many discussions and empathetic listening, consensus was built around “bringing out the best of what was already there.” To ensure the facility’s longevity, the library chose to focus on addressing space needs, streamlining operations, improving safety, and preserving the building’s distinct sense of history and place.

One of the biggest challenges the team faced was replacing the exterior windows. Smith + Entzeroth’s design featured 12- by 12-foot panes of uninterrupted, uninsulated glass—a very cutting-edge look for the time.

Although beautiful, these windows were problematic and not compliant with current code wind-load requirements. The single-glazed panes were highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

A research trip to Saint Louis University’s Tegeler Hall, another Smith + Enzeroth project with a similar window design, provided a precedent of a mullion layout that would keep with the original design intent.

Working with the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, the proposed changes were mocked-up with gaffer’s tape on the existing windows. Dark mullions, held to the building interior, blended with the gray-tinted glass, made the change in the window configuration less visible from the street. (cont.)

Tarlton Concrete Team Earns Award Nomination for Work at First Bank New HQ

Tarlton, St. Louis’ largest women-owned general contracting and construction management firm, is a finalist for a 2024 Construction Keystone Award for concrete work on the First Bank new headquarters project in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The new HQ drives modernization and offers transformative spaces for employees and visitors. 



The annual awards, sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of Missouri, recognize top projects completed by the region’s builders. Tarlton was nominated in the specialty contractor/subcontractor category for projects between $2.5 million and $15 million. Tarlton worked on the project for Brinkmann Constructors, which was selected as a Keystone finalist for its work as construction manager on the project. 

Tarlton’s portion of the First Bank project comprised the construction of two separate concrete structures – the four-story, 87,000-square-foot headquarters building and an adjacent two-story, 82,000-square-foot parking garage. The Tarlton team overcame uncontrollable weather delays and carefully sequenced concrete pours to help keep the overall project on schedule.

First Bank’s new state-of-the-art headquarters has the distinction of being one of the newer office buildings constructed in the St. Louis Metro area. The U-shaped building is considered a unique concrete foundations project because the architectural design features an open courtyard that connects to large building wings on each side.

Built within the footprint of the original building, the new structure more than doubles the space, offering an open floor plan, outdoor workspaces and expansive views from the top deck – all intended to promote employee wellness and flexibility. The building is targeted for LEED Silver and WELL certification.

O'Fallon and City of St. Charles Approves Partnership of a State-of-the-Art Law Enforcement Training Center (Construction Awarded to Aspire June 27)

At its Sept. 12 meeting, the O’Fallon City Council passed a bill 10-0 approving an intergovernmental partnership agreement with the city of St. Charles for the construction and operation of a state-of-the-art law enforcement training center.

The facility is named the Center for Advanced Skills Training in Law Enforcement. It will be located on an 87-acre site located off Hwy. 79, north of Interstate 70.

Immediately after the bill’s passage, O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy and St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer signed the partnership agreement at O’Fallon city hall.

“What’s best about this facility, we had nothing to do with it – this was all done by these folks back here,” Hennessy said, pointing to law enforcement representatives from both cities standing behind him. 

“They’re the ones who are going to do the training,” he continued. “They thought up the training and what needs to be done for twenty-first-century policing.” 

One of the things that’s exemplary about St. Charles is – O’Fallon, St. Peters, Wentzville, Warrenton – we all work together,” Borgmeyer said. “We have a shared sense of community, we share a sense of safety, and we have a shared sense of progress. Which I think, if you try to balance that against 88 different municipalities in St. Louis, it’s our enormous advantage. I think that’s why we’re growing the way we are, and I think that’s why we’re prosperous.”

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SLC3 Owner's Roundtable: Were You in The Room?

Our Annual Owner’s Roundtable Program continues to be the most desired program of the year. Last Thursday, 21 Owner Representatives held in-depth discussions with our guests on various topics. The room was full of key regional stakeholders, creating a collaborative environment for ideas and conversations regarding topics chosen by the Owner Hosts. The tradition of this program has always been to facilitate a roundtable discussion with key leaders on topics most relevant to the host. Based on evaluations it was a very useful and well appreciated event.

Thank you to each of our owner hosts for spending the morning collaborating with the regions AEC community, to everyone who participated, and to our Special Program Sponsor, BSA LifeStructures.

5 Steps for Reducing Stress On and Off the Jobsite

Workplace stress is a reality in any industry, and construction is no different. However, there are ways both for individuals to reduce their stress and for leaders to create a less stressful work environment.

Stress is a completely natural human experience. It is the body’s way of responding to short-term challenges and threats in daily life. Millennia ago, it equipped humans to properly react to dangers such as predators, competitors and life-threatening situations. Without stress, it’s very possible our species would not have survived as long as it has.

