Features

Cardinals Unveil New Targets for Ballpark Village

2008-07-24T16:53:00-06:00

Cardinals Unveil New Targets for Ballpark Village

Battered by a shifting economy and tighter credit markets, 2008 turned into a rebuilding year for the Cardinals' plans for Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. On Wednesday, the Cardinals unveiled the outline of a new development agreement with the City of St. Louis that provides them with more flexibility as to what they will build.

Under the new plan, the Cardinals agree to build between 100,000 and 750,000 square feet of Class A office space, the first new office construction in downtown in two decades. Under the old agreement, the Cardinals committed to building 300,000 square feet of office space.

The retail component also has become cloudier. The existing plan called for constructing 300,000 square feet of retail space in Phase I. The new agreement gives the Cardinals a range to shoot for: 225,000 to 360,000 square feet.

The estimated cost of building Phase 1 has risen to $320 million from the previous estimate of $280 million. Although the percentage of the cost that the city and state are responsible for financing is decreased in the new agreement to 32 percent, the top amount of that commitment has increased by nearly $4.5 million to $102.4 million

The new plan also has a small residential component, 100 to 250 units, which would likely be built in Phase 2. The estimated cost of the total two-phase project also is given as a range in the new agreement: somewhere between $387 million and $600 million.

Cardinals' President Bill DeWitt and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay commended Stifel Nicolaus for assisting in the negotiations that led to the new agreement. Stifel President Ron Kruszewski said, "We were charged with modifying the previous development agreement to give the development team more flexibility to respond to changing market conditions while also preserving the City's core principles. This new agreement accomplishes all of these goals."

Slay said he will recommend the new agreement for immediate approval to the Board of Estimate & Apportionment, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, and the State of Missouri, a process that is expected to take eight to 10 months.

The off-again-on-again project has languished while mud and water accumulate in the hole at the old stadium site. The Cardinals hope that with this agreement the project will finally move forward. DeWitt announced that site work will begin shortly - an exact date is be announced in the coming weeks - to give developers a jump on the construction schedule pending approval by the Board of Aldermen and the Missouri Assembly. It also will give them a jump on the All Star Game, which will be played in St. Louis in July 2009.

Washington University’s Danforth University Center Complete

2008-07-23T20:19:00-06:00

Clayco Inc. has completed construction on Washington University's new Danforth University Center in St. Louis, Mo. The $43 million, 115,880-square-foot University Center also achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S.en Building Council (USGBC).

"The Danforth University Center project is a marquis for Clayco. Its construction and architecture embraces a variety of positive influences under one roof," said Steven Street, Clayco's project director. "For instance, the new University Center integrates sustainable design elements, functional public spaces, thought-provoking interior and exterior finishes, and practical amenities in one meeting place to inspire learning and creativity. Furthermore, careful collaboration between the design, construction and ownership team facilitated the completion of the new facility in time for the 2008 fall semester students to enjoy its outstanding features."

Finished in just 16 months, Danforth University Center is located between Simon Hall and Mallinckrodt Center on the Washington University campus. The new three-story University Center houses WUTV-TV, Student Life newspaper, the student union, student and faculty dining areas, conference rooms, campus life offices, a game room and a common area. Built over a pre-constructed, three-story 520-car parking garage which was an earlier Clayco project, the University Center features reinforced concrete with a granite stone facade, complementing the collegiate Gothic architecture displayed throughout the campus.

In addition, Clayco completed a variety of other projects to improve the campus infrastructure prior to the facility's construction. These included incorporating extensive landscaping to conceal the garage, installing underground utilities to support the central underground garage and main garage, and building a 92,000-square-foot addition to the Snow Way parking garage.

Beginning designs for the project included pursuing certification in USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. However with great effort from all team members involved, the project jumped from Certified to Gold standard. LEED is USGBC's leading rating system for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

Danforth University Center was designed to incorporate a number of sustainable strategies that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include the use of natural materials and lighting controls.

"We are proud to construct buildings that defend and protect our community's environment while at the same time being the best value for our clients," added Street. "Bringing these two critical elements together in new and innovative ways is what drives our company's success."

Clayco's project team included Kirk Warden, Clayco Senior Vice President and Partner and project executive; Pat Moriarity, senior project manager; Jamie Callaway, project manager; Craig Buchheit, project superintendent; Gary Marrin, operations manager; and Street. TSOI/Kobis & Associates of Cambridge, Mass., was the architect. Joining Clayco on the project were CommArts, interior designer; Woolpert Inc., civil engineer; KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural engineer; Bell Electrical Contractors, electrical engineer; Murphy Co., mechanical engineer; Corrigan Co., plumbing; and Ahern Fire Protection, fire protection.

Clayco Inc. is a full-service real estate development, design and construction firm with annual revenues of $871 million, specializing in "the art and science of building." With offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit, Clayco provides design-build project delivery on a nationwide basis for the corporate, financial, industrial, institutional and residential markets. For more information, visit http://www.claycorp.com .

Is Commercial Construction Recession Bound?

2008-07-22T02:08:00-06:00

by Peter Downs

The U.S. construction market is entering a recession from which it will not recover until 2010. That seems to be the consensus among prominent national construction economists.

Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, said new construction starts for 2008 will fall an estimated 11 percent to $558.5 billion. The commercial building market, which had grown in 2006 and 2007, started to lose momentum in the second quarter of 2008, he said. The market will fall back eight percent in dollar volume and 16 percent in square feet for the year, he said, with construction of stores and warehouses suffering the most. Single-family will follow a terrible year with an even worse one, he said, declining 28 percent in dollar volume and 31 percent in dwelling units for the year.

FMI has revised down its outlook for 2009 and expects nonresidential construction "to falter late in 2008 and into 2009." According to Heather Jones, construction economist for FMI's Research Services, total construction spending will fall four percent in 2008 and one percent in 2009. "The decline in 2009 will be driven by a decrease in nonresidential construction for the first time since 2003," she said.

Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), predicts a "dramatic drop" in nonresidential construction activity in 2009, especially in the office and retail sectors. The consensus forecast developed by the AIA foresees a 1.9 percent drop in inflation adjusted construction activity this year followed by a 6.7 percent drop in 2009.

"We've seen a dramatic contraction in design activity in recent months," Baker said. "Right now things are especially hard in the West and in the commercial and multifamily residential sectors. This weakness in design activity can be expected to produce a contraction in these construction sectors later this year and into 2009," he added.

"The one bit of good news is that this contraction in activity is likely to be considerably milder than the construction recessions of the early 1990's and earlier this decade," he said.

Baker cautioned that inflation could make the contraction worse than predicted. "The cost of construction materials has increased more than twice that of consumer products and services - up 37 percent versus 18 percent since 2004," he said, and that could hold back demand for new buildings.

"Surging prices for diesel fuel, asphalt, steel and other materials are clobbering construction budgets," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

The PPI for inputs to construction industries--materials used in all types of construction plus items consumed by contractors, such as diesel fuel--surged 10.4 percent over the past 12 months. The index for highway and street construction leaped 18.9 percent.

"Bad as those figures sound, the increases in asphalt and steel costs have been even worse since these prices were collected in mid-June," Simonson said. "In the first two weeks of July, asphalt prices have jumped by 40 percent in several parts of the country. Prices for rebar--steel used to reinforce concrete in highways, bridges and buildings--soared $200 per ton."

In the futures markets, aluminum has been setting records, while natural gas has doubled in price from a year ago. That has triggered jumps in the cost of construction plastics--such as polyvinyl chloride pipe, insulation and flooring--that use natural gas as a feedstock.

"Unless Congress passes additional funding in the next few weeks to keep highway construction funds flowing, many states will stop awarding contracts," Simonson warned. "Other public agencies, as well as private owners, must adjust their budgets promptly to reflect the new price realities for construction," he said.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) noted that job losses already are mounting in construction, an indication that activity has already started to slow.

