Middle Tennessee USGBC presents award to Nashville architect

Street Dixon Rick Architecture of Nashville, Tenn., recently received the Green Star Award for Corporate Contribution from the Middle Tennessee chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently, primarily for the firm’s investment in solar energy.

The Green Star Award is presented each year to an individual, company or project that has represented the chapter’s mission by promoting principles of sustainable design and construction.

Accepting the award for the firm were Stephen Rick and Baird Dixon, the two principals at Street Dixon Rick Architecture.

“We’re honored by this important recognition from our peers,” Rick says. “We invested in solar energy at our offices because we believed it’s the right thing to do. It’s a nice surprise to win an award from our peers and it was completely unexpected.”

“Volatile energy prices have also made the general public more aware of how sustainable design practices impact our lives. For our part, we made the investment in solar panels for our firm’s offices in February 2007. Our website features a solar monitor where people can view the power our system is generating at any given time,” Rick said.

“The most interesting part about what’s taken place over the last few years is that some of the fundamentals of architecture - like proper siting, passive heating and cooling and daylighting - have been given more attention because they are also fundamental parts of the LEED scoring system,” Rick said. “Over the past few years, what’s happened is that LEED, the USGBC measurement system, has become part of everyday conversations. The LEED system has actually been in place for many years now and more and more clients are interested in buildings designed along these principles.

The Corporate Contribution Award was given to Street Dixon Rick “for the company’s significant investment in renewable energy for its office, providing an on-the-ground example of environmental responsibility and financial viability.”

Awards were presented in early November during the Middle Tennessee USGBC Gala.

The Lewis Group Architects recognized for excellence in architectural school design

The Lewis Group Architects was recently honored by the Tennessee School Board Association for Excellence in Architectural Design. Schools were judged in three separate categories: new construction, renovation and remodeling, and the people’s choice.

Judges gave prime consideration to the architectural solution given by each firm according to the Educational Program Requirements and Specifications of the Board of Education based on criteria such as cost efficiency, energy conscious design, functional adequacy and safety.

LGA submitted three schools in three separate categories and received three first place awards in each of their respective categories.

Hardin Valley Academy, located in Knox County, Tennessee, won the School of the Year Award in the new construction category for high schools. Holston Middle School, also located in Knox County, Tennessee, won the “School of the Year Award” in the renovation and remodeling category. Grainger High School, located in Grainger County, Tennessee, won the coveted “People’s Choice” award and received third place in the new construction division for high schools.

The People’s Choice award is an award for all schools being presented regardless of their intended entry and is voted on by all attending school board members from Tennessee.

Jerry Lewis, principal of the Lewis Group Architects, said, “We are very excited for the Knox County and Grainger County boards of education, as well as the administrators, educators, students and parents of theses communities.

“The project team and staff at LGA would like to thank the administration from each of these systems for the opportunity to be involved in the design of three great schools. Without your dedication and commitment to excellence in education none of this could have happened.”

The Lewis Group Architects is an architectural firm in Knoxville, Tenn., that specializes in the design of educational and health care facilities.

Warm-mix asphalt conference smashes attendance records in Nashville

A gathering of asphalt pavement technologists and contractors in Nashville in November may have a huge impact on the way America lives and travels. The International Conference on Warm-Mix Asphalt attracted nearly 700 people, including 70 international attendees. This was the largest single-subject conference ever for the asphalt pavement industry. A live Internet feed extended the reach of the conference to hundreds more around the globe.

Warm-mix asphalt technologies promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve fuel, extend the paving season and improve a number of aspects of the construction process.

The National Asphalt Pavement Association was recognized for its leadership in bringing these technologies to the U.S. NAPA’s partnership with all of the key stakeholders has brought about an unprecedented momentum, with warm mix being used in numerous key projects across the country.

The meeting was rich in content with attendees hearing presentations on materials, mix design, state, contractor and international experience and plant operations. Contractors and agency representatives remarked that their experience with warm mix has been very positive and they believe that warm mix is fast becoming the industry standard for asphalt pavements.

Dale Rand of the Texas Department of Transportation discussed how his state will use around 400,000 tons of warm-mix asphalt in 2008, and the prospect for 2009 is that much more will be used in that state.

While Texas is acknowledged as a leader in warm-mix implementation, numerous other states are also moving in the direction of issuing permissive specifications, which would allow contractors to use warm mix in place of hot mix as long as the resulting pavement met the specifications for the project.

Contractors and DOT representatives from states across the country discussed their experiences with warm mix. Research and contractors from France and Germany also presented their perspectives on the technologies.

The Warm-Mix Asphalt Technical Working Group, co-chaired by Matt Corrigan (FHWA) and Ron White (Superior Paving Corp., Virginia), was recognized for advancing mix-design methods, product approval and performance testing.

Doster Construction completes expansion, renovation at Tennessee State

Doster Construction recently completed the expansion and renovation project at Tennessee State University’s Avon Williams campus in Nashville and became the first CM at-risk to be hired by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

In December 2005 the Tennessee Board of Regents selected Doster as the construction manager for improvements to TSU’s Avon Williams campus in downtown Nashville. The project encompassed building code and life safety compliance for the entire four-story building, as well as upgrades and renovations to classroom and faculty office space.

The project’s scope required a four-phase approach inclusive of demolition and installation of new mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems, including a fire pump and generator. The project also included new roofing for the main building and penthouse, repaving and waterproofing the plaza area, and new finishes.

In March 2008, after completion of the initial improvements, TBR extended Doster’s contract by adding a second phase to the work, which consisted of an auditorium and student commons renovation project.

This phase, which consisted of the renovation of the existing 14,400-sq-ft auditorium, also included the removal and installation of new fixed audience seating and removal and installation of new light fixtures and directional lighting. Acoustical sound panels were added on the ceilings and walls.

The student commons area work included the removal of the existing quarry tile and installation of a new terrazzo floor.

Because of the project’s success, the Board of Regents has continued to use the construction manager at-risk delivery method on forthcoming large and/or complex projects.

Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects and Hastings Architecture Associates LLC of Nashville, through a joint venture, were the architects of record on the $16.8 million project.

GS&P-designed Legion Street improvement project wins Project of the Year

Gresham, Smith and Partners, a national architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm, recently announced the Legion Street improvement project in Clarksville, Tenn., for which the firm provided planning, engineering and construction administration services, has been named Project of the Year by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Designed on behalf of the City of Clarksville, the streetscape project aimed to improve safety, increase pedestrian traffic and encourage business growth in the heart of downtown Clarksville. The team was recognized for its achievement at the TCAPWA annual awards banquet held on Oct. 13 and is now eligible for entry in the APWA National Awards competition.

“We are thrilled the Legion Street project was chosen as project of the year,” stated Mayor Johnny Piper, City of Clarksville. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the local utilities, GS&P and Roy T. Goodwin Contractors to develop and complete this innovative project on a tight timeline.

Improvements made to Legion Street further our commitment to planning and implementing infrastructure improvement projects to support the recent growth we have realized as well as drive civic and business interests in the future that will help the community to thrive and continue to be a preferred destination.”

The GS&P design includes context sensitive solutions to create a streetscape that matches the historic look and feel of Clarksville.

Public participation was incorporated from business owners along the route and considerations were made in the design to complement recent work that had been completed on adjacent Franklin Street as well as the city’s Public Square located behind City Hall.

Sidewalks were expanded and designed to adhere to ADA regulations as well as to incorporate brick when constructed.

Utilities were relocated underground and parking and access improvements along the two-block section were improved. Decorative lamp posts were added to provide necessary lighting as well as added safety benefits for pedestrians and matching planter boxes were located throughout.