Chicago-based general contractor Weis Builders Inc. recently began construction on Phase II of the Cermak Plaza renovation in Chicago. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The 1950s-era retail center will undergo a multi-phase renovation. Weis Builders was hired to complete renovation work, including the overhaul of the exterior fa�ade. New brick will be added along with architectural features such as a shade-canopy and towers on the east and west wings. Phase II is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Weis Builders has been providing preconstruction and construction services to the Chicagoland area since 1995.
New Holland Construction and Lawn & Landscape magazine named Kinsella Landscape Inc. of Blue Island, Ill., as the winner of the 2010 Landscaper’s Challenge. Left, Greg Semmer, president of Kinsella Landscape Inc., accepts the grand prize award for the 2010 Landscaper’s Challenge from Dave December, marketing manager, New Holland Construction. A New Holland L170 skid steer loader was presented for the best landscape design-build project of the year. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The grand prize – a New Holland L170 skid steer loader worth more than $32,000 – was presented to representatives of Kinsella Landscape during an award
Moody•Nolan, the nation’s largest African-American owned and operated architecture firm, has opened a new office in Chicago, its firm’s seventh regional location. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Moody•Nolan’s new office will assist in the firm’s goal of expanding its portfolio of educational, healthcare, fitness and recreation and cultural architectural projects on a national level. Moody•Nolan’s Chicago office is located in the historic Rookery Building, an iconic building located in the center of Chicago’s downtown Financial District. Renauld Mitchell will serve as director of Moody•Nolan’s Chicago operations. Mitchell brings more than 15 years of architectural experience
The Redmond Co. of Waukesha, Wis., recently announced that it has been awarded a contract by Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Co. to design and renovate a two-story office space building in Wauwatosa, Wis. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The Redmond Co. provided due diligence services including site visits, a written building condition report, a review of the municipal approval process and local ordinances, preliminary budget and schedule, as well as identifying potential risks for Cities and Villages Mutual prior to their purchase of the property. In addition to the due diligence services, an energy audit was performed to
McShane Construction Co. of Rosemont, Ill., was recently selected to complete the 51,500-sq-ft design-build construction of a classroom and office facility on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The building will feature a masonry, aluminum, precast and glass exterior that incorporates aluminum cladding, generous windowlines and additional aesthetic elements. The facility’s interior will offer lobby space, offices, teacher’s lounge and flexible office and classroom areas for the College of Arts and Sciences. Classrooms will incorporate high-tech audio visual equipment to provide an enhanced and productive learning environment. Contemporary interior finishes will include
Seven facilities from across Indiana were awarded for their architectural style and design during the annual American Institute of Architects Indiana Design Awards. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Honor awards went to Hafer Associates of Evansville, Ind., for its design of Cool Springs Horse Barn, an elaborate stable and retreat for the OFS Corp. in Southern Indiana, and to AXIS Architecture + Interiors of Indianapolis for the Nature Conservancy near downtown Indianapolis. AXIS also received a merit award for its interior design of Business Furniture in Indianapolis, while One 10 STUDIO Architects working with HAUS|The Architecture Studio designed Brand
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that it plans to add the Washington County Lead District-Furnace Creek site in eastern Missouri to the federal Superfund National Priorities List. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The Furnace Creek site is located in a heavily mined region and primarily includes residential properties within and around the towns of Belgrade, Caledonia, Hopewell and Irondale, Mo. Mining activities in Washington County have contributed to elevated levels of lead in soil and groundwater in this area. An NPL listing notifies the public that EPA believes a site requires further study and possible cleanup under
Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc., the industrial construction subsidiary of North American contractor Graycor, and Graycor Blasting Co. Inc., the industrial services subsidiary of Graycor, have selected Portage, Ind., as the site of their new northwest Indiana operations center. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" With occupancy planned for summer 2011, the facility will offer 44,000 sq ft of office and operations support space on approximately 10 acres of land in the Ameriplex at the Port business park. The decision comes shortly after Graycor announced plans to relocate its Illinois offices to Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Graycor has evolved from its founding
Kwame Building Group of St. Louis has completed work as the construction manager and owner’s representative on St. Louis Community College’s William J. Harrison Northside Education Center. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The 31,000-sq-ft education center in north St. Louis City recently opened for classes. KAI of St. Louis was the architect. The Harrison Center, the first green public higher education facility of its kind in St. Louis, is seeking LEED Gold certification. The center’s energy efficient heating and cooling system includes heat pumps in offices and classrooms for individual comfort. Other green features include controllable lighting, the use
HOK recently announced that construction is underway on a new 14-story Convention Center hotel in Columbus. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Designed by HOK’s Chicago office for Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, the $140 million Hilton Columbus Downtown hotel will feature 532 rooms, 48 suites and 22,800 sq ft of meeting space. “This full-service, state-of-the-art atrium hotel will be efficient, sustainable and contextually responsive in its innovative use of glass, masonry and steel,” says Todd Halamka, group vice president and director of design for HOK’s Chicago office. HOK’s design includes a full height atrium lobby and restaurant featuring a