Last night’s 32nd anniversary of the Burnham Award Dinner was a massive success! The award honors Chicago leaders for making the city a better place to work and live – and I am humbled to be among them. I made Chicago my home back in 2010 and moved Clayco’s Headquarters to this great city because of its amazing business community, which the Chicago Chamber of Commerce helps support.
There are smiles all around at Lamar Johnson Collaborative – and deservedly so. Clayco’s partner company received two awards for our outstanding project work at the 2023 AIA St. Louis Design Awards night! LJC is a dedicated and talented team of creative professionals who understand what it means to inspire and connect communities. Earning the MERIT Award in the Architecture Category for the St. Louis County Library – Lynn Beckwith Jr Administrative Building, “The Beck,” and the HONOR Award in the Unbuilt & Master Plan Category for Brickline MP are testaments to the organization’s impact.
Societal advancements are often sparked by powerful conversations between peers. The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) hosted a panel discussion for the U.S. launch of Thomas Heatherwick’s book, “Humanize: A Maker’s Guide to Designing Cities,” a prime example of how constructive partnerships can lead to some of our world’s greatest innovations. It was a packed house with 300 guests attending this engaging event. I thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in the panel alongside Thomas, Shapack Partners founder Jeff Shapack, and CAC President & CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski. We explored the book's themes and discussed Chicago's architectural landscape while scrutinizing the impact of design and development processes on public health.
Libraries aren't just quiet spots to read; they are vibrant places for people to gather and connect. I had the chance to tour the Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County library system with Jane. The two-story, 74,000-square-foot development is coming along amazingly well! St. Louis County Library’s original headquarters needed greater efficiencies and infrastructure to support the evolution of its patrons – so we decided to do something about it. The Clark family was humbled to donate $6 million to the new HQ and towards educational programming to further the library’s mission. Clayco’s partner company, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, is designing the modern and spacious building into a powerhouse destination for employees, students, families, and authors.
Missouri has played a fundamental role in Clayco’s history and my own. I grew up and started Clayco in the St. Louis region, and it is a heartfelt focus of mine to help the area regain its past glory. As the next step toward this mission, I am thrilled to announce the relocation and expansion of our St. Louis offices and operations center! Our St. Louis regional offices will come together in Berkeley, Missouri, in a newly recycled and renovated Clayco hub. What’s truly serendipitous about this is that Clayco designed and built the office for another company 11 years ago – and soon, it will be our new home. The 230,000-square-foot facility in NorthPark Development will accommodate over 1,000 team members committed to engaging the local community with their time and hands.
My inspiration of the month is Clayco Structural Engineer Keiko DeClerck! Every year, I have a fellow selected from our lead interns and first-year employees to attend mentoring sessions, Monday presentations, and client and employee meetings. Last year, Keiko was chosen to be mentored by me –and she also mentored me in return!
Illumination 2023: Underwater was a tremendous success last weekend! Since it started, Illumination has been one of my favorite events to advocate for and attend. It was an unforgettable night filled with musical performances, a laser light show, glowing artwork, food, and great friends. Most importantly, the 1200 people who joined us at Vertiport Chicago raised $1.1 million to cast a light on rare diseases and support the search to cure RVCL. This has personally impacted me, as my late wife Ellen was diagnosed with RVCL in 2005.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what is right,” – and Clayco has a rich history of doing the right thing. We have continuously operated with our people, places, and clients in mind to build “Beyond These Walls.” This mantra emulates that what happens inside the buildings we construct is more important than the bricks and mortar.
October has been filled with so many incredible moments and people to celebrate that I’ve doubled down on my Inspiration of the Month and added Ciere Boatright to the list! Ciere is the perfect example of how when you invest in your community, the rewards return to you tenfold. She is currently the Vice President of Real Estate and Community Development at CRG but takes on the role of the City of Chicago’s commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development next month! Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Ciere’s appointment yesterday, and I could not support his decision more.
World-renowned English architect, designer, and founder of Heatherwick studio, Thomas Heatherwick, is coming to Chicago! The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is hosting a panel discussion for the U.S. launch of Thomas’ book “Humanize: A Maker’s Guide to Designing Cities” on November 8th. It will be an insightful conversation about contemporary building design and how the spaces we develop can spark inspiration or leave us devoid of it – which I am happy to be a part of!
Nothing slows our Clayco team down! We are celebrating several office openings across the country, demonstrating the success of the continued growth of our construction family. In the Southwest, we commemorated the grand opening of our regional headquarters in Phoenix! The 48,000-square-foot office is home to 400+ employees and our partner companies, LJC, CRG, Concrete Strategies, and Ventana, that support thousands of skilled workers throughout Arizona.
I think of the unlikely and extraordinary success we have had in both the Clark family and at Clayco in a series of notable moments. Seminal moments. Starting Clayco in 1984 with basically no experience and no capital, with only a pickup truck and willpower, we began doing simple interior finish projects: carpet, painting, drywall, and doors. That led to an account at Mercantile Bank doing the same work. A lucky break came in meeting the bank’s VP of facilities, John Ward, and eventually the bank’s chairman, Don Lasater. I got an even bigger break building multiple banks for Mercantile when I was partnered with a well-known, local St. Louis architect, Robert (Bob) Boland.
