News

In Memoriam – Patrick Joseph Murphy, Sr.

Published on November 12, 2019 in News/People

Patrick Joseph Murphy, Sr., born on September 30, 1940 and Baptized with the Hope of Christ’s Resurrection, passed away peacefully November 7, 2019. Married for 53 years to Jean (nee Pape); loving Father to Patrick Jr. (Laura), Heather, Michael Shea (Laurie), and Sean Christopher; affectionately called Pops by his grandchildren Megan Murphy, Anne Marie Murphy, Michael Murphy, Patrick Murphy III, and Joseph Murphy; son of the late Jerry J. and Ruth C. Murphy; brother of the late Mary Fuegner (Rich); uncle, cousin, and friend.

A real character and full of life, he spent 58 years as a Vice President of the Company that he loved, Murphy Company Mechanical Contractor and Engineers, the largest mechanical contractor in St Louis. He treasured his time working closely with the skilled crafts who also became his life-long friends. A rancher at heart, he and Jean purchased a property in Beulah, Missouri in 2003. “It’s a Boy” and “It’s a Girl” flags proudly raised whenever a new cow was born into the herd.

A perfect mix of his Irish and German heritage; hard working, dedicated, stubborn, always right, and quick to turn any situation into an opportunity for a story or joke. He lived by the mantra LTD, “Listen, think, do”, which his children always heard him say anytime when an important decision was required.

Services: Monday November 11, 2019, Visitation 9:00 am, Catholic Mass 10:00 am, Ascension Catholic Church, 230 Santa Maria Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63005. Internment for family at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s name to The St. Patrick Center, 800 N Tucker Blvd., St Louis, MO 63101 would be greatly appreciated.

People On The Move In The Local Construction Industry

Published on November 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.

KAI Hires Radhika Dharanipalan as Senior Project Manager

KAI announces the hiring of Senior Project Manager Radhika Dharanipalan, RA, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP BD+C, of Milton, Georgia at its Atlanta office.

As Senior Project Manager, Dharanipalan will be responsible for managing budgets, deliverables and schedules for multiple architecture and engineering projects of various sizes and across different sectors. She will interface with clients, prepare proposals and pricing, in addition to preparing prime- and sub-contracts in coordination with upper management and managing multi-office execution of projects.

“I pursued a position with KAI because it is a design-build firm, and I believe my work experience in the past makes it possible for me to be equally engaged with both design and construction,” said Dharanipalan. “My goals are to manage and successfully deliver a wide range of projects of different sizes across various sectors. Maintaining existing client relations and helping KAI extend their client network is an important part of my current role.”

Prior to KAI, Dharanipalan worked as Project Manager in Facility Design and Construction Services at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia; as a Project Coordinator at Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc. in Atlanta; and as a Junior Architect at Shilpa Architects in India. She has 15 years of industry experience.

Dharanipalan has a Bachelor of Architecture from Anna University in Chennai, India and a Master of Architecture and a Master of Science in Construction Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

She is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Dharanipalan is a group fitness gym enthusiast and believes in adopting a healthy lifestyle. She is married and has two daughters. In her spare time, she serves on the Architecture Review Committee in Waterside Neighborhood and volunteers at Meals by Grace food pantry.

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. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com.

November 8, 2019

Tim Simon Joins Holland Construction Services As A Senior Project Manager

Mike Marchal, President of Holland Construction Services (Holland), is pleased to announce that Tim Simon has joined the Holland team as a Senior Project Manager.

Tim comes to Holland with more than 10 years of experience in construction management working on a range of projects in multiple markets throughout the St. Louis area and the Metro East including K-12 Education, Multi-Family, Senior Living, and Commercial.

“What attracted me to Holland was the opportunity to work for a growing company,” Simon said. “I believe Holland is well diversified and respected in the industry and has the opportunity for self-growth.”

Marchal added, “Tim’s skillset and background will serve our clients’ needs on a variety of project types. His personality, attitude and work ethic are an excellent fit with our team and culture. We are proud to have Tim with us.”

Tim graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in construction management. He currently lives in Granite City with his wife and two sons.

Holland Construction Services is a full-service construction management, general contracting, and design/build firm based in Swansea, Ill., guided by the principle of providing clients the best possible building experience on every project. Holland has been providing quality construction services throughout Illinois and Missouri since 1986, when it was founded by company CEO Bruce Holland.

Murphy Company Adds Professional Staff

Jonathan Pool has joined Murphy Company, the area’s largest mechanical contractor, as account manager. The announcement was made by Ryan Kramer, service sales manager.

Pool most recently served as a new business development account manager for a large international manufacturer of commercial and residential HVAC equipment. Prior to that, he was a manager for health, safety and environment in a three-state Midwest region for the same manufacturer. From 2012 to 2013 he oversaw three production lines for Schreiber Foods Inc.

A veteran, Pool was in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2012, serving as the 18^th Airborne Corps safety officer in charge and also as the 18^th Airborne redeployment and reintegration officer in charge at Fort Bragg. N.C., among other duties. He served in the U.S. Forces’ Iraq Enduring Operations as an executive officer, coordinating logistics, communications, supply and security for several sections.