And while stress is still a necessary part of survival today, most of us are (hopefully) not facing regular attacks from bears or wondering if there are enough provisions to survive the winter months. Those are short-term stresses—the difference between life and death. The problem comes when our minds today make us feel like we’re constantly facing life-threatening situations or are experiencing stress for long periods of time, leading to acute or chronic stress.

The stresses many of us experience today are vastly different from what our ancient ancestors were forced to deal with, but still our bodies react the same. On the construction site, there are certainly potentially hazardous situations, and stress helps workers in those situations stay safe. Seeing a colleague at risk for a slip-and-fall may cause stress and help others quicken their reactions to assist them. Experiencing stress when in a hazardous area ensures workers are alert and mindful of every step and maneuver.

However, too much stress or unnecessary stress can actually distract workers and put both their physical health and mental health at greater risk.

Stress Onsite

On a jobsite, the most common causes of stress are being overworked, having unrealistic deadlines, performing physically dangerous or demanding tasks, lack of communication, poor work culture or environment and improper training. Additionally, there are often other stressors that workers bring to the construction site from home or from their personal lives that seep into work life.

Dealing with chronic stress on the construction site is not only harmful to a worker’s mental health but it can be dangerous for both the individual experiencing the stress and those around them. If a worker is distracted and not performing their job at a satisfactory level, their mistake can quickly put their coworkers’ wellbeing at risk.

So, how can workers on construction sites reduce their stress? Here are five strategies to employ to help workers reduce chronic stress and improve their mental health as well as the overall safety of the worksite.

1. Control What You Can

Chronic stress often comes as a result of stressing over situations one cannot control or manage. The first step in reducing pervasive stress is recognizing and understanding what in your life you have control over and what you do not. One sure thing you can take full control over is yourself—including how you receive and perceive factors outside your control.

You cannot dictate your environment, and you most often cannot regulate others’ actions, responses or feelings. However, you can control how you react to your environment, and you can choose the people you decide to spend your free time with. Know that when something negative happens to you or around you, only you have the power to choose to acknowledge it, accept it, reframe your thinking and manage how you will react or respond to it. If you find yourself surrounded by negativity, acknowledge that and take personal actions to manage how you will allow this situation to affect you.

Whenever possible, work toward and choose to be around positivity and people who bring you joy, peace and happiness. The mind is a powerful piece of biology. Being patient with yourself, getting to know yourself better and not allowing yourself to impulsively respond to negative situations and people can help you become a better problem solver, eventually leading to better self-management of your emotions and responses to stress.

2. Be Vulnerable

Not everyone will be open to talking about what may be causing them stress. Some family, friends and colleagues may be more adept at listening than others. Yet, bottling up what’s causing stress is a surefire way to prevent you from solving it. It takes strength and courage to speak up when you don’t feel right, but it’s often the only way to get the help you need.

In most cases, nurses, physical trainers and/or other professionals can work to create open dialogues with workers that typically start with a physical ailment before some prodding reveals a more challenging stress or mental-health issue that needs attention. But having leadership on a jobsite who can build a professional and personal rapport with employees and is willing to have more difficult conversations before bringing in a professional goes a long way to creating a more open, more satisfied work environment.

3. Recognize Stressors

Sometimes when people find that they’re stressed, they may not know what the initial cause of it was. This causes a cycle where they find themselves becoming irritable, easily triggered and even more stressed by incidents and events that typically would not phase them. That mental/emotional stress can cause physical damage throughout the body. When it comes to your performance at work, stress can cause strain on muscles, making people unable to perform physical tasks as efficiently and as safely as they otherwise would have.

To prevent this, it’s important to recognize when you find yourself getting stressed and identify what the initial cause was. Being mindful of your own emotional and physical feelings may sound simple, but it’s the easiest way to head off stress before it may become debilitating. Cont.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis DEI Contractor & Supplier Networking Event

Expand your network with the FRB St. Louis facilities team and learn about the opportunities available at the Bank, including previous projects! Registration Details will be released soon.

When: Thursday, September 26th, 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Where: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Economy Museum (free/secured parking in the Bank's garage)

Construction Forum Event

St. Louis Construction Industry has been a resource for construction knowledge and innovation for over half a century. The Gateway South Advanced Building Collaboration District is positioned to serve as a global construction technology epicenter.

On the morning of Thursday, September 26th, the next installment of Construction Forum’s 2024 program series “Building a Strong Core: Rebuilding St. Louis From the Inside Out,” will help explain the history and future direction of technologies in construction and St. Louis' role in that narrative.