According to Gerry Fritz, a spokesman for the ABC, the nonresidential construction sector lost 5,600 jobs in June; 29,100 jobs over the last six months, and 43,900 jobs since June 2007. Total construction employment, he said, is down 452,000 since June 2007, a decline of nearly six percent.

With developers faced with rising construction costs "the industry can expect far fewer nonresidential construction starts in the year ahead," he said The ABC, he added, "anticipates continued nonresidential construction job losses in the remaining months of 2008 and into 2009."

Ed Sullivan, chief economist of the Portland Cement Association (PCA), said construction already is in recession and he expects it will not rebound until 2010 as the economy "is being dragged down by high energy costs and weak employment fundamentals." Focusing on the home building industry, he predicted housing starts will fall 36 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, for a third straight year of declines. By then it should be near bottom and housing starts probably will fall only one more percent in 2009, he said.

The number of single-family home starts in June was at its lowest monthly level in 17 years, 64.5 percent below the peak of the building boom in January of 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Home builders do not expect it to get any better any time soon.

"Builders are reporting that traffic of prospective buyers has fallen off substantially in recent months," said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chief Economist David Seiders. "Given the systematic deterioration of job markets, rising energy costs and sinking home values aggravated by the rising tide of foreclosures, many prospective buyers have simply returned to the sidelines until conditions improve," he said. Builder confidence levels and sales outlooks in June hit their lowest marks ever in the Wells Fargo/NAHB Housing Market Index.

Construction economists aren't the only ones predicting recession, according to Kevin Kliesen, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Writing in the July issue of The Regional Economist, he noted that, "Escalating oil price and commodity prices, a sharp contraction in the housing market, and financial market turbulence have increased the odds of recession this year, according to most forecasters."

Cee Kay Supply Celebrates 60 Years_xx

2008-07-18T02:15:00-06:00

Cee Kay Supply is celebrating its 60th anniversary on July 24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its headquarters at 5835 Manchester Ave.

Highlights of the day will include the unveiling of a history room and a sculpture fabricated from mementos supplied by customers.

Orange County Choppers' Miller chopper will be on display and there will be a speed boat display.

Lunch will be provided and there will be free ice cream and attendance prizes.

Demonstrations will be held of both conventional and robotic welding as well as cutting

Two workshops will conducted plasma cutting and basic MIG.

The American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive on sit and KSHE Radio will broadcast live.

For more information and to register for seminars, call 314.644.3500

Kwame Foundation Announces Annual Golf Tournament

2008-07-18T02:04:00-06:00

Kwame Building Group will host its fifth annual Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the Norman K. Probstein golf course at Forest Park in St. Louis. All proceeds support the Kwame Foundation's scholarships.

Registration and lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. with the shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cocktail reception, awards ceremony and auction begin at 5:30 p.m.

Last year, the Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament netted more than $80,000 for the foundation's scholarship program. For more information about the tournament or to become a sponsor, contact Tanja Kendall (314) 862-5344.

The Kwame Foundation endows scholarships at colleges and universities that improve educational opportunities for minorities, providing approximately $150,000 a year in scholarships and grants.

Kwame Building Group is a pure program and construction management firm providing estimating, scheduling, project planning, value engineering and other project management services as an independent advocate for owners and developers.

“Recruiting Professionals” Program

2008-07-17T22:42:01-06:00

"Recruiting Professionals" will be the next program for the construction industry hosted by the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers (SLCCC). The program will be
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2008 at the St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley, 3400 Pershall, Florissant, MO 63135.

• What are the challenges of recruiting qualified professionals?
• How do you appeal to candidates from different generations (e.g. Gen X, Gen Y) and cultures?
• How can you use new and emerging technologies (e.g. Monster.com, Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn . . .) available to recruit and screen candidates?
• What does the incoming generation of professionals expect from the job experience and their career?

Presenters:

• Mike Rapp, E-SEARCH, LLC
• Dawn Naney, BJC HealthCare
• Jerome Houston, Illinois Dept. of Transportation
Sponsored by Ambitech Engineering

This program has been designed to permit participants to qualify for 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) for Professional Engineers under Missouri statutes and 1 Learning Unit (LU) through the American Institute of Architect

•Intern / co-op student registration is complimentary.

•SLCCC Member registration is $35 per person.

•Nonmember registration is $55 per person.

Registration includes lunch and is transferable but is noncancellable,

Mail or fax registration and make checks payable to:
ST. LOUIS COUNCIL OF CONSTRUCTION CONSUMERS
180 Weidman Road, Suite 12
Manchester, MO 63021-5724
Telephone 636-394-6200
Fax 636-394-9641

Hilliker Corporation Announces Transactions

2008-07-16T13:15:00-06:00

Hilliker Corporation announced the following real estate transactions:

Meade Summers represented both parties in the lease of 56,409 sq.ft. of office/warehouse space located at 6800 Prescott Avenue in the City of St. Louis to Mid-States Supply Co. by Mayfair & Woodcliffe, LLC.

Scott Martin represented Douglas DeVries and Cherie Francois in leasing the 2,680 sq.ft. retail space located at 530 East Osage in Pacific to Faith Fellowship Church who represented itself.

Jim Newman epresented both parties in the lease of 9,100 sq.ft. of office/warehouse space located at 4806 Potomac in the City of St. Louis to Gateway Custom Millwork LLC by J.D. Investments Company of Missouri.

Peter Newton represented both parties in the lease of 2,900 sq.ft. of retail space located at 6922 Manchester Avenue in Maplewood to Papagoyos Inc. by Baltic Properties LLC.

Will Aschinger represented Graniterra/European Tile and Marble in the purchase of the 5,500 sq.ft. office/warehouse building located at 647 Trade Center in Chesterfield from Envirotest Systems Corporation represented by NAI Desco Commercial.

Meade Summers represented both parties in leasing 28,323 sq. ft. of office/warehouse space located at 4410 Hunt Avenue in the City of St. Louis to Ace Pipe Cleaning, Inc. by Dr. Jesse F. Donnell, LLC.

John Hoofman represented Paul Ronsick in the sale of the 34,412 sq.ft. of land located at 3055 N. Lindbergh in Florissant to Millennium Venture Group Inc. represented by St. Louis County Realty.

Declare Your Independence From Chaos

2008-07-16T11:56:00-06:00

By Michelle LaBrosse, PMP®, Chief Cheetah, Cheetah Learning

It's easy to get caught up in the speed of our hectic lifestyles both at home and at work. If you're finding that stress and chaos is becoming the norm, it's time to transform the storm into calm.
Here are a few tips that I use to manage my stress and keep projects flowing in all aspects of my life.

1) Identify where the stress is coming from.
If you find yourself regularly saying, "I'm stressed," but not doing anything to change your environment or behavior, you may be running at full speed without thinking about where the stress is coming from. For example, are you saying, "yes" to everything and overloading your calendar? Are you working long hours without a break and feeling cheated because there is no personal time? Are you part of the sandwich generation caring for both your own children and your parents at the same time? Before you develop a plan, you need to pinpoint your key stressors.

2) Build a support team.
Many times, we get stressed because we've taken everything onto our own shoulders without asking for help and tapping into our support network. If you think of stress management as a project, your support team is the team helping you manage this project. When you look at the areas where you've identified your stress as coming from, this will help you pinpoint who are the people you need on your support team. They are probably already there for you, but you're not asking them for help. If your biggest stress is coming from work, think of a colleague, mentor or advocate who can talk you through it and help you come up with new strategies for approaching the challenge.

3) Catch your ZZZZ's.
While getting very little sleep may have been a badge of honor in college (or even in some companies), don't buy into this myth. Sleep deprivation reduces your concentration and overall effectiveness. It's difficult to come up with a sound solution or keep your cool on three hours of sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night as much as possible. Let your brain cool down before you go to bed and separate from challenging work a few hours before you go to sleep. Also cut back on caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and sugar, which affect some people's sleeping patterns.

