Brinkmann Constructors to Expand with Richmond, Va., Location

Published on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021

New office will allow Brinkmann to better serve the east coast

Brinkmann Constructor, a leading national general contractor, will be opening a new office in the Richmond, Va., area to allow the company to better serve the east coast.

Over the last few years Brinkmann has entered many new market areas as it continues to expand its national reach. One of those markets is the Richmond, Va., area where Brinkmann is currently building four senior living facilities and pursuing a variety of projects in the surrounding communities. It’s because of this success that Brinkmann is opening this new office location.

“Brinkmann’s tremendous growth over the last several years has led us to this exciting new opportunity,” said Brian D. Satterthwaite, President of Brinkmann Constructors. “This new location will allow us to better serve existing clients, nurture new partnerships and continue to grow our national footprint.”

The new office, located at 4801 Cox Road in Glen Allen, will be led by Brinkmann Vice President Brett Goodman, who has extensive experience building a wide variety of projects. Goodman was recently promoted to VP after six years as a project director leading some of Brinkmann’s most successful projects, many of them on the east coast. Goodman has more than 28 years of construction experience, and will oversee Brinkmann’s Richmond office operations, manage client relationships and lead the office through Brinkmann’s strategic goals and initiatives.

Brinkmann Constructors is a national general contractor offering design/build, design/assist and construction management services to a wide variety of commercial industries, including student housing, senior living, industrial and retail. Visit www.brinkmannconstructors.com or call 636-537-9700 for more information.

BSI joins NIBS BIM Council

Published on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021

Associations/Companies/News

This membership allows BSI to participate as the National Institute of Building Sciences helps to develop a national Building Information Modeling (BIM) program for the US

BSI, the business improvement and standards company, has become a member of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) BIM (Building Information Modeling) Council. The Council will help develop a national BIM program for the US that aligns with international standards.

The BIM Council is one of eight NIBS councils with the mission to lead the development and deployment of broadly adopted national information management standards and processes.

BIM is well established outside the US, in countries such as the UK, and supported by the international standard, ISO 19650-1:2018 – Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modeling (BIM) — Information management using building information modeling.

Recently, NIBS and the UK’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to adapt the UK program model and materials as a guide for a US roadmap to encourage greater adoption of ISO 19650 as a best practice and industry benchmark.

“We’re delighted the NIBS and CDBB have signed an MoU to work together on this important undertaking. This partnership represents a step forward in the development of the US National Building Information Management (BIM) program,” said Joe Muratore, Americas Director Product Certification, BSI.

“The US built environment sector has adopted BIM best practice to a degree, however the standardization rate remains low,” said Andy Butterfield, Managing Director, Built Environment, BSI. “This new US program will align with ISO 19650, the international standard for BIM, and will help move the US industry forward. We’re excited to be a part of the process and look forward to working on this exciting project.”

BIM has been in the US building construction market for about two decades having been more heavily used in the past ten years. The challenge the MoU and BIM Council hope to address is the proliferation of standards and requirements throughout the industry. Many owners, federal, state and private, have developed their own BIM standards with variations between them. One example of this is the Level of Development standards; in her study published in 2016, Marzia Bolpagni identified 28 different LOD standards internationally. The development of a cohesive US program will lead to a greater level of adoption of ISO 19650 and cohesiveness.

For more information about ISO 19650, click here.

BSI is the business improvement and standards company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence, “inspiring trust for a more resilient world.” For over a century BSI has driven best practice in organizations around the world. Working with over 77,500 clients across 195 countries, it is a truly global business with skills and experience across all sectors including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail, and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards and Knowledge, Assurance Services, Regulatory Services, and Consulting Services, BSI helps clients to improve their performance, grow sustainably, manage risk and ultimately become more resilient.

Labor Shortage: Unlock Solutions by Evaluating Your Employment Value Proposition

Published on June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

Companies/Featured/News

Submitted by: Schmersahl Treloar & Co

Labor Shortage: Unlock Solutions by Evaluating Your Employment Value Proposition

If your company is hiring but struggling to find workers, it’s not alone. Despite an upsurge in economic activity in many parts of the country, many employers are facing a shortage of qualified workers to fill open positions. While there are no easy answers, there might be some alternatives that won’t break your budget. A key step is evaluating what your employees value most about working at your business.