He was deployed as an Air Defense artillery platoon leader in Iraq where he conducted and led daily convoy operations in and around Baghdad. He also was the executive officer in charge of maintenance for more than $40 million in government equipment.

Pool holds a bachelor’s degree from the Virginia Military Institute. Advanced studies include the Ingersoll Rand Sandler based methodology and Harvard mentor courses in project management, coaching and process improvement. He also attended the U.S. Army Airborne School.

He is a member of the National Airborne Association and is active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

Dennis J. Dudenhoeffer, CPD, has joined Murphy Company as senior project estimator. The announcement was made by Kevin Suiter, P.E.,vice president of estimating for the mechanical contractor.

A certified plumbing designer (CPD) by the American Society or Plumbing Engineers, Dudenhoeffer has been employed as a plumbing estimator/project manager and designer since 1989. He has broad experience designing interior plumbing, and site water mains/service lines as well as fire sprinkler, medical gas, and fuel oil systems for clients in the healthcare, higher education and technology markets.

He holds an associate’s degree in architectural engineering technology from Bailey Technical School. He also completed the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors (PHCC) of America project management training course at Purdue University.

Greg Schaller Promoted to Chief Risk Officer at Midwest BankCentre

Greg Schaller has been promoted to chief risk officer at Midwest BankCentre. He was formerly senior vice president-audit.

Schaller is responsible for leading the bank’s risk management department, including the compliance department, loan and appraisal review, vendor management, business continuity processes and administrative oversight of the internal audit department. He partners with different bank business lines to review existing processes, evaluate risk tolerance, assist with implementing strategic initiatives, and assess new strategies to achieve efficiencies, expand audit coverage, and analyze data for meaningful insights into emerging risks, processes and performance measures.

Schaller is a 16-year veteran of the banking industry. He joined Midwest BankCentre in 2016.

“Greg brings a deep understanding of Midwest BankCentre’s business to his expanded role as chief risk officer,” said Marsha Benney, chief operating officer of the bank. “His consultative, strategy-focused approach and extensive industry background strengthen our leadership team.”

Schaller has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He continued his studies in community banking at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado, recently graduating with honors. Schaller is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. He serves on the finance committee for Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis.

Midwest BankCentre, a mainstay of St. Louis community banking since 1906, employs a staff of about 280 working at 17 bank locations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties. The bank 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. It ranks among St. Louis’ largest locally owned banks with assets exceeding $1.9 billion and deposits of $1.4 billion.

The bank is a local leader in 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 was the national winner of the 2018 National Community Bank Service Awards by the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) for its success in bringing mainstream financial services to unbanked and underbanked citizens in the region.

October 27, 2019

Murphy Company Adds Professional Staff

James Green has joined Murphy Co., the area’s largest mechanical contracting and engineering firm, as an engineer. The announcement was made by Dan Murphy, HVAC manager for the Missouri Engineering Group. Green holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is an engineer-in-training with the State of Missouri and is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Following graduation in 2016, he worked as a lab technician for Monsanto (now Bayer) and, since 2017, has served as a quality assurance analyst with Wells Fargo. In addition to AutoCAD skills, he is experienced with chemical process unit operation including heat exchangers, pumps, turbines, reactors and distribution columns.

Rodger Dorrah, HFDP, has rejoined Murphy Co. as a senior HVAC designer. The announcement was made by Mike Werdes, vice-president, engineering for the mechanical contracting and engineering firm. Making the announcement, Werdes said, “We are thrilled to have Rodger rejoin our team. He has a total of 23 years’ experience with Murphy and more than 36 years’ experience in the industry working on major health-care, commercial and industrial projects in the St. Louis area and across the country.”

A certified Healthcare Facility Design Professional by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Dorrah also is a contributor to the ongoing improvement of ASHRAE’s certification exam. He is a member of the Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering (MOSHE) and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE).

He holds an associate’s degree in applied science-architecture from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and has completed advanced coursework in HVAC, plumbing system design, building controls, LEAN construction, high-density data centers and healthcare design, just to name a few.

Murphy Co. has also added Adam Young as an engineer in its Engineering Group. A 2019 graduate, Young holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics from the University of Missouri-Columbia. While a student he worked for a building contractor and as a contractor assistant. He also completed a summer mechanical engineering internship with a St. Louis contractor, working on a major hospital project.

Founded in 1907, Murphy Company is one of the nation’s top mechanical contracting firms delivering innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and institutional markets. The firm employs more than 1,000 people nationwide. For more information, visit www.murphynet.com.

Kwame Building Group Hires Michael Thompson as a Marketing Business Developer

Michael Thompson has joined Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME), one of the nation’s top pure construction management firms, as a Marketing Business Developer. Thompson’s responsibilities are to support KWAME’s diverse business goals and objectives by building and maintaining mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with prospective and existing clients.