4) Find joy in exercise.
If you hate the gym, you're never going to go there. So, knowing that exercise is one of the great stress-busters, you need to find joy in exercise for yourself. Maybe it's as simple as taking a walk down a favorite street or road. You may get the yoga itch and fall in love with those stretches and poses. Whatever works for you, give your brain a boost, and take a break from both the computer and whatever is weighing heavily on your mind with a frequent exercise break that becomes a routine you cherish.

5) De-stress your environment.
Do you have the right balance of quiet time for concentration and interaction with key team-members or family members? Make sure your furniture (especially at work) is designed to support you and properly adjusted. Are you working in the right light, so you are not straining your eyes? Look at your environment and see what relaxes and comforts you and what causes you additional stress.

6) Break for relaxation.
You know that person that you admire because s/he is always at ease and seems like a Zen master? If you ask that person, how s/he does it, you'll usually unearth a couple of golden nuggets tucked away. I've always used deep-breathing techniques to relax me - especially when I'm getting ready for an important meeting. Meditation and imagery work well too. It's amazing how just five minutes of closing your eyes and going to your favorite beach or location will completely take you away and bring you back refreshed. In our classes, we incorporate breathing techniques, yoga stretches and relaxing music. Our students always tell us what a difference this made for them as they were studying and preparing for the PMP exam.

7) Make Fun a Part of your Life.
What is really fun for you, and more importantly, when was the last time you had fun? If fun is relegated to a handful of times a year, you need to make a commitment to enjoying yourself more and making that part of your Stress Management Plan.

8) Design your Stress-Less Management Plan.
Use the seven tips above to develop your Stress-Less Management Plan. These tips will help you get your ideas formulated and pinpoint what you need to work on to lower your stress level, increase your relaxation time and most importantly - have more fun with the people you love.
Now, put your computer to sleep for five minutes and visualize yourself in your favorite spot drinking a bottle of water and smiling. May your visions bring you peace, prosperity and the ability to create a stress-free space no matter where you are!

Michelle LaBrosse is the founder and Chief Cheetah of Cheetah Learning and author of Cheetah Negotiations and Cheetah Project Management.

CB Richard Ellis Lease and Sale Transactions

2008-07-16T01:32:00-06:00

CB Richard Ellis, Inc. announced the following lease and sale transactions:

Jerry Gidlow, SIOR, represented Thompson Price Kitchen, Bath and Home LLC in leasing 5,000 square feet of retail space at 12101 Manchester
Road, West St. Louis County, from DDR Realty Company, represented by Tim Cherre of Sansone Group.

Marc Cacciarelli, SIOR, represented DJS Enterprises, Inc., in the sale of a 13,580-square-foot industrial building on 1.14 acres at 13539
Northwest Industrial Drive, North St. Louis County, to Dolph Properties, Inc., represented by Dan Johnson of Hilliker Corp.

Don Weis represented Brubaker & Associates, Inc. in leasing 12,145 square feet of office space at 16690 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield,
from Dierbergs Office, Inc.

Richard Robinson represented TD Ameritrade, Inc., in leasing 3,203 square feet of retail space at 1628 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, from
Chesterfield Oaks, LLC, represented by Capitol Realty.

Jeff Kaiser and Matt Aljets represented Hertz St. Louis One, LLC, in leasing 2,099 square feet of office space in the Laclede Gas Building,
720 Olive St., to Welk Resort Group, Inc., represented by Andrew Bagy of Grubb & Ellis|Gundaker Commercial.

Mark Hinchey represented Carelinc Options, LLC, in a 6,850- square-foot office lease renewal at 2127 Innerbelt Business Center Drive with the
lessor, Innerbelt Business Center, LLC.

Marc Cacciarelli, SIOR, represented Targee Westport, LLC, in the sale of two industrial buildings totaling 23,516 square feet at 2225 and
2253 Administration Drive, West St. Louis County, to South Tacoma Way, LLC, represented by Matt Hiatt .

Mark Hinchey represented Cabrera Services, Inc., in leasing 2,454 square feet of office space at 12747 Olive Blvd., West St. Louis County,
from BSP Golub Creve Coeur, LLC, represented by Tom Ray and Ann Dulle of CB Richard Ellis.

Mark Palmer and Jeff Kaiser represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company in leasing 3,315 square feet of office space at 16141
Swingley Ridge Road, West St. Louis County, from Emerald I, LLC, represented by Lynn Richter of Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC.

Ann Dulle represented BMJ Partners, a Florida General Partnership in a 3,900-square-foot retail lease renewal at 4600 Chippewa St.,
with the lessee, ProRehab, PC.

Mark Palmer represented Mattson Jack Group, Inc., in a 15,540-square-foot office lease renewal at 11960 Westline Industrial Drive,
Maryland Heights, with the lessor, CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Co.

Don Woehle, SIOR, represented So Properties in leasing 2,918 square feet of office space at 612 N. 2nd St., to Kastner & Partners.
Mark Palmer and Ted Green represented Softchoice Corporation in leasing 10,822 square feet of office space in CityPlace Four,
Creve Coeur, from Cornerstone Opportunity Ventures, represented by Koman Group, LLC.

Don Woehle, SIOR, represented Downtown St. Louis Partnership in leasing 9,843 square feet of office space in the Laclede Gas
Building, 720 Olive St., from Hertz St. Louis One, LLC.

Tom Ray and Jeff Kaiser represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in a 5,162-square-foot office lease renewal at 9666 Olive Blvd., Olivette, with
the lessee, Brown & Brown, Inc.

Mark Palmer and Jeff Kaiser represented Green, Cordonnier & House, LLP, in a 4,362-square-foot office lease renewal at 8000 Maryland Ave.
with the lessor, 8000 Maryland Avenue, LLC.

Coldwell Banker Announces Transactions

2008-07-16T01:20:01-06:00

Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:

Noel Fehr, CCIM, of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lewis & Clark Village Inc. in the purchase of a 5,319-square-foot retail building at 14784 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011, from Manco of St. Louis LLC d/b/a Manco LLC.

Carl Conceller, SIOR, and Jackie Quicksilver of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Geraldine Deutsch Living Trust in the lease of 2,360 square feet of retail space at Willowbrook Shopping Center, 10483 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141, to J. William Bradley d/b/a School Music USA, represented by Will Aschinger of Hilliker Corp.

Coldwell Banker Commercial represented FJP Enterprises LLC in the lease of 1,545 square feet of office space at Woodcrest Executive, 12101 Woodcrest Executive Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141, from BSP Golub Creve Coeur LLC, represented by CB Richard Ellis.

G. Timothy Lawlor of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented 39 Worthington Limited Partnership in the lease of 970 square feet of office space at 39 Worthington Access Drive, St. Louis, MO 63043, to Anton Realty Group LLC.

Carl Concellor, SIOR, and Jackie Quicksilver of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Geraldine Deutsch Living Trust in the expansion of MEI Services Inc. d/b/a Pharma Life’s lease for 1,543 square feet of retail space at Willowbrook Shopping Center, 10479 and 10483 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.

Jaimie Lance of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Worthington Associates LP in the renewal of Dominion Enterprises f/k/a Trader Publishing Co.’s lease for 2,938 square feet of industrial space at Security Plaza Building, 3-A/5 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.

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Tom Suter Creates Beauty “Up on the Roof”

2008-07-15T02:26:00-06:00

"When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me..."

From the song "Up on the Roof" by Gerry Coffin and Carole King

In early July a dedication ceremony was held in an unlikely location: the rooftop of a two-story storefront at the corner of Marconi and Bischoff in the Hill neighborhood of the city. Attending was St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. The roof was blessed by Father Vincent Bommarito of St. Ambrose Church. Holding court on a corner of the roof was Hill "royalty", Rich LoRusso of LoRusso's Cucina restaurant, which catered the event.

So what brought Mayor Slay, Father Bommarito, and Rich LoRusso up on the roof? Sustainability, technology, and heck of a view all came into play. Tom Suter of Shield Systems, Inc. has transformed the building's roof into a garden with a sculpture, flowers, and herbs.