In normal market conditions, people who’ve been unemployed due to an economic slump are generally eager to take a job when the economy perks up. But times are far from normal in many places and industries. One of the most pressing concerns employers face today is labor quality and availability, according to findings from The CFO Survey for the first quarter of 2021. (See “CFOs Disclose Top Concerns and Employment Outlook” at right).

Here’s an overview of what’s happening in some areas and how employers can attract and retain qualified workers.

Reasons for the Shortage

Employers offer various explanations for the current labor shortage including:

With federal funds added to state unemployment insurance benefits, some workers can earn more by staying on unemployment than they would earn by accepting low-paying jobs,
Parents of children who are attending school remotely lack the childcare support to leave home to go to work,
Some people are afraid of contracting COVID-19 at a worksite, and
Some Baby Boomers have adopted a you-only-live-once attitude and decided to retire.

The first factor might soon wane. President Biden recently instructed the U.S. Department of Labor to work with states to restore requirements that unemployment benefits only be given to people who are actively seeking jobs and don’t turn down “suitable” job offers. In addition, some states — including Montana, Florida, Iowa, Tennessee, Massachusetts and others — have already taken action to eliminate the incentive to stay on unemployment benefits when viable job opportunities are available.

Government Assistance

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) also offers relief to help parents return to the workforce. Specifically, the ARPA provides subsidies for childcare providers that could expand the availability of those services on an affordable basis to parents of homebound students.

On the state level, in a move that could be followed by other states, Montana recently announced a plan to pay a bonus to unemployed individuals “who rejoin the labor force and accept and maintain steady employment for at least one month,” according to Governor Greg Gianforte. Montana will use money granted to states under the ARPA to fund this effort; so, other states might follow Montana’s lead without dipping into their own coffers.

Creative Solutions

Even with government relief measures, you might still have trouble over the short run finding qualified workers to fill your job openings. Money talks, so you might consider offering:

Signing bonuses,
Stay-bonuses (awarded to employees who stick around for a prescribed period), and
Above-market wages.

Before increasing your compensation budget, however, it pays to check your employment value proposition (EVP). HR executives have used this term for decades. In a nutshell, EVP refers to everything that employees appreciate about working for your company.

A more comprehensive definition from HR technology company Smarp is “an ecosystem of support, recognition and values that an employer provides to employees to achieve their highest level of work.” Pay, while important, isn’t always at the top of an employee’s list.

Intangible Benefits

When evaluating your EVP, start by talking to your loyal and productive employees to find out what they value most about working for you. They’ll probably mention intangible “benefits” you don’t even recognize, because they come naturally. Examples might include the following:

Respect and concern for employees’ well-being,
An upbeat corporate culture,
Flexible work arrangements,
Learning and training options, and
Professional growth opportunities.

In a small company, there might not be much of a career ladder to climb. Still, few employees get excited about positions they perceive as “dead-end jobs.” When employees believe you’ll do your best to provide jobs with more responsibility and pay whenever possible, they’ll do more to help your company grow and provide additional opportunities for advancement.

Traditional Benefit Offerings

Employees also value traditional benefits, such as health plans and 401(k) matching contributions. These elements of an employee’s compensation package can be costly, however.

You also might consider offering “voluntary” benefits, including consumer goods purchasing services, life insurance, disability insurance and pet insurance. Employees pay for these benefits, although they might be payroll-deducted. By negotiating with vendors, employers may be able to provide these programs to employees on a more economical basis than via traditional sales channels.

Optimizing Your EVP

When evaluating EVP, the goal is to make your company’s compensation package as attractive as possible — without breaking the bank. By surveying workers, you can help determine which monetary, intangible and noncash components they value the most and identify gaps in your offerings. Sometimes, small changes can reap major payoffs when it comes to attracting and retaining workers in a tight labor market.

You can’t bolster your EVP overnight. But the sooner you discover the cost-effective benefits that your employees value, the sooner you may be able to assemble a skilled, motivated and productive workforce to thrive as the economy moves forward..

People On The Move In The Local Construction Industry

Published on June 29, 2021June 30, 2021

Companies/Featured/News/People

Cheryl D.S. Walker Joins Midwest BankCentre’s Legal Board of Directors

Cheryl D.S. Walker, interim president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation and an experienced attorney, has been elected to the Midwest BankCentre legal board of directors.

Walker leads the Walker Commercial Law Group LLC, where she applies 30 years of legal experience to creating innovative business and legal solutions for clients; structuring complex commercial transactions; and negotiating commercial design and construction agreements. In her role with Deaconess Foundation, she leads a faith-based grantmaking organization supporting child well-being in St. Louis through philanthropy, advocacy, and organizing for racial equity and public policy change.

