Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Try Construction suing in-administration firm for £1.1m

A subcontractor that went into administration following the bungled installation of a curtain walling system in Watford is being sued for ВЈ1.1m.

Contano (Aluminium) is being pursued in the High Court by Try Construction over mistakes it allegedly made on a six-storey office block in Watford.

Try claims the office block sprung a leak because of defects in the curtain walling system installed and designed by Contano.

In a writ filed at the Technology and Construction Court, Try claims Contano installed a modified Hueck Mullion system that started leaking in May 2002 - months after its installation.

It alleges Contano identified defects in the curtain wall system as the cause of the leaks but was unable to decide on a repair route, despite 10 months of discussions.

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Try Construction suing in-administration firm for £1.1m

 

After the firm went into administration on 27 August 2003, Try was forced to appoint Structura to redesign and install a new curtain walling system.

Try is seeking ВЈ1,020,319.12 for costs including subcontractor fees and glass breakages. It is also seeking ВЈ174,431.07 in interest.






Aloft will add two hotels

Knight Build sue Urvasco in latest Strand hotel dispute

Legal woes continue for the developer of an 11-storey hotel on the site of the BBC’s first radio broadcast, with a plant and materials supplier filing a lawsuit.

Knight Build is suing Urvasco for enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision over work it did on the former Marconi Hotel on London’s Strand, which has been demolished to make way for a five-star Silken hotel.

The project has been dogged by problems, with O’Keefe (Greenwich) filing a suit against main contractor Cantillon and Cantillon filing a counter-claim.

In the latest dispute, Knight Build is seeking ВЈ320,110.08 plus interest from Urvasco as ordered by an adjudicator in September this year.

The adjudicator was called in by Knight Build after the firm failed to receive various staged payments for its ВЈ6.2m contract to supply plant and materials for concrete works.






Aloft will add two hotels

HMRC has collected just 8% of CIS fines

The Revenue has only collected ВЈ5.5m of the ВЈ180m in tax fines dished out to contractors under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Figures obtained from HM Revenue & Customs by CJ last week show that only a tiny proportion of penalties have been paid.

Revenue chiefs have also conceded that more than ВЈ100m in fines has been written off following successful appeals or companies and individuals leaving the industry.

That leaves ВЈ67m of fines still to chase from contractors. But industry experts are sceptical whether HMRC has the resources to go after people.

Howard Royse, the construction industry head for the Chartered Institute of Accountants, said: “This £67m figure could hang like a Sword of Damacles over the industry if the Revenue decides to go all out in the next few months to collect in as many fines as it can get. But I’m not sure if it really has the resources to do that.”

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HMRC has collected just 8% of CIS fines

 

Companies are fined ВЈ100 for each late return under CIS and extra fines for each subsequent late or incorrect filing.

An HMRC spokesman said: “The £180m is the total amount of penalties issued. A large proportion of these have been remitted by HMRC because either the businesses in question have ceased to trade without informing us or there have been successful appeals.

“At present, around £67m remains in charge, but that figure might be reduced by further appeals and £5.5m has been collected so far. As with all HMRC work, recovery action is prioritised and outstanding penalties will be prioritised accordingly.”






Tax exemption costs Tennessee $45 million
Ringtone royalty rate gets big boost

Saturday, November 22, 2008

PRIDE Honors Four Industry Builders

On Aug. 13, four area leaders will be honored by PRIDE for their teamwork-building efforts to advance St. Louis as the best place to build at an awards luncheon.

The honorees are:

PRIDE Honors Four Industry Builders


Mark S. Wrighton, chancellor, Washington University. While not a developer, few over the last decade have had a larger impact on the St. Louis construction industry. Wrighton will be honored with the PRIDE Industry Impact Award for expanding Washington University’s legacy of excellence that in the 13 years of his tenure has led to the commissioning of 30 new buildings. He has also encouraged significant minority participation in building projects. Further, Wrighton has advanced the university’s tradition of educating architects, engineers and construction managers through improvements to the Sam Fox Arts School of Design and Visual Arts, the John M. Olin School of Business and the soon-to-expand school of engineering.

Robert P. Elsperman, P.E., chairman, Tarlton Corp. A fixture in the St. Louis construction industry for more than 55 years, Elsperman brought a construction entrepreneurs’ perspective to the PRIDE board when he served as management co-chair from 1998 to 2003. Elsperman, who continues to attend PRIDE board meetings, has been affiliated with the organization for nearly 30 years. Elsperman will be receiving the Al Fleischer Management Award named for the late Alfred J. Fleischer, who helped co-found PRIDE and was its first management co-chair.

Rick Schaefer, director of department planning and capital projects, Malinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine. As PRIDE owner co-chair from 2004 to 2007, Schaefer fostered greater two-way communications between union construction industry stakeholders and the buyers of their services. Prior to being named co-chair, Schaefer served on a number of committees to help advance construction industry proficiency in the region. Schaefer will be honored with the Joe Rinke Owner Award. The award is named for Joseph W. Rinke, PRIDE’s first owner co-chair.

William Bernard, president emeritus, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. A native St. Louisan, Bernard rose from the rank of apprentice in Asbestos Workers Local 1 in 1950 to become a national and international ambassador for the tenets of PRIDE. He led the historic negotiations that unified the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, which set a national and international precedent on cooperation between unions. Bernard will be honored with the Dick Mantia Labor Award. The award is named for Dick Mantia, who co-founded PRIDE and remains board member emeritus of the organization.


“These are stalwarts of our industry,” said Jim LaMantia, executive director of PRIDE. “Each has embraced and furthered the principles of cooperation to build a better future for the St. Louis area and its union construction industry.”

The award recipients will be honored at luncheon at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand & Suites Hotel in downtown St. Louis.

PRIDE, founded in 1972, is an acronym for Productivity and Responsibility Increase Development & Employment. For more than 35 years, PRIDE has worked to maintain harmony and build cooperation among St. Louis area AFL-CIO construction craft workers, contractors, construction buyers, architects, engineers and suppliers.




Mark Bright named CEO of Word Entertainment

Friday, November 21, 2008

Asbestos victory safeguards compensation for workers

Thousands of asbestos victims had compensation payments safeguarded today after the High Court ruled against insurance companies trying to dodge out of their liabilities.

The Unite union led a successful defence on behalf of the family of a former steel erector against a legal challenge by insurance companies which could have deprived mesothelioma sufferers and their families of compensation.

The High Court ruled that Employers' Liability insurers remain liable to pay compensation for mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos in the work place if they insured the employer at the time the asbestos exposure occurred.

The decision comes after a nine-week court battle throughout June and July.

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Asbestos victory safeguards compensation for workers

 

Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said: "This is a hugely important victory for the victims of the deadly dust and for their families. Having to suffer or watch your relatives suffer from a slow and painful death is horrific.

“Thousands of men and women across the UK have been negligently exposed to asbestos by their employers but insurers have tried and failed to use legal technicalities to escape their responsibility to pay compensation under the policies they sold to employers."

A number of insurers argued the policies they sold, to insure employers against liability for workers who were injured or suffered illness due to work, were "triggered" by the development of the disease rather than by the exposure to asbestos. 

Often the time lapse between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma can be 40 years or more.

If the insurance companies' defence had been successful it could have deprived thousands of asbestos victims and their families of their right to compensation.

The successful conclusion to the test case means the family of mesothelioma victim and Unite member Charles Michael O'Farrell will be a step closer to receiving ВЈ152,000 in compensation from his former employer's insurers Excess Insurance Company Limited.

Charles O'Farrell was a retired member of Unite who died in 2003. He was exposed to asbestos while working as a steel erector for Humphreys & Glasgow Limited from 1964 to 1967. The company ceased trading in1986 and is currently in liquidation.

Excess had refused to pay the damages citing the "trigger issue" defence as their reason. If the High Court had found in favour of the insurer the O'Farrell family would not receive any compensation.

His daughter, Maureen Edwards said: "My dad died a painful death from mesothelioma and watching him suffer was agonising for all of us. Excess Insurance poured salt into the wound by forcing us to fight them in court to receive compensation which we had already been awarded but they refused to pay.

"My dad would have been proud today that, with the backing of his union, we have finally achieved justice for him. But he would have been disgusted by the lengths the insurers went to get out of paying.”