Suter has been an architectural representative in the St. Louis area for 30 years, specializing in moisture protection. His product lines include below-grade waterproofing, sealers for masonry and concrete, waterproofing systems for plaza decks and garden roofs, traffic membrane systems for concrete exposed to vehicular or pedestrian traffic and a full range of exterior and interior expansion joints.

About nine years ago Suter bought a boarded-up tavern in the Hill neighborhood. Doing much of the work himself, he has restored the building into offices for his own company, a salon, a caterer, and two apartments on the second floor. The rooftop garden was created as both a demonstration center for the green roof system developed by CETCO, a line that Suter reps, and as a tenant amenity.

The lightweight assembly allows the 2" X 12" roof timbers to carry five inches of lightweight growing medium. The first task in installing the green roof system was to remove the existing built-up roof and add decking to receive CETCO hot, rubberized, fluid-applied CETCO waterproofing. Ninety mils of hot rubber membrane was reinforced with scrim cloth. A second coat of hot rubber at 125 mils was then applied and a protection course was placed in the curing rubber.

To increase energy efficiency two inches of Dow Styrofoam was placed over the entire deck area. On the non-garden area, CETCO pedestals were then used to level the deck area. In the pathway areas, precise Wausau pavers were placed directly on the pedestals in a similar manner to that used for raised computer flooring.

On the garden sections of the roof a heavy polyethylene root block material was installed, followed by the Dow Styrofoam covered by a reinforced scrim to help with loading.
CETCO Aquadrain — an eggcrate-shaped material with cups that collect and store irrigation and rain water — was then placed on top of the scrim and covered with four inches of engineered soil, a lightweight material filled with organics.

"From an educational viewpoint I wanted a living a garden and an exhibit to be able to show architects and owners CETCO Greenscapes roof systems," Suter said. "And I wanted my tenants to be able to enjoy the space."

Suter said that the both the commercial and residential tenants appreciate the views and quiet afforded by the garden. The herbs grown on the roof are used in preparing food for the catering business.

A plaque on the roof dedicates the garden to Suter's mother, Theresa Suter, who died a short time before the dedication ceremony.

Home Builders Association Donates $10,000 to Boys & Girls Town of Missouri

2008-07-12T19:57:01-06:00

Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF) President Harold Burkemper of First Construction of St. Charles (left) and 2008 HBA President Tom Hughes of T.R. Hughes (right) presented a $10,000 donation to Kathy O’Brien, regional vice president of Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, on behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation.

The funds will be used to repair and replace drywall and paint the residential center that is home to 12 young men ages 12 to 18. The mission of Boys & Girls Town of Missouri is to improve the lives of children with emotional and behavioral problems through superior, family-focused services. Within the safe, stable environment of residential care, the children receive support, encouragement and guidance as they strive to make positive changes in their lives.

The HBA is a local trade association of more than 1,200 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organization with special shelter needs

Midwest ASA Elects Officers

2008-07-12T12:24:00-06:00

The Midwest Council, American Subcontractors Association ASA has voted in new officers and directors. The new officers and directors are as follows:

Michael Fogarty, Jr., Briner Electric, president; Jim Freeman, The Freeman Contracting Co. Inc., vice president; Chris Milne, Oreo & Botta Concrete, secretary; Mark O'Donnell, O'Donnell, Bonebrake & Company, treasurer; Tom McDonnell, George McDonnell & Sons, immediate past president.

Directors are A.J. Ford, Budrovich Contracting; Ken Bartels, Bartels Equipment; David Vaughn, Grant Contracting; Sandra Wilmoth, Midwest Marble & Granite; Vincent Irwin, Irwin Products; and Mike Heitkamp, Heitkamp Masonry

The American Subcontractor Association is a construction trade association of quality specialty contractors and supplier serving the construction industry and the community. Our purpose is to improve the construction process through active participation in education, legislation and cooperation

MO American Water Makes System Improvements on I-64 Project

2008-07-12T11:19:00-06:00

Relocation and improvements to the water infrastructure underneath and adjacent to the New I-64 Construction Project are nearing completion, as
Missouri American Water crews finish moving water mains out of the highway's path. Almost five miles of new 24-inch diameter water mains have been installed, plus thousands of feet of smaller-diameter pipelines. Fifteen new highway crossings link water lines on both sides of the
highway, increasing service reliability to the water distribution systems separated by the highway.

The newly-relocated water lines that parallel the highway are generally located further away from the driving surface. The new locations meet MoDOT requirements, help simplify the company's access for maintenance and reduce potential traffic disruption.

During the last eighteen months, more than 30 Missouri American Water employees completed about 95 percent of the $6 million project — on schedule and on budget, MO American reported.

"Utility relocations are somewhat hidden, but they are a critical component of the project because they are closely tied to the overall schedule," says Clem Kivindyo, P.E., Utility Engineer for Gateway Constructors. "We all work in partnership to keep the overall project on track."

The New I-64 Project opened up opportunities to make some additional water distribution system improvements while road construction was already underway. "Doing this work now, while the area is under construction, is an economical approach that optimizes construction and minimizes traffic disruption," said Frank Kartmann, Missouri American Water vice president of operations.

"It has given us a good opportunity to put two key water distribution system improvements in place."

Tony Prince Company Offers “Green,” Low-Profile Data Floor

2008-07-10T14:26:00-06:00

Tony Prince Company has been named an approved provider and installer for the FreeAxez USA, a "green," low profile, modular data flooring system.

FreeAxez is a raised flooring and access flooring systems for wire management and cable management. The all steel, quick-connect low profile access floor provides a strong, stable raised floor. A flooring installer can put 1,000 square feet in place in a day, Prince Company President Tony Prince said.

Over 20 million square feet of FreeAxez raised floor are installed worldwide.

The modular design of the gravity-held FreeAxez raised floor / access floor / computer floor supports rapid installation. Components snap together with no glue, screws, or fasteners. Installation time is a fraction of conventional tall raised floor designs, Prince said. Unlike the tall raised floors, the FreeAxez low-profile raised access floor does not require labor intensive gluing or bolting of pylons to the floor surface and fastening of screws into panels.

Prince said that the double 16-gauge zinc galvanized steel modules support 1,900 PSI. The system is available in two fixed floor heights—2.75 or 1.60 inches — which he said is the lowest profile available anywhere. "To put that into perspective, the raised floor is about the height of two sheets of plywood. Most raised flooring installations are over four inches and often require ceiling adjustments, as well as slope and rail additions," Prince said.

FreeAxez is the low-profile access floor listed in the GreenSpec directory of environmentally preferred products. Owners and designers gain LEED credits by specifying FreeAxez. Key green attributes include that the product is: approved for non-plenum-rated cable; promotes building re-use and preservation; recyclable and reusable; and refundable via a FreeAzez buyback program.

Tony Prince Company has been a St. Louis-based, family-owned firm, interior surface supplier and installer since 1947.

Colorful G.W. Lofts on Washington Completed

2008-07-10T10:44:00-06:00

The historic renovation of G.W. Lofts at 2615 Washington Avenue in St. Louis is brightening up the western reaches of the Washington loft district. With 60 rental units, G.W. Lofts' surprising colored facades liven up the community and provide residents a unique urban living opportunity.

Architects on the project were Roseman and Associates. The colorful design arose after a golden glazed terra cotta brick was exposed during preliminary planning. According to Project Architect Gary Rogowski, AIA, this inspired a Miami art deco color scheme breathing new life into the property. The transformation, he says, encourages development and advancement to the west along Washington Avenue of Downtown.

Originally home to the Edwin F. Guth Lighting Company, the century old complex consists of 6 buildings. "Each building had a separate, historic identity," explains Rogowski. "The varying colors help the individual buildings remain unique, just as the floor plan does for the interiors," says Rogowski.

