Congratulations to the Winners & Finalists of the AGCMO Keystone Awards!

We would like to acknowledge the winners and finalists of the AGC of Missouri Keystone Awards. Many of these projects are our Owner member's projects, and to see that the projects went well is great news! Many kudos to these contractors and specialty contractors, as well as the Owners, for jobs well done! Washington University in St. Louis Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Missouri Botanical Garden Great Rivers Greenway St. Louis County Missouri Department of Transportation and founding member of SLC3 Boeing!

Washington University School of Medicine Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building

The Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building and parking garage for the Washington University School of Medicine brings together 95 research teams focused on research areas of the brain and body’s nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumors. The facility currently accommodates 1,000 faculty and staff, with additional space that can be built out in the future to accommodate another 350 faculty and staff, including about 145 research teams.  

The $616-million, 11-story, 609,000-square-foot research building is one of the largest neuroscience research buildings in the world. The research building is comprised of wet and dry research laboratories, research lab support spaces, flexible, interdisciplinary research laboratories and clinical research spaces.  

In addition to the research building, McCarthy built a 1,846-vehicle parking structure featuring racks for bicycles and electric vehicle charging stations. A 1,000-foot elevated pedestrian connection bridge connects the new building to an existing parking garage and surrounding structures. The project scope also included a two-story, 24,775-square-foot utility plant that houses five 1,250-ton chillers, five cooling towers and two 3,000-kilowatt emergency power generators. 

The building’s façade features a prefabricated unitized curtain wall, which includes 141,707 square feet of grey unitized metal wall panels accented with customed Washington University-red metal panels. 

Why St. Louis' "Iconic" Architecture Could Define The City's Brand, Spur Growth: Q&A With Two HOK Principals

From St. Louis Business Journal

By Eli Hoisington, AIA, LEED AP, Co-CEO and St. Louis Design Principal; and Margaret McDonald, Marketing Principal, St. Louis – HOK

Buildings and spaces define a city. That’s especially true in cities like St. Louis that boast an abundance of significant historic and modern architecture. The city’s vast array of buildings representing different eras and architectural influences has led some to suggest that St. Louis brand itself as “America’s Architecture City.”

Eli Hoisington and Margaret McDonald would support that slogan. The two lead the St. Louis studio of architecture and design firm HOK. Founded in St. Louis in 1955, HOK is today one of the world’s largest design firms with offices in 26 cities across the globe. Locally, HOK’s work can be found in treasured landmarks such as the Planetarium and Priory Chapel as well as newer destinations such as CITYPARK, Busch Stadium III, Cortex Innovation Hub and Clayton’s Centene Towers.

In the following Q&A, Hoisington, HOK’s co-CEO and St. Louis design principal, and McDonald, HOK’s St. Louis marketing principal, share their views on architecture as a catalyst for building up a city’s brand and spurring region-wide growth, change and collaboration.

How Do Architects and Designers Contribute to the Brand of a City?

McDonald: Architecture tells the story of a city’s past, present and future. You witness the history of St. Louis as you travel across neighborhoods and experience different architectural influences from France, Germany and elsewhere. You can see the present in new developments and glimpse into the future with spaces currently being planned or developed.

What has been rewarding for me since arriving at HOK is realizing how many St. Louis places I enjoyed visiting as a kid — such as the Planetarium and Saint Louis Zoo’s Living World — were designed by HOK.

Hoisington: I was aware of some of St. Louis’ iconic architecture before moving here, but what really struck me when exploring the city was the variety of architecture, both historic and modern. I remember going through the Tower Grove neighborhood on one of my bike rides (a great way to take in our city) and being blown away by the craftsmanship of the historic buildings.

I see a beautiful history here of craft, building and manufacturing. The work we do at HOK tries to find resonance with that rich architectural heritage. In places like Cortex, we worked to not just preserve beautiful and historic buildings but adapt them for new and modern uses. In other recent work, such as CITYPARK, we want new additions to the city to interact with the existing building stock in a way that is complementary, where new and old work together to create spaces, views and experiences that enhance the city.

Paycor | Beyond the Clock: Your Toolkit to Labor Cost Optimization, Employee Productivity, & Compliance

In today’s fast-paced business world, effective workforce management (WFM) isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. As businesses grapple with rising labor costs, complex scheduling needs, and the challenge of extracting meaningful insights from mountains of data, the need for streamlined and compliant WFM solutions has never been greater. This toolkit will equip you with the strategies and tools you need to take control of your workforce, optimize labor costs, boost productivity, and stay compliant.