Picketers doubt Vought can keep up
Rise in insurance costs dwarfs wage increases in Tenn.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Continental Cement Selects Wilson for Downtown Cement Facility

S. M. Wilson & Co. was selected by Continental Cement Company, LLC to build a new $15 million barge unloading facility and dome storage facility at the company's terminal in downtown St. Louis.

Continental Cement Selects Wilson for Downtown Cement Facility

Construction will be completed in two phases. Phase I will involve the construction of a 40,000 ton cement storage dome with an adjoined cement transportation center. In addition, a 1000 square foot building also will be built to house equipment. Phase II of the project will include the construction of the new barge unloading facility on the Mississippi River. A utility bridge will be constructed to connect the new unloading facility to the storage dome.

Construction for Phase I is scheduled for completion in late 2008, while Phase II is targeted for completion in May 2009.

EDG Consulting Engineers, based in Columbus, Ohio, is the engineering firm for the project.




$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Randy Burketet Lighting Celebrates 20 Years

Randy Burkett Lighting Design, Inc. is celebrating 20 years of professional practice. The Saint Louis based architectural lighting design firm was founded in 1988 by Randy Burkett, FIALD, IES, LC. Their lighting work has been honored numerous times with design awards for projects throughout the United States and abroad for distinction, design excellence and technical achievement.

Randy Burketet Lighting Celebrates 20 Years

Local past and current projects include: The Gateway Arch; Lumiere Place and Four Seasons Hotel including the River City Casino Hotel; Renaissance Grand Hotel; Old Post Office and CustomHouse; St. Louis Science Center; and The Penguin and Puffin Coast at the St. Louis Zoo.

National and worldwide projects include: The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC; 111 West Illinois Building in Chicago; Utah State Capitol historic renovation in Salt Lake City;St. Anthony's Falls Bridge I-35 Replacement, Minneapolis; Goethels Bridge Replacement, New York, NY; Zhe Jiang Fortune Finance Center in Hangzhou, China; Sea World Shark Encounter of Florida in Orlando, FL; Orange County Convention/Civic Center in Orange County, FL; and The American Queen Steamboat.

Lighting Design offers a complete range of services from initial conceptual development through final construction administration. The team's professional experience includes: skills in complete design formulation and development, equipment layout and specification, architectural detailing, custom luminaire design, solar and lighting energy analysis. The firm specializes in both interior and exterior project types including: corporate, retail, shopping malls, museum/exhibit, conferencing facilities, hotels, restaurants, religious structures, themed environments, monuments, and bridges.




Aloft will add two hotels
Leviton to open Lebanon center

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

AGC of St. Louis and KC Heavy Constructors Join Road/Transportation Advocacy Group

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), announced Aug.18 that the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis and Heavy Constructors Association (HCA) of Greater Kansas City have become its latest state affiliates.

"AGC of St. Louis and HCA join a growing team of state contractor associations that have chosen to affiliate with ARTBA and work in partnership with us to boost the federal government's investment in transportation," ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane said. "Our new chapters and members in Missouri will strengthen our grassroots team as we advocate for a renewed vision and mission for America's federal highway and transit programs."

Ruane noted Missouri is home to key congressional and state transportation leaders, and said the Missouri chapters will play a critical role in helping educate these policymakers about the revenue shortfall facing the Highway Trust Fund this year (Missouri can expect a 34 percent cut in its federal highway/bridge funding October 1, unless Congress acts), and about the state's overwhelming investment needs as Congress considers the next
multi-year highway/transit investment bill, scheduled for 2009 action.

Heavy and highway construction contractors in both chapters will be enrolled as ARTBA members. The two associations will be ARTBA's exclusive Missouri affiliates. AGC of St. Louis members include general contractors engaged in commercial, government, institutional and specialty construction in that region of the state. HCA includes contractors, suppliers and affiliates with an emphasis on heavy construction in the bi-state (Missouri and Kansas) Kansas City area.

AGC of St. Louis and HCA join 33 other ARTBA chapters from around the country. ARTBA's unique "federation" membership structure includes more than 5,000 private and public sector members in the transportation design and construction industry.

"ARTBA has a bold vision for the future of the nation's surface transportation network. Next year's federal transportation bill will be critical to St. Louis and Missouri, so we're pleased to join ARTBA's efforts," said Len Toenjes, AGC of St. Louis president. "Our goal is to be the leading voice on behalf of the construction community in St. Louis, to solve problem and find solutions that will make St. Louis a safer more productive community," added Toenjes.

HCA's Executive Director Ed DeSoignie added, "Our partnership with ARTBA gives our members another strong voice in the Nation's Capitol. ARTBA's success will help us protect our area's federal transportation funding and make the case for more investment to meet the Kansas City area's transportation infrastructure needs."

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Credit trickle slows construction

Frieze Harley Takes LEED Gold

Frieze Harley-Davidson in O'Fallon, IL, a winner in this year's CNR Regional Excellence Awards, was recently notified by the U.S. Green Building Council that the company's new building has been awarded LEED Go

Frieze Harley Takes LEED Gold

ld certification. The certification makes the dealership the first LEED Certified Harley-Davidson dealership in the country.

"I am very excited to be the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer to construct a LEED Certified building," stated Jenny Frieze, owner and general manager of Frieze Harley-Davidson. "I hope other business owners and Harley-Davidson dealers will be encouraged to take similar steps when constructing new facilities. I am very proud to have the opportunity to contribute to a program that will have a positive impact on preserving our environment."

Karasek Architects were the designers of the new eco-friendly building. Trumpet Builders was the project's general contractor. Vertegy Consultants was the sustainability consultant.

Frieze Harley Takes LEED Gold



The 33,000 square foot Frieze showroom and maintenance shop is partially powered by a wind turbine. It was constructed with insulated concrete forms (ICFS), an energy-efficient structural wall system providing an insulation R-value of 40.

The building's environmentally-friendly aspects include rapidly renewable bamboo wood flooring, specialty coatings in the display area, and a combination of lighting means. Natural light that is emitted through the northwest showroom windows and more than 40 solatubes ia supplemented by the computer-controlled light system, which provides an energy savings mode for all of the artificial light fixtures. Another energy saving feature is the maintenance shop's radiant floor system, which is heated from burned waste oil.

The building is sited within naturally landscaped grounds, using native grasses, plants, and drought-tolerant shrubs and trees. The natural look, in lieu of a manicured lawn, limits maintenance and water use on the grounds.




Amsino will add 100 jobs to Nashville work force

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

CB Richard Ellis Lease and Sale Transactions

CB Richard Ellis, Inc. announced the following lease and sale transactions:

Jerry Gidlow, SIOR, represented Thompson Price Kitchen, Bath and Home LLC in leasing 5,000 square feet of retail space at 12101 Manchester
Road, West St. Louis County, from DDR Realty Company, represented by Tim Cherre of Sansone Group.

CB Richard Ellis Lease and Sale Transactions

Marc Cacciarelli, SIOR, represented DJS Enterprises, Inc., in the sale of a 13,580-square-foot industrial building on 1.14 acres at 13539
Northwest Industrial Drive, North St. Louis County, to Dolph Properties, Inc., represented by Dan Johnson of Hilliker Corp.

Don Weis represented Brubaker & Associates, Inc. in leasing 12,145 square feet of office space at 16690 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield,
from Dierbergs Office, Inc.

Richard Robinson represented TD Ameritrade, Inc., in leasing 3,203 square feet of retail space at 1628 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, from
Chesterfield Oaks, LLC, represented by Capitol Realty.

Jeff Kaiser and Matt Aljets represented Hertz St. Louis One, LLC, in leasing 2,099 square feet of office space in the Laclede Gas Building,
720 Olive St., to Welk Resort Group, Inc., represented by Andrew Bagy of Grubb & Ellis|Gundaker Commercial.

Mark Hinchey represented Carelinc Options, LLC, in a 6,850- square-foot office lease renewal at 2127 Innerbelt Business Center Drive with the
lessor, Innerbelt Business Center, LLC.

Marc Cacciarelli, SIOR, represented Targee Westport, LLC, in the sale of two industrial buildings totaling 23,516 square feet at 2225 and
2253 Administration Drive, West St. Louis County, to South Tacoma Way, LLC, represented by Matt Hiatt .

Mark Hinchey represented Cabrera Services, Inc., in leasing 2,454 square feet of office space at 12747 Olive Blvd., West St. Louis County,
from BSP Golub Creve Coeur, LLC, represented by Tom Ray and Ann Dulle of CB Richard Ellis.