If there is anything that we need more of across industries and communities, it is passionate people who are working to improve our world. Luckily, there is no shortage of these talented individuals, many of whom are featured on Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 under 40 list – including my son Shawn! Crain’s nominates 40 innovators who have made a mark on their industries and the city of Chicago with no end in sight. It is an amazing recognition demonstrating the importance of emphasizing evolution, diversity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Since Shawn and I started working together, I have watched him lead Clayco’s booming real estate development arm, CRG.
Businessman and philanthropist Chuck Feeney passed away on October 9th. He was best known for co-founding Duty-Free Shoppers (DFS) with Robert Miller in 1960. DFS grew to be one of the world's largest luxury retailers, catering primarily to travelers and making Feeney a billionaire in the process. However, what made him particularly notable and admired was not his business success but his unique approach to philanthropy.
If there is one aspect of Clayco that has consistently rang true since its establishment decades ago, it's that our organization is dedicated to bettering the lives of people in underserved communities. Clayco is proud to be one of the many sponsors of the Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), which connects youth in underserved communities with career opportunities in construction. This past weekend, CCDI hosted its first Saturday Academy session at Clayco with 25 ambitious high school students looking to expand their personal and professional development. It was an incredible success! Events like these are integral to connecting youth from under-resourced neighborhoods with career opportunities in construction. CCDI has a strong class of seniors in the program this year, and it’s great to see how the initiative helps them discover their path in construction.
How to live longer and healthier is a topic that’s currently drawing a lot of attention. I recently read Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Canadian physician Peter Attia, co-authored by Bill Gifford. The book highlights the significant health problems humans face and compares our current reactive approach to a proactive method that promotes longevity. Luckily, I already practice much of what’s in the book – but there is always room for improvement! Trained as an oncological surgeon, Attia’s take on longevity is fascinating. He talks about the 'Four Horsemen' – diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease – and how they’re all connected. He believes that if you have diabetes, for example, you might be at risk for heart disease or cancer.
Congratulations to Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, for receiving the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! Their revolutionary work has paved the way for the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, showcasing the significant strides science can achieve. Their research, carried out at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, has changed the course of global health.
Children are the future, and investing in their wellness is committing to creating a brighter and healthier society. Clayco recently hosted its second-annual Kids Dig in partnership with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. This event attracted over 120 young patients and their families to participate in hands-on construction education and the chance to operate bulldozers, excavators, and other equipment in a giant sandbox with professional assistance. The best part about this incredible fundraiser is that all proceeds go directly to Lurie Children’s, supporting the more than 220,000 children who come to the hospital for treatments annually.
I often post about the Cloud, and people ask me, “What is it?” While I could explain that the energy that powers our technology comprises over half a million miles of undersea cables, hundreds of exchange points, around 8,000 data centers, and more, it may be easier to show you.
Clayco supported finding a cure for cancer as we committed to our 13th year with Pedal the Cause! Almost every member of our Clayco family has been impacted by cancer, whether it is that of a family member, friend, or colleague. Our goal as an organization is to innovate communities and industries to build a better, healthier future beyond our walls. Pedal the Cause is an important initiative that aligns with our core values and supports lifesaving research with its efforts.
The most remarkable projects are developed through strategic partnerships that achieve exceptional results. Clayco prides itself on partnering with the best in business to embody the Art & Science of Building, and KONE is a great example of how our extended team of subcontractors helps us accomplish that. KONE is a proven global technology leader in the elevator and escalator industry. The company provides elevators, escalators, automatic building doors, and solutions for maintenance and modernization and aims to improve the flow of urban life. Clayco and KONE are devoted to safety, diversity, strong company cultures, and expertise that brings the most powerful projects to life.
Clayco is helping build a healthier campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville! Our team recently celebrated the groundbreaking of SIUE’s new health sciences complex, where we are working with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, along with PoetkkerJV and Christner Inc., to develop the facility.
Constructing spaces that foster community growth and connection is crucial to creating a sense of belonging that leads to stronger, more resilient communities. Clayco’s partner company, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, has done an excellent job building beyond these walls into the neighborhoods where we operate to deliver PopCourts! – a “small plaza that turned into a movement” – which won an Honor Award in Urban Design from the 2023 ASLA Professional Awards.
We’re breaking ground and helping pave the way toward higher education! Construction began on September 8th on the Center for Emerging Technologies and the Financial Services & Enrollment Center at St. Louis Community College’s Meramec campus. This groundbreaking is part of six new buildings planned across STLCC’s four main campuses as part of a facilities update.
Electric vehicle manufacturing is a pivotal step toward pioneering newer, greener frontiers - and Clayco and ENTEK are at the forefront! ENTEK, the only US-owned and operated manufacturer of wet-process lithium-ion battery separators, has made its single largest investment to date. On September 6th, the company broke ground on a $1.5 billion separator plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, and chose our Clayco team to design and build it.
We are bringing a “pawsitive” development to Columbus, Georgia! Clayco, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, and Concrete Strategies are working on a pet food ingredients facility for AFB International. AFB creates and sells palatant ingredients globally, enhancing the taste of pet food, treats, and supplements. This ensures pets not only enjoy their meals but also receive vital nutrients. The company focuses on palatability, partnership, and people to bring pet food solutions that enrich relationships and lives.
There's nothing like connecting with remarkable individuals and minds from across the globe – which made the Mexico GRI Real Estate 2023 conference a premier destination last week! The event provided a dynamic platform for real estate and infrastructure executives to exchange innovative strategies and solutions. I loved my trip to Mexico City and enjoyed witnessing the nation's journey toward a promising future with many positive signs, including a strong peso, growing population, and entrepreneurial spirit. The country is also ready to receive global manufacturers to provide nearshore supplying to the USA in the next decade.
