Companies

Matt Sheehan Now President & CEO At Spirtas Wrecking Company After Acquiring The Business In 2018

Published on December 12, 2019 in Companies/News

Matthew Sheehan has become President and Chief Operating Officer of St. Louis-based Spritas Wrecking Company after acquiring the business from founder Arnold Spirtas last year. Spirtas is a licensed demolition and site remediation contractor that plays a critical role in the reuse and redevelopment of a wide variety of industrial, commercial, institutional and residential properties nationally. Since 2000, the company has also demolished and recycled debris from a wide variety of heavy structures including manufacturing plants, power plants, refineries, high-rise buildings and sports stadiums.

“Spirtas has performed more than 10,000 successful projects around the country and we are proud of our reputation for high quality, safety, integrity and staff retention,” Sheehan said. “It is my desire to build upon this tradition as we do more complex projects involving environmental remediation, asbestos and lead management, equipment salvage, waste recycling and scrap recovery.”

Sheehan is responsible for strategic business planning as well as oversight of the company’s operations, finances, safety program and contracting. He had been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Spirtas since joining the company in 1997. Sheehan also has 17 years of construction industry experience with The Western Group prior to joining Spirtas.
Sheehan has a Master of Business Administration degree from Lindenwood University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri State University. He is also a proud graduate of Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis.

Spirtas is a nationally recognized commercial and industrial demolition and remediation business. The company currently employs approximately 95 professionals, managers, superintendents, laborers and operators. For more information, visit www.spirtas.com<http://www.spirtas.com>.

Construction Complete on KAI-Designed Addition, Renovation to Concord Missionary Baptist Church

Published on December 12, 2019 in Companies/News

Construction has been completed on an addition and renovation to the youth educational space at Concord Missionary Baptist Church (Concord Church) in Dallas, Texas. KAI provided architecture, interior design and MEP engineering services on the project.

KAI’s team provided a re-imagined, modern design for an existing 15,000-square-foot space for youth education, plus designed a 1,347-square-foot addition.

The addition provides an energetic space for teens to gather and hang out while their parents are in other services at the church. KAI Senior Interior Designer Terry Crotty says the addition is well connected to the outside patio through windows and overhead garage doors that can be opened to integrate the interior and exterior spaces. The addition also features vibrant, contemporary furniture, fabric and carpet tile, plus an exposed structure ceiling displaying wood plank “clouds” with integrated lighting.

Adjacent to the addition, KAI also designed renovations to an existing auditorium and worship space for youth of all ages that features an impressive stage for fellowship and music.

“We worked very closely with the church’s youth ministry to transform their vision of holistic empowerment of the entire person into a viable design that encourages all stages of youth development and spiritual growth,” said KAI President Darren James.

About KAI Enterprises

KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm providing delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience, in-house multi-discipline professionals, and expertise in both design and construction delivery. Founded in 1980, KAI has grown into one of the largest minority-owned firms in the AEC industry. For nearly 40 years, KAI has been instrumental in transforming communities through its expertise in residential, commercial, K-12, higher education, healthcare, science and technology, aviation, mobility, sports and entertainment, government, water and community-focused projects. KAI Enterprises is comprised of four distinct business units—KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and KAI 360 Construction Services. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com.

River City Business Park signs JGB Enterprises

Published on December 12, 2019 in Companies/News

National supplier of industrial hoses expands to fill 50,000 square feet in park’s first building

JLL’s industrial brokerage team announced today that JGB Enterprises has signed a lease agreement for 50,000 square feet in River City Business Park, a planned business park development along the Mississippi River near the Carondelet neighborhood in south St. Louis city. JLL is the exclusive broker for the project.

JGB is a supplier of hoses for agriculture, firefighting, oilfields and other heavy-duty industrial uses. The company is moving from a 15,000-square-foot space in St. Louis County into the River City park.

The company’s tenancy will leave approximately 75,000 square feet remaining in the park’s Building 1, the first of up to five planned buildings on the River City site. Upon full completion, the park is expected to offer a total of 725,000 square feet of space, with build-to-suit light industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, distribution, and office/flex capabilities.

The industrial park is situated on one of the largest pieces of vacant ground remaining in the city of St. Louis. Its developer, Green Street Development, offers institutional scale development in an infill urban location, with access to rail and four major interstates – I-55, I-44, I-255/270 and I-70.