Mark Palmer and Jeff Kaiser represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company in leasing 3,315 square feet of office space at 16141
Swingley Ridge Road, West St. Louis County, from Emerald I, LLC, represented by Lynn Richter of Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC.

Ann Dulle represented BMJ Partners, a Florida General Partnership in a 3,900-square-foot retail lease renewal at 4600 Chippewa St.,
with the lessee, ProRehab, PC.

Mark Palmer represented Mattson Jack Group, Inc., in a 15,540-square-foot office lease renewal at 11960 Westline Industrial Drive,
Maryland Heights, with the lessor, CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Co.

Don Woehle, SIOR, represented So Properties in leasing 2,918 square feet of office space at 612 N. 2nd St., to Kastner & Partners.
Mark Palmer and Ted Green represented Softchoice Corporation in leasing 10,822 square feet of office space in CityPlace Four,
Creve Coeur, from Cornerstone Opportunity Ventures, represented by Koman Group, LLC.

Don Woehle, SIOR, represented Downtown St. Louis Partnership in leasing 9,843 square feet of office space in the Laclede Gas
Building, 720 Olive St., from Hertz St. Louis One, LLC.

Tom Ray and Jeff Kaiser represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in a 5,162-square-foot office lease renewal at 9666 Olive Blvd., Olivette, with
the lessee, Brown & Brown, Inc.

Mark Palmer and Jeff Kaiser represented Green, Cordonnier & House, LLP, in a 4,362-square-foot office lease renewal at 8000 Maryland Ave.
with the lessor, 8000 Maryland Avenue, LLC.





Retail building binge can’t last
$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Declare Your Independence From Chaos

By Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, Chief Cheetah, Cheetah Learning

It's easy to get caught up in the speed of our hectic lifestyles both at home and at work. If you're finding that stress and chaos is becoming the norm, it's time to transform the storm into calm.
Here are a few tips that I use to manage my stress and keep projects flowing in all aspects of my life.

1) Identify where the stress is coming from.
If you find yourself regularly saying, "I'm stressed," but not doing anything to change your environment or behavior, you may be running at full speed without thinking about where the stress is coming from. For example, are you saying, "yes" to everything and overloading your calendar? Are you working long hours without a break and feeling cheated because there is no personal time? Are you part of the sandwich generation caring for both your own children and your parents at the same time? Before you develop a plan, you need to pinpoint your key stressors.

2) Build a support team.
Many times, we get stressed because we've taken everything onto our own shoulders without asking for help and tapping into our support network. If you think of stress management as a project, your support team is the team helping you manage this project. When you look at the areas where you've identified your stress as coming from, this will help you pinpoint who are the people you need on your support team. They are probably already there for you, but you're not asking them for help. If your biggest stress is coming from work, think of a colleague, mentor or advocate who can talk you through it and help you come up with new strategies for approaching the challenge.

3) Catch your ZZZZ's.
While getting very little sleep may have been a badge of honor in college (or even in some companies), don't buy into this myth. Sleep deprivation reduces your concentration and overall effectiveness. It's difficult to come up with a sound solution or keep your cool on three hours of sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night as much as possible. Let your brain cool down before you go to bed and separate from challenging work a few hours before you go to sleep. Also cut back on caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and sugar, which affect some people's sleeping patterns.

4) Find joy in exercise.
If you hate the gym, you're never going to go there. So, knowing that exercise is one of the great stress-busters, you need to find joy in exercise for yourself. Maybe it's as simple as taking a walk down a favorite street or road. You may get the yoga itch and fall in love with those stretches and poses. Whatever works for you, give your brain a boost, and take a break from both the computer and whatever is weighing heavily on your mind with a frequent exercise break that becomes a routine you cherish.

5) De-stress your environment.
Do you have the right balance of quiet time for concentration and interaction with key team-members or family members? Make sure your furniture (especially at work) is designed to support you and properly adjusted. Are you working in the right light, so you are not straining your eyes? Look at your environment and see what relaxes and comforts you and what causes you additional stress.

6) Break for relaxation.
You know that person that you admire because s/he is always at ease and seems like a Zen master? If you ask that person, how s/he does it, you'll usually unearth a couple of golden nuggets tucked away. I've always used deep-breathing techniques to relax me - especially when I'm getting ready for an important meeting. Meditation and imagery work well too. It's amazing how just five minutes of closing your eyes and going to your favorite beach or location will completely take you away and bring you back refreshed. In our classes, we incorporate breathing techniques, yoga stretches and relaxing music. Our students always tell us what a difference this made for them as they were studying and preparing for the PMP exam.

7) Make Fun a Part of your Life.
What is really fun for you, and more importantly, when was the last time you had fun? If fun is relegated to a handful of times a year, you need to make a commitment to enjoying yourself more and making that part of your Stress Management Plan.

8) Design your Stress-Less Management Plan.
Use the seven tips above to develop your Stress-Less Management Plan. These tips will help you get your ideas formulated and pinpoint what you need to work on to lower your stress level, increase your relaxation time and most importantly - have more fun with the people you love.
Now, put your computer to sleep for five minutes and visualize yourself in your favorite spot drinking a bottle of water and smiling. May your visions bring you peace, prosperity and the ability to create a stress-free space no matter where you are!

Michelle LaBrosse is the founder and Chief Cheetah of Cheetah Learning and author of Cheetah Negotiations and Cheetah Project Management.




Sumner Regional Medical Center plans 90 layoffs
Voting time isn’t too costly for employers

Redrow to appeal over holiday pay ruling

Redrow Homes is vowing to fight on with a legal battle to establish that operatives engaged under its standard form of contract as self- employed labour-only subcontractors are not entitled to holiday pay.

The company is going to the Court of Appeal to try and overturn a recent decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

The tribunal said two Redrow bricklayers were due holiday pay because they were “workers” within the terms of the regulations.

Ucatt is representing the two men. General secretary Alan Ritchie said: “Major housebuilders need to accept that they have to pay holiday money to workers just like any other company.

“House builders are pleading for support from the government due to the economic downturn. However, at the same time, many house builders are determined to further casualise their workforces, denying workers the most basic employment rights.

“It is unacceptable that house builders on the one hand seek government assistance and on the other try to further exploit their workforce.”






Some Spring Hill GM workers face year-end layoffs

Rogue security guards raided in Glasgow

Rogue security guards have been discovered during raids on Glasgow construction sites, including the site of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

As part of a crackdown on security firms with links to organised crime, police raided 111 security sites in Glasgow including the Games site in recent weeks.

Almost 40 guards were reported to police for security offences and 8 busted for immigration offences.

Police stressed no arrests were made on the Games site.

In the past 12 months the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has launched a tough attack on rogue security firms, after it emerged the firms were demanding contractors on construction sites hire their services “or else”.

Strathclyde police’s detective inspector Andy Lawson said the raids had disrupted some serious crime networks operating in Glasgow.

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Rogue security guards raided in Glasgow

 

“Over the past few weeks we have targeted and disrupted the activities of a number of organised and serious crime networks,” he said.

“Working together with our partner agencies and sharing intelligence yields results and we will continue to work together and maintain the focus on these serious and organised criminals, disrupting and detecting their illegal activities.”

SIA investigation boss Christy Hopkins said the regular raids were essential to allowing construction work in Glasgow to prosper.

“There is a wealth of regeneration in Strathclyde with the 2014 Commonwealth Games, so it is imperative that security companies and their employees are trained, vetted and SIA licensed,” he said.






Ex-CCA chief executive sued by old business partner
Credit trickle slows construction

Hancock Elementary Undergoing $6 million Renovation

Demolition is nearly complete and construction has begun on the renovation of the Hancock Place Elementary campus, located at 9101 S. Broadway in Lemay.

The building that dates back to the 1970s is being remodeled and updated thanks to the patrons of the school district. Thisproject is the first phase of the $9 million dollar bond issue that was passed by the voters of Lemay on April 8, 2008.

Hancock Elementary Undergoing $6 million Renovation

The architectural firm of Wm. B. Ittner was responsible for the design of the elementary renovation and the C. Rallo Construction Co is
serving as the construction manager of the project. Upon completion the elementary school will be retrofitted with a new library, two new computer
labs, renovated classrooms and office space. In addition the heating and cooling systems, lighting, fire protection and security systems will be
upgraded. This is an extensive improvement to an aged building that serves more than 800 students and a staff of nearly 100 who will return at the
start of the school year on Sept. 2.