Rosemann's floor plan design situates public spaces and residential units around especially large windows allowing natural light to span entire units. "The windows reveal a captivating view of the Downtown skyline," says Rogowski. "It was important for us to keep the view while maintaining a certain degree of privacy for residents."
Project team members include developer George E. Walsh Building, LLC, HBD Construction, Inc., KPFF Consulting Engineers, C.E. Jarrell Mechanical Engineers, Dickherber Electric Inc. and Bi-State Fire Protection. Rental units range from 1241 SF to 877 SF with 28 two-bedrooms and 32 one-bedrooms. Two units on the second floor meet ADA compliancy.

Complicating the historic renovation were remodels that occurred on all six buildings had occurred in the last 50 years.

"It's always difficult when modernizing a building's use," explains Rogowski. "But with bright exterior colors, a modern floor plan and a dedicated project team, this once monotonous structure has been transformed into a fun, aesthetic gem."

Project team members include developer George E. Walsh Building, LLC, HBD Construction, Inc., KPFF Consulting Engineers, C.E. Jarrell Mechanical Engineers, Dickherber Electric Inc. and Bi-State Fire Protection. Rental units range from 1241 square feet to 877 square feet, with 28 two-bedrooms and 32 one-bedrooms. Two units on the second floor meet ADA compliancy.

Now We’re Talking: Autodesk, Bentley Interoperability Announced

2008-07-09T13:04:00-06:00

The move toward BIM received a big boost Tuesday with the joint announcement by Autodesk and Bentley Systems that they have agreed to facilitate easy information exchange between their competing systems.

Autodesk, Inc.and Bentley Systems, Incorporated, two of the leading providers of design and infrastructure software, announced an agreement to expand interoperability between their portfolios of architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) software. Autodesk and Bentley will exchange software libraries, including Autodesk RealDWG, to improve the ability to read and write the companies' respective DWG and DGN formats in mixed environments with greater fidelity.

In addition, the two companies will facilitate work process interoperability between their AEC applications through supporting the reciprocal use of available Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). With this agreement, the companies aim to improve AEC workflows by enabling broader reuse of information generated during the design, construction, and operation of buildings and infrastructure, and by enhancing the ability of project teams to choose among multiple software sources.

Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, CEO of HOK and a founder and current chairman of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) said, "As a longtime advocate of interoperability, I welcome this agreement as an important step toward enabling AEC information to be more broadly shared, increasing the value of BIM to our clients."

Interoperability has emerged as a critical issue for users of design and engineering software. A 2004 study by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology found that users bear direct costs of almost $16 billion annually from time wasted due to inadequate AEC software interoperability. By virtue of this agreement, and the interoperable offerings that it will enable, AEC firms will be free to employ software tools of choice from either Autodesk or Bentley to accept or submit either DWG or DGN files. By improving fidelity of work shared between the two file formats, users will be able to focus on being creative and getting work done, rather than being constrained by file-compatibility considerations.

Through supporting the reciprocal use of their available APIs, Autodesk and Bentley will enable AEC project teams to combine products from both providers within integrated workflows. For instance, a design team could use a mixture of Autodesk and Bentley software, such as Autodesk's Revit platform and Bentley's STAAD and RAM structural products, and simulate and analyze their designs or manage project information using Autodesk NavisWorks software or Bentley's ProjectWise.

Norbert Young, FAIA, president of McGraw-Hill Construction and former chairman of the International Alliance for Interoperability in North America, said, "This groundbreaking agreement directly addresses many of the critical issues detailed in the October 2007 McGraw-Hill Construction study on interoperability in the construction industry (http://construction.ecnext.com/mcgraw_hill/includes/SMRI.pdf). I applaud both companies for their foresight and leadership."

Bentley has annual revenues of over $500 million and is the second-largest provider of spatial design software. Autodesk is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software.

Cement Association Says Housing Starts Will Slump Through 2010

2008-07-03T15:52:00-06:00

Housing starts in 2008 are expected to be 36 percent lower than 2007 levels, creating three straight years of declines. According to a recent Portland Cement Association (PCA) Economic Research report, the toxic mix of weak economic conditions, tight credit conditions, and tepid sales are causing huge housing inventory overhangs that must be cleaned up before housing construction can begin its recovery.

"Despite large home price declines and improved affordability, sales remain sluggish and offer little hope that the inventory glut will be worked off anytime soon," says PCA Chief Economist Ed Sullivan. "The economic environment remains weak, being dragged down by high energy costs and weak employment fundamentals."

Sullivan says current home inventories stand at a 10.5-month supply, more than double the 5-month supply that normally accelerates start activity. Continual cutbacks in starts and marginal gains in sales are expected to be more than offset by increases in housing foreclosures that will be added to the market's inventory in 2008 and 2009.

PCA projects an additional one percent start decline in 2009, with recovery to take place in 2010.

Even then, the onset of recovery will vary among regions and states. States that fully participated in the housing boom, like California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida, will have a disproportionally high number of defaults and foreclosures and even more delayed housing start recoveries.

Our Leaky Levee

2008-07-03T12:38:00-06:00

by Tom Finan, Publisher

Yesterday I was going to try to ride my bike up the Riverfront Trail. I figured that the Mississippi had gone down enough. Well, no.

I reached the foot of Washington Avenue near the Arch and everything was under many feet of water. I cut through Laclede's Landing and behind the Lumiere Casino to the entrance of the trail, which was dry. Riding along the trail was really strange. The Mississippi was just a few feet away and the flow was really boiling. It gave me a whole new respect for the job that we're asking our floodwall/levee system to handle... and raised a lot of concerns.

The whole levee situation is concerning, but one that is being addressed... finally. Last August, FEMA asked the Corps of Engineers if the Illinois and Missouri levees would fail in a 100-year-flood (which, since Global Warning have been happening about ever 15 years). The Corps said yes, indeed we could be up to our eyeballs in the Big Muddy.

This prompted some hand-wringing in Missouri, where the legislature had been holding levee improvements hostage and in the riverfront areas Illinois, where developers and builders feared that it would lose projects when developers couldn't get flood insurance. Three Illinois counties passed a quarter-cent sales sales tax and the City of St. Louis authorized bond dollars to fix the most immediate problems. In June, a levee conference — which drew levee officials from Illinois to California — was held here. During the conference the corps and local officials discussed what progress had been made.

The release of the St. Louis bond funds led to a May 13 award to A&H Contractors Inc., Detroit, of $1.7 million to add 70 relief wells and replace another 103 along an 11-mile stretch of the St. Louis Flood Protection Project. Although the contract is administered by the Corps, the funds come from a city bond issue and were made available by a special project partnership agreement.

The St. Louis flood-protection system has been in place for almost 50 years, and many elements are failing, Tamara Atchley, project manager for the district said. Under-seepage relief wells need to be replaced. Floodgates are rusty and deteriorating, gravity drains and valve flaps no longer work, and electrical components are wearing out in pump stations. Parts for the aging equipment often are no longer available.

The Illinois tax is dedicated to refurbishing non-federal levees in the Wood River, East St. Louis, Chain of Rocks, Prairie Dupont and Fish Lake Drainage & Leveedistricts. The combined 98 miles of levees protect about 323,000 people, 195,700 acres of land and billions of dollars in oil refineries and chemical plants.

“Until August last year, we didn’t know a whole lot about levees or think about them much,”Les Sterman, executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments said. “We had a rude awakening when we were told our levee systems are inadequate, and that the area would be subject to increased flood risk.”

There was nothing magical that changed the level of risk facing the St. Louis Metro Area from levee failure: "That’s just when the public became aware of it, " Col. Lewis F. Setliff, III, commander of the St. Louis District Corps of Engineers said. “Managing flood risk is much bigger than any one group can do,” Setliff said. “We’re never going to fix these levees and get them repaired without everybody participating.”

Communication of risk is integral to rallying the public, politicians and local governments behind infrastructure improvements, Setliff says. It is also a key component in improving evacuation and emergency preparedness plans. In New Orleans, many people didn’t know the risk, says Brig. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, commander of the Mississippi River Division and president-designee of the Mississippi River Commission. “They assumed levees, pumps and floodwalls were all in place and would work.”

