Wis. Div. of State Facilities Will Require Construction-Waste Recycling in 2010

Starting in 2010, Wisconsin’s Div. of State Facilities will require contractors to recycle construction and demolition waste generated on many of its projects.

The new requirement applies to State of Wisconsin construction projects worth more than $5 million and all significant demolition projects. It starts with projects advertised for bid after January 1, 2010.

The new policy will reduce waste disposal costs, conserve landfill space and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It grew out of a unique partnership in which nonprofit WasteCap Resource Solutions (formerly WasteCap Wisconsin) worked with the Dept. of Administration’s Division of State Facilities (DSF) under a contract with the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop methods, standards and trained staff for successful, measured C&D debris recycling on state projects.

The six pilot sites included:

• UW Madison Biochemistry Phase II , in which JH Findorff & Son Inc. recycled 99.1% and diverted 25,592 tons.

• UW Parkside New Residence Hall, in which J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. recycled 60% and diverted 334 tons.

• UW Stevens Point Baldwin Hall Renovation, in which Ellis Stone recycled 90.7% and diverted 231 tons.

• UW Superior Rothwell Student Center Replacement, in which Immel Construction recycled 95.8% and diverted 1,339 tons.

• UW Whitewater Hyland Hall demolition, in which Miron Construction and Zenith Industrial Services recycled 97.7% and diverted 13,694 tons.

• UW Whitewater Hyland Hall construction, in which Miron Construction recycled 65.7% and diverted 581 tons.

“By any measure, this effort has been a success,” said Dave Haley, State Chief Architect and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering for the Department of Administration. “Every pilot project exceeded the 50% goal, and many of the contractors that recycled on these projects are now recycling on other projects where they are not required to recycle. These projects have an average 84.8% recycling rate and have diverted 41,771 tons of material to date—the equivalent of removing 1,500 cars from the road for one year.”

Jenna Kunde, executive director of WasteCap, says that if C&D reuse and recycling becomes part of the way contractors do business with the state, they might use C&D recycling on other projects, too.

Tim Andrew, senior project manager of Miron Construction Co., Inc., one of the contractors involved in the pilot projects, said the experience has helped to change the way his company operates. “Miron is now recycling on all of our construction projects, regardless of project-specific recycling requirements” he said. ”The costs of implementing a construction waste management plan are offset with the savings in avoiding landfill disposal fees.”

Plug-in Chargers for Electric Vehicles Installed at Chicago’s Aqua Building

Six of these new electric-vehicle charging units are now in the garage of Chicago's Aqua building. Each unit can charge four vehicles at once. The station at Aqua is the first public site in the Midwest. (Photo courtesy of Magellan Development)

The garage at the lower level of the 82-story mixed-use Aqua building in Chicago now features the Midwest’s first electric vehicle charging station open to the public.

The chargers in the Aqua’s garage are part of a network of stations being established by the newly-created Chicago firm Carbon Day Automotives.

The new infrastructure for electric vehicles is being created to based on severalauto manufacturers’ plans to produce plug-in vehicles in one to three years.

The six-charger station at Aqua will serve up to 24 plug-in vehicles at a time, explains Scott Emalfarb, president of marketing and branding for Carbon Day Automotives.

“After Aqua, we plan to start with five to ten charging stations in the Chicago area and then expand our network to other municipalities, probably numbering in the hundreds as more plug-in vehicles reach the marketplace,” says Emalfarb.

Jim Loewenberg, co-CEO of Lakeshore East developer Magellan Development Group, who spearheaded the action, says that installing a charging station at Aqua is one step toward enhancing and improving the environment. Aqua is seeking green-building certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Magellan Development Group co-CEOs James Loewenberg (left) and Joel Carlins (center) join Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during introduction of the new electric-vehicle charging station at the Aqua. (Photo courtesy of Magellan Development.)

Drivers of plug-in vehicles will be required to subscribe to a plan that will provide convenient and affordable access to all of the network’s public charging stations.

Emalfarb explains that subscribers can choose from a variety of plans, similar to the way cell phone and cable TV providers offer a range of options.

All plug-in stations are connected by computer network to provide drivers with best access to outlets. Drivers can access locations based on the navigation system in their vehicles, computers, telephones or even Blackberrys.

Loewenberg explains that this system not only identifies the closest stations but tells subscribers which ones are idle and which are occupied. Locating the charging stations in a public garage will ensure that they will be available to the public at all times.

Aqua’s six plug-in outlets will serve 24 parking bays.

Ragnar Benson and William Charles Collaborate on Two Healthcare Projects

Two Rockford, Ill., projects recently completed by Ragnar Benson Construction are Fresenius Medical Care's new 7,000-sq-ft outpatient dialysis center (above), which offers 12 treatment stations, and the SwedishAmerican Health System's 16,000-sq-ft Ryan Jury Child Development Learning Center (below left). Photos courtesy of Ragnar Benson)

Ragnar Benson Construction and its parent company, William Charles, Ltd recently collaborated on two new healthcare facilities near Rockford, Ill.

The projects were a new dialysis clinic for Fresenius Medical Care and the Ryan Jury Child Development Learning Center for SwedishAmerican Health System.

The 7,000-sq-ft Fresenius outpatient dialysis clinic is on the hospital campus and will have up to twelve (12) treatment stations. This new facility will provide renal care using the latest technologies. The clinic opened this fall.

The 16,000-sq-ft Ryan Jury Child Development Learning Center is a state-of-the-art facility providing childcare and education in a safe environment for children aged six weeks to 12 years. The facility, opened in 2008, serves the hospital employees, and also the larger Rockford community as space allows.

