(1482,535,4,2,1240579060,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:15 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:41:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"pfizer_unveils_new_bio_research_building\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:1:\"9\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:184:\"Functionality and teamwork – those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.\n\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:56:\"Pfizer, research, Chesterfield, Gilbane, Murphy, Tarlton\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:9809:\"<p>Functionality and teamwork &ndash; those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.<br /><br />The Pfizer St. Louis story began in April 2003 when Pfizer Inc. completed its acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. and took control of the latter&rsquo;s St. Louis operations. Pharmacia&rsquo;s researchers were scattered on three sites: the main Chesterfield campus, leased space on Monsanto&rsquo;s campus in Creve Coeur, and leased space on Newstead Avenue in St. Louis. Since then, Pfizer has leased additional space for scientists in the Maryville office park. Today Pfizer has over 1,100 research and development scientists working in metropolitan St. Louis.<br /><br />Pfizer decided to build a new research building on Chesterfield campus in order to bring all of its St. Louis researchers together on one site. &ldquo;Science is a team sport,&rdquo; said Edward Crader, Pfizer&rsquo;s design manager for the new research building, and early work in drug development &ldquo;benefits from cross-disciplinary interactions,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />The new 322,000-square-foot research building opened in April 2009 with a capacity for 96 laboratories on four levels and a four-story glass connector to an existing research building, Building BB. Two hundred and fifty scientists moved from the three leased sites into the new building, which became known as Building CC, said Pfizer spokesman Edward Bryant.<br /><br />&ldquo;The importance of this building is that it will integrate four more research groups into the campus,&rdquo; Crader said. <br /><br />Before the building could integrate scientists into the campus, however, the campus had to have the capacity to integrate the building. A $20 million Chesterfield Village Site Utility Master Plan to expand and modernize the electrical and mechanical infrastructure of the campus to accommodate the new research building and two other building projects proceeded simultaneously with early stages of construction of the building. Since 2003, Pfizer has invested $350 million in the Chesterfield campus, $200 million of it in the new research building.<br /><br /><strong>Team Building</strong><br /><br />Since a prime goal of the building was to integrate scientists into the research community of Pfizer&rsquo;s Chesterfield campus, &ldquo;the social aspect of research was important in the design of the building,&rdquo; Crader explained. &ldquo;We built in a gradient of spaces from public to private,&rdquo; he said. There are private offices and cubicles, &ldquo;and we integrated the offices with the cubicles,&rdquo; Crader said. There are team level meeting areas &ndash; private areas for each research team &ndash; and campus level conference rooms. Social hubs were created near the connector with Building BB to encourage informal meetings between scientists from both buildings, and, new for Pfizer St. Louis, workstations were clustered together outside the labs in areas with natural light instead if sitting isolated from each other inside laboratories.<br /><br />&ldquo;A major objective in the layout was to create places to exchange of information, to create a number of congregating spaces, and a number of collaborative space,&rdquo; said Gregg Coffman was project manager for Gilbane, the prime contractor in the joint venture of Gilbane and Tarlton Corp. that was the project general contractor.<br /><br />The building itself also cubed into collaborative things, and a number of spaces in link to existing building (BB)<br /><br />Scott Daniels, head of the Pharmacokinetics and Dynamics Metabolism Unit, is excited about the social aspects of the new space. &ldquo;This will be the first time we&rsquo;re all on one floor and co-located and that will provide us a better flow of communication,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Team building also was an essential part of getting the job done right. Coffman called Pfizer&rsquo;s new research building, &ldquo;a very high end research center,&rdquo; but added that building such facilities is not unusual for Gilbane, but is actually one of its core practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;For us, what was unique was the teamwork with Tarlton and local trade contractors,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are a lot of very complicated systems in the building &ndash; in the plumbing, the HVAC, and the electrical service. The more complex the systems, the more problems you tend to run into. So, it was extremely important to solve those problems so that we didn&rsquo;t have serious delays.<br /><br />&ldquo;Consolidations from remote sites are understandably constrained by leases,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;So, the demands were for extremely high-quality, precision work performed rapidly, and that takes a lot of cooperation from a lot of people. But everyone came together to meet the challenges,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The team gelled in ways that went beyond the scope of the job, Coffman said. &ldquo;We formed a Stream Team and cleaned up about 3/4 of a mile of stream that ran through Pfizer&rsquo;s campus. We pulled 2-3 tons of garbage out of the stream. We had two very successful United Way campaigns, and we also partnered with the Construction Careers Center. Those are the kinds of things that make projects special,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br /><strong>Functionality</strong><br /><br />Don Frail, site director for Pfizer&rsquo;s St. Louis labs and head of the Indications Discovery Unit, said, the building &ldquo;also is designed more functionally to maintain safe practices in the lab and separate the lab from offices.&rdquo; Places where &ldquo;paperwork&rdquo; is done &ndash; offices and workstations &ndash; are separated from lab benches, support space is separated from bench space, &ldquo;so there is less chance of contamination,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Safety was a major design concern, Daniels added, which was one reason that offices and labs were separated. Immediately outside the entrance to each lab a large section of wall hosts a bank of safety equipment.<br /><br />&ldquo;We have three vertical layers of functional spaces,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;Offices are on the end near Building BB, interior labs are in the middle of the building, and open labs are at the other end,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Keeping in mind that &ldquo;science evolves faster than buildings,&rdquo; as Frail said, the labs were designed for flexibility and use a flexible casework system. The casework is not bolted to for floor, but instead consists of a mix of mobile carts and stationary casework. The stationary casework hangs in six-foot or 12-foot sections from a 12-inch core. Power and data wiring drops down from vertical raceways in the core.&nbsp; <br /><br />The electrical service, airflow, and exhaust flow&nbsp; &ldquo;all are streamlined and improved,&rdquo; Daniels said, and lab benches are reinforced to hold more weight. &ldquo;A lot of state-of-the-art equipment is heavy, but these benches are designed to hold it so we don&rsquo;t need a separate instrument room,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Murphy Company fabricated the sheet metal that went into the building. &ldquo;It was one of the largest sheet metal jobs in the St. Louis area using 860,000 pounds of sheet metal,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president, Murphy Co. &ldquo;We had to do a lot of preplanning and 3-D modeling (of all the ductwork, biosafety cabinets, devices, valves, etc.) in order to meet the schedule, otherwise no two fab shops together could have kept up with the work,&rdquo; he said. Over 16 months, Murphy sent 900 tractor loads of modules to the job site &ldquo;just in time&rdquo; for installation.<br /><br />&ldquo;This building is night and day from where we are in Creve Coeur or Newstead in terms of functionality; and the social aspect is tremendous,&rdquo; Frail said.<br /><br /><strong>Sustainability</strong><br /><br />Natural light from very energy efficient windows floods the open lab rooms at the new research building, and that wasn&rsquo;t the only new, &ldquo;green&rdquo; detail for Pfizer St. Louis. <br /><br />To further reduce energy use, the mechanical systems in the labs cycle down after hours. If someone is going to be working late, he or she pushes a button on the wall to get two more hours of service.<br /><br />Despite such sustainable features, don&rsquo;t look for a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t do LEED, but Pfizer has its own system called the Pfizer Green Building Program that is equivalent to LEED,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;We did incorporate a lot of green features. We have heat recovery on the mechanical system; we used low VOC paints and sealants; we used construction materials with a high recycled content; and we used a natural material &ndash; linoleum &ndash; on the floors,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;Pfizer used LEED Silver as the base line,&rdquo; Coffman said. &ldquo;They installed a very sophisticated energy heat recovery system,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The mechanical system exhausts a lot of air as part of keeping researchers safe. The energy recovery system captures a lot of the heat in the exhaust air.&nbsp; They also used proportional lighting and the domestic water system has a sophisticated system to keep energy use as low as possible,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The new research building won a Pfizer Building Award in 2008 and was Gilbane&rsquo;s Midwest Building of the Year, &ldquo;and that is a wonderful honor,&rdquo; Coffman said. And the partnership was so successful that Gilbane and Tarlton are sustaining their teamwork to compete for a major research facility for Monsanto</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1483,535,4,2,1240579097,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"535\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:15 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"pfizer_unveils_new_bio_research_building\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:1:\"9\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:184:\"Functionality and teamwork – those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.\n\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:56:\"Pfizer, research, Chesterfield, Gilbane, Murphy, Tarlton\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:9809:\"<p>Functionality and teamwork &ndash; those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.<br /><br />The Pfizer St. Louis story began in April 2003 when Pfizer Inc. completed its acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. and took control of the latter&rsquo;s St. Louis operations. Pharmacia&rsquo;s researchers were scattered on three sites: the main Chesterfield campus, leased space on Monsanto&rsquo;s campus in Creve Coeur, and leased space on Newstead Avenue in St. Louis. Since then, Pfizer has leased additional space for scientists in the Maryville office park. Today Pfizer has over 1,100 research and development scientists working in metropolitan St. Louis.<br /><br />Pfizer decided to build a new research building on Chesterfield campus in order to bring all of its St. Louis researchers together on one site. &ldquo;Science is a team sport,&rdquo; said Edward Crader, Pfizer&rsquo;s design manager for the new research building, and early work in drug development &ldquo;benefits from cross-disciplinary interactions,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />The new 322,000-square-foot research building opened in April 2009 with a capacity for 96 laboratories on four levels and a four-story glass connector to an existing research building, Building BB. Two hundred and fifty scientists moved from the three leased sites into the new building, which became known as Building CC, said Pfizer spokesman Edward Bryant.<br /><br />&ldquo;The importance of this building is that it will integrate four more research groups into the campus,&rdquo; Crader said. <br /><br />Before the building could integrate scientists into the campus, however, the campus had to have the capacity to integrate the building. A $20 million Chesterfield Village Site Utility Master Plan to expand and modernize the electrical and mechanical infrastructure of the campus to accommodate the new research building and two other building projects proceeded simultaneously with early stages of construction of the building. Since 2003, Pfizer has invested $350 million in the Chesterfield campus, $200 million of it in the new research building.<br /><br /><strong>Team Building</strong><br /><br />Since a prime goal of the building was to integrate scientists into the research community of Pfizer&rsquo;s Chesterfield campus, &ldquo;the social aspect of research was important in the design of the building,&rdquo; Crader explained. &ldquo;We built in a gradient of spaces from public to private,&rdquo; he said. There are private offices and cubicles, &ldquo;and we integrated the offices with the cubicles,&rdquo; Crader said. There are team level meeting areas &ndash; private areas for each research team &ndash; and campus level conference rooms. Social hubs were created near the connector with Building BB to encourage informal meetings between scientists from both buildings, and, new for Pfizer St. Louis, workstations were clustered together outside the labs in areas with natural light instead if sitting isolated from each other inside laboratories.<br /><br />&ldquo;A major objective in the layout was to create places to exchange of information, to create a number of congregating spaces, and a number of collaborative space,&rdquo; said Gregg Coffman was project manager for Gilbane, the prime contractor in the joint venture of Gilbane and Tarlton Corp. that was the project general contractor.<br /><br />The building itself also cubed into collaborative things, and a number of spaces in link to existing building (BB)<br /><br />Scott Daniels, head of the Pharmacokinetics and Dynamics Metabolism Unit, is excited about the social aspects of the new space. &ldquo;This will be the first time we&rsquo;re all on one floor and co-located and that will provide us a better flow of communication,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Team building also was an essential part of getting the job done right. Coffman called Pfizer&rsquo;s new research building, &ldquo;a very high end research center,&rdquo; but added that building such facilities is not unusual for Gilbane, but is actually one of its core practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;For us, what was unique was the teamwork with Tarlton and local trade contractors,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are a lot of very complicated systems in the building &ndash; in the plumbing, the HVAC, and the electrical service. The more complex the systems, the more problems you tend to run into. So, it was extremely important to solve those problems so that we didn&rsquo;t have serious delays.<br /><br />&ldquo;Consolidations from remote sites are understandably constrained by leases,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;So, the demands were for extremely high-quality, precision work performed rapidly, and that takes a lot of cooperation from a lot of people. But everyone came together to meet the challenges,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The team gelled in ways that went beyond the scope of the job, Coffman said. &ldquo;We formed a Stream Team and cleaned up about 3/4 of a mile of stream that ran through Pfizer&rsquo;s campus. We pulled 2-3 tons of garbage out of the stream. We had two very successful United Way campaigns, and we also partnered with the Construction Careers Center. Those are the kinds of things that make projects special,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br /><strong>Functionality</strong><br /><br />Don Frail, site director for Pfizer&rsquo;s St. Louis labs and head of the Indications Discovery Unit, said, the building &ldquo;also is designed more functionally to maintain safe practices in the lab and separate the lab from offices.&rdquo; Places where &ldquo;paperwork&rdquo; is done &ndash; offices and workstations &ndash; are separated from lab benches, support space is separated from bench space, &ldquo;so there is less chance of contamination,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Safety was a major design concern, Daniels added, which was one reason that offices and labs were separated. Immediately outside the entrance to each lab a large section of wall hosts a bank of safety equipment.<br /><br />&ldquo;We have three vertical layers of functional spaces,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;Offices are on the end near Building BB, interior labs are in the middle of the building, and open labs are at the other end,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Keeping in mind that &ldquo;science evolves faster than buildings,&rdquo; as Frail said, the labs were designed for flexibility and use a flexible casework system. The casework is not bolted to for floor, but instead consists of a mix of mobile carts and stationary casework. The stationary casework hangs in six-foot or 12-foot sections from a 12-inch core. Power and data wiring drops down from vertical raceways in the core.&nbsp; <br /><br />The electrical service, airflow, and exhaust flow&nbsp; &ldquo;all are streamlined and improved,&rdquo; Daniels said, and lab benches are reinforced to hold more weight. &ldquo;A lot of state-of-the-art equipment is heavy, but these benches are designed to hold it so we don&rsquo;t need a separate instrument room,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Murphy Company fabricated the sheet metal that went into the building. &ldquo;It was one of the largest sheet metal jobs in the St. Louis area using 860,000 pounds of sheet metal,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president, Murphy Co. &ldquo;We had to do a lot of preplanning and 3-D modeling (of all the ductwork, biosafety cabinets, devices, valves, etc.) in order to meet the schedule, otherwise no two fab shops together could have kept up with the work,&rdquo; he said. Over 16 months, Murphy sent 900 tractor loads of modules to the job site &ldquo;just in time&rdquo; for installation.<br /><br />&ldquo;This building is night and day from where we are in Creve Coeur or Newstead in terms of functionality; and the social aspect is tremendous,&rdquo; Frail said.<br /><br /><strong>Sustainability</strong><br /><br />Natural light from very energy efficient windows floods the open lab rooms at the new research building, and that wasn&rsquo;t the only new, &ldquo;green&rdquo; detail for Pfizer St. Louis. <br /><br />To further reduce energy use, the mechanical systems in the labs cycle down after hours. If someone is going to be working late, he or she pushes a button on the wall to get two more hours of service.<br /><br />Despite such sustainable features, don&rsquo;t look for a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t do LEED, but Pfizer has its own system called the Pfizer Green Building Program that is equivalent to LEED,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;We did incorporate a lot of green features. We have heat recovery on the mechanical system; we used low VOC paints and sealants; we used construction materials with a high recycled content; and we used a natural material &ndash; linoleum &ndash; on the floors,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;Pfizer used LEED Silver as the base line,&rdquo; Coffman said. &ldquo;They installed a very sophisticated energy heat recovery system,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The mechanical system exhausts a lot of air as part of keeping researchers safe. The energy recovery system captures a lot of the heat in the exhaust air.&nbsp; They also used proportional lighting and the domestic water system has a sophisticated system to keep energy use as low as possible,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The new research building won a Pfizer Building Award in 2008 and was Gilbane&rsquo;s Midwest Building of the Year, &ldquo;and that is a wonderful honor,&rdquo; Coffman said. And the partnership was so successful that Gilbane and Tarlton are sustaining their teamwork to compete for a major research facility for Monsanto</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1484,536,4,2,1240579827,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:21 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:51:\"wilson_guarantee_c_mechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4163:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1485,524,10,2,1240579897,'a:33:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:2:\"10\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"524\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-17 08:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:2:\"10\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:21:\"Seal the Deal Seminar\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:21:\"seal_the_deal_seminar\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_58\";s:22:\"Seal the Deal Seminar \";s:11:\"field_ft_58\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_62\";s:101:\"Tom Woodcock\\\'s tips and techniques for construction sales and marketing through current conditions. \";s:11:\"field_ft_62\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_59\";s:46:\"Woodcock, Seal the Deal, sales, marketing, ASA\";s:11:\"field_ft_59\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_63\";s:106:\"Quality Inn Amphitheatre 2434 Old Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (next to Syberg’s on Dorsett)\";s:11:\"field_ft_63\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_57\";s:19:\"2009-05-07 07:16 AM\";s:15:\"field_offset_57\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_56\";s:0:\"\";s:15:\"field_offset_56\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_55\";s:19:\" 8:00 a.m. – Noon\";s:11:\"field_ft_55\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_60\";s:2257:\"<p>Continental breakfast included.<br />Cost:&nbsp; $50 ASA Members; $65 Non-Members<br />Reservations due before May 1, 2009<br />NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED!</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Seal the Deal\\\" height=\\\"170\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/seal-the-deal.jpg\\\" width=\\\"281\\\" /></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><br /><strong>1. Cutting Through Tough Economic Conditions</strong><br />We will be discussing techniques in both sales and marketing to combat the practices used in a tough economy.&nbsp; Companies have to contend with ridiculous pricing schemes, unrealistic demands and inexperience with customers.&nbsp; This topic will deal directly with taking hold of your sales dynamic and working it effectively, regardless of where the economy trends.<br /><br /><strong>2. Market Thrifty, Sell Strong</strong><br />Stop blowing money on marketing ideas that don&rsquo;t work!&nbsp; Determine the most effective way to promote to customers while saving money.&nbsp; No need for an expensive campaign, just an intelligent one that&rsquo;s enacted.&nbsp; Properly link the marketing with your sales focus and have them team up to be even more effective.&nbsp; The how to&rsquo;s of doing just that.<br /><br /><strong>3. Educating Your Customer</strong><br />Do you have a strategy, system or format to educate your customers on making the best bidding choice?&nbsp; Probably not.&nbsp; You most likely put more effort into getting your &ldquo;number&rdquo; than getting your customer.&nbsp; An educated customer is the best customer.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s your job to teach them how to make the best choices in your trade.<br /><strong><br />4. Common Errors in Construction Selling</strong><br />Contractor after contractor make the same mistakes day in and day out.&nbsp; Repeating ineffective selling behaviors will contribute to scratching and clawing for every job.&nbsp; Being untrained, nervous or shy should not be a barrier to success.&nbsp; A few good practices can alleviate the pressure.&nbsp; We will point out many regularly made errors and present counter methods to eliminate them.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;For registration, go to&nbsp;<a href=\\\"http://www.tomwoodcocksealthedeal.com \\\" title=\\\"Seal the Deal\\\"> www.tomwoodcocksealthedeal.com </a>or call 314-775-9217.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1486,537,4,2,1240580657,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:41 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"Jewish Community Center Expansion Completed\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:43:\"jewish_community_center_expansion_completed\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:43:\"Jewish Community Center Expansion Completed\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:94:\"Work has been completed on a fitness and recreational complex for the Jewish Community Center.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:19:\"Jewish, JCC, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2072:\"<p>S. M. Wilson &amp; Co. has completed construction of a new 95,000 square foot, state-of-the-art fitness and recreational complex at the Jewish Community Center of St. Louis (JCC).</p>\n<p>The new recreation complex represents Phase I of a 154,000 square foot, $32 million building program that also will include the partial demolition and renovation of the existing Carlyn H. Wohl building at the Creve Coeur location. The new fitness/wellness complex will be connected to the Wohl building.&nbsp; S. M. Wilson is providing construction management services for the entire building program.</p>\n<p>The new recreation complex features a coffee/juice bar located in the main lobby, an indoor recreational and lap pool, new racquetball and squash courts, a fitness and training center, a gymnasium with an elevated running track, meeting spaces, a health club, professional locker rooms, family and youth locker rooms and a spa.</p>\n<p>Renovations to the Wohl building will create additional space for community gatherings and cultural events. A black box theatre will be created for community theatre group performances, and a new performing arts center will provide an area for dance classes and cultural productions. New spaces also will be added for adult day services and an expanded early childhood center. Meeting rooms and a banquet facility will accommodate the needs of large company retreats or small group meetings. In addition, a new Beit Midrash (learning center), adult education programming and administrative offices also will be included in the project.</p>\n<p>Construction is scheduled for completion in February 2010.</p>\n<p>The architecture firm for the project is M+H Architects, Inc.</p>\n<p>The Jewish Community Center of St. Louis is a multigenerational gathering place open to everyone in the community regardless of faith, age and background. The JCC offers a variety of programs and services including educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programming throughout its campuses in Creve Coeur and Chesterfield.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1487,538,4,2,1240580917,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:45 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:35:\"Architect Billings Show Improvement\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"architect_billings_show_improvement\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:35:\"Architect Billings Show Improvement\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\" After a series of historic lows, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was up more than eight points in March.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"AIA, billings, architects, index\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1488,536,4,2,1240580967,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"536\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 04:48 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:51:\"wilson_guarantee_c_mechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4163:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1489,536,4,2,1240581030,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"536\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 04:48 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:51:\"wilson_guarantee_c_mechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4163:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1490,536,4,2,1240581082,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"536\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:51:\"wilson_guarantee_c_mechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4163:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1491,538,4,2,1240581166,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"538\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:45 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:35:\"Architect Billings Show Improvement\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"architect_billings_show_improvement\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:35:\"Architect Billings Show Improvement\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\" After a series of historic lows, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was up more than eight points in March.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"AIA, billings, architects, index\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2371:\"<p>&nbsp;After a series of historic lows, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was up more than eight points in March. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the March ABI rating was 43.7, up from the 35.3 mark in February.&nbsp; This was the first time since September 2008 that the index was above 40, but the score still indicates an overall decline in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry score was 56.6. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;This news should be viewed with cautious optimism,&rdquo; said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. &ldquo;The fact that inquiries for new projects increased is encouraging, but it will likely be a few months before we see an improvement in overall billings. Architects continue to report a diversity of business conditions, but the majority is still seeing weak activity levels.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br /><strong>Key March ABI highlights:</strong><br />&nbsp;<br />Regional averages: South (43.4), Northeast (41.8), Midwest (37.5), West (36.1)<br />Sector index breakdown: mixed practice (44.0), institutional (42.9), multi-family residential (39.4), commercial / industrial (35.0)<br />Project inquiries index: 56.6 <br /><strong><br />About the AIA Architecture Billings Index</strong><br />The Architecture Billings Index is derived from a monthly &ldquo;Work-on-the-Boards&rdquo; survey and produced by the AIA Economics&nbsp; Market Research Group. Based on a comparison of data compiled since the survey&rsquo;s inception in 1995 with figures from the Department of Commerce on Construction Put in Place, the findings amount to a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly survey sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended. According to the proportion of respondents choosing each option, a score is generated, which represents an index value for each month.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1492,536,4,2,1240581219,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"536\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:46 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:51:\"wilson_guarantee_c_mechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:53:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4163:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1493,473,4,2,1240581299,'a:28:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"473\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24  3:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:3:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";i:2;s:2:\"45\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:49:\"\\\"Meet the Machines\\\"  Family Event This Saturday\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:44:\"meet_the_machines_family_event_this_saturday\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:48:\"\\\"Meet the Machines\\\" Family Event This Saturday\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:118:\"This Saturday Budrovich Companies along with several major sponsors will, once again, present \\\"Meet the Machines\\\".  \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"Meet the Machines, Budrovich\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2955:\"<h4>Bring your Family To \\\"Meet The MACHINES\\\"</h4>\n<p><strong>Saturday April 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.<br /></strong><strong>Location: Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting<br /> 10328 Lake Bluff Drive </strong></p>\n<p>The Budrovich Companies along with several major sponsors will, once again, present \\\"Meet the Machines\\\".&nbsp; Building on the unqualified success of the inaugural event in 2005, and the overwhelming growth since, the event promises much more in 2009.&nbsp; Last year&rsquo;s event drew approximately 12,000 attendees.&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Meet the Machines\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"163\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/meet-the-machines1.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"244\\\" />Many sponsors such as McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical Schnuck&rsquo;s, Luby Equipment Company, JD Kutter Insurance, AmeriSure, Manitowoc Crane and others have seen the explosive growth of the free event and are supporting it through full sponsorships, in-kind donations and volunteers.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event will be held Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.&nbsp; This exciting family outing is held at the Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting headquarters, which is in an old quarry located at 10328 Lake Bluff Drive in St. Louis, MO.</p>\n<p>The purpose of the educational event is to introduce children, ages 3-15 years old, to the heavy equipment side of the construction business.&nbsp; Guests should arrive at the north gate and stop at the registration table.&nbsp; The first 1,500 kids will receive their Meet the Machines hard hat and other giveaways.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>This year&rsquo;s event promises more interactive elements.&nbsp; Children and adults, alike, will have the opportunity to climb aboard and explore giant excavation and hoisting machinery.&nbsp; Additionally, visitors can participate in hands-on, educational activities such as &ldquo;digging&rdquo; for prizes or operating a crane via a training simulator.&nbsp; There will be games and prizes, face painting and opportunities to get pictures taken with a local sports team mascot, other local celebrities and, of course, the heavy machinery itself.&nbsp; An operator skill challenge will allow the youngsters to see professionals operate heavy equipment for contest prizes.&nbsp; Food and beverages will be provided to attendees at a minimal cost.&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Meet the Machines\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"365\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/meet-the-machines4.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"244\\\" />The Budrovich Companies specialize in site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, crane rental, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp; Budrovich employs nearly 150 skilled operators, laborers and teamsters in the St. Louis metropolitan region, utilizing nearly 90 pieces of excavation &amp; grading equipment and 40 mobile hydraulic cranes.&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";s:10:\"category_2\";s:2:\"45\";}'),(1494,539,5,2,1240582078,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:58 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"38\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"The Balanced Scorecard Part 3: Achieving Goals\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:45:\"the_balanced_scorecard_part_3_achieving_goals\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:46:\"The Balanced Scorecard Part 3: Achieving Goals\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:143:\"As noted in previous columns, The Balanced Scorecard aligns business strategies with everyday performance. Now you are ready for implementation\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:26:\"Balanced Scorecard, step 3\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:5203:\"<p><em>by Bill Willbrand, Jr., CPA<br />Member, Brown Smith Wallace LLC<br /></em><br />As you have learned in the previous two columns on this topic, The Balanced Scorecard is a proven method that aligns business strategies with everyday performance. The first column described how to identify and overcome common barriers to success. Column two took the method further by introducing you to metrics that can be used to achieve improved performance.&nbsp; <br /><br />Now you are ready for implementation. To implement the Balanced Scorecard, you need to execute three comprehensive phases. These phases are broken down into eight separate steps. <br /><br /><strong>Phase 1: The Strategic Foundation</strong><br /><br />The first step is strategic alignment. A clear strategy is essential to formulating the Balanced Scorecard. For a strategy to be clear, it must have both specific objectives and a well-structured set of targets. An example of a strategic objective expressed in relation to action would be the following: Hand tool loss will be reduced by 50 percent in the next six months through the implementation of a radio frequency identification system for single items valued at more than $100.<br /><br />The second step is communicating your plan. Once you have clear objectives, you must be able to communicate them to your stakeholders. Every individual in your organization needs to know the objectives and understand how his or her daily job performance supports the achievement of these goals. To best convey your plan, you may need to alter your communication style for each segment of your audience. <br /><br />Step three is to establish strategic areas. Setting priorities when identifying even general areas for improvement is essential to staying on target. The Balanced Scorecard allows for a focus of five or fewer strategic areas. Key strategic areas you might want to include in your scorecard are:<br />&bull; Customer Service<br />&bull; Depth/Breadth of Service Lines<br />&bull; Safety<br />&bull; Innovation<br />&bull; Improved Profitability<br /><br />Every goal you set must drive a strategic result. For example, the strategic objective of reducing hand tool loss described above would drive toward the more general strategic area of financial performance. <br /><br />Now that you have established your strategic objectives and strategic areas, you are ready for step 4: building a strategic grid. A strategic grid is a visual tool to outline the specifics of your strategy in relation to employee learning and growth, internal processes, customer satisfaction and financial performance. <br /><br /><br /><img alt=\\\"Balanced\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"178\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/balanced.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"361\\\" /><br /><br /><strong>Phase 2: Three Critical Components<br /></strong><br />At step five in the process, you will add metrics to your strategic grids. As discussed in last month&rsquo;s column, these metrics must be:<br />&bull; Linked to the strategic objective<br />&bull; Repeatable, allowing for comparisons over time<br />&bull; An indicator of future targets and performance<br />&bull; Accountable, reliable, verifiable and accurate<br />&bull; Available when needed<br />&nbsp;<br />Some examples of measurements that are leading indicators of performance are customer referrals, new contracts and service response time. Whichever metrics you choose, be sure to focus on those which are most relevant to your strategic objectives. <br /><br />Step six is to establish targets for your metrics.&nbsp; In order for a metric to be useful, you must have a target goal and a timeline in which you expect to meet that goal. In the hand tool example, the timeframe of reducing loss by 50 percent in the next six months serves as the target of the measurement. <br /><br />One of the most gratifying components of implementing the Balanced Scorecard is putting programs into place to achieve your strategic objective. A viable program must:<br />&bull; Require some level of resource commitment<br />&bull; Have designated leadership<br />&bull; Be supported and sponsored by executive leadership<br />&bull; Benefit one or more strategic objectives <br /><br />An example would be to establish a program to promote company-wide safety (the strategic objective), which would include designated awards (resource commitment) and have the support of company leaders as demonstrated through internal communications and company events. The program should also be led by one manager or team. <br /><strong><br />Phase 3: Deployment</strong><br /><br />The eighth and final step in the process is launching your first Balanced Scorecard within your organization. When aligning the developed scorecard with other parts of your business, you can make certain there are no conflicts or competing agendas. As you launch your plan and the programs to support it, you will have the opportunity to gain buy-in from stakeholders throughout the company. A successful implementation will ensure all your employees know and are focused on the measurement and accomplishment of these plans in their day-to-day activities. <br /><br /><br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"38\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1495,540,4,2,1240583606,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 04:28 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"7\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:31:\"Annette Lehnbeuter joins Frost \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:30:\"annette_lehnbeuter_joins_frost\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:30:\"Annette Lehnbeuter joins Frost\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:115:\" Annette Lehnbeuter recently joined Frost as a lighting quotation specialist at the Maryland Heights headquarters. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:17:\"Frost, Lehnbeuter\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1207:\"<p>Annette Lehnbeuter recently joined <a href=\\\"http://www.frostelectric.com\\\">Frost</a> as a lighting quotation specialist at the Maryland Heights headquarters.</p>\n<p>Her responsibilities include providing electrical contractors with competitive lighting quotes for new construction, retrofit and renovation projects. Lehnbeuter works closely with lighting manufacturer representatives, architects, engineers and electrical contractors to create accurate and timely lighting quotes as determined by the job specifications and fixture schedule or the design build descriptions. In addition, she promotes energy saving lighting products and practices, expedites lighting orders, and solves lighting issues for customers as well as explains examples of current lighting trends.</p>\n<p>Lehnbeuter earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from the University of Missouri &ndash; St. Louis (UMSL). She has served as an officer for the Women&rsquo;s Electrical Board (WEB) for the past five years and currently acts as the chairperson of the WEB.</p>\n<p>Frost, now in its third generation of Frost family ownership, focuses on the electrical supply, industrial, automation, tools, safety and voice/data industries.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"7\";}'),(1496,536,4,2,1240611933,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"536\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:46 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:55:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C&R Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:54:\"wilson_guarantee_c_&_rmechanical_build_ssm_data_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:55:\"Wilson, Guarantee, C&R Mechanical Build SSM Data Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"A St. Louis-based  team is building a Tier III data center in Washington, MO for  Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy).\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:35:\"SSM, data center, Guarantee, Wilson\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4169:\"<p>A St. Louis-based construction team is building a 42,500-square-foot Tier III data center in Washington, MO for Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy). Construction on the data center is slated for completion in December 2009, with facility commissioning to be finished by August 2010.</p>\n<p>The data center, valued at approximately $60 million, will serve 19 acute care hospitals with 4,000 beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care plan (Mercy Health Plans), physician offices and various healthcare facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. <br /><br />&nbsp;SM Wilson&nbsp; Co. is general contractor, Guarantee is serving as design/build electrical contractor, joining general contractornical contractor C&amp;R Mechanical Co is design/build mechanical.</p>\n<p>The Mercy Health System is investing in the data center to advance its goal of having all patient medical records &ndash; diagnostics, therapies, outcomes &ndash; filed electronically. After the facility in Washington is commissioned, a data center in St. Louis will provide remote data archiving and restoration support to the facility in Washington.<br /><br />A primary factor in selecting the Washington, Mo. site was access to and availability of electrical power. Prior to the start of construction, Guarantee and the team helped Mercy resolve issues related to power, namely the distance of redundant power and the cost of getting it and other utilities to the site. The amount of power being brought to the building is sufficient to light a town of 14,000 people.<br /><br />The electrical design is scalable, decreasing the need for upfront investment. Initially, the center will have a capacity of four 1.0MW 416/240V N+1 modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, each expandable to 1.6MW in 200KW segments as the load grows.