Thompson has more than four years of marketing and digital media experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Maryville University.

Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME) is one of the nation’s top pure construction management firms, dedicating 100 percent of its resources to project management services. For more information, visit www.kwamebuildinggroup.com or call (314) 862-5344.

Spellman Brady Hires New CFO/COO Patty Boyd

Spellman Brady & Company, an award-winning interior design firm, is pleased to announce that Patty Boyd has joined the firm as its Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer. In her new role, Ms. Boyd is a member of the firm’s leadership team and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s financial, operational and human resources activities.

Ms. Boyd, a certified public accountant, brings over 30 years of financial and operational experience. Previously serving from Senior Vice President to Chief Financial Officer for the FAMCO Group at Ziegler Capital Management, she led strategic initiatives, operational modeling and financial planning. She has developed a reputation for collaborating effectively with companies’ executive leadership to achieve targeted goals and brings a proven record of success in strengthening a firm’s profitability and executing strategic plans. Ms. Boyd graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

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 spellmanbrady.com.

S. M. Wilson Promotes Rebecca Cornatzer To Chief Human Resources Officer

S. M. Wilson & Co. has promoted Rebecca Cornatzer to Chief Human Resources Officer.

Cornatzer joined S. M. Wilson in 2017 and has proven to be an integral part of the team. In just over two years, she has led strategic human resources initiatives related to personnel policy, professional development and talent and performance management. In her role as Chief Human Resources Officer, Cornatzer will continue to have ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the company’s Human Resources Department functions. She will also be involved in long-range planning and monitoring business performance and risk management with a focus on developing and executing human resources initiatives in support of the company’s strategic direction.

Cornatzer sits on the company’s Employee Engagement Committee, Planning Committee and ESOP Committee. Outside of S. M. Wilson, she serves as a Board Member and Past President of the Board of Directors for Aim High St. Louis. Cornatzer is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a Certified Administrator of the Institute for Work Attitude and Motivation (iWAM) and holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Masters in Education from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis. The employee-owned company is dedicated to going above and beyond expectations for their clients by putting people first. For more information, visit www.smwilson.com.

Kadean Completes Construction of New Harris House Inpatient Treatment Center

Published on November 12, 2019 in Companies/News

Kadean Construction has completed construction of the new Harris House Intensive Inpatient Treatment Center in St. Charles, Missouri for the Harris House Foundation, a leading provider in addiction treatment. Situated on twelve acres located at 2706 South River Road, this 54,000 square-foot facility will serve as an anchor for addiction treatment in the St. Louis metropolitan area including St. Charles.

The new inpatient addiction treatment facility has rooms for 60 resident beds and can be expanded to handle up to 100 beds. Other amenities include meeting space, staff offices, a cafeteria with full commercial kitchen and a 4,300 square foot partial basement.
Construction began in June 2018, and Kadean provided construction management services for the new facility. Arcturis is the project architect.

“Demand for Harris House treatment services is high, and this new building enables us to further our mission by offering more services and programs to more under-served clients that need help,” said Tom Wickenhauser, Executive Director of Harris House Foundation. “Kadean did a great job for us in getting this facility built on time and on budget.”

“”We are proud to have played a key role in making this treatment center a reality,” said Mike Eveler, President of Kadean Construction. “This facility provides an important community service helping alcoholic and chemically dependent persons achieve sobriety and become productive individuals.”

Kadean Construction, one of the fastest growing construction companies in the St. Louis area, specializes in pre-construction, design-build, construction management, and general contracting services in the medical, senior living, retail, commercial, and industrial sectors. In addition to undertaking major construction projects in recent years for BJC Healthcare at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Siteman Cancer Center, and other major medical facilities, Kadean also has built ambulatory surgical centers in Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and high quality independent and assisted senior living and memory care facilities in the St. Louis and Kansas City regions.

For more information, visit www.kadean.com<http://www.kadean.com>.

First-Ever Log Splitting Contest & Holiday Build Battle

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

The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner, and historic downtown Hillsboro is gearing up for “A Storybook Christmas,” sponsored by Imagine Hillsboro. This one-of-a-kind holiday celebration combines timeless traditions with the newest trends to create a unique experience that is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family, and this year’s event will include a couple of new elements that will deliver a series of happy endings.

Now in its fifth year, the all-day event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, with festivities kicking off at 10 a.m., as downtown Hillsboro will come to life with carolers strolling down Main Street. New to the celebration this year, local manufacturer Atlas 46 is teaming up with Imagine Hillsboro, the City of Hillsboro and Hardcore Hammers to spread extra holiday cheer by hosting the first-ever Log Splitting Contest and Holiday Build Battle.

“A Storybook Christmas offers something for everyone – whether you’re ready to lace up your shoes for the Frosty 5K, hunt for clues during a festive scavenger hunt, discover quirky shopping opportunities or nosh on traditional holiday foods. Imagine Hillsboro and all of the volunteers work tirelessly to put together this festive celebration, making our city a different and lovely place to live and work,” said Jonathan Weyer, Community Planner for the City of Hillsboro. “We’re thrilled to partner with Atlas 46 to introduce a different sort of experience to this marvelous community event, and we’re hoping that everyone who joins us will have a merry little Storybook Christmas.”

