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Black History Month

600 Canal Place Earns 2022 American Architecture Award

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.

February 8, 2023

2023
Inspiration
Art
Architecture
Innovation
Mariane Ibrahim
Paul R. Williams

Inaugural Pernod Ricard Distillery

Our teams at Clayco and Lamar Johnson Collaborative have something to toast about! We are working as the design-build crew for the first Pernod Ricard green field distillery in the United States. We will develop its 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral distillery and aging warehouses in Marion County, Kentucky. The 265-acre project is part of Pernod Ricard's growing Jefferson's Bourbon brand and will produce over 7.5 million proof gallons of bourbon annually. To keep community ties close, Jefferson will partner with local farmers and suppliers to source ingredients and casks whenever possible. The structure will also include a world-class visitor center to welcome bourbon enthusiasts on the historic Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

January 30, 2023

2023
Business
Clayco
Dominion Energy’s Thomas F. Farrell Building

Dominion Energy’s Thomas F. Farrell Building

Clayco and Hourigan Construction collaborated to provide design-build services for Dominion Energy’s new office tower in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Like Clayco, Hourigan aims to enhance communities through its integrated services and we are continuing this vision with this transformative 20-story project. The 1 million-square-foot development spans a full city block and includes a high-performance workplace for over 1,000 employees, street-level retail, employee amenities, and parking. To maintain environmental goals, the building is certified LEED Gold and implements various sustainability strategies like energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, an exterior landscaped terrace that captures and utilizes rainwater, and more. This is especially significant for Dominion Energy as the company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.

January 27, 2023

2023
Business
Clayco

Myrlande Constant’s Paintings with Beads

Myrlande Constant is a Haitian textile artist born in 1968 specializing in Vodou-themed flags. Constant was born in Port-au-Prince, where she learned the art of beading while working with her mother in a wedding dress factory. After quitting that job because her employers wouldn’t pay her, she took a severance pay of knowledge and bags filled with beads – and went on to become one of the most celebrated artists for making Drapo Vodou. Constant started making Vodou flags in the 1990s in an entirely male environment and ultimately became the first woman in Haiti to apply the tambour technique in her work. She radically shifted her nation’s traditional religious art by using glass beads instead of sequins. Constant also prefers constructing large-scale tableaus, describing her work as "painting with beads."

January 25, 2023

2023
Impact
Inspiration
Clark Art Collection
Art

Vivid Seats Chicago HQ Designed by LJC

Vivid Seats has a new headquarters in Chicago! The 40,600-square-foot corporate HQ for the leading online ticket marketplace was designed by Clayco’s partner company Lamar Johnson Collaborative. The facility enables a hybrid work model with collaborative workspaces and an area for live events, a gym, coffee shop, bar, rooftop, and a food court in the historic Marshall Field Building downtown. All excellent reasons for people to get back to the office! Like how our work in design and building connects people through the development of spaces, Vivid Seats operates on the belief that “Life Happens Live” and unites people through one of the widest selections of events and tickets in North America. This facility helped the company construct a new identity, celebrate the brand, and prove to its team that there is no replacement for the creativity, cooperation, and innovation that comes from working together in person.

January 19, 2023

2023
Business
Clayco

Delmar DivINe Bridges Community Gaps

Throughout history, art has always played key roles as an escape, challenge, or medium to allow people to process their emotions and creatively navigate change. The power of art and its ability to foster human connection is evident in every community, including my hometown of St. Louis. Delmar DivINe serves as a centerpiece for advancement and allows St. Louis to turn the tide of history and reimagine life for its residents and the entire country. It is a once-in-a-generation project that aims to help bridge the racial divide by providing a place where people from all walks of life can gather, connect, and make lasting memories. The building is a catalyst for change and houses nonprofit organizations, sponsors innovative programs, and provides affordable housing for young professionals and social leaders.

January 18, 2023

2023
Impact
Community
Clayco

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr

The third Monday every January commemorates the life and work of the American civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. Although workers across our nation generally have the day off, the best way to honor Dr. King’s legacy is to consider the holiday a “day on” with community involvement instead. Clayco’s Black Resource Group (BRG) and marketing team created this flyer to showcase events that people can attend virtually or in person in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including a day of reflection and service, volunteering, community celebrations, and more. BRG’s mission is to help provide a path toward equal opportunity and ensure that Black employees feel safe and welcome in their workspace. I strongly encourage you to attend any of the events listed to join us in creating more inclusive and equitable communities.