“River City is unique as an infill urban location with the quality and scale of a suburban industrial business park development,” said Pat Reilly with JLL. “For occupiers whose customer base demands a central location within the metropolitan St. Louis area, River City represents an excellent opportunity to serve those customers while enabling a broad geographic draw for their employee base.”

River City Business Park is located on the site of the former Carondelet Coke facility and is a fully remediated “brownfield” site. Green Street is working to build a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified business park. That certification comes with assurances that the project was designed and built with a “green” footprint – including energy conservation, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction and indoor environmental quality.

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. For further information, visit ir.jll.com.

City Foundry STL Selected as One of Forbes Top 10 Opportunity Zone Funds

Published on December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 in Companies/News

Opportunity Zones have been having a rough time in the press. The tax policy—bipartisan, market based, and designed to inject billions of dollars into long overlooked communities—has recently been cast in the media as another tax loophole for billionaires, giving investors (many political connected) big tax breaks to build real estate projects for the rich, not the underserved people the law was designed to help.

Every new tax law creates a new loophole. There will always be bad actors and unintended consequences. As stories on tax policies go, it makes for a scandalous read. But there is another story, one less salacious but equally important, of bold investors and creative civic leaders using OZ law as it was meant to be.

People On The Move In The Local Construction Industry

Published on December 10, 2019December 12, 2019 in Companies/News

The latest People in the News highlighting new hires, promotions, honors & recognition of the men and women in the St. Louis building community.

Oculus Inc. Grows Staff at St. Louis Headquarters

Oculus Inc., a full-service architecture and interior design firm, has hired Catherine Matthews and Charlene Masona to serve as an entry level intern architect and a marketing assistant, respectively. Both will work at Oculus’ headquarters in St. Louis.

“Catherine and Charlene both bring a variety of skills that will be essential to the growth of Oculus,” said Lisa Bell-Reim, Oculus Inc. president. “We look forward to seeing Catherine add to the talent of our architecture team and Charlene help market our award-winning work. Both are welcome additions to the firm.”

In Matthews’ role, she will work on a variety of projects with an emphasis in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. This includes community-based outpatient clinics in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Corpus Christi, Texas. Prior to joining Oculus, Matthews served as a student intern architect at Corgan and DHC Architects in Texas. She has a Master of Architecture from Kansas State University.

As a marketing assistant, Masona will support both marketing and business development efforts for the firm, specifically in the areas of digital marketing, print production and preparation of proposals, among other responsibilities. Previously, she worked as a social media strategist for the Brian Owens Soul musical brand. Masona possesses a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Oculus Inc. delivers comprehensive architecture, interior design, planning, and move management services with a driving aesthetic to Connect | Shape | Move people, experiences, sensibilities, and spaces. Oculus has offices in St. Louis, Dallas, and Portland, Ore., is WBE-certified and is regularly cited in top industry rankings for architecture and design. Oculusinc.com.

Spellman Brady & Company Hires Nicole Dutton, Artwork Consultant

Spellman Brady & Company, an award-winning interior design firm, is pleased to announce that Nicole Dutton has joined the firm as its Artwork Consultant & Project Manager. She will oversee managing the firm’s artwork master planning services for corporate, healthcare, senior living and higher education clients while managing the budget, schedule and installation of the firm’s multiple artwork projects across the country.

Ms. Dutton brings more than 12 years of professional experience focused on arts administration and curation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Greenville University and holds a Master of Fine Arts from Fontbonne University with a specialty in Painting. Prior to joining Spellman Brady, she was the curator of the William and Florence Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College and worked at Chesterfield Arts as the associate director overseeing the public art master plan and art education.

Spellman Brady & Company is an award-winning interior design firm specializing in senior living, healthcare, and higher education environments. The firm maintains design excellence by delivering comprehensive interior design, furniture, artwork master planning, and procurement services. For more information about Spellman Brady & Company, please visit www.spellmanbrady.com.

December 6, 2019

S. M. Wilson Promotes Mike Ashley To Field Director

S.M. Wilson & Co. has promoted Mike Ashley to Field Director. His promotion comes with a recent restructuring of S. M. Wilson’s Field Operations department. The Field Director position will replace the Director of Field Operations to allow for more than one individual to provide direct support, oversight, and mentorship for the field aspects of projects from pre-construction to close-out including support of superintendents and tradespeople.

