GOV. NIXON CALLS FOR CREATION OF HIGH-TECH, HIGH-PAYING JOBS DURING VISIT TO DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
Gov. Jay Nixon visited the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to discuss the importance of creating next-generation jobs in the life- and plant science fields and attracting new high-tech businesses to the state. He met with the center’s leaders to discuss their plans for growth and underscored the state’s commitment to competing for additional research funds made available under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“During these difficult economic times, we must transform Missouri’s economy by embracing emerging science and technologies as opportunities to create next-generation jobs, and by ensuring that our state has a workforce that is trained, ready and prepared to fill those highly skilled positions,” stated Nixon. “Institutions such as the Danforth Center here in St. Louis, the Stowers Institute in Kansas City and the research facilities associated with our major universities are more than just world-class scientific institutions. They’re also potential hubs of economic growth and expansion in our state.”
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Missouri’s scientific and research institutions would be eligible to compete for approximately $2.1 billion in additional funding from the National Institutes for Health, including $800 million for research grant programs. In addition, the NIH will be awarding about $1 billion for construction, repairs and alterations at current NIH-affiliated institutions and about $300 million for shared instrumentation and other capital equipment for NIH-supported research activities.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL SALUTES EASTSIDE LEADERS
The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois held its annual Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards Dinner at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Patrick Murphy, vice president of production for KETC/Channel 9 and host of the St. Louis Speakers’ Series, gave the keynote address.
The Leadership Council honored four individuals with 2009 Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards for their leadership on the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention Initiative. This year’s recipients are Sen. William R. Haine, 56th District—Illinois; Alan Dunstan, Madison County chairman; Mark Kern, St. Clair County chairman; and Dale Haudrich, former Monroe County chairman.
The Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention Initiative was launched in 2007 to guide the effort to restore the Illinois levee systems in the St. Louis region. The award winners have demonstrated remarkable regional cooperation in addressing concerns with the region’s levee systems and putting into place a viable funding mechanism to complete the project within the five-year goal.
ST. LUKE’S NAMED ONE OF
AMERICA’S 50 BEST HOSPITALS
FOR 3rd YEAR IN A ROW
For the third consecutive year, St. Luke’s Hospital is the only hospital in Missouri to be ranked one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades. The designation is based solely on mortality and complication rates for patients at each of the nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals.
Patients admitted to America’s 50 Best Hospitals are approximately 27 percent more likely to survive and eight percent less likely to suffer from a major complication, according to HealthGrades, an independent health care ratings organization.
To determine America’s 50 Best Hospitals, HealthGrades analyzed more than 110 million Medicare hospitalization records from 1999 through 2007 from every hospital in the nation. Facilities must have demonstrated superior clinical outcomes across 26 different procedures and conditions, from hip replacement to bypass surgery, year after year. Hospitals chosen for 2009 maintained quality levels among the top five percent in the nation for a minimum of six consecutive years.
ADVANTAGE CAPITAL FINANCES LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL FIRM
Venture capital firm Advantage Capital Partners has provided $5.85 million in financing to Environmental Operations Inc., a St. Louis-area environmental services firm. In a financing partnership with Southwest Bank, Advantage Capital provided funding in connection with the Missouri New Markets Development program and the federal New Markets Tax Credit program. The funds will be used to support Environmental Operations’ continued growth.
“EOI has a strong track record and competitive edge and has developed into a leader in high profile environmental waste removal projects,” stated Mark Lewis, principal at Advantage Capital. “This financing will provide much-needed capital to an award-winning, innovative business run by a local entrepreneur who is well-regarded within the St. Louis business community.”
Founded in 1986, Environmental Operations provides specialized environmental services to clients throughout the St. Louis region. The company identifies and resolves environmental site issues using its expertise in brownfield incentives and risk-assumption tools. EOI is currently involved in the remediation of the former Monsanto Solutia John Queeny plant. Once the remediation is complete, the site will be redeveloped into a mixed-use commercial and office space complex.
