Companies - Page 205

Following a May 5, 2016, groundbreaking, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is targeting a 2018 completion for a new $75 million science building.

HOK in association with Madison, Wisconsin-based architectural firm Potter Lawson designed the 176,500-sq.-ft. chemistry biology building. The four-story academic and research facility will contain classrooms, lecture halls, research and teaching labs, faculty and staff offices, and a tropical conservatory. It will be the first major freestanding academic facility built on the UW-Stevens Point campus since 1971.

“The building design links the university’s science programs to create a community of science and research,” said Joseph Ostafi, IV, AIA, LEED AP, Science + Technology practice leader for HOK in St. Louis. “The university also wanted to celebrate science by integrating the building into campus life.”

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s student-centered education prepares students for their future science careers while encouraging community outreach and ecological stewardship. The new Chemistry Biology Building is located along a major pathway connecting student housing with the university’s’ social amenity spaces.

The design also puts science on display throughout the building with electronic kiosks and high visibility into biology labs and the tropical conservatory, which will be open to all students and visitors. The first floor will also feature artwork inspired by the natural environment. Inside the building, teaching spaces will be clearly visible to students and campus visitors.

To integrate academic and research functions, the design purposefully places research, instructional and prep spaces close to each other to enable equipment sharing. Flexible classroom configurations include movable furniture that accommodates collaboration among teams of varying sizes. State-of-the-art technology will facilitate hands-on learning and research.

The team incorporated several sustainable design strategies. Large windows optimize daylighting, while mechanical and electrical systems are highly efficient. The facility is projected to use 40 percent less energy and 26 percent less water compared to a conventional design. In addition to the conservatory, green space around the building includes bioswales and rain gardens. The third floor has an outdoor patio with a rooftop garden and space for casual gatherings.

Wisconsin-based Miron Construction Co. will be the general contractor.

HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm.

MC Hotel Construction, a general contractor specializing in new hotel construction and renovations, recently broke ground on the new Hampton Inn by Hilton.  Sister company Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, will manage the property, which is scheduled to be completed by March, 2017.

The $12 million hotel will be located at 150 Wentzville Bluffs Dr. in Wentzville, Mo. in a new development called Wentzville Bluffs.  The 64,000-square-foot hotel will have 109 rooms and suites.  The property will feature a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool, meeting rooms, and backyard seating areas with a grill and gazebo.

“The Wentzville Bluffs development provides numerous amenities within walking distance of the Hampton Inn for our guests,” said Midas Hospitality’s Managing Member and CEO David Robert.  “A new state-of-the-art B & B Movie Theatre, Planet Fitness, Stone Summit Steak House, and Hot Shots Sports Bar surround the hotel.”

Insulation Services & Solutions Upgrades at Washington University School of Medicine – Department of Radiation Oncology 

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Washington University School of Medicine is one of the leading developers of new and innovative treatments for cancer patients. The headquarters, located near the Washington University Medical Center campus in St. Louis, has undergone a renovation to update the facility with the latest amenities.

A necessary requirement of this renovation was replacing the outdated and severely damaged insulation on the indoor and outdoor HVAC ducts and water pipes. The ductwork and piping systems on the roof had been badly damaged over time by weather, corrosion and foot traffic, and the interior insulation was worn and outdated.

The Washington University School of Medicine staff trusted ISS Insulation Services & Solutions to provide a completely new insulation system for these infrastructure components. ISS installed 9,000 sq. ft. of exterior ductwork wrapped with 2” polyisocyanyrate insulation board. This insulation was covered with a poly guard jacket for increased thermal efficiency and sloped for improved water drainage. ISS also insulated the exterior water piping with fiberglass insulation covered with an aluminum jacket and PVC Fitting Covers to prevent damage. The piping was equipped with heat trace cables to prevent freezing in cold weather. The valves on the piping system were insulated with rubber and coated with a weather-resistant paint. Additionally, ISS re-insulated the chilled water piping in the rooftop air handling unit penthouse and the lower-level mechanical room.

This project presented a number of challenges for ISS, from the cold weather during the winter months to the tight proximity of the ductwork on the roof. ISS built their own scaffolding system to properly install insulation in hard-to-reach areas and used their expertise to overcome the difficult spacing issues between the ductwork.

At the conclusion of the project, ISS had installed a state-of-the-art mechanical insulation system throughout the entire facility of this growing medical research center. With its protective coatings and strategically placed weather-resistant features, the insulation system will benefit the facility for years to come.