<br /><br />To achieve further savings, each UPS is linked to a 416/240V unit sub that serves the data center by way of remote power panels located in data center racking. The configuration eliminates additional transformation typically found in data centers served by conventional 480V to 120/208V power distribution units. All servers are merely connected at 240V to 120V, creating significant savings in rack wiring and reduced energy costs by eliminating additional transformation losses.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;A web-based building management system controls interior and exterior lighting designed to ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standards. Also, all mechanical motors are high efficiency with variable speed drives. <br /><br />The center carries a finish specification of 368 watts per square foot of raised floor area. Upon opening, it will have a 35KV customer sub-station with dual 7 MVA 12.47KV secondary transformers that are expandable to 14 MVA, with transmission and delivery rates at transmission-grade level to enable it to support next-generation, high-density systems. 2N redundant utility service is provided by a pair of separately routed 138/35KV utility transformers, with N+1 emergency service back-up provided by two 2MW 12.47KV diesel generators (expandable to four). <br /><br />Two fiber-optic concerns serve the site, using the &ldquo;front door/back door&rdquo; technique to assure utmost service reliability. <br /><br />Security is optimal. Entry checkpoints are manned via closed circuit television, with entry intercoms monitored by a 24/7/365 command center.&nbsp; All perimeter and non-public entries are keycard controlled, while biometric print and iris readers protect entry to the center and secure areas. Each row of racks in the data center has dedicated video surveillance.&nbsp; In total, more than 100 cameras protect the data center and generator building, both of which are constructed to F2 tornadic standards. The buildings are also earthquake and blast-resistant, with multiple zoned pre-action systems for fire protection. <br /><br />St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System is the ninth largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. More than 31,000 professionals and 4,600 physicians are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1497,535,4,2,1240612097,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"535\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-24 03:15 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"51\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"pfizer_unveils_new_bio_research_building\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Pfizer Unveils New Bio-Research Building\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:1:\"9\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:184:\"Functionality and teamwork – those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.\n\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:56:\"Pfizer, research, Chesterfield, Gilbane, Murphy, Tarlton\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:9683:\"<p>Functionality and teamwork &ndash; those two simple ideas drove the design and construction of a new $200 million research building for Pfizer on its corporate campus in Chesterfield, MO.<br /><br />The Pfizer St. Louis story began in April 2003 when Pfizer Inc. completed its acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. and took control of the latter&rsquo;s St. Louis operations. Pharmacia&rsquo;s researchers were scattered on three sites: the main Chesterfield campus, leased space on Monsanto&rsquo;s campus in Creve Coeur, and leased space on Newstead Avenue in St. Louis. Since then, Pfizer has leased additional space for scientists in the Maryville office park. Today Pfizer has over 1,100 research and development scientists working in metropolitan St. Louis.<br /><br />Pfizer decided to build a new research building on Chesterfield campus in order to bring all of its St. Louis researchers together on one site. &ldquo;Science is a team sport,&rdquo; said Edward Crader, Pfizer&rsquo;s design manager for the new research building, and early work in drug development &ldquo;benefits from cross-disciplinary interactions,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />The new 322,000-square-foot research building opened in April 2009 with a capacity for 96 laboratories on four levels and a four-story glass connector to an existing research building, Building BB. Two hundred and fifty scientists moved from the three leased sites into the new building, which became known as Building CC, said Pfizer spokesman Edward Bryant.<br /><br />&ldquo;The importance of this building is that it will integrate four more research groups into the campus,&rdquo; Crader said. <br /><br />Before the building could integrate scientists into the campus, however, the campus had to have the capacity to integrate the building. A $20 million Chesterfield Village Site Utility Master Plan to expand and modernize the electrical and mechanical infrastructure of the campus to accommodate the new research building and two other building projects proceeded simultaneously with early stages of construction of the building. Since 2003, Pfizer has invested $350 million in the Chesterfield campus, $200 million of it in the new research building.<br /><br /><strong>Team Building</strong><br /><br />Since a prime goal of the building was to integrate scientists into the research community of Pfizer&rsquo;s Chesterfield campus, &ldquo;the social aspect of research was important in the design of the building,&rdquo; Crader explained. &ldquo;We built in a gradient of spaces from public to private,&rdquo; he said. There are private offices and cubicles, &ldquo;and we integrated the offices with the cubicles,&rdquo; Crader said. There are team level meeting areas &ndash; private areas for each research team &ndash; and campus level conference rooms. Social hubs were created near the connector with Building BB to encourage informal meetings between scientists from both buildings, and, new for Pfizer St. Louis, workstations were clustered together outside the labs in areas with natural light instead if sitting isolated from each other inside laboratories.<br /><br />&ldquo;A major objective in the layout was to create places to exchange of information, to create a number of congregating spaces, and a number of collaborative space,&rdquo; said Gregg Coffman was project manager for Gilbane, the prime contractor in the joint venture of Gilbane and Tarlton Corp. that was the project general contractor.<br /><br />Scott Daniels, head of the Pharmacokinetics and Dynamics Metabolism Unit, is excited about the social aspects of the new space. &ldquo;This will be the first time we&rsquo;re all on one floor and co-located and that will provide us a better flow of communication,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Team building also was an essential part of getting the job done right. Coffman called Pfizer&rsquo;s new research building, &ldquo;a very high end research center,&rdquo; but added that building such facilities is not unusual for Gilbane, but is actually one of its core practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;For us, what was unique was the teamwork with Tarlton and local trade contractors,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are a lot of very complicated systems in the building &ndash; in the plumbing, the HVAC, and the electrical service. The more complex the systems, the more problems you tend to run into. So, it was extremely important to solve those problems so that we didn&rsquo;t have serious delays.<br /><br />&ldquo;Consolidations from remote sites are understandably constrained by leases,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;So, the demands were for extremely high-quality, precision work performed rapidly, and that takes a lot of cooperation from a lot of people. But everyone came together to meet the challenges,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The team gelled in ways that went beyond the scope of the job, Coffman said. &ldquo;We formed a Stream Team and cleaned up about 3/4 of a mile of stream that ran through Pfizer&rsquo;s campus. We pulled 2-3 tons of garbage out of the stream. We had two very successful United Way campaigns, and we also partnered with the Construction Careers Center. Those are the kinds of things that make projects special,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br /><strong>Functionality</strong><br /><br />Don Frail, site director for Pfizer&rsquo;s St. Louis labs and head of the Indications Discovery Unit, said, the building &ldquo;also is designed more functionally to maintain safe practices in the lab and separate the lab from offices.&rdquo; Places where &ldquo;paperwork&rdquo; is done &ndash; offices and workstations &ndash; are separated from lab benches, support space is separated from bench space, &ldquo;so there is less chance of contamination,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Safety was a major design concern, Daniels added, which was one reason that offices and labs were separated. Immediately outside the entrance to each lab a large section of wall hosts a bank of safety equipment.<br /><br />&ldquo;We have three vertical layers of functional spaces,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;Offices are on the end near Building BB, interior labs are in the middle of the building, and open labs are at the other end,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Keeping in mind that &ldquo;science evolves faster than buildings,&rdquo; as Frail said, the labs were designed for flexibility and use a flexible casework system. The casework is not bolted to for floor, but instead consists of a mix of mobile carts and stationary casework. The stationary casework hangs in six-foot or 12-foot sections from a 12-inch core. Power and data wiring drops down from vertical raceways in the core.&nbsp; <br /><br />The electrical service, airflow, and exhaust flow&nbsp; &ldquo;all are streamlined and improved,&rdquo; Daniels said, and lab benches are reinforced to hold more weight. &ldquo;A lot of state-of-the-art equipment is heavy, but these benches are designed to hold it so we don&rsquo;t need a separate instrument room,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Murphy Company fabricated the sheet metal that went into the building. &ldquo;It was one of the largest sheet metal jobs in the St. Louis area using 860,000 pounds of sheet metal,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president, Murphy Co. &ldquo;We had to do a lot of preplanning and 3-D modeling (of all the ductwork, biosafety cabinets, devices, valves, etc.) in order to meet the schedule, otherwise no two fab shops together could have kept up with the work,&rdquo; he said. Over 16 months, Murphy sent 900 tractor loads of modules to the job site &ldquo;just in time&rdquo; for installation.<br /><br />&ldquo;This building is night and day from where we are in Creve Coeur or Newstead in terms of functionality; and the social aspect is tremendous,&rdquo; Frail said.<br /><br /><strong>Sustainability</strong><br /><br />Natural light from very energy efficient windows floods the open lab rooms at the new research building, and that wasn&rsquo;t the only new, &ldquo;green&rdquo; detail for Pfizer St. Louis. <br /><br />To further reduce energy use, the mechanical systems in the labs cycle down after hours. If someone is going to be working late, he or she pushes a button on the wall to get two more hours of service.<br /><br />Despite such sustainable features, don&rsquo;t look for a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t do LEED, but Pfizer has its own system called the Pfizer Green Building Program that is equivalent to LEED,&rdquo; Crader said. &ldquo;We did incorporate a lot of green features. We have heat recovery on the mechanical system; we used low VOC paints and sealants; we used construction materials with a high recycled content; and we used a natural material &ndash; linoleum &ndash; on the floors,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;Pfizer used LEED Silver as the base line,&rdquo; Coffman said. &ldquo;They installed a very sophisticated energy heat recovery system,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The mechanical system exhausts a lot of air as part of keeping researchers safe. The energy recovery system captures a lot of the heat in the exhaust air.&nbsp; They also used proportional lighting and the domestic water system has a sophisticated system to keep energy use as low as possible,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The new research building won a Pfizer Building Award in 2008 and was Gilbane&rsquo;s Midwest Building of the Year, &ldquo;and that is a wonderful honor,&rdquo; Coffman said. And the partnership was so successful that Gilbane and Tarlton are sustaining their teamwork to compete for a major research facility for Monsanto</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"51\";}'),(1566,574,4,2,1243025303,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 10:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Geotechnology, Inc. Wins Highway Project\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:38:\"geotechnology_inc_wins_highway_project\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Geotechnology, Inc. Wins Highway Project\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:106:\"Geotechnology, Inc. has been awarded a contract for work on a major highway project in southwest Missouri.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"Geotechnology, MoDOT, U.S. 60/65\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1497:\"<p>Geotechnology, Inc., a provider of consulting services in geotechnical and environmental engineering, materials testing and drilling, has been awarded a contract for work on a major highway project in southwest Missouri.&nbsp; Archer Western Contractor (of Chicago) selected Geotechnology to provide professional services for work on the U.S. 60/65 project in Greene County .</p>\n<p>The estimated $65-million project will improve traffic flow and safety at the U.S. 60/65 interchange in southeast Springfield for the next 20 years by:<br />&bull; Building flyover ramps for the two busiest movements &ndash; northbound U.S. 65-to-westbound U.S. 60 and eastbound U.S. 60-to-northbound U.S. 65. This will eliminate the short weaving area on the northbound U.S. 65 bridge over U.S. 60<br />&bull; Building bridges for U.S. 60 and adjacent ramps over the BNSF railroad track serving the Springfield City Utilities power plant. High-speed traffic will no longer have to stop for coal trains at the crossing west of U.S. 65<br />&bull; Building new northbound and southbound U.S. 65 bridges<br />&bull; Widening and re-decking the eastbound and westbound U.S. 60 bridges over Lake Springfield, and extending the ramp lanes onto the bridges.<br /><br />Geotechnology&rsquo;s scope of services will include drilling, settlement gauges, Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) and Pile Dynamic Analysis (PDA). The project will be managed by the team in the firm&rsquo;s Overland Park, KS office.&nbsp; <br />-</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1500,542,2,2,1241281400,'a:29:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 06:19 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:44:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:41:\"ssm_st_clare_hospital_different_by_design\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:404:\"Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, can spend 45 minutes talking about what is new or different about patient rooms at SSM’s new 154-bed St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO, and even then he won’t have exhausted the subject. To Porter, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:32:\"St. Clare, design, SSM, Alberici\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:18014:\"<p>Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, can spend 45 minutes talking about what is new or different about patient rooms at SSM&rsquo;s new 154-bed St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO, and even then he won&rsquo;t have exhausted the subject. To Porter, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care. That re-envisioning led SSM to design the new hospital in a new way, build it in a new way, and ultimately operate it in a new way.<br /><br />With hospital costs nationally outpacing the ability of people to pay and hospitals errors making sick, SSM decided &ldquo;it was time to fundamentally rethink what we do,&rdquo; Porter said. The first &ldquo;visioning&rdquo; session for the new $230 million hospital was in April 2005. The goals were easily stated &ndash; improve the patient experience and reduce costs &ndash; but the processes of accomplishing them were very complex.<br /><strong><br />Changing the design process</strong><br /><br />Porter said SSM&rsquo;s approach to St. Clare Hospital differed in four fundamental ways from the typical hospital design process:<br /></p>\n<ul>\n<li>&ldquo;We took months to understand the patient side: shadowing patients, using photojournalism to record their experiences, and using patient diaries, and from that we tried to determine what would an ideal patient experience look like.</li>\n<li>Separately we mapped the processes of how work was done, looking at things like nurse travel time.</li>\n<li>We also engaged in clinical visioning: trying to figure out how health care will change.</li>\n<li>And we looked at where communications and IT are going as tools of what we do.</li>\n</ul>\n<p><br /><img alt=\\\"St. Clare Hospital\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />&ldquo;That gave us high level planning and then we went down into the details, functions, and spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;In the traditional design process, you go to the departments and ask them what volume of work they will have and what problems do they need fixed. But then you&rsquo;re just putting new building blocks on the same chassis. That is about how health care is produced, not how it is experienced,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Hummel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc.of Milwaukee, WI was the primary architect on the hospital, with Mackey Mitchell Associates serving as the local architect. Mackey Mitchell Associates was the primary architect on the connected medical office building and ambulatory surgery center.<br /><br />As it turned out, there was a lot of overlap between sources of patient dissatisfaction and inefficiency and waste. Patients hated being left in a hall somewhere to wait for the next thing to happen to them.&nbsp; And one of the things SSM learned from lean manufacturing was that anything that interrupts the flow of work increases waste and inefficiency.<br /><br />&ldquo;One of the biggest sources of frustration and waste is waiting time,&rdquo; Porter said. To improve flow, SSM decided to invest more capital up front to duplicate important technologies in different departments instead of funneling everyone through one place. So, the emergency department and the ambulatory center got their own radiology equipment, for example. &ldquo;Hospitals traditionally tried to save capital by investing in one radiology department. But having to take patients from all over the hospital to radiology and have them wait in the hallways until there is an opening backs up everyone else and causes tremendous waste. So we gave the departments that most use radiology their own equipment,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The theme of improving the patient experience runs from the campus sight plan and signs and cues to help visitors find their way to the artwork in patient rooms and public areas<br /><br />&ldquo;From our ring road, you have four choices: the emergency entrance, the public entrance, the medical office building, and the procedure center. In addition to signs, each has its own distinctive architectural markings. We&rsquo;ve distributed parking to correspond with services, and each entrance has its own reception area,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />Spellman Brady selected the artwork. By coincidence, Diana Spellman was undergoing treatments for cancer while she was working on the St. Clare hospital project. &ldquo;I was coming from radiation treatments to go into high level meetings and I felt like I was glowing. I had to tell them,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was able to bring experience and view as patient to selecting artwork. To really be patient centered it has to create positive, uplifting experience for patients&hellip; Some dated hospital rooms really make you sicker than you are sick because they are so depressing,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;They let us push the envelope in choosing artwork that is uplifting and colorful, and in letting us use different media. We used glass, sculpture, custom photography, and more. It was very impressive that the administration put that kind of thought into it,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;This hospital is designed to be more restful. We looked at noise, light, and d&eacute;cor all with an eye to accelerating patient recovery. By putting patients in a more healing environment we save dollars that would otherwise be spent on longer stays,&rdquo; Porter said.<br />&ldquo;We even have an open MRI to reduce stress on those patients who are claustrophobic or just don&rsquo;t like closed spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM also put a lot of thought into alleviating another major source of patient dissatisfaction and waste: errors.<br /><br />The Institute of Medicine called medical errors &ldquo;a leading cause of death and injury&rdquo; in a report to Congress in 2006. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that nationwide, roughly two out of every 100 people admitted to a hospital would suffer an injury as a result of a medical error while in the hospital. The IOM estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people a year were killed by preventable errors in hospitals, more than died every year in car accidents and more than were killed by breast cancer or aids. Indeed, the IOM called hospital errors the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States. The IOM also estimated that the direct medical charges associated with treating hospital errors totaled between $9 billion and $15 billion.<br /><br />SSM and its designers made several design decisions in order to reduce medical errors and make sure the hospital provides &ldquo;the right care in the right place at the right time,&rdquo; said Porter. The most basic decision was standardization.<br /><br />&ldquo;All eight of the operating rooms are oriented the same. Everything in them is the same and equipment hangs from ceiling booms,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;The standardization is to cut down on mistakes resulting from things not being where you expect them to be,&rdquo; he said. The operating rooms also are substantially larger than in the old hospital: 600 square feet compared to about 400; and the one cardiac operating room is 800 square feet in size. Plus, they are organized ergonomically and they all have advanced operating lights that do not cast any shadows.<br /><br />All patient rooms also have the same configuration and handedness in order to minimize errors. They all are private rooms and bathroom is in the same corner in every room, instead of neighboring rooms having bathrooms back-to-back. That meant twice as many stacks for plumbing. &ldquo;It cost $3 - 4,000 more per room to make each room the same instead of having bathrooms head to head,&rdquo; Porter said, or about $500,000 more for the whole hospital.&nbsp; How many mistakes do they have to avoid in order to make up that cost? &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;In a high intensity environment, standardization unquestionably makes for greater reliability, but it is hotly debated, even within our own organization, on whether it makes a difference in patient rooms.&rdquo; Nevertheless, SSM spent the money, because, &ldquo;we wanted to make the optimum safe environment for our patients,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The bathrooms in the patient rooms are not rectangular boxes. Porter called the five-sided bathrooms, &ldquo;one of the more brilliant architectural decisions,&rdquo; in the hospital&rsquo;s design. Having a slanted wall nearer the patient bed, &ldquo;preserves the patient&rsquo;s view of the window and creates more space in the room,&rdquo; he said, and research has shown that the ability to see out a window speeds a patient&rsquo;s recovery.<br /><strong><br />Changing the construction process</strong><br /><br />Changing the design process was one piece of how SSM sought to reinvent the hospital; changing the construction process was another. <br /><br />&ldquo;The way the trades were engaged was different from traditional construction,&rdquo; said Timothy Gunn, project director Alberici Constructors, the general contractor. &ldquo;And their relationship with the design team was very different from the traditional [relationship],&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM used a process called &ldquo;lean construction&rdquo; to build the new 430,000-square-foot hospital. Alberici, SSM, and the architect selected the main trade contractors early &ndash; Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors, Guarantee Electrical Co., St. Louis Automatic Sprinkler Co., and Niehaus Construction Services. All of those contractors were on cost-plus-fee contracts. &ldquo;That let them be nimble in implementing change, and in a hospital, where you want to include the most modern equipment, there is a lot of change,&rdquo; said Gunn.<br /><br />The trades contractors worked together in &ldquo;the big room,&rdquo; as Gunn called it, a doublewide trailer full of computers and flat screen display panels. There, detailers from all the trades worked together to create a part of a building information model, in this case a three dimensional model of everything above the ceiling with descriptions &ndash;&ndash; all of the ductwork, conduit, and piping &ndash;&ndash; so that they could coordinate all of the above the ceiling work and maximize how much they made in the shop and trucked to the site. This effort was accomplished utilizing 3D modeling within a web-based server system that allowed real-time design-engineering coordination between the project design team.<br /><br />&ldquo;The electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems were all virtually built in the 3-D model before we started installing them,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president of Murphy Co., which installed all the piping for medical gases, plumbing, and heating and cooling. &ldquo;SSM has a 3-D model now so if they need to track down a valve they can look in their electronic model instead of disturbing patients by lifting ceiling tiles or opening access doors in the walls to find it. That is a powerful tool and it is something almost no one else has,&rdquo; he says. <br /><br />Modeling all of the above the ceiling work electronically produced two other important results. &ldquo;We prefabbed in excess of what would be typical, due to the confidence everyone had that they would have the space to put their work,&rdquo; Gunn said. And all the planning helped the trades make up lost time. &ldquo;In 2008 we faced one of the wettest years in history. We had lost the planned number of weather days for the entire project by March, and being behind on the exterior put us behind on the interior finish,&rdquo; Gunn said. Having built the job electronically in 3-D, the trades contractors could see that they could get creative with sequencing the above the ceiling work to make up lost time. <br /><br />&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t necessarily have to have mechanical contractor in first in all phases,&rdquo; said Steve Kellenberger, director of construction for Guarantee Electrical. &ldquo;As long as you followed the design and put your work where you were supposed to, you could go in and put your work out of the typical sequence. It eliminated conflicts between tradesmen,&rdquo; he said. <br /><br />With that kind of cooperation, said Gunn, &ldquo;we were able to make up time and maintain the scheduled opening date.&rdquo;<br /><br />Just as electronic records &ndash; the 3-D model &ndash; played a crucial role in the construction of St. Clare Hospital, they also will be a crucial part of what makes St. Clare Hospital different. &ldquo;Our data backbone is as big and complex as our electrical backbone. That is because the single most important variable in health care is information,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />&ldquo;The low voltage work here was extraordinarily complicated. They included electronic records, VOIP (voice over internet protocol), nurse call systems, telemetry, security, and paging,&rdquo; Gunn said. Guarantee Electrical Co. was the single source electrical installation contractor installing the power, lighting, emergency, technology, data, fire alarm and security systems.<br /><br />Changing operations<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;We made points of data entry ubiquitous,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;No more paper charts,&rdquo; he said. To make sure that data is reliably and quickly entered, St. Clare Hospital has an electronic record portal in each patient room and also outside each room at a window at which a nurse can observe the patient and make notes.<br /><br />The electronic record also is designed to cut down on medication mistakes via its connection to a medical dispensing system in each room. According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors alone kill more people annually than do workplace accidents.<br /><br />Porter explained how the medical dispensing system works: &ldquo;The pharmacist stocks the patient&rsquo;s drugs in the room in a secure drawer that can be opened only by entering the correct security code into the electronic record portal. Each prescription has a bar code for the drug and a bar code for the patient. This reduces the number of people handling the drug to three, which should reduce errors.&rdquo; And since the physician orders the prescription electronically, there should occur no handwriting deciphering errors.<br /><br />The same system data wiring backbone that supports electronic records and the medical dispensing system also lets the operations department at St. Clare Hospital remote control the temperature in every patient room, office, and surgery suite. &ldquo;We use a Trane Tracer Summit Automated Control System to control the heat in each room individually from the control room or the Internet, and we can give the room occupants control within a set band of temperatures,&rdquo; said Andy Gratton, team leader of plant operations. <br /><br />With the Trane Summit System, &ldquo;they have an ability they never had before to see hundreds of pressures and temperature in chiller. They can get data and keep track of issues as they&rsquo;re developing and schedule maintenance before issues become a problem,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;A good building management system can make a great difference in the time spend on a problem,&rdquo; Gratton added.<br /><br />Some of the equipment controlled via the Trane Summit System is new to the St. Louis area, but all of it &ldquo;is light years from where they were in their old building,&rdquo; Bengard said.<br /><br />The new steam boilers, for example, are much more efficient than the old ones. &ldquo;We went from a traditional, 692 horsepower boiler system to two, 200 hp and two 300 horsepower boilers.&rdquo; The new boilers can operate at two stages, 50 percent or 100 percent, and they can cycle on and off, whereas SSM had to keep the old boiler system idling. The new boilers &ldquo;can go from zero to 80 pounds of steam in five minutes, while with the traditional boilers we would take two days to do that so that we didn&rsquo;t crack the refractory wall. That makes the new ones more efficient, because we don&rsquo;t have to keep operating them when they aren&rsquo;t needed,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br /><br />&ldquo;We did a lot of research when selecting boilers and actually took [Gratton and other SSM representatives] on a trip to the closest ones in operation, which were in Chicago,&rdquo; said Bengard. The new boilers also have scale sensors on the inside to alert the operations team to any buildup of scale that might require cleaning.<br /><br />&ldquo;The new air systems also are fairly unique,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;They utilize a Hunt Air Fanwall system. A typical air-handling unit has one large centrifugal type fan. These have an array of nine or more, so if one fan fails the whole system isn&rsquo;t down. That redundancy aspect is fantastic for hospitals. It has the same performance as a centrifugal fan, but if one fan fails in a fanwall, you can block that off in minutes if you don&rsquo;t have a replacement and your system won&rsquo;t know its missing,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />SSM also invested in two, 850-ton chillers and a 125-ton chiller. &ldquo;We can operate just the smaller one in the winter to produce the chilled air we need for operating rooms,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;They selected the most efficient chillers they could. They are probably twice as efficient as what they had [in the old hospital] in Kirkwood,&rdquo; Bengard said&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&ldquo;We were very thoughtful in how we spent money to make health care more effective,&rdquo; said Porter. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re essentially retooling the hospital stock to increase efficiency and increase effectiveness. Our aim is to deliver the right care at the right time in the right place,&rdquo; he said.<br /></p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:29:\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1501,542,2,2,1241281455,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"542\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 06:19 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:41:\"ssm_st_clare_hospital_different_by_design\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:206:\"To Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:32:\"St. Clare, design, SSM, Alberici\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:18002:\"<p>Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, can spend 45 minutes talking about what is new or different about patient rooms at SSM&rsquo;s new 154-bed St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO, and even then he won&rsquo;t have exhausted the subject. To Porter, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care. That re-envisioning led SSM to design the new hospital in a new way, build it in a new way, and ultimately operate it in a new way.<br /><br />With hospital costs nationally outpacing the ability of people to pay and hospitals errors making sick, SSM decided &ldquo;it was time to fundamentally rethink what we do,&rdquo; Porter said. The first &ldquo;visioning&rdquo; session for the new $230 million hospital was in April 2005. The goals were easily stated &ndash; improve the patient experience and reduce costs &ndash; but the processes of accomplishing them were very complex.<br /><strong><br />Changing the design process</strong><br /><br />Porter said SSM&rsquo;s approach to St. Clare Hospital differed in four fundamental ways from the typical hospital design process:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>&ldquo;We took months to understand the patient side: shadowing patients, using photojournalism to record their experiences, and using patient diaries, and from that we tried to determine what would an ideal patient experience look like.</li>\n<li>Separately we mapped the processes of how work was done, looking at things like nurse travel time.</li>\n<li>We also engaged in clinical visioning: trying to figure out how health care will change.</li>\n<li>And we looked at where communications and IT are going as tools of what we do.</li>\n</ul>\n<p><br /><img alt=\\\"St. Clare Hospital\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />&ldquo;That gave us high level planning and then we went down into the details, functions, and spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;In the traditional design process, you go to the departments and ask them what volume of work they will have and what problems do they need fixed. But then you&rsquo;re just putting new building blocks on the same chassis. That is about how health care is produced, not how it is experienced,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Hummel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc.of Milwaukee, WI was the primary architect on the hospital, with Mackey Mitchell Associates serving as the local architect. Mackey Mitchell Associates was the primary architect on the connected medical office building and ambulatory surgery center.<br /><br />As it turned out, there was a lot of overlap between sources of patient dissatisfaction and inefficiency and waste. Patients hated being left in a hall somewhere to wait for the next thing to happen to them.&nbsp; And one of the things SSM learned from lean manufacturing was that anything that interrupts the flow of work increases waste and inefficiency.<br /><br />&ldquo;One of the biggest sources of frustration and waste is waiting time,&rdquo; Porter said. To improve flow, SSM decided to invest more capital up front to duplicate important technologies in different departments instead of funneling everyone through one place. So, the emergency department and the ambulatory center got their own radiology equipment, for example. &ldquo;Hospitals traditionally tried to save capital by investing in one radiology department. But having to take patients from all over the hospital to radiology and have them wait in the hallways until there is an opening backs up everyone else and causes tremendous waste. So we gave the departments that most use radiology their own equipment,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The theme of improving the patient experience runs from the campus sight plan and signs and cues to help visitors find their way to the artwork in patient rooms and public areas<br /><br />&ldquo;From our ring road, you have four choices: the emergency entrance, the public entrance, the medical office building, and the procedure center. In addition to signs, each has its own distinctive architectural markings. We&rsquo;ve distributed parking to correspond with services, and each entrance has its own reception area,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />Spellman Brady selected the artwork. By coincidence, Diana Spellman was undergoing treatments for cancer while she was working on the St. Clare hospital project. &ldquo;I was coming from radiation treatments to go into high level meetings and I felt like I was glowing. I had to tell them,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was able to bring experience and view as patient to selecting artwork. To really be patient centered it has to create positive, uplifting experience for patients&hellip; Some dated hospital rooms really make you sicker than you are sick because they are so depressing,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;They let us push the envelope in choosing artwork that is uplifting and colorful, and in letting us use different media. We used glass, sculpture, custom photography, and more. It was very impressive that the administration put that kind of thought into it,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;This hospital is designed to be more restful. We looked at noise, light, and d&eacute;cor all with an eye to accelerating patient recovery. By putting patients in a more healing environment we save dollars that would otherwise be spent on longer stays,&rdquo; Porter said.<br />&ldquo;We even have an open MRI to reduce stress on those patients who are claustrophobic or just don&rsquo;t like closed spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM also put a lot of thought into alleviating another major source of patient dissatisfaction and waste: errors.<br /><br />The Institute of Medicine called medical errors &ldquo;a leading cause of death and injury&rdquo; in a report to Congress in 2006. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that nationwide, roughly two out of every 100 people admitted to a hospital would suffer an injury as a result of a medical error while in the hospital. The IOM estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people a year were killed by preventable errors in hospitals, more than died every year in car accidents and more than were killed by breast cancer or aids. Indeed, the IOM called hospital errors the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States. The IOM also estimated that the direct medical charges associated with treating hospital errors totaled between $9 billion and $15 billion.<br /><br />SSM and its designers made several design decisions in order to reduce medical errors and make sure the hospital provides &ldquo;the right care in the right place at the right time,&rdquo; said Porter. The most basic decision was standardization.<br /><br />&ldquo;All eight of the operating rooms are oriented the same. Everything in them is the same and equipment hangs from ceiling booms,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;The standardization is to cut down on mistakes resulting from things not being where you expect them to be,&rdquo; he said. The operating rooms also are substantially larger than in the old hospital: 600 square feet compared to about 400; and the one cardiac operating room is 800 square feet in size. Plus, they are organized ergonomically and they all have advanced operating lights that do not cast any shadows.<br /><br />All patient rooms also have the same configuration and handedness in order to minimize errors. They all are private rooms and bathroom is in the same corner in every room, instead of neighboring rooms having bathrooms back-to-back. That meant twice as many stacks for plumbing. &ldquo;It cost $3 - 4,000 more per room to make each room the same instead of having bathrooms head to head,&rdquo; Porter said, or about $500,000 more for the whole hospital.&nbsp; How many mistakes do they have to avoid in order to make up that cost? &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;In a high intensity environment, standardization unquestionably makes for greater reliability, but it is hotly debated, even within our own organization, on whether it makes a difference in patient rooms.&rdquo; Nevertheless, SSM spent the money, because, &ldquo;we wanted to make the optimum safe environment for our patients,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The bathrooms in the patient rooms are not rectangular boxes. Porter called the five-sided bathrooms, &ldquo;one of the more brilliant architectural decisions,&rdquo; in the hospital&rsquo;s design. Having a slanted wall nearer the patient bed, &ldquo;preserves the patient&rsquo;s view of the window and creates more space in the room,&rdquo; he said, and research has shown that the ability to see out a window speeds a patient&rsquo;s recovery.<br /><strong><br />Changing the construction process</strong><br /><br />Changing the design process was one piece of how SSM sought to reinvent the hospital; changing the construction process was another. <br /><br />&ldquo;The way the trades were engaged was different from traditional construction,&rdquo; said Timothy Gunn, project director Alberici Constructors, the general contractor. &ldquo;And their relationship with the design team was very different from the traditional [relationship],&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM used a process called &ldquo;lean construction&rdquo; to build the new 430,000-square-foot hospital. Alberici, SSM, and the architect selected the main trade contractors early &ndash; Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors, Guarantee Electrical Co., St. Louis Automatic Sprinkler Co., and Niehaus Construction Services. All of those contractors were on cost-plus-fee contracts. &ldquo;That let them be nimble in implementing change, and in a hospital, where you want to include the most modern equipment, there is a lot of change,&rdquo; said Gunn.<br /><br />The trades contractors worked together in &ldquo;the big room,&rdquo; as Gunn called it, a doublewide trailer full of computers and flat screen display panels. There, detailers from all the trades worked together to create a part of a building information model, in this case a three dimensional model of everything above the ceiling with descriptions &ndash;&ndash; all of the ductwork, conduit, and piping &ndash;&ndash; so that they could coordinate all of the above the ceiling work and maximize how much they made in the shop and trucked to the site. This effort was accomplished utilizing 3D modeling within a web-based server system that allowed real-time design-engineering coordination between the project design team.<br /><br />&ldquo;The electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems were all virtually built in the 3-D model before we started installing them,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president of Murphy Co., which installed all the piping for medical gases, plumbing, and heating and cooling. &ldquo;SSM has a 3-D model now so if they need to track down a valve they can look in their electronic model instead of disturbing patients by lifting ceiling tiles or opening access doors in the walls to find it. That is a powerful tool and it is something almost no one else has,&rdquo; he says. <br /><br />Modeling all of the above the ceiling work electronically produced two other important results. &ldquo;We prefabbed in excess of what would be typical, due to the confidence everyone had that they would have the space to put their work,&rdquo; Gunn said. And all the planning helped the trades make up lost time. &ldquo;In 2008 we faced one of the wettest years in history. We had lost the planned number of weather days for the entire project by March, and being behind on the exterior put us behind on the interior finish,&rdquo; Gunn said. Having built the job electronically in 3-D, the trades contractors could see that they could get creative with sequencing the above the ceiling work to make up lost time. <br /><br />&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t necessarily have to have mechanical contractor in first in all phases,&rdquo; said Steve Kellenberger, director of construction for Guarantee Electrical. &ldquo;As long as you followed the design and put your work where you were supposed to, you could go in and put your work out of the typical sequence. It eliminated conflicts between tradesmen,&rdquo; he said. <br /><br />With that kind of cooperation, said Gunn, &ldquo;we were able to make up time and maintain the scheduled opening date.