LEGAL SERVICES OF EASTERN MISSOURI RECEIVES GRANT TO CREATE NEW MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) has received a three-year, $573,601 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to establish the St. Louis Children’s Health Advocacy Project. The grant will allow LSEM to form a new medical-legal partnership with SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers Inc. and the Saint Louis University School of Law Legal Clinic.
“We want to thank the Missouri Foundation for Health for their important and generous grant,” stated Dan Glazier, executive
director and general counsel for LSEM. “This new medical-legal partnership is truly a unique project that will provide
vulnerable children and low-income families at these St. Louis area medical centers with
legal services to improve and enhance
their health.”
The St. Louis Children’s Health Advocacy Project will train health care providers at Cardinal Glennon and St. Louis Children’s Hospital about legal issues that often affect low-income families. Health care professionals will screen children and families
to receive civil legal assistance in the following areas:
- Public benefits, including Medicaid and food stamps
- Enforcement of school district obligations to provide special education services
- Housing, including issues such as lead paint and utilities problems
- Guardianships to facilitate the provision of health care services to children lacking parental involvement
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an independent, nonprofit organization that has provided high-quality legal assistance in civil cases to the low-income community for more than 50 years.
NATION’S BEST PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN ST. LOUIS AT U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
The new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis will host two dozen of the nation’s best chess players at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship on May 7-17. The tournament will offer a purse of more than $130,000 in prize money. A $64,000 bonus in memory of late chess champion Bobby Fischer and a jackpot bonus for a clear first-place winner have been added to the prize list.
“We are delighted to host the prestigious U.S. Chess Championship in our first full year of operation,” stated Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “It is exciting and gratifying for us to bring together the nation’s best players at our first-class facility.”
The 24 invited players include the 12 top-rated American players, the top two female players, the 2008 U.S. Junior Closed Champion, the 2008 U.S. Open Champion, the 2009 U.S. State Champion of Champions and seven players who will fill wild card spots.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which Steve Goldberg of United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls “certainly one of the most impressive chess centers” in the country, opened in July 2008.
McKENDREE NAMED TO PRESIDENTIAL HONOR ROLL
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
For the third consecutive year, the Corporation for National and Community Service has honored McKendree University with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary community service.
“Community service and service learning are an important part of a McKendree education,” stated James M. Dennis, university president. “We appreciate this recognition of our efforts to incorporate service in our academic curriculum, and praise our dedicated students who volunteer thousands of hours in the community each semester.”
Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can receive for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Honorees were chosen based on the scope and innovation of their service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service learning courses. This year, the Honor Roll program recognized 635 schools nationwide.
FRIEND TO ST. LOUIS CHARITIES DIES
Harry R. Bean VI, entrepreneur, owner and lead photographer for Blacktie-St. Louis, died April 15, 2009 of a heart attack while exercising. He was 53 years old.
In 2003 Harry bought the local franchise of Blacktie. Prior to that he was involved in publishing
ventures with a focus on the St. Louis social scene, including extensive photography for Commerce Magazine.
With Blacktie, he attended numerous gala events for area nonprofits, photographed attendees and posted them on his website. The site provided a network where charities could promote their events. Millions visited his site each month.
Harry is survived by his wife Lisa, his mother Joan, stepdaughter Chelsea, a brother Jim, and a sister Elise.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY RECEIVES FEDERAL APPROVAL
TO EXPAND FOREIGN
TRADE ZONE
St. Louis County Port Authority has received approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign-Trade Zone Board to expand the Foreign-Trade Zone around Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The site expansion will allow increased employment opportunities and investment in
St. Louis County by encouraging international business activities.
“This is great news for St. Louis County
and economic development,” stated Dick Hrabko, director of St. Louis Lambert-International Airport. “The expansion of the Foreign-Trade Zone provides the region a real advantage as we work to develop future job growth through increased economic activity with China and other countries. This also can benefit local companies that
locate in the Trade Zone as they expand into foreign markets.”