The project began when school was dismissed in late May and is well underway. "At this point everything is going as scheduled and we are pleased with the progress. The building will have a brand new look inside and will provide substantial improvements to the students learning environment," said Dr. Greg Clark, Superintendent. "It is going to be a busy summer but we are excited about the educational benefits the project will provide."




Credit trickle slows construction

Coldwell Banker Announces Transactions

Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC has announced the following new transactions:

Noel Fehr, CCIM, of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Lewis & Clark Village Inc. in the purchase of a 5,319-square-foot retail building at 14784 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011, from Manco of St. Louis LLC d/b/a Manco LLC.

Carl Conceller, SIOR, and Jackie Quicksilver of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Geraldine Deutsch Living Trust in the lease of 2,360 square feet of retail space at Willowbrook Shopping Center, 10483 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141, to J. William Bradley d/b/a School Music USA, represented by Will Aschinger of Hilliker Corp.

Coldwell Banker Commercial represented FJP Enterprises LLC in the lease of 1,545 square feet of office space at Woodcrest Executive, 12101 Woodcrest Executive Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141, from BSP Golub Creve Coeur LLC, represented by CB Richard Ellis.

G. Timothy L

Coldwell Banker Announces Transactions

awlor of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented 39 Worthington Limited Partnership in the lease of 970 square feet of office space at 39 Worthington Access Drive, St. Louis, MO 63043, to Anton Realty Group LLC.

Carl Concellor, SIOR, and Jackie Quicksilver of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Geraldine Deutsch Living Trust in the expansion of MEI Services Inc. d/b/a Pharma Life’s lease for 1,543 square feet of retail space at Willowbrook Shopping Center, 10479 and 10483 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.

Jaimie Lance of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented Worthington Associates LP in the renewal of Dominion Enterprises f/k/a Trader Publishing Co.’s lease for 2,938 square feet of industrial space at Security Plaza Building, 3-A/5 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.





------ End of Forwarded Message




$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Construction redundancies Q&A

Job losses and redundancies have sadly become a regular feature of the construction industry this year. But what are the obligations of employers when they want to make staff redundant? Here, Matthew Whelan spells out the requirement to collectively consult when making staff redundant under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Q. When does the obligation arise?

A. Employers must consult when they propose to make 20 or more employees redundant at one establishment within a period of 90 days or less.

There are a number of components to consider. For example, a 'proposal' arises before a decision is made (as otherwise the consultation would be worthless).

Consider which employees to count. Volunteers for redundancy must be included in the calculation.

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Construction redundancies Q&A

 

The concept of an 'establishment' does not necessarily mean employees who are based at a particular site. It is important to remember that the term 'dismiss as redundant' has a wide meaning and covers changes to terms and conditions through dismissal and re-engagement.

Q. Who must the employer consult?

A. The employer must consult all 'appropriate representatives' of any 'affected employees'.

'Affected employees' are those 'affected by the proposed dismissals or may be affected by measures taken in connection with those dismissals' - a wider meaning than those who may be considered for dismissal. It can cover those affected by any reorganisation arising out of the redundancies.

'Appropriate representatives' will be either representatives of a recognised trade union, representatives directly elected for the purpose or appropriate existing elected representatives. There is a specific method for electing representatives.

Q. What does consultation involve?

A. The Act contains a list of information which needs to be provided prior to consultation commencing.

Consultation must include ways of avoiding the dismissals, reducing the number of employees to be dismissed and mitigating the consequences of the dismissal. Consultation needs to be undertaken with a view to reaching agreement.

It must take place 'in good time', meaning the length will depend on the circumstances. There are minimum 'protected periods' of 90 days when 100 or more redundancies are proposed and, if fewer employees are involved, 30 days.

Best practice would be for the protected period to have elapsed before notice is given to any employees.

The employer must also notify the government using an HR1 redundancy form.

Q. Is it necessary to consult over the business reasons for the redundancies?

A. Until recently the answer would have been no.

The case of UK Coal Mining Limited v National Union of Mineworkers, however, decided that, as part of the obligation to consult over ways in which the redundancies can be avoided, an employer is required to consult over the business reason for the redundancies.

Although this does not mean that representatives can veto proposals, it is a significant decision and may make consultation more onerous for employers.

Q. What happens if an employer does not comply with the duty?

A. The maximum award available is 90 days' uncapped pay per employee.

The cost of non-compliance can therefore be high. A recent case confirmed that in the absence of consultation the starting point should be the maximum award of 90 days' pay and this should only be reduced if an employer can establish that there were special circumstances/mitigating factors. The level of the award relates to the seriousness of the employer's default, not the employees' loss.

The potentially high cost of not complying with this duty was highlighted in a decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in which employees who were not represented by the trade union who successfully brought the action were allowed later to become parties to the proceedings to participate in a challenge to the decision and potentially to benefit from a judgment against the employer.

This means you cannot assume if a trade union brings an action that it is only the members of the union who can benefit from a successful outcome. Others could come forward to rely on the decision to claim their money.

Q. Does it matter that the employer is in, or about to enter, a form of insolvency?

A. In theory, no, in that the duty still applies, although it may have a bearing on the extent of the duty and an employee's recourse.

This could well become a common scenario in the current worsening climate. The application of the law in this area is complex. For example, a High Court case held that the recourse available to employees for a protective awards for failure to consult after the onset of insolvency is limited and the only remedy will be against the secretary of state. This decision is however subject to appeal.

Q. Is it possible to make a payment to employees in return for a waiver of their right to be consulted?

A. A complaint in relation to a failure to consult can only be settled through arbitration service Acas, not by way of a statutory compromise agreement.

For this reason, it is unusual for employers to use a compromise agreement solely to settle a claim for failure to consult.

It is more common for a compromise agreement to be used to settle other claims and incorporate a right of set-off, along with an acknowledgment that the settlement sum is payable in respect of this obligation in the hope an employee will then not pursue any such claim.

Q. Does collective consultation obviate the need for individual consultation?

A. If there is a duty to collectively consult, regardless of whether or not that duty has been complied with, the standard dismissal and disciplinary procedure will not apply. This does not, however, mean that an employer does not have to engage in individual consultation to ensure the dismissal is fair.

Matthew Whelan is a solicitor with Speechly Bircham

This article originally appeared on PersonnelToday.com






Dana to cut jobs, close plants
Voting time isn’t too costly for employers

Monday, November 17, 2008

How to cope with being made redundant

You may be one of the unlucky 70,000 who has lost their job in the construction industry this year. So how do you copy with redundancy? Marielena Sabatier offers some pointers about getting your career moving again.

Most people are frightened by change, particularly if it is thrust upon them. Many of us get stuck in a job - driven by our need for security or fear of the unknown - and sometimes we need an external agent of change to create the life we want.

Look at this change as a good opportunity to take stock of where you are in your life, and where you want to go. This is a chance for you to get the job of your dreams. But to do that, you have to know what you want to do.

Most people know what they don't want. For example, they don't want to worry about money, or they don't want to be alone. But the important questions are: what do you want, and why is this important to you? Looking at what we want and desire, instead of what we don't want, helps us to refocus. Sometimes we are so entrenched in our day-to-day lives that we don't stop to notice that we would rather be doing something else.

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How to cope with being made redundant

 

It may be helpful to start with the present. Identify your strengths and your relevant experience. What did you enjoy most in each of the jobs you have had so far? What was it about the role that motivated you? It's important to understand what makes you tick.

Next, identify what you think you'd like to do next. What would be your ideal job? This is a big question for most of us and we limit our creativity and potential by being 'realistic'. But often, we're not actually being realistic we are limiting ourselves with our own beliefs. So the question I'd like you to ask yourself is: 'What would I do if I knew I could not fail?'

Focus on what makes you happy at work and what is important to you in your career. Some typical examples of career values are: challenge, making a difference, reward, recognition, autonomy, security and working with people. We are all individuals and very different. The important thing is to identify what is important to you.

Having a clear idea about what you want to do with your life will make your job hunt that much easier.

Once you understand where you are and where you want to go, create an action plan that will help you bridge the gap. You could consider using a career coach, who would be able to help you take stock, re-evaluate your options and get motivated to create the change you want in your life.

