safety supervisor I could not help but notice some (mostly minor) safety violations that are now just waiting for OSHA to write them up on.

# on Aug.06.2008 AT 02:11 PM
11
Allen Bell writes:

Cant beieve that JULIO, the Head guy of FONTANA STEEL, doesnt know how to run a crew. All he seems to have is excuses and bad supervisory skills. He also seems to let his guys get away with shady work!!! Cages dont fit the foundation…What joke. First words out of my mouth, YOUR WAY FIRED!! TAKE YOUR CREW WITH YOU!!!

# on Oct.04.2008 AT 06:36 PM

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