The expansion zone sites include NorthPark, a 550-acre redevelopment located east of the airport; Hazelwood Commerce Center, an industrial park on nearly 170 acres directly northwest of Lambert and Interstates 70 and 170; Lindbergh Distribution Center, a 528,000-square-foot distribution warehouse located southwest of the former Ford plant in Hazelwood; and a 75-acre airport-owned tract adjacent to Lambert.
GRAND CENTER EARNS
FOUR-STAR RATING FOR FISCAL MANAGEMENT
Grand Center Inc. has earned a four-star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator. Grand Center joins a limited number of St. Louis-based nonprofits that share the four-star rating, including Saint Louis University and Washington University.
The four-star rating indicates that Grand Center Inc. “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause,” according to Charity Navigator.
“We are proud to receive this recognition and assure you that fiscal reliability is of the utmost importance to us, regardless of the state of the economy,” stated Ken Kranzberg, chairman of Grand Center’s board.
Grand Center Inc. is a nonprofit organization that promotes and fosters the performing and visual arts in St. Louis, bringing both local and world-renowned acts to the numerous performance venues and art galleries, as well as over 1.3 million visitors each year.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PARENTS AS TEACHERS’ GRANT REVENUE TOPS $315,000
Celebrating 25 years of helping Missouri parents embrace their role as their child’s first and best teacher, the National Center for Parents as Teachers has raised more than $315,000 in private and foundation grants to provide additional parent education support in Missouri.
“The National Center is indeed grateful to these donors who have wisely chosen to invest in children during this economic downturn,” stated Susan S. Stepleton, president and CEO of the National Center for Parents as Teachers. “We know that an investment in kids yields long-term results—approximately $7 for every dollar spent. These supporters will see an outstanding return on their investment as these children learn, grow and move into the workforce. They are also making this community stronger and a better place for families with young children.”
The following donors have sponsored grants:
- Express Scripts Foundation
- Opus Foundation
- Boeing Company
- Norman J. Stupp Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee
- Anonymous
- Philpott Family Foundation
- Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Foundation
- World of Children Award
These grants, which range up to $100,000, jump-start the National Center for Parents as Teachers’ 25th anniversary campaign. The campaign’s goal is to secure funding to strengthen the overall capacity of the Parents as Teachers network.
TRESTLE PROJECT WINS 2009 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Branch Street trestle
rehabilitation project in downtown St. Louis has earned a
2009 American Council of Engineering Companies’ Engineering Excellence Award in the transportation category. The awards recognize the innovation, expertise and achievements of the American Council of Engineering Companies’ member firms.
The Great Rivers Greenway District developed the McKinley Bridge Bikeway and Trestle project in conjunction with HNTB Corporation to create an innovative 1.25-mile bicycle and pedestrian connection to the 12-mile Riverfront Trail in St. Louis on the Missouri side and the 18-mile Confluence Bikeway in Madison County, Ill.
Originally designed to provide passenger rail and later freight rail service into downtown St. Louis, the trestle segment that begins at Branch Street was built in 1933 and abandoned in 1978. In June 2008, the trestle reopened as a 2,400-foot-long by 24-foot-wide paved path that rises from street level at Branch Street to the height of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway.
The adaptive reuse of the trestle distinguishes St. Louis as only the third city in the world, after the High Line in New York City and the Promenade Plantée in Paris, to convert a historic elevated railroad viaduct into a linear urban recreation area, according to the Great Rivers Greenway District.
KUWAIT MINISTRY OF HEALTH PURCHASES STOCKPILE OF THYROSHIELD FROM FLEMING PHARMACEUTICALS
St. Louis County-based Fleming Pharmaceuticals has announced the sale of 180,000 units of ThyroShield® to the Kuwait Ministry of Health for use in radiation emergencies. ThyroShield Potassium Iodide Oral Solution is a ready-to-use, thyroid-blocking liquid medicine that protects infants, children and adults who are at risk of exposure to radioactive iodine.