Participants in the Log Splitting Contest will put their wood chopping skills to the test to determine who will be named the ultimate “Hardcore Splitter.” During the preliminary rounds, competitors will be given a Hardcore Hammers axe to use – a choice of a 4lb Ranger Axe or a 3lb Raptor Axe – to split various sized logs into 6″ pieces, then stack them faster than the competition to be on their way to claiming the $1,000 grand prize. The fastest participant in each preliminary round to split and stack 20 logs will advance to the finals, where they will be required to chop and stack an 18” log. In the holiday spirit of giving, the chopped firewood will be donated to local organizations in need through a collaboration with Lifeline Community Church and the City of Hillsboro. A special thanks also goes out to Bob Buda and the church for their time and effort in donating the trees and cutting them for the contest.

All participants must be 18 years or older and pay a $25 entry fee to be eligible to compete. Safety gear including glasses, steel toed boots or safety toe covers will be required. Area residents are invited to come out and cheer on their favorite team during the log splitting event, which will take place at 10 a.m. outside of the Bank of Hillsboro. Free axe sharpening will be offered at the event, and other Hardcore Hammer items will also be available for purchase. Pre-registration is required to participate in the Log Splitting Contest, and the deadline to register is Dec. 1^st. Participants can sign up in person at the Atlas 46 facility in Hillsboro, online at www.hardcoresplitter.com or on the events page at www.atlas46.com.

The fun doesn’t stop there, as later in the afternoon, pre-selected teams will battle head to head to design and build the best holiday decoration during Atlas 46’s inaugural Holiday Build Battle. To be considered for this battle, interested teams will need to create a short video detailing why they should be given a chance to compete or fill out an application at the Atlas 46 facility in Hillsboro. A panel of judges will select the top three teams to participate in the Dec. 7 competition. Starting at 2 p.m., teams will have three hours to handcraft their holiday decorations using only the materials provided. Wood to be used during the competition will be supplied by England Farms in Fillmore, Ill., who also donated wood for the Monster Building Competition. The winner of this tinsel and tools throwdown will take home the grand prize of $500 and automatically be qualified for the chance to win even more prize money during the season finale of the Build Battles next fall. Details on how to participate can be found at https://www.atlas46.com/holiday-battle.html.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of one of Hillsboro’s most cherished events and offer these fun, creative contests to put a unique twist on traditional holiday celebrations,” said Brian Carver, President of Atlas 46, which opened a manufacturing facility in Hillsboro in 2018. “We’re extremely proud to put on events like these that bring together members of the Hillsboro community – from DIYers to skilled tradesmen and women – to shine a spotlight on the world of manufacturing and introduce a little spirited competition to the holiday season.”

Following the completion of the Holiday Build Battle, friendly faces will line the streets as the twinkling glow of lights march down Main Street in the Lighted Christmas Parade starting at 6 p.m.

For additional questions or more information on the Log Splitting Contest and Holiday Build Battle, visit the events page at www.atlas46.com. For more information on A Storybook Christmas, visit Imagine Hillsboro on Facebook.

With locations in Fenton, MO and Hillsboro, IL, Atlas 46 designs, develops, and manufactures innovative, premium workwear and gear for the construction, carpentry, electrical, maintenance, off-roading, DIY, and woodworking industries. For more information, visit www.atlas46.com or find Atlas 46 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

St. Louis Regional Freightway’s 2020 Priority Projects List Advance to Construction

Published on November 12, 2019 in Associations/News

Projects to strengthen critical roads and bridges in the bi-state area, where more than 50% of all freight moves by truck

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG) Board of Directors last week unanimously endorsed the St. Louis Regional Freightway’s 2020 Multimodal Transportation Priority Projects List, a valuable tool used by the St. Louis Regional Freightway to advocate for support and funding for infrastructure improvements. The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), generated 384 million tons of freight in 2016¹, ranking it first among Midwest peer cities along the Mississippi River Basin and highlighting the importance of investment to modernize the region’s freight infrastructure. Representing the infrastructure needs of the manufacturing and logistics industries, the updated list for 2020 reveals that eight of the 20 projects on the list have advanced to various stages of construction. Collectively, those eight projects represent an investment of more than $830 million in the region’s freight network, with an emphasis on enhancing key bridges and interstates utilized by the trucking industry, which moves more than 200 million tons of freight through the region annually².

“Each of the priority projects identified on the 2020 list is important at the individual level, but collectively, they are essential to the continued growth of the St. Louis region as a global freight hub,” said Jim Wild, Executive Director of East-West Gateway Council of Governments. “I salute our Board of Directors for their bi-state leadership in recognizing the benefits of having a priority list like this and uniting in support of it.”