As Clayco's partner company, CRG, continues to expand its national presence, it requires more creative minds and innovators to do so. In light of this, please welcome the latest addition to CRG’s leadership team, Susan Bergdoll, as Senior Vice President and Partner for the Midwest industrial region! We are thrilled to have her expertise in navigating complex land acquisitions, lease negotiations, and municipal processes in our organization. Susan brings transformative knowledge to the firm with 25+ years of experience in commercial real estate and striking deals with Fortune 100 and 500 brands. Before joining CRG, she managed Duke Realty's nearly 40-million-square-foot Midwest industrial portfolio, valued at over $1.7 billion. Susan’s impressive background will be an advantage as she aids in developing CRG’s speculative and build-to-suit warehouses for e-commerce, Fortune 500, and other clients.
Jean Nouvel is one of the most important architects of the past 50 years. His style fuses innovation, contextual awareness, and a willingness to defy conventions. I admire his work because it reflects a deep understanding of the relationship between architecture and its environment while embracing the possibilities offered by modern technology and materials. Nouvel’s personal story began in Fumel, France. He was raised in a family of teachers and creatives. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne but later focused on architecture, attending the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Clayco has been at the forefront of the data center boom across the US! Our team delivers high-performing centers fast and efficiently as we work alongside mission-critical design teams and engineers. Data centers are built by people for people, with every project team committing to positively impact the local community through improved morale, attracting labor, and setting up career paths with top talent in nearby cities. If there are construction elements that we can consistently guarantee, it’s that our team will deliver a fusion of high-performance projects with creative solutions. As society increasingly depends on technology, so does the need for more facilities with enhanced performance capabilities. We also understand the importance of confidentiality in projects and design and use proven practices to build facilities safely and privately.
While I was serving as U.S. Commissioner General at Expo 2020 Dubai, I read a remarkable book that is back in the spotlight. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, was the inspiration for the current box office hit Oppenheimer. This 721-page-long book is tough to read at times, and incredibly captivating. Twenty-five years in the making and exhaustively researched, the biography won the Pulitzer Prize in 2006. It’s a captivating portrait of a brilliant, complex, and flawed figure who played a critical role in shaping the course of 20th-century history.
We are approaching the finish line at Washington University’s School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Siteman Cancer Center! Concrete Strategies recently held the project’s precast erection topping-out ceremony & dinner to honor the hard work and dedication of our on-site crews.
The centerpiece for advancement is sharing wisdom, experiences, and perspectives to foster the greatest innovations possible. To do this, we must build connections through communities and industries – like attending the upcoming Mexico GRI Real Estate 2023 event! In Mexico City, from August 30th to 31st, GRI Club is working to build valuable relationships between the most prominent leaders in the real estate sector. This conference brings together hundreds of real estate and infrastructure executives to discuss evolutionary strategies and find solutions for a sustainable future.
VinFast has reached a significant milestone toward its global expansion! It was an exciting celebration as the company began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market today, following VinFast and Black Spade Acquisition Co’s completed business combination. VinFast’s Global CEO, Madame Thuy Le, rang the bell to mark the moment!
Known for their determination to get the job done, American postal workers often endure harsh conditions to keep loved ones, businesses, and officials connected. Now, Clayco is helping the United States Postal Service in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, upgrade its facility to better assist its customers and communities. As America’s technology and businesses become increasingly electrified, the USPS is following suit and moving toward greener energy. This project will help modernize USPS’ delivery network with electric vehicle charging stations and improved package handling. It will also help centralize carrier operations in new and extensive sorting and delivery centers and make processes more efficient.
What an incredible honor! Clayco’s Los Angeles office was named one of the best places to work in the small category at the 17th annual Best Places to Work awards. The Los Angeles Business Journal hosted the event and revealed the rankings of the Top 100 LA companies setting trends and redefining the employee experience. Our LA office opened in May 2022, and it’s great to be making such a strong impression in the area.
If you’re looking for a leader who embodies what it means to use your skills and resources to spark positive change, look no further than my good friend Lisa Goodman. Lisa is my August inspiration because of her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout her impressive 30+ year career path and tireless commitment to advancing communities. Lisa is a successful businesswoman with experience in complex and capital-intensive sectors, including technology, health care, retail, financial services, commercial real estate, and hospitality. She is currently on the executive team of The Benaroya Company, a real estate company that finances, develops, and manages projects for global and regional organizations.
Clayco and Lamar Johnson Collaborative are architects of innovation in the Art and Science of building. We ensure that our integrated approach makes safety and efficiency our top priorities across every national job site. Now, we are working as the design-build team to implement these priorities for GAF’s 444,252-square-foot commercial roofing manufacturing project that will pave the way for a more sustainable future.
The next generation of living is here – and it has taken the form of a residential community in the vibrant Streets of St. Charles, Missouri! CRG recently hosted its grand opening for Chapter at The Streets. This 245-unit development aims to give residents a space to live comfortably and thrive. Designed by Humphreys & Partners Architects and constructed by Brinkmann Constructors, the 304,291-square-foot multifamily development includes various state-of-the-art amenities. Residents will enjoy a swimming pool with a hot tub, an outdoor recreational sun deck with fire pits, grilling stations, a fitness center, a resident lounge, coworking spaces, and more. There is also plenty of access to parking, electric car charging stations, and bicycle storage.