Marielena Sabatier is executive coach and co-founder of Inspiring Potential

This article originally appeared on PersonnelToday.com 






Beware of office gossip, but use the grapevine wisely

Manchester council agrees £1.7m B of the Bang settlement

Manchester City Council has been paid ВЈ1.7m in an out of court settlement over the troubled B of the Bang sculpture.

Designers Thomas Heatherwick Studio and subcontractors Packman Lucas, Flint and Neill Partnership and Westbury Structures were due to appear before the High Court next week to answer allegations of negligence.

The council accused the firms of breach of contract and was suing to recover at least ВЈ300,000 it spent fixing the ВЈ1.42m sculpture.

Built to commemorate the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the sculpture has been beset by problems and had nine of its distinctive steel spikes removed after one fell off in 2006.

As a result of the settlement, the court proceedings will no longer go ahead, reported Crain’s Manchester Business.

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Manchester council agrees £1.7m B of the Bang settlement

 

Manchester council solicitor Susan Orrell said: “The settlement allows the council to recover substantial damages and avoid further cost and the risks that are always associated with legal proceedings.

“I am pleased we have reached a settlement that is, in my view, in the best interests of the council and now that this has been achieved, it means the council can move on and consider the options for the future of the structure in conjunction with the project’s funders.

“When this work is completed a report will go to the council’s executive in the new year.”

The defendents said it was a “matter of considerable regret” that the sculpture suffered the problems it did.






Tennessee says computer seller misled buyers

London mayor could sue over Heathrow expansion

London mayor Boris Johnson has threatened to take legal action if a third runway is approved for Heathrow.

Supported by a coalition of local authorities, he believes the expansion would breach European Union laws on pollution and has vowed to sue if there is a basis for legal action.

Litigation could delay plans to have the runway completed and operational by 2030.

Johnson has pledged ВЈ15,000 towards the cost of a legal challenge if lawyers give the go-ahead, reported the Sunday Times.

His spokesman said the business case for expansion did not outweigh “concerns for the local environment in terms of noise and air quality”.

Approval for the third runway is expected next month.






Google drops Yahoo ad deal to avoid legal fight
Businesses need to take fresh look at loan papers

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Hanley and Eager Improvements Added to I-64

The Missouri Department of Transportation, Gateway Constructors and St. Louis County announcedmore improvements at the Hanley and Eager intersection as part of the I-64 reconstruction contract. St. Louis County will pay Gateway Constructors $4.6 million to complete the work with the I-64 contract keeping the original completion milestone for I-64 to open all lanes by Dec. 31, 2009. Construction will begin on the I-64/Hanley interchange and Hanley and Eager intersection when the west half of I-64 reopens in late 2008 or no later than Jan. 2, 2009.

"In order for us to complete the additional work and keep our schedule, Hanley Road over I-64 will be closed for up to eight months," said MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger. "The keys to getting around will include the opening ofI-64 from I-170 west including Brentwood and the reopening of access from Eager to northbound I-170. All of these items will be complete before we close Hanley. We will also connect two lanes in each direction on Hanley directly to Eager Road so traffic can flow from Hanley to Eager to the I-170 ramps."

MoDOT's original design for the Hanley and Eager intersection would have restricted the traffic to just a right turn in and right turn out of Eager at Hanley. The additional improvements will enable traffic on Hanley and Eager to travel in either direction through the intersection, with reduced congestion.

"The Hanley and Eager intersection is notorious for terrible traffic and this project will provide a great improvement to the traffic flow when complete," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. "Doing the work now reduces the disruptions to motorists if we had to do this work after I-64 was complete and costs less than half of what it could cost to do it later. The County will work with MoDOT to spread the word that Mid-County is still open for business and there are many ways to get around."




Leviton to open Lebanon center

Extreme Home Makeover Helps Shrewsbury Family

One hundred and six hours — a little less than four and a half days— that's how long that John Shea of Fenton, MO and Dave Dunlap of Webster Groves,
along with hundreds of other volunteers, will have to demolish one house,build a new one in its place, and landscape the yard.

The reason for the lightning fast build is ABC's "Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition," the Emmy-winning reality television show about building new homes
for deserving families.

Shea, known as "Mr. Fix It" on KTRS radio (AM 550) is president of CallierThompson Shea Construction and Design. Named Remodeler of the Year in 2007
by the Home Builders Association, the company had revenues last year ofabout $3.5 million.

Shea got involved in the project after the television show's producers began making the rounds of radio stations in St. Louis to promote the project and
publicized their search for a builder. Shea said someone at KTRS suggestedto Conrad Ricketts, the executive producer of "Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition" that he talk to Shea, and he did.

Extreme Home Makeover  Helps Shrewsbury Family

The St. Louisans chosen for ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" are Dawn and Emmanuel Martirez of Shrewsbury.

Dawn is a pediatric cancer nurse. They have a daughter, Elle, and twin boys, Evan and Alec. Evan has an extremely rare genetic condition called 9P minus, and Alec has another uncommon genetic disorder known as Crouzon Syndrome. Both twins suffer from skeletal abnormalities that require extensive corrective facial and cranial surgeries, with Evan having physical handicaps and mental retardation and Alec being profoundly hearing impaired."

Dawn Martirez had to give up her job to take care of the twins full time. A statement released by the television show said: "As the boys get older, the home's cramped narrow hallways, steep stairs, crumbling driveway and single, handicapped inaccessible bathroom are posing great problems for them and slowing their development. Now it is up to Ty (Pennington) and his designers to equip the Martirez's home to accommodate the twins' special needs."


Shea said he was excited about the project, but he knew he needed help - "a project of this magnitude and timeline is a challenge for any company," he
said - so he turned to his old friend Dave Dunlap of Consolidated Construction Group Inc. "Once Dave knew it was for charity, he was on
board," Shea said.

"Both companies have been blessed and believe strongly in giving back," said Dunlap. "We believe our project motto, 'People, Passion, Purpose,' really
exemplifies what this project is all about and encourages everyone to getinvolved. Every dollar, piece of material and hour donated to this project
will make a difference."

Consolidated Construction Group is a nationally recognized, award-winning design-build remodeling firm; ranked highest in homeowner satisfaction among
all remodelers nationwide, according to NRS Corp.'s National Homeowner Satisfaction Study; and a member of Remodeling magazine's Big 50 Hall of
Fame in 1990.

On August 26, Shea, Dunlap, and Ricketts met with more than 420 prospective volunteers from over 100 contracting companies to discuss how the four-day
build will work. "It was all by word of mouth," Shea said.

For more information on the build and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit www.extremehomemakeoverstlouis.com or call 636-256-8906.




Money advice to be offered at annual expo

OSHA Proposes Per Employee Penalties for PPE and PPE Training Violations

The American Subcontractors Association reported that on Aug. 19 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed to "clarify" how it will apply penalties for violations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) rules.

In response to a case before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission that suggested that "minor variations in the wording of the provisions affect the Secretary's authority to cite and penalize separate violations," OSHA said that it "interprets its respirator and training provisions to impose a duty upon the employer to comply for each and every employee subject to the requirement regardless of whether the provision expressly states that respirators or training must be provided to ‘each employee.'"

OSHA's proposed change would make explicit in the 29 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1910 through 1926 employers' duties to provide PPE, such as respirators, to each employee who performs covered tasks and to train them to use PPE properly. OSHA set a deadline of Sept. 18, 2008, for public comments or requests for hearings on this change, but ASA has asked for a 90-day extension to allow more feedback.




Prospect of firing key worker can paralyze entrepreneurs

Korte Expands Anderson Women’s Hospital

The Korte Company recently completed a $5.1 million expansion project for Anderson Hospital's Pavilion for Women in Maryville, IL. Anderson Hospital delivers more babies at this facility than any other hospital in Southern Illinois. In 2007, the Pavilion delivered nearly 1,800 babies, a 21 percent increase from deliveries in 2003. Because of the increasing number of patients, it was imperative to increase the size of the unit to meet the growing community's needs.

Korte Expands Anderson Women’s Hospital

Construction of the second story addition began in late 2006 and was completed in April of this year. The $5.1 million Design-Build project added approximately 19,000 square feet to the existing facility. The expansion, located above the current OB unit, includes 17 private mother/baby suites and a second nursery.

The first floor of the unit will now be used primarily for prenatal care, labor and delivery. The second floor will focus on mothers and newborns during their postpartum stay. A "lactation station" has also been added in this project offering patients an exclusive site for breastfeeding support, supplies and education.