“The Freightway’s ability to continue to build consensus around the top transportation infrastructure priorities remains a key accomplishment of the organization as it works to grow the $6 billion in goods traveling through the St. Louis area by road, rail, river and runway,” said Mike McCarthy, president of Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis and Chairman of the Freight Development Committee, which compiles the priority projects list annually. “With more than 50% of all freight volume generated in the St. Louis region moving by truck, and 25% of it moving internally³ putting additional stress on our region’s roads and bridges, it’s clear the priority projects on this list truly reflect the real needs of the bi-state area.”

Among the priority projects funded and under construction are the Interstate 270 corridor improvements in north St. Louis County (MO) and Madison County (IL); where nearly $500 million is being invested; the $59 million Interstate 255/Davis Street Ferry Road Interchange in St. Clair County in Illinois, which was elevated to one of the Freightway’s highest priority projects over the winter based on the growing importance of Union Pacific’s intermodal yard and the role the new interchange would play in facilitating growth there by reducing travel times and lowering transportation costs; and the $32 million project to widen a key stretch of Interstate 64, also in St. Clair County. A combination of state and federal funding is supporting these and various other projects on the list. Meanwhile, work is also underway on the $222 million project to replace the Merchants Bridge, thanks to funding from Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, which owns the structure.

The Freight Development Committee is a nationally recognized model of partnership and productive collaboration between the public and private sector across the eight-county area the St. Louis Regional Freightway serves, and it has driven the success in regional project prioritization. Business and industry leaders work directly with local and state officials and DOT’s to set infrastructure priorities by helping them to understand how infrastructure and efficiency impacts on-time delivery and costs.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Economic Census, freight-based industries represent over 75% of the total economic output in the St. Louis MSA. Located at the confluence of three navigable rivers, the border between the east and west coast railroads, and with its four interstate highways and four interstate linkages, the St. Louis region’s central location and robust infrastructure afford many advantages for shippers and contribute to the region being one of the largest inland freight hubs in the nation. The 384 million tons of freight generated in the St. Louis MSA in 2016 exceeded the tonnage generated in peer cities such as Minneapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Indianapolis and Columbus.

“Our leadership position in the freight industry further underscores the importance of maintaining and enhancing our freight network,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development, which oversees the St. Louis Regional Freightway as one its enterprises. “We greatly value the East-West Gateway Council of Government’s unanimous endorsement of what we have identified as the region’s current infrastructure improvement priorities, because that regional support is helping to ensure these priority projects do move forward. We will continue to use this valuable tool as we advocate for the funding necessary to advance other projects on the list in the months ahead.”

The updated list groups the projects into three categories, based on where they are in the planning, funding and construction cycle. Following is a summary of the 2020 priority projects, with the St. Louis Regional Freightway’s highest priorities underlined. More details on each of these projects and the various parties involved in compiling the 2020 Priority Projects list can be found at www.thefreightway.com/about/plans/.

Advanced to Construction (Funded)

Merchants Bridge (TRRA) Replacement over the Mississippi River (MO-IL). ($222M) Funded by TRRA in summer 2018. Replacement of Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis’ 130-year old rail bridge.
I-270 Improvements from I-70 (MO) to Illinois Route 157 (MO-IL). Funded spring 2018.
Improvements to portions of I-270 in Missouri ($250M)
Chain of Rocks Bridge Replacement ($211.6M)
I-270/Illinois Route 111 Interchange Reconstruction (IL) ($19M)
I-255/Davis Street Ferry Road Interchange (IL) ($59M) Funded in 2019.
- New interchange and connecting roadways to serve emerging industrial area near Union Pacific Dupo Intermodal Yard, including future grade separation over five rail tracks.

I-64 Improvements from Green Mount Rd to IL 158/Air Mobility Dr (IL) ($32M) Funded in summer of 2019. Expansion of I-64 to six lanes as well as other safety and capacity improvements.
J.S. McDonnell Connector Ave. Improvements (MO) ($20.7M) Construction funding approved in 2019. Roadway improvements to enhance truck traffic movements and replace deteriorated rail crossing.

Union Pacific Railroad Lenox Tower Replacement (IL) ($9M) Funded in spring 2018 and spring 2019.
- Remove Lenox Rail Tower in Mitchell, Illinois in order to centralize dispatching in Omaha, Nebraska.
North Park Access Improvements (MO) ($3M) Funded in 2018.
- Safety and capacity improvements along Hanley Road from I-70 to Madison Avenue.

Earth City Access Improvements (MO) $4M – Construction work is nearing completion on two projects:

Charles Rock Road preservation of 1.3-mile corridor and arterial roadway pavement repairs in Earth City.

Partially Programmed for Construction

I-270 Widening from I-70 (MO) to Illinois Route 157 (MO-IL) ($1.2B)

This project is partially funded and portions that are funded are identified above.

North Riverfront Commerce Corridor Improvements (MO) ($33.9M)

Continuing project will build on work completed to relocate the I-70 westbound off-ramp to North Broadway by making additional improvements to Hall Street and Riverview Drive, as well as Branch Street.