Walker possesses notable skills in capacity building, visioning, strategic planning and executive search leadership through her varied professional and community leadership roles. She serves as chair of the Missouri Ethics Commission, president of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, vice president of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, board member for St. Louis Business Empowerment Center and as a commissioner on the Tower Grove Park Board. She is an Alexis de Tocqueville cabinet member for the United Way of Greater St. Louis and a trustee for the Whitaker Foundation, centered on enhancing the arts and encouraging use of urban parks.

She formerly served on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, which she chaired in 2008. She co-chaired the Presidential Search Committee that selected Dr. Mun Y. Choi as the 24th president of the University of Missouri system.

Walker has been recognized among St. Louis’ Most Influential Business Women by the St. Louis Business Journal and as a Most Inspiring St. Louisan by the NAACP, St. Louis chapter. She was recognized for impactful leadership by Women of Achievement and received the Excellence in the Legal Profession award from the National Society of Black Engineers, St. Louis Chapter.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Missouri University of Science & Technology and her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Midwest BankCentre’s current assets exceed $2 billion and deposits total more than $1.5 billion. A mainstay of the greater St. Louis community banking scene since 1906, the bank employs a staff of about 280 working at 18 bank locations in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County in Illinois. It works to empower people, enable business and energize neighborhoods through the strength of its financial services, including personalized consumer and business banking, business cash management, mortgage lending, home equity loans, financial planning and investments, insurance and digital banking.

The bank is a local leader in the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition (formerly the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force) and its Bank-On Save-Up St. Louis initiative. Since 2001, Midwest BankCentre has consecutively achieved the Bauer Financial 5-Star Superior financial rating each quarter. It has been recognized for its success in bringing mainstream financial services to unbanked and underbanked citizens in the region and other diversity and inclusion contributions with the 2019 Community Commitment Award from the American Bankers Association Foundation and the 2018 National Community Bank Service Award from the Independent Community Bankers of America^®.

Ryan Neff Joins Castle Contracting as Project Manager

Castle Contracting, LLC has hired Ryan Neff as Project Manager. In this position, Neff will lead and oversee the day-to-day operation of earthwork and site utility projects for a variety of owners and general contractors. He is responsible for the planning, execution and closeout of projects and overall project performance.

Prior to joining Castle, Neff was a Project Manager and an Assistant Project Manager at Korte & Luitjohan Contractors in Highland, Ill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from the University of Cincinnati.

“Ryan is a great addition,” said Michael Pranger, Castle Contracting vice president of operations. “His expertise in estimating, project management and a variety of project types is an asset to the Castle team.”

Castle Contracting, LLC provides turnkey site preparation and design-build services, site utilities, earthwork and trenchless technology directly to owners; general contractors; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractors. The company’s earthmoving expertise is visible throughout the St. Louis region and from coast to coast. Castle’s recent civil contracting projects include Gateway Arch National Park, the East End transformation of Washington University’s Danforth campus, Next NGA West, and Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility.

June 25, 2021

Castle Stone Products Welcomes Jim Tovo as Director of Operations

Castle Stone Products is pleased to announce that Jim Tovo has joined the Castle Stone team as Director of Operations. In his new position, Jim will be responsible for leading production, QC, shipping & receiving and further positioning the company for operational efficiencies and growth. Jim will also be instrumental in the company’s launch of its new line of Laticrete products. Jim brings nearly 15 years of industry operational & sales experience in his new role, as the Company continues to expand its reach in multiple states.

Castle Stone Products is a STL-based, business-to-business manufacturer of 12 different styles of stone veneer, distribute a full range of cast stone materials & granite and recently was approved as a distributor for masonry veneer installation products from Laticrete.

IMPACT Strategies’ Growth Prompts Promotions of Teresa Whittaker & Scott Manning

IMPACT Strategies is excited to announce the promotions of Teresa Whittaker to Chief Financial Officer and Scott Manning to Director of Construction Operations.

As Chief Financial Officer, Teresa Whittaker will execute IMPACT’s financial strategic initiatives, develop long-term financial goals, and play an integral role in driving the success of IMPACT by monitoring financial performance. In this role, Whittaker will continue to lead IMPACT’s accounting team and HR operations, identify critical trends, and develop new company best practices, projections, and solutions.

