News & Insight

• University Station site work to begin

  Development funding secured for Cincinnati-Norwood collaborative project near Xavier University Locally headquartered firms Messer Construction Co. and Ackermann Group are pleased to announce that funding is secured and construction site preparation will soon begin for University Station, the mixed-use development site at Montgomery Road and Cleneay Avenue, adjacent to Xavier University. The project is being financed by a lead loan from U.S. Bank and through an allocation of New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) from local and national sources currently being finalized. In addition, the project will use funds from a City of Norwood Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to help finance the required public improvements. Construction fencing will be in place in early July as the team gets ready to begin the project. The newly named University Station has been in the making for the last two years. Messer, Ackermann and Xavier have been working together to plan the development, meeting with city and community leaders, and University leadership. “We’ve worked very closely with Xavier University as well as leaders from the cities of Norwood and Cincinnati and Evanston Community Council to fulfill our vision for a revitalized Montgomery corridor,” says Dobbs Ackermann, CEO of Ackermann Group. Conceived and designed as a pedestrian-friendly urban space by Messer and Ackermann, Ackermann says he believes this will be far more than a standard mixed-use development. “University Station will be a catalyst for the continued visual and economic improvement of the Norwood, Evanston and Avondale communities, and a connector that links the communities to Xavier University,” he says. According to Liz Blume, director of the Community Building Institute at Xavier and a former planning director for the City of Cincinnati, planning for the project has been very collaborative. “Xavier has worked with Messer and Ackermann as well as representatives from Norwood, Evanston and Avondale to design the ideal, walkable, mixed-used development for our neighborhood,” she says. “We’re thinking about the kinds of uses that will serve the University and the larger community, things like new restaurants, a bank, our book store being more accessible to the community — things that will improve the amenities available to everyone who lives nearby.” University Station will be located on a 20-acre site that used to be home to the BASF plant, Zumbiel Packaging and other smaller businesses. The land will continue to be owned by XUPROP CO and leased for 95 years to a Messer / Ackermann entity with the buildings and other improvements owned by the developer as well. The project is an off-campus project intended to serve the University and larger community and create a welcoming environment for the whole neighborhood. Phase One is a $54 million, 315,000-square-foot mixed-use development on 15 acres connected by a neighborhood street grid. It will include 40,000 square feet of office space, 35,000 square feet of retail —11,000 square feet for the Xavier University bookstore — 900 parking spaces and a 225,000-square-foot, 480-bed, 180-unit apartment complex serving the Xavier and local community. The developer is working with several prospective tenants for the office and retail space and expects to announce leases in the next several weeks. As Phase One comes out of the ground the development team will be working to create the second phase of University Station, which will include significant additional office space, more new retail and possibly a hotel on the remaining 300,000 square feet of property. Construction for University Station has been awarded to Messer and is expected to begin in mid-July. More than 350 jobs will be created over the course of the first phase of the development, which is slated to open in August 2014. Project partners include: Developer: Ackermann Group and Messer Construction Co. Construction: Messer Construction Co. Architect: Costandi Studio, LLC Residential Architect: Humphreys & Partners, LP Civil Engineer: The Kleingers Group Landscape Architect: Martin Koepke Design Retail leasing: Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate Commercial leasing: CBRE About Messer Construction Co. Messer Construction Co. is a construction manager and general contractor providing leadership for complex commercial building projects. Founded in 1932, Messer has built a premier reputation through outstanding construction experiences and value with a focus on health care, life sciences, higher education and industrial markets. An employee-owned company, Messer ranks nationally as one of the premier health care builders and Top 100 largest contractors. Messer was honored with the 2009 International Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence by the Council of Better Business Bureaus for superior commitment to exceptional standards that benefit customers, employees, suppliers and surrounding communities. In fiscal 2012, Messer put in place more than $792 million in commercial construction. www.messer.com. About Ackermann Group Ackermann Group is a third generation real estate company based in Cincinnati, Ohio that focuses on real estate acquisitions, urban redevelopment and property management operations. Ackermann Group strives to be among the most respected real estate companies in the region by providing lasting value to communities, residents, businesses, and investors through integrity, reliability and commitment. Ackermann Group’s mission is to foster renewed viability and profit for underperforming or underdeveloped real estate assets through strategic, long-term partnerships. By initiating and cultivating relationships between public and private entities, the company facilitates the redevelopment and long-term stabilization of real estate assets. Capabilities include acquisitions of commercial real estate; development of residential, commercial, retail, and mixed-use projects; residential and commercial property management; and receivership services. www.ackermanngroup.com. About Xavier University Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition. Founded in 1831, the university is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No.4 among master’s-level universities in the Midwest, and The Princeton Review names it as one of the “Best 377 Colleges in America.” www.xavier.edu.