Worth approximately $1 million, the sale to Kuwait’s Ministry of Health represents Fleming Pharmaceuticals’ first large-scale order of ThyroShield from a foreign government. The transaction was brokered by Troy Jones, president of Nukepills.com, an Internet supplier of potassium iodide to individuals, groups and government agencies.
“This sale is a milestone for our company, and we look forward to more international orders as Fleming Pharmaceuticals begins a concerted overseas marketing effort,” stated Phill Dritsas, president of Fleming Pharmaceuticals.
Over the past three years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has purchased 4.8 million units of ThyroShield for distribution to U.S. residents living within 10 miles of nuclear power plants. Potassium iodide protects against the harmful effects of radioactive iodine by preventing its absorption by the thyroid gland. Stockpiling of potassium iodide is recommended by health officials worldwide to prevent thyroid cancer caused by radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear reactor accident.
ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR ADDS 5,000 HYBRIDS
TO FLEET
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has expanded its nationwide fleet with approximately 5,000 gas/electric hybrids and designated nearly 80 rental locations across the country, including two in the St. Louis area, as “hybrid branches.” The hybrid branches have a high concentration of the new hybrids available, and for the first time, customers can reserve these hybrids online or by phone.
The addition of nearly 5,000 hybrid vehicles more than doubles the number of hybrids that Enterprise owns. Hybrids can achieve greater fuel economy, use less gasoline and have fewer emissions than traditional vehicles.
In St. Louis, the hybrid branches are located at 8844 Ladue Rd. and
One S. Broadway. Nationwide, the new hybrids will be available at nearly 80 locations in 22 major markets. Customers in these markets will be able to choose from several makes and models of hybrid vehicles, including the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, Ford Escape and Toyota Camry.
TONY’S EARNS FOUR-DIAMOND AND
FOUR-STAR RATINGS … AGAIN
Tony’s, a St. Louis restaurant, has been honored once again with AAA’s Four-Diamond Award. Tony’s is one of only four, Four-Diamond restaurants in St. Louis and one of only five in Missouri.
“It is a privilege be a AAA Four-Diamond Award winner,” stated Vincent J. Bommarito, CEO of Tony’s. “We work to earn our Diamonds every day with every guest.”
Lodgings and restaurants must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s professional evaluators to be considered for AAA approval and rating. Four-Diamond restaurants account for just 2.7 percent of the 28,000 AAA-rated restaurants.
Tony’s has also earned a 2009 Mobil Four-Star Award. The Mobil Four-Star Award recognizes outstanding achievement in facilities, service and provision of a distinctive experience for the discerning consumer. The Mobil Travel Guide is an annual publication of hotels, restaurants, attractions and events in the United States and Canada.
THE MAGIC HOUSE DOUBLES ITS SIZE WITH NEW EXPANSION
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum opened its doors to a new 25,000-square-foot expansion that more than doubled its size. New exhibits, more space and more fun have attracted more guests as the museum reached record attendance. In just the first two weeks of opening the exhibit space, 40,268 visitors went through the museum—a 172 percent increase over the same two weeks in the previous year. From January through March
in 2009, nearly 150,000 guests visited The Magic House.
“With twice as much space and hundreds more exhibits, I believe our visitors are having an even more enjoyable experience than they imagined,” stated Beth Fitzgerald, president of The Magic House.
Among the new exhibits in the 25,000-square-foot addition are the Star-Spangled Center, an innovative learning environment that includes replicas of the Oval Office, a legislative chamber and a courtroom; Can You Solve the Mystery?, an area designed to build deductive reasoning and observation skills in a Victorian-style library; a kids’ construction zone; and an open-air plant science exhibit located on a rooftop terrace. In addition, The Magic House added the Picnic Basket Cafe, providing visitors with a variety of healthy choices at reasonable prices including soups, sandwiches, salads and snacks.
THE GATES FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANT TO DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has received a $5.4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative. The initiative seeks to identify and direct funds to the most critical scientific challenges in global health.