Ashley was brought into the Field Operations department to assist former Director of Operations, Mike Zick and Ashley has demonstrated great value in the field as well as the company.

Both Ashley and Zick will assume the title of Field Director. In their new roles, they will each be assigned to specific clients and project teams. This will allow every team the benefit of a dedicated Field Director with the resources available to provide guidance and support.

Ashley joined S. M. Wilson in 2004 and has worked on a variety of projects including Ladue Schools, Link in the Loop, City Foundry STL and Clarendale St. Peters. He is OSHA 30 certified and has more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry.

November 29, 2019

Ross & Baruzzini Names Karen Clark Director of Business Development in Kansas City

International technology consulting and engineering firm Ross & Baruzzini has added Karen Clark as business development director for the firm’s Kansas City office.

“Karen joins us at a time of unprecedented growth. Her experience, not only in business development but in the government sector, will be invaluable,” said John Desch, chief commercial officer of the Kansas City office which since opening in 2017 has grown from a staff of two to 12 designers and professional engineers with 144 years of combined experience.

Clark brings more than 20 years of operations, analysis and business development experience to the Kansas City team where she will be responsible for developing strategies to grow business in the higher education and research, healthcare, government and utilities markets.

Before joining Ross & Baruzzini, Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York with a degree in management and systems engineering. As a commissioned officer, she served for 12 years in various transportation and military intelligence positions. After her time in uniform, she supported the Army for eight years as a contracted military analyst at Fort Leavenworth.

She holds a master’s degree in adult education and a graduate certificate in conflict resolution from Kansas State University.

Clark joins Ross & Baruzzini as it adds to its roster of clients in the Kansas City area including the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, MRIGlobal and Kansas Army National Guard.

The firm currently has more than 400 employees and executes projects in more than 30 countries. It operates from headquarters in St. Louis with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Miami, New Haven, New York, Seattle and Mexico City.

Keselman Joins TriStar Companies as Senior Analyst

Roman Keselman has joined the TriStar Companies as a senior analyst. Making the announcement was Michael Towerman, TriStar president.

In his new position, Keselman will analyze markets across the U.S. and participate in the acquisition and development of institutional grade industrial and multifamily properties.

Prior to joining TriStar, Keselman was an asset manager at Twain Financial Partners, a private equity tax syndicator, where he managed millions of dollars in Historic, Low Income Housing and New Market Tax Credits across the U.S.

He has also worked as a senior financial analyst for Intalere, a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare, and in the corporate property and real estate divisions of the St. Louis City Assessor’s office.

Keselman holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University.

Electrical Connection’s Jim Curran Elected Secretary of Missouri Partnership Board

Missouri Partnership’s Board of Directors recently elected Jim Curran as its Secretary. Curran is the Executive Vice President of the Electrical Connection. Curran develops business opportunities for IBEW/NECA statewide by working with organizations advancing Missouri’s economic development, energy, and technology needs. Curran’s one-year term as Secretary of Missouri Partnership’s Board of Directors is effective January 1, 2020.

“We are honored to have Jim as our new Secretary,” said Subash Alias, Missouri Partnership CEO. “Jim’s deep knowledge and understanding of economic development is invaluable as we work with companies that are considering expanding into the state.”

Missouri Partnership is a public-private economic development organization focused on attracting new jobs and investment to the state and promoting Missouri’s business strengths. Since 2007, Missouri Partnership has worked with partners statewide to attract companies that have created 22,000+ new jobs, $1.1 billion+ in new annual payroll, and $2.7 billion+ in new capital investment. Some recent successful projects that led to major investment in Missouri include Amazon, Casey’s General Store, Empire Comfort Systems, Faurecia, Lincoln Rackhouse, Niagara Bottling, Nucor Steel, QRS Products, Square, and USDA.

Missouri Partnership works in partnership with the Hawthorn Foundation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the State of Missouri, and economic development groups across Missouri. Led by an independent Board of Directors and working in collaboration with partners from across the state, Missouri Partnership’s team markets Missouri globally as a strategic business location. Missouri Partnership provides direct support to companies interested in investing in the state and connects them with the best locations and solutions for their business goals.

