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

Data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri reveal a slow start to single-family and multifamily permit applications compared to a year ago.

2023 President Jeremy Roth says permits are off to a sluggish start in early 2023 with single-family permits down 52 percent and multifamily permits down 61 percent in January compared with the same period in 2022.

“Construction costs and higher mortgage rates continue to challenge the industry,” said Roth, “but builder confidence is climbing as the number of units under construction is high … and we expect permit numbers to strengthen in the spring months.”

January permit data was unavailable for St. Louis City, Festus and Pacific.

The percentages cited above are based upon the following detailed permit numbers from the HBA of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri:

The Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program and Southern Illinois Builders Association will hold their Awards Program on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the SIBA Office, 1468 N. Green Mount Road, O’Fallon, Illinois.

Four firms will be recognized for 50 years of membership: Jim Taylor, Inc., Belleville, Illinois; DeLaurent Construction Company, Inc., Wilsonville, Illinois; Quad-County Ready Mix Corp., Okawville, Illinois; and Energy Culvert Company, L.L.C., Energy, Illinois.

Over 90 SIBA member firms throughout Southern Illinois will be honored and presented with awards for construction safety excellence.

The Southern Illinois Builders Association is a trade association of contractors representing approximately 500 commercial and industrial building, highway and utility construction contractors throughout the 39 counties in Southern Illinois.

Awards Spotlights Organizations and Individuals Dedicated to Sustainability in Schools

Hope Gribble, Green Schools Manager for the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council, has been named a 2023 Best of Green Schools Award recipient for the Michelle Curreri Collaborator Award category, presented by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council and Green Schools National Network.

The awards celebrate the hard work being done by people, schools, campuses and organizations to push the green school movement forward. For over a decade, Hope Gribble has led the development and management of multiple school sustainability programs that have driven the green school momentum in the state of Missouri and has included the Green Schools Quest: A Project-Based Challenge and Missouri Green Schools. The suite of programs, which have engaged over 200 Missouri schools to date, provide schools with guidance and resources for integrating green and healthy practices across their buildings and grounds, educational programming and school culture.

“I’m grateful for the many partners, teachers, students, school staff and volunteer mentors who have helped shape these programs and truly brought them to life,” remarked Hope Gribble. “Collaboration, creativity, and passion for elevating the nexus between human and environmental health are at the heart of this work. It’s incredible to see what we can accomplish together with these as our driving forces!”

“The Center for Green Schools relies on the hard work of volunteers and advocates who are committed to sustainable schools that enhance the health and wellbeing of all students and prepare them to lead a more sustainable future,” said Anisa Heming, director at the Center for Green Schools.

“The 2023 Best of Green Schools honorees represent a group of incredible individuals and organizations who have done extraordinary work for the green school movement.” The Center for Green Schools and Green Schools National Network received hundreds of nominations of individuals and organizations that have made an impact in advancing green schools in 2022. The 2023 recipients of the Best of Green Schools Award were announced during the Green Schools Conference in New Orleans.

Show-Me Green Schools: Pathways to Whole-School Sustainability is a suite of programs that support and recognize schools for their achievements across all three “pillars” of a green school: Reduced environmental impacts and costs; Improved health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and Effective environmental and sustainability education.

Managed collaboratively by the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council and the Missouri Environmental Education Association, the suite of programs include: The Green Schools Quest, a project-based, student driven challenge honoring teams of students who implement a low-or-no-cost sustainability project at their school with the help of a community mentor and a school staff lead. Missouri Green Schools, guiding and honoring schools across multiple levels of achievement recognition, from just starting their green and healthy journey to making significant gains in wellness, student engagement, cost-savings, and reduction of the school’s ecological footprint. The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Award, a prestigious one-time only award for up to 5 schools per state who have made significant strides in each of the 3 green school pillars listed above.

Design-build contractor Keystone Construction Company has begun work on the new 45,000-square-foot headquarters and state-of-the-art production studio for KMOV Channel 4 in Maryland Heights, Missouri. KMOV has broadcast from Gateway Tower at One Memorial Drive in downtown overlooking the Gateway Arch for more than 50 years and is expected to move into their new facility in May 2023.

Located near Westport Plaza and Interstate 270, the site includes a three-story office building, which is an ideal open slate for transforming into a broadcast space. The design-build project includes a major interior and exterior renovation. The new facility will feature two broadcast studios, a large newsroom, dressing rooms, control rooms, data center, seven transmission satellites and fitness center. The two-acre site provides ample room for parking, some of which will be covered.

“KMOV’s new headquarters will be at the forefront of broadcast facilities in the nation to optimize viewer engagement now and be readily transformable for the future,” said JD Sosnoff KMOV St. Louis Vice President/General Manager. “Additionally, our project team is constructing the very best in modern production and creative collaboration spaces to provide advertisers with what they deserve in a broadcast partner.”

Work also includes the installation of a backup generator with the capability to power the entire building and electrical and HVAC system upgrades to accommodate KMOV’s higher demands. The project team will install specialty sound proofing systems, new audio/visual equipment throughout and replace all lights with new LED fixtures to improve energy efficiency.