Illinois Route 3 Access Improvements (IL) (Estimated $147-$192M; Unfunded $135 – $180M)

(A) Illinois Route 3 relocation from River Park Drive to Monsanto Avenue

B) Falling Springs Road/Illinois Route 3 railroad bypass (Partially Funded)

America’s Central Port Improvements (IL) (Estimated cost $22.5M; Unfunded $12.5M)

(A) Granite City Harbor track revitalization

(B) Granite City Harbor general cargo dock revitalization (Funded)

(C) Union Pacific/Kansas City Southern connection through A&K yard

(D) New port entrance at IL-3 (Funded)

Louis Lambert International Airport North Cargo Improvements (MO) ($18.2M)

Although Taxiway V Connector was completed, North Cargo improvements include reconstructing both Banshee Road and the McDonnell Boulevard/Airport Road intersection

Concept Development or Planning

I-70 Improvements from Warrenton to Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge (MO) ($650M)

(A) Improvements from Wentzville to Stan Musial Memorial Bridge (40 miles)

(B) Expansion to six lanes from Wentzville to Warrenton (20 miles)

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Distribution Improvements (IL) ($45M)

New two-mile rail spur from Norfolk Southern mainline to enable freight rail access for industry on the eastern side of airport

Louis Lambert International Airport Access Improvements (MO) ($30.25M)

(A) Cargo City access analysis

(B) Fee Fee Road bridge improvement

(C) Gist Road upgrade

Illinois Route 158 (Air Mobility Drive) Expansion from Route 161 to Route 177 (IL) ($20M)

One-mile extension of two lanes along a growth corridor near I-64 and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

Kaskaskia Regional Port District Improvements (IL) ($11.2M)

(A) Terminal #1 second rail loop track and lead track rail upgrades

(B) Terminal #2 second entrance and third dock

(C) Port Development at Fayetteville

I-255/Fish Lake (Ramsey Road) Interchange (IL) ($27M)

New interchange to provide additional access to the Union Pacific Dupo Intermodal Yard

Mississippi River Port Development Projects (MO) ($17.5M)

(A) Crystal City Port development with access roadway

(B) City of St. Louis south riverfront site

(C) St. Louis County Port development north/south sites

Note: On October 21, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the Illinois Department of Transportation’s annual Multi-Year Improvement Program, containing $239.5 million in additional funding for several other projects on this Priority List, including:

$20M for I-270 to add a lane from Mississippi River to the Chain of Rocks Canal
$64.5M for I-270 from .4 mile E of IL 3 to .5 miles W of IL 203 for additional lanes and bridge superstructure
$15M for IL-111 at Chain of Rock intersection
$115M for Relocated IL Route 3 from .1 mil south of River Park Connector to Monsanto Ave. in Sauget
$5M for IL Route 3 South for a bridge over the Alton & Southern Railroad tracks in Sauget.
$20M for IL Route 158 (Air Mobility Drive) expansion from Route 161 to Route 177 (IL)

Project funding from this announcement will be reflected in the 2021 Multimodal Project list.

About St. Louis Regional Freightway

The St. Louis Regional Freightway is a Bi-State Development enterprise formed to create a regional freight district and comprehensive authority for freight operations and opportunities within eight counties in Illinois and Missouri which comprise the St. Louis metropolitan area. Public sector and private industry businesses are partnering with the St. Louis Regional Freightway to establish the bi-state region as one of the premier multimodal freight hubs and distribution centers in the United States through marketing, public advocacy, and freight and infrastructure development. To learn more, visit thefreightway.com.

United States Department of Transportation Freight Analysis Framework (FAF4), 2016.
United States Department of Transportation Freight Analysis Framework (FAF4), 2016.
United States Department of Transportation Freight Analysis Framework (FAF4), 2016.

M Property Services to Bring Much Needed Hospital, Healthworks Village to NorthSide Regeneration Development

Published on November 12, 2019 in Associations/News

St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson signed legislation last week approving up to $8 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance for a new hospital in the city’s most impoverished neighborhood of North St. Louis City. M Property Services (MPS), led by Chairman and CEO Paul McKee, Jr., partnered with medical entrepreneur Dr. David Lenihan, President and CEO of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), to bring his vision for minority-focused healthcare, which includes 92 new jobs, to North St. Louis as part of the NorthSide Regeneration development.

St. Louis City Alderwoman Tammika Hubbard (D-Ward 5) introduced legislation for the TIF assistance, which the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen passed with a 23-2 vote on Oct. 18, supporting the proposed three-bed hospital with emergency room at Jefferson and Cass Avenues, plus infrastructure improvements to the surrounding area. The project has a projected total cost of about $22 million.

The approved bill also provides that the developers must prove by the end of 2021 that they have financing for a larger, second phase of the project in order to qualify for all of the TIF assistance. This second phase is presently anticipated to include construction of a $73 million, 103,000-square-foot hospital, to be named Homer G. Phillips Hospital, and medical school. TIF financing works by allowing a developer over time to recover costs it has previously expended in completing public infrastructure and other qualified improvements, by accessing a portion of the increased real property and economic activity taxes generated in the future by the new development.