Fox High Graduate Receives Home Builders Association Scholarship

2008-07-02T03:01:00-06:00

2008 HBA President Tom Hughes of T.R. Hughes (left) presented a $1,000 HBA scholarship check to Abigail Asher, daughter of HBA associate member Elizabeth LaVoise of Freshstart Cleaning, LLC (right). Asher will pursue a chemical engineering degree at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Asher is a resident of Arnold. The HBA awards two $1,000 academic college scholarships annually to children of HBA members and their employees. The scholarship will apply towards the winner’s freshman year. The HBA is a local trade association of more than 1,200 member firms representing the residential construction industry.

Construction Careers Center High School Graduates 50

2008-07-01T18:15:00-06:00

Family, friends, educators and construction industry leaders packed the Harris-Stowe State University auditorium June 26 to support the 50 members of the fourth graduating class of the Construction Careers Center High School.

Ten of the graduates will continue their education at the college level, either two or four -year institutions pursuing construction related careers. Fourteen of the graduates are preparing to enter the workforce or apprenticeship programs with the operating engineers, bricklayers, laborers, electricians and carpenters.

Scott Wilson, President, S.M. Wilson with the CCC Salutatorian, Gabriella Fields. She is currently employed at S.M. Wilson as an intern in project management and will study engineering this fall at SIU-Edwardsville.

Two graduates recognized for outstanding achievement during tonight's ceremonies are Gabrielle Fields and Bryant K. Williams. Miss Fields was the youngest intern ever to work for S.M. Wilson, and has been accepted to the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville School of Engineering. "I knew that if I worked hard, and set goals for myself, the Construction Careers Center would provide me a solid foundation for a future career," said Miss Fields. "I will always be grateful not only for the education and the skills I acquired, but for the support and encouragement of the teachers and staff who never let me lose focus of my goals".

Bryant Williams' academic career at the Construction Careers Center was highlighted by making exceptional scores on two academic assessment examinations utilized by the construction and related industries. Bryant has been offered a position with AmerenUE upon graduation.

The Class of 2008 is the fourth to graduate from the CCC, the first charter high school in the nation dedicated to preparing young people for careers in the construction industry. The school was founded in 2001 by the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis to help bolster the quality and availability of skilled construction professionals and trades-people in the St. Louis region.
The CCC provides a four-year, fully accredited high-school-level curriculum and broad exposure to the construction industry and relevant vocational educational preparation. The school's construction curriculum is specifically designed by the industry to prepare students for direct employment, apprenticeship training, a community college or a four-year degree institution. The school graduated its first class of seniors in 2005.

"The Construction Careers Center exists to provide solutions to some pressing problems facing the industry," said Rich Ledbetter, CCC board president. "The first is to offer these young people critical academic and life-skills they will need to succeed as adults, and the second is to help to fill a need for skilled construction industry workers."

"The AGC is so proud to see another group of outstanding young people graduate from this one-of-a-kind institution that has prepared them so well for a rewarding future in the construction industry," said Leonard Toenjes, AGC president. "Our goal, when we started the school was to develop an avenue to re-supply the workforce while diversifying it, and I am pleased to say these graduates truly are the faces of the Industry's future in St. Louis."

AGC Announces Keystone Finalists

2008-07-01T16:01:00-06:00

The Associated General Contractors of St. Louis (AGC) has announced the 29 finalists for the 2008 Construction Keystone Awards. Finalists included office buildings, residential complexes, healthcare facilities, entertainment and hospitality establishments and infrastructure projects.

The Construction Keystone Awards are sponsored by the AGC of St. Louis.

The submissions include 10 categories and represent the highest level of craftsmanship and quality in the local construction industry. The projects were accepted from a diverse group of area general contractors and specialty contractors and consist of a variety of projects. A distinguished panel of judges from the St. Louis area selected the finalists from 42 submissions on June 16, 2008.

The Keystone Awards honor the achievements of St. Louis construction firms for efforts to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget. The 2008 Keystone Awards mark only the second year in the awards' eleven-year history that the work of a promising new contractor will be recognized with the Emerging Contractor award. Emerging contractors can only be considered an emerging contractor for three years, thus limiting the projects available for submission.

The 2008 Keystone Awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, at the Millenium Hotel.
"Every year it is inspiring to see how these local companies take advances in technology and building procedures and use them to construct such fabulous examples of industry excellence," said Leonard Toenjes, AGC president.
The judges of the 2008 Keystone Awards include the following: Ed Alizadeh, ACEC-MO chapter officer; Dan Esarey, IFMA-St. Louis chapter officer and retired from the St. Louis Art Museum; James Freeman, ASA Midwest chapter officer; Steve Gantner, CSI chapter officer; Dr. Eric Showalter, UMR; Kevin Stover, Mo. DED and Sara Tetley, AIA-St. Louis chapter officer.

2008 KEYSTONE AWARD FINALISTS

General Contractor or Construction Manager, Building Construction Project Under $5 Million

1.) Contractor: Helmkamp Construction Company: Project: G. Building Patio ADA Improvements, Owner: Monsanto Company

2.) Contractor:The Lawrence Group Projects, LLC; Project: Kirberg Companies Headquarters Complex; Owner: DCE Properties LLC

3.) Contractor: Paric Corporation; Project: Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark; Owner: Lodging HospitalityManagement

General Contractor or Construction Manager, Building Construction Project $5-$20 Million

1.) Contractor: HBD Contracting, Inc; Project:.Franklin School Apartments; Owner:Franklin Partners, L.P.

2. Contractor:Paric Corporation; Project: Tudor Building; Owner:Tudor Development, LP/Tudor Retail Partners, LLC

3. Owner:Volk Construction Company; Project:Washington University New Data Center for Genome Sequencing Center; Owner: Washington University School of Medicine

General Contractor or Construction Manager, Building Construction Project $20 Million Or More

1.) Contractor: Alberici Constructors, Inc.; Project SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center Surgery Expansion; Owner SSM Health Care

2.) Contractor: Alberici Constructors, Inc.; Project:St. Louis Children's Hospital East Expansion, Owner: BJC Healthcare

3.) Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies; Project: Lumiere Place; Owner: Pinnacle Entertainment

General Contractor or Construction Manager, Industrial/Infrastructure Construction Under $15 Million

1.) Contractor: Helmkamp Construction Company; Project:Char Ash System for Sioux Char Ash Upgrade project; Owner: Ameren

2.) Contractor: Kozeny-Wagner, Inc.; Project: Dougherty Ferry Bridge Over I-270: Owner:MoDOT

3.) Contractor: Volk Construction Company; Project Washington University School of Medicine Replacement of Two Boilers; Owner: Washington University School of Medicine

General Contractor or Construction Manager, Industrial/Infrastructure Construction $15 Million Or More

1. Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies; Project Holcim Silos; Owner: Holcim (US) Inc.

2.) Contractor: Tarlton Corporation; Project: Chesterfield Village Site, Utility Master Plan (CVSUMP); Owner: Pfizer Inc.