Architect on the project was Jonesmayer, Inc.


According to Todd Korte, President and CEO of The Korte Company, "We are certainly proud to be a part of Anderson Hospital's expansion efforts. Our team delivered on time and on budget, and we're looking forward to doing it again very soon."
.




Nashville REIT to buy hospital assets
Sumner Regional Medical Center plans 90 layoffs

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Hey Mr. Sandman: Recyling Flood Leftovers

During the recent flooding in the Midwest, the Army Corpos of Engineers said that 13.2 million sandbags to support the flood fight. 'The sandbags, if laid end-to-end, would span from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.," the Corps reported. Now that the floodwaters have receded, what is to be done with all that soggy (and in some cases contaminated)?

Hey Mr. Sandman: Recyling Flood Leftovers

In many cases they're being recycled. Around 200,000 bags from around Illinois' Sny Levee District were recycled at Mark Twain Lake where they were used to protect hydroelectric equipment at the Clarence Cannon Dam.

Similar sandbag levees are to be dismantled in Clarksville, Mo., where most sand removal will be contracted out According to Clarksville Mayor Jo Anne Smiley the town will give the sand away for fill at a local golf course, cement manufacturing or use by the county to dust icy roads in winter.

"It's economically wise to reuse the leftover sand," says spokesman Robert Anderson of the Corps' Mississippi Valley Division, though environmental concerns factor in. Sandbags may be tainted by sewage or chemicals, cautions the Corps' St. Louis District spokesman Alan Dooley. Bags become fragile and may deteriorate in sunlight, Dooley says. Clarksville is separating dry from soaked sandbags. Wet bags are considered contaminated and will be placed in land fills.

lIn in Canton, Mo., 600 cubic yards of wet sand will be covered by 12 inches of clean soil for a new park. Canton, population 2,557, estimates that that sandbag removal and levee repairs in the area will cost $176,200.




Nissan to make fewer vehicles
Real estate thrives near military bases

Hilliker Corporation Announces Transactions

Hilliker Corporation announced the following real estate transactions:

Hilliker Corporation Announces Transactions

Meade Summers represented both parties in the lease of 56,409 sq.ft. of office/warehouse space located at 6800 Prescott Avenue in the City of St. Louis to Mid-States Supply Co. by Mayfair & Woodcliffe, LLC.

Scott Martin represented Douglas DeVries and Cherie Francois in leasing the 2,680 sq.ft. retail space located at 530 East Osage in Pacific to Faith Fellowship Church who represented itself.

Jim Newman epresented both parties in the lease of 9,100 sq.ft. of office/warehouse space located at 4806 Potomac in the City of St. Louis to Gateway Custom Millwork LLC by J.D. Investments Company of Missouri.

Peter Newton represented both parties in the lease of 2,900 sq.ft. of retail space located at 6922 Manchester Avenue in Maplewood to Papagoyos Inc. by Baltic Properties LLC.

Will Aschinger represented Graniterra/European Tile and Marble in the purchase of the 5,500 sq.ft. office/warehouse building located at 647 Trade Center in Chesterfield from Envirotest Systems Corporation represented by NAI Desco Commercial.

Meade Summers represented both parties in leasing 28,323 sq. ft. of office/warehouse space located at 4410 Hunt Avenue in the City of St. Louis to Ace Pipe Cleaning, Inc. by Dr. Jesse F. Donnell, LLC.

John Hoofman represented Paul Ronsick in the sale of the 34,412 sq.ft. of land located at 3055 N. Lindbergh in Florissant to Millennium Venture Group Inc. represented by St. Louis County Realty.




Beware of office gossip, but use the grapevine wisely
Goodwill plans to build new Nashville headquarters

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Michael Tobin to Head Centene Project

U.S. Equities Realty announced that real estate management veteran Michael Tobin will oversee its Centene Plaza project, a mixed-use urban center housing Centene Corporation's headquarters in Clayton.

"We are thrilled to have such a visionary and respected industry executive joining our talented team," said Robert A. Wislow, chairman and CEO of U.S. Equities. "The depth and breadth of Mike's experience enhances our group's expertise and allows us to focus on our pursuit of new development opportunities."

With 33 years of experience in Chicago's commercial real estate industry, Tobin most recently served as a partner with Northern Realty Group where he oversaw all acquisition and development efforts. Tobin generated more than $325 million in development projects during his ten years with the firm. Prior to joining Northern Realty Group, Tobin spent six years as president and chief operating officer of Central Station Development Corporation where he directed the development of a 100-acre mixed-use community on Chicago's lakefront. In addition, Tobin spent eight years as vice president of development for Metropolitan Structures, Inc., where he managed more than $650 million in development.

Tobin holds a bachelor's and a master of architecture degree from the University of Michigan, and is a licensed architect and real estate broker. He resides in Highland Park, Ill. and sits on Chicago's Near South Planning Board and the University of Michigan's Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Real Estate Advisory Board.




$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Lambert Launches Improvement Projects

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport officially kicked off the Airport Experience renovation program announcing the first projects underway
totaling $16.9 million in improvements.

The Airport Experience is a multi-phase program to modernize and upgrade the Main Terminal and concourses. The first Airport Experience project beginning in July is the interior restoration of Lambert's four historic domes. A complete replacement of Lambert's Main Terminal in-bound baggage system - at an estimated cost of $5 million - is scheduled to begin in early 2009. That
project will include all new carousels and oversize luggage retrieval systems. The six carousels will be replaced one at a time. The third project, also set for early 2009, is the makeover of Lambert's roadway signage program, expected to cost $1.5 million. This "Wayfinding" project involves creation of a master plan for all signs and the installation of all
new messaging to help travelers and airport users better navigate to andfrom Lambert.

Other projects within the renovation program will be phased in over the nextfive years.

Kwame Building Group is providing oversight, programming, design coordination and procurement, and will manage implementation of the "Airport
Experience Program." Other consultants selected for the project are:

•Teng & Associates, Inc.: Dome renovations design, Main Terminal ticketing hall and mid-level architectural renovations design; concourses architectural renovations design.

•Kozeny-Wagner, Inc.: In-bound conveyers and baggage claims design/build.

• Apple Designs, Inc.: Entrance monuments and wayfinding signage design.

•Burns and McDonnell: Main Terminal ticketing hall and mid-level mechanical, electrical, plumbing and special systems (MEPPS) renovations
design; concourses mechanical, electrical, plumbing and special systems (MEPSS) renovations design.

The schedule for installing many of those improvement will not be determined until designs are complete.

"We're proud to begin these much anticipated improvements after listening to our passengers, airport users and the community," said Richard Hrabko,
Director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. "In spite of these volatile and uncertain times in the travel industry, we currently have the
ability to begin the transformation of our historic facility while remaining fiscally responsible."

Hrabko added, however, that the health of the industry and the airport will determine when the addition projects move into construction.

"From the start, Lambert intended for the renovation program to proceed with
only those projects that deliver the most impact for airport users and/or to
improve airport operations. That continues to be our goal," he said. "As we
move through the design phase of the next projects, we will carefully
monitor our budget and the economic landscape of the airline and airport
industries to make sure the airport is financially secure before we proceed
with the construction of our next projects."

The $16 million facility renovation program is in addition to HMSHost's
agreement to invest $16 million ($13 million by 2011) to introduce more
local and upscale dining venues. Three new concepts are now under
construction in the Main Terminal. Local favorite, The Pasta House Co., will
open in the lower level in the fall of 2008. Brioche Dore Caf and
Missouri Vineyards, a new wine bar concept are scheduled to open in early
2009 in the Ticketing Hall of the Main Terminal.

Other new dining options could include Mosaics Tapas Fusion, which has been
named one of top restaurants in St. Louis; Fitz's Root Beer; Baja Fresh and
a new Freshns. The construction schedules and opening dates for those
venues will be determined at a later date.




Marketing innovation blossoms when necessity kicks in

Crossrail appoints legal panel for property acquisition

The acquisition of more than 13,000 land and property interests for Crossrail is one step closer following the appointment of a specialist legal panel.

On the panel are firms Eversheds, Harries Hall, Wragge & Company and Ashurst.

They will advise Crossrail and Transport for London on property acquisition and planning to ensure the acquisition programme meets tough time constraints.

Crossrail legal services director Mark Fell said the construction of Crossrail depended on property acquisition running according to plan.