“It’s been a long road, but we definitely need a hospital in North St. Louis – an area that has high rates of hypertension, the most Medicaid recipients within the entire city, lowest life expectancy, and highest infant mortality rate. On a bigger level, this will be the only hospital in North St. Louis,” said Hubbard. “This will be more than just the three-bedroom urgent care hospital; it has a phase two connected to it, which will be a healthcare village that will offer so many needs and services to people who have lived in an impoverished community in excess of 60 years because the city has failed them and not given them the resources to live in a viable, workable community with access to healthcare. This issue has been one that has been near and dear to my heart; it has been definitely near and dear to my constituents because they are the ones who have been suffering.”

The proposed Homer G. Phillips hospital, named after the only hospital for African Americans in St. Louis from 1937 to 1955 when the city still had segregated facilities, would be constructed on the former site of defunct urban housing project Pruitt-Igoe. The site is part of the 1,500-acre NorthSide Regeneration redevelopment area in North St. Louis.

“I thought it was important to the revitalization of North St. Louis City that a hospital be brought back to the community. In working with Dr. Lenihan, we were able to develop a plan that addressed the residents’ needs and desires for local healthcare that has been lacking in the community for decades. We commend Alderwoman Hubbard for her tireless efforts to help make the hospital a reality for her constituents and the forgotten residents of North St. Louis,” said McKee.

United Bank of Union, Sterling Bank and the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council will provide a combined $8 million in loans to get the hospital project underway.

“We are proud to provide financing to the new Homer G. Phillips Hospital to bring a much-needed healthcare facility to the North Side,” said Al Bond, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council. “We invest in projects that benefit our community, and we believe this facility will achieve that.”

Global architecture, engineering and planning firm HOK has been contracted to design the hospital. KAI will provide design/build services to complete the project.

M Property Services, LLC (MPS) is a full-service real estate development, property management and brokerage firm based in O’Fallon, MO. For more information about M Property Services, visit www.mps-stl.com or call 636-561-9300

National Month of Veterans & Military Families Job Fair

Published on November 12, 2019 in Associations/News

November is the National Month of Veterans and Military Families and DAV / RecruitMilitary are proud to host the St. Louis Veterans Job Fair on Thursday, November 21^st from 11am to 3pm at Chaifetz Arena at St. Louis University. This free event for veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, National Guard members and Reservists features 40+ employers ready to hire.

In addition to providing career opportunities for veterans, RecruitMilitary is also focusing efforts on the more than 600,000 military spouses in the United States who are unemployed and/or underemployed in their professional careers. The company is actively working to help address the exorbitantly high unemployment rate of military spouses – nearly 25% – a rate more than six times the national average. This is the highest unemployment rate of any singular group in the U.S. Through its partnership with Google, a new job search tool is now available to assist military spouse and military trained talent to explore 8,000 remote work options in the RecruitMilitary database of more than 250,000 jobs. With more than 140 veteran and military spouse job fairs this year, RecruitMilitary offers veterans and military spouses the most opportunities of any organization to help facilitate their future career goals.

RecruitMilitary’s Event Director, Jennifer Hadac who is also a US Navy Veteran, is available to discuss the hiring event and how we’re helping St. Louis veterans, transitioning military and military spouses find meaningful career opportunities.

Recession Likely Still More than 3 Years Away, Commerce Trust Co. Economist Says

Published on November 7, 2019November 11, 2019 in News

By KERRY SMITH, EDITOR, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS AND REVIEW MAGAZINE

Although U.S. economic growth is slowing after more than 42 quarters of expansion, the start of a recession is still not likely to occur until early 2023, according to Scott Colbert, executive VP, chief economist and director of fixed asset management for Commerce Trust Company.

That being said, uncertainty remains in the air relative to America’s trade war with China and a presidential election less than one year away, he added.

“The trade war with China won’t likely push the U.S. into recession,” said Colbert at Commerce’s 2020 Economic Forecast and Financial Market Update in Clayton on Nov. 6. “Economic recovery has been so slow and gradual that we haven’t created the ‘heat’ of high inflation to push the Fed to hit the brakes and raise interest rates. Once leading economic indicators recover, as they did in March 2017, the economy statistically has six years until the next recession.”

After the Fed followed through on three of four predicted interest rate cuts in 2019, the fourth will likely not materialize until March 2020, Colbert said.

“To have a recession, two things really have to happen,” he said. “One, an anxiety shock such as the Arab-Israeli (oil) War in 1973, the Gulf War in 1990, the dot-com bubble burst in 2000 and the 2008 housing crisis. Two, a Fed that’s braking to control inflation…right now, the Fed is doing the opposite by cutting interest rates to extend the economic recovery.”