The drive toward the global electric vehicle revolution is moving (Vin)Fast! VinFast is a member of Vingroup – a well-recognized Vietnamese brand and one of Vietnam’s leading enterprises. VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability, delivering up to 90% automation in Hai Phong.
Companies that don’t invest in the next generation never last long! That’s why we love celebrating National Intern Day at Clayco, to recognize and thank our hardworking interns for their various contributions. Our team works diligently to build a better future for our communities and foster a company culture that inspires innovation. We support the ambitions of young creatives and provide them with the resources and opportunities required to bring the most complex and dynamic projects to life. Interns provide a wellspring of new ideas, fresh insights, and the energy needed to keep things moving forward. At Clayco, we help interns implement and refine their skills and collaborate with some of the best builders in America to gain crucial real-world experience. Our team focuses on creating meaningful, effective, and enduring environments that hold space for people from all walks of life.
Clayco was built on the foundation of being a culture that inspires – whether within the walls of our organization or across the communities where we live and operate. We continue to build on this foundation with each new project, like the 100,000-square-foot Steven S. Wymer Hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! This center is the eighth project our team has built on the university’s campus and our fifth as a JV with Turner. LMN Architects and Booth Hansen Architects are the architecture firms for this project. Our companies share the values of building what matters and working to make a difference in the lives of people, customers, and communities everywhere.
I recently read the exhilarating (and terrifying) book Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (2017) by the Swedish American Max Tegmark, a professor of physics at MIT and president of the Future of Life Institute. The book explores the impact of artificial intelligence on our future, and questions whether AI is the best or worst thing that is happening to humanity and life itself. WARNING: it can be depressing.
We are breathing new life into the American Southwest! Clayco was awarded a 1.3 million square foot mixed-use project in Tempe, Arizona, for McBride-Cohen Management. South Pier at Tempe Town Lake will include three towers with over 700 units, retail, and more, helping transform the Phoenix Valley.
I recently read two truly inspiring biographies on American heroes, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle, by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham and King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig. Reading these acclaimed authors' latest books back to back is the way to go. They do a great job of storytelling in a way where the audience can grasp the reality of the moment and the greatness of both of these men – even though, at the time, they were in constant doubt about their impact. Meacham’s book examines how and why Lincoln refused to accept secession, attacks on democracy, and the tragedy of slavery in order to bring about his vision for America. He starts with Lincoln’s journey from his early years as a farm boy in Kentucky. He goes on to describe his move from law to politics and then to the presidency and his assassination in 1865. Meacham pays close attention to the influences on Lincoln's ideas and values and how he aligned his views with the emerging Republican Party, an administration that at the time brought welfare to a persecuted and disadvantaged minority.
SHoP Architects was founded in New York City in 1996 by five partners — Gregg Pasquarelli, Christopher Sharples, Coren Sharples, William Sharples, and Kimberly Holden. The firm is renowned for its innovative designs and use of advanced technologies. SHoP’s partners had different career backgrounds before turning to architecture, giving them a unique perspective on the profession. I have always admired their work on high-profile projects around the world, including residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional structures.
I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the newest addition to Clayco’s senior executive team – Lucy Villanueva! She will be serving as our first-ever Vice President of Healthcare for California and use her rich expertise to help take Clayco’s healthcare projects to the next level. Lucy has 26 years of experience managing projects that directly impact and improve communities. From creating thousands of permanent jobs to strengthening the healthcare infrastructure up and down the Golden State, her addition to the team will prove invaluable as we continue to grow nationwide.
I am deeply saddened to hear that my colleague from The University of Chicago, Jim Crown, passed away on his birthday yesterday following a motorsport accident. Jim was an unbelievable business and philanthropic icon, and his commitment to improving the lives of others had a direct impact on his hometown of Chicago and beyond. Jim served in various leadership roles, including Chairman Emeritus of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Civic Committee's Public Safety Task Force. He was also a member of the Intelligence Advisory Board to the Obama Whitehouse, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Yesterday we celebrated Barclay Gebel’s 35th year at Clayco! This is an incredible milestone, and Barclay has come a long way since joining the company with his purple ponytail. He grew up around construction and began working on his first tilt-up project at 16 while attending high school. The hard hat that he still wears today is the same one issued to him in 1988!
If celebrating diversity and assembling a multicultural workforce wasn’t a substantial incentive simply for cultural and moral reasons, it’s also good for the bottom line of business. Guiding a team with innovation and equity creates an environment where people feel free to be the best version of themselves and do their best work.
Our society is filled with compassionate people who work daily to bridge the gap communities face with accessing wealth, resources, and opportunities. While the movement toward equality continues to gain momentum, leaders and advocates must unite and do the groundwork necessary to implement sustainable change. One of these exceptional people, who is also my June Inspiration of the Month, is my good friend Maxine Clark. Maxine is the Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop, and her long-standing career demonstrates record successes in retail innovation and building stakeholder value. She recently received the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in recognition of her successful mission to continuously practice the “Golden Rule” and inspire children's imaginations everywhere. Her honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Washington University in St. Louis is another representation of the dedication she pours into everything she does to enhance society. Maxine is a pivotal member of the St. Louis community and teaches the youth that if your bank account is full, but your heart is empty, you will not live life to the fullest. She suggests that one of the ways to live the most fulfilling life is to convert passions into actionable plans and turn ideas into modern business realities.