Funds will be used to create and manage a BioSafety Resource Network to support four project teams conducting research under Grand Challenge No. 9, which focuses on the use of appropriate technologies to increase nutrients in local crops in a socially and culturally acceptable way. Results of this research will ultimately be shared with developing countries throughout the world where malnutrition is prevalent.
“Success with this new initiative will provide a blueprint for other institutions and companies seeking to introduce nutritionally enhanced crops in the countries that will most benefit from approving and growing them,” stated Paul Anderson, executive director of international programs at the Danforth Center. “We hope to position the Danforth Center as the ‘go to’ institution for plant biosafety capabilities as it relates to product development.”
AB Inbev $2.5 million HELPS UMSL ESTABLISH NEW BUSINESS BUILDING
The Anheuser-Busch Foundation has pledged $2.5 million over the next five years to the University of Missouri-St. Louis for construction of a new College of Business Administration building. UMSL is in the early stages of fund raising and planning for the new Anheuser-Busch Hall, which will house the business school’s classrooms, research, technology and meeting facilities under one roof.
“Anheuser-Busch has long recognized and supported the unique role UMSL plays in educating St. Louis’ work force,” stated UMSL Chancellor Tom George. “We have more alumni living and working in this region than any other university. This deeply appreciated gift will help ensure that UMSL in general and the business college specifically continue to provide St. Louis with innovative, award-winning academic programming and diverse alumni who assume leadership roles in companies and organizations large and small.”
The new building will streamline all of the current business school operations, offering students and faculty a centralized place to collaborate and interact within their specific disciplines. It will feature cutting-edge classrooms, modern computer laboratories, faculty offices, seminar and conference rooms, and student organization suites.
SAINT LOUIS SCIENCE CENTER WINS MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
The Saint Louis Science Center has been honored with two Roy L. Schafer Leading Edge Awards by the Association of Science-Technology Centers, an international industry organization of which the Science Center is a member. Recognized for its extensive preparation and innovative logistical planning for the BODY WORLDS 3 Exhibition and the Youth Exploring Science (YES) program, the Science Center is the first institution to win multiple awards in one year.
“The Science Center is honored to receive both of these awards, particularly because they’re a major recognition among our global peers,” stated Doug King, president and CEO of the Science Center. “We know our people do a tremendous job every day, and we are deeply gratified when our industry notices.”
The Leading Edge Award for Business Practice was presented to the Science Center for its “strategy playbook” for the 2008 BODY WORLDS 3 Exhibition. Senior Vice President Marti Cortez and her staff in the visitor experience and human resources divisions were honored for their preparation and execution of outstanding customer service and revenue generation practices during the exhibition’s five-month run, which attracted more than 350,000 visitors.
Cynthia Graville-Smith, education technology and development manager at the Science Center’s Taylor Community Science Resource Center, received the Leading Edge Award for New Leadership in the Field. Smith designed, built and manages an online community for the Science Center’s YES program, using Web 2.0 technologies as a vehicle to showcase the work of the teenage YES participants.
GIRL GEEK WEB DESIGNS RECEIVES 2008 BEST OF CARBONDALE AWARD
Girl Geek Web Designs has been selected for the 2008 Best of Carbondale Award in the Web site design category by the U.S. Local Business Association, based in Washington, D.C. The association’s Best of Local Business Awards program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country.
Each year, the association identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and from data provided by third parties.
STUDIO MONTAGE RECEIVES FOUR DESIGN AWARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Studio Montage Graphic Design Firm earned four Crystal Book 2008 Awards of Excellence at the Chicago Book Clinic’s 2008 Book and Media Show. The firm’s winning categories included school publishing, children’s young readers and special trade-liturgical. Studio Montage provides design, production and image research for major book publishers.
The Chicago Book Clinic was founded in 1936 to encourage excellence in book and media publishing, printing, editorial, design and all business aspects of the publishing industry.