Western Specialty Contractors Receives ICRI Concrete Repair Project Award for Historic Lancaster Hotel Façade Restoration in Houston

Specialty Contractors – Houston, Texas Branch was honored on Nov. 12 with an Award of Merit from the International Concrete Repair Institute for its work to restore the historic Lancaster Hotel in Downtown Houston.

The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) conducts an awards program each year to honor and recognize outstanding projects in the concrete and masonry repair industries. Entries are received from around the United States, and the winning projects are honored each year at the annual ICRI Awards Banquet at their annual fall convention.

Built in 1926, the twelve-story, luxury boutique Lancaster Hotel was beginning to show signs of deterioration on its brick and stucco façade and its cast stone units, primarily at the top level of the building on the south and west elevations. The building also exhibited cracks at the spiral columns and mortar joints, as well as surface spalling of the cast stone trim and spandrel panels. Ornamental cast stone spiral columns and brackets were also missing, and the steel lintels and shelf angles were corroded.

Western partnered with Houston-based Walker Restoration Consultants to develop a restoration program to address the façade distress and waterproofing issues to meet Texas Historical Commission requirements.

Western Specialty Contractors – Houston, Texas Branch Manager Patrick Sheeran said he is proud of the restoration team’s efforts and ability to overcome obstacles that arose on the challenging project.

“It was a design-build restoration project at a historical hotel and building in the heart of downtown. We were only allowed to make noise during certain hours of the day and almost every scope of work created noise. Being a historical building, we had to follow strict historical guidelines set forth by the plans and specifications for the project,” said Sheeran.

M Property Services Director of Construction Management Dr. Ramona Tumblin-Rucker Receives Prestigious MOKAN Award

Work to improve lives, provide jobs within NorthSide Regeneration development her priority

Dr. Ramona Tumblin-Rucker, PEng, MBA, MPM, CHC, D. Mgt., Director of Construction Management at M Property Services (MPS), has been awarded the prestigious “Private Sector Executive of the Year” award by the MOKAN Construction Contractors Assistance Center. Dr. Tumblin-Rucker received her award at the organization’s 45^th Annual MOKAN Awards dinner on Nov. 22 in St. Louis.

Since 1974, MOKAN has been at the forefront of efforts to provide opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses on construction projects in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. MOKAN’s goal is to increase the number of qualified MBE and WBE contractors and workers, as well as increase the amount of public and private dollars spent with them.

“I am blessed and I take great pride that an industry trailblazer like MOKAN would find M Property Services and our work worthy of such an important award. Like MOKAN efforts to bring innovation to the industry of construction, we at MPS are bringing innovation to urban development and uplifting economic opportunity by creating jobs and improving the landscape of North St. Louis,” said Dr. Tumblin-Rucker.

Hired by M Property Services in April 2019, Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has been focused on oversite and construction management for projects within MPS Chairman and CEO Paul McKee, Jr.’s NorthSide Regeneration development, a 1,500-acre mixed-use revitalization of underserved North St. Louis located less than a mile from Downtown St. Louis, The Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium.

Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO; MBA in Management from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK; Master of Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management in St. Louis, MO and Doctor of Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, MO.

She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, St. Louis Construction Forum, St. Louis Construction Consumers Council, Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Western Specialty Contractors Installs 20-foot-wide Lighted Wreath on North Kansas City Hospital Façade

Published on December 10, 2019 in Companies/News

The holidays are a great time for businesses and organizations to display their favorite festive decorations on the outside of their buildings. Last month, Western Specialty Contractors – Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City was contracted to install a 1,000-pound, lighted wreath on North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

The 20-foot-wide, green painted wreath with red painted berries and a bow, is constructed of .090 mill finish aluminum. Western was contracted by Pro Electric of Kansas City, Kansas to install hangers on the hospital’s façade to secure the wreath and to check the wreath’s approx. 1,600 light bulbs and paint for any damage.

Western workers were lowered via a swing stage from the hospital’s roof to the wreath’s designated position on the side of the building where they installed 36 lag bolts and shields in the brick façade. The wreath, which was constructed in 16 sections, was then hoisted into position by the workers and secured. The project took two days to complete. Western workers will remove the wreath on January 6, and it will be stored onsite until next November.