“Work on Crossrail is now moving full-speed ahead. The acquisition of property under powers obtained through the Crossrail Act is the next major step forward for the project as it prepares for the start of the main construction work in 2010,” he said.

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Crossrail appoints legal panel for property acquisition

 

“Such is the scale and extent of Crossrail and its critical importance to London’s transport network that a considerable amount of property and land needs to be acquired within a short space of time.

“Only with all the necessary property and land acquisition can Crossrail’s construction begin.”






Tight credit kills sale of Channel 5
Do the math before listing son on house deed

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Washington University’s Danforth University Center Complete

Clayco Inc. has completed construction on Washington University's new Danforth University Center in St. Louis, Mo. The $43 million, 115,880-square-foot University Center also achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S.en Building Council (USGBC).

"The Danforth University Center project is a marquis for Clayco. Its construction and architecture embraces a variety of positive influences under one roof," said Steven Street, Clayco's project director. "For instance, the new University Center integrates sustainable design elements, functional public spaces, thought-provoking interior and exterior finishes, and practical amenities in one meeting place to inspire learning and creativity. Furthermore, careful collaboration between the design, construction and ownership team facilitated the completion of the new facility in time for the 2008 fall semester students to enjoy its outstanding features."

Washington University’s Danforth University Center Complete

Finished in just 16 months, Danforth University Center is located between Simon Hall and Mallinckrodt Center on the Washington University campus. The new three-story University Center houses WUTV-TV, Student Life newspaper, the student union, student and faculty dining areas, conference rooms, campus life offices, a game room and a common area. Built over a pre-constructed, three-story 520-car parking garage which was an earlier Clayco project, the University Center features reinforced concrete with a granite stone facade, complementing the collegiate Gothic architecture displayed throughout the campus.

In addition, Clayco completed a variety of other projects to improve the campus infrastructure prior to the facility's construction. These included incorporating extensive landscaping to conceal the garage, installing underground utilities to support the central underground garage and main garage, and building a 92,000-square-foot addition to the Snow Way parking garage.

Beginning designs for the project included pursuing certification in USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. However with great effort from all team members involved, the project jumped from Certified to Gold standard. LEED is USGBC's leading rating system for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

Danforth University Center was designed to incorporate a number of sustainable strategies that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include the use of natural materials and lighting controls.

"We are proud to construct buildings that defend and protect our community's environment while at the same time being the best value for our clients," added Street. "Bringing these two critical elements together in new and innovative ways is what drives our company's success."

Clayco's project team included Kirk Warden, Clayco Senior Vice President and Partner and project executive; Pat Moriarity, senior project manager; Jamie Callaway, project manager; Craig Buchheit, project superintendent; Gary Marrin, operations manager; and Street. TSOI/Kobis & Associates of Cambridge, Mass., was the architect. Joining Clayco on the project were CommArts, interior designer; Woolpert Inc., civil engineer; KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural engineer; Bell Electrical Contractors, electrical engineer; Murphy Co., mechanical engineer; Corrigan Co., plumbing; and Ahern Fire Protection, fire protection.

Clayco Inc. is a full-service real estate development, design and construction firm with annual revenues of $871 million, specializing in "the art and science of building." With offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit, Clayco provides design-build project delivery on a nationwide basis for the corporate, financial, industrial, institutional and residential markets. For more information, visit http://www.claycorp.com .




Money advice to be offered at annual expo

Dogfight Over Metro East Air Park Project

In the latest episode of a story line worth of television drama, Troy D. Martin, head of Martin Aviation Group, a company that announced plans for a $4 billion air park in Metro East, said that he fired The Korte Co. as his general contractor prior to their announcement this week that they had quit.

Dogfight Over Metro East Air Park Project

Martin's biggest claim to fame prior to the announcement of the condominium project at Downtown St. Louis Airport was as the passenger in a Cessna that was almost shot down by military jets over the White House in 2005.

He has said that the project — which is projected to have 42 buildings with two expansion towers totaling 4 million square feet — will cater to non-U.S. companies wishing to establish a North American headquarters. The website for the the project claims, among other things, that the condominium project, where buildings are projected to sell at $950 per square foot, will have a 10,000-space parking garage and helicopters and chauffeured Rolls Royce limosines for executive tenants. The mile-long campus, which is termed the "Golden Mile" on Martin's website.

Martin said that Korte had not performed and that he has hired Holland Construction Services to replace Korte.




$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet
Leviton to open Lebanon center

Somerset developer sues advisors over allegedly faulty advice

A developer that paid ВЈ1.2m for six rundown cottages in Somerset is suing its advisers for telling them the problematic properties were in fair condition.

Qube Homes ran 34 weeks over schedule renovating the cottages because of serious damp issues and the need to replace roofs deemed in “fair condition” by its advisers.

It is suing chartered surveyors Weeks Dae Associates for damages up to ВЈ300,000 for negligent advice, alleging the firm did not adequately inspect the cottages.

Qube appointed Weeks Dae to investigate the viability of the proposed development at Chilcompton before contracts were exchanged in 2006.

Weeks Dae told the developer that roofs, ceilings and staircases were in “fair condition” and that no major works were needed to facilitate the development.

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Somerset developer sues advisors over allegedly faulty advice

 

But when successful bidder Fergal Contracting started on the job, it was found all six roofs needed replacing as well as large sections of walls suffering widespread damp.

In a writ filed at the Technology and Construction Court, Qube claims the project ran 34 weeks late, of which 14 weeks were due to the extra work needed on the cottages.

It claims it incurred additional fees, extra site visits, higher borrowing costs and delays because of Weeks Dae’s advice.

It wants the difference between the price paid for the site and the true value of the site, given the cottages’ actual state.






Money advice to be offered at annual expo
$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Contractors face ruin as banks refuse loans

Bankers are coming under a barrage of criticism from contractors as credit lines for construction companies dry up.

Furious civil engineering firms and subcontractors are warning of jobs carnage unless the Government forces banks to act responsibly over refinancing credit and providing loans.

Bankers are being accused of using any excuse to pull credit from contractors despite Government pressure to free up cash in the system.

Patrick Waldron, chairman of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association's North West branch, said: "Banks are scrutinising their existing agreements with contractors and where they have even the slightest concern they are not renewing terms.

"Developer-contractors are finding it harder to finance schemes, with banks asking for personal guarantees".

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Contractors face ruin as banks refuse loans

 

He warned: "They are passing on the consequences and the SMEs are getting squeezed. But if the SMEs are allowed to fail then the whole industry fails."

Latest insolvency figures show the funding crisis for smaller contractors is starting to bite with construction failures up two thirds between July and September compared with the same period a year ago.

Rosemary Beales, director of CECA, called on the Government to act before thousands more jobs are lost.

She said: "With credit facilities being squeezed by banks, the inevitable result will be redundancies and small contracting firms going under.

"We want to see the Government make sure the banks are lending at 2007 levels again in return for the ВЈ37bn taxpayer bailout."

She warned: "The cost of doing nothing may well be the loss of some of the most enterprising small firms in the country and therefore the employment and skills supported by the SME market.

"The SME sector plays a vital role in construction - we will need them when the economy begins to grow again or the cost to the taxpayer of delivering vital infrastructure will be far greater."






Credit trickle slows construction
Lehman’s bond insurers to take a financial bath

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Jamestown Mall to be Reborn as Mixed-Use Center

Carlyle Development Group, the owner of Jamestown Mall in North County, has unveiled plans to convert the property from a traditional enclosed mall into a mixed-use commerce center where area residents can live, work, dine and shop.

Jamestown Mall to be Reborn  as Mixed-Use Center

“We're developing an economic driver for North County," said Thomas Fear, senior vice president of Carlyle Development Group, the firm that owns and is redeveloping the property. “Our goal is to restore energy to the mall and make it an exciting, fresh destination.”

The project master plan contains four phases with many significant changes taking place in its initial phase. One of the major components of Phase I is the conversion of the vacant 215,000 square-foot space, formerly occupied by Dillard’s department store, into back-office space. The plan also calls for the closing of 100,000 square feet of other retail space in the Dillard's wing. “The level of vacancies in that particular wing is detrimental to the overall success of the mall,” says Fear. “Our goal is to reinvigorate the property by bringing all of the retail occupants together in designated parts of the property while taking the excess retail space out of the picture.” The excess retail will be furloughed until it is the right time to lease it as traditional retail, service retail or ancillary office space.