Prior to joining IMPACT, Whittaker received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Robert Morris College and worked in the public accounting sector for 10 years. Whittaker has been with IMPACT since the company’s inception—she was hired as an Accounting Manager in 2002, promoted to Controller, and is currently an active member of IMPACT’s Executive Committee.

“Teresa has grown substantially throughout her career with IMPACT,” said Mark Hinrichs, President of IMPACT Strategies, Inc. “She has done an excellent job in preparing the department to support our growth–from the early founding days of the company to where we stand today. She has continually challenged herself and others around her to find ways to streamline our processes and procedures with an innovative focus on technology.”

Scott Manning brings 10+ years of construction management, business knowhow, and a vast understanding of IMPACT’s company culture to the position. In addition to managing IMPACT’s team of Project Managers, Project Engineers, and Superintendents, Manning’s role will also supervise the safety and quality control efforts on IMPACT job sites. As Director, Manning will oversee the execution of field construction activities—ensuring the delivery of timely, safe, and quality construction and completion of IMPACT projects.

Manning’s career with IMPACT began early. While in college, Manning served as an intern for IMPACT. In 2009, he graduated from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville with a degree in Construction Management and a minor in Business. Post-graduation, Manning worked for the Corps of Engineers at Scott AFB. But, after 18 months, he decided to continue his career at IMPACT.

During his tenure, Manning started as a Project Engineer and progressed from Project Manager to Senior Project Manager. He managed an array of projects—from retail and commercial, to large-scale senior living and multi-family housing developments. “Scott’s hard work ethic, construction knowledge, and commitment to the IMPACT team are why he was chosen for this position,” said Hinrichs.

“He is an integral part of the IMPACT culture and, through his efforts, has helped IMPACT expand its presence as a leading provider of premier construction services. In this role, we will continue to expect amazing things from him.”

IMPACT’s continued growth is guided by their Executive Committee which is comprised of six members of its senior leadership team: Mark Hinrichs – President, Mike Christ – Executive Vice President, Nick Walker – Vice President, Project Development & Strategy, Teresa Whittaker – Chief Financial Officer, Jason Toennies – Senior Estimator, and Scott Manning – Director of Construction Operations. This Committee meets regularly to review the tactical functions within all departments of the company while also establishing accountability to the objectives of our regularly updated strategic business plan.

IMPACT Strategies provides client-focused construction management, design/build, and general contracting services. The firm offers a full continuum of innovative design/build service capabilities including proven construction management processes and site development. IMPACT Strategies serves a regional and national client base in the Healthcare, Senior Living, Multifamily, Office, Retail, and Warehouse/Distribution markets. To learn more visit BuildwithIMPACT.com or call 618-394-8400 or 314-646-8400.

June 18, 2021

Sam Duggan Joins Midwest BankCentre’s Legal Board of Directors

Sam Duggan, chief financial officer of Stupp Bros., Inc., has been elected to the legal board of directors of Midwest BankCentre.

In his role as chief financial officer at Stupp Bros., Duggan directs accounting, finance, risk management, information systems, legal, human resources and strategy. Stupp Bros., Inc. is a fifth-generation privately owned company focused on providing infrastructure development in the United States as well as serving the St. Louis market through Midwest BankCentre, St. Louis’ second largest, locally owned community bank.

Duggan serves on the corporate boards of Stupp Bros., Inc. and Ben Hur Construction Co. He also is a member of the Father’s Club board of directors at Chaminade College Preparatory School.

Duggan graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. He obtained his master’s in business administration degree with an emphasis in finance and international business at the University of Notre Dame. Duggan has been a certified public accountant since 1987.

Midwest BankCentre’s current assets exceed $2 billion and deposits total more than $1.5 billion. A mainstay of the greater St. Louis community banking scene since 1906, the bank employs a staff of about 280 working at 18 bank locations in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County in Illinois. It works to empower people, enable business and energize neighborhoods through the strength of its financial services, including personalized consumer and business banking, business cash management, mortgage lending, home equity loans, financial planning and investments, insurance and digital banking.

The bank is a local leader in the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition (formerly the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force) and its Bank-On Save-Up St. Louis initiative. Since 2001, Midwest BankCentre has consecutively achieved the Bauer Financial 5-Star Superior financial rating each quarter.