&rdquo;<br /><br />Just as electronic records &ndash; the 3-D model &ndash; played a crucial role in the construction of St. Clare Hospital, they also will be a crucial part of what makes St. Clare Hospital different. &ldquo;Our data backbone is as big and complex as our electrical backbone. That is because the single most important variable in health care is information,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />&ldquo;The low voltage work here was extraordinarily complicated. They included electronic records, VOIP (voice over internet protocol), nurse call systems, telemetry, security, and paging,&rdquo; Gunn said. Guarantee Electrical Co. was the single source electrical installation contractor installing the power, lighting, emergency, technology, data, fire alarm and security systems.<br /><br />Changing operations<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;We made points of data entry ubiquitous,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;No more paper charts,&rdquo; he said. To make sure that data is reliably and quickly entered, St. Clare Hospital has an electronic record portal in each patient room and also outside each room at a window at which a nurse can observe the patient and make notes.<br /><br />The electronic record also is designed to cut down on medication mistakes via its connection to a medical dispensing system in each room. According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors alone kill more people annually than do workplace accidents.<br /><br />Porter explained how the medical dispensing system works: &ldquo;The pharmacist stocks the patient&rsquo;s drugs in the room in a secure drawer that can be opened only by entering the correct security code into the electronic record portal. Each prescription has a bar code for the drug and a bar code for the patient. This reduces the number of people handling the drug to three, which should reduce errors.&rdquo; And since the physician orders the prescription electronically, there should occur no handwriting deciphering errors.<br /><br />The same system data wiring backbone that supports electronic records and the medical dispensing system also lets the operations department at St. Clare Hospital remote control the temperature in every patient room, office, and surgery suite. &ldquo;We use a Trane Tracer Summit Automated Control System to control the heat in each room individually from the control room or the Internet, and we can give the room occupants control within a set band of temperatures,&rdquo; said Andy Gratton, team leader of plant operations. <br /><br />With the Trane Summit System, &ldquo;they have an ability they never had before to see hundreds of pressures and temperature in chiller. They can get data and keep track of issues as they&rsquo;re developing and schedule maintenance before issues become a problem,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;A good building management system can make a great difference in the time spend on a problem,&rdquo; Gratton added.<br /><br />Some of the equipment controlled via the Trane Summit System is new to the St. Louis area, but all of it &ldquo;is light years from where they were in their old building,&rdquo; Bengard said.<br /><br />The new steam boilers, for example, are much more efficient than the old ones. &ldquo;We went from a traditional, 692 horsepower boiler system to two, 200 hp and two 300 horsepower boilers.&rdquo; The new boilers can operate at two stages, 50 percent or 100 percent, and they can cycle on and off, whereas SSM had to keep the old boiler system idling. The new boilers &ldquo;can go from zero to 80 pounds of steam in five minutes, while with the traditional boilers we would take two days to do that so that we didn&rsquo;t crack the refractory wall. That makes the new ones more efficient, because we don&rsquo;t have to keep operating them when they aren&rsquo;t needed,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br /><br />&ldquo;We did a lot of research when selecting boilers and actually took [Gratton and other SSM representatives] on a trip to the closest ones in operation, which were in Chicago,&rdquo; said Bengard. The new boilers also have scale sensors on the inside to alert the operations team to any buildup of scale that might require cleaning.<br /><br />&ldquo;The new air systems also are fairly unique,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;They utilize a Hunt Air Fanwall system. A typical air-handling unit has one large centrifugal type fan. These have an array of nine or more, so if one fan fails the whole system isn&rsquo;t down. That redundancy aspect is fantastic for hospitals. It has the same performance as a centrifugal fan, but if one fan fails in a fanwall, you can block that off in minutes if you don&rsquo;t have a replacement and your system won&rsquo;t know its missing,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />SSM also invested in two, 850-ton chillers and a 125-ton chiller. &ldquo;We can operate just the smaller one in the winter to produce the chilled air we need for operating rooms,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;They selected the most efficient chillers they could. They are probably twice as efficient as what they had [in the old hospital] in Kirkwood,&rdquo; Bengard said&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&ldquo;We were very thoughtful in how we spent money to make health care more effective,&rdquo; said Porter. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re essentially retooling the hospital stock to increase efficiency and increase effectiveness. Our aim is to deliver the right care at the right time in the right place,&rdquo; he said.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:29:\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1502,543,4,2,1241282133,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 06:27 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"muncipal_courts_redevelopment_gets_green_light\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\"The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:24:\"Heisman, Muncipal Courts\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4638:\"<p>The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building (to be renamed 1300 Market) in downtown St. Louis.&nbsp; The original architect of the building was Isaac Taylor, who was the principal\narchitect for the 1904 World&rsquo;s Fair as well as many significant\nbuildings in St. Louis including the Jefferson Memorial, the Bee Hat\nBuilding and Hadley Square.<br />&nbsp;<br />Heisman Properties is working closely with EVS Realty, Friedman Group, REALTORS and the City of St. Louis to redevelop the century old building. Rosemann &amp; Associates, P.C. will provide architectural design and BSI Contractors are providing construction costs. St. Louis Comptroller, Darlene Green said, &ldquo;We are very excited about the development of the Municipal Courts Building and its prospects as part of St. Louis\\\' downtown&rsquo;s revitalization.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;The 160,000 sq. ft. renowned courthouse is located at 1300 Market Street and was constructed in 1911. Heisman Properties will spend $40 million to redevelop the building. Plans include ground floor restaurant, retail and office space, first floor cultural/gallery and office space with second and third floor office space. In addition to the interior, Rosemann\\\'s design calls for several walkways, courtyards, plazas and terraces to surround the building. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Once completed, this project will tie recent downtown developments together,\\\" Heisman Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Chad Forrest said. \\\"It will be the centerpiece of a destination area featuring the Scottrade Center, soon-to-be-redeveloped Kiel Opera House, Sheraton City Center Hotel and Condos, MetroLink, the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center and the revitalized mall.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>With a projected completed date set for 2010, the building will not only house office tenants, but will act as a conduit between both the civic and cultural communities. &ldquo;Being in such a desirable location we anticipate not only servicing our core tenants, but will offer the ability to provide locations for cultural events and meeting places with those who want to share in this extraordinary redevelopment,&rdquo;Heisman Properties Principal Curt Schroeder said.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />The grand hallway with vaulted ceilings and elegant entrance will showcase St. Louis art exhibits and will feature a fully designed courtroom. &ldquo;We have one courtroom that seems to have missed its 1960&rsquo;s upgrade,&rdquo; remarks Heisman Principal Rob McRitchie. &ldquo;Our intent will be to restore this exquisite space and utilize it for events as well as mock trials, which many law firms desire.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />Plans are also under development for a 600 car parking garage directly adjacent to the property. To service the area, plans call for retail tenants and one or more restaurants to be added along 14th Street catering to daytime users and community events at the neighboring Scottrade Center and the soon coming Kiel Opera House.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;The project has financing and is poised to begin construction this year based on the final negotiation of tenant commitments, Heisman said in a news release.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;LEED certification and green efforts will be a cornerstone in Rosemann\\\'s design and construction efforts. &ldquo;Ample parking, great transportation and freeway access is key,&rdquo; Heisman\\\'s Forrest said. &ldquo;But let&rsquo;s not forget the fact that we will be adjacent to the MetroLink and City&rsquo;s Multimodal Transportation Center.\\\"&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;<br />For more information visit www.1300marketstl.com &lt;http://www.1300marketstl.com/&gt; .<br />&nbsp;<br />ABOUT HEISMAN:&nbsp; Heisman Properties, LLC is a privately held real estate company focused on acquiring, developing and managing urban real estate throughout the United States. In 2006, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 160,000 sq. ft. Chemical Building, now renamed Alexa Lofts, at 777 Olive Street. Designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb in 1896 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.&nbsp; Plans call for 132 market-rate apartments, two floors of office space and retail space on the ground floor. <br />&nbsp;<br />In 2004, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 194,000 square foot A.D. Brown Building at 1136 Washington Avenue in St. Louis. Built in 1898, it was once the headquarters of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Co. Heisman finished renovations to the building, which is now called the Meridian. All 95 loft condominiums have been sold.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1503,544,4,2,1241285058,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder Dies \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"james_collins_fence_company_founder_dies\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:42:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder Dies \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:84:\"James (Jim) Collins, a founder of Collins & Hermann, Inc., died Wednesday, April 29.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"Collins, Collins and Hermann\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:721:\"<p>James (Jim) Collins died Wednesday, April 29, due to complications of cancer.&nbsp; Mr. Collins was a founder of Collins &amp; Hermann, Inc.</p>\n<p>Collins &amp; Hermann, with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, is a specialty subcontractor providing guardrail,\nsigning, civil construction, fencing and metal fabrication solutions to\ncustomers throughout the Midwest.</p>\n<p>He is survived by his wife Mary Jo.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Visitation is Monday, May 4, at Bucholz Mortuaries, 2211 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017<br /><br />There is a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clair Assisi, 15668 Clayton Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 with burial following the mass at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetary.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1504,544,4,2,1241285120,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"544\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder, Dies\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"james_collins_fence_company_founder_dies\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:43:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder, Dies \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:84:\"James (Jim) Collins, a founder of Collins & Hermann, Inc., died Wednesday, April 29.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"Collins, Collins and Hermann\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:721:\"<p>James (Jim) Collins died Wednesday, April 29, due to complications of cancer.&nbsp; Mr. Collins was a founder of Collins &amp; Hermann, Inc.</p>\n<p>Collins &amp; Hermann, with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, is a specialty subcontractor providing guardrail,\nsigning, civil construction, fencing and metal fabrication solutions to\ncustomers throughout the Midwest.</p>\n<p>He is survived by his wife Mary Jo.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Visitation is Monday, May 4, at Bucholz Mortuaries, 2211 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017<br /><br />There is a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clair Assisi, 15668 Clayton Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 with burial following the mass at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetary.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1584,585,2,2,1244216824,'a:28:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:34:\"Wash U. Opens Model Green Building\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:33:\"wash_u_opens_model_green_building\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:34:\"Wash U. Opens Model Green Building\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:97:\"An opening ceremony for what could be one of North America\\\'s greenest buildings was held May 29.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:46:\"Wash U., green, Tyson,  Living Learning Center\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:9936:\"<p>An opening ceremony for\nwhat could be one of North America\\\'s greenest buildings was held May 29 at Washington University\nin St. Louis\\\' new Living Learning Center at the university\\\'s Tyson\nResearch Center.</p>\n<p>Tyson, located 20 miles southwest of the Danforth Campus, is 2,000\nacres of woods, prairie, ponds and savannas where dozens of WUSTL\nfaculty and students predominantly do environmental research.</p>\n<p>The Living Learning Center is a 2,900-square-foot facility built to meet the <a href=\\\"http://ilbi.org/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"><span class=\\\"red\\\" title=\\\"Go to Living Building Challenge\\\">Living Building Challenge</span></a> &mdash; designed to be the most stringent green building rating system in the\nworld &mdash; of the Cascadia Region Green Building Council (CRGBC). No\nbuilding has met its standard yet, but the Living Learning Center is in\nthe running to be the first in North America.</p>\n<table align=\\\"right\\\" border=\\\"0\\\" cellpadding=\\\"0\\\" cellspacing=\\\"2\\\" style=\\\"margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; height: 318px;\\\" width=\\\"297\\\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\\\"right\\\"><a href=\\\"http://news-info.wustl.edu/asset/page/normal/8316.html\\\"><img align=\\\"right\\\" border=\\\"0\\\" height=\\\"225\\\" hspace=\\\"0\\\" id=\\\"cistern\\\" src=\\\"http://news-info.wustl.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/8316.jpg\\\" vspace=\\\"0\\\" width=\\\"300\\\" /></a></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\\\"right\\\" class=\\\"photoCredit\\\"><span class=\\\"photocredit\\\">Photo courtesy Dan Hellmuth, Hellmuth and Bicknese Architects</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\\\"photoCaption\\\"><span class=\\\"photocaption\\\">Rainwater that\nfalls on the building will pass through a filter before it is stored in\nthis 3,000-gallon cistern. The cistern is pictured alongside the Living\nLearning Center before being placed underground.</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\\\"right\\\" class=\\\"photoDownload\\\"><a class=\\\"photodownload\\\" href=\\\"http://news-info.wustl.edu/asset/page/normal/8316.html\\\"> </a></td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>The center is designed to be a zero net energy and zero wastewater\nbuilding &mdash; both among the 16 requirements to earn \\\"living building\\\"\nrecognition from the CRGBC. The CRGBC is a chapter of both the U.S.\nGreen Building Council (USGBC) and the Canada Green Building Council\n(CaGBC).</p>\n<p>The Living Learning Center will capture rainwater and purify it for\ndrinking and will be powered so efficiently by solar energy that the\nbuilding often will pump energy back into the electric grid to be\npurchased by the local energy company.</p>\n<p>Other requirements include diverting a high percentage of\nconstruction waste (80 percent or more, depending on the material) from\nlandfills and obtaining materials from within a certain mile radius of\nthe construction site to reduce carbon emissions from travel and\nshipping. Occupational spaces also must contain operable windows to\nprovide access to fresh air and daylight.</p>\n<p>\\\"Since Living Building Challenge was launched in November 2006, more\nthan 60 project teams throughout North America have opted to pursue\ncertification,\\\" said Eden Brukman, the CRGBC\\\'s research director. \\\"The\nTyson Living Learning Center is one of the first two of these projects\ncompleting construction in May, and there are many people throughout\nthe country &mdash; and the continent &mdash; watching with eager anticipation.</p>\n<p>\\\"Living Building Challenge is a rigorous performance-based standard.\nAll 16 stated characteristics must be integrated into a successful\nproject, such as net-zero energy and water, habitat exchange, nontoxic\nmaterials and beauty and inspiration,\\\" Brukman said. \\\"In order to be\ncertified as a Living Building, it must be fully operational for at\nleast 12 consecutive months; this program demands proof that the\noccupants engage the project as anticipated. After all, an empty\nbuilding serves no purpose.\\\"</p>\n<p>Brukman noted that the Living Building Challenge is not meant to\ncompete with the USGBC\\\'s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design\n(LEED) Green Building Rating System&trade;, which is a nationally accepted\nbenchmark for the design, construction and operation of\nhigh-performance green buildings.</p>\n<p>\\\"The Living Building Challenge is instead viewed as an additional\noutlet to promote the goals set by the USGBC and CaGBC &mdash; it establishes\na vision for a project\\\'s environmental and social responsibilities from\na new vantage point,\\\" Brukman said. \\\"In fact, both national\norganizations have endorsed Living Building Challenge.\\\"</p>\n<p><strong>Ongoing teaching tool</strong></p>\n<p>Many of the Living Learning Center\\\'s features contribute to the\nbuilding\\\'s net-zero water and energy use, said Jonathan M. Chase,\nPh.D., director of the Tyson Research Center and associate professor of\nbiology in Arts &amp; Sciences. The rainwater that will fall on the\nbuilding will pass through a filter before it will be stored in a\n3,000-gallon underground cistern.</p>\n<p>The pavement surrounding the building is porous and will absorb\nalmost all storm runoff. Waterless composting toilets will eliminate a\nmajor use of water and enable the collecting of waste that will be used\nas fertilizer for the surrounding grass. A 17-kilowatt photovoltaic\nsystem will power the facility.</p>\n<p>The exposed exterior and interior wood used to build the center,\nincluding the cedar siding, came from Tyson grounds &mdash; either from\nfallen trees or from trees slated for removal. The structural wood came\nprimarily from Pocahontas, Ark., approximately 200 miles away &mdash; well\nwithin a 500-mile requirement to reduce carbon emissions associated\nwith the transportation of materials.</p>\n<p>The structure, which was designed by Hellmuth &amp; Bicknese\nArchitects with Bingman Construction Co. of Pacific, Mo., serving as\nthe general contractor, also will feature a \\\"bat house\\\" built into the\nbuilding\\\'s eave, complete with two \\\"bat cams\\\" for observation of the\ncreatures.</p>\n<p>The Living Learning Center will be available to members of the WUSTL\ncommunity, as well as other local institutions, and house a\nseminar/classroom for several WUSTL classes, including a seminar for\nundergraduate and graduate students and local environmental researchers\nthis summer and three environmental courses this fall.</p>\n<p>It also will serve as the base of operations for a summer\nhigh-school outreach program that is co-sponsored by the Missouri\nBotanical Garden\\\'s Shaw Nature Reserve and funded by the National\nScience Foundation (NSF).</p>\n<p>According to the architect, the building\\\'s most important feature is\nits ability to be used as an ongoing teaching tool &mdash; another one of the\n16 requirements to be named a \\\"living building.\\\"</p>\n<p>\\\"The curriculum for the summer program is already being developed\nusing some of the building features, which can all be analyzed as a\nbiological process,\\\" said Dan Hellmuth, a principal and co-founder of\nHellmuth &amp; Bicknese Architects.</p>\n<p>\\\"The PV (photovoltaic) output is monitored in the lobby via a\ntouchscreen monitor and over the network, showing how much power the\nbuilding is producing and how much CO2 is being avoided,\\\" Hellmuth\nsaid. \\\"This monitoring system can be built on over time to look at\nwater consumption, energy use, etc.\\\"</p>\n<p>According to Hellmuth, there were many challenges associated with\nconstructing a \\\"living building,\\\" including obtaining permits for\nrainwater potable water and composting toilet systems and finding\ncertified framing wood within a 500-mile radius of Tyson, which is\nlocated off I-44 at the Beaumont-Antire Road exit.</p>\n<p>\\\"I don\\\'t think any of us knew the challenges this would bring,\nincluding Washington University, our design team, the contractors or\nthe folks at Tyson,\\\" Hellmuth said, \\\"but throughout the process we have\ncontinually met them in a seemingly endless gauntlet.\\\"</p>\n<p>Participating in the opening ceremony will be Chancellor Mark S.\nWrighton; Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., provost, executive vice chancellor\nand the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts &amp;\nSciences; Henry S. Webber, executive vice chancellor for\nadministration; Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., the Spencer T. Olin Professor\nand interim dean of Arts &amp; Sciences; Chase; and Kathryn G. Miller,\nPh.D., professor and interim chair of biology.</p>\n<p>\\\"The opening of the new Living Learning Center is an exciting event\nfor Washington University,\\\" Quatrano said. \\\"It demonstrates not only\nthe university\\\'s emphasis on sustainability but also its commitment to\nteaching, research and community outreach. We have been building\nfaculty strength in ecology and environmental science, and this\nstructure will help in our educational mission and commitment to\nstudent research and instruction.\\\"</p>\n<p>\\\"Tyson is in the midst of a major revolution and is a cornerstone of\nthe environmental research and education initiatives of Washington\nUniversity,\\\" Chase said. \\\"The Living Learning Center will provide\nmuch-needed space for our growing programs and also will serve as focus\nfor research and education itself.\\\"</p>\n<p>Eighteen St. Louis-area high-school students will be among the first\nto use the Living Learning Center beginning June 1 as part of the NSF\ncollaborative grant for the Shaw Nature Preserve and Tyson to instruct\nthe interns in ecological research.</p>\n<p>Last summer, the students went out to Shaw to learn basic skills and\nresearch techniques in the part of the program called SIFT &mdash; Shaw\nInstitute for Field Training. This summer, those same students will ply\ntheir newfound skills on research projects with WUSTL faculty and\ngraduate students as part of TERF &mdash; Tyson Ecological Research\nFellowship.</p>\n<p>Washington University is in the process of finding support for the\nLiving Learning Center, and several naming opportunities are available,\nincluding the center itself and its combined lab and classroom,\ncomputer lab and outdoor teaching deck.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1507,545,4,2,1241288081,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:09 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:41:\"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"i_64_graduates_apprentices_to_journeymen\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:108:\"The I-64 project\\\'s diversity program recently graduated five trade workers from its apprenticeship program.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"I-64, diversity, apprentices\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2243:\"<p>Missouri Department of Transportation is also celebrating the graduation of several individual craftsmen who have become journeymen on<br /><a href=\\\"http://www.thenewi64.org\\\">the I-64 project</a>.&nbsp; To date five individuals working on the I-64 project have worked enough hours and mastered the skills to graduate from apprentice to journeyman in their respective union trades.<br /><br />With the I-64 project, MoDOT has worked with Gateway Constructors and the community to develop pre-apprentice training programs and on-the-job<br />training programs for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to increase the project\\\'s workforce diversity.&nbsp; The ultimate goal is to help<br />these individuals acquire journeyman status in the trades for a long-term career. <br /><br />Over the last two years, more than 70 on-the-job trainees have worked on I-64 and five of them have achieved journeyman status to date with many more eligible by next year.&nbsp; The total workforce diversity on the I-64 project is exceeding the federal minority goal of 14.7 percent with the I-64 workforce having more than 19 percent minority workers.<br /><br />I-64 Laborer Tressa Bell graduated from the Construction Craft Laborers\\\' Apprenticeship Program this month.&nbsp; With almost 3,000 hours worked on the I-64 project over the past 16 months, she has reached journey status as a laborer. \\\"I didn\\\'t think I could do it.&nbsp; I have worked for almost four years toward this goal and working on I-64 gave me the experience to reach my<br />goal,\\\" said Tressa Bell.&nbsp; \\\"Now I know I can accomplish anything.\\\"<br /><br />Other recent graduates include two carpenters, a cement mason and another laborer.&nbsp; By 2010, it is anticipated that more than a dozen additional<br />workers from I-64 will graduate to journey status.<br /><br />\\\"The I-64 project with its vast amount of work presented an opportunity for MoDOT to make a difference in the lives of people looking for a chance at a<br />career in construction,\\\" said Lesley Hoffarth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I-64 project director.&nbsp; \\\"We are proud to have helped these individuals achieve their goals and get<br />to journey status in the construction industry.\\\"</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1508,546,5,2,1241288462,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:15 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"10\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:44:\"Failed Streets Haunt Developer, Surety, Subs\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:42:\"failed_streets_haunt_developer_surety_subs\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:44:\"Failed Streets Haunt Developer, Surety, Subs\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:1:\"6\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:83:\"Improperly poured concrete streets triggered a series of claims and counterclaims. \";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:31:\"concrete, streets, Berra, Essex\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:6530:\"<p>Improperly poured concrete streets triggered a series of claims and counterclaims between Jefferson County, Essex Contracting, Inc. (the developer of three subdivisions), Essex&rsquo; subcontractors J.H. Berra Paving Co., Inc. and Boling Concrete Construction., Inc., and the developer&rsquo;s surety Federal Insurance Company.&nbsp; The case is <em>Essex Contracting, Inc. v. Jefferson County</em>, 2009 WL 454280 (Mo.), decided February 24.&nbsp; <br /><br />The dispute on a project that started in 1995 provides a great lesson in the complexity of construction legal issues and on how wrong things can go.&nbsp; Even worse, the dispute is not completely over, for the Supreme Court of Missouri has sent the matter back to the trial court for further consideration on one issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The saga began when Jefferson County required developer Essex to post three separate bonds totaling $3,598,249 for development of the Winter Valley subdivision.&nbsp; The bonds covered three phases of construction.<br /><br />When Essex could not complete the streets on time, Jefferson County and Essex agreed to a one-year extension in exchange for a guarantee from Essex and a pledge that the guarantee would be backed by the bonds already in place.&nbsp; The guarantee provided that if Essex did not complete the project within one year, including any necessary repairs to the work, the county would do so and use the bonds to reimburse for the costs to complete the work.&nbsp; In essence, this made the previous bonds, if they were not already, into performance bonds, whereby the county was assured the money necessary to complete the job if Essex failed to perform.<br /><br />Construction of the concrete streets required three phases:&nbsp; (1) clearing and grading, (2) leveling dirt and compacting the subgrade, and (3) pouring the streets in a slip-form paving technique where the concrete is poured in a continuous fashion and control joints are added later.<br /><br />Some of the streets began to split and crack.&nbsp; Both the developer and the subcontractors repaired and replaced broken slabs, but this created a bigger problem by revealing that at least some of the slabs were not poured to the proper thickness.&nbsp; The county required Essex to do core sample testing.&nbsp; The county was not satisfied with the results and in 2005 the court ordered additional core testing.&nbsp; This testing revealed that there were an additional 218 slabs of concrete that were deficient in thickness by more that 0.3 of an inch, in violation of the subdivision regulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Essex made additional repairs and sought release of the bonds.&nbsp; The county responded by refusing to release the bonds and presented Essex with a further list of deficiencies.&nbsp; Essex eventually filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit seeking the release of the bonds.<br /><br />The county conceded that part of the bonds could be released, but kept in place $1,015,837 for work it claimed was not properly completed.&nbsp; The county responded to the lawsuit by counter suing Essex for faulty work and added Federal as a defendant for its failure to disburse the bonds to the county.&nbsp; Federal then cross sued the county stating that the bonds were void or that the improvements were complete.<br /><br />Members of the Winter Valley Homeowners&rsquo; Association intervened in the lawsuit.&nbsp; They filed claims against Essex for injunctive relief and damages, alleging negligence, breach of contract and zoning enforcement.&nbsp; Essex filed third-party petitions against its subcontractors Boling and Berra for indemnity and breach of contract.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />At trial, an expert for the county who was a licensed geotechnical engineer testified that poor subgrade conditions and support were responsible for the failures in the streets.&nbsp; There was evidence at trial that concrete trucks drove on the subgrade during the pouring, which if true could have disturbed the subgrade condition. <br /><br />Boling attempted to recompact the subgrade after the trucks had disturbed it.&nbsp; They were unable to do so in at least one place because the trucks had brought in so much moisture that the dirt could not be recompacted. <br /><br />The trial court concluded that Essex failed to meet the standards of the subdivision regulations and the requirements of the guarantee.&nbsp; The court ordered Essex and Federal to pay the remainder of the bonds ($1,015,838) to the county to fund completion and to pay an additional $102,174 in civil penalties, also to be funded from the bonds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The trial court also entered judgment in favor of Essex on its claims of indemnity against its subcontractors in the amounts of $73,913 for Boling and $28,261 for Berra for their shares of the $102,174 civil penalty.&nbsp; Boling and Berra also had to pay Essex $6,040 and Berra $6,468 for the costs of the core testing.&nbsp; <br /><br />The trial court awarded $35,875 in costs against Essex and Federal for the intervenors&rsquo; costs to repair the improperly poured streets.&nbsp; Intervenors also recovered their attorney fees in the amounts of $219,277 from Essex, $7,088 from Berra and $17,013 from Boling.&nbsp; The Supreme Court rejected claims they were excessive by deferring to the judgment of the trial court, especially in a case of this length and complexity. <br /><br />The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court&rsquo;s decision with the exception of Essex&rsquo; claim for indemnity against Boling and the assessment of attorney fees against the subcontractors.&nbsp; The Supreme Court decided that if Boling was responsible for part of the thin concrete, then the trial court should have sustained Essex&rsquo; claim for indemnity.&nbsp; The trial court will have to consider this further, per the order from the Supreme Court.&nbsp; The attorney fee awards were not supportable because there was no contract between the intervenors and the subcontractors that would entitle the intervenors to recover attorney fees.&nbsp; <br /><em><br />James R. Keller is a partner at Herzog Crebs LLP where he concentrates his practice on construction law, complex business disputes, real estate and ADR.&nbsp; He also is an arbitrator and a mediator.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"10\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1509,547,4,2,1241289708,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:26 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:41:\"\\\"Green\\\" Woodwork Products Event Planned\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"green_woodwork_products_event_planned\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:41:\"\\\"Green\\\" Woodwork Products Event Planned\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:128:\"The Missouri– Illinois Architectural Woodworking Institute AWI is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:48:\"AWI, woodworking, sustainable, green, symposium \";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1728:\"<p>The Missouri&ndash; Illinois Architctural Woodworking Institute (AWI) is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products to educate the construction industry about the various types of green woodworking products that exist in the market and to introduce them to the local<br />suppliers who carry related items.</p>\n<p>The event will be held from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the William A. Kerr Fondation,&nbsp; 21 O\\\'Fallon Street, just north of the President Casino on the downtown St. Louis riverfront.</p>\n<p>The event will consist of two presentations. The first presenter, Richard Poindexter from Columbia Forest Products, will address the issue of<br />&ldquo;Decorative Plywood and Interior Air Quality.&rdquo; The second presenter, LK Wilhelms of Smith &amp; Fong, will discuss &ldquo;Designing<br />with Sustainable Bamboo.&rdquo; Both presentations will focus on knowing the difference between a truly green product and green-washing. A CEU can be earned for each presentation attended and also for visiting the exhibitors&rsquo; booths at the event, allowing a total of three CEUs.</p>\n<p><strong>EVENT SCHEDULE</strong><br />3:30 - 4:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />4:00 - 5:00 Presentation: Decorative Hardwood Plywood &amp; Interior Air Quality<br />5:00 - 6:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />6:00 - 7:00 Presentation: Designing with Sustainable Bamboo<br />This event is FREE to the St. Louis construction industry.</p>\n<p>The event is free to members of the construction industry. RSVP by Friday, May 8, 2009 by contacting Karen Duree at 314.524.0602 or <a href=\\\"mailto:kduree@amslonline.com\\\">kduree@amslonline.com</a></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1510,547,4,2,1241291060,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"547\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:26 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:39:\"\\\"Green\\\" Products Event Planned May 14\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"green_woodwork_products_event_planned\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"\\\"Green\\\"  Products Event Planned May 14\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:128:\"The Missouri– Illinois Architectural Woodworking Institute AWI is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:48:\"AWI, woodworking, sustainable, green, symposium \";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1891:\"<p>The Missouri&ndash; Illinois Architctural Woodworking Institute (AWI) is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products to educate the construction industry about the various types of green woodworking products that exist in the market and to introduce them to the local<br />suppliers who carry related items.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Green Products Symposium\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"137\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/green-products.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"250\\\" />The event will be held May 14 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the William A. Kerr Fondation,&nbsp; 21 O\\\'Fallon Street, just north of the President Casino on the downtown St. Louis riverfront.</p>\n<p>The event will consist of two presentations. The first presenter, Richard Poindexter from Columbia Forest Products, will address the issue of<br />&ldquo;Decorative Plywood and Interior Air Quality.&rdquo; The second presenter, LK Wilhelms of Smith &amp; Fong, will discuss &ldquo;Designing<br />with Sustainable Bamboo.&rdquo; Both presentations will focus on knowing the difference between a truly green product and green-washing. A CEU can be earned for each presentation attended and also for visiting the exhibitors&rsquo; booths at the event, allowing a total of three CEUs.</p>\n<p><strong>EVENT SCHEDULE</strong><br />3:30 - 4:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />4:00 - 5:00 Presentation: Decorative Hardwood Plywood &amp; Interior Air Quality<br />5:00 - 6:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />6:00 - 7:00 Presentation: Designing with Sustainable Bamboo<br />This event is FREE to the St. Louis construction industry.</p>\n<p>The event is free to members of the construction industry. RSVP by Friday, May 8, 2009 by contacting Karen Duree at 314.524.0602 or <a href=\\\"mailto:kduree@amslonline.com\\\">kduree@amslonline.com</a></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1511,548,4,2,1241293025,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:33 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:50:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial Announces Transactions \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:49:\"coldwell_banker_commercial_announces_transactions\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:50:\"Coldwell Banker Commerical  Announces Transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:80:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:40:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial, transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2205:\"<p><a href=\\\"http://www.cbcstl.com\\\">Coldwell Banker Commercial</a> CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Lynn Richter of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Senior Services in the purchase of a 30,000 square foot office building located at 1150 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144 from Heartland Bank, represented by Grubb &amp; Ellis/Gundaker Commercial.<br /><br />Jerry Worley of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented WIF 1, LLC in the lease renewal of 2,500 square feet of industrial space with Heuvelman Consulting Services, Inc. d/b/a The Garage Design Center at the Larkin Williams building located at 1731 Larkin Williams Road, Fenton, MO 63026.<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Chris Reh of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented 1st Choice Courier and Distribution, Inc. in the lease of 3,000 square feet of industrial space located at 9461 Dielman Rock Island Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132 from LaClair Warehouse One, represented by Sansone Group.<br /><br />Mike Wolken, SIOR and Ken Kaller of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Cook Bros RE LLC in the lease renewal of 15,106 square feet of industrial space with Facilitec, Inc. at the Eagle Industrial building located at 5422 Eagle Industrial Court, Hazelwood, MO 63042.<br /><br />Vicki Dolan of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Church Extension Fund &ndash; MO Synod in the lease renewal of 6,761 square feet of office space at the Sunset Hills Office Building located at 10733 Sunset Office Drive, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 with Consilman/Hunsaker and Associates, represented by Schlafly Corporation.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Hampton Village Associates in the lease renewal of 4,765 square feet of retail space with Johnnie Brock&rsquo;s Greeting Cards &amp; Gift Shops, Inc. at Hampton Village Shopping Center located at 40 Hampton Village Shopping Center, St. Louis, MO 63109.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC is one of the largest full-service commercial real estate companies in St. Louis, with more than 3 million square feet of property, valued at $175 million, under management. <br />.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1512,543,4,2,1241293074,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"543\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 09:27 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"52\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"muncipal_courts_redevelopment_gets_green_light\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\"The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:24:\"Heisman, Muncipal Courts\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4638:\"<p>The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building (to be renamed 1300 Market) in downtown St. Louis.&nbsp; The original architect of the building was Isaac Taylor, who was the principal\narchitect for the 1904 World&rsquo;s Fair as well as many significant\nbuildings in St. Louis including the Jefferson Memorial, the Bee Hat\nBuilding and Hadley Square.<br />&nbsp;<br />Heisman Properties is working closely with EVS Realty, Friedman Group, REALTORS and the City of St. Louis to redevelop the century old building. Rosemann &amp; Associates, P.C. will provide architectural design and BSI Contractors are providing construction costs. St. Louis Comptroller, Darlene Green said, &ldquo;We are very excited about the development of the Municipal Courts Building and its prospects as part of St. Louis\\\' downtown&rsquo;s revitalization.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;The 160,000 sq. ft. renowned courthouse is located at 1300 Market Street and was constructed in 1911. Heisman Properties will spend $40 million to redevelop the building. Plans include ground floor restaurant, retail and office space, first floor cultural/gallery and office space with second and third floor office space. In addition to the interior, Rosemann\\\'s design calls for several walkways, courtyards, plazas and terraces to surround the building. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Once completed, this project will tie recent downtown developments together,\\\" Heisman Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Chad Forrest said. \\\"It will be the centerpiece of a destination area featuring the Scottrade Center, soon-to-be-redeveloped Kiel Opera House, Sheraton City Center Hotel and Condos, MetroLink, the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center and the revitalized mall.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>With a projected completed date set for 2010, the building will not only house office tenants, but will act as a conduit between both the civic and cultural communities. &ldquo;Being in such a desirable location we anticipate not only servicing our core tenants, but will offer the ability to provide locations for cultural events and meeting places with those who want to share in this extraordinary redevelopment,&rdquo;Heisman Properties Principal Curt Schroeder said.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />The grand hallway with vaulted ceilings and elegant entrance will showcase St. Louis art exhibits and will feature a fully designed courtroom. &ldquo;We have one courtroom that seems to have missed its 1960&rsquo;s upgrade,&rdquo; remarks Heisman Principal Rob McRitchie. &ldquo;Our intent will be to restore this exquisite space and utilize it for events as well as mock trials, which many law firms desire.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />Plans are also under development for a 600 car parking garage directly adjacent to the property. To service the area, plans call for retail tenants and one or more restaurants to be added along 14th Street catering to daytime users and community events at the neighboring Scottrade Center and the soon coming Kiel Opera House.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;The project has financing and is poised to begin construction this year based on the final negotiation of tenant commitments, Heisman said in a news release.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;LEED certification and green efforts will be a cornerstone in Rosemann\\\'s design and construction efforts. &ldquo;Ample parking, great transportation and freeway access is key,&rdquo; Heisman\\\'s Forrest said. &ldquo;But let&rsquo;s not forget the fact that we will be adjacent to the MetroLink and City&rsquo;s Multimodal Transportation Center.\\\"&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;<br />For more information visit www.1300marketstl.com &lt;http://www.1300marketstl.com/&gt; .