Interior Build Out

1.) Contractor Helmkamp Construction Company; Project, AB Law, William H. Webster Faculty Commons; Owner: Washington University in St. Louis


2.) Contractor: Interface Construction Corporation; Project: St. Mary's Health Center    Fourth Floor Renovation; Owner: SSM Health Care

3.) Contractor: The Lawrence Group Projects, LLC; Project: Lawrence Group Offices; Owner: Security Building Partners LLC

Specialty Contractor, Building Construction Project Under $2 Million

1.) Contractor: ACME Constructors & Erectors; Project: Anheuser-Busch Law Building Renovation; Owner: Washington University in St. Louis

2.) Contractor:Drilling Service Company    ; Project: Roberts Tower Drilled Shaft Construction; Owner: SMR Tower Investments, LLC

3.) Contractor: Murphy Co., Mechanical Contractors & Engineers; Project: Harrah's "Eat-Up" Buffet; Owner:Harrah's Casino

Specialty Contractor, Building Construction Project $2 Million Or More

1.) Contractor: Murphy Co., Mechanical Contractors & Engineers; Project: F Building West Office Renovation; Owner: Monsanto Company

2.) Contractor: PayneCrest Electric, Inc;.    Project: Lumiere Place Casino; Pinnacle Entertainment and Hotel

3.) Contractor: Subsurface Constructors, Inc.; Project: Pinnacle Casino Foundations and Earth Retention Systems; Owner: Pinnacle Entertainment

Specialty Contractor Industrial/Infrastructure Construction

1.) Contractor: ACME Constructors & Erectors; Project: Lange-Stegmann/Agrotain International, LLC Production and Distribution Facility; Owner:Lange-Stegmann/Agrotain
International, LLC

2.) Contractor: PayneCrest Electric, Inc.; Project: Chrysler S - RT Body Shop; Owner: DaimlerChrysler

3.) Contractor: PayneCrest Electric, Inc.: Project: CVSUMP Generator and and Power Distribution; Owner:Pfizer Global Research and Development

Emerging Contractor

1.) Contractor: Ability Building and Restoration, LLC; Project: Lumiere Place Casino    ; Owner: Pinnacle Entertainment

2.) Contractor: Boyer Fire Protection; Project: Confluence Academy; Owner:Edison Schools

3.) Griffonetti Concrete Cutting, LLC; Project: Grand Glaize WasteWater Improvements; Owner: Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

Schulz Installed as Electrical Board Chair

2008-06-28T02:36:01-06:00

Kurt Schulz, sales representative of Cooper Crouse-Hinds has been installed as chairman of the board of The Electrical Board of Missouri and Illinois. The 2008-2009 fiscal year is EBMI's 100th year of operations. A member of the organization since 1997, Schultz succeeds Keith Cooper of McClure Engineering.

Officers installed with Schultz are Cathi Reader, Frost Electric Supply as first vice chair; Dave Schepers, Ameren as second vice chair; and John MacArthur, Frost Electric Supply as treasurer.

Kwame’s Tony Thompson: “When Being Right is Not Enough”

2008-06-28T01:55:00-06:00

Tony Thompson, president of Kwame Building Group, offers a cautionary tale for all service providers in the St. Louis construction industry: Even if you do all the "right" things, he said, the inherent risk in today’s construction industry could cost you your business and/or your piece of mind.

Thompson, who guided his company through the recent Metrolink extension project lawsuit, spoke before the June meeting of the Midwest Council, American Subcontractors Association on his experience at managing his company through the storm. He said he was there to tell the subcontractors and suppliers in attendance about what happens “when being right is not enough.”

Thompson founded Kwame in 1991 as an advocate for owner interests through cost estimating and management services. “If we can’t save you our fees, don’t hire us,” he said.

Thompson drew applause from the subcontractors and suppliers in the room when he said that he stood on his firm’s capabilities rather than playing the minority card. Thompson holds a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Washington University and bachelors degrees in architectural engineering and environmental design from the University of Kansas. Prior to forming Kwame, he served as project engineer for Anheuser-Busch Companies, as a mechanical engineer at Monsanto Chemical Company, and as a construction engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “How am I disadvantaged?,” he asked.

The lawsuit between Metro and the Cross County Collaborative involving the MetroLink extension project from Forest Park to Shrewsbury resulted in a complete victory for the defendants, Cross County Collaborative (CCC), on all counts. The jury returned verdicts in favor of the CCC and against Metro on all counts in the Metro litigation. Cross County Collaborative received more than $2.5 million on its claims of breach of contract. Metro was seeking $81 million in damages over delays and costs associated with the extension.

The CCC won a judgment for attorneys’ fees and court costs. Thompson said that he had not signed over his interests in the lawsuit to the partnership, the legal expense still would have put his firm out of business.

The members of the partnership each carried $8 million in professional liability insurance. But Larry Salci, the executive director of Metro who drove the lawsuit contended fraud on the part of the partnership, which voided the liability protection.

The Cross County Collaborative was the construction group in charge of the $550 million light rail project, which opened in 2006. Metro officials, led by Salci, fired the collaborative in August 2004 before filing suit against it in St. Louis County Circuit Court, alleging fraud and mismanagement of the project. The extension was more than a year late and about $128 million over its original budget, according to Metro.

The Cross County Collaborative, which includes Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc.; STV Inc.; Jacobs Civil Inc.; and Kwame Building Group, countersued in November 2004, seeking $17 million for work it said it completed for Metro but for which Metro never paid. All except Kwame are international firms, with operations in St. Louis. Parsons Brinckerhoff and STV are based in New York. Jacobs is based in Pasadena, CA

Metro, in its suit against the Cross County Collaborative and its member companies, alleged they defrauded the agency in part by submitting incomplete design documents, which allegedly they concealed and that ultimately led to the cost overruns.

Thompson said that the lawsuit contended that his firm had produced bad cost estimates, but he said that Metro did not produce a single example during the trial. Thompson said that Metro claimed that the CCC's mismanagement of scheduling issues such as utility relocations adversely affected the cost of the project, but that Metro’s own organization chart for the extension showed Metro employees at all the key control points. “There was nothing ever done that wasn’t dictated by Metro,” Thompson said.

Thompson challenges the commonly-held notion that it is important to document everything. Documentation – particularly email – can come back to haunt you when things go wrong, he said. Thompson said that during the trial the CCC's attorney produced emails showing that shortly after a Metro executive had attended a construction fraud conference a plan was developed to accuse the CCC of fraud and fire it. He said that Metro even produced critical path chart of the activities needed to accomplish that objective.

Thompson said that during the trial, “I slept like a baby. I woke up every hour, kicking and screaming.” Kwame cut staff, tightened management procedures, and put Thompson on the road selling work in other parts of the country to survive. Colleagues in the St. Louis construction industry were empathic, Thompson recalled, but were not going to hire Kwame while the trial was under way.

In the end, Thompson said, his business came out of the experience stronger, better run, and more profitable. He said that he has moved on from the experience, for the most part.

“Forgive and forget… but remember their names,” Thompson said.

HOK Tops Engineering News-Record’s First ‘Top 100 Green Design Firms’

2008-06-26T14:18:00-06:00

HOK, an early adherent to sustainable design, is the greenest design firm on the planet, according to a survey published in the June 23 issue of Engineering News-Record (ENR).

The rankings — the first time such a listing has been published in ENR — are based on revenue for design services generated in 2007 from projects actively seeking certification from major third-party environmental standards or ratings organizations, such as the U.S. Green Building council’s LEED certification system.

HOK generated $151.45 million, or 23 percent of total revenue, from sustainable projects in 2007. In the magazine’s individual rankings by sector, HOK ranked first in the “Healthcare” sector; first in the “Government Offices” sector; second in “Commercial Offices;” and third in “Education.”

“The market for sustainable design has passed the tipping point and is rapidly becoming mainstream,” according to the magazine. “ENR's first ‘Top Green Design Firms’ is an attempt to bypass the marketing and hype and measure the market by ranking designers based on their 2007 revenue from projects that were registered and actively seeking certification from major third-party environmental standards or ratings organizations.”

The ENR Top 100 Green Designers generated $1.74 billion in revenue from sustainable projects in 2007, with $1.62 billion domestically and $121.2 million abroad. Green design accounted for 7.4 percent of the Top 100’s total design revenue.

“We’re delighted that the ENR ranking reinforces HOK’s green design leadership role and impact,” said HOK Sustainable Design Director Mary Ann Lazarus. “This kind of recognition doesn’t come easily – it’s the result of many HOK people over many years working hard to make a positive impact and raise the bar for our clients, partners and profession.”

A pioneer in the green building movement since the early 1990s, HOK’s sustainable design expertise has led to more than 30 LEED-certified projects, six BREEAM-rated projects and more than 100 others actively pursuing certification. The firm also has placed a significant role in applying sustainable design strategies to emerging geographic regions, building types and sectors. In addition, HOK principals authored a pioneering text on sustainability, “The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design,” published by John Wiley Sons.