June 11, 2021

S. M. Wilson Promotes Anna Eisenbath to Assistant Project Manager

S. M. Wilson & Co. has promoted Anna Eisenbath to Assistant Project Manager. As Assistant Project Manager, she will be coordinating the activities of a project to ensure schedule, financial management, document control and quality standards are met and projects are completed safely, on time and with approved budgets.

Eisenbath joined S. M. Wilson five years ago as an intern and has worked on a variety of complex projects playing a significant role in their success, including projects for clients such as Ladue School District, Nestle Purina PetCare and Target. Most recently, Eisenbath has taken on management of multiple in-store remodels for the Target Corporation throughout the region.

Eisenbath is a highly respected and regarded construction team member within the Target Corporation. S. M. Wilson is one of Target’s preferred providers of construction services nationally, having worked on hundreds of stores throughout the country.

Eisenbath holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and is OSHA 30 certified. She is also actively involved in the community including being a member of the United Services for Children Playmakers Young Professionals Group.

S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis and offices in Edwardsville, IL and Cape Girardeau, MO. Founded in 1921, and celebrating its 100th year of serving the community, S. M. Wilson is dedicated to going above and beyond expectations for their clients by putting people first. The 100% employee-owned company is one of the leading construction management firms in the Midwest. For more information, visit www.smwilson.com.

Segal Joins TriStar Properties as Vice President of Development

Matt Segal has joined TriStar Properties as vice president of development. Making the announcement was Michael Towerman, TriStar president.

In his new position Segal will focus on identifying institutional grade residential development opportunities and taking projects from inception to stabilization on behalf of TriStar and its partnering investors.

Prior to joining TriStar, Segal, a 20-year veteran of the St. Louis real estate market, built a substantial book of business in land acquisition and development across metro St. Louis on behalf of Pulte and Payne Family Homes.

Segal holds a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in business administration from Maryville University.

Wes Burns Joins Midwest BankCentre as Senior Vice President of Community and Economic Development

Wes Burns has joined Midwest BankCentre as senior vice president of community and economic development.

Burns applies more than 20 years of banking experience to leading Midwest BankCentre’s expanded focus on supporting affordable housing, New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and other complex financing solutions within the St. Louis region and beyond. His work aligns with the bank’s five-year, $200 million investment in helping people in underserved communities buy homes, start or scale businesses, and transform neighborhoods.

Burns most recently served as market president for a community bank in St. Louis. He previously was a director of asset management, leading a team managing a national portfolio of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects.

“Wes applies his vast economic development experience to helping Midwest BankCentre transform lives and neighborhoods that have been marginalized,” said Chairman and CEO Orvin T. Kimbrough. “His efforts help us change neighborhoods pockmarked by abandonment into thriving and stable communities, restoring forgotten communities into places of value and contribution.”

Burns has served as vice chairman of the board for both Sunnyhill Inc. and The Housing Partnership. He now serves as a board member for Covenant House Missouri. He graduated from the Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and earned his MBA at Webster University. He also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at University of Colorado in Boulder.

Midwest BankCentre’s current assets exceed $2 billion and deposits total more than $1.5 billion. A mainstay of the greater St. Louis community banking scene since 1906, the bank employs a staff of about 280 working at 18 bank locations in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County in Illinois

Spellman Brady Transforms Arizona Senior Living Community

Published on June 29, 2021June 29, 2021

Companies/News

Completes Interior Design for Phase 2 of Sagewood Senior Living

Spellman Brady & Company (SBC), an award-winning interior design firm, completed the Phase 2 expansion and renovation of Sagewood Senior Living Community in Phoenix, Arizona for Life Care Services^®. In addition to developing the overall interior design concept for the facility, Spellman Brady was responsible for managing product selections, specifications, procurement and installation for the FF&E package consisting of furniture, window treatments, artwork and accessories.

Sagewood (Phoenix, AZ) is nestled within the Sonoran Desert and boasts impressive resort-style living. Phase 2 of this renovation and addition marks the largest construction project since Sagewood opened in 2010. This phase includes a 4-story, 101-unit independent living building with an underground parking garage. The new 276,454 SF building features impressive one and two-bedroom apartment homes with den layouts and scenic patio views. In addition to expanding the living options, Phase 2 provides a multitude of amenities including activity and game rooms, an art studio, putting course, café, formal dining, an indoor-outdoor tapas bar and lounge.