FOCUS ST. LOUIS LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ASSOCIATION
FOCUS St. Louis launched the Affordable Workforce Housing Association to answer an unmet need for a sustained workforce housing advocacy effort at the federal, state and local levels.
“The Affordable Workforce Housing Association will provide a long-term
political and social force for housing that’s affordable, safe, and within a reasonable commuting distance for workers making less-than-average pay,” stated Nikki Weinstein, policy and community engagement director for FOCUS St. Louis, who led the formation of this new group.
The objectives of the association are
as follows:
- Establish transparency and predictability in the award of resources by the State Housing Finance Agencies
- Increase Housing Trust Funds at the federal, state and local level
- Promote the use of innovative building techniques and materials to reduce costs and improve affordability
- Implement zoning ordinances that encourage workforce housing and eliminate restrictive zoning requirements
- Promote incentives for Employer Assisted Housing
- Tie economic development incentives to the provision of affordable workforce housing
- Develop statewide plans to preserve affordable workforce housing
The coalition includes financial institutions, developers, nonprofit organizations, universities, trades related groups and interested individuals from both Missouri and Illinois.
SAINT LOUIS ZOO WILL UNVEIL NEW STINGRAY EXHIBIT THIS SUMMER
Visitors at the Saint Louis Zoo will be encouraged to watch, touch and occasionally feed stingrays at a new temporary exhibit called Stingrays at Caribbean Cove. Twenty-three stingrays will glide through a 17,000-gallon saltwater pool within a tropical setting near the Lakeside Cafe from May 1 through Sept. 30, 2009.
The pool will be designed for easy navigation by cownose and southern stingrays. Both are hardy species that interact well with people and can be fed by visitors in a safe and fun manner.
“This will give our visitors a unique, hands-on experience with some fascinating oceanic animals,” stated Jeffrey P. Bonner, president and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo. “Connecting people with wildlife is an important part of our mission. Not everyone in our part of the world has had the chance to get in touch with ocean life in such a close-up intimate way.”
Cownose rays and southern rays are distantly related to sharks and skates. They have a flat body, long pointed fins and a long whip-like tail that they use in defense. At Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, the rays’ stingers will be painlessly clipped and monitored by staff throughout the season to ensure that no stingers exist.
BYRNE AND JONES CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES REGION’S FIRST TEST PAVING OF POROUS ASPHALT
Byrne & Jones Construction Co. has completed the region’s first test paving of porous asphalt, a product that may offer a solution to skyrocketing commercial development costs related to new Environmental Protection Agency Phase II Storm Water Regulations.
Under the St. Louis County Phase II Storm Water Management Plan, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is requiring developers to install better filtration devices to contain unwanted contaminants, such as fuel and oil, before storm water is flushed into the sewer system. Porous asphalt allows water to seep through the surface where it is held in a sub-base of clean rock and filter fabric before infiltrating the soil or gradually draining from the site through an underground drain.
“It could save up to 30 percent of construction costs compared to typical sand filtration or rain garden systems,” stated Brian Goggins, president of Byrne and Jones
The St. Louis Board of Public Service authorized the test paving on “Cardinal Alley” at Cardinal Avenue and Park Avenue near Lafayette Park. The sewer district is testing water quantity and quality in sewers downstream from the test site before and after the installation to measure the asphalt’s effectiveness. The asphalt is a product of Pace Construction Co., a subsidiary of Lionmark Construction Cos.
TRIVERS ASSOCIATES HONORED WITH TWO AWARDS FOR OLD POST OFFICE RENOVATION
Trivers Associates, an architecture and design firm, has been honored by the American Institute of Architects both nationally and locally for its renovation work on the St. Louis Old Post Office and Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, in downtown St. Louis.
The AIA presented Trivers with the 2008 Justice Facilities Review Award at the Justice Architecture Conference in San Francisco. The Justice Facilities Review showcases 28 cases of exemplary strategies and the latest trends in the design and construction of justice facilities throughout the United States. The jury chooses projects for publication that demonstrate quality of form, functionality and current architectural responses to complex justice
design issues.
