NAWIC chapter wins awards at regional meeting

From left, Jenny Wilson, PR Committee chairman; and Ginger Thompson, NAWIC Greater Birmingham Chapter president.

The National Association of Women in Construction Greater Birmingham Chapter was recognized for its community service project “Camp for Christmas,” which raised money for Camp Smile-A-Mile and for its partnering agreement with Associated Builders & Contractors – Alabama Chapter during the NAWIC Region 2 Forum April 17-19 in Nashville.

Also recognized during the forum was the president of the NAWIC – Greater Birmingham Chapter, Ginger Thompson, Gary C. Wyatt General Contractor LLC, as Recruiter of the Year and Member of the Year for Region 2.

From left, Ginger Thompson, Gary C. Wyatt General Contractor LLC of Birmingham, Ala., and Anne Welch, NAWIC Region 2 director.

NAWIC, an international non-profit organization, has grown to a membership of more than 5,000 women with more than 179 chapters.

McShane Construction gets DAU project

Scott J. Hoppa, vice president of McShane Construction Co.’s Southeast Region, recently announced that Triad Properties Corp. awarded McShane Construction the design-build construction assignment for a 62,500-sq-ft, two-story office facility in Huntsville, Ala.

The property is situated on approximately 10 acres within the Thornton Research Park and has been designed to receive LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Tera Properties LLC, an affiliate of Triad Properties Corp., executed a lease with the U.S. General Services Administration on behalf of tenant Defense Acquisition University (DAU).

A division of the Department of Defense, DAU provides mandatory, assignment-specific and continuing education courses for military and civilian personnel.

“As Triad continues to seek GSA and LEED-certified work, we are strategically partnering with construction firms with an extensive track record and LEED experience. McShane Construction’s depth of experience and reputation of excellence fits the bill,” says Triad Principal Gerry Shannon.

McShane Construction will utilize exterior brick and glass components to build the contemporary training facility and will implement environmentally-friendly components throughout the interior.

The facility will house 13 classrooms, administrative and staff offices and a fitness center. All sitework, landscaping and parking for 552 vehicles will also be completed.

“McShane Construction’s experience with the design and construction of LEED-certified facilities will provide a streamlined approach to completing this high-end training facility for the Department of Defense.

“McShane’s additional experience in the field of constructing secondary and technical education facilities will ensure a thorough and high-quality delivery that will meet the client’s specifications and expectations,” Hoppa remarks.

The project celebrated a Spring groundbreaking and is scheduled for a January 2010 completion.

KPS Group completes state’s first LEED renovation

KPS Group Inc. of Birmingham, Ala.,recently completed Lakeshore Foundation’s Housing Facility, Alabama’s first renovation project to be awarded LEED certification.

“We are extremely proud of receiving LEED certification, which represents our ongoing commitment to excellence, leadership and stewardship in all that Lakeshore Foundation does,” says Jeff Underwood, Lakeshore Foundation president.

KPS Group Inc. of Birmingham, Ala.,recently completed Lakeshore Foundation’s Housing Facility, Alabama’s fi rst renovation project to be awarded LEED certifi cation.

“We are thankful for the generous support of so many private and corporate members in our community and greatly appreciate the cooperation and support of KPS Group Inc. and Hoar Construction.”

The goals were to make the building wholly compatible with exclusive use by the disabled, transforming the building from a health care facility to residential living quarters while incorporating sustainable principles and materials.

“The renovation breathes new life into an existing building, transforming it into campus housing that is vibrant, energetic, accessible and sustainable,” says Ronnie Collis, project manager for KPS Group.

B.L. Harbert wins ABC award for Auburn project

B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Ala., was recently presented a National Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C..

The ABC Excellence in Construction Award was presented for the Auburn Research Park, Building One project, winning the award in the Commercial $5 million to $10 million Category.

The three-story, 44,000-sq-ft facility, located on Auburn University’s campus, is intended for small to large technology companies wishing to affiliate with and be located on the campus of a major research university.

The building was designed to achieve LEED certification.

B.L. Harbert’s experience in green building allowed the team to maximize the design’s potential, elevating the facility’s status to qualify for LEED Gold Certification.

Harbert worked to create a safe working environment at the site and logged more than 40,000 man-hours without a lost time accident.

ABC’s Awards of Excellence Program is a competition that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the United States. A panel of judges scores each project under various criteria such as project safety, recommendations from architects and owners, uniqueness of the project and special obstacles overcome during the course of the project.

Harbert executives accepted the award at a June ABC Excellence in Construction presentation ceremony in in Washington, D.C.

Design consultants for the project were Gresham Smith & Partners, Lane Bishop York Delahay, Inc., Jackson Renfro & Associates Inc. and Edmonds Engineering, Inc