Rod O’Bannon, Branch Manager of Western’s Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City, recommends using an experienced contractor to hang any holiday decoration from a building’s façade due to safety concerns.

“When hanging any lighted décor, the first thing to check prior to install are the lights, sockets and structural integrity of the fixture,” he said. “The façade should also be checked for any fasteners that may have come loose, and the integrity of the wall that it will be mounted to should also be checked thoroughly to make sure it will safely hold the fixture in place. A fixture that is not hung properly could fall and damage structures or injure people below and damage the façade on its way down.”

For more information about hanging holiday fixtures, contact the Western Specialty Contractors branch office nearest you – https://www.westernspecialtycontractors.com/western-locations/.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, roofing, waterproofing and sheet metal. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit www.westernspecialtycontractors.com.

Seneca Commercial Real Estate Celebrates Topping Out of EDGE@BRDG

Published on December 10, 2019December 10, 2019 in Companies/News

160,000-square-foot building designed as headquarters for Benson Hill, Inc.

As part of the expansion plan for Benson Hill, a crop improvement company, Seneca Commercial Real Estate is in the process of completing the EDGE@BRDG (BioResearch & Development Growth (BRDG) Park) building and will host a topping out celebration. Located on the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center’s campus, the 160,000-square-foot headquarters building will continue to position 39 North as a leading innovation district focused on agtech. The new facility is expected to house as many as 300 employees.

“Being part of securing Benson Hill’s HQ is both a challenge and an honor and continues great movement forward by the agtech community in St. Louis County and Creve Coeur,” said Larry Chapman, founder and CEO of Seneca Commercial Real Estate. “With Bayer and Bunge nearby, we’ll really see 39 North as a focal point for economic development and job creation for our region, and that is what Seneca is about: Our primary focus is to undertake complex transactions that support the growth of the St. Louis region.”

The topping out ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at the EDGE@BRDG jobsite, at 1001 N. Warson Rd., Creve Coeur, MO 63132. During the ceremony, participants will sign the top steel beam and lift it in place. Welcome remarks and photos will be taken. A topping out ceremony is traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction. Following the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about its expansive lab space and the latest building amenities creating a collaborative, healthy, and fun atmosphere. Lunch will be provided. Being a construction zone, all attendees are asked to wear closed-toe shoes (no high-heels) to the jobsite.

“The business of agriculture technology is booming and St. Louis County has been at the forefront of research for decades. More campuses like Seneca’s EDGE@BRDG are sure to fuel this economic growth,” said County Executive Sam Page. “Alongside major players in the industry choosing St. Louis as their headquarters, our region will remain a leader in international agricultural technology.”

“This building was designed to support the creative agriculture technology being developed at Benson Hill. Along with Seneca, the City of Creve Coeur is excited to build upon the current momentum of this industry in the St. Louis region,” said City of Creve Coeur Mayor Barry Glantz. “The features and amenities within these developments will lend a hand to attracting and influencing young talent in the country, showcasing our community.”

Projects like these only happen when a great team of professionals committed to the success of our community, come together to make things happen. The Bank of Washington understood how important Benson Hill’s headquarters is to St. Louis, so they rolled up their sleeves and found a way to finance the construction.

“We are honored to help bring this project to fruition, to build a relationship with Larry Chapman and his team, and to help St. Louis and the Creve Coeur community grow. As the St. Louis region continues to experience economic vitality, attracting companies of this magnitude, offering jobs at this scale, and becoming a recognized and respected technological hub, we know the strong future of the St. Louis area will continue to move forward,” remarked L.B. Eckelkamp, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Washington.

The combined efforts of Seneca, the Bank of Washington, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Larson Capital, Clayco, Inc., Benson Hill, all with the assistance of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, St. Louis County, and the City of Creve Coeur, allowed this all-important project to become a reality.

“This was my first opportunity to work with the Bank of Washington. I was not only impressed with their sophistication and creativity, but amazed to learn how many transformational projects the Bank of Washington is working on in the metropolitan area (such as The Foundry and Hibernia Apartments in Dogtown), and just how committed they are to the success of this region.” Chapman said. “Equally important to the team, Larson Capital secured an Opportunity Zone Investment that provided the equity capital needed to bring EDGE@BRDG from concept to reality.”