Clayco and Lamar Johnson Collaborative are using our integrated approach to support higher education! Our teams are working on a joint venture with Poettker Construction and Christner Architects to develop the new Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s (SIUE) 176,000-square-foot health sciences building. The facility will accommodate the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing with ample space for offices, academic classrooms, labs, and more. The project will help students achieve the university’s vision of empowering individuals to reach their full potential through academia and innovative programs.
It’s our last chance to prove why it’s Minnesota’s time to shine and host the 2027 World’s Fair! I have been honored to serve as co-chair of the Minnesota USA Expo bid committee, which has done a great job advocating for Bloomington to host the “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” specialized exposition. Minnesota bid committee members, civic leaders, the U.S. State Department, and allies were recently in Paris for the last meeting of candidate countries before the Bureau International des Expositions delegates' final vote.
I am delighted to announce the appointment of our Clayco family’s new Chief Talent Officer, Katie Lane! Katie is a great addition to our team. She has valuable expertise driving talent results from her former role at Dale Carnegie, where she created and maintained customized learning and development solutions for large clients. Katie’s organizational effectiveness helped her successfully expand the regional footprint of the office and lead a team of almost 24 people.
This project is breaking ground in more ways than one! The world's leading Japanese battery technology company, Envision AESC, is building a 1.5 million square foot state-of-the-art battery cell gigafactory in Florence County, South Carolina, and celebrated its groundbreaking yesterday.
“Always stand up for what you believe in, just like my senior quote.” This is what Colorado Grand Valley High School senior Naomi Peña Villasano said, which is a fitting representation of her recent struggle with her school board and local government about wearing a Mexican-American sash on graduation day. The school principal, district superintendent, and a Denver U.S. District Court judge told her no. Their reasoning cited district authorities' fears of triggering displays of the Confederate flag and wanting to “protect the symbolic traditions that signify the graduates’ academic accomplishments and services to the community.”
Rashid Johnson is a New-York based conceptual artist who was born in 1977 in Chicago, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbia College in Chicago and his Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Rashid has had numerous solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. He is known for his mixed-media works, which incorporate a wide range of materials including shea butter, black soap, ceramic tile, and plants. He explores themes of race, identity, and memory through his art, often using cultural symbols and imagery from African American history.
Clayco’s next project is taking flight to meet expected travel needs! Our integrated team is working to expand Idaho Falls Airport’s (IDA) existing infrastructure capabilities to meet demand over the next 30 years. As the state’s second busiest airport (#1 being Boise Airport), it saw 316,044 passengers depart and an additional 312,285 fly into the facility, totaling 628,329 passengers for 2022 – a new record!
Tina Turner was a trailblazing icon in more ways than one. Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, she was later known as the "Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll". Turner came from humble beginnings. She started singing in her small town’s church choir as a little girl and was later known to frequent nightclubs in my hometown of St. Louis as a young adult. It was at the Manhattan Club in East St. Louis where she first met Ike Turner after seeing him perform with his band, the Kings of Rhythm. She rose to mainstream fame and persevered through a turbulent marriage and career with Ike, eventually breaking free and receiving even more recognition as a solo artist.
Congratulations to the Construction Career Development Initiative’s (CCDI) 2023 class of Build Our Future Scholarship recipients! Clayco is proud to be one of the many sponsors of CCDI, which connects youth in underserved communities with career opportunities in construction. During the annual Build Our Future Scholarship award ceremony last week, the program awarded its largest class of recipients $170,000 in scholarships and commemorated the first four college graduates who have secured full-time employment! The newest scholars will attend Missouri S&T, Drury, and Prairie View A&M.
I have said that blood is thicker than water, but that you can welcome people into your blood, and you should – meaning the concept of family can be built, structured, and strengthened in the ways you choose, or how life chooses for you. I started Clayco in 1984 when I was 25 and bought a dilapidated building in a rough neighborhood (Robertson, Missouri) because it was all I could afford at the time. The very first day that I was on site, a 12-year-old black kid approached me and said, “Hey, Mister, can I get a job?”
As someone who works hard to create a positive impact and legacy for the benefit of global communities, I am humbled to be included on the prestigious list of Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients. I would like to thank my friend and amazing North American hero, Anthony von Mandl, for nominating me and attending the ceremony, and my wife Jane and my children for attending.
In recognition of the amazing growth and success at CRG, dynamic changes to its leadership team were announced this week that will propel the firm forward as it expands nationwide. Shawn Clark will assume the role of CRG’s CEO, and Chris McKee, the previous Chief Development Officer, has been appointed president. Shawn and Chris will work closely with COO Steve Schnur to foster a collaborative and innovative environment that delivers exceptional assets for clients and investors.
I have always admired the work of Donald Wexler (1926-2015), an architect known for his significant contributions to modernist architecture in the mid-20th century. Wexler was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and moved to Palm Springs in 1952 to work for William Cody.
I recently read “Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World's Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on the Brink” by award-winning business journalist Liz Hoffman. It was an interesting exposé about how the world's most powerful CEOs built the US economy only to watch it fall before their eyes – and never saw it coming. The book does a great job of putting the reader in the middle of the CEO experience, from the realization of how deep the pandemic crisis would be, to the strategies they were working on to save their companies. Clayco and our team had these same stories. From helping the White House and CDC navigate how to work safely to keep our job sites going, to responding to the drastic growth of E-Commerce, we responded to the same circumstances.