January 16, 2023

2023
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays, Capitol Peak

National Design/Build Services

National Design Build Services (NDBS) was founded in 2007 in my home state of Missouri and has since become a leader in the HVAC Mechanical Services industry. Clayco highly values companies that share our values of community commitment and best-in-class products and deliveries – which is why NBDS has served as a subcontractor on more than 40 of our projects! NDBS has worked with us on SCAD developments, Blue Engine Plant Expansion, Gestamp Production Facility, Jet Aviation, Volkswagen, and, most recently, the McCormick Distribution Center in Baltimore. The company focuses on energy efficiency and develops the best possible solutions for each project, which is one of the reasons our Clayco team collaborates so well with theirs as we work to transform the environments around us. NBDS designs are environmentally conscious and also limit the cost impact to building owners for the life-cycle of the facility.

January 13, 2023

2023
Business
Partnership

SK Battery America

Clayco is delivering excellence on SK Battery America’s first electric vehicle battery factory in America! The 2.4 million-square-foot facility in Commerce, Georgia, represents one of the largest single investments in a job-creating initiative in the state’s history, and the largest in over a decade. The SK Battery America site will employ over 2,000 people by 2025, with a production capacity reaching 9.8 GWh by 2022 – an incredible benefit to the state economy and surrounding community. SK is one of the biggest global producers of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and fully-electric automobiles and vehicle manufacturers, including Volkswagen in Chattanooga. This new development will accommodate the increasing demand for “greener” vehicle solutions by producing an effective supply chain of elements needed for electric cars that can combat climate change for individuals and businesses alike.

January 5, 2023

2023
Business
Clayco
RVCL

2022 Reading List

I always enjoy using my downtime or travel time to immerse myself in a good book. It’s important for me to stay current with ongoing affairs, whether that’s related to politics, business, or interesting historical stories. Take a look at my 2022 reading list here:

December 21, 2022

2022
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club
Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West, The Splendid and the Vile, Washington: A Life, Islands of the Damned, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future, The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir, Raising the Bar: The Life and Work of Gerald D. Hines, Red Notice, How the World Really Works, Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn, Second Suns: Two Doctors and Their Amazing Quest to Restore Sight and Save Lives
Art World

Artists Find Home in Chicago’s Innovative Art World

Some of my great friends and favorite artists are featured in an article by Harper’s Bazaar about Chicago’s transformative art scene. Chicago is widely known as a “laboratory for architectural innovation and experimentation” for its architecture and art. Living in the city, it’s clear that its unparalleled designs translate to various unique projects, artwork, and influences. Harper’s Bazaar takes us into the creative minds of Chicago’s artists, gallerists, curators, community builders, and beyond. The feature analyzes how Chicago became an art-world capital without falling victim to cliches. Many of the incredible people mentioned are my personal friends or colleagues from whom I have procured artwork for the Clark Collection. Working in construction, I highly value the “Art and Science of Building,” and our team collaborates with local artists to incorporate community values in every development and form deeper connections between residents and the spaces we create for them to enjoy.

December 16, 2022

2022
Inspiration
Art

Grand Opening of Delmar DivINe

Great things are happening in my hometown of St. Louis! Clayco hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of Delmar DivINe. The 310,000-square-foot building is now home to 150 apartments, space for 33 nonprofit tenants, and retail storefronts along Delmar Boulevard. The development is devoted to social change and cultural legacy and aims to strengthen the nonprofit sector in the St. Louis region among health, education, and human service organizations. The “IN” in Delmar DivINe stands for INvestment, INnovation, and INclusion which are top priorities for our team at Clayco and the incredible organizations that use this transformative space. I believe in St. Louis and care deeply about it reaching its full potential, and not just for those who already have privilege and opportunity. St. Louis is a city that can enable everyone to prosper, and projects like this help turn this vision into a reality.