The Danforth Center’s significant commitment to growing the agtech community and investment of millions in infrastructure, like greenhouses, made the EDGE@BRDG development possible. Without the Danforth Center’s vision of making St. Louis a world center for plant science, there would be no platform to bring Benson Hill to St. Louis from North Carolina.

“It takes a certain kind of developer to undertake a project like this – one who will take risks and who will meet a very tight schedule of a rapidly growing company like Benson Hill,” said Sam Fiorello, Chief Operating Officer, Danforth Plant Science Center. “We are grateful to Larry and his team for stepping up to the challenge and contributing to the growth of 39 North.”

“We have a great team committed to making food production better, but achieving our purpose can’t happen without a supportive community like we have found in 39 North,” said Matt Crisp, CEO and Co-Founder of Benson Hill. “Partners like Seneca, Clayco, the Danforth Center and others are the reason that we can call St. Louis our home, and we are thrilled to be a part of the progress being made on this project.”

Clayco is the design builder with the Lamar Johnson Collaborative as the architect of record for the building. This is the 31st year Chapman has partnered with Clayco to deliver challenging development projects. With a May 2020 delivery date, Clayco is the go-to fast track design builder that has never failed in over 30 years of projects with Chapman. Other professionals include Stock & Associates, Alper Audi, and Midwest Testing.

“The assembled team and local leadership have really stepped up to support the agtech investment in the St. Louis area,” said Chapman. “Our team is dedicated to improving communities, and this project is a perfect example of how we can do that.”

About Benson Hill
Benson Hill empowers innovators to develop more healthy, tasty, and sustainable food by unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants. Benson Hill’s CropOS^™ platform combines machine learning and big data with breeding techniques and plant biology to drastically accelerate and simplify the product development process. More information can be found online at www.bensonhill.com. Follow us on Twitter at @bensonhillinc.

About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a nonprofit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and through the support of individuals and corporations. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter.

About Bank of Washington

Established in 1877, the Bank of Washington is one of the oldest and largest community banks. The bank offers a full line of individual and business banking products, and is focused on strong personalized service and empowering customers with the tools they need for financial success. The investments that the Bank of Washington makes in the local community ranks them as one of the largest commercial lenders in the St. Louis area. To learn more, visit www.bankofwashington.com.

About Clayco
Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $2.6 billion in revenue for 2018, Clayco specializes in the “art and science of building,” providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional and residential related building projects. For more information visit www.claycorp.com.

About Seneca Commercial Real Estate

Seneca Commercial Real Estate was founded in 2019 by Larry Chapman, as the next evolution of his 41 years of commercial real estate development career, focused on the St. Louis metropolitan area. Based on the idea of improving the community around it, Seneca brings together an experienced team of professionals to transform real estate now and develop areas for the greater good. For more information, call (314) 730-1000 or visit: www.seneca-cre.com

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation Raises Nearly $140,000

Published on December 10, 2019 in Associations/Companies/News

Recognizes Bruce Holland with award

In November, nearly 300 people gathered at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon, IL and celebrated the annual Elizabethan Gala Fundraiser, raising nearly $140,000 to benefit the new HSHS (Hospital Sisters Health System) St. Elizabeth’s Radiation Oncology Center set to open in early 2020. The traditional fall event featured an evening of fellowship and fundraising accompanied by dinner and music. This year featured entertainment by the Fabulous Motown Revue and was emceed by the Southern Illinois Director for HSHS Medical Group, Dr. Robert Farmer.

“We are always grateful to our community, physicians, and colleagues who come out year-after-year to support our annual Elizabethan Gala,” stated David Garris, Director of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation. “Thanks to their generosity, St. Elizabeth’s Foundation is able to provide technology and resources to enhance patient care for our region.”

As part of the new Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon, the HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Radiation Oncology Center represents an ongoing investment in the region and solidifies HSHS’s desire to provide leading cancer care for an ever-expanding Metro-East community. This commitment will elevate the quality and accessibility of cancer care on this side of the river.

The radiation oncology center is being built to accommodate a new $2.7 million Linear Accelerator Radiotherapy System. This state-of-the-art equipment will provide image-guided radiosurgery and radiotherapy capability to treat tumors and lesions throughout the body. The system will help patients heal from significantly fewer and shorter sessions than with conventional radiation therapy. This reduction in treatment exposure will lower the risk of side effects commonly associated with radiation therapy.