The St. Louis Shriners Hospital is Moving - Into the City

2008-06-25T11:59:00-06:00

The St. Louis Shriners Hospital for Children is returning to its roots. National leaders of the Shriners, in town for a national convention in early July, will celebrate plans for a new 247,000-square-foot hospital at Clayton and Newstead Avenues on the Washington University School of Medicine campus with a ceremonial groundbreaking on July 3, 2008. The new facility will be built just two blocks from the site of the original St. Louis Shriners Hospital for Children, which was built at Clayton and Euclid Avenues in 1924.

The new 40-bed facility will feature an expanded research center, a largeroutpatient area, a motion analysis lab, four surgical suites, 30 clinic examination rooms, and more space for orthotics and prosthetics. There will be 12 private rooms for children waiting for same-day surgery; 10 beds in a Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research; and six rooms for parents. The research center will take up an entire floor of the six-story structure and include a DNA lab.

Construction at the new $170 million hospital actually will begin in early 2009 with completion slated for 2011. The project also includes construction of a 260-space parking garage. The hospital and parking garage will rise up on the site of a former Pepsi Bottling Co. plant and parking lot. The new facility will replace the current Shriners Hospital for Children on Lindbergh Boulevard in Frontenac, MO. Tammy Robbins, director of public relations for the St. Louis Shriners hospital, said the hospital moved from its original St. Louis city location to the suburban Frontenac facility in 1963. Once the new facility is completed, the Shriners intend to sell the hospital on Lindbergh.

"This is an exciting time for the Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis," Ralph Semb, president and chairman of the board of trustees said in a report to the Shriners Fraternity. "We expect that this new hospital wil ultimately set the industry standard for quality and attract the best and brightest physicians and clinical staff in pediatric specialty care," he added.

Most of the medical staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children are on the faculty at Washington University. Semb said that moving the hospital closer to the university and St. Louis Children's Hospital would improve patient care, research, and education.

Paric Corp. is the general contractor. Gresham Smith & Partners is the architect.

EDM Adds Tillit, Berry

2008-06-24T14:09:00-06:00

Kristine Tillit and Rick Berry have joined EDM Incorporated.

Tillit is a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardswille, where she received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. She will focus on marketing and accounting at EDM.

Berry has joined EDM as a business development specialist. He is trained as a structural engineer and formerly worked at Booker Associates and CH2M HILL Lockwood Greene.

Bartnett-Bothmann Joins Woolpert as Business Developer

2008-06-24T13:51:00-06:00

Sally-Bartnett Bothmann has joined the St. Louis office of Woolpert, Inc., a national engineering, architecture, planning, and enterprise firm, as a business developer. Bartnett-Bothmann has 14 years of experience in the commercial and industrial construction and real estate field. She will focus on Missouri and Southern Illinois clients

"Sally's enthusiasm, combined with her reputation as a strategic thinker with comprehensive industry knowledge, will be an valued addition to our sales and marketing efforts in this region," said Tim Racke, Woolpert private market leader.

Bartnett-Bothmann is a member of the minority and membership committees of the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers and the St. Louis chapter, American Society of Professional Estimators.

In the “Green” World, Old is New

2008-06-24T12:03:00-06:00

Who knew? Linoleum and pile drilling are hot, new sustainable technologies.

At the "Greening the Heartland" Conference, it sometimes seems as if everything old is not only new again - it's often environmentally sustainable. Greening the Heartland, a regional conference on green building and sustainability in the Midwest, is being held through tomorrow at America's Center in downtown St. Louis,. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - St. Louis Regional Chapter is hosting this fifth annual event, which is geared toward people interested in greening their town, business, college campus or building.

In the event's exposition hall, Roger Gooch, south central regional manager for Forbo Flooring Systems, explained that his company has been making its "new" sustainable product since the middle of the 19th century. Linoleum is manufactured using linseed oil and wood "flour". It used to be made with cork, but the shortage of good cork is one reason why your favorite wine now has a screwtop. Another name for linseed oil - at least the kind extracted without the use of solvents is flaxseed, which you can buy at any health food store and put on your salad. The primary difference between today's linoleum and the product that readers of a certain age may remember, Gooch said, is the addition of UV coating, which seals the surface and improves durability and sheen.

At St. Louis' Subsurface Constructors, Inc. exhibit the sustainable product was "vibrostone columns". Subsurface has built a solid foundation (sorry about that) for a national business in the sustainable construction industry by combining a drilled, compacted piling system which reuses the onsite material and additions such as recycled railroad ballast. This system displaces minimal dirt on the site itself and piles on the points when an owner is seeking LEED certification.

Dropping in at the many presentations by national and local speakers and talking with exhibitors and sponsors produced a reporter's notebook full of information:

Rep. Russ Carnahan opened the conference and announced that he and another
representative had just formed the High Performance Buildings Caucus in the
U.S. House of Representatives to advance legislation for high performing
("green") buildings.

Ray Anderson, founder of Interface Flor, said his company has reduced
greenhouse gas emissions by 82 percent since 1996, reduced water use by 75
percent, and reduced fossil fuel use by 62 percent while doubling its sales
and profits. "If Interface, a petro intensive manufacturer can do it, anyone
in construction can do it," he said.

Ecos Materials, based in Rock Hill, MO, is sells an interior/exterior
sheathing board made from rice hulls and wheat husks that is being used in
multi-family housing in Louisville, KY.

Over 110 employees at McCarthy have completed the qualifications for their LEED professional certification in the last two years.

The facilities managers for the state of Missouri are using software to
better maintain buildings and slash heating, cooling, and lighting bills.

Pay as you go: Leith Sharp, sustainability director for Harvard University,
explained that the university's sustainability office is funded out of the
savings that its projects realize for the university. Turns out that is not
unique. Cleveland's sustainability office is funded the same way - from
savings it can find in city operations. Ditto Grand Rapids.

As general manager of CI Select Flooring, Linda Goldstein has been in the
forefront of carpet recycling and green flooring in St. Louis. As mayor of
Clayton, she finds herself in the forefront of greening municipal government
in eastern Missouri. Clayton now lists LEED certification as a public
benefit that can help a develop get a special public use development (PUD)
zoning classification. The city is now considering regulation to allow
windmills atop highrise roofs.

Chris Klehm, president of E2, said plumbing codes are all so antiquated they
encourage waste and poor performance and block efficiency and
sustainability.

Pheadra Svec, a consultant to KC government, said "We kept hearing stories that
building codes prohibited green practices, so we took at look at the code
paragraph by paragraph and we found that there was no code nor ordinance
that prohibited anything in LEED. Permit applications for green projects
were getting rejected, but the barrier was not the code."

Solutia is marketing sunglasses for your windows.

More information on attending the conference can be found at http://www.greentheheartland.com

Terracon Begins 800 Bridges Project

2008-06-23T13:51:00-06:00

Terracon has begun geotechnical engineering and laboratory services for the Missouri Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Project as part of the Missouri Bridge Partners design-build team. Terracon is the geotechnical consultant on the design contract and a subconsultant to Parsons Transportation Group. The Safe & Sound program will replace or rehabilitate 802 of Missouri's lowest-rated bridges, with at least one in every county, within the next five years. To complete the investigations, Terracon assembled a team of engineers and field technicians from its St. Louis, Columbia, Springfield and Kansas City, Mo., offices as well as the Bettendorf, Des Moines and Cedar

Rapids, Iowa, offices. "Our goal as a subconsultant is to provide reliable geotechnical data for the design-build team," said David Harwood, P.E., senior project principal. "Terracon's capabilities and resources are especially suited to the demands of a multi-site design-build project, which requires successfully responding to intensive workloads, deadlines and budgets."

Other major participants on the Missouri Bridge Partners team include: Zachry American Infrastructure, Fred Weber, Inc., Clarkson Construction, HNTB and Infrastructure Corporation of America. Total costs for the Safe & Sound program are estimated at $400 million to $600 million, and project completion is expected in October 2011.