Five years leading up to 30^th anniversary prove to be a time of remarkable growth as revenue doubles

It took Swansea, Ill.-based Holland Construction Services (Holland) 25 years to grow to $80 million in annual revenue, a milestone it reached in 2011, but in the five short years since then, Holland has undergone a period of rapid growth that has the firm projecting revenues of double that amount for 2016.  With annual revenues on target to top $160 million, and its workforce up by 37 percent since 2011 to 80 office and field staff, the company’s 30^th year in operation is expected to be its best ever.

Company principals attribute the accelerated growth in recent years to a combination of factors. While the commitment to integrity and quality work that have been key to Holland’s solid reputation since it launched in May of 1986 remain at the core, the firm’s ability to take on larger projects in targeted market sectors has helped to catapult Holland into a spot among the largest general contractors in the St. Louis region.
This past year, the company broke ground on HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, Ill., a $140 million joint venture that is the largest single project in Holland’s history; and it comes on the heels of the recently completed $80 million Memorial Hospital-East in Shiloh, Ill., also a joint venture. Another notable project was Cortona at Forest Park, Holland’s first luxury multi-family project in St. Louis, completed in 2014. Today, Holland is under construction on three additional large-scale multi-family projects in Missouri, including Evo Luxury Apartments in Richmond Heights, Alinea—Town & Country, and The Encore at Forest Park, with several more projects in pre-construction.

Other large projects completed in the past five years include more than $20 million in recreation facilities for Missouri Baptist University and the City of Bridgeton, Mo., (both in 2015); the new Liberal Arts Building for Southwestern Illinois College (2013) and Memorial Hospital’s Orthopedic & Neurosciences Center (2011), both in Belleville, Ill., and two multi-family complexes in southwestern Illinois– Parkway Lakeside Homes in O’Fallon, and the Villas at Crystal Lake in Swansea (2011). Holland also has completed more than $150 million in K-12 school projects in Illinois since 2011, including new schools for the West Washington, Wesclin, Lebanon, Flora, and Wayne City School Districts, as well as the new Father McGivney High School.

In its early days, the company was known for its work in the retail arena in southwestern Illinois, building projects such as the Market Place Shopping Center in Fairview Heights, the Swansea Schnucks Plaza and St. Clair Auto Mall in O’Fallon. Other landmark projects over the years include the Gateway Grizzlies Stadium in Sauget, Ill., and the Southern Illinois Miners Stadium in Marion; several projects in the education market, including the O’Fallon (IL) Township High School Milburn Campus and Auditorium and the Southern Illinois University Carbondale “Saluki Way” football stadium and basketball arena renovation projects; as well as multiple area YMCAs.

Holland’s ability to continue to grow during multiple economic downturns is, in part, due to a commitment to attracting the best talent, and staying on top of the dramatic changes in technology over the years in order to leverage them for enhanced efficiency. The company also has maintained a strong focus on safety, serving as a resource in this area for others in the industry.

As company founder and current Chief Executive Officer Bruce Holland reflects on the company’s rich history and three decades of success, he says it’s all about the people. “I am most proud of the opportunities we have provided over the 30 years for people to grow and expand in their careers,” said Holland. “The special culture we have created here has allowed for the planned growth of our people and our company, year by year, and has enabled us to assemble the right leadership team to manage the company now and into the future.”

Mike Marchal, who became president of Holland in 2011 after working his way up through the ranks, believes all the important ingredients are in place for continued growth. “With a foundation of integrity and our culture for taking care of others, we have created opportunities for growth throughout the organization that has prepared our leaders to take the company to another level,” said Marchal.  “Our clients will continue to benefit from the expertise we have gained in a variety of market sectors, paired with the intense focus we apply to surpassing their needs and objectives.”

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Dave Birk noted several other changes in the construction industry over the past 30 years, such as designing and building sustainable facilities,  the introduction of modular (pre-fabricated) construction, the appropriate use of technology during design/pre-construction and construction, and the vital importance of the pre-construction phase to properly design, budget and schedule projects. “Ultimately it’s about adding value to the development team and ensuring satisfied clients,” states Birk.

Repeat work from existing clients has played an important role in Holland’s growth, and those relationships are now paving the way for the company to expand its workload in the St. Louis part of the region, while referrals also are leading to projects outside of the region.

