Nashville adopts LEED Standards for building construction

The Metro Council of Nashville, Tenn., recently approved legislation that requires the city to construct and renovate its buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System Silver level standards as set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 

The law applies to buildings and additions costing more than $2 million or that have at least 5,000 gross sq ft of occupied space.  The new regulations will apply to projects for which planning starts after July 31, 2007. 

Members of the USBGC Middle Tennessee Chapter lobbied for this legislation and see opportunity for expansion and improvement. 

BCD works with Canadian National Railway on Memphis job

Canadian National Railway, one of Canada’s largest freight railroads, has invested $100 million in a Memphis rail yard to increase speed and efficiency of freight switching operations to upgrade its Johnston Yard freight train switching facility. 

Burns Cooley Dennis Inc. of Ridgeland, Miss., is currently performing construction testing and contract management for the $15 million Phase 1 earthwork portion of this project. 

Placement of more than half a million cu yds of fill material is planned for the new facility.  About 20,000 lin ft of drainage pipes and 47 drainage manholes were installed.

Borrow areas were provided on CN-owned property. In order to maintain an environmental permit, water was not allowed to drain into the borrow pits.

The moisture contents on material obtained from the borrow areas was, on average, 10 percent above its optimum moisture content.

The contract allowed 14,000 tons of cement to be used to reduce the moisture content of the soil. Using strategic planning and standard geotechnical practices, less than 6,000 tons of cement has been used. The current plan is to not utilize further cement, saving CN more than $1.5 million.  

McShane Construction to build Springs at Mountain View

Scott J. Hoppa, vice president of McShane Construction Corp.’s Southeast Region, recently announced that the firm has been selected for a third construction assignment by developer Continental Properties Co. Inc.

The Springs at Mountain View is a new 336-unit apartment complex situated on a 26-acre site in Antioch, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. The new residential development is scheduled for completion in Fall 2008.  

The assignment consists of the new construction of 411,669 sq ft arranged in 21 buildings throughout the development.     The exterior of the buildings feature both brick and cement board siding providing an interesting and attractive façade to the construction of the complex. 

Each building contains 16 apartment units in a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations.

The Springs at Mountain View will offer a clubhouse for residents that includes a business center, conference facilities, a laundry room, exercise room, kitchen and multi-purpose room complete with a fireplace conveniently located adjacent to the pool area. McShane Construction will also complete the sitework and landscaping that will be featured throughout the complex. 

MSA Architects Inc. was selected by owner/developer, Continental Properties Co. Inc., to provide architectural services for this sizable residential development.

Johnson & Galyon gets Lindsey Nelson Stadium contract

Knoxville, Tenn.-based general contractor Johnson & Galyon Inc. has been awarded the contract to begin Phase I renovations to Lindsey Nelson Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee’s baseball team.

Phase I plans include a new locker room, weight room, batting cage, coaches offices and new seating down the right field line. The first phase is roughly more than $3 million and is slated to be completed before the start of the 2008 baseball season in March. Lindsey Nelson Stadium is one of the smaller stadiums in the Southeastern Conference with seating for 4,000 fans. With the renovations and new construction, seating capacity will put it among the elite in the SEC.

“This is an exciting time for Tennessee baseball,” UT men’s Athletic Director Mike Hamilton says. “I am grateful to loyal contributors, like Mr. Robert M. Lindsay, who show their support and faith in our athletic programs.”

Design development begins for  MTSU science building

Design development has begun on the new $100 million science building for Middle Tennessee State University, located in Murfreesboro, Tenn. 

To provide more modern facilities and meet the ever growing student population, the new science building will be nearly 254,000 sq ft and house more than 60 labs and classrooms as well as faculty offices for the Biology and Chemistry departments.

Sustainable design and project Kaleidoscope principles are being incorporated into the design of this building creating more energy efficiencies, increasing adaptability for new technologies, and fostering a more collaborative teaching environment between students and faculty. Construction start is expected in July 2008.

Vandy’s organic grocery wins awards

The Society of Environmental Graphic Design awarded Gresham, Smith and Partners with a 2007 Design Award for its design of Vanderbilt University’s new organic grocery store, Nectar, which addresses the needs of Vandy’s health conscious students and faculty.

The award was in the “Lot With Little” category. GS&P took an existing, overcrowded convenience store within an outdated 1940s dorm and transformed it into an inviting place with maximized displays and intuitive traffic flow despite its small, 1,200-sq-ft space.

Chattanooga’s drawbridge ready to roll out

More than just a steel and concrete ribbon that spans the Tennessee River, the Market Street Bridge is Tennessee’s only drawbridge, as well as being one of only a handful in the United States.

Market Street Bridge is a rolling-lift bascule bridge, meaning the spans roll or rock to rise like a rocking chair on a track. “Bascule” is a French term meaning seesaw.  The two, huge concrete weights on each end of the bascule allow the bridge to open in the middle to provide clearance for boat traffic.

On the Market Street Bridge, two small 50-horsepower electric motors get the works started, and the counter-weights pull the spans up the rest of the way.  It takes only two minutes to raise the two sides to a 45-degree angle.

“Of all the bridges we’ve built or restored, the Market Street Bridge is a once-in-a-lifetime project,” says Jerry Britton, president of Mountain States Contractors, which renovated the bridge for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.  “The bridge’s architectural significance and beauty, along with the rarity of bascule bridges, make it a true treasure - not just for Chattanooga - but in comparison to all American bridges.”

The renovation began Sept. 18, 2005, and the bridge is 90 years old. The bridge’s structural renovation cost approximately $13.1 million.

The renovation included replacement or repair of the deteriorating surface, arch spans, entire north approach, roadway, handrails, obelisks, interior columns, steel bascule span structure, motors to operate the bascule span and mechanical operating equipment.

Federal Credit Union in Tennessee to receive new HQ

Clayco has completed design and started construction on the United Southeast Federal Credit Union in Bristol, Tenn.

The two-story, 16,000-sq-ft facility is located at 1545 Bluff City Highway.

The building will serve as the new main office and branch credit union facility and will feature four traditional lobby tellers and one sit-down teller to accommodate members with accessibility concerns, as well as a convenient drive-up facility.

The credit union is designed in a traditional style with a masonry exterior, double-hung windows with shutters, a formal entrance canopy with a faux balcony, and a cupola with a functioning clock. Construction began in March and is scheduled for completion in late November. 

“We are excited to be partnering with the United Southeast Federal Credit Union on its new main office and branch facility,” says Tom Mooney, project director at Clayco.

“We are using our experience and knowledge of credit unions and financial facilities to design-build a new home for the credit union.”

Forum Studio Inc. is serving as the architect and also is completing the interior finish for the project. Interior features include drywall soffits that resemble “floating clouds” and a layout designed for future expansion.