Clayco completed X Phoenix’s Phase I – a 20-story apartment, retail, and office high-rise in Phoenix, Arizona. The 731,321-square-foot structure is part of a two-phase project designed to appeal to young professionals living and working downtown. It’s located within walking distance of Arizona State University, public transportation, and various restaurants, bars, and businesses. The X Phoenix Phase I
Clayco’s Construction Career Development Initiative has been helping bridge the inequality gap in workforce development since its inception in the aftermath of the 2015 Ferguson unrest. We have since aimed to foster the next generation of industry and community transformation by giving students the skills and tools for success by assisting with everything from teaching industry basics to securing job placement. Since the organization’s establishment, we have successfully placed 140 students into full-time roles with local companies! The impact of CCDI has been witnessed and felt by underserved demographics and people across the nation, and it is incredible to have expanded our efforts from St. Louis to Chicago and Phoenix! We aim to continue the program’s growth to serve many more locations and people. Our Clayco team has done an excellent job extending our reach to instill our people-centric and inclusive values by creating customized programs that cater to each city’s unique needs.
El Anatsui is a Ghanaian sculptor who has gained international recognition for his ground-breaking work in transforming everyday materials into stunning, monumental sculptures. Born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, he studied at the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. In 1975, El began teaching at the Fine Arts Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. For more than four decades he was Professor of Sculpture and is now Departmental Head. He recently made the 2023 list of Time’s 100 “Most Influential” people, alongside noteworthy actors, politicians, and personalities. El was honored by the Nigerian art historian Chika Okeke-Agulu, who called him “one of the most impactful artists of our time.”
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Innovation can always be generated by a good old-fashioned “meeting of the minds,” especially when those minds are as diverse as they are sharp – and are intensely focused on business. More than 300 senior and C-level executives, as well as leaders in development, financing, and beyond, are joining the Latin America GRI Real Estate 2023 event on May 11th and 12th in New York!
Clayco has been selected as the design-build contractor for ENTEK International's new $1.5 billion production facility in Terre Haute, Indiana! ENTEK Lithium Separators is the only producer of “wet-process” lithium-ion battery separator materials owned and based in America. The new 1.4-million-square-foot facility will house equipment for producing the lithium battery separators.
Every Earth Day, I’m reminded how far I have come. In the early 90s, I was working from home one day ― a rarity ― when my son Shawn was about seven years old. I was in my study, focusing on some key priorities I had that day, when Shawn darted in and out of the room a couple of times. I finally looked up and noticed that his shirt had a picture of the Earth on the front.
PetSmart's vision is grounded in three fundamental aspects: talent, culture, and community. Like Clayco, the company strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels that they belong. Their team embraces unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and goes beyond the walls to positively impact communities as our Clayco mission does. Since a considerable part of Clayco and Lamar Johnson Collaborative’s integrated approach surrounds expanding the values of diversity in every part of our societies, it was great to channel that into two PetSmart projects!
Being raised in Bridgeton, Missouri, on the outskirts of St. Louis, I have always felt strongly connected to the St. Louis community. Since establishing Clayco, it has been one of our main focuses to give back to the neighborhoods where we operate and ensure that our positive impact extends beyond the walls of our structures and doesn’t end once a project is completed. To continually inspire innovation and bridge the gap between underserved demographics and the resources they require to succeed, our team supports various community-centered initiatives, including Counterpublic. Counterpublic is a civic exhibition that weaves contemporary art into the Life of St. Louis for a three-month display every three years, running this year from April 15 to July 15! The exhibition aims to reimagine civic infrastructures toward generational change with a vision to facilitate conversations on the role of contemporary art and become a beacon of creative thinking and community engagement. Our Clayco team works best with talent that shares a similar philosophy as we pursue “the Art & Science of Building.” This mantra drives our love for art and, like Counterpublic, allows for more inclusive platforms and spaces that expand social, political, and civic horizons.
Clayco’s partner company, CRG, renovated the former home of USA Today into a state-of-the-art healthcare education facility for Adtalem Global Education’s institution in Miramar, Florida. The development will include a campus for Chamberlain University and administrative offices for Adtalem’s Ross University School of Medicine, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, and the Medical Education Readiness Program. Chamberlain University has the largest nursing school in the country and educates and empowers diverse healthcare professionals to advance the health of people, families, communities, and nations. As the international demand for healthcare professionals continues to rise, the 56,000 square feet of added modern space with classrooms, science labs, simulation care centers, and more will train future professionals and benefit communities worldwide.
It takes dedication to transform neighborhoods into places where people, regardless of race, gender, or background, feel safe and seen – and Lamar Johnson Collaborative is a shining example of everything we want to see in the design-build industry, a team that aspires to build healthy spaces through active engagement in civic and community initiatives. One of LJC’s latest projects, Roosevelt & Kostner, is a great step toward bridging the resource gap for underserved Chicago neighborhoods. Roosevelt & Kostner is a $38.4 million project with four new buildings totaling 302,140 square feet. LJC is designing the two innovation and community center buildings to maximize opportunities for neighborhood community groups with events, workforce development programs, and more. These developments are a part of the INVEST South/West program, an initiative to reverse decades of disinvestment across the city’s South and West Sides.
Our Clayco partner company CRG just announced the latest addition to its leadership team – Steve Schnur as Chief Operating Officer! Steve’s onboarding comes less than a year after CRG raised $450 million to invest in industrial development projects to help accommodate the booming demand for warehouse space nationwide. He worked for Duke Realty for 20 years and worked through the ranks to become Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. With his expertise, he oversaw 19 regional offices with up to $2 billion in development starts annually. He also was responsible for the firm’s 160 million square foot portfolio, which will undoubtedly position him to help innovate CRG’s integrated platform.