In September 2008, Trivers was honored with a Merit Award in Architecture by the AIA St. Louis Chapter for excellence in design for this historic project.
Originally completed in 1884, the building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968 and gained National Monument status in 2004. In a $35 million renovation, Trivers restored the historic integrity obscured by modifications over the last 120 years; upgraded the engineered building systems to 21st century standards; and provided interior improvements to accommodate eleven new tenants, the largest being the state’s Court of Appeals for the Eastern District.
A CRANE HOISTS A 3,000-POUND ROTATING MOON TO THE TOP OF THE NEW MOONRISE HOTEL IN ST. LOUIS
The hotel is a $25+ million project “launched” last June by Joe Edwards, the man responsible for the growth and development in The Delmar Loop. Edwards has been involved in the building and restoration of many projects—like Blueberry Hill restaurant, Pin-Up Bowling Alley, The Pageant and the Tivoli Movie Theatre—and is now fulfilling his hospitality vision by giving visitors to The Loop an opportunity to extend their stay to the iconic region.
The boutique hotel is a 7-floor, 135-room hotel located at
6177 Delmar St. in St. Louis. www.moonrisehotel.com
THOUSANDS MARCH TO THE ARCH
Thousands of children bounced basketballs down Market Street to the Gateway Arch, during “March to the Arch” festivities for the Women’s Final Four in
St. Louis on April 4, 2009.
USTDA PROJECT SUPPORTS MANUFACTURING JOBS IN ILLINOIS
Leocadia Zak, acting director of the United States Trade and Development Agency, recently visited the manufacturing facilities of Integrated Manufacturing Technologies (IMT) in Red Bud, Ill., to meet with employees who are benefiting from the USTDA’s commercially focused foreign assistance program.
IMT manufactured equipment that would be used in a local can manufacturing capacity in Nigeria in a deal brokered by the USTDA. Working with IMT’s parent company, Roeslein & Associates in St. Louis, USTDA funded the early investment analysis of the establishment of the new can manufacturing capacity in Nigeria that uses U.S.-manufactured equipment. IMT manufactured the modular system and was scheduled to ship it to Nigeria in February.
“This project is a prime example of the way USTDA collaborates with U.S. businesses in bringing U.S. private sector solutions to bear in meeting overseas development opportunities,” stated Zak. “As a result, Nigerians will soon have access to a local, cost-effective canning facility. Just as important, U.S. jobs are supported here at home by manufacturing the new facility in Red Bud, Ill.”
USTDA supported the project with a $251,080 grant in early 2003 that funded a study, carried out by Roeslein & Associates, to establish the viability of developing a two-piece aluminum can manufacturing facility in Lagos State, Nigeria. The results of the study were used to attract an investor to the project, GZ Industries, and to secure a loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States valued at $26.4 million.
During Zak’s visit to IMT, Rudi Roeslein, CEO of Roeslein & Associates, presented him with a check to the USTDA for $240,330 that constitutes the final repayment of the original grant.
DOWNTOWN'S NEWEST FULL BLOCK PARK
Supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of downtown’s newest open space, Old Post Office Plaza. The new 30,000- square-foot open space is in the heart of the central business district and was formerly a surface parking lot.
The award-winning design incorporates brightly lit Wing Lights, cloud and screen walls, extensive landscaping and water features with a sculpture “Torso di Ikaro” by Artist Igor Mitoraj as its focal point. Development of The Plaza was identified as a key component of revitalization of the Old Post Office District in the 1999 Downtown Development Action Plan.
The Plaza is privately owned and managed by Downtown Now! for public enjoyment. Project funding totals $8.16 million and includes support from the Danforth Foundation, the US Bancorp Community Development Corporation, the St. Louis Brownfields Cleanup Fund (via SLDC) and the Gateway Foundation. The Gateway Foundation additionally funded the design fees and will install and maintain the sculpture. The budget includes funding for ongoing programming and operations.
