WasteCap Wisconsin Announces R3 Award Winners
WasteCap Wisconsin Inc., a private nonprofit organization that provides waste reduction and recycling assistance, has presented two companies with recycling awards. Two nationally-noted Big Diverter Awards were presented in October at the third annual WasteCap Wisconsin R3 Awards. Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis, and LaMacchia Group, Milwaukee, Wis., received the awards for achieving excellent recycling rates.
Mortenson Construction received the Big Diverter Award in the construction category for the new $189 million Aurora Medical Center in Summit. The project consists of the Aurora Medical Center and the Aurora Medical Office Building and Cancer Center and achieved a 94.4 percent project recycling rate.
Brad Folkert, Mortensons’ construction executive, credits the high recycling rate to WasteCap’s Senior Project Manager Ralph McCall. "Ralph was on site often, sat in on subcontractor meetings, trained staff on smart recycling procedures and kept track of recycling results. During Ralph’s site walks, he offered ways to improve our processes, such as more efficient placement of and easier access to the recycling bins."
Folkert also gave credit to the 600 people on site every day for taking responsibility for the environment.
The LaMacchia Group received the Big Diverter Award in the demolition category for recycling and reusing 96.55 percent of the demolition debris from the office and retail complex in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. The original structure consisted of five interconnected buildings. LaMacchia removed two buildings that were added in the 1970s.
Accepting the award, Project Manager Corey Vincent said, "Working with John Lottes from WasteCap made it surprisingly easy for our project management team to manage, monitor, document and promote a successful recycling program throughout the demolition stage of our prospective LEED Gold project. This was our firm’s first project focusing on substantial recycling. Our success has proven—to not only the project team, but also to our entire company—that recycling isn’t a difficult practice to incorporate. Recycling actually saved costs and made the project much more successful overall."
The Big Diverter Awards were selected by awarding the highest recycling rates to date as of the end of June 2008.
DEMCO Assumes Demolition Duties in Buffalo, N.Y.
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. (ECHDC) has announced that DEMCO, based in western New York, has agreed to handle demolition activities at the Memorial Auditorium (also known as the Aud) in Buffalo.
"Even in these tough economic times, ECHDC remains determined to keep the waterfront revitalization effort moving," says Jordan Levy, chairman, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. "The Aud demolition contract process has presented us with certain external dynamics beyond our control. However, we’re encouraged to have quickly reached an agreement with another strong local firm, which will allow us to avoid any long-term delays or the need for a re-bid."
Earlier this fall, ECHDC authorized a $1.5 million Aud demolition contract with Ontario Specialty Contracting Inc., but was subsequently notified of the firm’s intention to rescind its bid due to changes in steel scrap values. Following this notification, the Harbor Corp. received written withdrawal confirmation from the next lowest responsible bidder, Titan Wrecking & Environmental LLC. As a result, ECHDC agreed to formally bypass both firms’ respective bids, thereby avoiding possible litigation and allowing the Harbor Corp. to tender an un-amended demolition contract offer to DEMCO Inc.
"DEMCO Inc. is aware of the current economic climate and has expressed a clear commitment to this project," says Levy. "We’re confident that the firm can handle the Aud demolition work in a timely and cost-effective manner."
Following approval, the revised contract will require DEMCO Inc. to begin work by late-December 2008, and finish no later than late-spring/early-summer 2009. The total authorized contract includes a base fee of $1.65 million, as well as an additional $97,000, to cover the costs of removing various commemorative architectural elements from the exterior of the building. These architectural elements will be used by the city of Buffalo to construct a public memorial to the Aud, which was built in 1940.
Apogee Design+Build Delivers LEED Certified Home in Texas
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that Apogee Design+Build has completed the first LEED for Homes certified home in Austin, Texas. The home earned Gold certification in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes.
LEED for Homes defines and measures leadership in green homebuilding. It provides third-party assurance to home buyers that their home complies with standards for energy and water efficiency, indoor air quality, non-toxic materials and environmental performance.
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