R. J. Griffin to build Nashville's first multi-family, mixed-use, high-rise condo

R. J. Griffin & Co. was selected to build The Viridian for Nashville's Giarratana Development LLC and The Novare Group. The $55 million downtown Nashville condominium project will begin in October and complete in 2005.

The project will feature 305 condominium units - ranging from one-to-three bedrooms with a handful of penthouses - amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool and outdoor terrace, a nine-level parking garage and first floor retail space for a 4,000-sq.-ft. grocery store.

The architect for this project is Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart and Associates.

The Viridian, to be located at 415 Church Street, will be similar in scope to the Metropolis in Atlanta, Ga., which was also built by R. J. Griffin. This $57 million project was completed in late 2003 more than a month ahead of an already aggressive schedule.

R. J. Griffin & Company, as part of J. E. Dunn Group, is ranked the sixth largest multifamily contractor in the nation by industry trade publication Engineering News Record.

Gates Consolidates company names

Gate Precast Company is the new name for all six of the architectural precast concrete plants being operated by the company, a division of Gate Petroleum Co.

The following plant locations will operate as Gate Precast Company: Nashville; Winchester, Ky.; Oxford, N.C.; Monroeville, Ala.; and Sarasota and Kissimmee, Fla.

Gate Concrete Products Co. will continue to operate its prestress operations under that name in Jacksonville, Fla., and Houston, Texas.

The company also has named Hagen Lambert to serve as president of operations and Dean Gwin to serve as president of sales and marketing. Hagen is responsible for all operational and administrative issues for Gate Precast and Dean will manage sales and marketing efforts at all six architectural precast plants.

AGC of Tennessee presents award to Merit Construction

The Associated General Contractors of Tennessee recently presented its 2003 Construction Safety Excellence Award to Merit Construction Inc. of Knoxville.

Construction Safety Excellence Award candidates had to meet stringent pre-qualification requirements to participate. Candidates were independently judged on their corporate commitment to safety, overall safety program elements, level of employee involvement and the company's effectiveness in promoting safety.

Merit Construction competed nationally at the AGC of America Construction Safety Excellence Awards.