As the new school year gets back in session, volunteers from local construction firm McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (www.mccarthy.com) joined with Bayless School District representatives, parents and students to celebrate the installation of a brand new playground for the students of Bayless Intermediate School in South St. Louis. Total cost for the project was approximately $30,000. The children and teachers themselves raised $7,000 over the last three years trying to obtain new playground equipment. McCarthy volunteers, through the company’s Heart Hats community outreach program, with assistance from Collins and Hermann Inc. and Metro Materials, donated approximately $25,000 and all labor necessary to complete the project.

“In these economic times, it is harder than ever to fund necessary school improvements to ensure our students have a well-rounded experience,” commented Kim Stallons, principal of Bayless Intermediate School. “We have all heard the pleas for school supplies and backpacks, but educators also know that providing students with a safe environment to expend extra energy is just as important for overall success. When numerous grant requests and a call into Oprah didn’t pan out, we knew we would have to find a different way. Community partners like McCarthy are critical to making projects like this one happen across our region.”

Prior to this new construction, the 450 students enrolled at Bayless Intermediate School shared five swings from the 1960s, one tetherball pole and a few beat up nerf footballs. McCarthy’s work included:  installation of new commercial playground equipment and swings, 21 tons of shock-absorbing rubber play area surfacing; and 290 lineal feet of play area surfacing containment. In addition, volunteers will complete maintenance of existing facilities including demolition of outdated equipment, play field re-seeding, painting of existing basketball goals/tether ball poles and soccer goal net installation.

“As a St. Louis builder, making a difference for the children here at home is a top priority,” explained McCarthy Central Division President Scott Wittkop. “I know I speak for all McCarthy employees when I express the joy we feel being able to put our skills to task to help make an impact. We hope the children of Bayless will be able to let loose and ‘be kids’ in a safe environment for years to come.”

About Bayless Intermediate School
Bayless Intermediate School is a school for children in grades 3–6 in St. Louis County.  With approximately 450 students enrolled representing 18 countries, Bayless is one of the poorest school districts in the County. Over 64% of the students receive either free or reduced lunches and 45% of the students speak English as a second language. More information is available on line at www.baylessk12.org.

About McCarthy Heart Hats|
Founded in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest privately held construction firms in the nation.  The McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play.  A 100 percent employee-owned company, McCarthy employees are as passionate about building better communities as they are about construction. With national headquarters in St. Louis, the company has additional offices in Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas, Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento.  More information is available on line at www.mccarthy.com.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (www.mccarthy.com), the largest builder in St. Louis, recently hosted its 14th Annual Architect/Engineer Charity Softball Tournament.  Under the McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program, all proceeds from the event are donated to a St. Louis charity of the tournament winner’s choosing.  In these challenging economic times, these dollars are more needed than ever. Since its inception, the event has generated more than $75,000 for area charities.

This year, the co-ed tournament held at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex attracted participants from 14 local architectural and engineering firms. The team of Oates Associates captured first place, donating their winnings of $3,500 to the SIUE Foundation.  The second place team of Jacobs Engineering elected to donate the $1,500 prize to the United Way. In addition to the softball competition, a grilling competition rounded out the event with 11 grilling teams competing for the Master Griller title. This prize ultimately went to Ross & Baruzzini who elected to split their $1,500 between the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Association.

For 14 years, the Architect/Engineer Charity Softball Tournament has generated much needed funds for St. Louis community organizations. In 2009, the combined team of Simms Building Group, Inc. and Trivers Associates celebrated as tournament champion, donating winnings to two local charities, Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center and the Salvation Army. Other past recipient organizations have included:  Kids in the Middle, Camp Wartburg, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ranken Jordan, Loyola Academy of St. Louis, St. Patrick Center, Downtown YMCA, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, Alzheimer Association, Studio STL, Life Skills, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“When we started this event more than a decade ago, we saw it as a fun way to bring the local building professionals together to help make a difference in our community,” said Scott Wittkop, president of McCarthy’s Central Division.  “It is an inspiration to see the impact the tournament continues to have on those participating and the organizations it assists, especially in today’s challenging economic times.”

In addition to McCarthy, the teams participating in this year’s softball tournament represented the following companies:  Burns & McDonnell, Cannon Design, CH2M-Hill, EDM Inc., Horner & Shifrin, HOK, Jacobs Engineering, KPFF, Lawrence Group, McClure Engineering, Oates Associates, PGAV, and Ross & Baruzzini, Inc.

The teams competing in the grilling competition were:  Coreslab Structures, Indox, Industrial Sheet Metal Erectors, Johnny on the Spot, Kirchner Block, Midwest Machinery, Missouri Terrazzo, Negwer Door Systems, Rock Hill Mechanical, Ross & Baruzzini, Inc., and TJ Wies.

About McCarthy Heart Hats
Founded in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest privately held construction firms in the nation.  The McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play.  A 100 percent employee-owned company, McCarthy employees are as passionate about building better communities as they are about construction. With national headquarters in St. Louis, the company has additional offices in Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas, Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento.  More information is available on line at www.mccarthy.com.

In this Spring edition, articles include:

Time to Build: Today, owners are getting the best value in a generation.
by Mike Bolen, Chairman & CEO, McCarthy
Many owners are beginning to take advantage of a welcome side-effect of the current recession: an unprecedented drop in the cost of building materials and labor.

Why Building the Community is Just as Important as Building the Project.
by Angeles Garcia, McCarthy Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
When a construction project is in full swing in a neighborhood, next door to a business, or along a heavily traveled highway, it can be a nuisance. Find out how to turn this project challenge into a win-win for everyone.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

How True Builders Make a Difference
by Derek Glanvill, President and COO
A true builder has an end-to-end view of the entire construction process, from preconstruction through delivery and beyond. That adds value for owners, but there’s one central issue at the heart of the construction industry itself: forgetting how to build.

Is There a Perfect World in Project Delivery?
by Sue Stewart, Senior Vice President
The answer may be that creating the perfect project delivery method starts by implementing no defined project delivery method at all. Find out why.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

The annual Keystone Awards program honors the achievements of St. Louis construction firms and their employees in building the facilities that support and enhance the quality of life in Greater St. Louis.  Keystone Award recipients are judged on their excellence in providing solutions to unique obstacles and challenges specific to their project.

“We’re honored to be recognized among our peers for this project,” said Scott Wittkop, president of McCarthy’s Central Division.  “The keys to success were McCarthy’s ability to self-perform the structural concrete and structural steel, two critical components, and the team’s ability to implement state-of-the-industry construction techniques that were both efficient and cost-effective. We were presented with a number of significant challenges, including the need to tie in to an existing 80-year-old, occupied structure and then aesthetically integrate the new tower exterior to look like a natural extension of the original building. The team successfully met all of these with creative determination.”

Designed by Cannon Design of St. Louis, The Federal Reserve Bank expansion project included:  demolition of an existing parking structure; construction of a new 6-story tower; re-cladding the existing skin; interior renovations; MEP system upgrades; and new bridge connections for the north and south buildings on the third and fourth floors.  McCarthy Project Manager Lloyd Flowers commented, “Cannon Design’s timeliness to provide cost-effective design direction on unforeseen field conditions uncovered during the re-cladding portion of the project was key to assuring the appearance of the new structure would resemble the existing structure.”

This project is a study in how to construct a project on a tight urban footprint amid a bustling downtown business district. Bounded by tall, occupied buildings and narrow streets through which vehicle and pedestrian traffic continually flowed, construction of the expansion and renovation continued as unobtrusively as possible despite significant limitations.

Lean methodologies were among the many construction techniques used to solve some of the project’s challenges.  Mock-ups built on the project site were key to saving dollars, which could have resulted from unidentified design, constructability and aesthetic issues.  Especially effective was the mock-up built of the exterior wall system that included a limestone skin.

Because lay-down area was at a premium, just-in-time material delivery kept construction moving according to schedule. A 24-hour-a-day, 6-day-a-week detailed work schedule for each building elevation informed each trade when they could gain access to the five-foot wide working platform.  The schedule also provided information about when certain construction materials had to be moved.

Overhead, a 300-ton mobile crane relied on radio communication as its sole source of “eyes and ears” to hoist bridge connectors through a vertical areaway between two existing buildings and over an existing 100-foot-tall building.  Safety for pedestrians, traffic, workers and Federal Reserve employees was at the forefront of daily priorities.

Today, the appearance of the “new” Federal Reserve building blends seamlessly with the structure built in 1925.  In addition to the preservation of the Federal Reserve’s historic past, the new tower enhances the Bank’s standing as a major employer in St. Louis City and contributes to the vibrancy of the downtown community.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis was established in 1914, after the creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913. The Bank building in downtown St. Louis was constructed in 1925. It is one of the 12 regional Reserve banks in the Federal Reserve System and serves most of eastern Missouri and southern Illinois.

About McCarthy
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies.  The company provides general contracting, construction management, program management and design/build services for office, education, healthcare, laboratory, biotechnical, resort and entertainment, parking and retail facilities; green buildings; tenant interiors; mixed-use; and bridges and highways.  McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned.  More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com

CCIP vs. OCIP: Which Comprehensive Insurance Program is Right for You?
by Bill Sharp, Vice President, Risk Management
With the size and scope of projects becoming larger every day, program sponsors (owners and contractors) are seeking alternative ways to address insurance needs, both from a coverage standpoint and a cost standpoint.

When the Hospital Board Says, “Build it Green!”
by John Kreidich AIA, LEED AP, Manager, Healthcare Services
Building green in the healthcare environment is here to stay. Well-chosen green building investments will yield benefits with either no additional cost or with a return on investment well within a hospital’s internal rate of return over the life of the improvements.

5 Questions to Ask Your Contractor About SAFETY
An Interview with Gary Amsinger, CSP, Corporate Vice President, Safety
In addition to simply keeping workers healthy and productive, strong safety execution reduces exposure for owners. Amsinger suggests that owners should ask, at the very least, these basic five questions of their prospective contractor.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial editions.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has introduced its new ‘green’ client newsletter, Insights That Build^SM.  It’s all part of the company’s goal of Leaving Green Footprints^®, a 10-year old program aimed at reducing McCarthy’s carbon footprint.  The first electronic edition includes valuable thought-leading content including:

How to get the best final cost on your next project
by Mike Bolen, Chairman and CEO
‘Conventional wisdom’ says that owners can’t have it all. In fact-by taking the right approach-you can turn an old saying into a smarter strategy: ‘Good, fast and cheap: pick all three.’

Design management – why owners get a better result
by Jim Mynott, Director of Design Management
In this economic climate, execution time from proposal to start of construction can be a deciding factor for project funding. A design management approach can help—and it maximizes other owner advantages.

Five things you should ask your contractor about quality
by Chad Dorgan, Vice President, Quality
There are few words in construction that are more used – or more misused – than the word “quality.”  To understand what it means to YOUR construction project, you and your contractor need to talk.

See the National Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled ‘Other Regional Editions’.  These include Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Nevada/Utah, Texas, Central, and Southeast editions.

This year, the co-ed tournament held at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex attracted participants from 18 local architectural and engineering firms. The combined team of Simms Building Group, Inc. and Trivers Associates captured first place, splitting their winnings of $3,500 between Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center and the Salvation Army.  The second place team of Horner & Shifrin team elected to split its $1,500 prize between Kids in the Middle, Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. In addition to the softball competition, a grilling competition rounded out the event. Six grilling teams competed for the Master Griller title, which ultimately went to PayneCrest Electric & Communications.  A $1,500 donation will be made to their chosen charity, Epworth Children & Family Services.

“Trivers has been a participant in the McCarthy Softball Tournament for a few years now, and it has always been a great experience,” commented Architectural Designer Michael Meyer, LEED AP, with Trivers Associates.  “The tournament has consistently been a great environment to raise money for charity through fun and competition. The Simms/Trivers team worked together, rising to the championship, while having fun and enjoying the atmosphere all for a great cause.”

Floyd Simms, president and CEO with Simms Building Group, agreed. “This event exceeded our expectations.  From the selection of the venue to the variety of available foods, this affair was first class all the way.  The Simms/Trivers team toughed it out to beat over a dozen other teams to win the overall championship, and it was all of course for a great cause.”

For 13 years, the Architect/Engineer Charity Softball Tournament has generated much needed funds for St. Louis community organizations. In 2008, St. Louis-based architectural and interior design firm The Lawrence Group celebrated as tournament champion, donating winnings to two local charities, Studio STL and Life Skills. Other past recipient organizations have included:  Kids in the Middle, Camp Wartburg, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ranken Jordan, Loyola Academy of St. Louis, St. Patrick Center, Downtown YMCA, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, Alzheimer Association and Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“When we started this event more than a decade ago, we saw it as a fun way to bring the local building professionals together to help make a difference in our community,” said Scott Wittkop, president of McCarthy’s Central Division.  “It is an inspiration to see the impact the tournament continues to have on those participating and the organizations it assists.”

In addition to McCarthy, the teams participating in this year’s softball tournament represented the following companies:  Burns & McDonnell; Cannon Design; CH2M-Hill; Chiodini Associates; EDM Inc.; Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), Inc.; Horner & Shifrin, Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; KPFF Consulting Engineers; The Lawrence Group; Maverick Technologies, LLC; McClure Engineering Associates; Oates Associates, Inc.; Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV); Ross & Baruzzini, Inc.; Simms Building Group, Inc.; Trivers Associates; and Volz Engineering.

The six teams competing in the grilling competition were:  Hilti North America; Industrial Sheet Metal Erectors, Inc.; Maverick Technologies, LLC; Negwer Materials, Inc.; PayneCrest Electric & Communications; and T.J. Wies Contracting, Inc.

About McCarthy Heart Hats
Founded in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest privately held construction firms in the nation.  The McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play.  A 100 percent employee-owned company, McCarthy employees are as passionate about building better communities as they are about construction. With national headquarters in St. Louis, the company has additional offices in Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas, Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento.  More information is available on line at www.mccarthy.com.

Audiffred, 42, has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, having worked for a large public accounting firm and a manufacturing company prior to joining McCarthy as corporate controller in 1994. A member of the McCarthy executive committee since 2007, he most recently served as vice president of finance, responsible for all company accounting and financial reporting.

“Over the past decade, our company has undergone a number of important changes, the most significant of which was our long-planned transition from a family-owned company to 100% employee ownership,” said Mike Bolen, McCarthy’s chief executive officer/chairman. “Doug played an instrumental role in this conversion and has continued to enhance the sophistication of McCarthy’s finance function as our company has evolved.” Audiffred has also played a significant role in the advancement of the company’s modeling and forecasting capabilities; the creation of stand-alone internal treasury and risk management functions; and management and implementation of the McCarthy employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). He will be based at McCarthy’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis.

During Scherer’s tenure as corporate chief financial officer, the company experienced significant growth.  He played a key role in managing the growing business and served as the company’s first true corporate controller. “George created reporting and tracking mechanisms to assist in short-term and long-term business planning; led the company transition from family to employee ownership, including a 2008 transition to 100% ESOP; and oversaw the transition from a C-Corp to S-Corp structure,” Bolen said. “His unique blend of strong accounting knowledge and business acumen has been instrumental in the company’s success for more than two decades.  He will be greatly missed.”

“I am honored to have been chosen to follow in George’s footsteps,” commented Audiffred. “In addition to continuing to build and maintain relationships with our financial stakeholders, I remain committed to protecting and enhancing an already strong balance sheet to build shareholder value for our employee owners.”

About McCarthy
Founded in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest privately held construction firms in America. With 2008 revenues in excess of $3.4 billion, the 100% employee-owned firm provides construction management, design/build and general contracting services for clients nationwide. The firm is ranked the 10th largest domestic general contractor (Engineering News-Record, May 2008). In addition to its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, the company has additional full-service offices in Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas, Newport Beach, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento.  More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

HEALTHCARE

“FCI/McCarthy has provided excellent construction management and logistical leadership throughout the project.”
—Robert D. Jenkins, AIA/Architect, owner’s representative, The Century Project

The Century Project reached an important milestone recently when employees from St. Mary’s, McCarthy and its joint venture partner FCI, watched as the final beam was raised 240 feet above street level and set in place on the steel skeleton of the 12-story patient tower.

Construction of the tower, which is the centerpiece of The Century Project, has presented a host of interesting challenges. A tight site with little lay down area and tie-ins to adjacent facilities (one built in 1948 and the other in 1985) are just two of the issues complicating the work. But, with 375 construction workers on site, the building continues on schedule and on budget. When the new tower opens in 2009, reconfiguration and remodeling of the existing hospital space will begin. The Century Project will be completed in 2011. Architect: Perkins+Will, Minneapolis, Minn.