<br />&nbsp;<br />ABOUT HEISMAN:&nbsp; Heisman Properties, LLC is a privately held real estate company focused on acquiring, developing and managing urban real estate throughout the United States. In 2006, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 160,000 sq. ft. Chemical Building, now renamed Alexa Lofts, at 777 Olive Street. Designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb in 1896 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.&nbsp; Plans call for 132 market-rate apartments, two floors of office space and retail space on the ground floor. <br />&nbsp;<br />In 2004, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 194,000 square foot A.D. Brown Building at 1136 Washington Avenue in St. Louis. Built in 1898, it was once the headquarters of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Co. Heisman finished renovations to the building, which is now called the Meridian. All 95 loft condominiums have been sold.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"52\";}'),(1513,542,2,2,1241293613,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"542\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 06:19 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:41:\"ssm_st_clare_hospital_different_by_design\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"SSM St. Clare Hospital: Different by Design\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:206:\"To Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:32:\"St. Clare, design, SSM, Alberici\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:18002:\"<p>Robert Porter, executive vice president, strategy and business development, SSM Health Care, can spend 45 minutes talking about what is new or different about patient rooms at SSM&rsquo;s new 154-bed St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO, and even then he won&rsquo;t have exhausted the subject. To Porter, the patient room at St. Clare Hospital is the architectural center of how SSM has re-envisioned hospital care. That re-envisioning led SSM to design the new hospital in a new way, build it in a new way, and ultimately operate it in a new way.<br /><br />With hospital costs nationally outpacing the ability of people to pay and hospitals errors making sick, SSM decided &ldquo;it was time to fundamentally rethink what we do,&rdquo; Porter said. The first &ldquo;visioning&rdquo; session for the new $230 million hospital was in April 2005. The goals were easily stated &ndash; improve the patient experience and reduce costs &ndash; but the processes of accomplishing them were very complex.<br /><strong><br />Changing the design process</strong><br /><br />Porter said SSM&rsquo;s approach to St. Clare Hospital differed in four fundamental ways from the typical hospital design process:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>&ldquo;We took months to understand the patient side: shadowing patients, using photojournalism to record their experiences, and using patient diaries, and from that we tried to determine what would an ideal patient experience look like.</li>\n<li>Separately we mapped the processes of how work was done, looking at things like nurse travel time.</li>\n<li>We also engaged in clinical visioning: trying to figure out how health care will change.</li>\n<li>And we looked at where communications and IT are going as tools of what we do.</li>\n</ul>\n<p><br /><img alt=\\\"St. Clare Hospital\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />&ldquo;That gave us high level planning and then we went down into the details, functions, and spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;In the traditional design process, you go to the departments and ask them what volume of work they will have and what problems do they need fixed. But then you&rsquo;re just putting new building blocks on the same chassis. That is about how health care is produced, not how it is experienced,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Hummel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc.of Milwaukee, WI was the primary architect on the hospital, with Mackey Mitchell Associates serving as the local architect. Mackey Mitchell Associates was the primary architect on the connected medical office building and ambulatory surgery center.<br /><br />As it turned out, there was a lot of overlap between sources of patient dissatisfaction and inefficiency and waste. Patients hated being left in a hall somewhere to wait for the next thing to happen to them.&nbsp; And one of the things SSM learned from lean manufacturing was that anything that interrupts the flow of work increases waste and inefficiency.<br /><br />&ldquo;One of the biggest sources of frustration and waste is waiting time,&rdquo; Porter said. To improve flow, SSM decided to invest more capital up front to duplicate important technologies in different departments instead of funneling everyone through one place. So, the emergency department and the ambulatory center got their own radiology equipment, for example. &ldquo;Hospitals traditionally tried to save capital by investing in one radiology department. But having to take patients from all over the hospital to radiology and have them wait in the hallways until there is an opening backs up everyone else and causes tremendous waste. So we gave the departments that most use radiology their own equipment,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The theme of improving the patient experience runs from the campus sight plan and signs and cues to help visitors find their way to the artwork in patient rooms and public areas<br /><br />&ldquo;From our ring road, you have four choices: the emergency entrance, the public entrance, the medical office building, and the procedure center. In addition to signs, each has its own distinctive architectural markings. We&rsquo;ve distributed parking to correspond with services, and each entrance has its own reception area,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />Spellman Brady selected the artwork. By coincidence, Diana Spellman was undergoing treatments for cancer while she was working on the St. Clare hospital project. &ldquo;I was coming from radiation treatments to go into high level meetings and I felt like I was glowing. I had to tell them,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was able to bring experience and view as patient to selecting artwork. To really be patient centered it has to create positive, uplifting experience for patients&hellip; Some dated hospital rooms really make you sicker than you are sick because they are so depressing,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;They let us push the envelope in choosing artwork that is uplifting and colorful, and in letting us use different media. We used glass, sculpture, custom photography, and more. It was very impressive that the administration put that kind of thought into it,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;This hospital is designed to be more restful. We looked at noise, light, and d&eacute;cor all with an eye to accelerating patient recovery. By putting patients in a more healing environment we save dollars that would otherwise be spent on longer stays,&rdquo; Porter said.<br />&ldquo;We even have an open MRI to reduce stress on those patients who are claustrophobic or just don&rsquo;t like closed spaces,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM also put a lot of thought into alleviating another major source of patient dissatisfaction and waste: errors.<br /><br />The Institute of Medicine called medical errors &ldquo;a leading cause of death and injury&rdquo; in a report to Congress in 2006. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that nationwide, roughly two out of every 100 people admitted to a hospital would suffer an injury as a result of a medical error while in the hospital. The IOM estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people a year were killed by preventable errors in hospitals, more than died every year in car accidents and more than were killed by breast cancer or aids. Indeed, the IOM called hospital errors the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States. The IOM also estimated that the direct medical charges associated with treating hospital errors totaled between $9 billion and $15 billion.<br /><br />SSM and its designers made several design decisions in order to reduce medical errors and make sure the hospital provides &ldquo;the right care in the right place at the right time,&rdquo; said Porter. The most basic decision was standardization.<br /><br />&ldquo;All eight of the operating rooms are oriented the same. Everything in them is the same and equipment hangs from ceiling booms,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;The standardization is to cut down on mistakes resulting from things not being where you expect them to be,&rdquo; he said. The operating rooms also are substantially larger than in the old hospital: 600 square feet compared to about 400; and the one cardiac operating room is 800 square feet in size. Plus, they are organized ergonomically and they all have advanced operating lights that do not cast any shadows.<br /><br />All patient rooms also have the same configuration and handedness in order to minimize errors. They all are private rooms and bathroom is in the same corner in every room, instead of neighboring rooms having bathrooms back-to-back. That meant twice as many stacks for plumbing. &ldquo;It cost $3 - 4,000 more per room to make each room the same instead of having bathrooms head to head,&rdquo; Porter said, or about $500,000 more for the whole hospital.&nbsp; How many mistakes do they have to avoid in order to make up that cost? &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;In a high intensity environment, standardization unquestionably makes for greater reliability, but it is hotly debated, even within our own organization, on whether it makes a difference in patient rooms.&rdquo; Nevertheless, SSM spent the money, because, &ldquo;we wanted to make the optimum safe environment for our patients,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The bathrooms in the patient rooms are not rectangular boxes. Porter called the five-sided bathrooms, &ldquo;one of the more brilliant architectural decisions,&rdquo; in the hospital&rsquo;s design. Having a slanted wall nearer the patient bed, &ldquo;preserves the patient&rsquo;s view of the window and creates more space in the room,&rdquo; he said, and research has shown that the ability to see out a window speeds a patient&rsquo;s recovery.<br /><strong><br />Changing the construction process</strong><br /><br />Changing the design process was one piece of how SSM sought to reinvent the hospital; changing the construction process was another. <br /><br />&ldquo;The way the trades were engaged was different from traditional construction,&rdquo; said Timothy Gunn, project director Alberici Constructors, the general contractor. &ldquo;And their relationship with the design team was very different from the traditional [relationship],&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />SSM used a process called &ldquo;lean construction&rdquo; to build the new 430,000-square-foot hospital. Alberici, SSM, and the architect selected the main trade contractors early &ndash; Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors, Guarantee Electrical Co., St. Louis Automatic Sprinkler Co., and Niehaus Construction Services. All of those contractors were on cost-plus-fee contracts. &ldquo;That let them be nimble in implementing change, and in a hospital, where you want to include the most modern equipment, there is a lot of change,&rdquo; said Gunn.<br /><br />The trades contractors worked together in &ldquo;the big room,&rdquo; as Gunn called it, a doublewide trailer full of computers and flat screen display panels. There, detailers from all the trades worked together to create a part of a building information model, in this case a three dimensional model of everything above the ceiling with descriptions &ndash;&ndash; all of the ductwork, conduit, and piping &ndash;&ndash; so that they could coordinate all of the above the ceiling work and maximize how much they made in the shop and trucked to the site. This effort was accomplished utilizing 3D modeling within a web-based server system that allowed real-time design-engineering coordination between the project design team.<br /><br />&ldquo;The electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems were all virtually built in the 3-D model before we started installing them,&rdquo; said Mark Bengard, senior vice president of Murphy Co., which installed all the piping for medical gases, plumbing, and heating and cooling. &ldquo;SSM has a 3-D model now so if they need to track down a valve they can look in their electronic model instead of disturbing patients by lifting ceiling tiles or opening access doors in the walls to find it. That is a powerful tool and it is something almost no one else has,&rdquo; he says. <br /><br />Modeling all of the above the ceiling work electronically produced two other important results. &ldquo;We prefabbed in excess of what would be typical, due to the confidence everyone had that they would have the space to put their work,&rdquo; Gunn said. And all the planning helped the trades make up lost time. &ldquo;In 2008 we faced one of the wettest years in history. We had lost the planned number of weather days for the entire project by March, and being behind on the exterior put us behind on the interior finish,&rdquo; Gunn said. Having built the job electronically in 3-D, the trades contractors could see that they could get creative with sequencing the above the ceiling work to make up lost time. <br /><br />&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t necessarily have to have mechanical contractor in first in all phases,&rdquo; said Steve Kellenberger, director of construction for Guarantee Electrical. &ldquo;As long as you followed the design and put your work where you were supposed to, you could go in and put your work out of the typical sequence. It eliminated conflicts between tradesmen,&rdquo; he said. <br /><br />With that kind of cooperation, said Gunn, &ldquo;we were able to make up time and maintain the scheduled opening date.&rdquo;<br /><br />Just as electronic records &ndash; the 3-D model &ndash; played a crucial role in the construction of St. Clare Hospital, they also will be a crucial part of what makes St. Clare Hospital different. &ldquo;Our data backbone is as big and complex as our electrical backbone. That is because the single most important variable in health care is information,&rdquo; Porter said.<br /><br />&ldquo;The low voltage work here was extraordinarily complicated. They included electronic records, VOIP (voice over internet protocol), nurse call systems, telemetry, security, and paging,&rdquo; Gunn said. Guarantee Electrical Co. was the single source electrical installation contractor installing the power, lighting, emergency, technology, data, fire alarm and security systems.<br /><br />Changing operations<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;We made points of data entry ubiquitous,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;No more paper charts,&rdquo; he said. To make sure that data is reliably and quickly entered, St. Clare Hospital has an electronic record portal in each patient room and also outside each room at a window at which a nurse can observe the patient and make notes.<br /><br />The electronic record also is designed to cut down on medication mistakes via its connection to a medical dispensing system in each room. According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors alone kill more people annually than do workplace accidents.<br /><br />Porter explained how the medical dispensing system works: &ldquo;The pharmacist stocks the patient&rsquo;s drugs in the room in a secure drawer that can be opened only by entering the correct security code into the electronic record portal. Each prescription has a bar code for the drug and a bar code for the patient. This reduces the number of people handling the drug to three, which should reduce errors.&rdquo; And since the physician orders the prescription electronically, there should occur no handwriting deciphering errors.<br /><br />The same system data wiring backbone that supports electronic records and the medical dispensing system also lets the operations department at St. Clare Hospital remote control the temperature in every patient room, office, and surgery suite. &ldquo;We use a Trane Tracer Summit Automated Control System to control the heat in each room individually from the control room or the Internet, and we can give the room occupants control within a set band of temperatures,&rdquo; said Andy Gratton, team leader of plant operations. <br /><br />With the Trane Summit System, &ldquo;they have an ability they never had before to see hundreds of pressures and temperature in chiller. They can get data and keep track of issues as they&rsquo;re developing and schedule maintenance before issues become a problem,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;A good building management system can make a great difference in the time spend on a problem,&rdquo; Gratton added.<br /><br />Some of the equipment controlled via the Trane Summit System is new to the St. Louis area, but all of it &ldquo;is light years from where they were in their old building,&rdquo; Bengard said.<br /><br />The new steam boilers, for example, are much more efficient than the old ones. &ldquo;We went from a traditional, 692 horsepower boiler system to two, 200 hp and two 300 horsepower boilers.&rdquo; The new boilers can operate at two stages, 50 percent or 100 percent, and they can cycle on and off, whereas SSM had to keep the old boiler system idling. The new boilers &ldquo;can go from zero to 80 pounds of steam in five minutes, while with the traditional boilers we would take two days to do that so that we didn&rsquo;t crack the refractory wall. That makes the new ones more efficient, because we don&rsquo;t have to keep operating them when they aren&rsquo;t needed,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br /><br />&ldquo;We did a lot of research when selecting boilers and actually took [Gratton and other SSM representatives] on a trip to the closest ones in operation, which were in Chicago,&rdquo; said Bengard. The new boilers also have scale sensors on the inside to alert the operations team to any buildup of scale that might require cleaning.<br /><br />&ldquo;The new air systems also are fairly unique,&rdquo; Bengard said. &ldquo;They utilize a Hunt Air Fanwall system. A typical air-handling unit has one large centrifugal type fan. These have an array of nine or more, so if one fan fails the whole system isn&rsquo;t down. That redundancy aspect is fantastic for hospitals. It has the same performance as a centrifugal fan, but if one fan fails in a fanwall, you can block that off in minutes if you don&rsquo;t have a replacement and your system won&rsquo;t know its missing,&rdquo; he explained.<br /><br />SSM also invested in two, 850-ton chillers and a 125-ton chiller. &ldquo;We can operate just the smaller one in the winter to produce the chilled air we need for operating rooms,&rdquo; Gratton said.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;They selected the most efficient chillers they could. They are probably twice as efficient as what they had [in the old hospital] in Kirkwood,&rdquo; Bengard said&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&ldquo;We were very thoughtful in how we spent money to make health care more effective,&rdquo; said Porter. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re essentially retooling the hospital stock to increase efficiency and increase effectiveness. Our aim is to deliver the right care at the right time in the right place,&rdquo; he said.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:29:\"/images/uploads/st.-clare.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1514,546,5,2,1241293638,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"546\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:15 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"10\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:44:\"Failed Streets Haunt Developer, Surety, Subs\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:42:\"failed_streets_haunt_developer_surety_subs\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:44:\"Failed Streets Haunt Developer, Surety, Subs\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:1:\"6\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:83:\"Improperly poured concrete streets triggered a series of claims and counterclaims. \";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:31:\"concrete, streets, Berra, Essex\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:6530:\"<p>Improperly poured concrete streets triggered a series of claims and counterclaims between Jefferson County, Essex Contracting, Inc. (the developer of three subdivisions), Essex&rsquo; subcontractors J.H. Berra Paving Co., Inc. and Boling Concrete Construction., Inc., and the developer&rsquo;s surety Federal Insurance Company.&nbsp; The case is <em>Essex Contracting, Inc. v. Jefferson County</em>, 2009 WL 454280 (Mo.), decided February 24.&nbsp; <br /><br />The dispute on a project that started in 1995 provides a great lesson in the complexity of construction legal issues and on how wrong things can go.&nbsp; Even worse, the dispute is not completely over, for the Supreme Court of Missouri has sent the matter back to the trial court for further consideration on one issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The saga began when Jefferson County required developer Essex to post three separate bonds totaling $3,598,249 for development of the Winter Valley subdivision.&nbsp; The bonds covered three phases of construction.<br /><br />When Essex could not complete the streets on time, Jefferson County and Essex agreed to a one-year extension in exchange for a guarantee from Essex and a pledge that the guarantee would be backed by the bonds already in place.&nbsp; The guarantee provided that if Essex did not complete the project within one year, including any necessary repairs to the work, the county would do so and use the bonds to reimburse for the costs to complete the work.&nbsp; In essence, this made the previous bonds, if they were not already, into performance bonds, whereby the county was assured the money necessary to complete the job if Essex failed to perform.<br /><br />Construction of the concrete streets required three phases:&nbsp; (1) clearing and grading, (2) leveling dirt and compacting the subgrade, and (3) pouring the streets in a slip-form paving technique where the concrete is poured in a continuous fashion and control joints are added later.<br /><br />Some of the streets began to split and crack.&nbsp; Both the developer and the subcontractors repaired and replaced broken slabs, but this created a bigger problem by revealing that at least some of the slabs were not poured to the proper thickness.&nbsp; The county required Essex to do core sample testing.&nbsp; The county was not satisfied with the results and in 2005 the court ordered additional core testing.&nbsp; This testing revealed that there were an additional 218 slabs of concrete that were deficient in thickness by more that 0.3 of an inch, in violation of the subdivision regulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Essex made additional repairs and sought release of the bonds.&nbsp; The county responded by refusing to release the bonds and presented Essex with a further list of deficiencies.&nbsp; Essex eventually filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit seeking the release of the bonds.<br /><br />The county conceded that part of the bonds could be released, but kept in place $1,015,837 for work it claimed was not properly completed.&nbsp; The county responded to the lawsuit by counter suing Essex for faulty work and added Federal as a defendant for its failure to disburse the bonds to the county.&nbsp; Federal then cross sued the county stating that the bonds were void or that the improvements were complete.<br /><br />Members of the Winter Valley Homeowners&rsquo; Association intervened in the lawsuit.&nbsp; They filed claims against Essex for injunctive relief and damages, alleging negligence, breach of contract and zoning enforcement.&nbsp; Essex filed third-party petitions against its subcontractors Boling and Berra for indemnity and breach of contract.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />At trial, an expert for the county who was a licensed geotechnical engineer testified that poor subgrade conditions and support were responsible for the failures in the streets.&nbsp; There was evidence at trial that concrete trucks drove on the subgrade during the pouring, which if true could have disturbed the subgrade condition. <br /><br />Boling attempted to recompact the subgrade after the trucks had disturbed it.&nbsp; They were unable to do so in at least one place because the trucks had brought in so much moisture that the dirt could not be recompacted. <br /><br />The trial court concluded that Essex failed to meet the standards of the subdivision regulations and the requirements of the guarantee.&nbsp; The court ordered Essex and Federal to pay the remainder of the bonds ($1,015,838) to the county to fund completion and to pay an additional $102,174 in civil penalties, also to be funded from the bonds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The trial court also entered judgment in favor of Essex on its claims of indemnity against its subcontractors in the amounts of $73,913 for Boling and $28,261 for Berra for their shares of the $102,174 civil penalty.&nbsp; Boling and Berra also had to pay Essex $6,040 and Berra $6,468 for the costs of the core testing.&nbsp; <br /><br />The trial court awarded $35,875 in costs against Essex and Federal for the intervenors&rsquo; costs to repair the improperly poured streets.&nbsp; Intervenors also recovered their attorney fees in the amounts of $219,277 from Essex, $7,088 from Berra and $17,013 from Boling.&nbsp; The Supreme Court rejected claims they were excessive by deferring to the judgment of the trial court, especially in a case of this length and complexity. <br /><br />The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court&rsquo;s decision with the exception of Essex&rsquo; claim for indemnity against Boling and the assessment of attorney fees against the subcontractors.&nbsp; The Supreme Court decided that if Boling was responsible for part of the thin concrete, then the trial court should have sustained Essex&rsquo; claim for indemnity.&nbsp; The trial court will have to consider this further, per the order from the Supreme Court.&nbsp; The attorney fee awards were not supportable because there was no contract between the intervenors and the subcontractors that would entitle the intervenors to recover attorney fees.&nbsp; <br /><em><br />James R. Keller is a partner at Herzog Crebs LLP where he concentrates his practice on construction law, complex business disputes, real estate and ADR.&nbsp; He also is an arbitrator and a mediator.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"10\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1515,548,4,2,1241293657,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"548\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:33 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:49:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial Announces Transactions\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:49:\"coldwell_banker_commercial_announces_transactions\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:50:\"Coldwell Banker Commerical  Announces Transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:80:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:40:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial, transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2205:\"<p><a href=\\\"http://www.cbcstl.com\\\">Coldwell Banker Commercial</a> CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Lynn Richter of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Senior Services in the purchase of a 30,000 square foot office building located at 1150 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144 from Heartland Bank, represented by Grubb &amp; Ellis/Gundaker Commercial.<br /><br />Jerry Worley of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented WIF 1, LLC in the lease renewal of 2,500 square feet of industrial space with Heuvelman Consulting Services, Inc. d/b/a The Garage Design Center at the Larkin Williams building located at 1731 Larkin Williams Road, Fenton, MO 63026.<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Chris Reh of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented 1st Choice Courier and Distribution, Inc. in the lease of 3,000 square feet of industrial space located at 9461 Dielman Rock Island Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132 from LaClair Warehouse One, represented by Sansone Group.<br /><br />Mike Wolken, SIOR and Ken Kaller of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Cook Bros RE LLC in the lease renewal of 15,106 square feet of industrial space with Facilitec, Inc. at the Eagle Industrial building located at 5422 Eagle Industrial Court, Hazelwood, MO 63042.<br /><br />Vicki Dolan of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Church Extension Fund &ndash; MO Synod in the lease renewal of 6,761 square feet of office space at the Sunset Hills Office Building located at 10733 Sunset Office Drive, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 with Consilman/Hunsaker and Associates, represented by Schlafly Corporation.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Hampton Village Associates in the lease renewal of 4,765 square feet of retail space with Johnnie Brock&rsquo;s Greeting Cards &amp; Gift Shops, Inc. at Hampton Village Shopping Center located at 40 Hampton Village Shopping Center, St. Louis, MO 63109.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC is one of the largest full-service commercial real estate companies in St. Louis, with more than 3 million square feet of property, valued at $175 million, under management. <br />.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1516,548,4,2,1241293676,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"548\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:33 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:49:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial Announces Transactions\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:49:\"coldwell_banker_commercial_announces_transactions\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:50:\"Coldwell Banker Commerical  Announces Transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:80:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:40:\"Coldwell Banker Commercial, transactions\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2205:\"<p><a href=\\\"http://www.cbcstl.com\\\">Coldwell Banker Commercial</a> CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Lynn Richter of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Senior Services in the purchase of a 30,000 square foot office building located at 1150 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144 from Heartland Bank, represented by Grubb &amp; Ellis/Gundaker Commercial.<br /><br />Jerry Worley of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented WIF 1, LLC in the lease renewal of 2,500 square feet of industrial space with Heuvelman Consulting Services, Inc. d/b/a The Garage Design Center at the Larkin Williams building located at 1731 Larkin Williams Road, Fenton, MO 63026.<br /><br />Carl Conceller, SIOR and Chris Reh of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented 1st Choice Courier and Distribution, Inc. in the lease of 3,000 square feet of industrial space located at 9461 Dielman Rock Island Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132 from LaClair Warehouse One, represented by Sansone Group.<br /><br />Mike Wolken, SIOR and Ken Kaller of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Cook Bros RE LLC in the lease renewal of 15,106 square feet of industrial space with Facilitec, Inc. at the Eagle Industrial building located at 5422 Eagle Industrial Court, Hazelwood, MO 63042.<br /><br />Vicki Dolan of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lutheran Church Extension Fund &ndash; MO Synod in the lease renewal of 6,761 square feet of office space at the Sunset Hills Office Building located at 10733 Sunset Office Drive, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 with Consilman/Hunsaker and Associates, represented by Schlafly Corporation.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Hampton Village Associates in the lease renewal of 4,765 square feet of retail space with Johnnie Brock&rsquo;s Greeting Cards &amp; Gift Shops, Inc. at Hampton Village Shopping Center located at 40 Hampton Village Shopping Center, St. Louis, MO 63109.<br /><br />Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC is one of the largest full-service commercial real estate companies in St. Louis, with more than 3 million square feet of property, valued at $175 million, under management. <br />.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1517,543,4,2,1241293709,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"543\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 09:27 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"muncipal_courts_redevelopment_gets_green_light\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\"The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:24:\"Heisman, Muncipal Courts\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:4638:\"<p>The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building (to be renamed 1300 Market) in downtown St. Louis.&nbsp; The original architect of the building was Isaac Taylor, who was the principal\narchitect for the 1904 World&rsquo;s Fair as well as many significant\nbuildings in St. Louis including the Jefferson Memorial, the Bee Hat\nBuilding and Hadley Square.<br />&nbsp;<br />Heisman Properties is working closely with EVS Realty, Friedman Group, REALTORS and the City of St. Louis to redevelop the century old building. Rosemann &amp; Associates, P.C. will provide architectural design and BSI Contractors are providing construction costs. St. Louis Comptroller, Darlene Green said, &ldquo;We are very excited about the development of the Municipal Courts Building and its prospects as part of St. Louis\\\' downtown&rsquo;s revitalization.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;The 160,000 sq. ft. renowned courthouse is located at 1300 Market Street and was constructed in 1911. Heisman Properties will spend $40 million to redevelop the building. Plans include ground floor restaurant, retail and office space, first floor cultural/gallery and office space with second and third floor office space. In addition to the interior, Rosemann\\\'s design calls for several walkways, courtyards, plazas and terraces to surround the building. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Once completed, this project will tie recent downtown developments together,\\\" Heisman Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Chad Forrest said. \\\"It will be the centerpiece of a destination area featuring the Scottrade Center, soon-to-be-redeveloped Kiel Opera House, Sheraton City Center Hotel and Condos, MetroLink, the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center and the revitalized mall.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>With a projected completed date set for 2010, the building will not only house office tenants, but will act as a conduit between both the civic and cultural communities. &ldquo;Being in such a desirable location we anticipate not only servicing our core tenants, but will offer the ability to provide locations for cultural events and meeting places with those who want to share in this extraordinary redevelopment,&rdquo;Heisman Properties Principal Curt Schroeder said.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />The grand hallway with vaulted ceilings and elegant entrance will showcase St. Louis art exhibits and will feature a fully designed courtroom. &ldquo;We have one courtroom that seems to have missed its 1960&rsquo;s upgrade,&rdquo; remarks Heisman Principal Rob McRitchie. &ldquo;Our intent will be to restore this exquisite space and utilize it for events as well as mock trials, which many law firms desire.\\\"<br />&nbsp;<br />Plans are also under development for a 600 car parking garage directly adjacent to the property. To service the area, plans call for retail tenants and one or more restaurants to be added along 14th Street catering to daytime users and community events at the neighboring Scottrade Center and the soon coming Kiel Opera House.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;The project has financing and is poised to begin construction this year based on the final negotiation of tenant commitments, Heisman said in a news release.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;LEED certification and green efforts will be a cornerstone in Rosemann\\\'s design and construction efforts. &ldquo;Ample parking, great transportation and freeway access is key,&rdquo; Heisman\\\'s Forrest said. &ldquo;But let&rsquo;s not forget the fact that we will be adjacent to the MetroLink and City&rsquo;s Multimodal Transportation Center.\\\"&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;<br />For more information visit www.1300marketstl.com &lt;http://www.1300marketstl.com/&gt; .<br />&nbsp;<br />ABOUT HEISMAN:&nbsp; Heisman Properties, LLC is a privately held real estate company focused on acquiring, developing and managing urban real estate throughout the United States. In 2006, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 160,000 sq. ft. Chemical Building, now renamed Alexa Lofts, at 777 Olive Street. Designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb in 1896 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.&nbsp; Plans call for 132 market-rate apartments, two floors of office space and retail space on the ground floor. <br />&nbsp;<br />In 2004, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 194,000 square foot A.D. Brown Building at 1136 Washington Avenue in St. Louis. Built in 1898, it was once the headquarters of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Co. Heisman finished renovations to the building, which is now called the Meridian. All 95 loft condominiums have been sold.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1518,547,4,2,1241293736,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"547\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:26 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:39:\"\\\"Green\\\" Products Event Planned May 14\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"green_woodwork_products_event_planned\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"\\\"Green\\\"  Products Event Planned May 14\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:128:\"The Missouri– Illinois Architectural Woodworking Institute AWI is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:48:\"AWI, woodworking, sustainable, green, symposium \";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1891:\"<p>The Missouri&ndash; Illinois Architctural Woodworking Institute (AWI) is holding its second annual symposium on sustainable products to educate the construction industry about the various types of green woodworking products that exist in the market and to introduce them to the local<br />suppliers who carry related items.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Green Products Symposium\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"137\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/green-products.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"250\\\" />The event will be held May 14 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the William A. Kerr Fondation,&nbsp; 21 O\\\'Fallon Street, just north of the President Casino on the downtown St. Louis riverfront.</p>\n<p>The event will consist of two presentations. The first presenter, Richard Poindexter from Columbia Forest Products, will address the issue of<br />&ldquo;Decorative Plywood and Interior Air Quality.&rdquo; The second presenter, LK Wilhelms of Smith &amp; Fong, will discuss &ldquo;Designing<br />with Sustainable Bamboo.&rdquo; Both presentations will focus on knowing the difference between a truly green product and green-washing. A CEU can be earned for each presentation attended and also for visiting the exhibitors&rsquo; booths at the event, allowing a total of three CEUs.</p>\n<p><strong>EVENT SCHEDULE</strong><br />3:30 - 4:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />4:00 - 5:00 Presentation: Decorative Hardwood Plywood &amp; Interior Air Quality<br />5:00 - 6:00 Exhibitor displays, networking, &amp; hors d&rsquo;oeuvres<br />6:00 - 7:00 Presentation: Designing with Sustainable Bamboo<br />This event is FREE to the St. Louis construction industry.</p>\n<p>The event is free to members of the construction industry. RSVP by Friday, May 8, 2009 by contacting Karen Duree at 314.524.0602 or <a href=\\\"mailto:kduree@amslonline.com\\\">kduree@amslonline.com</a></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1519,545,4,2,1241293795,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"545\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 08:09 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"i_64_graduates_apprentices_to_journeymen\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:108:\"The I-64 project\\\'s diversity program recently graduated five trade workers from its apprenticeship program.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"I-64, diversity, apprentices\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2243:\"<p>Missouri Department of Transportation is also celebrating the graduation of several individual craftsmen who have become journeymen on<br /><a href=\\\"http://www.thenewi64.org\\\">the I-64 project</a>.&nbsp; To date five individuals working on the I-64 project have worked enough hours and mastered the skills to graduate from apprentice to journeyman in their respective union trades.<br /><br />With the I-64 project, MoDOT has worked with Gateway Constructors and the community to develop pre-apprentice training programs and on-the-job<br />training programs for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to increase the project\\\'s workforce diversity.&nbsp; The ultimate goal is to help<br />these individuals acquire journeyman status in the trades for a long-term career. <br /><br />Over the last two years, more than 70 on-the-job trainees have worked on I-64 and five of them have achieved journeyman status to date with many more eligible by next year.&nbsp; The total workforce diversity on the I-64 project is exceeding the federal minority goal of 14.7 percent with the I-64 workforce having more than 19 percent minority workers.<br /><br />I-64 Laborer Tressa Bell graduated from the Construction Craft Laborers\\\' Apprenticeship Program this month.&nbsp; With almost 3,000 hours worked on the I-64 project over the past 16 months, she has reached journey status as a laborer. \\\"I didn\\\'t think I could do it.&nbsp; I have worked for almost four years toward this goal and working on I-64 gave me the experience to reach my<br />goal,\\\" said Tressa Bell.&nbsp; \\\"Now I know I can accomplish anything.\\\"<br /><br />Other recent graduates include two carpenters, a cement mason and another laborer.&nbsp; By 2010, it is anticipated that more than a dozen additional<br />workers from I-64 will graduate to journey status.<br /><br />\\\"The I-64 project with its vast amount of work presented an opportunity for MoDOT to make a difference in the lives of people looking for a chance at a<br />career in construction,\\\" said Lesley Hoffarth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I-64 project director.&nbsp; \\\"We are proud to have helped these individuals achieve their goals and get<br />to journey status in the construction industry.\\\"</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1520,544,4,2,1241293825,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"544\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-02 07:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder, Dies\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"james_collins_fence_company_founder_dies\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:43:\"James Collins, Fence Company Founder, Dies \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:84:\"James (Jim) Collins, a founder of Collins & Hermann, Inc., died Wednesday, April 29.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:28:\"Collins, Collins and Hermann\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:721:\"<p>James (Jim) Collins died Wednesday, April 29, due to complications of cancer.&nbsp; Mr. Collins was a founder of Collins &amp; Hermann, Inc.</p>\n<p>Collins &amp; Hermann, with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, is a specialty subcontractor providing guardrail,\nsigning, civil construction, fencing and metal fabrication solutions to\ncustomers throughout the Midwest.</p>\n<p>He is survived by his wife Mary Jo.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Visitation is Monday, May 4, at Bucholz Mortuaries, 2211 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017<br /><br />There is a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clair Assisi, 15668 Clayton Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 with burial following the mass at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetary.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1521,524,10,2,1241293859,'a:33:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:2:\"10\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"524\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-04-17 08:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:2:\"10\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:21:\"Seal the Deal Seminar\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:21:\"seal_the_deal_seminar\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_58\";s:22:\"Seal the Deal Seminar \";s:11:\"field_ft_58\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_62\";s:101:\"Tom Woodcock\\\'s tips and techniques for construction sales and marketing through current conditions. \";s:11:\"field_ft_62\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_59\";s:46:\"Woodcock, Seal the Deal, sales, marketing, ASA\";s:11:\"field_ft_59\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_63\";s:106:\"Quality Inn Amphitheatre 2434 Old Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (next to Syberg’s on Dorsett)\";s:11:\"field_ft_63\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_57\";s:19:\"2009-05-07 07:16 AM\";s:15:\"field_offset_57\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_56\";s:0:\"\";s:15:\"field_offset_56\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_55\";s:19:\" 8:00 a.m. – Noon\";s:11:\"field_ft_55\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_60\";s:2257:\"<p>Continental breakfast included.<br />Cost:&nbsp; $50 ASA Members; $65 Non-Members<br />Reservations due before May 1, 2009<br />NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED!</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Seal the Deal\\\" height=\\\"170\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/seal-the-deal.jpg\\\" width=\\\"281\\\" /></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><br /><strong>1. Cutting Through Tough Economic Conditions</strong><br />We will be discussing techniques in both sales and marketing to combat the practices used in a tough economy.