Both projects were financed and developed by William Charles Real Estate and built by Ragnar Benson Construction.

Purdue University, Dow AgroSciences and Indiana Partner for Venture at Purdue Research Park

A new development project in the life sciences arena was announced Sept. 30 as part of a new agricultural collaboration among Dow AgroSciences, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University and the state of Indiana.

Dow AgroSciences will become one of the largest tenants at the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, occupying 15,000 sq ft of research and office space in the newly built Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center.

In addition, Dow AgroSciences will be the exclusive tenant of a 6,000-sq-ft greenhouse complex to be constructed on the south side of Ross Enterprise Center.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will support the Purdue Research Foundation in the construction of the $2.2 million greenhouse research center with a grant to assist in development costs.

Up to 30 new scientists will be working in the Purdue Research Park as part of this collaboration, with up to an additional 18 contract research workers to be hired from the surrounding community. Researchers from Dow AgroSciences will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty in the Purdue colleges of Agriculture and Science and have access to some campus research facilities.

Dow AgroSciences will join the more than 160 companies already in the 725-acre Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, which has the country’s largest university-affiliated business incubation complex.

Emerson Network Power Opens LEED-Certified Learning Center

Emerson Network Power’s new learning center in Westerville, Ohio, will train more than 1,000 students per year how to support data-center infrastructure. (Photo courtesy of Emerson Network Power)

Emerson Network Power has opened its new 70,000-sq-ft learning center in Westerville, Ohio.

The new facility will provide hands-on data-center infrastructure support training for more than 1,000 Emerson Network Power employees, customers and partners per year.

A main feature of the facility is an 11,000-sq-ft equipment lab. Besides the lab and classrooms, the building includes a state-of-the-art call center that supports customers who require the highest level of service response for critical systems.

The building, which has a number of environmentally-friendly construction and design elements, is expected to achieve Gold level Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification, the second highest designation in the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system.

Holland Construction Completes Addition Two Weeks Early

A new addition to Belleville Oncology, Belleville, Ill., was recently completed by Holland Construction Services two weeks ahead of schedule.

The one-story, brick and exterior-insulation-and-finish-system addition covers nearly 2,000 sq ft.

It includes a waiting room with added privacy, three exam rooms, an IV room, storage rooms and restrooms. More parking spaces were added as part of the project. The expansion also provides the potential for additional physicians’ services.

Holland Construction built the original oncology facility in Belleville in 1997. The company also constructed the former Southern Illinois Oncology in Maryville, Ill. and Breese Oncology in Breese, Ill. The facilities specialize in radiation oncology services.

Wrightwood Crossing Project Under Way; LEED Platinum Certification Planned

The 19-unit Wrightwood Crossing in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood will be submitted for LEED Platinum certification when completed in spring of 2010. (Rendering courtesy of [1016] Architecture)

The owner of a new four-story 19-unit development going up in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood plans to seek LEED Platinum certification–the highest level offered by the U.S. Green Building Council’s green-building rating system–when the project is completed next spring.

The development, Wrightwood Crossing, is at 1307 W. Wrightwood Avenue. It was designed by [1016] Architecture and is being developed by Chicago’s G.Corp. Development Properties. Ground was broken at the site in early September and first deliveries are scheduled for spring of 2010.

The building will feature private rooftop gardens, a common green-roof deck, oversized balconies and a professionally landscaped yard covering more than 50% of the property.

Each unit will have features that increase accessibility for people with disabilities. These features, sometimes known as “universal design,” allow the units to adapt to the changing needs of long-term occupants with only minor modifications.

Kaiser Electric Wires Casino Queen’s New Sports Bar

“Sevens” is the new $2.15-million sports bar and entertainment venue at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill. Kaiser Electric recently completed wiring for the club’s extensive array of lighting, stage, audiovisual, and bar equipment. (Photo courtesy of Kaiser Electric)

Kaiser Electric, Fenton, Mo., and Granite City, Ill., recently completed electrical installation for the audio-visual, lighting and sound system in the Casino Queen’s new $2.15-million sports bar and entertainment venue “Sevens.”

The 6,250-sq-ft bar houses display cases of historic memorabilia from the St. Louis Cardinals Museum Collection and features 16 high-definition flat screen televisions and a retractable projection screen that can be viewed from all angles.

Kaiser Electric crews had just 90 days to complete the project. Kaiser’s work included wiring the 360-sq-ft stage, dance floor and house lighting; providing power distribution for the 16 flat-screen televisions and the bar equipment; and wiring a theatrical dimming panel to illuminate a series of translucent fabric clouds suspended from the main area’s ceiling. The clouds are back lit with DMX-controlled LED lights which use a blend of lighting to create different colors and effects.

KAI Design & Build was the project’s architect/interior design firm. Legacy Building Group of St. Louis was general contractor.

Walton Construction Completes Chesterfield Medical Institute

Walton Construction, St. Louis, has completed construction of Chesterfield Medical Institute, a new 20,000-sq-ft medical office building and ambulatory surgical center in Chesterfield, Mo.

The two-story, $6.8-million medical facility houses three medical practices. It features hand-laid brick with limestone accents, oversized windows, a unique steel sunshade, and decorative tubing accents for the entrance canopy and elevated stair towers.

Walton completed this fast-paced project on time and on schedule, while providing value engineering that reduced costs by more than 12%.

The building was designed by Feeler Scheer Architects.