Existing retailers in the Dillard’s wing will be relocated to the north and east wings of the property. This shift will increase occupancy in the mall and result in a more vibrant retail environment, Carlyle Group said. The estimated cost of the master plan is in excess of $120 million and is projected to commence in the first quarter of 2009. Carlyle Development Group is actively pursuing office tenants and is anticipating announcing newly signed tenants over the course of the next few months.

“The vacant square footage may never return to retail,” Fear noted. “It was time for some fresh thinking. Retail is no longer the sole driver for successful development. We analyzed the property and knew we had to change the mix.”

Future phases of the plan include The Residences at Coldwater Creek, a 200-unit, active adult and senior living community which will be located off of Old Jamestown Road and approximately 360,000 square feet of suburban low-rise office along Lindberg Boulevard (Highway 67). A small service retail component along Lindbergh Boulevard is also planned.

“North County needs a vision for the future,” says Michael O'Mara, councilman for St. Louis County's 4th District. “The redevelopment of Jamestown Mall is central to that vision.”




$10M retail expansion cleared for Mt. Juliet

Kit Bond Brainchild Target of Scammers

An investigation by the Government Accountability Office of a federal economic development program known as the HUBZone program has found that lax oversight has left it rife with fraud.

In the six month long investigation, which ended in June 2008, the GAO obtained HUBZone certification from the Small Business Administration for four fake businesses. Certification qualifies the businesses for federal contracts under the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program.

Kit Bond Brainchild Target of Scammers

In addition, 10 of 17 HUBZone businesses the GAO looked into in Washington, D.C. failed to meet the eligibility requirements for the program. Those same 10 firms have received more than $105 million in federal contracts since 2006. In the case of one of the firms, the GAO made multiple visits to the site listed as the firm's principal office, but found that no employees were working at the location and the only business equipment present was a computer and a filing cabinet. That firm received $3.9 million in HUBZone contracts from the Army and the Air Force during fiscal year 2006-2007, but its principal office was actually in McLean, VA, an upscale Washington, D.C., suburb that is not in a HUBZone.

The House Committee on Small Business heard about the results of the investigation in a public hearing on July 17. The committee chair, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), said in her opening statement that the findings of the investigation were "appalling."

"It's tougher to get a library card than it is to get into the HUBZone program," she said. "All you need is a bit of White-out. It's absolutely shameful."

The investigation was undertaken at the committee's request.

Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO), wrote the 1997 bill that created the HUBZone program to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed rural and urban areas by giving small companies located in those areas preference in Federal contracting opportunities. Since then, he has pushed federal agencies to increase contracting through the program. A year ago, he criticized federal agencies for falling far short of meeting the goal set by Congress of awarding three percent of prime contracts to HUBZone companies.

To qualify for HUBZone certification, a firm must be owned and controlled by at least one U.S. citizen, 35 percent of its full-time employees must reside in a HUBZone, and the firm's principal office must be in a HUBZone area.

In the bi-state area, the City of St. Louis, University City, Pagedale, Pinelawn and additional parts of North County in Missouri and East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington, Fairmont City, Brooklyn, and Venice in Illinois are all in HUBZones.

The GAO estimated that $8 billion in federal spending flow to the 14,000 firms in the program. HUBZone firms are supposed to get a 10 percent price preference when competing against large businesses for contracts. In other words, HUBZone firms can charge up to 10 percent more than their non-HUBZone competitors and still get the federal contract. According to the Missouri Small Business Development Centers, federal contracting officers also can restrict contracts to HUBZone companies if they think two or more HUBZone companies will submit bids. For contracts worth less $3 million, they can designate a HUBZone company as a sole source provider. In addition, federal agencies are supposed to require a HUBZone subcontracting plan on any prime contract with a non-HUBZone company worth more than $500,000.

In a statement emailed by Sen. Bond's office, Missouri's senior senator said, "Fraud, abuse and poor management found by the GAO investigators was not just troubling, but unacceptable. While I am pleased that SBA has already taken steps to address these problems, I will monitor carefully their efforts to ensure that the program operates as intended by the Congress."

This not the first time that allegations of lax oversight and fraud have dogged the HUBZone program.

"The GAO report confirms the claims contractors have been making for years - that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has failed to execute its oversight authority over the HUBZone program," said AGC's chief executive officer Stephen Sandherr. "The HUBZone program has been a huge administrative failure, which has cost the program its potential as a legitimate contracting vehicle, the opportunity for growth for these disadvantaged communities and billions of lost taxpayer dollars."

AGC has long expressed significant concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of the HUBZone program as it is applied to the construction industry and has advocated that significant improvements be enacted to reform the program. The program does not realize its goal of increasing employment and reinvesting in economically disadvantaged areas.

AGC advocates the following changes to the HUBZone program:

Applying the HUBZone program only to contracts for the construction of federal projects within a 150-mile radius of the HUBZone contractor's principal place of business. According to the AGC, only those projects can offer employment to a significant number of HUBZone residents, and only those projects can promise to make a lasting change in their economic circumstance. Requiring that HUBZone residents receive at least 30% of the payroll needed to perform all HUBZone contracts. According to AGC, using payroll as the measure will avoid pass through purchases of materials and supplies that encourage brokering by legal HUBZones entities that nonetheless are not actually building construction projects. Requiring the SBA to routinely investigate alleged abuses of the program within 10 days. Reducing the price preference in construction to five percent. Letting contractors protest a sole source designation on the grounds that the HUBZone contractor does not actually qualify for the program. Requiring construction firms - companies that experience large fluctuations in employment throughout the course of any given year - to provide certified payroll records at the end of each year to demonstrate that HUBZone residents truly worked at least 35% percent of all the hours worked in that year.


Credit trickle slows construction
Lehman’s bond insurers to take a financial bath

Construction Confederation demise won't halt pay talks

Contractors are confident the current round of industry pay talks will not collapse, despite the imminent demise of the Construction Confederation (CC).

The talks set minimum rates for thousands of site workers. Gerry Lean, industrial relations director at the confederation, said: "Despite changes at the Construction Confederation, it is business as usual for the Construction Industry Joint Council (CJIC) and national pay talks."

The confederation is being wound-down and will have only a skeleton staff in the New Year.

Bob Blackman, Unite national secretary, said: "The employers have told us that the component parts of the confederation will continue to support the CIJC and the national agreement.

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Construction Confederation demise wont halt pay talks

 

"The major contractors have assured us of their support and have said that negotiations on next year's settlement should continue."

Alan Ritchie, Ucatt general secretary, added: "We believe it is essential that construction employers stay organised in order to ensure the existing agreement remains relevant and followed by the majority of the industry."

In the wake of the establishment of a CBI-based Construction Council as a central lobby group, both the Major Contractors Group and the National Contractors Federation are withdrawing from the confederation to form a new UK Contractors Group. The British Woodworking Federation is also withdrawing. It could be followed by the civil engineers, leaving the CC with just the National Federation of Builders and the Scottish Building Federation as direct members but still offering bought-in services to others on industrial relations, safety and taxation.

Lean said there was no immediate need to reconstitute the joint council. It currently comprises six parties - Ucatt, Unite and the GMB on one side and the confederation, the roofing contractors, and the shopfitters on the other.









Bridgestone restructures, renames unit
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Monday, November 10, 2008

Midwest ASA Elects Officers

Midwest ASA Elects Officers

The Midwest Council, American Subcontractors Association ASA has voted in new officers and directors. The new officers and directors are as follows:

Michael Fogarty, Jr., Briner Electric, president; Jim Freeman, The Freeman Contracting Co. Inc., vice president; Chris Milne, Oreo & Botta Concrete, secretary; Mark O'Donnell, O'Donnell, Bonebrake & Company, treasurer; Tom McDonnell, George McDonnell & Sons, immediate past president.

Directors are A.J. Ford, Budrovich Contracting; Ken Bartels, Bartels Equipment; David Vaughn, Grant Contracting; Sandra Wilmoth, Midwest Marble & Granite; Vincent Irwin, Irwin Products; and Mike Heitkamp, Heitkamp Masonry

The American Subcontractor Association is a construction trade association of quality specialty contractors and supplier serving the construction industry and the community. Our purpose is to improve the construction process through active participation in education, legislation and cooperation




Bridgestone restructures, renames unit