• ENR ranks Messer #41 among Top 100 CM-at-Risk firms

  Hot off the press, Engineering News-Record's much anticipated annual Top 100 issue features Messer Construction Co. among its top CM-at-Risk firms (pg. 6). Additionally, Senior Vice President Tim Steigerwald discusses how public higher education entities in Ohio are moving toward alternate project delivery methods, such as CMR and design-build (pg. 2-3). Read more: (Engineering News-Record) http://bit.ly/114DdVE

• Engagement: Unleashing the Human Potential (Building Health Care Spring 2013)

  People can accomplish amazing results when the entire team is effectively engaged. So how do you create engagement? Share relevant background information so people understand the context of the current situation - in other words, where are you coming from. In addition, articulate the future vision of the work with everyone involved. This creates alignment and focus on common goals. Watch how Messer shares the message to everyone involved at one project to create an understanding and focus on the higher purpose - healing and hope. In this video Janet Meeks, president & COO of  Mount Carmel St. Ann's Hospital, speaks to construction personnel at Project GRACE.

• Messer praised for Motlow expansion project

  As a much anticipated expansion project nears completion at Motlow College Smyrna Center, Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college, said the construction process has been a positive one, thanks in part to the professionalism and knowledge exhibited by Messer Construction Co., the project’s contractor and construction manager. Read more: (The Tennessean) http://tnne.ws/17swMjF

• Efficiencies help Messer land $370M Ohio State housing complex

  The Ohio State University recently announced that Messer will lead the project team that will finalize the design and move forward with construction for the renovation of the North Residential District.  After issuing a Request for Qualifications in early December, the university engaged in a competitive review process with each qualified firm to generate additional ideas on how to deliver the project. Additional savings could be identified based on the final design, which will be determined as part of the contract process with Messer, but the university estimates that this review process has already resulted in a savings of $26 million, bringing the new project budget to $370 million. “The time and effort we put into this review process allowed us to work with industry experts to identify efficiencies in construction techniques and scheduling that will not only save a significant amount of money, but will also allow us to deliver facilities that will enhance the student experience, including the new Second-year Transformational Experience Program,” said Jay Kasey, senior vice president for Administration and Planning at Ohio State. “We are dedicated to keeping costs affordable for students while delivering an exceptional product.” Once contracts are finalized, Ohio State will work with Messer to further design and implement construction. It is anticipated that infrastructure and small, enabling project work will begin this summer. The project will be complete for use Fall Semester 2016. In total, about 3,200 new bed spaces would be added to the North Residential Area. The project will also include new dining facilities, recreation facilities and other support facilities that will directly support the university’s ground-breaking Second-year Transformational Experience Program. “At the core of the STEP initiative is student engagement and student success. This project will enhance and expand our ability to provide an extraordinary student experience at Ohio State,” said Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ohio State’s vice president for Student Life. Led by Messer, the construction team also includes: Miles-McClellan Construction, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Brailsford & Dunlavey, HKS Inc., Schooley Caldwell Associates, KZF Design Inc., Heapy Engineering, Shelley Metz Baumann Hawk, Korda Nemeth Engineering, and MKSK. Messer is thrilled to be selected as The Ohio State University’s Design Builder for the North Residential District Transformation. We look forward to helping OSU realize President Gee's vision by the implementation of this portion of the One Framework Plan, said Rob Verst, vice president and Columbus general manager. Messer is an experienced higher education builder, and together with our partners we have collectively planned and delivered more than 150,000 university beds. Our team’s strategic design and construction approach will support Ohio State in realizing its Second-year Transformational Experience Program while making the North Residential District a great place for students to live and learn.” The criteria design team that brought the project to this point included Sasaki Associates, Inc., Elkus Manfredi Architects, OLIN, and Acock Associates Architects. Read more: (The Columbus Dispatch) http://bit.ly/ZWnpDb and (Columbus Business First) http://bit.ly/13mxFnR and (ENR Midwest) http://bit.ly/1018fOl