In addition to celebrating the building of the new cancer center, St. Elizabeth’s Foundation awarded the 2019 Elizabethan Award to Holland Construction CEO Bruce Holland for his unwavering commitment to the mission and values of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

About Elizabethan Award Recipient Bruce Holland: Bruce Holland serves as CEO of Holland Construction Services which he founded in 1986. Under his leadership, Holland Construction Services has developed a strong company culture that balances personal family and business family, customer and employee satisfaction, and controlled growth that allows the company to maintain both its values and its close relationships with customers, while still providing the high-quality service, for which it’s known.

Bruce has served on the boards of numerous organizations over the years including executive committees of the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois (past president), the St. Louis Regional Chamber, and the Regional Business Council. He also served as Chairman of the Mississippi River Bridge Committee to gain consensus between Illinois and Missouri political leadership and both Departments of Transportation to plan and fund what is now the Stan Musial Bridge.

Bruce has also been a lifelong supporter and friend of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. In addition to receiving the Elizabethan Award, Bruce has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the United Way, the Boy Scouts of America, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Belleville Diocese, for his altruistic commitment to his community and his faith.

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation also thanks the many community sponsors for the event, including: Diamond Sponsors: Alberici-Holland Joint Venture, Professional Therapy Services, Inc., and Jim Taylor, Inc., Emerald Sponsors: Donovan Rose Nester P.C., Erlinger Construction Co. Inc., and Vituity, Sapphire Sponsors: 1818 Chophouse, Bank of O’Fallon, Belleville News-Democrat, Central Illinois Radiological Associates, LTD, Clinton Manor Living Center, Focal Pointe Outdoor Solutions, Inc., Grimm & Gorly Florists, Landmark Healthcare Facilities, LLC, Medstar Ambulance, Premier Pathology Services, LLC, Rottler Pest Solutions, Southern Illinois Builders Association, and UnitedHealthcare, Ruby Sponsors: Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital-SSM Health, Dr. Paul & Loretta Holdener,

Greensfelder, P.C., Guarantee Electrical, Hank’s Excavating & Landscaping, Inc., Holland Construction, Inc., Jack & Evelyn Schmitt, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., Lincoln Surgical Associates, Ltd., Patti Fischer & Greg Elliott, Prairie Heart Institute of Illinois, Superior Waterproofing & Restoration Co., Inc., TWM, Inc., and USI Insurance-Mike Boucher, Amethyst Sponsors: AGP Audio/Video, Bel-Clair Electric, Inc., CardioThoracic Surgery Associates, P.C., CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, Cy Wuebbels & Sons Painting, Dr. & Mrs. A. Joseph Ecker, George Weis Company, Henricksen Contract Office Furniture, Hock Mechanical, Morrissey Contracting Company, Inc., Receptions by Robin-Robin Fix, Sandburg Phoenix & von Gontard, P.C., Sangiolo & Baker Masonry, LLC.

Photo Above: Dave Garris, Director of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation, and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital President and CEO Patti Fischer proudly presented Bruce Holland with the Elizabethan Award for 2019.

About the Elizabethan Gala Fundraiser

The Elizabethan’s history spans over 30 years. Originally known as the “Elizabethan Holiday,” the traditional fall event was transformed into a gala fundraiser in 2012. Since that time, the Elizabethan Gala has become St. Elizabeth’s Foundation’s signature event, raising over $1million for health care programs and equipment.

About Hospital Sisters Health System

Hospital Sisters Health System’s mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high-quality Franciscan health care ministry. Sponsored by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 14 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Litchfield, Springfield and Streator) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.

Designated Space for Student Gamers Important Element in Today’s Student Housing Designs

Published on December 5, 2019 in Companies/News

New University of Colorado Boulder Residence Hall Features Esport Gaming Space

When Baby Boomers left home for college, they were sternly warned by their parents not to waste time playing cards in the student union. Fortunate kids of that era may have had a small television for their living space, but the Internet was just a futurist’s dream. Today, children of the Gen X generation leave their homes completely wired for technology, packing up their PS4s and an average of seven devices and expect to be able to continue their gaming and online activities while away at school.