For more information visit: www.commercetrustcompany.com/

Electrical Connection Members Honored at AGC Keystone Awards

Published on November 7, 2019 in Associations/News

Two Electrical Connection-member contractors earned awards at the annual Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Missouri Keystone Awards. PayneCrest Electric, Inc. was saluted for construction excellence in the delivery of its Monsanto/Bayer Greenhouses project. PayneCrest was also honored for its work on the Ameren Labadie Fly Ash facility, which was an award finalist. Meanwhile, Aschinger Electric Co. earned a Specialty Contractor of the Year (SCOTY) Award in the electrical category. In addition, Guarantee Electrical Co. was honored as a finalist for its work on The Last Hotel in downtown St. Louis and the Ameren Wastewater Treatment Process facility.

All three contractors are members of the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractor Association (NECA) which partners with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 to form the Electrical Connection.

Since 1997, when the AGC Keystone Awards competition was launched, more than 100 NECA contractor projects have been honored in the awards program, 32 of which earned AGC Keystone Awards. According to the AGC, “the awards are a glowing recognition of construction professionals whose skill, teamwork and spirit of innovation make a lasting contribution to a community by building facilities that support and enhance the quality of life. Safety performance, use of technology or new innovations, and workforce diversity are also essential components of overall performance.”

In awarding PayneCrest its Keystone Award for the Monsanto/Bayer Greenhouses, the program noted that “PayneCrest overcame extraordinary complexities in remodeling 26 greenhouses as Monsanto transitioned to new ownership under Bayer. Each greenhouse required intense specialized infrastructure within its extremely limited space with a strict mandate to avoid shading plants with electrical systems. PayneCrest created, tested and refined mockups to guide pre-fabrication and installation with extraordinary precision, delivering on all expectations.”

Program notes for the other honored Electrical Connection-member projects included:

PayneCrest’s Ameren Labadie Fly Ash – “New EPA regulations eliminating fly ash ponds compelled Ameren to tap PayneCrest’s design/build skills for solutions to treat and dispose of the Labadie Power Plant fly ash. PayneCrest’s detective work revealed unknown aging infrastructure and integrated it with new electrical systems. It deftly managed work in tight spaces to power new EPA-compliant silo storage facilities to treat the fly ash.”
Guarantee’s Last Hotel – “Historic renovation is always tricky, when it involves digging through layers of history in a city like St. Louis. Leveraging the historic International Shoe factory building’s Art Deco elegance into the contemporary destination of The Last Hotel, led Guarantee’s project team through a century’s worth of urban archaeology, a wilderness of unmapped utilities between buildings, below streets, below the basement.”
Guarantee’s Ameren Wastewater Treatment Process project – “Among the challenges of the project were the uncertainties created by the innovative nature of the technology involved, which drove a relentless effort to adapt and test equipment to better calibrate performance. Working closely with Ameren’s design team and engineers, Guarantee’s installers were involved from design through commissioning, testing and adjusting sensors and equipment over the course of the project.”

“The successful and innovative delivery of these complex projects reflects the

proficiencies of our Electrical Connection NECA contractors and the skills and safety of our IBEW workforce,” noted Jim Curran, executive director, Electrical Connection. “As we work with civic and business leadership in Missouri, we can confidently provide countless examples of IBEW/NECA’s readiness to efficiently and creatively deliver the next generation of electrical and communications projects.”

Winners of the 2019 Keystone Awards were celebrated at the AGC’s Construction Awards Gala scheduled for Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 at the River City Casino & Hotel in St. Louis.

The Associated General Contractors of Missouri represents more than 500 commercial, industrial, heavy and highway contractors, industry partners and related firms in 110 counties in Missouri. For more information, visit www.agcmo.org.

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world. For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

Cohen Architectural Woodworking Receives Third National Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety

Published on November 6, 2019 in Companies/News

Cohen Architectural Woodworking announces it has once again received an award for Outstanding Workplace Safety from the Architectural Woodworking Institute (AWI).

Cohen Architectural Woodworking was recognized for the 2019 Zero Lost Time Accident Achievement for Manufacturers Award for reaching more than 100,000 work hours without a safety incident. Cohen also received the award in 2017 as well as the 2017 Safety Improvement Recognition Award for Manufacturers, awarded to companies who reach more than 100,000 hours of maintaining a safe workplace.

“We care about our workers and want to send them home safely to their families. We make sure our entire team is bought into excellence in everything, including safety.” said Phillip Cohen, Founder and President.

The Architectural Woodwork Institute has been the voice of the woodworking industry for more than half a century. The organization provides networking and educational programs for all members. The AWI is known for The Architectural Woodwork Standards (AWS), a guide for the specification, construction, and installation of interior architectural woodwork. Each year it hosts a variety of award competitions honoring top performing companies in several categories.

Founded in 1982, Cohen Architectural Woodworking is a family-owned architectural design/build woodworking firm headquartered in St. James, Missouri. For more information visit https://cohenwoodworking.com

Photo caption: Alan Vance (L), Safety Coordinator with Cohen Architectural Woodworking, receives a certificate from the Architectural Woodworking Institute for Outstanding Workplace Safety. The award was presented to Vance at the Cohen offices by John Slania, marketing representative for Federated Insurance.

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