Children’s Memorial Hospital is building a new hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and is using an innovative technology to hold costs down and ensure that the project is ready for a Summer 2012 move. The hospital’s construction managers, architects and engineers are using Building Information Modeling (BIM), which creates a virtual 3D model of the hospital to identify and address potential design and construction issues well before they impact the schedule and budget. Related Links: The Boldt Co. Gets Biomass Contract Briohn Building Corp. to Build Process Displays Headquarters Wisconsin Monastery Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

The focus was on technology at the 2010 Trade Show of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors� National Association (SMACNA) of Chicago, held recently at Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors� 2010 Trade Show was held at Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Related Links: SMACNA Chicago Trade Show Focuses on Cutting-Edge Technology Clark Construction Becomes First Contractor to Receive Michigan Award Subcontractor Associations Join Forces Magellan Race Raises $250,000 to Aid Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute Miron Construction Announces New Milwaukee Office Wisconsin�s Faith Technologies gets AGC�s top award for safety Wisconsin’s Faith Technologies

At Clark Construction’s company-wide annual meeting, state officials presented the company with the CET Platinum Award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Representatives of Clark Construction receive the CET Platinum Award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Clark, the first construction company to receive the MIOSHA award, worked nine years and 2.5 million work hours without a lost time injury. Related Links: SMACNA Chicago Trade Show Focuses on Cutting-Edge Technology Clark Construction Becomes First Contractor to Receive Michigan Award Subcontractor Associations Join Forces Magellan Race Raises $250,000 to Aid Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute Miron Construction Announces

The Indiana Department of Transportation recently announced a permanent plan to ease traffic across the Indiana Harbor Canal in the wake of the Cline Avenue bridge closure. Related Links: Officials Announce $410 Million for O�Hare Program Widest Concrete Bridge Deck Pour in Missouri History Begins Calhoun Road Reconstruction Design Wins Multiple Awards Alliance Announces Wisconsin Renewable Energy Project Commissioner Andolino Keynotes First Annual IRTBA Green Council Meeting INDOT Awards $21 Million Contract for S.R. 45/46 Bypass Project Cline Avenue Solution Restores Traffic Across Indiana Canal in Six Months Illinois� Six-Year Plan Includes Over $2 Billion in Highway Funds St. Marys

Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino was the keynote speaker for the first annual meeting of the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association Green Council at the Westin Lombard Hotel. Related Links: Officials Announce $410 Million for O�Hare Program Widest Concrete Bridge Deck Pour in Missouri History Begins Calhoun Road Reconstruction Design Wins Multiple Awards Alliance Announces Wisconsin Renewable Energy Project Commissioner Andolino Keynotes First Annual IRTBA Green Council Meeting INDOT Awards $21 Million Contract for S.R. 45/46 Bypass Project Cline Avenue Solution Restores Traffic Across Indiana Canal in Six Months Illinois� Six-Year Plan Includes Over $2 Billion

The single widest bridge deck pour in Missouri history began recently off the north bank of the Missouri River, as part of the new Christopher S. Bond Bridge. The concrete pour will be 134-ft wide, and will be placed in 70-ft sections for a total of 1,750 cu yds. It will take seven to 10 days to complete, depending on weather. Related Links: Officials Announce $410 Million for O�Hare Program Widest Concrete Bridge Deck Pour in Missouri History Begins Calhoun Road Reconstruction Design Wins Multiple Awards Alliance Announces Wisconsin Renewable Energy Project Commissioner Andolino Keynotes First Annual IRTBA Green Council

Chicago city officials celebrated the 90th birthday of the Michigan Avenue Bridge by recalling its engineering marvel as well as its key link to development both north and south of the Chicago River. Photo: Paula Widholm 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, Chicago, speaks at a celebration of the 90th birthday of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. From left are Brendan Daley, director of green initiatives for the Chicago Park District; Chicago Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Thomas Powers; and John Chikow, president and CEO of The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association. As the world�s first double-leaf, double-deck bascule trunnion bridge ever

The second season of construction for the largest transportation project in Wisconsin history is now in full swing as Chicago’s Walsh Construction Co. and its subcontractors replace pavement, bridges, interchanges, frontage roads and storm sewers on sections of Interstate 94 in the southeastern corner of the state. The $1.9-billion reconstruction project will expand Wisconsin’s Interstate 94 from six to eight lanes by adding one lane in each direction. The project is also improving safety by separating frontage roads from highway on- and off-ramps. Contractors begin base preparation for the new lanes on Interstate 94. The new pavement starts with a

To find out what trends are at work in the office-construction market, Midwest Construction talked to a leading developer, two noted architects and three major general contractors. Companies are creating positive working spaces that reflect their cultures and brands. Above, an HOK-designed project provides an example of branding, where a company builds a space that sends a certain message to its employees and visitors. A growing trend for owners is to put office space in mixed-use buildings that also house retail, hotel, condominium, parking and entertainment space, such as in the recently completed Aqua Building in Chicago. Here’s what they

After opening the initial round of bids from three prominent area contractors on Feb. 11 for reconstruction of the Wacker Drive/Congress Parkway Interchange, the City of Chicago disqualified two, then rejected the third for being too expensive. About $2.6 billion in federal stimulus money will be provided to the Upper Midwest for Second Take work. The Chicago-St. Louis line is scheduled to receive $1.1 billion, the most of any Midwest route. Related Links: High-Speed Rail In High Gear The lowest bid, at $73 million, came from a joint venture of F.H Paschen and Cabo Construction Corp. That bid was rejected