So, what’s inside of this toolkit? Download For Full Access

• Productivity & Compliance Power-Ups
• Efficient Time & Attendance Tracking, Strategic Scheduling, etc.
• Labor Cost Control Command Center
• Understanding the Landscape of Labor Costs, Forecasting & Budgeting, Labor Optimization Strategies, etc.
• Analytics & Insights: Your Workforce Management Crystal Ball
• Data-Driven Decision-Making Checklist, Actionable Insights, etc. 

Self-Assessment: Are You Prepared for Evolving Workplace Compliance?

Staying ahead of compliance is vital. If you haven’t integrated compliance into your workforce management, it’s time to start. Reflect on these questions to gauge your readiness.

• Time Tracking: Can I precisely track and document the hours my employees work?
• Scheduling: If required by law, does my business adhere to requirements for providing advance notice of schedules and shift changes?
• Labor Regulations: Do I fully comprehend local labor regulations applicable to all my staff?
• Break Enforcement: Can I effortlessly monitor and ensure compliance with statutory breaks and rest periods?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it might be time to consider a workforce management tool that can help you maintain compliance...

Labor Cost Control Command Center

Taking command of labor costs is essential for any business striving for financial success. This section empowers you to understand the complex landscape of labor expenses, leverage powerful tools for forecasting and budgeting, and implement strategies to optimize your workforce. From calculating key metrics to uncovering hidden costs, you’ll gain the insights and control needed to achieve a healthy bottom line while fostering a productive and engaged workforce.

Understanding the Landscape of Labor Costs

Labor costs are often a significant portion of a business’s expenses. To optimize these costs, you need a clear understanding of the key metrics and potential hidden costs.

• Key Metrics: Understand essential metrics such as labor cost percentage, overtime costs, absenteeism rates, and turnover rates.
• Benchmarking: Compare your labor costs against industry standards to identify areas for improvement.
• Hidden Costs: Uncover the often-overlooked costs associated with absenteeism and turnover..

BEYOND THE BUILD | The Changing Landscape of Retail Construction

In the evolving world of retail construction, where market dynamics and consumer behaviors are constantly shifting, the role of a construction professional has never been more crucial.

S. M. Wilson has been providing construction services for 100+ years. The company has been fortunate to have been a strong retail builder, enduring the industry’s ups and downs through economic downfalls and upswings. The company’s retail experts have knowledge of industry trends and patterns to provide a better understanding of what is needed in today’s market to stay competitive.

“Retail construction has always been about speed and precision,” said Jack Kinamore, project director and retail construction expert who has worked on more than 70 retail construction projects for S. M. Wilson across the United States.

“But we’re seeing a need now for even greater flexibility. The retail market can pivot on a dime—what’s in today might be out tomorrow. As construction professionals, we must anticipate these changes and be ready to deliver projects that meet today’s needs and are adaptable for the future.”

The Evolving Retail Construction Market

Retail construction is unique. Unlike other sectors, it must adapt quickly to trends, technological advancements and consumers’ ever-changing needs.

With E-commerce continually reshaping the physical retail landscape, adaptability is more critical than ever. The role of a construction partner goes beyond just building structures; it involves creating environments that enhance the shopping experience, attract foot traffic and integrate seamlessly with digital platforms.

Furthermore, the retail construction market is evolving to meet changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. Retailers are integrating smart technology, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, for inventory management and customer experience enhancements in their retail spaces and e-commerce facilities.

Navigating Economic Challenges 

The ever-changing economy presents unique challenges for retail construction. Today’s construction market involves fluctuating material costs, labor shortages, and financial uncertainty. Yet, these challenges also offer opportunities to renew partnerships and demonstrate value.

“In times of economic uncertainty, it’s easy to get caught up in cost-cutting measures, but that’s when the strength of a partnership shows,” Kinamore said. “A good partner helps navigate these challenges by finding creative solutions through value analysis, leveraging relationships with suppliers, or being flexible with scheduling. It’s about finding ways to deliver quality without compromising the project’s integrity.”

Adaptability is key. To become a trusted partner in the retail sector, a contractor must remain versatile and flexible as the pace and stakes constantly change.

Suggested methods to be more adaptable in your construction process:

• Engage early with design teams to ensure efficient design and constructability
• Early-phase material procurement
• Adopt lean construction practices
• Evaluate alternative construction materials
• Procure locally sourced materials
• Review options for bulk material purchasing
• Incorporate offsite prefabrication of building assemblies