December 15, 2022

2022
Impact
Community
Clayco

December Architect of the Month: Krueck Sexton Partners

The Architecture and Planning firm, Krueck Sexton Partners, is the featured December architect of the month on Bob Clark Beyond, and for a good reason. Since founding the company, Ron Krueck and Mark Sexton have made it their mission to contribute to Chicago’s architectural legacy. They make their mark on the city through transformative structures and by inspiring the next generation of young architects to learn and contribute to innovative discoveries. The company’s first project in 1981, A Steel and Glass House, was the first sign of how it operates with a different people-centric mindset. The firm works to uncover a project's potential by creating value and impact for the client and beyond.

December 14, 2022

2022
Inspiration
Architecture

St. Charles Riverpointe

If there is one strength that our team at Clayco has, it is knowing how to transform and optimize spaces for communities. Clayco and CRG have started construction on the first phases of Riverpointe, a $350 million development in St. Charles, Missouri that has been more than a decade in the making. The project aims to reverse 200 years of overlooking the incredible potential the local riverfront has. Over the next five years, our teams will restore 120 acres along the Missouri River to build on the success of the neighboring 27-acre mixed-use development. With a 30-acre riverside lake, the new waterfront will stretch between the Ameristar Casino and the Family Arena and be lined with office buildings, 500 apartments, 150 hotel units, 100,000 square feet of riverfront restaurants and retail, and more.

December 7, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco
Opera Theatre St. Louis

Minnesota’s bid for the 2027 Expo

The World’s Fairs have an incredible history and have given us some of the world’s most remarkable inventions, including the telephone, live television, and clean energy cars. The first modern World’s Expo was Britain’s Great Exhibition in London in 1851. Remembered as the Crystal Palace Exhibition for Joseph Paxton’s magnificent iron and glass structure, it was an enormous success. Since then, World’s Fairs have focused on innovation, technology, and cultural exchange, with themes offering a glimpse into utopian futures. The World’s Expos gave rise to a number of widely-recognized global landmarks like Seattle’s Space Needle, the Biosphere in Montreal, and of course, Paris’s Eiffel Tower. Constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, the wrought iron tower – built from 18,000 pieces of metal and named after engineer Gustave Eiffel – was a technological masterpiece of construction. It has since come to symbolize France and is one of the most iconic structures in the world.

November 28, 2022

2022
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

AppHarvest Expands Across Kentucky

The Appalachian sustainable food company, AppHarvest, opened its two latest indoor agriculture facilities in Kentucky! AppHarvest develops and operates some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms. Clayco's Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) team is focused on helping solve the company’s challenges to “fight the food fight for a resilient food system.” AppHarvest has locations throughout Kentucky in Berea, Richmond, and Somerset, aiming to operate 12 high-tech indoor farms by the end of 2025. At the Berea 15-acre leafy green farm, Richmond 60-acre CEA farm, and 30-acre Somerset CEA farm, Clayco has acted as lead program manager to greenhouses, headhouses, utility plants, and site work while providing design, engineering, and construction services for the office portion of the projects.

November 21, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco
Illumination 2022

Whirlwind Trip to Visit Colleagues in Asia

It has been an incredible experience visiting Asia over the past two weeks. My trip began with a visit to South Korea, where I spent some time in beautiful Seoul. I then headed to Busan to check out the bid site for the 2030 World Expo! I took a bullet train there to see where the exposition would be, and it would make for a perfect location. The city has 3.5 million residents and is located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula with beaches, mountains, rivers, seas, and hot springs. Sin Chae-Hyun, Ambassador for International Relations, World Expo 2030, led a great presentation of the site for the Korean bid. I enjoyed my time traveling around the country and immersing myself in the local culture. I had the chance to visit Samsung and the SK Ecoengineering Team and have some great conversations with colleagues about the innovative practices in South Korean business models.

October 28, 2022

2022
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays
Inclusion Week
Hispanic Heritage

LJC Creates First Bank HQ

Lamar Johnson Collaborative is collaborating with First Bank to build its 85,000-square-foot innovative headquarters in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The facility reimagines the workplace and is being constructed for the well-being and forward-thinking future of the company’s workforce and clients. LJC’s team is designing the building to reflect the workplace changes that followed the pandemic and encourage employees to socialize, host meetings, and collaborate on projects. The structure will feature a courtyard-style office that offers flexibility between landscapes and provides natural light for each desk, with quality space and great views for each team member. First Bank’s goal is to develop a building that will last for generations and is a landmark in Creve Coeur and beyond.