&nbsp; Companies have to contend with ridiculous pricing schemes, unrealistic demands and inexperience with customers.&nbsp; This topic will deal directly with taking hold of your sales dynamic and working it effectively, regardless of where the economy trends.<br /><br /><strong>2. Market Thrifty, Sell Strong</strong><br />Stop blowing money on marketing ideas that don&rsquo;t work!&nbsp; Determine the most effective way to promote to customers while saving money.&nbsp; No need for an expensive campaign, just an intelligent one that&rsquo;s enacted.&nbsp; Properly link the marketing with your sales focus and have them team up to be even more effective.&nbsp; The how to&rsquo;s of doing just that.<br /><br /><strong>3. Educating Your Customer</strong><br />Do you have a strategy, system or format to educate your customers on making the best bidding choice?&nbsp; Probably not.&nbsp; You most likely put more effort into getting your &ldquo;number&rdquo; than getting your customer.&nbsp; An educated customer is the best customer.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s your job to teach them how to make the best choices in your trade.<br /><strong><br />4. Common Errors in Construction Selling</strong><br />Contractor after contractor make the same mistakes day in and day out.&nbsp; Repeating ineffective selling behaviors will contribute to scratching and clawing for every job.&nbsp; Being untrained, nervous or shy should not be a barrier to success.&nbsp; A few good practices can alleviate the pressure.&nbsp; We will point out many regularly made errors and present counter methods to eliminate them.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;For registration, go to&nbsp;<a href=\\\"http://www.tomwoodcocksealthedeal.com \\\" title=\\\"Seal the Deal\\\"> www.tomwoodcocksealthedeal.com </a>or call 314-775-9217.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1590,589,5,2,1244823902,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:24 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:4:\"test\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:4:\"test\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"jkjkjkj\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:6:\"kjkjkj\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:5:\"kjkjk\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:14:\"<p>kjkjkjk</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";}'),(1591,590,5,2,1244825707,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:4:\"test\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:4:\"test\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:6:\"jkjkjk\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:7:\"kjkjkjk\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:6:\"kjkjkj\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:13:\"<p>jkjkjk</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1525,549,4,2,1241755487,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-07 05:55 PM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:39:\"Novus Headquarters Goes (LEED) Platinum\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"novus_headquarters_goes_leed_platinum\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:39:\"Novus Headquarters Goes (LEED) Platinum\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:78:\"The Novus International headquarters has achieved LEED Platinum certification.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:19:\"Novus, LEED, Clayco\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:3017:\"<p>The Novus International headquarters has achieved LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED Platinum is the highest level of certification available for sustainable buildings with USGBC.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Novus International headquarters showcases many established and forward-thinking elements of sustainable design and construction. The facility highlights the company&rsquo;s level of commitment in developing a headquarters that offers a holistic point of view, one that considers the total, long-term environmental impact &ndash; from construction to day-to-day operation,&rdquo; said Paul Todd Merrill, P.E., LEED AP, director of sustainable construction for Clayco, contractor on the project.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />Located in the Missouri Research Park in St. Charles, Mo., the $20 million project included renovation of Novus&rsquo; existing 42,000-square-foot building and a 48,000-square-foot addition, including two floors of office space, 10 research laboratories, a state-of-the-art employee and customer training center, a fitness center and a catering cafeteria.<br />&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Novus is only the fourth commercial building in Missouri to achieve Platinum status and one of fewer than 100 commercial buildings in the U.S. to receive the honored designation. The headquarters features:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>an environmentally-focused framework including a 5,000-square-foot array of solar panels, currently the largest array in the state of Missouri;</li>\n<li>creative use of recycled materials such as plastic detergent bottles &amp; post industrial aluminum waste; extensive use of rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo flooring &amp; doors; <br /></li>\n<li>restoration of Missouri native and adaptive vegetation and landscaping that require zero irrigation, saving thousands of gallons of water each year;</li>\n<li>high performance envelope and energy systems, including the use of a chilled water distribution system;</li>\n<li>preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles;</li>\n<li>a storm water system that will reduce the environmental impact of runoff and improve water quality to receiving rivers;</li>\n<li>10% of the total materials were derived from salvaged materials; </li>\n<li>and 30% of the total materials were made from recycled content. </li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<br />Other sustainable efforts incorporated into the facility to promote and enhance the health and productivity of its employees include floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the use of natural light while providing a direct connection to the surrounding environment, and include a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient underfloor HVAC system that allows the temperature to be controlled individually at each work area.</p>\n<p>Forum Studio&nbsp; was architect. Joining Clayco and Forum Studio on the project are Alper Audi, as structural engineer; Stock and Associates, as the civil engineer; and Loomis and Associates, as the landscape architect. <br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1526,550,2,2,1241755899,'a:29:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-07 06:08 PM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:38:\"Concrete: Wonder Material in Aggregate\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"concrete_wonder_material_in_aggregate\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:38:\"Concrete: Wonder Material in Aggregate\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:64:\"A miracle material invented by the Romans is still going strong.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:27:\"concrete technology, cement\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:9135:\"<p>A miracle material invented by the Romans is still going strong. After more than two thousand years the material, cement-based concrete, is still durable, innovative, and cost competitive.<br /><br />Consider the I-64 construction project. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) picked concrete for the road material over asphalt. Dan Galvin, spokesman for Gateway Constructors, which is building the highway, said MoDOT looked at both the lifecycle costs and initial costs of using either material. Concrete has a lower lifecycle costs, because it requires less maintenance, he said. And due to the high price of oil at the time, the initial cost difference between asphalt and concrete &ldquo;was minimal,&rdquo; he said. So, MoDOT concluded taxpayers would get the most value from concrete.<br /><br />Although the cost difference between asphalt and concrete for the reconstruction of I-64 may have been minimal, the amount of material used in the project is not. In the first half of the project, the portion west of I-170, Gateway Constructors poured 145,000 cubic yards of concrete in depths ranging from 9.5 to eleven inches, &ldquo;and we should do something similar with the second half as well,&rdquo; Galvin said. The eleven-inch depth comes from a full depth pour where Gateway Constructors completely removes and replaces the old concrete and roadbed. The 9.5-inch depth is when Gateway Constructors simply overlays new concrete on top of the existing road surface. In addition to the road surfaces, Gateway Constructors also poured 40,000 cubic yards of structural concrete in bridges and 85,000 linear feet of concrete in barrier walls. Gateway Constructors also set 264 precast concrete bridge beams, 149,000 square feet of precast concrete bridge deck and 290,000 square feet of precast concrete retaining wall. <br /><br />&ldquo;We are confident concrete is the most durable and cost effective pavement our tax dollars can buy,&rdquo; said Patrick Juelich, marketing director for the St. Louis Concrete Council. &ldquo;The benefits of concrete construction on the I-64 project and future roadways are more than getting a pavement that will last for 50 years. Another benefit is it supports job creation in Missouri through the use of rock, sand and cement all produced in and around the state,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Of course, concrete has been used in roads since the time of the Romans. Much more recently an innovative form of concrete has been used to reduce run-off from pavement and manage stormwater. Last year, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) approved something called pervious concrete for an exemption from its imperious user charge. &ldquo;We have a charge based on the amount of impervious area &ndash; the area under surfaces that don&rsquo;t suck up rainwater &ndash; a user has. If the paved area is pervious, where the water can percolate through, we do not assess that charge,&rdquo; said Lance LeComb, a spokesman for MSD. &ldquo;In the long run, we hope this impervious charge will spur the use of these greener, more environmentally friendly surfaces,&rdquo; he added.<br /><br />Pervious concrete works by letting water drain through to the gravel bed underneath it, explained Jerry Eidson, sales representative for Breckenridge Material Company. It can do that because it is full of interconnected spaces, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re talking 10-20 percent voids,&rdquo; he said. That means pervious withstands repeated freeze-thaw cycles better than traditional concrete, he said. &ldquo;Traditional concrete is very dense,&rdquo; he said. Pervious concrete, however, has so many voids that water doesnt&rsquo;t get trapped in cracks, but instead flows through to the gravel bed where the subgrade warmth keeps it from freezing, and all the voids in the concrete leave plenty of room for expansion and contraction.<br /><br />&ldquo;Pervious is new to the area. Five years ago you never saw it,&rdquo; said Scott Inserra, president of Wilson Concrete, a concrete contractor, who has completed one pervious concrete job in the area.<br /><br />Landvatter Ready Mix began making pervious concrete in 2007, although it has been used in other parts of the country, said Melissa Landvatter, quality control and sales manager for Landvatter Ready Mix. &ldquo;It is a hugely different mix from traditional concrete,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It is a very dry, very thick mix, and the mix design is crucial to its success,&rdquo; she said. Landvatter has made pervious concrete for three different jobs in the St. Louis area, but sees many more jobs requesting bids for it. &ldquo;This potentially could be a significant market,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;What really kicked it off was MSD started raising stormwater rates. When big commercial parking lots and campuses started getting dinged on their MSD bills last year, they started looking at pervious concrete,&rdquo; said Eidson.<br /><br />Joseph Vitale, president of Concrete Strategies, which first installed pervious concrete at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, agreed that storm water management is the biggest draw for pervious pavement. &ldquo;Storm water infiltration using pervious pavement will become common practice as the engineering and construction community become more familiar with utilizing this green building tool as part of their Best Management Practice toolbox,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br /><strong>Cost</strong><br /><br />Pervious concrete costs 10-15 percent more from the supplier, &ldquo;but you recoup that in your MSD bill,&rdquo; Eidson said. <br /><br />Inserra said the labor charge to install pervious concrete &ldquo;is about the same&rdquo; as the cost in installing traditional concrete, but the installation process is different.<br /><br />&ldquo;The installation process is unique and takes special tools and experience,&rdquo; agreed Don Wade, program manager for Magruder Construction, a concrete contractor that has installed pervious concrete in St. Louis and elsewhere. &ldquo;The cement/concrete industry requires that installers become certified through the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA),&rdquo; he said. There are three-levels of certification ranging from technician to crafstman. The first level, technician, requires attendance at a one-day training seminar and successfully completion of a two-hour test. The second level requires an additional one-two days experience in addition to the test. The third level, craftsman, requires at least 3,000 hours (almost two years) of verified experience. Magruder Construction has three employees that are NRMCA certified as craftsmen.<br /><br />&ldquo;I recommend that only those companies that have the craftsmen-level of experience be allowed to bid on any projects in the St. Louis area,&rdquo; Wade said.<br /><br /><strong>Savings</strong><br /><br />When properly designed as part of a new stormwater management system, pervious pavement can save an owner or developer money. &ldquo;The cost advantages associated with using pervious concrete to manage stormwater go beyond eliminating MSD&rsquo;s impervious charge of 14 cent per 100 square feet,&rdquo; Vitale said. &ldquo;Traditional pavements usually require traditional detention based stormwater management practices. With pervious pavement, stormwater can be detained under the pavement, where it infiltrates into the ground and reduces the need for storm sewers, detention basins and related infrastructure. Commercial users could realize a 45 percent savings in total ownership costs over the 20-year design period by using pervious concrete for the paving element in the design. Developers have been able to add more than 40 percent more retail rental space for projects that would have been required for detention,&rdquo; he said. <br /><br />&ldquo;If your are able to eliminate storm sewers and detention structures from your project, the cost savings are overwhelming. If you can eliminate a half acre detention pond, that is 1/2 acre you don&rsquo;t need to buy,&rdquo; Inserra added.<br /><br />Wade said pervious concrete is as durable as traditional concrete, which is more durable than asphalt. &ldquo;Concrete gets stronger with age while asphalt deteriorates over time,&rdquo; he said. Vitale agreed. &ldquo;Parking areas properly designed and constructed will last 20-40 years with little or no maintenance,&rdquo; he said. Pervious pavements, however, cannot be resurfaced as is often done with conventional asphalt pavements, Wade said, and routine maintenance practices have to change to avoid pushing dirt and debris down into voids to clog them.<br /><br />Want to make sure the pervious mixture will work? A testing company such as Geotechnology, Inc., can test the permeability of the mix to measure water flow and can even test core samples for permeability after the concrete is poured.<br /><br />With Clayton, Wildwood, Washington University, and the Missouri Botanical Gardens all planning to use pervious concrete, St. Louis will see more of this innovative form of an old miracle material. <br /></p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1660,615,5,2,1246033842,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-26 06:24 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"12\";i:1;s:2:\"61\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:20:\"Small Details Matter\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:20:\"small_details_matter\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:20:\"Small Details Matter\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:1:\"7\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:150:\"The current environment is a good time to look at how you approach the customer base and fix the little details that you may have let slide for years.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:24:\"details, Woodcock, sales\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:1573:\"<p>When dealing with an intensely competitive marketplace, the one item that holds true is that the small things matter.&nbsp; Sales reps, estimators, project managers and owners are scrambling for every opportunity and percentage of profit.&nbsp; This is the perfect environment to look at how you approach the customer base and fix the little details that you may have let slide for years.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />There are two important steps to successfully doing this self-evaluation: <br />1. Be honest with yourself.&nbsp; Blinding your eyes to your own mistakes will never produce results. <br />2. Be willing to change.&nbsp; The list below may seem trivial but add up each small increment and you have a significant difference maker. <br /><br />Here are some of the most common detail errors:<br /></p>\n<ul>\n<li>No name or message on voicemail. (Very impersonal and rude)</li>\n<li>Unprofessional attire</li>\n<li>Amateurish presentation materials</li>\n<li>Poor hygiene</li>\n<li>Too talkative</li>\n<li>Off color humor</li>\n<li>Sexist attitudes</li>\n<li>Dirty vehicle</li>\n<li>Arriving late to meetings</li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />You may not do any of these or you might do them all.&nbsp; The point is to evaluate yourself and make sure. You may be shooting yourself in the foot and not even realizing it!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"12\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"61\";}'),(1668,619,2,2,1247465016,'a:29:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-07-12 07:48 PM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"62\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:45:\"MO/IL DOTs Spark  MRB Bridge Diversity Debate\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:44:\"mo_il_dots_spark_mrb_bridge_diversity_debate\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:45:\"MO/IL DOTs Spark  MRB Bridge Diversity Debate\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:218:\"The Missouri and Illinois transportation departments want the federal government to let them set separate contracting goals for including women and minority owned businesses on the new Mississippi River Bridge project.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:63:\"Mississippi River Bridge, diversity, transportation departments\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:5772:\"<p>\n<meta name=\\\"Title\\\" />\n<meta name=\\\"Keywords\\\" />\n<meta content=\\\"text/html; charset=utf-8\\\" />\n<meta content=\\\"Word.Document\\\" name=\\\"ProgId\\\" />\n<meta content=\\\"Microsoft Word 10\\\" name=\\\"Generator\\\" />\n<meta content=\\\"Microsoft Word 10\\\" name=\\\"Originator\\\" />\n<link href=\\\"file:///Users/tom/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Clipboard/msoclip1/01/clip_clip_filelist.xml\\\" rel=\\\"File-List\\\" />\n<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal\n  0\n  0\n  1\n  690\n  3938\n  PGD\n  32\n  7\n  4836\n  10.265 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 0\n  0\n  0 </xml><![endif]-->\n<style>\n\n</style>\n</p>\n<p>The Missouri and Illinois transportation departments want\nthe federal government to let them set separate contracting goals for including\nwomen and minority owned businesses on the new Mississippi River Bridge\nproject.</p>\n<p>\\\"When we looked at the availability of minority-owned\nbusiness to do work for MoDOT and the utilization of those businesses, we found\nthere was a disparity,\\\" said Lester Woods, MoDOT\\\'s director of external civil\nrights.</p>\n<p>Before they can set separate goals for the involvement of\nwomen-owned and minority-owned businesses, however, they have to get the\nFederal Highway Administration to waive federal regulations that mandate a\nsingle contracting goal for \\\"disadvantaged business enterprises,\\\" a category\nthat includes both women-owned and minority-owned businesses.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"WBE at MRB Bridge Meeting\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/WBE.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />The transportation departments held public hearings on\nTuesday and Wednesday to gather public comments to support their application\nfor separate goals for women- and minority-owned businesses. They\\\'ve also hired\nMason Tillman and Associates, Ltd., to prepare a disparity study to justify\nhaving separate goals. And they are in a hurry. They aim to submit their\nrequest for a waiver on August 1, because they aim to advertise in early September\nfor bids for building the main span of the bridge.</p>\n<p>The hearings exposed some simmering tensions between women\nand minority contractors. Over 200 people attended the hearing on Tuesday.</p>\n<h4>Women Business Owners were out in force at a public hearing held by the Missouri and Illinois Department of transportation.<br /></h4>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Woods said Missouri\\\'s record shows a clear disparity in the\navailability of minority-owned businesses to work with the transportation\ndepartment and how much they end up being utilized on transportation projects.\nHe said that 62 percent of the businesses in the pool of certified\ndisadvantaged business enterprises in the MoDOT region that includes St. Louis\nare minority-owned businesses, but they\\\'ve received only 12 percent of\ncontracts for disadvantaged business enterprises. Businesses owned by women\nmake up 38 percent of the pool, but they have received 88 percent of the\ndisadvantaged business enterprise contracts, he said. (On May 15, 2009, citing\na 2004 availability study, MoDOT said that businesses owned by white women made\nup 65 percent of the construction disadvantaged enterprise pool. Businesses\nowned by African Americans made up 20 percent of the pool, and businesses owned\nby Hispanics, Asians, or Native Americans accounted for the rest.)</p>\n<p>Women business operators expressed concerns that the process\nwas rigged to take business away from them.</p>\n<p>\\\"It seems you\\\'re only interested in advocates for minority\nbusinesses. Will you be speaking to advocates for women, too,\\\" Patty Evansco\nasked of Eleanor Ramsey, the representative of Mason Tillman.</p>\n<p>Evansco, who is secretary of J-C Hauling, a women-owned\ntrucking company in Millstadt, IL, said that if the transportation departments\nset a goal for women-owned companies that is lower than the amount of work they\nget now, \\\"we stand to lose business and that could cause a great financial\nhardship for many women-owned businesses.\\\"</p>\n<p>But Yusef Haqq, chairman of the Mississippi River Bridge\nAdvisory Committee and spokesman for the African American Business and\nContractors Association, said the disadvantaged business enterprise program \\\"is\ngetting hijacked when you see disparity like you see in this district... We\\\'re\nseeking an overhaul of the program.\\\"</p>\n<p>\\\"Eighty-eight percent and 12 percent does not sound equal,\nlevel, or fair,\\\" said Yaphett El-Amin, executive director of MOKAN, a minority\ncontractors\\\' association. \\\"We\\\'re asking the U.S. Department of Transportation\nto look at MoDOT and IDOT, and if they find there is discrimination, we\\\'re\nasking them to halt all federal funds to the area until (the transportation\ndepartments) remedy discrimination,\\\" she added.</p>\n<p>The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis, with\nwritten support from the AGC of America and the American Road &amp;\nTransportation Builders Association, was the only association to specifically\noppose the waiver plan in public.</p>\n<p>\\\"We will never support a waiver from federal law. The law is\nthe law,\\\" said Leonard Toenjes, president of the AGC of St. Louis. \\\"If they\nthink there is discrimination, they should do a proper study and not rush\nsomething through,\\\" he said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"Quotas haven\\\'t worked in 40 years, why do they think that\nif we do more of what doesn\\\'t work, it will work now,\\\" Toenjes added.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Ramsey explained that the waiver the departments of\ntransportation are seeking is for contracting only, not for workforce\nparticipation. MoDOT estimates that the $640 million project will create only a\nhandful of direct construction jobs in Missouri: 18 to build the Missouri\napproach to the bridge and 63 on the main span of the bridge crossing the\nriver.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:23:\"/images/uploads/WBE.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"62\";}'),(1532,552,4,2,1241790824,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 03:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:25:\"foster_hires_joseph_sneed\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:74:\"J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:13:\"Foster, Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:388:\"<p><br />J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Joe Sneed\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"299\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Joe Sneed_DSC0509.jpg\\\" width=\\\"200\\\" />Sneed has over 23 years of construction experience and is a LEED Accredited Professional.</p>\n<p>He most recently was the director of pre-construction at Kozeny Wagner, Inc.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1533,553,5,2,1241793146,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:14 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"10\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:32:\"Missouri Construction Law Update\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:32:\"missouri_construction_law_update\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:32:\"Missouri Construction Law Update\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:82:\"The following are synopses of Missouri cases related to the construction industry.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:13:\"law, Missouri\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:6440:\"<p><em>by Michael P. Wolf<br />Riezman Berger</em></p>\n<p>The following are summaries of&nbsp; recent Missouri cases related to the construction industry.</p>\n<p><br />1. <em>Kansas City Hispanic Association Contractors, Inc. v. City of Kansas City</em>, (Mo.App.W.D. March 2009). In this case, the Kansas City Hispanic Association of ContractorsEnterprise and contractor Diaz Construction Co. sued H&amp;R Block and others on charges of contracting discrimination in relation to the construction of the company&rsquo;s new city headquarters &ndash; a $138 million dollar project. The suit alleged that H&amp;R Block failed to meet its goal of insuring that 15% of its subcontractors were minority-owned business. It was alleged that H&amp;R</p>\n<p>Block and others used front companies to over-report $11.5 million dollars worth of minority-performed work on the project. Both the trial court and the court appeals ruled that because Diaz Construction did not resubmit a bid on masonry work in 2005 after the project&rsquo;s general<br />contractor had rejected the first round of bids, the company no longer was in a position to claim breach of contract and to have grounds to file a lawsuit.</p>\n<p>Both courts went on to rule that they were not the proper forum to challenge affirmative-action policy violations, but rather, that the<br />proper remedy was for H&amp;R Block to potential pay liquidated damages to the Tax Increment Financing Commission. Further, the court found that the record showed that there was no statement or reliance form which to base any fraud claim and as such upheld the trial court&rsquo;s<br />dismissal of the case.</p>\n<p>2.<em> Fire Sprinklers, Inc. v. Icon Contracting, Inc.,</em> (Mo.App.E.D. March 2009). Fire Sprinklers challenged the decision which entered judgment in favor of Icon on its counterclaim against Fire Sprinklers for breach of contract. While various items were awarded, the parties<br />only disputed how the trial court calculated the damages arising directly from the breach in question.</p>\n<p>The parties had entered into a contract whereby Fire Sprinklers was to design and install a foam fire protection system for a company facility. When the system did not pass a fire department acceptance test, Icon notified Fire Sprinklers that it was terminating the agreement.<br />Fire Sprinklers sued and Icon asserted a breach of contract counterclaim.</p>\n<p>The trial claim awarded Icon damages, which were challenged on appeal. On review, the court of appeals reduced the award to Icon for damages arising from the breach and the form to call for judgment as modified. Icon&rsquo;s damages were calculated by taking the amount of the loss it suffered as a result of the breach, the cost of completion, and subtracting the amount Icon saved by not having<br />to complete its performance under the contact, the contract retainage. Icon was relieved of paying a certain amount and this calculation reflected the savings Icon sustained when it decided to end the contract.</p>\n<p>This calculation was necessary in determining Icon&rsquo;s damages actually suffered. The trial court should have considered the costs Icon avoided in determining damages, so the court of appeals modified the trial court&rsquo;s judgment accordingly.</p>\n<p><br />3. <em>Repair Masters Construction, Inc. v. Gary</em>, (Mo.App.E.D. March 2009). Plaintiff contractor brought suit against defendant homeowner for breach of contract and in response, the homeowner raised the affirmative defense of unconscionability. The court awarded damages to<br />the contractor and the homeowner appealed. The homeowner&rsquo;s house was damaged by fire. The contractor did emergency boarding up that night, and the homeowner entered a contract with the contractor that same night that a liquidated damages clause of fifteen percent.</p>\n<p>However, the contractor, the homeowner and the homeowner&rsquo;s insurer never agreed on the proper scope of work. The contractor submitted a number of bids, including one over $90,000. The court held the circumstances surrounding the formation of the contract, namely one of the contractor&rsquo;s salesman encouraging the homeowner to sign the agreement only hours after extensive damage<br />by fire, with no definiteness as to the scope of work or price, and no contingency of acceptance of the contractor&rsquo;s proposed scope of work and price estimate, was evidence of procedural unconscienceability.</p>\n<p>The contract was open-ended and forced the homeowner to wait for months, while the contractor, the public adjuster and her insurance company haggled over the scope of work and cause. The agreement compelled the homeowner to use the contractor no<br />matter how much those estimates exceeded those of the insurer&rsquo;s adjusters. Overall, the contract was unduly harsh and unconscionable and the trial court&rsquo;s judgment was reversed.</p>\n<p>4. <em>Hilles v. Thomas</em>, (Mo.App.S.D. March 2009). Plaintiff&rsquo;s subcontractor sued defendants, homeowners, a company and a loan business, to recover money for services rendered. The subcontractor agreed to subcontract the drywall crew to a worker of the homeowners for a certain amount. The homeowners ultimately paid the worker, but the subcontractor received nothing. After this, and not receiving anything for more work performed, the subcontractor sued.</p>\n<p>The trial court entered a judgment in his favor and the court affirmed on appeal. It was clear from the trial transcript that the trial court found that the homeowners agreed to pay for all of the subcontractor&rsquo;s work, including prior work. The subcontractor&rsquo;s testimony accurately supported this conclusion. The record and reasonable inferences established one homeowner&rsquo;s ability to benefit and bind others, including his wife, regarding the subcontractor&rsquo;s services, notwithstanding the fact that the wife had not signed any of the applicable agreements at issue. The judgment was thus supported on contract grounds.<br /><em><br />Please Note: This report was complied from information set forth in various legal publications. This report is not intended to provide, and must not be relied upon for, legal advice. Actual resolution of legal issues depends on many factors. All readers of this report should consult with legal counsel before taking any action on matters<br />set forth in this report.</em></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"10\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1534,554,4,2,1241793584,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:36 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:48:\"Ameren Awards Environmental Operations Contract \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:47:\"ameren_awards_environmental_operations_contract\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:47:\"Ameren Awards Environmental Operations Contract\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:120:\"Ameren Corporation has selected Environmental Operations, Inc., of St. Louis for a multi-year master services agreement.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"Ameren, Environmental Operations\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:685:\"<p>Ameren Corporation has selected <a href=\\\"http://www.environmentalops.com\\\">Environmental Operations, Inc.,</a> of St. Louis for a multi-year master services agreement to provide environmental consulting and remediation work in Illinois and Missouri. <br /><br />The first projects to be undertaken by Environmental Operations under the new agreement will be former manufactured gas plants in Mattoon, Champaign and Granite City.<br /><br />Environmental Operations is the St. Louis region&rsquo;s largest environmental firm.&nbsp; The company identifies and resolves environmental issues with integrated environmental expertise, Brownfield incentives and risk assumption tools.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1535,554,4,2,1241793625,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"554\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:36 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"Ameren Awards Environmental Operations Contract\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:47:\"ameren_awards_environmental_operations_contract\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:47:\"Ameren Awards Environmental Operations Contract\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:120:\"Ameren Corporation has selected Environmental Operations, Inc., of St. Louis for a multi-year master services agreement.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"Ameren, Environmental Operations\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:685:\"<p>Ameren Corporation has selected <a href=\\\"http://www.environmentalops.com\\\">Environmental Operations, Inc.,</a> of St. Louis for a multi-year master services agreement to provide environmental consulting and remediation work in Illinois and Missouri. <br /><br />The first projects to be undertaken by Environmental Operations under the new agreement will be former manufactured gas plants in Mattoon, Champaign and Granite City.<br /><br />Environmental Operations is the St. Louis region&rsquo;s largest environmental firm.&nbsp; The company identifies and resolves environmental issues with integrated environmental expertise, Brownfield incentives and risk assumption tools.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1536,555,4,2,1241793892,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:42 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"7\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:45:\"David Banford Joins Guarantee Electrical Co. \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:43:\"david_banford_joins_guarantee_electrical_co\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:44:\"David Banford Joins Guarantee Electrical Co.\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:49:\"David Banford has joined Guarantee Electrical Co.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:18:\"Guarantee, Banford\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:309:\"<p>David Banford has joined Guarantee Electrical Co. as director-industrial.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Banford is a 25-year veteran in the industrial contracting industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Most recently, he served as team leader on the Holcim Cement Plant in Ste. Genevieve, MO, the largest kiln cement plant in the world.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"7\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1537,556,4,2,1241794707,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:07 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:45:\"Construction Confidence Low, New Survey Shows\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:44:\"construction_confidence_low_new_survey_shows\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:45:\"Construction Confidence Low, New Survey Shows\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\"McGraw-Hill\\\'s first quarterly construction confidence index shows industry confidence at 25 on a scale of 100.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:23:\"survey, ENR, confidence\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2175:\"<p>&nbsp;<a href=\\\"http://enr.construction.com/Default.asp\\\">Engineering News-Record</a> (ENR) and <a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534789x-2579478\\\">McGraw-Hill Construction</a><a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534789x-2579478\\\"> Research&nbsp; Analytics</a> have introduced a new quarterly <a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534788x-3097040\\\">Construction Confidence Index</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; to measure industry sentiment about the construction market, including market sectors, expectations and trends. The Construction Confidence Index is 25 on a scale of 100, where a value of 100 indicates all respondents report &ldquo;improving&rdquo; activity and a value of 50 means all respondents report &ldquo;stable&rdquo; activity. Results from the inaugural survey are included in this week&rsquo;s issue of ENR, &ldquo;Survey: Firms Don&rsquo;t See Quick Recovery.\\\"</p>\n<p>When assessing the construction market, 86% of survey responders, including general contractors, subcontractors and designers, see it currently declining, and most believe the market turnaround is at least 12 to 18 months away. Employment figures are also grim: 62.3% of firms reported they have laid off people in the past six months, with one in 10 saying that over 20% of all staff had been cut; 35% expect further cutbacks. Not surprisingly, the stimulus bill elicited more positive responses, with 61% agreeing that the bill will have a positive impact on the industry.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;By surveying leaders at the top companies in the industry, we are able to get a better pulse on market conditions,&rdquo; said Janice L. Tuchman, editor-in-chief of Engineering News-Record. &ldquo;Their opinions and viewpoints are strong indicators for where the market stands and where it is headed. ENR&rsquo;s Construction Confidence Index is certain to serve as a powerful industry assessment tool, especially in the challenging times that lie ahead.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />The next quarterly survey will be available in July 2009 and will feature industry indicators and timely topics such as the stimulus bill.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1538,557,4,2,1241794780,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 04:07 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:45:\"Construction Confidence Low, New Survey Shows\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:44:\"construction_confidence_low_new_survey_shows\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:45:\"Construction Confidence Low, New Survey Shows\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:111:\"McGraw-Hill\\\'s first quarterly construction confidence index shows industry confidence at 25 on a scale of 100.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:23:\"survey, ENR, confidence\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2175:\"<p>&nbsp;<a href=\\\"http://enr.construction.com/Default.asp\\\">Engineering News-Record</a> (ENR) and <a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534789x-2579478\\\">McGraw-Hill Construction</a><a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534789x-2579478\\\"> Research&nbsp; Analytics</a> have introduced a new quarterly <a href=\\\"http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?517212x3534788x-3097040\\\">Construction Confidence Index</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; to measure industry sentiment about the construction market, including market sectors, expectations and trends. The Construction Confidence Index is 25 on a scale of 100, where a value of 100 indicates all respondents report &ldquo;improving&rdquo; activity and a value of 50 means all respondents report &ldquo;stable&rdquo; activity. Results from the inaugural survey are included in this week&rsquo;s issue of ENR, &ldquo;Survey: Firms Don&rsquo;t See Quick Recovery.\\\"</p>\n<p>When assessing the construction market, 86% of survey responders, including general contractors, subcontractors and designers, see it currently declining, and most believe the market turnaround is at least 12 to 18 months away. Employment figures are also grim: 62.3% of firms reported they have laid off people in the past six months, with one in 10 saying that over 20% of all staff had been cut; 35% expect further cutbacks. Not surprisingly, the stimulus bill elicited more positive responses, with 61% agreeing that the bill will have a positive impact on the industry.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;By surveying leaders at the top companies in the industry, we are able to get a better pulse on market conditions,&rdquo; said Janice L. Tuchman, editor-in-chief of Engineering News-Record. &ldquo;Their opinions and viewpoints are strong indicators for where the market stands and where it is headed. ENR&rsquo;s Construction Confidence Index is certain to serve as a powerful industry assessment tool, especially in the challenging times that lie ahead.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />The next quarterly survey will be available in July 2009 and will feature industry indicators and timely topics such as the stimulus bill.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1539,552,4,2,1241795620,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"552\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 03:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:25:\"foster_hires_joseph_sneed\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:74:\"J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:13:\"Foster, Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:349:\"<p><br />J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president.</p>\n<p>Sneed has over 23 years of construction experience and is a LEED Accredited Professional.</p>\n<p><img height=\\\"299\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Joe Sneed_DSC0509.jpg\\\" width=\\\"200\\\" />He most recently was the director of pre-construction at Kozeny Wagner, Inc.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1540,552,4,2,1241795751,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"552\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 03:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:25:\"foster_hires_joseph_sneed\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:74:\"J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:13:\"Foster, Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:351:\"<p><br />J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president.</p>\n<p><img height=\\\"187\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Joe Sneed_DSC0509_1.jpg\\\" width=\\\"125\\\" />Sneed has over 23 years of construction experience and is a LEED Accredited Professional.</p>\n<p>He most recently was the director of pre-construction at Kozeny Wagner, Inc.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1541,552,4,2,1241795813,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"552\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-08 03:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"54\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:25:\"foster_hires_joseph_sneed\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:25:\"Foster Hires Joseph Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:74:\"J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:13:\"Foster, Sneed\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:395:\"<p><br />J.E. Foster Building Company is has hired Joseph Sneed as vice president.</p>\n<p>Sneed has over 23 years of construction experience and is a LEED Accredited Professional.</p>\n<p>He most recently was the director of pre-construction at Kozeny Wagner, Inc.<img class=\\\"table-left\\\" height=\\\"187\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Joe Sneed_DSC0509_1.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"125\\\" /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"54\";}'),(1542,558,4,2,1242396794,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 04:07 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:52:\"Freeburg, IL  Updates Wastewater Infrastructure Plan\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:50:\"freeburg_il_updates_wastewater_infrastructure_plan\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:52:\"Freeburg, IL  Updates Wastewater Infrastructure Plan\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:141:\"Recently completed wastewater facilities planning will aid in providing for existing needs and future growth for the Village of Freeburg, IL.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:51:\"Freeburg, Horner & Shifrin, Rhutasel and Associates\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1248:\"<p>Recently completed wastewater facilities planning provided by the team of Rhutasel and Associates, Inc., and Horner &amp; Shifrin, Inc., will aid in providing for existing needs and future growth for the Village of Freeburg, IL&rsquo;s, wastewater collection and treatment systems. The Freeburg Facilities Planning Area (FPA) encompasses an area of about 14,000 acres around Freeburg.