Rehau breaks ground on manufacturing addition in Cullman

Gray Construction of Birmingham, Ala., recently joined Rehau Co. officials and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley on Jan. 26 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a 200,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing and distribution addition at Rehau's Cullman, Ala., plant.

Rehau of Rehau, Germany, is an international manufacturer of polymer products for the automotive and construction markets.

The project includes a high bay racking area with superflat floors.

Gray is the project's general contractor and will also be responsible for procurement and installation of racking and in-rack sprinklers. The project manager will be Matt Kilgore and the site manager will be Matthias Flickinger.

Mobile's Historic Battle House Hotel under restoration

White-Spunner Construction Inc. of Mobile, Ala., began restoration of the 1908 Battle House Hotel in 2004 with a mission to return the hotel to its original grandeur. Renovations include the landmark lobby and ballroom, new guestrooms and a complete overhaul of the hotel's infrastructure.

The project is part of the $162 million RSA Battle House office and hotel project underway by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Originally built in 1852, the Battle House Hotel once offered many amenities. Destroyed by fire in 1905, the current hotel was erected on the site of the old building.

The 250-room, seven-story hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and should open by the end of the year.

White-Spunner Construction is a general contracting and management company based in Mobile, with branch offices in Dallas and Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Alabama AGC installed president, officers at awards banquet

Eddie Stewart, Caddell Construction Co. Inc. of Montgomery, was recently installed as the statewide president of the Alabama Associated General Contractors during the association's annual awards banquet in January.

Other officers include Duane Watson, Doster Construction in Birmingham, vice president; Alex Whaley, Whaley Construction in Troy, second vice president; and Al Stanley, Stanley Construction in Huntsville, treasurer.

Stewart has been with Caddell for 27 years, where he serves as president and chief operating officer. He began his career with the company as an estimator. He has been involved with AGC since he began work with Caddell and is active in AGC at the national level, serving this year as the chairman of the Federal and Heavy Construction Division.

"It is somewhat ironic that the president of the Alabama AGC comes from a firm that does very little work in the state of Alabama," Caddell said. "However, if you look at the diversity of the firms that make up our chapter, you will find there are quite a few firms like Caddell that have not only a national, but also an international presence.

"It is a unique mix of companies that make our chapter as strong and widely recognized as it is."

The Alabama AGC is a full service trade association for the commercial construction industry.

AGC Build Alabama Awards honor outstanding projects

Construction companies, engineers and architects from across the state were honored during the Alabama Associated General Contractors' Build Alabama Awards in January at The Club in Birmingham.

Following are the winners:

* New Building Construction - Brice Building Co. of Birmingham for the Southern Progress Corporation-Building 3 and Parking Deck in Birmingham, Ala.

* New Construction Management - Doster Construction Company Inc. of Birmingham for the Ross Bridge Renaissance Golf Resort and Spa in Hoover, Ala.

* New Municipal Utilities - B.L. Harbert International LLC of Birmingham for improvements to the Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pinson, Ala.

* New Building Construction Under $5 Million - Rives Construction Co. Inc. of Birmingham for the new office building of Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood also of Birmingham.

* Renovation Design Build Under $5 Million - Doster Construction Company Inc. of Birmingham for an addition to the Pinnacle Foods facility in Jackson, Tenn.

* New Design-Build Under $5 Million - Colyer-Lloyd General Contractors of Anniston, Ala., for the Shoal Creek Ranger Station in the Talladega National Forest in Heflin, Ala.

* New Design-Build - Caddell Construction Co. Inc. of Montgomery for the Combat Aviation Brigade Barracks & Operations Complex at Fort Bragg, N.C.

* New Heavy Industrial Construction - Caddell for its work with Blaine Construction Corp. of Knoxville, Tenn., on the Target Building at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

* Renovation Building Construction Under $5 million - Ollinger/Mostellar & Associates Inc. of Mobile for Phase I Renovations to the Saenger Theatre in Mobile.

In addition to the individual project awards, several Alabama firms were recognized for their overall performance in 2005.

Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood of Birmingham was recognized as 2006 Architect of the Year. Chris Engel accepted the award, which is presented each year to recognize the top architects in the state.

Chris Matthews Construction of Birmingham received an Outstanding Safety Performance Award for its efforts to place employee health and safety programs at the center of their projects. AGC State Association President Jeff Rogers and the ceremony's emcee, Emmy award-winning meteorologist James Spann, presented the award to Lanny Fivet of Chris Matthews Construction.

John G. Walton Construction Co. of Mobile was recognized with an Outstanding Safety Performance Award for placing employee health and safety programs at the center of each project. Johnny Walton and Roger Dixon accepted the award.

The Alabama AGC also named Southern Earth Sciences Inc. of Mobile the 2006 Engineer of the Year.

B.H. Craig Construction of Florence, Ala., was recognized with an Outstanding Safety Performance Award for its overall performance in 2005.

Argo completes renovations, additions to Glen Iris Elementary

Project Manager Jim Acton and Superintendent Bill Barker, both with Argo Building Company Inc., recently completed renovations and additions to Glen Iris Elementary School in Birmingham.

This $8.3 million renovation allowed Glen Iris to re-open its doors to a 36,000-sq.-ft. addition that included classrooms, a library, a larger cafeteria and an updated gymnasium. The new regulation size gym came equipped with new bleachers, lights, stage, sound system, concession stand and office space for the coaches.

The school also has administrative offices, new windows, refinished floors and a parking lot with drop-off sites.

Other project team members included Evan Terry and Associates as the architect and Volkert and Associates as program manager.