Daya Brown is a name that an increasing number of people are beginning to recognize for her intelligence, dedicated work ethic, and the fact that she was accepted by 54 colleges and received $1.3 million in scholarship offers! Brown is my inspiration for April for all her accomplishments and determination to reach her goals – especially because most of her journey was during unprecedented global uncertainty. As a Freshman at Atlanta, Georgia’s Westlake High School, Brown said she considered becoming a lawyer before being introduced to Westlake Out Loud, a poetry performance group for students. She then realized she wanted to embrace her creativity to empower people and heal the world.
It has been great working as co-chair for the Minnesota Expo 2027 to help bring the first World’s Fair onto U.S. soil in over 40 years. Minnesota will be an excellent location to host international citizens and already has the necessary infrastructure for future development. The plan is that for 93 days in the summer of 2027, Bloomington and the Twin Cities will be home to various Expo events, including international pavilions, unveiling new technology, art, culture, science, and much more. Our proposed Expo site is 62 acres east of the Mall of America with an urban center, transportation networks and is near the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The City of Bloomington has also been an essential expo supporter and asset in identifying site options that fit temporary needs and long-term city and commercial developments. Our effort to bring the expo to the American Heartlands is made up of political, civic, and business leaders that see the value of assembling the world to have a meaningful conversation about the well-being of Earth through the “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” themed exposition.
My recent trip to Egypt and Jordan felt like a journey back in time! I had the opportunity to visit so many historic sites that were truly incredible to witness firsthand. Immersing myself in the local culture and history was the best part of my trip. I visited Tahrir Square, or "Martyr Square,” in downtown Cairo where most political demonstrations have been held since the early 20th century. Both the 2011 Egyptian revolution and the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak happened there.
Although Pfizer became more of a household name in 2020 for its manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, it has been a generator of scientific breakthroughs through the cooperation of its talented workforce since its founding in 1849. Pfizer’s vision is to change patients’ lives by fostering innovation that makes the world a healthier place – and Clayco was able to aid in its efforts by developing one of its campuses in Boulder, Colorado. The integrated delivery project renovated two buildings on Pfizer’s 4.5-acre site with advanced facilities like specialized laboratories and equipment, a site focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule cancer treatment, upgraded workstations, collaboration spaces, and more.
There's something really special and different about Mickalene Thomas’s art. An African-American contemporary artist and filmmaker from New Jersey, she studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2000, and later received her Master of Fine Arts from the Yale University School of Art in 2002. Mickalene’s work encompasses a range of mediums, including painting, photography, and video installations. She explores issues of identity, representation, and gender, and draws on popular culture and art history. She is best known for her large-scale paintings that feature complex, multi-layered compositions and include bold patterns, bright colors, and glitter.
The student community in Eugene, Oregon is receiving an incredible upgrade – thanks to Clayco’s partner company Lamar Johnson Collaborative! LJC is helping to create IDENTITY Eugene, a facility that offers college students a top-quality living experience by providing close proximity campus housing that is designed with balancing personal and academic growth in mind. The 12-story student apartment building features an abstract cloud formation that wraps around the entire facade and draws on the natural elements of the building’s context.
To the average person, a Clayco crane may only seem like just that – a crane. But to me, they symbolize so much more. Our cranes represent the hard work, determination, energy, and bold commitment to progress that goes into every project we work on. Plus, they’re cool to see in action! I love seeing all of Clayco’s cranes on our building sites nationwide. They are a very tall and important reminder of the progress we have made in the construction industry and the communities where we operate. Our cranes are an example of the standards we set for fresh and innovative ways to do business.
This is great storytelling about winning WWII, American ingenuity, innovation, and how many of the great engineering and construction firms grew into the powerhouses they still are today. I wish this book would have been around when I started Clayco. “Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II” is written by author and history connoisseur (with a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins and five other historical works to his credit) Arthur Herman. This book is insightful in covering the history of the United States’ industrial mobilization for World War II.
I recently wrote an op-ed article featured in Engineering News-Record to discuss a topic I am very passionate about – moving away from the falsely-idolized “work from home” era and migrating back to the tried-and-true ways of working in traditional offices. This is a societal issue that other CEOs and industry leaders need to take a more active role in solving. The ways we interact and work as people will ultimately shape the future of our businesses and communities. Transitioning from standard places of employment to home offices decreases productivity and further isolates individuals struggling mentally and physically or those who face difficulty achieving equitable representation.
The Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s 107,650-square-foot football facility adjoining the south end of the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. It features expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, player development areas, and other spaces for recruiting and prospect hosting. The Center also houses the Levenick Auditorium, a nutrition center, fueling stations, a grand lobby displaying Illinois’ football history, and a players' lounge complete with a game room and barber shop.
My inspiration of the month is the really impressive Lauren Underwood. The Illinois Democrat Representative is a registered nurse from Chicago who set out to make a difference in the healthcare system. She’s also the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent her community in Congress. “If you focus on the work, you find fulfillment,” she once said. Underwood was born in Naperville, Illinois. Even as a kid, she believed in public service. She was a Girl Scout, a volunteer for community service groups, and always working to help others. As a junior at Neuqua Valley, her first experience with politics was serving on the Naperville Fair Housing Advisory Commission, where she was exposed to injustice and discrimination. Her task was to report these to the Naperville City Council. That was when she began to build her leadership skills.