October 11, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco

CRG Grows Acquisitions and Development Team

CRG (Clayco Real Estate) hired the leadership team that helped build Duke Realty’s industrial portfolio across America. CRG added the new team members after the firm was acquired by Prologis, the world’s largest industrial landlord, for $23 billion. CRG is already filled with strategic and ambitious individuals, which is how they quickly identified the value in this acquisition and chose a top-tier team that shares the same values. Welcome to the CRG team – Mark Crawford, Joe Hawkins, and Isaac Lau! Crawford joins CRG as chief investment officer, Hawkins will serve as a senior vice president of portfolio management, and Lau’s new role will be vice president of acquisitions in the western region. This collaboration aims to build on CRG’s success in developing over $1 billion of new industrial projects annually.

October 7, 2022

2022
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Kids Dig Sparks Interest in World of Building

Clayco hosted our first-ever Kids Dig in Chicago! This incredible event offered the patients of Lurie Children's Hospital and their families the opportunity to explore construction in a fun and interactive way! Over 100 kids joined throughout the day at one of Clayco’s active job sites, 170 N. Green St. in Fulton Market, and had the chance to work with rollers, bulldozers, excavators, and telehandlers in a giant sandbox – all with supervised assistance of course (because safety is Clayco’s #1 priority). Aside from being able to sit on and operate the machinery, the children were also able to learn more about construction and what is done each day on a job site. This unique fundraiser promotes wellness for the children while sparking their imagination and interest in the world of building.

October 4, 2022

2022
Impact
Community

Clayco partners with Chewy

Our latest project for Chewy has recently opened in Reno, Nevada! Clayco served as the design-builder for several projects for Chewy.com in different regions throughout the United States. The warehouses and distribution centers range from 690,000 square feet to 800,000+ square feet and we have completed four developments in total. In addition to the recently finished facility in Reno, Nevada, our other projects are located in Dayton, Ohio, Goodyear, Arizona, and Archbald, Pennsylvania. Chewy assists customers with all of their online pet food and product needs. Its newest 795,000-square-foot e-commerce fulfillment center in Nevada will improve the company’s ability to effectively help its clients throughout the West and Pacific Northwest.

September 27, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco

Supporting UChicago Obama Foundation Scholars

The Clayco family is humbled to continue our support to The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars program with $200,000 on behalf of The Clayco Foundation. Our donation began in 2021 and will benefit the amazing scholars participating in the program until 2024. The program brings together an interdisciplinary group of students and empowers them with the knowledge, skills, networks, and perspectives they need to tackle obstacles and challenges in their communities. Clayco always strives to provide equal opportunity to people from all walks of life. Our foundation is happy to assist this incredible joint initiative of the Obama Foundation and three schools at the University of Chicago – the Booth School of Business, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and the Harris School of Public Policy. The UChicago Obama Scholars will supplement their studies with innovative co-curricular programming, engaging with partners on Chicago’s South Side, and using their experiences to advance social change.

September 7, 2022

2022
Impact
Education
Community

Joining The Junto Group

Telosa is a new model city that has been inspired by entrepreneur and investor Marc Lore’s vision of creating a higher quality of life, greater opportunity, and a better society for its citizens. It’s a project that I’m really excited about, and that’s why I’m humbled to announce that I am part of The Junto Group, which is made up of urban planners, designers, historians, community engagement experts, economists, financial managers, scientists, and engineers from different backgrounds. I am honored to be part of a team of five advisors on this groundbreaking project, including Bjarke Ingels, founder of Bjarke Ingels Group, one of the world’s most highly regarded architecture firms; Netta Jenkins, a leading voice on diversity, equity, and inclusion and an acclaimed author; Preet Bharara, a lawyer, author, podcaster and former US attorney; and Peter Diamandis, a futurist, author, entrepreneur and executive founder of Singularity University.