As design-build contractor, Keystone is tasked with defining the project scope and ensuring that the design and construction are delivered in alignment with the client’s schedule and budget goals. During the current supply environment, Keystone has identified and sourced critical building components with long lead times to ensure the project schedule remains on track. The architect is Partners By Design. Cole & Associates is the civil engineer. Barrett, Woodyard & Associates is providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering services. NAI DESCO is the real estate broker.

ABOUT KEYSTONE CONSTRUCTION
Keystone Construction Company is a St. Louis-based general contractor with expertise in design/build projects for office, retail, industrial and healthcare clients. For nearly 35 years, Keystone projects have reflected the company’s commitment to superior architecture and design, quality materials and craftsmanship that stand the test of time. The general contractor has received numerous design and construction awards, including Building St. Louis awards in 2017, 2019 and 2021; Project 64 West Excellence in Community Development Award; and Excellence in Design Award from American Builders Company and Nucor. Harvard University chose Keystone’s unique process for a course study called “How to do Design/Build Right.” For more information, visit https://keystone-stl.com.

During the October 2022 annual Advanced Textiles Association Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lawrence Fabric and Metal Structureswas recognized with International Achievement Awards for design and excellence in fabric productions and applications! The Lawrence Team was honored to receive not one, but two, Outstanding Achievement Awards. This pair of awards includes work for Parkside Grille in the Commercial Awnings & Canopies category and one for the Missouri History Museum St. Louis Sound in the Fabric Graphics category. To learn more about these award-winning projects, visit https://www.lawrencefabric.com/news/2022-international-achievement-award/

Outstanding Achievement – Fabric Graphics-Missouri History Museum St. Louis Sound

Fabricated and installed six hanging graphic banners on the outside of the History Museum building east and west sides. Printed on Mesh fabric with 2” flat stock on perimeter. Banner sizes included two 10’ x 27’, two 18’ x 27’ two 11’ x 21’. Installed with 3/8” x 3 screw bolts 1” self-tapping screws. The sheer size of all the hanging banners is a unique aspect of this project.  We had to custom design and fabricate banner hanging framework and the 40′ high installation was challenging.

Outstanding Achievement –Commercial Awnings & Canopies <1000 Sq ft-Parkside Grille

Parkside Grille outdoor fabric patio canopy with radius front, 32’ 7” wide x 4’ 4”. high (including 1’ box) x 5’ 2” projection. Fabric is Weblon Coastline plus traditional stripes Pirate Black & White. Aluminum square tubing framework, with four galvanized post supports mounted to existing concrete. The challenging and unique design aspect of this canopy was getting the stripes in the fabric to match up at the radius angles.

Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. Judges included industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals who were chosen for their knowledge in a particular field of study or product area. 

Controlled Environment Agriculture expert joins design-build leader Clayco to help drive the company’s growth as a fully integrated design-build solution reshaping indoor agriculture.  

To support its continuing expansion in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) space, national design-build and construction company Clayco has hired Ron Mitchell as Director of Controlled Environment Agriculture. Ron will be applying his vast horticultural expertise to all Clayco’s CEA projects. As part of Clayco’s Food and Beverage team, he will advise project teams and cultivate relationships with growers. 

“I’m excited to support Clayco in its mission to organize the engineering and procurement process to adapt to each grower’s unique objectives. I will be the liaison between biology and engineering. My experience lends increased understanding of agriculture, plant health, and the growing process. This will further reduce project risk and offer truly integrated, comprehensive solutions for success at first yield,” said Ron Mitchell. “We have a talented and diverse team who will be leading the way as the industry evolves. What we are doing here goes beyond building buildings – we are a part of a food production revolution. It’s about cooperation, not competition, and Clayco is focused on helping talented growers reach their full potential.”

“We are thrilled to have Ron join our team,” said Anthony Johnson, President & Shareholder and Industrial Business Unit Leader. “Safety and speed are our specialties, and growers need to move quickly to solve the world’s food supply chain issues. Clayco’s integrated approach and ability to provide services across design, engineering, and construction is a game changer for this industry.” 

Ron Jones, Senior Principal, Clayco also added, “Ron’s  expertise in the industry will help ensure that our projects are in line with CEA specific standards, best practices, and technology, especially in an industry that is rapidly growing.. Ron embraces innovation and alternative project delivery methods, and his extensive industry knowledge enables him to provide valuable insights during all stages of a CAPEX project.”

Clayco is involved in CEA projects with a capex value over $2 Billion and has been involved with nearly 150 acres of CEA space over the past two years alone, including multiple national multi-site programs in the vertical grow and greenhouse space. 

Ron started his indoor farming career working at the UC Berkeley field office greenhouse with Professor Paul Droll, the father of modern hydroponics. Throughout his career Ron has founded numerous vertical farms, in places as diverse as Hawaii and West Africa. He has worked as a respected consultant in the CEA industry. Most recently he was the Master Grower and Director of Grow Operations at OnePointOne, Inc, a vertical farm startup.

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely and sustainably delivers the highest quality solutions to clients across North America on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $4.9 billion in revenue for 2021, Clayco specializes in the “art and science of building,” providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional and residential-related building projects. For more information, visit www.claycorp.com.