Our team at Clayco is working to build meaningful change from the ground up in everything we do across our offices, job sites, and beyond. Although diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental values we hold to the highest priority every day, it’s important to celebrate the special days of commemoration that bring us closer – like March, which is Women’s History Month, including International Women’s Day! Women’s History Month encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. The theme today, March 8th, for International Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlighting the need for equity-based changes in the digital age to help empower all women and girls. Today and every day, the women in our workforce and communities help us build a better world and future. Clayco is working to proactively transform our industry and community with innovative programs and initiatives, one of which is our Clayco Network of Women (NOW).
I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of one of the great architects and thinkers of our time, the renowned architect Rafael Viñoly. Rafael was an Uruguayan-born architect based in New York. He was born Montevideo, Uruguay in 1944, and his passion for architecture later led him to study at the University of Buenos Aires. He then continued his journey to the United States in 1978, and decided to make New York City his permanent home in 1979.
Clayco was recently the builder on a project for USAA Real Estate. Our team constructed a 160,000-square-foot speculative warehouse for the company in Dallas, Texas. USAA Real Estate has been mission-driven for the past 40 years. They are Energy Star’s most-awarded real estate firm, and have strong commitments to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and governance.
Every year on February 28th, individuals and institutions worldwide amplify their efforts to raise awareness for Rare Disease Day. 400 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, and far more are impacted daily by them. By some estimates, rare disease affects 3.5% – 5.9% of the population, and many of those affected are lacking the support that they need. My late wife Ellen passed away after a rare disease diagnosis in 2010. Since then, I’ve done what I can to invoke sustainable change to better the lives of patients, families, and carers. The Clayco Foundation is committed to supporting meaningful research to find treatments and a cure for Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy (RVCL), a rare genetic disease, year-round.
A person whose work I truly admire is Derrick Adams, a multidisciplinary New York-based artist. His installations include painting, collage, sculpture, performance, video, and sound. Through his art, he looks at how popular culture influences people’s views of themselves. Derrick has an MFA from Columbia University and a BFA from Pratt Institute. He is also an alumnus of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Space Program.
Bold, innovative designs often challenge traditional architectural conventions. Daniel Libeskind, known for his distinctive, avant-garde projects, is an architect, artist, and friend whose provocative work I have admired for many years. Daniel was born in Poland in 1946 to parents who were Holocaust survivors. The family moved to Israel in 1957 and then to New York in 1959 on an immigrant boat. His father worked at a print shop in Lower Manhattan, from where Daniel watched the construction of the World Trade Center in the late 1960s.
The concept of working from home has been a hotly debated topic over the past few years, and some institutions have (falsely) claimed that remote work is the new normal. As someone with a long history of workplace strategy expertise and success, I can say without a doubt that moving from traditional places of employment to home offices – that are likely bedrooms, grocery stores, and wherever people claim to be while on the clock – is a knock to productivity and a death sentence to company culture. I reject the idea that the movement toward remote work is necessary or permanent, and recent data supports this. Kastle Systems reported that office usage in 10 major metro areas neared 50% of 2020’s pre-pandemic attendance, demonstrating that workers and CEOs alike are ready to return to the office. Although in-office attendance is still lower than before the COVID-19 outbreak, the sharp increase in numbers and occupancy signifies that people are migrating back to the time-proven methods that work best for our businesses.
I had a great conversation with Scott Arias, President of ACE Consulting Company, LLC, on the CONEXEC podcast which offers a global leadership platform for construction executives. The series has interviews with executives worldwide on a variety of topics, from current events in the construction industry to overcoming challenges, reaching success, and more. I talked about growing up in Bridgerton, Missouri, and how my fascination with the art and strategy of construction led me – a college dropout – to found Clayco. The journey to becoming all that it is now has been a long and winding road, filled with different phases, focuses, and the ultimate understanding that what happens within the walls we build will always be far more important than the bricks and mortar.
Clayco, the design team of Mackey Mitchell Architects and Lamar Johnson Collaborative have had the chance to work on many great projects with the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). It’s been a great opportunity to work together to promote student life by increasing student capacity, adding amenities, and creating a dense urban campus – like with the SCAD Forty Four development! The 384,000-square-foot development will provide 1,000 new beds to meet the demand on campus for SCAD Atlanta’s growing student population. SCAD Forty Four is a two-tower mixed-use project that offers dining and fitness amenities, academic space, a parking garage, a campus store, a performance theater, and more.
Black History Month is a powerful reminder of Black Americans’ critical contributions to creating America as we know it – and the unjust, widespread adversity they still face despite it. Understanding and celebrating Black history is critical to the unification and healing that our country so deeply needs. It’s essential to take time this month to recognize that Black history and culture are the same as all of America’s and uplift the voices of members of the Black community to share their stories and truths.
As someone heavily drawn to the “Art & Science of Building,” the work done for Dominion Energy is a remarkable structure to highlight. Like Clayco, Pickard Chilton connects a love for art to the spaces we design and develop – which is one of the reasons why 600 Canal Place was recently awarded a 2022 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Developed by Clayco and Hourigan Construction as a design-build project, Dominion Energy’s new 20-story office tower at 600 Canal Place in downtown Richmond, Virginia, was designed by Pickard Chilton, Kendall Heaton Associates, and OJB Landscape Architecture. The design team created a next-generation workplace that fosters collaboration and sustainability that will help Dominion Energy recruit and retain top talent.
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