The community had a clear vision to add a hospitality flair to create a one-of-a-kind senior lifestyle. This came to life best in the three restaurants on site. The design approach was inspired by Sagewood’s surrounding landscape which helped weave together three unique dining destinations: The Sonoran, The Canyon Café, and The Owl’s Nest. Part of the existing Palo Verde Dining Room and adjacent administration area became The Sonoran, an entirely different and separate venue offering fine dining. The Canyon Café’s renovation allowed for a full kitchen to be added in place of a simple convenience counter. This expanded the menu and allowed the café to remain open all day, seamlessly transitioning from morning coffee to an evening nightcap. The Owl’s Nest is a sophisticated tapas bar that perches on the fourth floor overlooking the McDowell Mountains. Each destination has a distinct brand and function, but all bring a restorative lifestyle to the Sagewood community.

Weaving in a distinctive palette of colors & forms unique to the Southwestern landscape, many natural design elements can be found within the community. Spellman incorporated an artisanal window film of a desertscape on the hallway windows at The Canyon Café for privacy and warmth and local artists were commissioned to paint stylized desert plants on the interior brick entrance. A stunning collage of photographs and abstract paintings of flora and fauna were installed at The Owl’s Nest, while The Sonoran boasts a custom mural of a desert super bloom. The connection to nature and eclectic ambience is further emphasized by the placement of colorful glass bottles and ceramics mixed with faux and dried plants throughout the community. Rich textures and sophisticated design details like these create a charming space inviting all to socialize and relax in the comfort of their communal home.

Spellman Brady collaborated on the project with architects Todd & Associates of Phoenix, AZ and general contractor The Weitz Company of Phoenix, AZ. This project team previously worked together on the successful completion of Phase 1, which consisted of the Desert Willow Assisted Living, a two-story, assisted living addition to the existing skilled nursing building, and The Oasis, a multi-purpose venue.

Life Care Services^®, An LCS Company, is the second-largest manager of rental senior living communities and Life Plan Communities. Retirement living communities managed by Life Care Services may include residences for independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care, or a combination of these living arrangements.

Spellman Brady & Company is an award-winning St. Louis-based interior design firm specializing in senior living, healthcare, higher education and multi-family environments. The firm maintains design excellence by delivering comprehensive interior design, furniture, artwork master planning and procurement services. As a Certified WBE Business, Spellman Brady & Company has completed more than 6,300 projects in 43 states and abroad since its founding 27 years ago.

S. M. Wilson Breaks Ground on Ladue School District’s $126M Building Program

Published on June 29, 2021June 29, 2021

Companies/Featured/News

S. M. Wilson & Co. has officially broken ground on Ladue School District’s Future-Ready Schools building program in St. Louis, Missouri. S. M. Wilson is serving as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the District’s $126M Proposition L bond referendum passed by the community in April. Projects include renovations and additions to Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary School and Spoede Elementary School.

On June 16th, students, parents, staff, board members and residents from the local community came out to celebrate three separate groundbreaking ceremonies to mark the beginning of construction.

“We are excited to celebrate these milestones with our community because that’s who this is about: our community,” said Ladue Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke. “This is a significant step toward providing the future-ready schools that all of our students deserve and sharing our gratitude with a community that invests in the education of its children.”

Ittner Architects and Perkins+Will are the architects. Construction will be complete by the end of 2023.

S. M. Wilson has been building for Ladue Schools for 13 years having served as the Construction Manager for four building programs. Previous projects include construction of the District’s Early Childhood Learning Center, renovations and additions at Ladue Middle School, Reed Elementary School, Conway Elementary School and Old Bonhomme Elementary School. Most recently, S. M. Wilson also completed the $67M renovation and addition to Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

S. M. Wilson Project Director Mike Hanner said, “We are honored to work with Ladue School District once again. Our goal is to deliver beautiful schools for the students, staff and community to support the District’s mission: ‘Together, we will empower every student to become a passionate learner and achieve his or her highest potential.’”

S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis and offices in Edwardsville, IL and Cape Girardeau, MO. Founded in 1921, and celebrating its 100th year of serving the community, S. M. Wilson is dedicated to going above and beyond expectations for their clients by putting people first. The 100% employee-owned company is one of the leading construction management firms in the Midwest. For more information, visit www.smwilson.com.

Optical Lens Manufacturer Moves to New St. Louis Location

Published on June 29, 2021June 29, 2021

Companies/News

Midland Optical, a St. Louis-based optical lens manufacturer, is moving its headquarters and manufacturing facility to a new location in the city, commercial real estate firm JLL announced today.

