WORKER'S WALL; STAPLES CENTER HONORS THOSE WHO BUILT IT.Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer Bestowing an honor usually reserved for philanthropists, a ``worker appreciation wall'' is being built at the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. to recognize those who built the downtown arena The Downtown Arena is a proposed Arena in downtown El Paso, Texas. If constructed it is expected to have a capacity of more than 17,000. Making it the biggest arena in West Texas, Ciudad Juarez and Southern New Mexico, and making it the biggest arena in El Paso above the Don Haskins . Northridge glass artist Richard Baida said Tuesday that workers finishing the sports and cultural center told them they appreciate having their names etched etch v. etched, etch·ing, etch·es v.tr. 1. a. To cut into the surface of (glass, for example) by the action of acid. b. into the 18-by-6-foot panel of black glass, located near the main entrance. ``It was quite a thrill to see the look of appreciation on the workers' faces,'' he said. ``They were all eager to find their name on the list and many thanked me personally.'' It took more than 5,100 people and 18 months to build the center. The first name on the list is that of Gary Aaland, the last is Jaime Zurita, and there are last names beginning with every letter except X, Baida said. Mike Roth Mike Roth is an award-winning A&R man, notable for discovering and developing numerous famous Canadian bands including Our Lady Peace[1], Chantal Kreviazuk[1] [2], Amanda Marshall[1], The Philosopher Kings[1], Prozzäk , a spokesman for the L.A. Arena Co., called the construction workers the ``real heroes'' in the making of the Staples Center, saying there could have been serious setbacks had construction stretched past September. At peak times during construction, as many as 1,200 workers traded off round-the-clock shifts to get the arena built on time, said Kevin Murphy There are many people named Kevin Murphy:
The $400 million arena was built in 18 months, compared to the 24-month norm in the industry, he said. ``The arena is bigger and more complex than any other built in recent times,'' he said, adding that Denver's new Pepsi Center Current arenas in the National Basketball Association Western Conference Eastern Conference , which is smaller, took about two years to build. Baida said he has worked as a glass artist in the Valley for 23 years and has done work all over the city, including a game table for Mickey Rooney, a mirrored globe for Sylvester Stallone and pieces in numerous churches. The wall took about two months to build and cost the L.A. Arena Co. about $15,000, Baida said. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) Richard Salem Baida of Salem Creative Sandblast sandblast, stream of sand or other abrasive particles driven by a jet of compressed air or water or by centrifugal force against a surface to clean or abrade it. leans against the worker appreciation wall he made for the Staples Center. (2 -- 3) Above, a special wall lists more than 5,100 people who built the Staples Center. At right, workers look for their names. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
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