“Everything has evolved toward high-tech in today’s learning environments, and student housing must keep pace,” said KWK Architects Principal Javier Esteban. “Majors have been created with gaming theory and design in mind, and scholarships are offered to student athletes who excel at esports. In fact, the National Association of Collegiate Esports awards millions in scholarships each year. And the Olympics are considering esports as a demonstration in the 2024 games.”

Today’s students are encouraged to play games as a way of bonding with others and supporting their school’s teams. In addition to scholarships offered for participants, students can follow esports in person in arena audiences and through live feeds of competitions. Games such as Fortnite, which staged a World Cup that awarded $100 million in prize money to top players, are as important to many students as an NCAA sport was to their parents. The games Call of Duty and Overwatch have World Leagues. League of Legends and HALO players can aim for participating in World Championships.

With esports on its way to becoming the next football league to today’s students, and recreational gaming a given, student housing must take both the casual and avid gamer’s needs into consideration in its design. So, what does a contemporary student housing facility need to have to make the gamer comfortable and happy?

“It’s important to keep students engaged with each other,” said Esteban. “So, today’s housing space has to offer communal areas where gamers can join forces to experience play and establish connections with others. Those common areas need to be developed alongside thoughtfully designed individual living spaces.”

Common areas and student rooms must be equipped with high-speed Internet service and reliable Wi-Fi. Offering service with very little downtime is extremely important; designers want to ensure there are no dead spots in their coverage area within the residence hall. Numerous electrical outlets and USB ports are also essential in student housing design, both in common areas and individual rooms.

Specifying the right furnishings and creating a gaming-friendly environment should be a priority as well in designing the perfect student gaming space.

“Comfortable and easily movable furniture is essential,” said KWK Architect Interior Designer Megan Bogener. “Whether it’s for gaming or for studying together, students want to be able to form pods with their sofas and chairs, adjust walls to right-size their space and plug in or charge up wherever they are playing or studying.”

Furnishings and equipment that accommodate the gaming student should also extend to common areas as well. The co-working or gaming space should ideally be outfitted with large-screen, wall-mounted monitors and students should also have the ability to darken a gaming space, an important detail to many players.

KWK Architects has created space perfect for gamers and community at one of its most recent projects, the new Williams Village East residence hall at the University of Colorado Boulder. The building’s first floor features a gaming area with a large, wall-mounted television hooked up to a Sony PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, plus an area with other traditional recreational games such as ping pong and pool. The space also features round tables with chairs and a large, sectional sofa surrounding the television that can be reconfigured to meet the students’ needs. The residence hall was completed and open to students for the fall 2019 semester.

Founded in 2013 by five architects with a combined 120 years of higher education knowledge and experience, KWK Architects partners with colleges and universities across the United States to create innovative and inspiring places that enhance campus life. For more information about KWK Architects, visit www.kwkarchitects.com or contact Director of Marketing Cindy Hausler at cindyh@kwkarchitects.com.

Castle Contracting Produces New Video to Humanize Construction Careers

Published on December 5, 2019 in Companies/News

A new video unveiled by Castle Contracting, LLC provides a personal perspective of working at the St. Louis-based civil construction company.

In the video, Castle Field Manager Roy Hardester shares details about his career path, daily role and personal experience working in construction. Hardester joined Castle as a laborer in 2009 and served as a foreman and superintendent before assuming his current role as field manager about four years ago. He also oversees the company’s emergency services team, which responds to water main breaks, flooding events and other unexpected incidents.

Produced in collaboration with St. Louis-based JM Films, the video will be used in Castle’s ongoing recruiting efforts as well as to informally introduce potential employees to the benefits of working at Castle, which will celebrate its 25^th anniversary in 2020.

“With the skilled labor shortage continuing to challenge the entire construction industry, it’s important to provide people with a glimpse of the diverse construction careers available in St. Louis,” said Michael Pranger, vice president of operations at Castle Contracting. “We think the most effective way of introducing folks to construction is for them to hear directly from someone who has successfully built a rewarding construction career.”

Eighty percent of construction firms report they are having a difficult time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce, according to the results of a 2019 industry-wide survey conducted by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America.

View the video.

Photo Above: Ray Harderster

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