The company has purchased a 94,000-sq.-ft. building at 1833 Knox Ave., near Interstate 44 and Hampton Avenue. Midland Optical will use a little more than 55,000 square feet of the building; a tenant is occupying the remainder, according to Christopher Taff & William Meehan of JLL, who helped Midland find its new location.

“The Knox Avenue location will serve Midland Optical well in terms of both size and location,” said Taff, vice president of industrial brokerage, JLL. “Midland’s owners were very intentional in selecting a location that was central to their workforce, as well as strategically located within close proximity to their customers. The Knox Avenue building satisfies all their requirements.”

Midland Optical’s expansion has been in the works for more than three years. Knowing they needed the right amount of office space to support the lab and the electrical capacity to operate the manufacturing lines, finding the ideal space presented its challenges. A tight industrial market with limited supply also added to the challenge.

“Demand and slower construction continue to decrease vacancy, which has remained under 5 percent through the last quarter,” said Meehan, vice president of industrial brokerage, JLL. “In cases like Midland Optical, patience and diligence are key to finding the right location.”

The 300-employee company is moving from its current location on 59th Street in St. Louis, effective late November. Midland Optical expects it will expand its workforce in line with its continued growth.

Midland Optical, (https://midlandoptical.com/) founded in 1955, is a wholesale optical lens laboratory. The company manufactures lenses for eye care professionals across the country, using state-of-the-art robotics, laser, and coating technologies.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 91,000 as of March 31, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Holland Construction Services Begins Work on Phase II of Sunnen Station Apartments

Published on June 20, 2021June 20, 2021

Companies/Featured/News

Holland Construction Services has begun construction of the second phase of the Sunnen Station Apartment complex near Manchester and South Hanley Roads in Maplewood, Missouri. This new four-story, 121-unit apartment community will include an attached 61,000 sq. ft. two-level parking garage with 187 spaces and indoor/outdoor recreational facilities.

Holland completed Phase I of the complex in 2017 which sits adjacent to Phase II and will be connected by a shared parking lot. The complex is also adjacent to the Sunnen Station MetroLink Station and the Sunnen Business Park. This multi-family community, developed by the Sunnen Family in conjunction with Cozad Commercial Real Estate, is the first new apartment construction in the City of Maplewood in several years.

G.T. Cozad, Principal at Cozad Commercial Real Estate, said after seeing the success of the first project, Sunnen knew they wanted to do something that resembled Phase I, but was a little bit different.

“Phase I of Sunnen Station Apartments is currently 100% occupied so we have found there is clearly a need for this type of development in the area,” said Cozad. “The new development will include many of the same modern amenities as Phase I, including on-site recreational facilities such as a fitness center, and a swimming pool.”

Michael Cozad, Principal at Cozad added, “Holland has tremendous expertise in this area and did a fantastic job on Phase I of this project so it was an easy decision to involve them in Phase II. The City of Maplewood has also been a good partner for us so we were happy to continue development in this location.”

Holland Project Director Will Stajduhar said the 120,000 sq. ft. multi-family development is a standard project for his team and most of the major earthwork is now complete. The next steps will be pouring the footings on the retaining wall and setting up on-site utilities.

“One unique feature of this building is that we had to accommodate the layout of the land in our design plans,” said Stajduhar. “The north section of the building is like a five-story building and we created it this way to adapt to the elevation in that area. Multi-family is one of our specialties and the fact that we’ve worked with this owner and developer before and are familiar with this project site will make this project run very smoothly.”

The expected completion date for Sunnen Station Apartments Phase II is May of 2022. For more information about the development, go to www.sunnenstationapts.com.

About Holland

Holland Construction Services is a full-service construction management, general contracting, and design/build firm guided by the principle of providing clients the best possible build experience on every project. Holland has been providing quality construction services throughout Illinois and Missouri since 1986, and is led by founder and CEO Bruce Holland, President Mike Marchal, and Vice President & Multi-Family Director Doug Weber. Holland offers pre-construction, construction and virtual design & construction services to commercial,

education, healthcare, industrial, multi-family, municipal, recreation, and senior living clients. The St. Louis Business Journal ranks Holland as a “Best Places to Work” and one of the top 15 contractors in the St. Louis area. For more information, visit Holland’s website at www.hollandcs.com.

People On The Move In The Local Construction Industry

Published on June 20, 2021June 20, 2021

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