&nbsp; The plan provides recommendations for both new and renovated wastewater collection and treatment facilities for a 20-year planning period.<br /><br />Freeburg officials recognized the need to plan for growth as a result of improvements made to Highway 13/15 into the Village and other enhancements.&nbsp; The improvements will provide the financial resources and wastewater infrastructure necessary for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Village&rsquo;s wastewater treatment system needs to be upgraded to support proposed residential and commercial developments. According to Horner &amp; Shifrin Project Manager John Lauth, &ldquo;By proactively initiating the facility plan program, the Rhutasel/Horner &amp; Shifrin team was able to make recommendations that will help the Village make the improvements needed in a phased time frame.&rdquo;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1546,560,2,2,1242398722,'a:29:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 04:42 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"Giacin Touts Aggressiveness at Kaiser Electric \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"giacin_touts_aggressiveness_at_kaiser_electric\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:46:\"Giacin Touts Aggressiveness at Kaiser Electric\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:115:\"Kaiser Electric’s Steve Giacin, said potential customers are going to start seeing a new side of Kaiser Electric.\";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:14:\"Kaiser, Giacin\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4113:\"<p>Kaiser Electric&rsquo;s new president and largest stockholder, Steve Giacin, said the building operations and construction industries are going to start seeing a new side of Kaiser Electric. &ldquo;We never had a marketing strategy before,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m implementing a strategy. We&rsquo;re going to be more aggressive about building new relationships,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Giacin became president at Kaiser Electric on January 1, 2009, although he said he really took over running the company a year earlier as the executive vice president of operations. January 1, 2008 was when the Kaiser brothers &ndash; Robert, James, and John &ndash; sold 70 percent of their stock in the company to Giacin and four other employees. Giacin bought 30 percent of the stock and Michael Lundry, Michael Murphy, Ken Naumann, and Jerry Dorhauer each bought 10 percent. Robert B. Kaiser founded Kaiser Electric in 1952 and passed ownership of the company to his sons when he retired in 1988. Approaching retirement age themselves in 2007, and with no third generation to take over the company, they decided to sell the company to employees.<br /><br />An early sign of Kaiser&rsquo;s new aggressiveness was the decision to open an office in Granite City, IL in November 2008. &ldquo;Established customers have asked us to cross the river with them,&rdquo; Giacin said. In late 2008, Kaiser had the opportunity to hire three experienced project managers in that market and took it, he said. Naumann then became the vice president of operations of the new Illinois division of the company and Murphy became the vice president of operations of the St. Louis division.<br /><br />While the marketing of the company is changing, the company&rsquo;s service will continue to be first rate, Giacin said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re known for our professionalism and our value-added services, and those will continue to be top-notch,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our field people are second to none,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Under former president George Azzanni, Kaiser consistently ranked as one of the top six or seven electrical contractors in the metro area, and generated sales of $30-$35 million a year Giacin said. For the past five years, the company has employed an average of 150 field electricians and 34 staff people, and maintained a fleet of 60 vehicles. Kaiser performs a lot of design/build work, Giacin said, and works mainly in the health care, industrial, and commercial markets. <br /><br />Giacin said Kaiser has positioned itself to be &ldquo;on the leading edge&rdquo; of green building services and energy efficiency, and also expects to see more opportunities for water and wastewater work. &ldquo;Our office and field staff have expertise in water and waste water projects. It is definitely a specialty, you can&rsquo;t use a typical electrician on it,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Giacin&rsquo;s attitudes towards marketing reflect his roots in contracting&hellip;and hockey. Giacin grew up in a contractor&rsquo;s household &ndash; his father was a masonry contractor. Giacin began an apprenticeship in the electrical trades in 1985 and worked his way up through foreman, project manager, service manager, manpower coordinator, and executive vice president to president. He has been with Kaiser for 11 years. Giacin also grew up playing hockey. He played hockey at the Affton ice rink when it opened in 1971 when he was nine years old. His brother Jim played hockey for Culver Academy in Culver, IN in his high years, and was drafted in the ninth round by the Los Angeles Kings upon his graduation in 1989. In college, he played hockey for St. Lawrence University. As an adult, Giacin coached his son Tony and daughter Taylor in hockey. Now 18 and 16, respectively, they both play hockey at Culver Academy.<br /><br />Whether in hockey or contracting, it is the team that is important, said Giacin. &ldquo;It is easy to sell, but it is the field staff that delivers the job,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have a special group of people here and they are what gives me credibility,&rdquo; he said.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1547,561,4,2,1242399026,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 04:47 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:35:\"Kwame Manages Runway Reconstruction\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"kwame_manages_runway_reconstruction\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:35:\"Kwame Manages Runway Reconstruction\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:218:\"The City of St. Louis has awarded Kwame Building Group (KWAME) a contract to provide construction management on a runway and taxiway rehabilitation and reconstruction project at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:14:\"Kwame, Lambert\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1927:\"<p>The City of St. Louis has awarded Kwame Building Group (KWAME) a contract to provide construction management on a runway and taxiway rehabilitation and reconstruction project at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. <br />&nbsp;<br />KWAME, a St. Louis based construction management firm, will provide construction management and quality assurance material testing on a runway and three taxiways. The project will begin May 1, 2009, and is expected to be completed November 30, 2010.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;The construction is part of the Airport&rsquo;s overall pavement management plan to improve and maintain runways and taxiways to meet FAA standards at Lambert,&rdquo; said Mike Minges, KWAME program manager.&nbsp; &ldquo;The project will require major coordination with the Airport and the Air Traffic Control Tower to minimize the impact of shutdowns required for the reconstruction of the taxiways and runway.&rdquo;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;The project includes construction management and quality assurance material testing for rehabilitation of Runway 12L-30R Keel Section from Taxiway J to E; reconstruction of Taxiway V from Taxiway F to Runway 24 - Phase I; reconstruction of Taxiway F from Taxiway V to Runway 24; and reconstruction of Taxiway S from Runway 6 to Taxiway D.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;KWAME currently is the program management consultant on the &ldquo;Airport Experience Program,&rdquo; the extensive renovation campaign at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport that will redefine, renovate and enhance the terminal, concourse and passenger support facilities at Lambert&rdquo;.<br /><a href=\\\"http://www.kwamebuildinggroup.com\\\"><br />&nbsp;Kwame Building Group</a> 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.&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1548,562,4,2,1242400089,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:03 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:41:\"Sheet Metal Workers Help St. Vincent Home\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"sheet_metal_workers_help_st_vincent_home\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:41:\"Sheet Metal Workers Help St. Vincent Home\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:98:\"Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 has donated $20,000 to St. Louis-based St. Vincent Home for Children.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:32:\"Sheet Metal Workers, St. Vincent\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1730:\"<p><a href=\\\"http://www.sheetmetal36.org\\\">Sheet Metal Workers Local 36</a> has donated $20,000 to St. Louis-based St. Vincent Home for Children.<br /><br />The donated funds were raised by Local 36 at its annual Golf for Children golf tournament that took place on Monday, May 11 at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Local 36 is proud to assist St. Vincent Home in whatever ways we can,&rdquo; said David C. Zimmermann, president-business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.&nbsp; &ldquo;The work that the Home does to improve the lives of children in the area is truly amazing and extremely important to our community.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>As a residential treatment center founded in 1850, St. Vincent Home provides care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for abused and neglected children with moderate to severe emotional problems, behavior disorders, and/or learning disabilities. The home serves children ages 6-18 and provides loving care, housing, nutritious meals, clothing and therapy (individual, group and family) and is licensed to care for up to 36 children at a time.<br /><br />&ldquo;Local 36 members are caring neighbors who go beyond the call of duty in both their professional careers and in the community,&rdquo; said Lee Ann Taylor, executive director of St. Vincent Home for Children.&nbsp; &ldquo;The long-standing generosity and support of Sheet Metal Workers&rsquo; Local 36 has been simply unbelievable!&nbsp; Despite the current economy, they have given to us from the heart matching their 2008 gift of $20,000.&nbsp; Local 36 plays a significant role in helping us continue our mission of changing the lives of abused and neglected children in our community.&rdquo;<br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1549,563,4,2,1242400445,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:09 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"7\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"Luke LaBeau Named Helmkamp Safety Director\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:42:\"luke_labeau_named_helmkamp_safety_director\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:42:\"Luke LaBeau Named Helmkamp Safety Director\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:85:\"Helmkamp Construction Company announced the hiring of Luke LaBeau as safety director.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:22:\"LaBeau, Dial, Helmkamp\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:591:\"<p>Helmkamp Construction Company announced the hiring of Luke LaBeau as safety director.&nbsp; Labeau received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Safety Management from Central Missouri State University.&nbsp; He is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Ryan Dial has moved to a position for Helmkamp as the site safety manager at the WRB Refining facility in South Roxana, IL.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Helmkamp Construction Company is a third-generation, family-owned general contractor, serving the St. Louis, Metro East and Southern Illinois Markets since 1938.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"7\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1550,564,4,2,1242400825,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:16 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:24:\"HDA Looks Past Downturn \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:23:\"hda_looks_past_downturn\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:23:\"HDA Looks Past Downturn\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:77:\"Despite the down economy, one St. Louis area design firm is figuring to grow.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:15:\"HDA, architects\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1466:\"<p>Despite the down economy, one St. Louis area design firm is figuring to grow. St. Louis-based HDA Architects moved to larger quarters in January.<br />&ldquo;Our goal was to prepare for future growth,&rdquo; said Kim Herbeck, interior designer at HDA and the person responsible for the interior design of the<br />firm&rsquo;s new office suite.<br /><br />HDA&rsquo;s new offices in Central Park Square One in Chesterfield have 7,600 square feet, or 26 percent more space than their old offices in Maryville.<br />&ldquo;We have two more private offices and room for six more work stations,&rdquo; said Patrick Holleran, director of marketing.<br /><br />&ldquo;As a bonus, we have more natural light and it is quieter and more peaceful,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Herbeck&rsquo;s design emphasizes teamwork. &ldquo;The private offices don&rsquo;t have doors and we brought them into proximity with the open office space,&rdquo; she said,<br />&ldquo;and we have lower partitions between work stations than in the old office to make teamwork easier.&rdquo; She also deepened the work stations so that people would have room to roll-out a full set of plans at their desks. Herbeck also added an extra conference room, since the conference room in the old office space was always in great demand as a space where people could work together.<br /><br />The new space also serves as a marketing tool&mdash; the artwork on the walls now depicts HDA projects.<br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1551,565,4,2,1242401088,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:22 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:34:\"Highway Commission Awards Projects\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:34:\"highway_commission_awards_projects\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:34:\"Highway Commission Awards Projects\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:114:\"The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) awarded several  St. Louis projects at its May meeting.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:21:\"MHTC. highways, award\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1826:\"<p>The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) awarded several&nbsp; St. Louis projects at its May meeting. Approximately $7.15<br />million was awarded to contractors for various roadway improvement projects.</p>\n<p>All contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder. The projects include:</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Route PP over Hoosier Creek - This project consists of bridge rehabilitation on the Route PP bridge over Hoosier Creek in Franklin County.<br />This project was awarded to HBI Construction, LLC (Villa Ridge, MO) for $235,116. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by August 2009.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interstate 70 at Earth City Expressway-This project will repair and resurface pavement on the shoulders of the Earth City Expressway ramps<br />and Interstate 70. This project was awarded to Pace Construction Company LLC (St. Louis, MO) for $390,475. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be completed by August 2009.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Route 47 at Country Club Lane - This project will improve safety and capacity of Route 47 at Country Club Lane in Franklin County. This<br />project was awarded to N.B. West Contracting (St. Louis, MO) for $446,145.85. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by September 2009.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interstate 70 and Interstate 170 interchange- This project consists of installation of mast lighting at the I-70 and I-170 interchange.<br />This project was awarded to Gerstner Electric Inc. (Fenton, MO) for $905,861.42.&nbsp; This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by February 2010.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1552,566,4,2,1242401422,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:22 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:34:\"Highway Commission Awards Projects\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:34:\"highway_commission_awards_projects\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:34:\"Highway Commission Awards Projects\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:114:\"The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) awarded several  St. Louis projects at its May meeting.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:21:\"MHTC. highways, award\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1826:\"<p>The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) awarded several&nbsp; St. Louis projects at its May meeting. Approximately $7.15<br />million was awarded to contractors for various roadway improvement projects.</p>\n<p>All contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder. The projects include:</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Route PP over Hoosier Creek - This project consists of bridge rehabilitation on the Route PP bridge over Hoosier Creek in Franklin County.<br />This project was awarded to HBI Construction, LLC (Villa Ridge, MO) for $235,116. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by August 2009.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interstate 70 at Earth City Expressway-This project will repair and resurface pavement on the shoulders of the Earth City Expressway ramps<br />and Interstate 70. This project was awarded to Pace Construction Company LLC (St. Louis, MO) for $390,475. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be completed by August 2009.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Route 47 at Country Club Lane - This project will improve safety and capacity of Route 47 at Country Club Lane in Franklin County. This<br />project was awarded to N.B. West Contracting (St. Louis, MO) for $446,145.85. This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by September 2009.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interstate 70 and Interstate 170 interchange- This project consists of installation of mast lighting at the I-70 and I-170 interchange.<br />This project was awarded to Gerstner Electric Inc. (Fenton, MO) for $905,861.42.&nbsp; This project is expected to begin in June 2009 and should be<br />completed by February 2010.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1553,567,10,2,1242402038,'a:32:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:2:\"10\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:30 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:20:\"ASA Features Top GCs\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:20:\"asa_features_top_gcs\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_58\";s:20:\"ASA Features Top GCs\";s:11:\"field_ft_58\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_62\";s:89:\"The May meeting of the Midwest Council ASA will feature winners of ASA\\\'s  top GC awards.\";s:11:\"field_ft_62\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_59\";s:16:\"ASA, GC, meeting\";s:11:\"field_ft_59\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_63\";s:101:\"The Viking Conference Center at the Holiday Inn Southwest 10709 Watson Road, Sunset Hills, MO 63127. \";s:11:\"field_ft_63\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_57\";s:19:\"2009-05-20  4:30 AM\";s:15:\"field_offset_57\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_56\";s:0:\"\";s:15:\"field_offset_56\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_55\";s:30:\"5:30 p.m. registration, social\";s:11:\"field_ft_55\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_60\";s:1023:\"<p>The May meeting of the Midwest Council ASA will feature winners of ASA\\\'s&nbsp; top GC awards.</p>\n<p><strong>SPEAKERS</strong>: Ron Wiese, Alberici Constructors, Inc.<br />Diane York and Matt Breeze, Kadean Construction Company<br />Randy McLaren, Landco Construction</p>\n<p><strong>WHEN</strong>: Wednesday, May 20, 2009<br />5:30 p.m. Meeting Registration and Social Time<br />5:45 p.m. BPI (Cissell Mueller, BBI Construction, Lawrence Group, Saline<br />Construction, McGrath &amp; Associates)<br />6:30 p.m. Dinner<br />7:15 p.m. Program and Announcement</p>\n<p><strong>COST</strong>: $40 per person for Members; First-Time Guests are Free of Charge<br />MENU: Southern Fried Chicken, Lasagna, House Salad, Pasta Salad, Seasonal<br />Vegetables, Baby New Red Potatoes, Rolls &amp; Butter, Assorted Desserts,<br />Coffee, and Tea.</p>\n<p><strong>RSVP:</strong> Reba Gillick, executive director<br />reba@asamidwest.com<br />Phone:314.214.1664<br />Fax: 314.214.1665<br /> <strong>NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED</strong></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1554,568,5,2,1242402557,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Look Inside Others\\\' \\\"Boxes\\\"\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:24:\"look_inside_others_boxes\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:26:\"Look Inside Others\\\' Boxes\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:138:\"Too often each of us in our own way, while working within our own business in our own trades, sometimes tend to get a little pigeonholed. \";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:31:\"ideas, thinking,learning, Bazan\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:1904:\"<p><strong>by Walter Bazan, Bazan Painting</strong></p>\n<p>We all know the value of education. Too often each of us in our own way, while working within our own business in our own trades, sometimes<br />tend to get a little pigeonholed. We tend to do things the same way, the way we&rsquo;ve always done it. Only branching out when a new product or equipment is introduced within our trade. And sometimes then we go kicking and screaming.</p>\n<p>Each month there are at least 10-12 different trade journals that cross my desk or now even come to me via email. All of these have great articles with information that is both educational and worthwhile and even sometimes entertaining. Reading these materials is not a bad thing; in fact it is a good thing.</p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s good for your business and it&rsquo;s good for you. But I wonder how many people read trade journals, newsletters or other resource material from places and people outside our own trade specific organizations. I recently picked up a <em>Hispanic Business Journal</em> and found it very interesting to read things from a different perspective.</p>\n<p>My wife, who is a tennis coach, gets tennis and coaching newsletters. I regularly read through those finding interesting information about coaching and while we are all in business, we certainly are all coaches for our employees and our business associates. Or at the very<br />least, we are players in the same game.</p>\n<p>I suggest that at least one-quarter of your reading material needs to come from outside our<br />&ldquo;comfort zone.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>We&rsquo;ve all heard the expression &ldquo;think outside the box.&rdquo; My challenge for every one of us is to certainly think outside of your own box, but to also<br />take a peak inside other people&rsquo;s box. I am sure you will gain new ideas and new perspectives that in the long run will be profitable for you.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1555,559,4,2,1242403474,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"559\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 04:24 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:45:\"Gray Completes Impact Strategies Headquarters\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:45:\"gray_completes_impact_strategies_headquarters\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Gray Completes Impact Strategies Headquarters \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:149:\"Gray Design Group recently completed the interior of a building in Fairview Heights, which includes the headquarters of contractor Impact Strategies.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:12:\"Impact, Gray\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2413:\"<p>Gray Design Group completed architectural and interior design services for the new 20,000-square-foot, multi-tenant Fountains Court Building in Fairview Heights, Ill., which houses the 5,000-square-foot headquarters of commercial builder, Impact Strategies. Gray&rsquo;s design team created a brand identity consistent with Impact&rsquo;s corporate image, using multi-textural interior and exterior materials and exposed structure as prominent design features.</p>\n<p>&ldquo;We worked with Impact on creating a facility that highlights its excellent craftsmanship skills,&rdquo; said Wendy Gray, principal, Gray Design Group. &ldquo;The usage of exterior materials allowed us to maximize the design budget while creating a very unique atmosphere that evokes a strong architectural presence and quality.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Impact&rsquo;s clients are greeted with a gridded glass wall of varied glass types and colors that acts as a shared backdrop central to both reception and the client collaboration center. A large, centrally located kitchen/lounge doubles as additional meeting space. <br />&nbsp;<br />Gray&rsquo;s design team included Gray and Principal Toby Heddinghaus, along with project manager Ashley Smith.<br />&nbsp;<br />Gray is a leader in creating spaces that are true reflections of companies&rsquo; brand identities. The firm recently won the Award of Merit in Midwest Construction&rsquo;s Best of 2008 competition for its interior design work on KPFF Consulting Engineers&rsquo; office in Des Peres, Mo. <br />&nbsp;<br />Impact Strategies is a full-service commercial builder primarily serving the 16-county St. Louis metropolitan region, specializing in retail, commercial, health care, senior housing and warehousing. Visit Impact on the Web at www.buildwithimpact.com/ &lt;http://www.buildwithimpact.com/&gt; .&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />Founded in 1982, Gray Design Group provides full-service architectural and interior design, locally and nationwide, through its St. Louis design studio. Recent interiors projects include Parkside Financial Bank and the interior design of the new 230,000-square-foot Brady Commons Student Union at University of Missouri-Columbia. Gray currently is providing architectural and interior design services for Elsevier and Schattdecor. For more information, visit www.graydesigngroup.com &lt;http://www.graydesigngroup.com&gt; . <br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1556,568,5,2,1242403856,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"568\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-15 05:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"55\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Look Inside Others\\\' \\\"Boxes\\\"\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:24:\"look_inside_others_boxes\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:26:\"Look Inside Others\\\' Boxes\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:138:\"Too often each of us in our own way, while working within our own business in our own trades, sometimes tend to get a little pigeonholed. \";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:31:\"ideas, thinking,learning, Bazan\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:1894:\"<p><strong>by Walter Bazan, Bazan Painting</strong></p>\n<p>We all know the value of education. Too often each of us in our own way, while working within our own business in our own trades, sometimes tend to get a little pigeonholed. We tend to do things the same way, the way we&rsquo;ve always done it. Only branching out when a new product or equipment is introduced within our trade. And sometimes then we go kicking and screaming.</p>\n<p>Each month there are at least 10-12 different trade journals that cross my desk or now even come to me via email. All of these have great articles with information that is both educational and worthwhile and even sometimes entertaining. Reading these materials is not a bad thing; in fact it is a good thing.</p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s good for your business and it&rsquo;s good for you. But I wonder how many people read trade journals, newsletters or other resource material from places and people outside our own trade specific organizations. I recently picked up a <em>Hispanic Business Journal</em> and found it very interesting to read things from a different perspective.</p>\n<p>My wife, who is a tennis coach, gets tennis and coaching newsletters. I regularly read through those finding interesting information about coaching and while we are all in business, we certainly are all coaches for our employees and our business associates. Or at the very<br />least, we are players in the same game.</p>\n<p>I suggest that at least one-quarter of your reading material needs to come from outside our<br />&ldquo;comfort zone.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>We&rsquo;ve all heard the expression &ldquo;think outside the box.&rdquo; My challenge for every one of us is to certainly think outside of your own box, but to also take a peak inside other people&rsquo;s box. I am sure you will gain new ideas and new perspectives that in the long run will be profitable for you.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"55\";}'),(1557,569,2,2,1243012503,'a:28:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:44:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€  \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€ \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:95:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";}'),(1558,570,2,2,1243012504,'a:28:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:44:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€  \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€ \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:95:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";}'),(1559,570,2,2,1243012580,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"570\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:36:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines1\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:43:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€ \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:95:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1560,570,2,2,1243012663,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"570\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\"\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:36:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines1\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:41:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:109:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" family event. \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1561,571,4,2,1243014100,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:33 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Geotechnology, Inc. Wins Highway Project\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:38:\"geotechnology_inc_wins_highway_project\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Geotechnology, Inc. Wins Highway Project\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:107:\"Geotechnology, Inc., has been awarded a contract for work on a major highway project in southwest Missouri.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:22:\"highway, Geotechnology\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1495:\"<p>Geotechnology, Inc., a provider of consulting services in geotechnical and environmental engineering, materials testing and drilling, has been awarded a contract for work on a major highway project in southwest Missouri.&nbsp; Archer Western Contractor (of Chicago) selected Geotechnology to provide professional services for work on the U.S. 60/65 project in Greene County .</p>\n<p>The estimated $65-million project will improve traffic flow and safety at the U.S. 60/65 interchange in southeast Springfield for the next 20 years by:</p>\n<p>&bull; Building flyover ramps for the two busiest movements &ndash; northbound U.S. 65-to-westbound U.S. 60 and eastbound U.S. 60-to-northbound U.S. 65. This will eliminate the short weaving area on the northbound U.S. 65 bridge over U.S. 60<br />&bull; Building bridges for U.S. 60 and adjacent ramps over the BNSF railroad track serving the Springfield City Utilities power plant. High-speed traffic will no longer have to stop for coal trains at the crossing west of U.S. 65<br />&bull; Building new northbound and southbound U.S. 65 bridges<br />&bull; Widening and re-decking the eastbound and westbound U.S. 60 bridges over Lake Springfield, and extending the ramp lanes onto the bridges.<br /><br />Geotechnology&rsquo;s scope of services will include drilling, settlement gauges, Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) and Pile Dynamic Analysis (PDA). The project will be managed by the team in the firm&rsquo;s Overland Park, Kansas office.&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1562,572,4,2,1243015668,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:57 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Women in Trades Win Seed Grant\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:30:\"women_in_trades_win_seed_grant\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:30:\"Women in Trades Win Seed Grant\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:129:\"Missouri Women In Trades (MOWIT) were awarded $25,000 in social investment seed capital from the Daughters of Charity Foundation \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:29:\"MOWIT, women in trades, grant\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1802:\"<p>Missouri Women In Trades (MOWIT) were awarded $25,000 in social investment seed capital from the Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis.<br /><br />Missouri Women In Trades was one of five finalists in the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (SEIC) at Washington University.&nbsp; The announcement of the awards was made at the annual SEIC&nbsp; Awards Ceremony at Washington University, on April 23, 2009.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Missouri Women In Trades is a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting the professional and personal empowerment of women through careers in the construction trades.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis, established in 1995, supports programs that impact persons who are poor and vulnerable in order to improve behaviors, enhance healthy lifestyles and enable individuals and communities to help themselves.</p>\n<p>The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (SEIC) is the first of its kind in the region. Competitors begin by entering their idea on www.ideabounce.com, and over the course of the competition, they participate in an elevator pitch competition, write a sustainability plan for their social venture, and make a final oral presentation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Throughout the competition the participants receive feedback from an expert panel of judges representing area universities, nonprofits, investors, and service providers.&nbsp; Founding partners of the SEIC are the YouthBridge Community Foundation and the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University.&nbsp; The Skandalaris Center works across campus and the community stimulating collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurial creativity to build an innovation environment where ideas, people, and actions change lives.&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1563,569,2,2,1243023678,'a:29:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"569\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"16\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"8,000 Attend Fifth “Meet the Machinesâ€\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:41:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:95:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"16\";}'),(1564,573,10,2,1243024639,'a:32:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:2:\"10\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 10:25 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"Two Generations Working Together: Managing Succession\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:52:\"two_generations_working_together_managing_succession\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_58\";s:53:\"Two Generations Working Together: Managing Succession\";s:11:\"field_ft_58\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_62\";s:97:\"Steve L. McClure, PhD will be the featured speaker at a conference on family business succession.\";s:11:\"field_ft_62\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_59\";s:27:\"family, succession, McClure\";s:11:\"field_ft_59\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_63\";s:55:\"Ritz Carlton, 100 Carondolet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105\";s:11:\"field_ft_63\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_57\";s:19:\"2009-06-11  9:25 AM\";s:15:\"field_offset_57\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_56\";s:0:\"\";s:15:\"field_offset_56\";s:1:\"y\";s:11:\"field_id_55\";s:6:\"7 a.m.\";s:11:\"field_ft_55\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_60\";s:2167:\"<p>Steve L. McClure, PhD, principal, The Family Business Consulting Group, will be the featured speaker at a seminar on transition in family-owned businessses. His McClure&nbsp; His presentation will focus on addressing generational differences in areas such as:</p>\n<p><br />&bull; Strategic Direction<br />&bull; Leadership/Management Style<br />&bull; Family Relationships and Credibility<br />&bull; Working with Family and Non-family Employees<br />&bull; Lifestyle and Resources Required<br />&bull; Distribution of Stock<br />&bull; Tax Risk and Debt Tolerance<br />&bull; What to do During Tough Economic Times<br />Following the presentation, there will be time for questions and answers,<br />and time to meet with experts.</p>\n<p><br /><strong>NO CHARGE TO ATTEND | RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED</strong></p>\n<p>Please RSVP to kmattison@mppw.com by June 4, 2009<br />For questions, please call Kristi Mattison at (314) 480-1280</p>\n<p><br /><strong>Agenda</strong><br />7:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast<br />7:30 Welcome and Introductions<br />7:40 Steve L. McClure, Ph.D., featured speaker<br />8:30 General Q &amp; A<br />9:00 Facilitated breakout sessions with family business advisors<br />9:30 Adjourn<br />You are invited to attend a complimentary seminar<br />for Family Owned Businesses<br /><strong><br />Steve L. McClure, Ph.D.</strong><br />&bull; Principal, The Family<br />Business Consulting Group<br />&bull; Renowned speaker, author,<br />consultant<br />&bull; Co-author of Family Business<br />Succession: The Final Test of<br />Greatness (Family Business<br />Leadership Series)<br />&bull; Recipient of Family Firm<br />Institute&rsquo;s Prestigious<br />Beckhard Award<br />&bull; Published in Family<br />Business, Private Wealth<br />Management, The Family<br />Business Client, and<br />Organizational<br />Development Annual<br />&bull; Member &ndash; Editorial Board of<br />the International Journal,<br />The Family Business Client</p>\n<p><strong>Presented by:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clayton Capital Partners </li>\n<li>CMA, Enterprise Bank &amp; Trust</li>\n<li>MPP&amp;W</li>\n<li>Posinelli Shugart</li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1567,575,4,2,1243027691,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 11:25 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"20\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:64:\"Colliers Turley Martin Tucker Closes $20 Million Essence Lease  \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:61:\"colliers_turley_martin_tucker_closes_20_million_essence_lease\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:63:\"Colliers Turley Martin Tucker Closes $20 Million Essence Lease \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:104:\"Colliers Turley Martin Tucker (CTMT) announced completion of a lease transaction valued at $20 million. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:38:\"Colliers Turley Martin, Essence, lease\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2021:\"<p>Colliers Turley Martin Tucker (CTMT) announced completion of one of the area&rsquo;s largest commercial leases to-date in 2009. David Kelpe, CCIM, SIOR and Art Kerckhoff, CCIM of CTMT, represented Essence Healthcare in the lease of 104,740 square feet of office space, located at 13900 Riverport Drive in Maryland Heights, valued at $20 million from Duke Realty Corporation.<br /><br />Privately held Essence Healthcare was represented by Kelpe and Kerckhoff of CTMT in the 10-year lease which commenced May 1, 2009. The property in Maryland Heights, Missouri is the former home of Express Scripts who recently completed its move to the University Missouri St. Louis campus. With over 104,000 square feet in three stories of fully furnished office space, the building offers ample room for this fast growing company to expand. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;A transaction of this magnitude is a win-win for everyone and retaining headquarters in St. Louis only strengthens the region&rsquo;s vitality,&rdquo; says David Kelpe, CTMT representative. &ldquo;In addition, the space is centrally located, and its &lsquo;open office&rsquo; structure offers an abundance of natural light.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Essence Healthcare, a health maintenance organization (HMO), is consolidating two offices in Creve Coeur and will relocate company headquarters to the Riverport Business Park. The company manages health service plans for Medicare patients and was formed in 2004 as an offshoot of Esse Health, a local physician group practice. Essence Healthcare employs over 200 people locally, serves five states with over 25,000 beneficiaries and continues to grow at a healthy pace. <br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"20\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1568,576,5,2,1243027813,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 11:29 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:6:\"fsdfdf\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:6:\"fsdfdf\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"sffsfsf\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:6:\"sfsffs\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:7:\"sfsffsf\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:17:\"<p>sfsfsfsdfs</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1569,576,5,1,1243040625,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"576\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 11:29 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"53\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:6:\"fsdfdf\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:6:\"fsdfdf\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"sffsfsf\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:6:\"sfsffs\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:7:\"sfsffsf\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:17:\"<p>sfsfsfsdfs</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"53\";}'),(1570,577,5,1,1243040667,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 03:04 PM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"49\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"1\";s:6:\"status\";s:6:\"closed\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"testing\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"testing\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:4:\"test\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:1:\"7\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:4:\"test\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:4:\"test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:11:\"<p>test</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"49\";}'),(1571,570,2,2,1243085622,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"570\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\"\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:36:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines1\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:41:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:109:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" family event. \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4456:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:40:\"/images/uploads/meet-the-machines-09.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1572,570,2,2,1243085774,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"570\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-22 07:00 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\"\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:36:\"8000_attend_fifth_meet_the_machines1\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:41:\"8,000 Attend Fifth \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:109:\"Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand April 25th at the fifth annual \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" family event. \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:4616:\"<p>Nearly 8,000 adults and kids were on hand to \\\"Meet the Machines\\\" at Budrovich Excavating &amp; Contracting Headquarters on April 25, 2009.&nbsp; The event was the 5th annual for the St. Louis construction community.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s event saw many local partners add to the excitement of the event.&nbsp; McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, and Guarantee Electrical all joined the event as primary partners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The event was held at Budrovich&rsquo;s headquarters, which is in an old quarry in south St. Louis County.&nbsp; The day began at 10am and 1500 hard hats were distributed by 12:00pm.&nbsp; Each child also received an event site map, developed by Bax Engineering, as well as a goodie bag upon entry to the event.