Rowbottom designed the interior for the Downtown Children’s Center in St. Louis on his first day at work and has been donating time to the project for four years. Several architects and designers at the Lawrence Group got involved in the children’s center and over the years have donated the equivalent of $90,000 in billable hours to the project, Rowbottom said.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Over a five-year period, the airport’s terminal, concourse and passenger support facilities will undergo renovations. Restoration of the airport’s domed ceilings will begin in mid-July; additionally, replacement of the interior baggage system and a $1.5 million roadway signage program will begin in early 2009.

One of the first projects will be a $5 million renovation of the inbound baggage handling systems and six carousels, which is expected to be complete in the spring of 2009. The program also includes renovation of the main terminal and concourses A, B and C.

Source: REBusinessOnline

The two-story building achieved LEED certification with sustainable features such as bamboo flooring, motion-sensor lighting, maximized natural light, the use of recycled materials, a green roof, increased water efficiency and the installation of a shower for employees to promote alternative transportation.

Source: REBusiness Online

The trend to instantly create companies that can provide a full range of services — from planning and design through construction and even operations and maintenance — has been fueled by larger projects and clients who want single source delivery.

The U.S. dollar’s fall against foreign currencies is another factor that makes acquisition of U.S. firms by foreign companies look more enticing than ever. European companies can get 30% more for their money by using Euros in the U.S.

Still, there’s a lot to be said for the stability, integrity and commitment of firms owned by their founders, management teams or ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans). Among such successful companies in St. Louis are McCarthy, Walton Construction, Guarantee Electrical, Lawrence Group, Clayco, Kwame Building Group, Graybar Electric.

These companies and many others have found ways to provide the broad range of services owners want while still maintaining local ownership.

What other local AEC firms can you add to the list?

Source: St. Louis Business Journal

The real estate market is very different this year, but blueurban plans to repeat the sale and the buyers’ priority list that led up to it. Does McGowan expect similar results?

“Interest for our Cupples Station Building #9 loft project is much greater and we expect to sell all of these lofts on a single Saturday this spring,” said McGowan in an announcement. The lofts in question overlook Busch Stadium and will sell for $170,000 to over $500,000. McGowan expects to sign up 61 priority buyers who each will hand over a refundable $2,500 check for priority right to pick and buy the loft of their choice.

“Our goals are the same as last year and our expectations so far have been met,” said bluerban’s marketing rep Jenni. “Ballpark Lofts are right in front of Busch Stadium. During ball season, living there is an experience only few can say they have.”

We’ll be interested to see how it goes…

“Q. In addition to possible fines, what are potential costs associated with accidents on the job site?”

“We base our safety program on risk prevention, not fines. We actually review the project before responding to a bid, evaluating all possible risks that could affect our employees and our company. Accidents can have an impact on a project on many levels, from increased cost production issues to delays. The medical bills and time lost by a worker recovering from a broken arm, for example, can cost the company $15,000. Accidents also can erode employee trust in the company if co-workers worry that a job site is not a safe environment.

“Serious or multiple work site accidents are likely to increase an employer’s insurance and bonding rates, and affect the company’s experience modification rating, which affects workers’ compensation rates. They can put a damper on future work prospects, even lead to contract termination if a client feels the contractor has failed to meet safety requirements.

“A good work site safety program prevents accidents by training employees to be responsible and accountable for safety, and by empowering them to enforce the rules to stop any unsafe act.”

Jeff Ship, Walton Construction

The new ordinance requires certification of operators, who must pass a written test and show proficiency, including the ability to maneuver and shut down the giant crane, and then to secure it, according to ENR.

The state of Florida does not require certification. Miami-Dade County is among a handful of major metropolitan areas — including Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Omaha and Washington — that have passed their own rules requiring licensing of tower-crane operators.

Missouri is not one of the 15 or so states that currently require crane operator certification.

In early March, a crane accident on the I-64 reconstruction project closed Clayton Rd. in St. Louis for 13 hours when a clamp holding a beam broke, causing the crane to topple. No one was injured in that accident.

Source: ENR

But a survey of other areas of the country showed little discussion about standardizing crane inspections and operator certification procedures, unless a fatal crane accident has recently occurred locally, according to ENR. Some examples are Washington state and California, which were both motivated to tighten crane safety rules following crane accidents.

A couple of ENR blog posts worth reading - People Are Scarier Than Cranes and Walking the Walk: The Writing is on the Wall about Crane Safety.

What is your company doing about crane safety?

“So far, commercial construction has not been affected by the slowdown in the housing market nearly as much as residential construction. Many sectors of commercial construction are moving forward with new projects. Plus, many of the traditional residential specialty contractors are beginning to compete in the commercial construction market.

In the last six months, we’ve seen subcontractors that had been focused on residential work for the last several years starting to bid on commercial projects. The cost of construction materials is beginning to stabilize from the increases we have seen over the years. The prices of items such as lumber and gypsum drywall actually are on the decline.

We are optimistic that the economic stimulus operations being put in place as a result of the slowing housing market also will boost the commercial construction market and turn around residential construction.”

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch