Compiled by Lauri Johnson
THREE LEADING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS CREATE ALLIANCE
Three major area universities have teamed up to create the Applied Research Collaborative (ARC), a regional data service center for local government and nonprofit organizations. The collaborative is comprised of The Institute for Urban Research at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Public Policy Research Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Department of Public Policy Studies at Saint Louis University.
“More than ever, partnerships are important to further the economic goals of the bi-state St. Louis region,” UMSL Chancellor Tom George said. “We can only improve this area’s economically and governmentally diverse communities if we work together. That’s why it is prudent to pool the public policy research resources of these three outstanding universities.”
The collaborative will work with local governments and nonprofits to ensure community improvement efforts are more informed, better planned and easier to implement. Research from the collaborative will help civic, nonprofit and public decision makers in a variety of ways, including local trend data presentation and analysis, program evaluation and documentation for specific community service needs.
MALCOLM W. MARTIN MEMORIAL PARK OPENS ON EAST ST. LOUIS RIVERFRONT
A decades-old dream for a memorial that embraces both shores of the Mississippi River became reality with the official opening of the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park on the East St. Louis riverfront. The dream, originally envisioned by Gateway Arch architect Eero Saarinen, came true thanks to the tireless work of the late Martin and the cooperative efforts of the Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Metro East Park and Recreation District.
The memorial park encompasses both the Gateway Geyser fountain and the Mississippi River Overlook, a 43-foot tall, tiered viewing platform that towers above the levee and offers the region’s most spectacular views of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline.
“Thanks to the support of the Gateway Center of Metropolitan
St. Louis, this project is and will remain the crown jewel in our system,” noted Gene Peters, president of the Metro East Park and Recreation District. “We were humbled by the trust they placed in our organization to bring Malcolm’s dream to life, and we willingly accepted the responsibility and are proud to be delivering to the region a memorial park that we believe Malcolm would have been proud of.”
The handicap-accessible overlook is made up of five tiered observation deck areas, each at eight-foot intervals, with an illuminated stainless steel railing system so visitors can enjoy both daytime and nighttime views. The park also features an elevated seating area that leads to a sweeping, open lawn for viewing fireworks and other recreational activities.
U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL DELIVERS BOEING LECTURE AT SLU
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented a speech on food security and other global issues at Saint Louis University’s Boeing Distinguished Guest Lecture in International Business. In his speech, “Solving the World’s Food and Security Problems,” Ban discussed ways that the United Nations and the United States can work together and address common challenges, such as rising food prices and climate change.
The visit is part of the secretary-general’s ongoing outreach campaign that has already taken him to a number of U.S. cities, including Jackson Hole, Chicago and Atlanta.
Before the speech, Ban met with representatives of corporations, growers’ organizations and research institutes.
“They explored how to increase agricultural productivity in the developing world and how to create synergies between smallholder and commercial farming,” stated Michele Montas, the secretary-general’s spokesperson. “They also talked about climate change and technology, including biotechnology.”
The event was sponsored by the Boeing Institute of International Business at SLU’s John Cook School of Business in partnership with the United Nations Association
of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis
Business Journal.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAINT LOUIS WINS AWARD FOR BUILDING RECORD NUMBER OF "GREEN" HOUSES
Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis has been selected as the U.S. Green Building Council–St. Louis Regional Chapter’s Growing Green Awards winner in the residential category. Habitat bested a field of 15 nominees in the inaugural awards program.
Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis built 27 LEED-certified Platinum houses as part of their most recent building efforts in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood, in effect doubling the number of LEED-certified projects in the St. Louis region. Prior to the Habitat build, there were 24 certified commercial projects (at different levels) and 3 certified home projects in the region. Nationally, only 230 homes were certified LEED Platinum as of March 24, 2009.
In 2009, Habitat will build another 28 houses in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood just blocks from the 2008 build. All 28 homes are planned for LEED certification.
TAO + LEE ASSOCIATES DESIGN NEW OFFICE “LOFT”
FOR CANNONBALL ADVERTISING
The owners of Cannonball Advertising and Promotion searched for the perfect loft space for their 45-person creative agency for more than a year. They finally found a modern building with wraparound windows in Clayton and turned to architect TAO + LEE Associates to help them transform the building’s traditional office layout into a loft experience.
Having outgrown their previous offices—an assembly of disconnected, individual spaces—Cannonball sought to have a unified office environment that reflected their work culture and business approach. With nearly 14,000 square feet of available space, TAO + LEE transformed the former office space, selectively deconstructing walls and spaces to take advantage of the views to the exterior and natural lighting. While the goal was to create an open and bright environment to promote creative interaction, the design concept was to provide a mix of productive work zones and relaxed social areas that could vary in how they are used.
“I really appreciate how TAO + LEE dealt with all of us, and somehow figured out what we were looking for, even when we didn’t know,” stated Steve Hunt, who co-owns Cannonball with Stacey Goldman and Mike Binnette. “I love the space. It’s us. Actually, it’s a better version of us.”
EPA APPROVES CLEAN EARTH TECHNOLOGIES’ ANTHRAX PESTICIDE
The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the first registration of an antimicrobial pesticide product to deactivate anthrax spores on hard surfaces. Manufactured by Clean Earth Technologies of Earth City, Mo., the pesticide product is sold as Peridox and can be used to decontaminate buildings, structures, vehicles, ships, aircraft, personal protective equipment, and other items infected with anthrax spores.
Anthrax is a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, and both humans and animals are susceptible. If left untreated, anthrax can cause acute illness or death. The EPA reviewed extensive data provided by Clean Earth Technologies to ensure that Peridox would be effective without causing unreasonable adverse effects.
The availability of such products will better prepare the United States to respond to anthrax incidents. The use of anthrax-related products will be limited to federal on-scene coordinators, the U.S. military, and people trained and certified as competent by the manufacturer.
FLEMING ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE ALLIANCE FOR REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP
Richard C.D. Fleming, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (and publisher of this magazine), has been elected chairman of the national advisory board of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS). Fleming assumed the chairmanship of ARS at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Alliance and the ARS Regional Strategies Forum: Regional Prosperity in a Changing Landscape held in Raleigh, N.C.
He succeeds Michael Langley, former president and CEO of The Allegheny Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Fleming noted, “I am pleased to serve as chairman of this unique organization, which brings together business, civic and governmental leaders as civic partners to advance livable and economically competitive metropolitan communities. ARS was founded on the premise that strong and vibrant regional communities are built on an innovative economy, strong quality of life institutions, social inclusion, and collaborative approaches to governance.”
Established in 2001, the Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS) is a national, peer-to-peer network of regional leaders working across boundaries to solve tough community problems. A civic affiliate of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), ARS members come from business, government, education, and the civic sectors and share a common commitment to collaborative action and achieving results in America’s metropolitan areas.
Fleming also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Washington, D.C.-based Partners for Livable Communities, and was elected in June as the founding Board President of Climate Prosperity Inc., a new national organization established by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to advance the premise that responding to climate change is an economic development opportunity for metro regions. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of ACCE.
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