&nbsp; At the entrance the kids were treated to a five-foot-tall dancing bass fish dangling from a 90 ton crane over a lake.<br /><br /><img alt=\\\"Meet the Machines 2009\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/meet-the-machines-09.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />Attendees also experienced many different themed stations involving some aspect of construction or just all around fun.&nbsp; Stations included, &ldquo;Rock City&rdquo; where the young constructors were able to play Guitar Hero and Wii games.&nbsp; Additionally they could decorate their hard hats at Sticker City hosted by the Magic House.&nbsp; There were multitudes of equipment in &ldquo;The Boneyard&rdquo; for the young constructors to climb into the seat and imagine themselves working on a construction site.&nbsp; The equipment was provided by Luby Equipment Co..&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Children 3-5 years old had a chance to &ldquo;dig for gold&rdquo; in a giant sandbox while sitting on &ldquo;CAT kids&rdquo; diggers.&nbsp; At the &ldquo;Picture This!&rdquo; station kids enjoyed an opportunity to have their photo taken in a CASE mini excavator or get their photo taken with Izzy the Grizzlie from the Gateway Grizzlies.&nbsp; The highlight for many kids on the day was the &ldquo;Basket Bullseye&rdquo; station where they had the opportunity to ride in a 125&rsquo; man-lift and win a Gift Card by dropping Nerf football into a bullseye the size of a 5 gallon bucket!&nbsp; The prize was donated through Best Buy.&nbsp; They could enter trivia contests, participate in &ldquo;Cosmic Bowling&rdquo;, view the Hansen&rsquo;s Tree Service Monster Truck and Manitowoc OCC Chopper, autograph a dozer blade painted in a &ldquo;Superheroes&rdquo; theme, climb up to see the cockpit of some of the largest mobile hydraulic cranes in Missouri, check out Budrovich&rsquo;s new Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane, go for a 60&rsquo; ride in an aerial lift provided by Midwest Aerials, and much more.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />According to A.J. Ford, vice president of marketing for Budrovich, &ldquo;After five years of hosting this event, I cannot believe the excitement and interest it generates, yearly.&nbsp; We started this event five years ago as a way to introduce young kids to the heavy side of the equipment industry mostly as a grassroots campaign with the construction industry.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\\\"This event has generated more interest and excitement than we ever would have imagined.&nbsp; We have people coming from as far away as Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Kentucky to attend the event.&nbsp; With the help of all of our event partners and volunteers, I believe we are accomplishing something unparalleled in the construction industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Alan Connor, father of two young boys said, &ldquo;This event is the rock star of kids events in St. Louis.&nbsp; My boys are asking if they can go back today!&rdquo;&nbsp; Rick Oertli with Guarantee Electrical Company added, \\\"Guarantee was delighted to be involved in this year\\\'s event.&nbsp; It was a wonderful experience for our employees and their family members who attended and/or volunteered. Meet the Machines is a great way to expose the community at large to our industry.\\\"<br /><br /><br />The Budrovich Companies specialize in large mobile hydraulic, rough terrain and crawler crane rental, site utility excavation, mass &amp; finish grading, and residential, commercial and industrial land development.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Event Partners included, McCarthy Building Companies, MC Industrial, Guarantee Electrical, Luby Equipment, Midwest Aerials, Schnucks Stores, Kirby Smith, Manitowoc Cranes, JD Kutter Insurance, Travlers, Amerisure, Bax Engineering, Pona Trucking, Henry Trucking, Bussen Quarries, Best Buy, The Magic House, Sign-A-Rama, St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:40:\"/images/uploads/meet-the-machines-09.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1573,578,4,2,1243085960,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-23 03:37 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:62:\"Historic Tax Credit Compromise: Lawmakers Find Common Ground  \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:59:\"historic_tax_credit_compromise_lawmakers_find_common_ground\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:61:\"Historic Tax Credit Compromise: Lawmakers Find Common Ground \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:129:\"In the early hours of Friday, May 15, a compromise bill was crafted  over the historic tax credit issue and economic development.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:30:\"tax credit, Missouri, historic\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:5045:\"<p>In the early hours of Friday, May 15, a compromise bill was crafted which struck middle ground between Missouri Senators who had spent months gridlocked over the historic tax credit issue and economic development. Senator Brad Lager (Maryville), who pushed for a cap and other limitations on the historic tax credit, said that the language achieves the necessary budget certainty, which he sought throughout session.<br /><br />The compromise resulted in the following:<br /><br />&bull; A per-project residential cap of $1,000,000 in qualified rehabilitation expenditures (QREs) for owner occupied single-family homes; <br />&bull; A small project exemption for projects with $1.1 million in qualified rehabilitation expenditures&nbsp; (QREs) (these do not count toward a cap);&nbsp; <br />&bull; A $140 million cap on historic tax credits (existing projects do not fall under the cap); and&nbsp; <br />&bull; An effective date of January 1, 2010.<br /><br />Senator Smith (St. Louis) said, &ldquo;We struck a compromise to protect the historic preservation program for years to come. The&nbsp; $140M cap is high enough to give lenders confidence that deals will go through. Delaying the effective date for the cap until next year will give many developers the time to line up financing and apply before caps take effect. Most importantly, the exemption I negotiated for smaller projects will ensure that rehabbers go to the front of the tax credit line and will never have to worry about a cap.&rdquo; <br /><br />The small project exemption, first proposed by Peter Noonan of Commerce Bank, will allow smaller-scale projects to continue redevelopment without worry about the cap. Based on historical data, around 75 percent of all deals will be unaffected by the cap, toward which their dollars will not count. Jacob Sanders, a Springfield, MO, CPA, said, &ldquo;the small deal exemption is key. It&rsquo;s those small developers right now that are having such a hard time. Plus, the large percentage of projects, especially outside of Saint Louis and Kansas City, will fall into that category.&rdquo; <br /><br />Missouri Preservation&rsquo;s Deb Sheals said the new provisions to restrict historic rehabilitation tax credits should have little affect on future redevelopment. &ldquo;Based upon past use, the $140 million cap, paired with the critical small project exemption, should allow the program to function close to the level it has in the past several years.&nbsp; In FY08, for example, just over $161 million were issued in historic credits, and of that, a little more than $20 million went to projects that would be covered by the small project exemption,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />Preservationist Michael Allen of Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc., expressed relief at the outcome. &ldquo;The compromise won&rsquo;t stop the wave of job creation and community development that started when the credit was created in 1998,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br /><br />&ldquo;We set up the language with the development and finance community in mind,&rdquo; Noonan said. &ldquo;We want folks to be able to confidently buy the buildings, and then work with their lenders with the surety that the credits will be there for them for the life of the rehabilitation, how ever long that may be. We also fought hard, to some heavy resistance, to allow a safety valve to ultimately get additional credits above the allocation level in the case of cost overruns or increases in project scope.&nbsp; That is key for this to work effectively.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Since its inception in 1998, Missouri&rsquo;s historic tax credit program has been recognized nationwide as the national model for its ability to generate jobs and spur housing growth across every region of the state. According to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the historic tax credit program generated nearly 5,000 jobs in fiscal year 2007. Donovan Rypkema, a leading preservation economist, said the program has produced over 40,000 jobs since its inception in 1998.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Some legislators this year sought to greatly restrict the tax credit program through the economic development bill. Opponents argued for more limitations on the amount of credits issued through the state program, which already uses tighter rules than the federal historic preservation tax credit. Advocates of the historic tax credit emphasized the economic benefit of the program.<br /><br />Working throughout session for the preservation of the credit were longtime advocates Jerry Schlichter, attorney, and Eric Friedman of Friedman Group Realtors, along with Coalition staffer Anne Suggs. Coalition representatives Peter Noonan of Commerce Bank, lobbyist Jim Farrell of Policy Solutions, and Deb Sheals of Missouri Preservation worked alongside legislators to ensure the session ended with a workable compromise. Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP provided key legal expertise to draft language capturing the details of the legislation.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1574,579,4,2,1243086724,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-23 03:35 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"Unico Donates Equipmen to Sheet Metal Local 36\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"unico_donates_equipmen_to_sheet_metal_local_36\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Unico Donates Equipmen to Sheet Metal Local 36\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:142:\" Unico Inc., manufacturer of  a small-duct, high-velocity HVAC, donated  equipment and training to the Sheet Metal Workers training program.\n \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:26:\"Unico, equipment, Local 36\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2335:\"<p>&nbsp;Unico Inc., manufacturer of&nbsp; a small-duct, high-velocity central heating and air conditioning system, has donated more than $10,000 worth of equipment to the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 36 Training Center. <br />&nbsp;<br />The donated equipment included 3.5-ton blower with an advanced control board, a 3-ton UniChiller RC, round and slotted outlets, and 2-inch supply tubing. Unico also sent two trainers &ndash; Michael Lindsay and Bill Brunsen &ndash; to present on refrigeration in general and demonstrate the equipment to the Sheet Metal Workers.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Unico Local 36 class\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"200\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Local-36.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"244\\\" /></p>\n<h4>Michael Lindsey of Unico conducts a training class for members of Sheetmetal Local 36.<br /></h4>\n<p>Lindsay, an expert on refrigeration principle, testing, fabrication, design and application, provided a two-hour overview of the general principles of refrigeration and how it pertains to airflow in an HVAC system. &ldquo;Unico is committed to supporting education and training within the HVAC industry,&rdquo; Lindsay said. &ldquo;In particular, it&rsquo;s to our benefit when installers understand how our system works.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />The Sheet Metal Training Schools operate for the education of sheet metal apprentices and the continuing education of journeymen. It is a cooperative effort between Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 and the St. Louis chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association. Through the cooperation, it established the management body called the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, which oversees the program.<br />&nbsp;<br />The Unico System is a small-duct, high-velocity central heating and air conditioning system manufactured by Unico Inc. Ideal for custom home, historic preservation and niche commercial applications, The Unico System&rsquo;s main trunk and flexible supply tubing can be installed in just one-third the space of more traditional HVAC ducting systems. Quieter and less visible than other systems, The Unico System provides superior indoor comfort that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. For more information, visit www.unicosystem.com &lt;http://www.unicosystem.co</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1575,579,4,2,1243086763,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"579\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-23 03:35 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"Unico Donates Equipmen to Sheet Metal Local 36\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:46:\"unico_donates_equipmen_to_sheet_metal_local_36\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:46:\"Unico Donates Equipmen to Sheet Metal Local 36\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:142:\" Unico Inc., manufacturer of  a small-duct, high-velocity HVAC, donated  equipment and training to the Sheet Metal Workers training program.\n \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:26:\"Unico, equipment, Local 36\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:2335:\"<p>&nbsp;Unico Inc., manufacturer of&nbsp; a small-duct, high-velocity central heating and air conditioning system, has donated more than $10,000 worth of equipment to the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 36 Training Center. <br />&nbsp;<br />The donated equipment included 3.5-ton blower with an advanced control board, a 3-ton UniChiller RC, round and slotted outlets, and 2-inch supply tubing. Unico also sent two trainers &ndash; Michael Lindsay and Bill Brunsen &ndash; to present on refrigeration in general and demonstrate the equipment to the Sheet Metal Workers.</p>\n<p><img alt=\\\"Unico Local 36 class\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"200\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/Local-36.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"244\\\" /></p>\n<h4>Michael Lindsey of Unico conducts a training class for members of Sheetmetal Local 36.<br /></h4>\n<p>Lindsay, an expert on refrigeration principle, testing, fabrication, design and application, provided a two-hour overview of the general principles of refrigeration and how it pertains to airflow in an HVAC system. &ldquo;Unico is committed to supporting education and training within the HVAC industry,&rdquo; Lindsay said. &ldquo;In particular, it&rsquo;s to our benefit when installers understand how our system works.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />The Sheet Metal Training Schools operate for the education of sheet metal apprentices and the continuing education of journeymen. It is a cooperative effort between Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 and the St. Louis chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association. Through the cooperation, it established the management body called the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, which oversees the program.<br />&nbsp;<br />The Unico System is a small-duct, high-velocity central heating and air conditioning system manufactured by Unico Inc. Ideal for custom home, historic preservation and niche commercial applications, The Unico System&rsquo;s main trunk and flexible supply tubing can be installed in just one-third the space of more traditional HVAC ducting systems. Quieter and less visible than other systems, The Unico System provides superior indoor comfort that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. For more information, visit www.unicosystem.com &lt;http://www.unicosystem.co</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1576,580,5,1,1243104740,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-23 08:51 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"1\";s:6:\"status\";s:6:\"closed\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:8:\"testtttt\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:8:\"testtttt\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:9:\"testttttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:7:\"testttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:7:\"testttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:15:\"<p>testtttt</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1577,580,5,1,1243104756,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"580\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-05-23 08:51 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"56\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"1\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:6:\"closed\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:8:\"testtttt\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:8:\"testtttt\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:9:\"testttttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:1:\"8\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:7:\"testttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:7:\"testttt\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:15:\"<p>testtttt</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"56\";}'),(1578,581,4,2,1244213358,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 04:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"First Mississippi River Bridge Contract Awarded\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:47:\"first_mississippi_river_bridge_contract_awarded\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:47:\"First Mississippi River Bridge Contract Awarded\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:127:\"The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission awarded the first construction project for the new Mississippi River Bridge.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:75:\"Mississippi River Bridge, Fred Weber, Highway and Transportation Commission\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1361:\"<p>The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission awarded the first construction project for the<a href=\\\"http://www.newriverbridge.org/\\\"> New Mississippi River Bridge </a>during their monthly meeting June 3, 2009.<br /><br /><img alt=\\\"New Mississippi River Bridge\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/st.-louis-bridge.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />The commission awarded a project to remove and replace the Madison Street and St. Louis Avenue bridges over Interstate 70 in downtown St. Louis to<br />Fred Weber, Inc., for $4.44 million. The majority of work on this project will start after I-64 reopens between Kingshighway and Interstate 170. Crews will remove the St. Louis bridge first; after work is complete the rebuild that bridge, crews will remove and replace the Madison Street Bridge. During<br />work to remove the Madison Street Bridge, crews will also remove the Cass Avenue Bridge in preparation for replacing that bridge later in 2010.<br /><br />This work is part of preliminary work on the $640 million Mississippi River Bridge. The new bridge is expected to reduce severe traffic congestion and<br />vehicle crashes on the Poplar Street Bridge (PSB). Currently, PSB carries combined traffic for Interstates 55, 64 and 70. In 2004, traffic counts on<br />the PSB average 120,000 vehicles daily.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1579,581,4,2,1244213441,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"581\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 04:43 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"First Mississippi River Bridge Contract Awarded\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:47:\"first_mississippi_river_bridge_contract_awarded\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:47:\"First Mississippi River Bridge Contract Awarded\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:127:\"The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission awarded the first construction project for the new Mississippi River Bridge.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:75:\"Mississippi River Bridge, Fred Weber, Highway and Transportation Commission\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1356:\"<p>The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission awarded the first construction project for the<a href=\\\"http://www.newriverbridge.org/\\\"> New Mississippi River Bridge </a>during their monthly meeting June 3, 2009.<br /><br /><img alt=\\\"New Mississippi River Bridge\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/st.-louis-bridge.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />The commission awarded a project to remove and replace the Madison Street and St. Louis Avenue bridges over Interstate 70 in downtown St. Louis to<br />Fred Weber, Inc., for $4.44 million. The majority of work on this project will start after I-64 reopens between Kingshighway and Interstate 170. Crews will remove the St. Louis bridge first; after work is complete the rebuild that bridge, crews will remove and replace the Madison Street Bridge. During<br />work to remove the Madison Street Bridge, crews will also remove the Cass Avenue Bridge in preparation for replacing that bridge later in 2010.<br /><br />This work is part of preliminary work on the $640 million Mississippi River Bridge. The new bridge is expected to reduce severe traffic congestion and vehicle crashes on the Poplar Street Bridge (PSB). Currently, PSB carries combined traffic for Interstates 55, 64 and 70. In 2004, traffic counts on<br />the PSB average 120,000 vehicles daily.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1580,582,5,2,1244214088,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 04:58 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"13\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"Weigh Risks Associated With Green Building \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:42:\"weigh_risks_associated_with_green_building\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:45:\"Weighing Risks Associated With Green Building\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:224:\"As the number of green building projects across the U.S. continues to grow, building owners, contractors, architects, and engineers, are expressing concern about a variety of risks that may be associated with these projects.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:32:\"green building, liability, risks\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:4728:\"<p>As the number of green building projects across the U.S. continues to grow, building owners, contractors, architects, and engineers, are expressing concern about a variety of risks that may be associated with these projects. The list of potential risks is a long one, including potential financial exposures, uncertainty about evolving regulatory standards and legal issues, validating the qualifications of consultants and subcontractors, and assessing whether the long-term performance of green building materials meet expectations.<br /><br />A new report from Marsh Inc., a leading insurance broker and risk advisor, found that significant potential risks may be associated with green-built and LEED certified projects and construction project participants are not sure how best to manage them.<br /><br />According to Marsh&rsquo;s report, building owners, contractors, and design firm executives are most concerned about potential financial risks, including the affect of green design, construction, and ownership on profitability and cost, and the ability to complete projects on time and on budget.<br /><br />The report &ndash; based on feedback from 55 senior executives involved in green design and construction who participated in one of a series of four half-day forums held by Marsh from mid-2008 to early this year &ndash; ranked the top five risks associated with green building projects. Financial issues were considered the most serious because of the likely potential for green building practices to increase the cost of projects.<br /><br />The Marsh forum participants cited standard of care and related potential legal risks as the second most significant potential exposure. These risks encompass the challenges associated with achieving appropriate LEED certification as required by the owner, tenant, or other critical third party, defining the standard of care as the green building environment evolves as well as the competency of team members, and the evolving building codes with the potential establishment of strict liability standards.<br /><br />&ldquo;While it&rsquo;s exciting to see the green building movement gain momentum, success for design and construction firms involved in these projects, as well as for the building owners, ultimately may depend on having a clear understanding of their potential risks and the most effective ways to address them,&rdquo; said Michael Feigin, a managing director of Marsh and the firm&rsquo;s Global Construction Practice Leader.<br /><br />In terms of potential frequency and severity, the following three types of exposure rounded out the top five green building risks confronting the construction industry:<br /></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Performance risks, which center on the ability of products, systems and buildings to perform in a green environment.</li>\n<li>Consultant, subconsultant, and subcontractor risks, including challenges associated with making sure firms assigned to a project have the appropriate training and expertise, and questions about the ability to replace a defaulting contractor with one that has appropriate certifications and qualifications.</li>\n<li>And regulatory exposures, such as uncertainty about how the regulatory environment might evolve with respect to green building, including the concern that the potential for punitive damages might drive owners to seek warranties and guarantees to recapture costs from contractors and subcontractors.</li>\n</ul>\n<p><br />Other key risks identified by the Marsh green building forum participants, include supply chain challenges, technology, brand and reputation exposures, education, and return on investment.<br /><br />&ldquo;Despite the industry&rsquo;s concerns about these exposures, many of them can be addressed to varying degrees through the availability of commercial insurance and surety solutions, or in some instances mitigated through contractual agreements,&rdquo; said Catha Pavloff, a senior vice president of Marsh and leader of the firm&rsquo;s Green Building<br />Team.<br /><br />&ldquo;Nonetheless, the commercial insurance market still is evolving with respect to green building exposures. As underwriters become more adept at assessing and quantifying risks associated with green building, we may see a growth of green-building-specific insurance coverages,&rdquo; she added.<br /><br />Marsh&rsquo;s report, Green Building: Assessing the Risks &ndash; Feedback from the Construction Industry, is available free of charge by making a request online through <a href=\\\"http://global.marsh.com/news/articles/greenbuildingsurvey/register.php.\\\" title=\\\"Green Building Risks\\\">http://global.marsh.com/news/articles/greenbuildingsurvey/register.php.</a><br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"13\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1581,583,4,2,1244214704,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:08 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"River City Casino Construction Moving Forward \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:45:\"river_city_casino_construction_moving_forward\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:45:\"River City Casino Construction Moving Forward\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:84:\"Yates/Paric continues to make steady progress on the $375 million River City Casino.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:17:\"River City Casino\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:963:\"<p>Yates/Paric continues to make steady progress on the $375 million River City Casino, Pinnacle Entertainment&rsquo;s casino project on the Mississippi Riverfront in Lemay.<br /><br />Builders achieved a major milestone on the project recently with the successful completion of the 90,000-square-foot concrete barge that is now floating in the newly completed moat. The structural steel and roofing are complete, and exterior skin elements and interior drywall are well underway. <br /><br />Construction is on schedule and the casino is expected to open in early 2010, pending final approval by the Missouri Gaming Commission. <br /><br />River City, with the casino, a new public roadway and other amenities, will be among the largest developments in St. Louis, and is in one of its most densely populated areas. <br /><br />Yates/Paric is a joint venture partnership of W.G. Yates &amp; Sons Construction Company of Philadelphia, MS and Paric Corporation.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1582,584,4,2,1244216141,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:26 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"HOK Third in Magazine\\\'s Top Practice List\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"hok_third_in_magazines_top_practice_list\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:42:\"HOK Third in Magazine\\\'s Top Practice List\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:100:\"HOK was one of the top-ranked firms in Architect magazine\\\'s recently released the \\\'Architect 50\\\'.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:24:\"Architect, magazine, HOK\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1268:\"<p>HOK was one of the top-ranked firms in <em>Architect </em>magazine\\\'s recently released the \\\'Architect 50,\\\' a new benchmark ranking of the top 50 architectural practices. HOK ranked third in the survey and is prominently featured in the publication&rsquo;s May 2009 issue.</p>\n<p>\\\"We designed the Architect 50 quite simply to promote a well-rounded definition of success,\\\" says the magazine\\\'s introduction. \\\"The criteria for inclusion comprise a trifecta of critical goals for every practice: profitability, sustainability, and design quality.\\\"&nbsp; According to Architect\\\'s description of HOK, \\\"The green giant can boast a slew of recent LEED projects and a new, notable partnership with the Biomimicry Guild.\\\"&nbsp;</p>\n<p><a href=\\\"http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hanleywood/architect_200905/#/46\\\" title=\\\"HOK in Architect magazine\\\">View the complete rankings list and HOK&rsquo;s complete profile in the magazine</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>HOK is a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design and delivery solutions for buildings and communities. Founded in 1955, the firm&rsquo;s expertise includes architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, lighting, graphics, facilities planning and assessment and construction service</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(2123,794,4,4,1265757370,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2010-02-09 12:12 PM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"85\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Sheet Metal Local 36 Hosts BIM Academies\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"sheet_metal_local_36_hosts_bim_academies\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Sheet Metal Local 36 Hosts BIM Academies\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:142:\"Sheet Metal Workers\\\' Local 36 served as host for the International Training Institute\\\'s (ITI) Building Information Modeling (BIM) Academies.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:25:\"Sheet Metal Local 36, BIM\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1299:\"<p>Sheet Metal Workers\\\' Local 36 served as host for the International Training Institute\\\'s (ITI) Building Information Modeling (BIM) Academies the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.<br /> <br />Members from other locals around the country are taking classes and earn certification that they can then use back at their locals and enhance their contractor\\\'s ability to do BIM coordination. Prior to the upcoming academies, ITI\\\'s certifications were only available at its headquarters in Las Vegas, but the ITI hopes to add another couple of locations in different regions later this year to offer certifications.<br /> <br />\\\"We\\\'re honored to be able to host these academies and help other organizations add value to their services,\\\" said Local 36 President/Business Manager David C. Zimmermann. \\\"BIM is an integral part of our industry and greatly enhances the value of our craftsmanship.\\\"<br /> <br />Since initiating its BIM program with the hiring of Steve Sneed in August of 2009, Local 36 and its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program have taken major steps to put the technology in the hands of their workforce. Local 36\\\'s ability to do so has now been recognized by ITI and Local 36 is becoming a resource for locals across the company to become certified in BIM.<br /> <br /><br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"85\";}'),(1585,586,4,2,1244217195,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:50 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"Duke Leases 182,000 SF in Lindbergh Center \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:41:\"duke_leases_182000_sf_in_lindbergh_center\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:42:\"Duke Leases 182,000 SF in Lindbergh Center\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:117:\"Duke Realty Corporation (Duke) announces that it has leased 182,483 square feet in its Lindbergh Distribution Center.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:42:\"Duke, Lindberg Distribution Center, Fiserv\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1540:\"<p>Duke Realty Corporation (Duke) announces that it has leased 182,483 square feet in its Lindbergh Distribution Center in Hazelwood, Mo., to Fiserv, Inc., a provider of business critical communications, marketing services, and plastic card production services to various industries. Developed by Duke as a speculative building and opened in late 2007, Lindbergh Distribution Center is now 92 percent occupied with Fiserv&rsquo;s lease.<br /><br />Located in Hazelwood, a northwest St. Louis submarket, Lindbergh Distribution Center features 32&rsquo; clear height ceilings, dock and drive-in loading, and abundant trailer and car parking. The building is located in an Airport Enhanced Enterprise Zone, which offers tenants the opportunity for tax abatement and other incentives. Fiserv joins Matrix Packaging of Missouri, which occupies 150,000 square feet of space, and Whitney Design, Inc., which leases 152,000 square feet, in Lindbergh Distribution Center. Within Lindbergh Distribution Center, Duke has 43,450 square feet remaining for lease. The location of this property is at the corner of James S. McDonnell Blvd and N. Lindbergh Blvd. Air travelers from Lambert International Airport can easily identify the property from above due to a large Duke logo on the building&rsquo;s rooftop. <br /><br />Fiserv was represented by Tripp Hardin, senior vice president of CB Richard Ellis and Phil McCarthy, tenant advisor with Transwestern, while Jon Hinds, vice president of Industrial Leasing, represented Duke in the transaction.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1586,587,4,2,1244217853,'a:25:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:58 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:1:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:58:\"Electrical Industry Introduces Sustainable Energy Training\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:58:\"electrical_industry_introduces_sustainable_energy_training\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:58:\"Electrical Industry Introduces Sustainable Energy Training\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:80:\"St. Louis electricians are now training to provide new \\\"green\\\" energy sources.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:30:\"NECA, IBEW, sustainable, green\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1287:\"<p>St. Louis union electricians and electrical contractors, who are among those most hurt by job losses in the manufacturing sector, are now shaping a new economic future in the renewable energy industry.&nbsp; The Electrical Industry Training Center, located at 2300 Hampton Ave.,&nbsp; recently unveiled a revised curriculum with an emphasis on &ldquo;green&rdquo; training.&nbsp; The training will prepare the region&rsquo;s future workforce in manufacturing and installing solar cells, lithium ion batteries, wind turbines, fuel cells and other kinds of renewable energy.</p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\\\"http://www.repp.org\\\">Renewable Energy Policy Project</a> , efforts to rein in Missouri&rsquo;s carbon emissions have the potential to generate more than 22,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass industries.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As a result, The Electrical Connection has been cultivating these types of industries to create a new manufacturing base, generating jobs for its members.&nbsp; The Electrical Connection is a partnership of St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One. The organizations operate the Electrical Industry Training Center.<br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";}'),(1587,587,4,2,1244217883,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"587\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-05 05:58 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"58\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:58:\"Electrical Industry Introduces Sustainable Energy Training\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:58:\"electrical_industry_introduces_sustainable_energy_training\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:58:\"Electrical Industry Introduces Sustainable Energy Training\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:80:\"St. Louis electricians are now training to provide new \\\"green\\\" energy sources.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:30:\"NECA, IBEW, sustainable, green\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1287:\"<p>St. Louis union electricians and electrical contractors, who are among those most hurt by job losses in the manufacturing sector, are now shaping a new economic future in the renewable energy industry.&nbsp; The Electrical Industry Training Center, located at 2300 Hampton Ave.,&nbsp; recently unveiled a revised curriculum with an emphasis on &ldquo;green&rdquo; training.&nbsp; The training will prepare the region&rsquo;s future workforce in manufacturing and installing solar cells, lithium ion batteries, wind turbines, fuel cells and other kinds of renewable energy.</p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\\\"http://www.repp.org\\\">Renewable Energy Policy Project</a> , efforts to rein in Missouri&rsquo;s carbon emissions have the potential to generate more than 22,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass industries.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As a result, The Electrical Connection has been cultivating these types of industries to create a new manufacturing base, generating jobs for its members.&nbsp; The Electrical Connection is a partnership of St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One. The organizations operate the Electrical Industry Training Center.<br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"58\";}'),(1588,588,4,2,1244821971,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 05:38 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Walton Awarded  Parris Island Barracks  \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:37:\"walton_awarded_parris_island_barracks\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:39:\"Walton Awarded  Parris Island Barracks \";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:114:\"Walton Construction was recently awarded a contract for a fourth Marine barracks facility at  Parris Island, S.C. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:39:\"Walton, Marines, barrack, Parris Island\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:807:\"<p>Walton Construction Company, LLC, was recently awarded an additional $18.8 million contract to design and build a fourth barracks facility at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.&nbsp; This third option, awarded by the Department of the Navy &ndash; Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, brings the project&rsquo;s total value to $78.4 million.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;With this addition to the original contract, the total project includes four three-story precast concrete barracks, a headquarters training complex, central mechanical plant and a physical training circuit. All buildings on the project will be LEED Silver certified to include environmentally friendly design features, recyclable materials and energy efficient products.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1603,591,5,2,1244827886,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:29:\"isadore_the_icon_a_decent_man\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:3:\"375\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:70:\"This interview with I.E. Millstone originally appeared in CNR in 2005.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:15:\"Millstone, Gaal\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:8440:\"<p><em>by John S. Gaal</em></p>\n<p>Isadore Erwin Millstone (commonly known to St. Louisans as I.E. Millstone) granted this author an interview in 2005 that was first published in the September 2005 issue of CNR. We share the interview again as a tribute to this man who contributed so much to our industry and area. <br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><strong><br />IEM:</strong> Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction of civic buildings and sewers. Having knowledge that I was a recent graduate with reinforced concrete experience, the City of St. Louis hired me.&nbsp; Mr. Horner was then head of the department of Streets and Sewers and later founded Horner and Shifrin Consulting Engineers. <br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.</p>\n<p>From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br /><strong>&nbsp;JSG:</strong> What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Colnon to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> As a decent person!<br /><br /><em><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</em></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1604,592,4,2,1244828328,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 07:35 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:40:\"Churchill Apartments Win Landmarks Award\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:40:\"churchill_apartments_win_landmarks_award\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:40:\"Churchill Apartments Win Landmarks Award\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:121:\"The formerly troubled Winston Churchill Apartments received one of St. Louis Landmarks Association Most Enhanced Awards. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:38:\"Churchill Apartments, Landmarks, award\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1438:\"<p>Winston Churchill Apartments received one of St. Louis Landmarks Association Most Enhanced Awards. The Award honors the most enhanced, best restorations and rehabs in the area from the past year.<br /></p>\n<p>Winston Churchill Apartments, located at Cabonne and Belt in the Upper West End, was renovated in the 80\\\'s and had fallen into disrepair and had 300 police calls a year going to the property, the worst property for the police department in the city.<br /></p>\n<p>Dublin Capital, Friedman Group, Ltd REALTORS and Housing &amp; Community Solutions, Inc. working with Congressman Lacy Clay, the Mayor\\\'s office and Alderman Frank Williamson worked with various community groups and provided the debt, equity and a development plan and development team to create a $12 million gut rehab of this landmark building including additional secured parking. When the first developer could not proceed, Eagle point of Portland, MN stepped in to become the developer and completed and enhanced the project.<br /></p>\n<p>Changing the physical reality of the building enhanced the neighborhood where millions of dollars of additional development is going on: from single family for sale green homes to a large loft project being developed in the area. Enhancing this once grand old building has also removed an impediment to the community\\\'s ongoing development. This was a real team and community effort to make the<br /> project work.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1594,591,5,2,1244826732,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"isadore\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:41:\"<p>Chinese elephants eat big noodles.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1595,591,5,2,1244826805,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"isadore\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:297:\"<p>Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man<br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters\\\' District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1596,591,5,2,1244826875,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"isadore\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:1160:\"<p>Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man<br />By John S. Gaal, E<br />JSG: How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><br />IEM: Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction <br /><br />JSG: With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br />IEM: As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.<br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters\\\' District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1597,591,5,2,1244826933,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"isadore\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:8850:\"<p>Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man<br />By John S. Gaal, E<br />JSG: How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><br />IEM: Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction <br /><br /><br />IEM: Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction of civic buildings and sewers. Having knowledge that I was a recent graduate with reinforced concrete experience, the City of St. Louis hired me.