News & Insight

• Columbus-area school gets even cooler after grant

  Perhaps the only thing that can cool down the up-and-coming Columbus Collegiate Academy (CCA) – a highly structured, highly disciplined, tuition-free charter middle school in East Columbus – is the purchase it is making with a $25,000 grant from the Messer Construction Co. Foundation. A 12-ton air conditioning unit, along with ductwork, will be installed at the school, thermally controlling four sixth-grade classrooms and completing air conditioning for the entire east wing of the school. Andy Boy, founder and executive director of the CCA, said the grant will positively impact the students’ learning environment. “Overcoming obstacles is part of this process, and this grant from Messer will remove one of the many obstacles our staff and students face – extreme heat,” he said. “For five months of the year, the portion of the building that serves our most challenged grade-band was a difficult environment to learn and teach in.” Founded in 2008, the school has already become nationally recognized for its education model. In the 2010-11 school year, the CCA was one of four schools nationally to be named an EPIC Gold Gain School, a program by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Incentive Fund used to identify, study and share what’s working in some of the country’s highest-gaining urban schools. The following school year, the CCA received an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education – the only stand-alone middle school in Franklin County to do so. That year, seventh and eighth grade students scored above the state of Ohio average in all tested subjects of the Ohio Achievement Assessments standardized test. Robert Verst, vice president and GM of Messer, expressed his company’s admiration and support for the CCA. “We are pleased to present the Columbus Collegiate Academy with this grant and further their efforts to advance young students both in and out of the classroom,” he said. “Their philosophy and approach to education and development during the vital middle-school years has proven very effective, and Messer is excited to support those efforts.” Criteria for grants from Messer include the expected return on investment to the community, the positive change expected from the Foundation’s investment, and Messer employee engagement and individual support for the organization. The installation of the AC unit is tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2014, if not sooner.

• Streetcar project reports $12.5 million in construction contracts to Disadvantaged Businesses

  Messer, Prus, Delta Joint Venture (MPD), constructor of the Cincinnati Streetcar, today reported the JV has met the inclusion goal for the project, awarding 18% of construction contracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE's). The contracts total more than $12.5 million to nine companies with DBE certification. MPD is building the 3.6-mile streetcar loop with total construction spend estimated at $70 million. The streetcar project receives money from the federal government as well as local sources, and therefore, the project must use a DBE goal rather than a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goal as seen in other locally-funded building projects. The DBE goal for the civil construction contract for the streetcar project is 18%. The goal was based on an analysis of the highly-specialized scopes of work in the construction contract and available registered DBE’s in the area. Disadvantaged businesses are involved in many areas of the construction, including: preparing streets for rail, building the Maintenance & Operations Facility, installing the street signalization and poles, and the station stops.  “MPD is committed to inclusion and we are pleased to have met the 18% DBE goal for construction contracts,” said Mark Luegering, senior vice president of Messer Construction Co. “We sought-out disadvantaged businesses during the bid period and award of contracts to play a significant role in construction and are pleased with the quality of our subcontractors.” DBE Firms awarded contracts include: ABEL, Bansal, Bowman, Cannon, Ezzie Trucking, Firstar, Jostin Construction, Rod Tech, and TriState. Construction work is on schedule to be completed fall 2016. Messer Construction Co. is the managing partner of MPD and 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 and higher education 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.   About The Cincinnati Streetcar The Cincinnati Streetcar is a modern streetcar rail transit system intended to stimulate development, expand transportation options, and enhance livability by connecting key communities in and around the center city. The first phase of the system consists of a 3.6-mile loop extending from The Banks to Findlay Market through Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Future phases are planned to connect to the University of Cincinnati and Uptown neighborhoods and beyond.      Construction for the Cincinnati Streetcar is being carefully coordinated by the City of Cincinnati with utility companies, Metro, and other partners to minimize any disruption to residents, businesses and workers along the route. This transportation system is expected to bring more residents and more jobs to Cincinnati, creating a broader tax base to fund city services.

• Messer-built Smyrna Center provides Tennessee college resources, space

  Students at one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing colleges can stretch out this fall and enjoy a little more elbow room. That’s because construction concluded late this summer – just in time for the start of classes – on a new addition to Motlow College’s Smyrna Center, giving students more resources, classrooms and, of course, space. The new 35,000-square-foot building on campus includes technology-enhanced classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a student success center, study/lounge areas for students, a renovated library and bookstore and labs for nursing, chemistry and microbiology. Perhaps the most needed resources, though, are the building’s three computer labs. Gary Winton, assistant director of student services at the Smyrna Center, told Amanda Haggard of the Murfreesboro (TN) Daily News Journal last May that students’ need to use computers sometimes caused issues at the library. “Before we got the new building, sometimes we’d have a line going out the door of the library of people waiting to use computers,” Winton said. “It was often loud, and students didn’t feel it was conducive to studying.” And the problems stretched beyond the library, according to Keith Claxton, associate professor of mathematics at the Smyrna Center. “If you had seen the faculty sharing offices and the limits we had on class sizes,” he said, “you’d understand why this new amount of space is such a big deal.” Construction on the building started in August of 2012, and completed about a year later. Messer used Building Information Modeling (BIM) for the project – a digital representation of the facility that boosts efficiency and ensures that extensive building systems are installed correctly the first time. The long-term goal for the expanding school is to not force students to have to drive to its other sites. The school also has campuses in Moore County, Fayetteville and McMinnville. Motlow College began offering classes in 1998, using nearby Riverdale High School’s facilities. The school moved to the Tennessee Army National Guard building in 2000, before moving to its current location in 2006.   Read more: (Murfreesboro Post) http://bit.ly/1dyuKOP