Holland principals also are proud of the community and charitable support that has always been a priority for Holland. The firm’s charity golf tournament – The Klondike Klassic – has alone raised over $134,000 over 10 tournaments, while the company donated an additional $100,000 to other non-profits in 2015, continuing its generous history of giving. This past year, the Holland Employee Charitable Foundation (HECF) also was established with the mission of helping others in the community through donations and volunteering. The HECF is employee-run and driven and, among other initiatives, will make the Klondike Klassic an annual event, with funds raised going towards a local organization voted on annually by the Foundation.

Company leaders have also taken leadership roles in a diverse group of local organizations for the good of the region, including the Southern Illinois Builders Association, United Way, St. Louis Regional Chamber, The Regional Business Council, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters and many others. Team members also provide mentoring and internship opportunities for college students as they aim to both share their expertise and help to attract young workers into the industry.

Team to Install 15,768 Linear Feet of 78-Inch Welded Steel Pipe

O’Fallon, Missouri-based SAK Construction can now consider itself water infrastructure purveyor to the stars as it teams with a joint venture partner to advance the River Supply Conduit Improvement Upper Reach (RSCIUR) Units 5 and 6 project in North Hollywood, California.

SAK and Long Beach, Calif.-based W.A. Rasic Construction Co. Inc. began work on the $91.5 million project for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) in spring of 2015.  Completion is scheduled for early 2018.

The assignment requires the contractors to apply open trench and tunneling strategies to install 15,768 linear feet of 78-inch diameter welded steel pipe and appurtenances. The open trench approach is to be applied to 5,411 linear feet; tunneling to 10,357 feet.

Originally built in the 1940s using concrete pipe, the 30,000-linear-foot RSC is a major conduit for the transmission of water from LADWP’s North Hollywood Pump Station to the Headworks Spreading Ground in central Los Angeles.  After more than 70 years of service, the concrete pipe is showing wear.

The new infrastructure will boost capacity and help the district meet updated state standards for water pressure, enhance system reliability, minimize air entrainment to improve water flow and widen operational flexibility within the distribution system. It will also help LADWP meet new, tougher federal and state water quality regulations by setting the stage for the city’s conversion to chloramines to disinfect drinking water.

“After a hiatus of several years, the SAK tunnel management team is thrilled to return to the West Coast to take on this technically challenging tunnel project,” said Brent Duncan, senior project manager at SAK Construction. “Excavating five separate tunnels in the middle of busy North Hollywood streets has required the project management team to solve problems with creative, unconventional methods to ensure successful completion. Our highly experienced SAK team is well suited to tackle the demands presented by this project. We look forward to a successful completion in 2017.”

Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, and with regional offices in Maryland, California and Tennessee, SAK has active projects across the U.S. The company solves the challenge of maintaining and restoring aging water and sanitary infrastructure for the municipal, energy and industrial markets.  With industry-leading experience and a commitment to service excellence, SAK is a trusted partner helping customers worldwide renew, protect and expand their pipeline infrastructure.

HOK designed the newly opened 17,000-sq.-ft. office space for San Francisco-based Square, Inc., in the @4240 building in the Cortex Innovation Community in midtown St. Louis. Square, the mobile payments company founded by native St. Louisans Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, selected HOK to design the conversion of the historic building’s old wire shed into a state-of-the-art workplace.

Developer Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, previously teamed with HOK to renovate @4240, a LEED Platinum-certified office and laboratory building that once housed a 1940s phone factory.

HOK designed Square’s new office space to attract, engage and optimize its appeal to a variety of employees while creating a dynamic, highly functional workplace environment. Highlights include:

• Orienting the design to take advantage of the 16-foot ceiling and large windows along the building’s east and south facades, as well as several centrally located skylights, to flood the interior with natural light.
• Activity spaces where Square’s workforce can recharge, focus and socialize. These include small nooks and private spaces for meetings and phone conversations. A community space adjacent to a micro kitchen accommodates various company functions.
• Furniture selected to accommodate changes in posture, including adjustable height desks
• Acoustic panels hanging from the ceiling.
• Custom-designed tables for community space made locally by COLLAB, LLC.

Other St. Louis-based project team members include Artisan Building Co., general contractor; Kaemmerlen Electric, electric; Mechanical Solutions, mechanical; Fire Solutions, fire protection; T.J. Wies Contracting, Inc., drywall and ceiling; Flooring Systems, Inc., flooring; Kent Plumbing, Inc., plumbing; and Missouri Valley Glass Co., Inc., glazing.

HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Through a network of 24 offices worldwide, HOK provides design excellence and innovation to create places that enrich people’s lives and help clients succeed.  DesignIntelligence consistently ranks HOK as a leader in sustainable, high-performance design and technology innovation.