&nbsp; Mr. Horner was then head of the department of Streets and Sewers and later founded Horner and Shifrin Consulting Engineers. <br /><br />&nbsp;JSG: What triggered your desire to start your own firm?<br /><br />IEM: While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br />IEM: From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in <br />St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br />&nbsp;JSG: What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br />IEM: Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Collins to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><br />JSG: How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br />IEM: Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br />IEM: I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br />JSG: From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br />IEM: With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br />JSG: In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br />JSG: With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br />IEM: As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.<br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters\\\' District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1598,591,5,2,1244827021,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:7:\"isadore\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:7:\"Isadore\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:7471:\"<p>Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man<br />By John S. Gaal, E<br /><br />IEM: While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br />IEM: From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in <br />St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br />&nbsp;JSG: What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br />IEM: Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Collins to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><br />JSG: How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br />IEM: Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br />IEM: I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br />JSG: From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br />IEM: With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br />JSG: In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br />JSG: With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br />IEM: As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters\\\' District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1599,591,5,2,1244827252,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:28:\"I.E. Millstone: A Decent Man\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:26:\"i_e_millstone_a decent_man\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:28:\"I.E. Millstone: A Decent Man\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:12:\"A decent man\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:14:\"this is a test\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:7471:\"<p>Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man<br />By John S. Gaal, E<br /><br />IEM: While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br />IEM: From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in <br />St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br />&nbsp;JSG: What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br />IEM: Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Collins to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><br />JSG: How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br />IEM: Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br />IEM: I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br />JSG: From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br />IEM: With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br />JSG: In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br />JSG: With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br />IEM: As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters\\\' District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1600,591,5,2,1244827516,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:28:\"I.E. Millstone: A Decent Man\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:26:\"i_e_millstone_a_decent_man\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:28:\"I.E. Millstone: A Decent Man\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:78:\"This interview with I.E. Millstone originally appeared in CNR in June of 2005.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:15:\"Millstone, Gaal\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:8291:\"<p><em>by John S. Gaal</em></p>\n<p>Isadore Erwin Millstone (commonly known to St. Louisans as I.E. Millstone) granted this author an interview in 2005 that was first published in the September issue of CNR. At the time, this author felt an interview would be a fitting tribute to honor the man that has contributed so much&mdash;in so many ways&mdash;to the St. Louis community. <br /><br /><br />JSG: How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><br />IEM: Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction of civic buildings and sewers. Having knowledge that I was a recent graduate with reinforced concrete experience, the City of St. Louis hired me.&nbsp; Mr. Horner was then head of the department of Streets and Sewers and later founded Horner and Shifrin Consulting Engineers. <br /><br /><br />IEM: While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br />IEM: From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in <br />St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br />&nbsp;JSG: What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br />IEM: Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Collins to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><br />JSG: How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br />IEM: Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br />JSG: What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br />IEM: I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br />JSG: From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br />IEM: With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br />JSG: In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br />JSG: With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br />IEM: As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><em><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</em><br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1601,591,5,2,1244827723,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:29:\"isadore_the_icon_a_decent_man\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:70:\"This interview with I.E. Millstone originally appeared in CNR in 2005.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:15:\"Millstone, Gaal\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:8521:\"<p><em>by John S. Gaal</em></p>\n<p>Isadore Erwin Millstone (commonly known to St. Louisans as I.E. Millstone) granted this author an interview in 2005 that was first published in the September issue of CNR. At the time, this author felt an interview would be a fitting tribute to honor the man that has contributed so much&mdash;in so many ways&mdash;to the St. Louis community. <br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><strong><br />IEM:</strong> Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction of civic buildings and sewers. Having knowledge that I was a recent graduate with reinforced concrete experience, the City of St. Louis hired me.&nbsp; Mr. Horner was then head of the department of Streets and Sewers and later founded Horner and Shifrin Consulting Engineers. <br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.</p>\n<p>From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br /><strong>&nbsp;JSG:</strong> What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Colnon to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> As a decent person!<br /><br /><br /><br /><em><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</em></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1602,591,5,2,1244827765,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"5\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"591\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 06:54 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"9\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"5\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:29:\"isadore_the_icon_a_decent_man\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_20\";s:30:\"Isadore the Icon: A Decent Man\";s:11:\"field_ft_20\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_25\";s:3:\"375\";s:11:\"field_id_45\";s:70:\"This interview with I.E. Millstone originally appeared in CNR in 2005.\";s:11:\"field_ft_45\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_22\";s:15:\"Millstone, Gaal\";s:11:\"field_ft_22\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_23\";s:8509:\"<p><em>by John S. Gaal</em></p>\n<p>Isadore Erwin Millstone (commonly known to St. Louisans as I.E. Millstone) granted this author an interview in 2005 that was first published in the September issue of CNR. At the time, this author felt an interview would be a fitting tribute to honor the man that has contributed so much&mdash;in so many ways&mdash;to the St. Louis community. <br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How soon after graduating from Washington University did you begin working in the fields of architecture and construction?<br /><strong><br />IEM:</strong> Soon after graduation, I began working for Mississippi Valley Structural Steel. I worked there until the end of 1927. The reason I left is that I had a desire to do something beyond detailing steel. At that time, the City of St. Louis approved a multi-million dollar bond issue for the construction of civic buildings and sewers. Having knowledge that I was a recent graduate with reinforced concrete experience, the City of St. Louis hired me.&nbsp; Mr. Horner was then head of the department of Streets and Sewers and later founded Horner and Shifrin Consulting Engineers. <br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> While working to improve the quality of concrete for the City of St. Louis, I met Albert Perbal, a French engineer whose specialty was reinforced concrete design.&nbsp;&nbsp; We eventually left our positions to begin our own consulting firm. At this time, many architectural firms did not have in-house engineers with our area of expertise. For awhile, things were going well and then came the Depression. As with most people during this era, we lost everything we had invested in the stock market. Eventually, Mr. Perbal sent his family back to France to live with relatives while he went on to patent many of his inventions not related to the construction industry. Meanwhile, I decided to start my own firm. Interestingly enough, in my eyes, the Depression allowed everyone to start from scratch. In my opinion, it created new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What / Who assisted you in becoming a successful businessman?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> From a company standpoint, between 1929 and 1946 my firm opened a number of offices outside the St. Louis area. Our first year our volume was $34,000. As you can see, we were small which made it difficult to get bonding. However, by 1936, my firm was awarded the first federal contract for public housing in the United States in St. Petersburg, FL. We built St. Louis&rsquo; Clinton-Peabody housing project in 1939 using reinforced concrete. During this timeframe, companies wanted to invest in growth&hellip;not bricks and mortar. Eventually, we designed, built and leased buildings to GE, Emerson, Famous-Barr, and many others. As we built, I bought stock in many of my customers&rsquo; firms. Equally important, I also give a lot of credit to my field supervision of which many were union carpenters. What impressed me is that these men were well-educated and willing to continue their learning. For many years, our college grads would work under our carpenter superintendents before moving into supervisory positions.</p>\n<p>From a personal standpoint, besides a lot of luck, I believe my willingness to work hard and my ability to visualize the future were keys to my success. In the early days, many firms needed to be located near railways&hellip;so, I bought land along these routes. Eventually, companies wishing to expand would come to me not only to purchase the land but to design and build their buildings. My sixth sense really paid off after World War II (WWII), with regards to the combination of pent-up demand and the growth in the use of automobiles. Land became a precious commodity to many of my customers&rsquo; businesses since parking now became a significant design issue. This strategy was so successful that by the end of WWII we were able to set-up the Millstone Foundation: a charitable foundation for assisting St. Louis institutions.&nbsp; The foundation is still active today and my grandsons, Robert Millstone and Thom Kuhn, are officers of the foundation.<br /><br /><strong>&nbsp;JSG:</strong> What role did your firm play in building the current Busch Stadium?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Millstone Construction Co. entered a joint venture with Fruin-Colnon to build the stadium. The contract for the stadium and east garage totaled $21 million. This project was unique from a design standpoint: poured-in-place reinforced post tensioned concrete. I give a lot of the credit for the design of the stadium to Sverdrup. To my knowledge, it may be the only structure of its kind. As you can imagine, I am somewhat disappointed to see it go!<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> How do you feel about the new Busch Stadium complex?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> Well, the original Busch Stadium was built for another era: one that required a dual-use facility. I feel that today&rsquo;s design better accommodates its sole purpose: baseball. After all, from a business perspective, the object is to earn more money. Among other issues, the new seating arrangements allow for the owners to accomplish this objective.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> What inspired you to become a philanthropist?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> I always felt privileged to live in the USA. (In fact, I lost several family members due to Hitler&rsquo;s reign.) Life was simple when I was growing up. I remember children of all kinds playing in the streets together. As a Jew, I was never discriminated against. I had and still have a wonderful family. Although I enjoyed traveling and playing golf, as I prospered, I did not feel a need to have too much money or too many material things. Therefore, I wanted to see that others could enjoy life. I made sure all of my children, grandchildren, and many of my relatives received good educations. In fact, our foundation still funds numerous college scholarships&hellip;I believe in helping others succeed and many of our employees have gone on to do so. In addition, with families facing so many issues today, we have provided assistance to many community centers in St. Louis and around the globe.<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> From a global competition viewpoint, what predictions would you make about the future of the construction industry?<br /><br />IEM: Closer to home, I see the city making a comeback despite the issue of urban sprawl people are returning. For St. Louis to survive, we need to focus on high-wages jobs and to me that means life sciences. We must avoid destroying our tax base if we are to improve our public school systems. The one thing we must remember is that you cannot give away your income without going bankrupt.<br /><br />From a global standpoint, nowadays, telecommunication technologies allow work to be done nearly anywhere around the globe. Consequently, in today&rsquo;s world most firms are international! With China now taking over US industries, we can no longer view countries like China and India as backwards. I often look at the list of PhD graduates in science and engineering from Washington University and notice that many of the students are foreign-born. To this end, I am a firm believer that more of our families need to support first-class educational systems for our children!<br /><br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> With this in mind, I would like to ask you about your views concerning the turmoil the AFL-CIO now faces?<br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> In my opinion, a number of unions are starting to realize that in order to retain and gain membership, their organizations must start acting like businesses instead of relying on decades-old practices that are no longer relevant in the 21st Century. It seems to me that the Change to Win Coalition is following a similar strategy implemented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in March of 2001. In other words, unions need to view management as partners&hellip;not the enemy!<br /><br /><br /><strong>JSG:</strong> With all due respect, in one sentence, how do you wish to be remembered?<br /><br /><strong>IEM:</strong> As a decent person!<br /><br /><em><br />Dr. John S. Gaal is the Director of Training &amp; Workforce Development for the Carpenters&rsquo; District Council of Greater St. Louis &amp; Vicinity. He can be reached at jgaal@carpdc.org. The original interview took place in Clayton, MO.</em></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"9\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1605,593,4,2,1244830127,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 07:53 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"Construction Financing Approved on Centene\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:42:\"construction_financing_approved_on_centene\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:42:\"Construction Financing Approved on Centene\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:92:\"Construction financing on Centene Corporation’s new headquarters building is now in place.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:18:\"Centene, financing\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:597:\"<p>Construction financing on Centene Corporation&rsquo;s new headquarters building is now in place. A $186 million construction loan has been approved by a group of banks led by U.S. Bank.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The project is located at Hanley and Forsyth in Clayton. It is scheduled for completion in 2010. <br /><br />Demolition on the former Library Limited building began in October, officially beginning work on the complex, which will have 460,000 square feet of office space and 28,125 square feet of retail.<br /><br />The equity partners in the project are Centene, Clayco and The Koman Group.</p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1606,594,4,2,1244830446,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 08:11 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:42:\"Paric Building Regions Bank in Wentzville \";s:9:\"url_title\";s:41:\"paric_building_regions_bank_in_wentzville\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:41:\"Paric Building Regions Bank in Wentzville\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:97:\"Construction of Regions Bank facility in Wentzville is on-schedule for completion in late summer.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:19:\"Regions Bank, Paric\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:400:\"<p>Construction of a $1.2 million Regions Bank facility in Wentzville, led by Paric as construction manager, is on-schedule for completion in late summer.<br /><br />The 3,800-square-foot, single-story structure and four-lane drive-through at 1843 Wentzville Pkwy. is of steel and metal stud construction with a brick exterior.<br /><br />Paric partnered with PKA Architects on the project.<br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1607,595,4,2,1244830973,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 08:19 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"4\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"Horner and Shifrin Designs Aux Vases Bridge\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:43:\"horner_and_shifrin_designs_aux_vases_bridge\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:43:\"Horner and Shifrin Designs Aux Vases Bridge\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:101:\"Horner & Shifrin is conducting analyses and preparing designs for a bridge over the Aux Vases River. \";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:27:\"Horner & Shifrin, Aux Vases\";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1226:\"<p>Horner &amp; Shifrin, Inc., is performing a hydraulic analysis, a scour study, and preliminary and final bridge design for the Route B Bridge Replacement over the Aux Vases River in Ste. Genevieve County for the Missouri Department of Transportation. <br /><br />Increased popularity in the region\\\'s wineries has resulted in additional traffic on Route B that includes numerous bus groups. The new two-lane bridge will significantly improve safety for motorists throughout the corridor. <br /><br />This fast-track project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The new bridge will replace the existing 230-foot-long, one-lane truss bridge with a two-lane, girder-type bridge with concrete barriers. <br /><br />\\\"This project\\\'s success hinges mostly on two critical issues - quickly developing the hydraulic report that will dictate the required grade and span arrangement, and effective communication and coordination with the MoDOT District 10 personnel who will be providing the adjacent roadway design,\\\" said Horner &amp; Shifrin Project Manager Michael Banashek. \\\"Because this project is funded by ARRA, schedule adherence, in both design and construction, will be imperative.\\\"<br /></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"4\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1608,596,4,2,1244832550,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 08:28 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"6\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:35:\"Vee-Jay Promotes Melanoma Awareness\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"vee_jay_promotes_melanoma_awareness\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:35:\"Vee-Jay Promotes Melanoma Awareness\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:93:\"Vee-Jay Cement and OUR M.O.M., Inc. are promoting melanoma awareness during the month of June\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:37:\"melanoma, Vee-Jay Cement, OUR M.O.M. \";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1295:\"<p>Vee-Jay Cement is working with Our Mark on Melanoma, Inc. (OUR M.O.M., Inc.) during the month of June to promote awareness of melanoma.</p>\n<p>\\\"Our goal ifor the campaign is to raise $10,000 for the prevention, detection, and potential cure of melanoma,\\\" said Chase Ernst, safety and strategic partnerships director for Vee-Jay. \\\"We owe it to those employees working in the field every day to have proper education on the reisks associated with melanoma.</p>\n<p>Vee-Jay sent promotional materials to the principal contact at each member company of the AGC of St. Louis.</p>\n<p>OUR M.O.M., Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded by the eight children of Patricia Schellhardt Malone, who died of melanoma in June 2007.&nbsp; The purpose of the organization is to raise awareness and education and prevention of skin cancer. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for metatastic melanoma.</p>\n<p>\\\"We are thankful to Vee-Jay Cement for allowing us to partner with them,\\\" said Patricia Malone\\\'s daughter Elizabeth Schocklee, who is OUR M.O.M.\\\'s board chair. Shocklee is a partner with Evans &amp; Dixon, who practices in the construction industry.</p>\n<p>For more information go to <a href=\\\"http://www.ourmominc.com/VeeJay.aspx\\\">http://www.ourmominc.com/VeeJay.aspx</a></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"6\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1609,596,4,2,1244832765,'a:27:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"4\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"596\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-12 08:28 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:1:\"6\";i:1;s:2:\"59\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"4\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:35:\"Vee-Jay Promotes Melanoma Awareness\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:35:\"vee_jay_promotes_melanoma_awareness\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:11:\"field_id_26\";s:35:\"Vee-Jay Promotes Melanoma Awareness\";s:11:\"field_ft_26\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_31\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_id_44\";s:94:\"Vee-Jay Cement and OUR M.O.M., Inc. are promoting melanoma awareness during the month of June.\";s:11:\"field_ft_44\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_28\";s:37:\"melanoma, Vee-Jay Cement, OUR M.O.M. \";s:11:\"field_ft_28\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_29\";s:1294:\"<p>Vee-Jay Cement is working with Our Mark on Melanoma, Inc. (OUR M.O.M., Inc.) during the month of June to promote awareness of melanoma.</p>\n<p>\\\"Our goal ifor the campaign is to raise $10,000 for the prevention, detection, and potential cure of melanoma,\\\" said Chase Ernst, safety and strategic partnerships director for Vee-Jay. \\\"We owe it to those employees working in the field every day to have proper education on the risks associated with melanoma.</p>\n<p>Vee-Jay sent promotional materials to the principal contact at each member company of the AGC of St. Louis.</p>\n<p>OUR M.O.M., Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded by the eight children of Patricia Schellhardt Malone, who died of melanoma in June 2007.&nbsp; The purpose of the organization is to raise awareness and education and prevention of skin cancer. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for metatastic melanoma.</p>\n<p>\\\"We are thankful to Vee-Jay Cement for allowing us to partner with them,\\\" said Patricia Malone\\\'s daughter Elizabeth Schocklee, who is OUR M.O.M.\\\'s board chair. Shocklee is a partner with Evans &amp; Dixon, who practices in the construction industry.</p>\n<p>For more information go to <a href=\\\"http://www.ourmominc.com/VeeJay.aspx\\\">http://www.ourmominc.com/VeeJay.aspx</a></p>\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:1:\"6\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"59\";}'),(1610,597,2,2,1245429871,'a:26:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-19 06:40 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:48:\"Unions Give Climate Prosperity Project a Step Up\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:48:\"unions_give_climate_prosperity_project_a_step_up\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:48:\"Unions Give Climate Prosperity Project a Step Up\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:125:\"St. Louis unions have stepped up to provide training and manpower that will help the RCGA\\\'s \\\"Climate Prosperity Project.\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:51:\"RCGA, Climate Prosperity, RCGA, Sheet Metal Workers\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:9125:\"<p>The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) has announced that metropolitan St. Louis is one of eight pilot regions for the Climate Prosperity Project, a new economic development effort launched by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.<br /><br />The Climate Prosperity Project will seek to guide economic development efforts based on the strategy of &ldquo;green savings, green opportunity, and green talent.&rdquo; Richard Fleming, president and CEO of the RCGA, is president of the Climate Prosperity Project board of directors. The other seven pilot regions are: Silicon Valley/San Jose, CA; Portland, OR; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Southwest Florida; Montgomery County, MD; and the State of Delaware.<br /><br /><img alt=\\\"Climate Prosperity\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/climate-prosperity.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />&ldquo;We come at it from an opportunistic standpoint as the region&rsquo;s economic development agency. We see a potential for new opportunities for creating jobs, expanding existing companies, and attracting new companies. We certainly see it as an opportunity for a substantial amount of building things,&rdquo; said Fleming.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green savings,&rdquo; said Fleming, means simply that energy efficiency saves money, which can then be used for other things. &ldquo;Energy efficiency is the quickest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bring prosperity to individuals, businesses, and communities,&rdquo; he said. In Portland, OR, he said, people and businesses are saving $2.6 billion a year because of an energy efficiency initiative begun a decade ago.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green opportunity&rdquo; refers to innovation, entrepreneurship and strong economic growth that solutions to the challenges of climate change will generate, he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green talent,&rdquo; he said, means that entrepreneurs, scientists, and construction workers all are critical to retrofitting buildings, installing renewable energy projects, etc. &ldquo;Communities must ensure they have a trained workforce in order to prosper during this transformation,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />While the project in St. Louis is still in the &ldquo;formative stage,&rdquo; Fleming said, some of the first local activities, which will be under the banner of &ldquo;green savings,&rdquo; will be to educate companies about tangible steps they can take to improve energy efficiency and the opportunities there for returns on investment.<br /><br />That will create an immediate need for suitably trained construction workers &ldquo;to get the job done,&rdquo; said Fleming.<br /><br />The union construction industry already has put in place training programs to help meet that need. <br /><br />The Electrical Industry Training Center announced has the establishment of a wide-ranging green training initiative to prepare the region&rsquo;s union electrical workforce to meet the needs of emerging green and alternative energy industries.&nbsp; The training center unveiled its curriculum at an open house for St. Louis area lawmakers and business leaders on May 28, 2009. <br /><br />&ldquo;We are both cultivating opportunity in the new green economy and training the workforce necessary to build it,&rdquo; said Stephen P. Schoemehl, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One. &ldquo;We can make St. Louis the center of renewable energy development in the Midwest. To do that, we need a highly skilled workforce. We already have the essential curriculum in place to create that workforce and build a brighter future for St. Louis,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />IBEW Local One partners with the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to form the Electrical Connection. <br /><br />Among the skills already developed within the ranks of IBEW Local One are the wiring and installation of solar panels, wind turbines and &ldquo;smart building&rdquo; technologies that conserve energy. The new training consolidates 70 courses into one green curriculum that includes:<br /><br />&bull; Photovoltaic cells;<br />&bull; Fuel cells;<br />&bull; Building automation;<br />&bull; Lighting efficiencies; <br />&bull; Energy efficient installations; and<br />&bull; Programmable logic controllers.<br /><br />&ldquo;As the nation continues to push the development of electricity from cleaner energy sources, the installations are becoming more complex,&rdquo; said Dennis Gralike, director of the Electrical Industry Training Center. &ldquo;Safety is a huge concern. For example, while solar is a low voltage source when it is placed in arrays, the voltages can reach as high as 600 volts. It is essential that only skilled electricians install them in accordance with the National Electric Code,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 also has launched a program to train its members for &ldquo;green&rdquo; projects.<br /><br />Dan Andrews is the coordinator of the training program for Local 36, which is based in St. Louis, and represents 3,200 members in Arkansas and Missouri.&nbsp; Andrews has been an outspoken proponent of sustainable building for many years, speaking on regional panels throughout the region on the subject, and introducing training programs to his membership.<br /><br />Andrews explained that in order to assist those contractors pursuing LEED construction and other green building projects, Local 36 member training focuses on the latest LEED guidelines, especially in regard to:<br /><br />&bull; Good duct design and installation in the HVAC area;<br />&bull; Instruction and training in retrofit and add-on and replacement;<br />&bull; The proper techniques and principles for troubleshooting, service and repair of HVAC equipment and systems, and the understanding of refrigeration principles and their application to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC&rsquo;s);<br />&bull; Verifying an HVAC system is designed, installed and calibrated as described in the Energy and Atmosphere section of LEED certification; and<br />&bull; Installing architectural sheet metal as cool roofs, or hot or cool walls.<br /><br />Local 36, with the help of LEED-accredited professionals, is updating curriculum to add additional green training to its journeymen programs as well.&nbsp; &ldquo;Very few jobs remain where green isn&rsquo;t somehow involved and it&rsquo;s important for our most experience workers to have the greatest understanding of the processes as possible,&rdquo; said Andrews. <br /><br />Tear out and replacement is one growing area of training in sheet metal that can contribute greatly to the success of achieving green status. New methods of duct work installation for all units, including high-efficiency units, can help increase the efficiency of the systems even further.&nbsp; &ldquo;Part of getting your new heating and cooling unit to reach its maximum efficiency is making sure the duct work is properly built and installed,&rdquo; Andrews said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re working to train workers in new areas so that projects can be as green as possible,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />One new technology gaining market acceptance is geothermal heating and cooling. Not only are these systems green, but they also are aesthetically pleasing, because they are unobtrusive.&nbsp; Local 36 has one of just three geothermal units in the country that is available for training, and it is the only one that is fully operational.&nbsp; &ldquo;Having a fully operational unit allows us to train in design and installation,&rdquo; Andrews said.&nbsp; Part of the installation process and training Local 36 workers receive is identifying the proper soils to use to bury the wells and tubing for the units in order to help increase efficiency.<br /><br />Moving forward, &ldquo;I think we need to outline a career path that can help lead future sheet metal workers to an Accredited Professional certification,&rdquo; Andrews said. &ldquo;That path would help promote the understanding of the responsibilities of every individual working on a green project,&rdquo; he added.<br /><br />According to the Renewable Energy Policy Project (www.repp.org), efforts to rein in Missouri&rsquo;s carbon emissions have the potential to generate more than 22,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass industries. As a result, the Electrical Connection has been cultivating these types of industries &ndash; and traveling the country to lure them to Missouri &ndash; to create a new manufacturing base, generating jobs for Missourians.<br /><br />&ldquo;For union electricians and electrical contractors, the potential is more than just building or retrofitting renewable energy manufacturing facilities,&rdquo; said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA. &ldquo;We have the capability to work with product manufacturers and a project&rsquo;s design team to customize our training. We can then prepare our skilled workforce to assemble and install new technologies with precision,&rdquo; he said.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:38:\"/images/uploads/climate-prosperity.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";}'),(1611,597,2,2,1245429898,'a:30:{s:9:\"weblog_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:8:\"entry_id\";s:3:\"597\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"n\";s:14:\"allow_comments\";s:1:\"n\";s:16:\"allow_trackbacks\";s:1:\"n\";s:10:\"entry_date\";s:19:\"2009-06-19 06:40 AM\";s:15:\"expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:23:\"comment_expiration_date\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"category\";a:2:{i:0;s:2:\"15\";i:1;s:2:\"60\";}s:9:\"author_id\";s:1:\"2\";s:10:\"new_weblog\";s:1:\"2\";s:6:\"status\";s:4:\"open\";s:14:\"trackback_urls\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"versioning_enabled\";s:1:\"y\";s:5:\"title\";s:48:\"Unions Give Climate Prosperity Project a Step Up\";s:9:\"url_title\";s:48:\"unions_give_climate_prosperity_project_a_step_up\";s:6:\"submit\";s:6:\"Update\";s:10:\"field_id_5\";s:48:\"Unions Give Climate Prosperity Project a Step Up\";s:10:\"field_ft_5\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_9\";s:125:\"St. Louis unions have stepped up to provide training and manpower that will help the RCGA\\\'s \\\"Climate Prosperity Project.\\\" \";s:10:\"field_ft_9\";s:4:\"none\";s:11:\"field_id_13\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"field_id_7\";s:51:\"RCGA, Climate Prosperity, RCGA, Sheet Metal Workers\";s:10:\"field_ft_7\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"field_id_8\";s:9125:\"<p>The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) has announced that metropolitan St. Louis is one of eight pilot regions for the Climate Prosperity Project, a new economic development effort launched by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.<br /><br />The Climate Prosperity Project will seek to guide economic development efforts based on the strategy of &ldquo;green savings, green opportunity, and green talent.&rdquo; Richard Fleming, president and CEO of the RCGA, is president of the Climate Prosperity Project board of directors. The other seven pilot regions are: Silicon Valley/San Jose, CA; Portland, OR; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Southwest Florida; Montgomery County, MD; and the State of Delaware.<br /><br /><img alt=\\\"Climate Prosperity\\\" class=\\\"image-left\\\" height=\\\"303\\\" src=\\\"/images/uploads/climate-prosperity.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left;\\\" width=\\\"266\\\" />&ldquo;We come at it from an opportunistic standpoint as the region&rsquo;s economic development agency. We see a potential for new opportunities for creating jobs, expanding existing companies, and attracting new companies. We certainly see it as an opportunity for a substantial amount of building things,&rdquo; said Fleming.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green savings,&rdquo; said Fleming, means simply that energy efficiency saves money, which can then be used for other things. &ldquo;Energy efficiency is the quickest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bring prosperity to individuals, businesses, and communities,&rdquo; he said. In Portland, OR, he said, people and businesses are saving $2.6 billion a year because of an energy efficiency initiative begun a decade ago.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green opportunity&rdquo; refers to innovation, entrepreneurship and strong economic growth that solutions to the challenges of climate change will generate, he said.<br /><br />&ldquo;Green talent,&rdquo; he said, means that entrepreneurs, scientists, and construction workers all are critical to retrofitting buildings, installing renewable energy projects, etc. &ldquo;Communities must ensure they have a trained workforce in order to prosper during this transformation,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />While the project in St. Louis is still in the &ldquo;formative stage,&rdquo; Fleming said, some of the first local activities, which will be under the banner of &ldquo;green savings,&rdquo; will be to educate companies about tangible steps they can take to improve energy efficiency and the opportunities there for returns on investment.<br /><br />That will create an immediate need for suitably trained construction workers &ldquo;to get the job done,&rdquo; said Fleming.<br /><br />The union construction industry already has put in place training programs to help meet that need. <br /><br />The Electrical Industry Training Center announced has the establishment of a wide-ranging green training initiative to prepare the region&rsquo;s union electrical workforce to meet the needs of emerging green and alternative energy industries.&nbsp; The training center unveiled its curriculum at an open house for St. Louis area lawmakers and business leaders on May 28, 2009. <br /><br />&ldquo;We are both cultivating opportunity in the new green economy and training the workforce necessary to build it,&rdquo; said Stephen P. Schoemehl, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One. &ldquo;We can make St. Louis the center of renewable energy development in the Midwest. To do that, we need a highly skilled workforce. We already have the essential curriculum in place to create that workforce and build a brighter future for St. Louis,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />IBEW Local One partners with the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to form the Electrical Connection. <br /><br />Among the skills already developed within the ranks of IBEW Local One are the wiring and installation of solar panels, wind turbines and &ldquo;smart building&rdquo; technologies that conserve energy. The new training consolidates 70 courses into one green curriculum that includes:<br /><br />&bull; Photovoltaic cells;<br />&bull; Fuel cells;<br />&bull; Building automation;<br />&bull; Lighting efficiencies; <br />&bull; Energy efficient installations; and<br />&bull; Programmable logic controllers.<br /><br />&ldquo;As the nation continues to push the development of electricity from cleaner energy sources, the installations are becoming more complex,&rdquo; said Dennis Gralike, director of the Electrical Industry Training Center. &ldquo;Safety is a huge concern. For example, while solar is a low voltage source when it is placed in arrays, the voltages can reach as high as 600 volts. It is essential that only skilled electricians install them in accordance with the National Electric Code,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 also has launched a program to train its members for &ldquo;green&rdquo; projects.<br /><br />Dan Andrews is the coordinator of the training program for Local 36, which is based in St. Louis, and represents 3,200 members in Arkansas and Missouri.&nbsp; Andrews has been an outspoken proponent of sustainable building for many years, speaking on regional panels throughout the region on the subject, and introducing training programs to his membership.<br /><br />Andrews explained that in order to assist those contractors pursuing LEED construction and other green building projects, Local 36 member training focuses on the latest LEED guidelines, especially in regard to:<br /><br />&bull; Good duct design and installation in the HVAC area;<br />&bull; Instruction and training in retrofit and add-on and replacement;<br />&bull; The proper techniques and principles for troubleshooting, service and repair of HVAC equipment and systems, and the understanding of refrigeration principles and their application to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC&rsquo;s);<br />&bull; Verifying an HVAC system is designed, installed and calibrated as described in the Energy and Atmosphere section of LEED certification; and<br />&bull; Installing architectural sheet metal as cool roofs, or hot or cool walls.<br /><br />Local 36, with the help of LEED-accredited professionals, is updating curriculum to add additional green training to its journeymen programs as well.&nbsp; &ldquo;Very few jobs remain where green isn&rsquo;t somehow involved and it&rsquo;s important for our most experience workers to have the greatest understanding of the processes as possible,&rdquo; said Andrews. <br /><br />Tear out and replacement is one growing area of training in sheet metal that can contribute greatly to the success of achieving green status. New methods of duct work installation for all units, including high-efficiency units, can help increase the efficiency of the systems even further.&nbsp; &ldquo;Part of getting your new heating and cooling unit to reach its maximum efficiency is making sure the duct work is properly built and installed,&rdquo; Andrews said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re working to train workers in new areas so that projects can be as green as possible,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />One new technology gaining market acceptance is geothermal heating and cooling. Not only are these systems green, but they also are aesthetically pleasing, because they are unobtrusive.&nbsp; Local 36 has one of just three geothermal units in the country that is available for training, and it is the only one that is fully operational.&nbsp; &ldquo;Having a fully operational unit allows us to train in design and installation,&rdquo; Andrews said.&nbsp; Part of the installation process and training Local 36 workers receive is identifying the proper soils to use to bury the wells and tubing for the units in order to help increase efficiency.<br /><br />Moving forward, &ldquo;I think we need to outline a career path that can help lead future sheet metal workers to an Accredited Professional certification,&rdquo; Andrews said. &ldquo;That path would help promote the understanding of the responsibilities of every individual working on a green project,&rdquo; he added.<br /><br />According to the Renewable Energy Policy Project (www.repp.org), efforts to rein in Missouri&rsquo;s carbon emissions have the potential to generate more than 22,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass industries. As a result, the Electrical Connection has been cultivating these types of industries &ndash; and traveling the country to lure them to Missouri &ndash; to create a new manufacturing base, generating jobs for Missourians.<br /><br />&ldquo;For union electricians and electrical contractors, the potential is more than just building or retrofitting renewable energy manufacturing facilities,&rdquo; said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA. &ldquo;We have the capability to work with product manufacturers and a project&rsquo;s design team to customize our training. We can then prepare our skilled workforce to assemble and install new technologies with precision,&rdquo; he said.</p>\";s:11:\"field_id_42\";s:38:\"/images/uploads/climate-prosperity.jpg\";s:11:\"field_id_43\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"field_ft_43\";s:4:\"none\";s:10:\"category_0\";s:2:\"15\";s:10:\"category_1\";s:2:\"60\";}'),