• Messer grant recipient impacting at-risk Charlotte-area residents

  A leading North Carolina nonprofit provider of treatment, care and education for at-risk children and families opened a new facility in October, unveiling also a check from the Messer Construction Co. Foundation for $25,000 that has funded the development of a 5,000-square-foot playground, as well as furnishings for child therapy rooms. Thompson Child and Family Focus (TCFF) on Oct. 12 opened its $4.4 million Family Services Center in Grier Heights, a neighborhood in Charlotte that has struggled with violence. “The work of Thompson Child and Family Services has strengthened the very fabric of the Charlotte community,” said Steve Keckeis, vice president of Messer Construction Co. and Thompson board member. “They are among the most respected non-profits in the state, and their work is of the utmost importance to the future of this community. “We’re excited to contribute to their effort of establishing themselves in Grier Heights, where their leadership will be a tremendous asset.” The agency is relocating (and expanding) all the programs previously housed in its Seventh Street campus to its new 16,697-square-foot facility on Wendover Road. The new facility will provide education, care and intensive support for some of the region’s most at-risk populations. Last year, from its Seventh Street campus, Thompson provided care and support to 1,000 children and families. “Our relocation to Grier Heights is a strategic move,” said Mary Jo Powers, president/CEO of TCFF. “We intend to be a vital part of the community and provide critical services that help stabilize the lives of the people who call Grier Heights home, while continuing to serve struggling families from across Mecklenburg County.” Among the programs and services offered by Thompson are foster care, outpatient therapy, intensive in-home services, school-based intervention therapy, parent education, family partners and family mentors. In addition to the playground, the Family Services Center includes libraries, planning rooms, multipurpose rooms, a kitchen and spacious waiting areas. Thompson’s chief program officer of preventive services, Rosa Underwood, noted the importance of creating a proper environment at the new facility. “Court-ordered intervention and counseling happen at the center,” she said, “so providing a stress-free environment for therapy and recreation was important.” Read more: (Charlotte Observer) http://bit.ly/197LSJa

• UT College of Engineering gets boost with John D. Tickle Engineering Building

  A new, state-of-the-art engineering building on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was dedicated this weekend by alumnus and Strongwell Corp. founder John D. Tickle. The five-story, 110,000-square-foot John D. Tickle Engineering Building, built by Messer, opened to students this fall, and anchors a new gateway to campus while providing a new link between campus’ Neyland Drive and The Hill – a historic division on the east side of UT’s campus. Tickle and his wife, Ann, joined UT President Joe DiPietro, Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek, Dean of Engineering Wayne T. Davis, and other officials this weekend to celebrate the dedication of the Tickle Building. A gift from the Tickles significantly aided the funding of the building. “This building is a beautiful addition to campus,” Tickle said at the dedication. “This is a constantly forward-moving campus, and it’s going to continue moving forward.” The $23.1 million project began in Dec. 2009, and has produced a new home for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The College of Engineering is UT-Knoxville’s fastest-growing college, and the Tickle Center now serves as a symbol of that growth. Since 2007, undergraduate enrollment at UT-Knoxville’s College of Engineering has increased by 40 percent, while doctoral enrollment has increased by more than 60 percent. Mirroring that growth is the ever-increasing prestige of the college, as both the undergraduate and graduate programs rank 37th overall among doctoral-granting public universities by U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the college’s nuclear engineering graduate program ranks sixth in the nation among all public and private universities. The building includes 24 laboratories, three conventional classrooms, one lecture hall, three student work spaces and 63 faculty and graduate student offices. Among its most notable features is a pedestrian bridge that connects the building to The Hill. The bridge includes fiberglass-reinforced large I-beams manufactured by Strongwell, Tickle’s company. Tickle, who graduated from UT in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, purchased the Bristol, Va.-based Strongwell in 1997, overseeing the evolvement of the company into a worldwide operation. Ann Tickle also graduated from UT with a degree from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Though she is now heavily involved in philanthropic work, she is famous for hosting the popular children’s show “Romper Room” from 1969-76.   See more in the Knoxville News Sentinel: http://bit.ly/1cfTAFQ

• Messer thrives by building on campus

  Dayton Daily News reporter Tom Gnau recently sat down with Tom Belanich, senior business development manager at Messer, to discuss how taking a focused approach to higher education commercial construction is positioning Messer for success. Read more: (Dayton Daily News) http://bit.ly/17pQINR

• A healthier construction industry good news for everyone

  Messer VP Andy Lorenz shares his point of view on the current economic climate in construction and why it matters in a guest column that was published in the Knoxville News Sentinel and picked up in the Associated General Contractors of America's July 9th SmartBrief e-newsletter.

• 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