• Work begins on Wright State

  University officials and partners broke ground on the university's new research center on April 25. The 85,000-square-foot center will house the research arm of the Premier Health Partners -- Wright State University Neuroscience Institue -- and provide approximately 25 laboratories for between 200 and 300 researchers, graduate students and university faculty. Completion is targeted for early 2015. The building was designed by Perkins+Will and Messer is serving as the construction manager. Other partners include Shell & Meyer and Heapy Engineering. Read more: (Dayton Business Journal) http://bit.ly/12KtzqY and (Dayton Daily News) http://bit.ly/1639P51

• Rebound in residential construction suggests uptick in commercial construction on the horizon

  Messer's Operations Vice President John Megibben speaks to Louisville's Business First on market trends. Read more: (Business First) http://bit.ly/YihG75

• Messer contributes time, resources to make Knoxville Entrepreneur Center a reality

  Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and key partners celebrated the opening of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) on April 5 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. KEC is a business accelerator in downtown Knoxville that will help budding entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality. Located on Market Square, KEC will host meetings and networking events focused on small business startups and growth. It offers small private meeting rooms and a conference room, along with free Wi-Fi service. Messer Construction Co., Workspace Solutions, and Design Innovation Architects contributed materials and time to make the KEC opening possible. Read more: (WBIR) http://on.wbir.com/153Trkc

• Cincinnati Canstruction competition raises $3,500, benefits Freestore Foodbank

  BHDP Architecture and Messer Construction Co. partnered to raise $3,500 and create Fishing to Fight Hunger for the 16th annual Cincinnati Canstruction competition benefitting the Freestore Foodbank. The sculpture was displayed at the Weston Art Gallery downtown and won Best Use of Labels. Read more: (Cincinnati Canstruction): http://bit.ly/WZdOfR 

• Messer wins two Awards of Merit from AGC of Middle TN

  Messer Construction Co. has been selected by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Middle Tennessee to receive two Awards of Merit for construction management of the West Police Precinct and Middle Tennessee State University Student Union. Messer received these awards during the annual Build Tennessee Awards Celebration on February 21 at the Millennium Maxwell House, attended by executives and partners of Tennessee’s commercial construction industry. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County’s new West Police Precinct was an adaptive reuse project that required transforming an abandoned car dealership, badly damaged from the flood of May 2010, into a state-of-the-art police precinct to serve the residents and businesses of the Nashville metropolitan area. This facility was designed to meet LEED Silver certification and replaces the old precinct, Nashville’s oldest and smallest, with 24,000 square feet of office space and 16,000 square feet of garage space with electric vehicle charging stations. Though faced with a challenging project, Messer completed the West Police Precinct with zero lost time accidents and three months ahead of schedule. In addition, Messer facilitated community meetings to ensure that the facility met the needs of the neighborhoods it serves. This project not only resulted in a cutting-edge police precinct but also represents a first step in revitalizing the infrastructure and community of West Nashville. Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) new Student Union was designed and built to be a campus centerpiece that fosters collaboration among students and faculty. Construction of this nearly 200,000 square-foot-building in the heart of MTSU’s busy campus met all of the University's safety, budget, quality, and schedule goals. Notable features include a bookstore, six new food service venues, a 640-seat food court and 102-seat casual dining restaurant, along with an 840-seat ballroom with green room and two dressing rooms, an 84-seat parliamentary room, and a 95-seat movie theater. Conference and seminar rooms abound, as do plenty of lounge, computer and gaming spaces. High-end finishes can be found throughout the Student Union, including thousands of feet of stainless steel hand rails and a millwork/woodwork package that exceeded $1 million. Messer utilized its three-phase inspection process as part of its Quality Leadership System to ensure proper quality was achieved in the building finishes and complex exterior envelope. Additionally, Messer’s expert use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean Construction allowed for the project to start sooner than expected and open in time for the 2012 fall semester. Read more (The Murfreesboro Post): http://bit.ly/170XVo4

• Charlotte Business Journal features Messer

  For more than a decade, Messer Construction Co. has led the way in lean construction. That's why the Charlotte Business Journal tapped Charlotte-based Operations Vice President Chris Malinowski to provide insight on the benefits of lean construction its March 8th issue. Read more (Charlotte Business Journal): http://bit.ly/15Cl5lP