September 6, 2022

2022
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

The Dean

Clayco continues to develop innovative projects for students across America, including The Dean student housing facility in Reno, Nevada! This 12-story and 426,464 square-foot high-rise building will feature 773 beds, incredible amenities, and even a rooftop podium pool across the street from the fast-growing University of Nevada. The property will be fully furnished and have catered spaces for students to study, play, and live – all with a beautiful view of the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountain range. The CRG Residential team scouted this project at the end of September 2020 and secured the opportunity within just 90 days of the first phone call. This is a testament to the hard work and diligence of our Clayco and CRG teams and the great subcontractors and collaborators who help make our developments top tier.

August 31, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco

Supporting Women in Construction and Beyond

At Clayco, our culture is focused on going beyond our walls to invest in the individuals on our team and the communities we impact. The White House announced Women’s Equality Day on August 26th, which was the perfect time to recognize the incredible women that make up our societies and deserve equity, respect, and inclusion. To commemorate this day, I had the amazing opportunity to discuss topics that focused on women and opportunities at Clayco with Clayco NOW (Network of Women) in a Moderated Panel Discussion with over 320 people. There were a lot of great takeaways from the panel, such as the importance of staying committed to goals and achieving them through effective plans. Netta Jenkins, a Global Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, was also a featured guest speaker and shared her experience and knowledge on the importance of DEI initiatives and innovation. Our panel speakers also spoke about the importance of having a voice, asking for what you want, and supporting others along the way.

August 26, 2022

2022
Impact
Business
Community
Leadership
Mentorship

Delmar DivINe Reaches New Milestone

I am proud to announce that Clayco has reached a significant milestone on our Delmar Divine project in my hometown of St. Louis. We have been converting the Old 1904 St. Luke’s Hospital Campus into a mixed-use building with 150 apartments, 30 nonprofit tenants, and retail businesses. Our inspection by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was completed last week and the owner started moving in their first phase of residents over the weekend! This project is the epicenter for innovating an entire community that has long been neglected. Even with several obstacles, Clayco managed the project for 563 days without a recordable injury on the commercial project and 215 days on the residential project — that is pretty amazing! Our top priority as a company is to make sure that our team is operating safely, which is why every day is safety day at Clayco and our year-round commitment to the Safe + Sound Campaign is an important recognition of our values and testament to that. We continuously work to have a safety and health program in place with management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards.

August 17, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco

A Riveting Read – “Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn”

I recently read the fantastic book “Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn,” by two Wall Street Journal reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain. It was a riveting read about the success and alleged crimes of business executive Carlos Ghosn who made his career at Michelin in Brazil, Renault in France, and Nissan in Japan. You will have a hard time putting this book about the CEO-turned-fugitive down – it’s entertaining, fun, and to the point! Ghosn had many global ties and a unique experience as he was born in the Amazon, raised in Beirut, and educated in Paris. He gained prominence through executive positions in multinational companies, earning nicknames like the Le Cost Killer for his business savvy skills and Mr. 7-Eleven for his tireless dedication to his work. People admired Ghosn and believed him to be the leading innovator of his generation. However, once the fame and glory went to his head, he became greedier and began down the path to disgrace.

August 15, 2022

2022
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club

ABCO Electrical Construction & Design, LLC

It was great to collaborate with ABCO Electrical Construction & Design LLC as a subcontractor for Clayco. The company has serviced the Chicagoland area for more than 15 years and provides full-service electrical contracting from design and engineering to the complete installation of electrical systems. They specialize in various residential, commercial, and industrial projects and partnered with Clayco on our Central Steel & Wire and The Cubes at Country Club Hills projects. Central Steel & Wire is an 894,300-square-foot industrial warehouse and distribution center in University Park, Illinois. It includes 38,000 square feet of total office space and the warehouse consists of 100 ft x 30 ft internal column bases and twenty 20-ton bridge cranes. Clayco worked as the design-builder for the center and has constructed over a half-dozen facilities in the University Park area overall.

August 11, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco

Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West

I recently read Christopher Knowlton’s book “Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West” and it gave great insight into the open range cattle era and how it changed America forever. The US has consistently proven that it can withstand repeated boom-and-bust eras within our civilization. From the Great Depression to the housing bubble of the early 2000s, to an unprecedented global pandemic and everything in between, perseverance and adaptation are key parts of who we are as a nation. After the Civil War ended, the cattle age brought about the greatest boom-and-bust cycle until the Great Depression, the invention of the assembly line, and the beginning of the conservation movement. Knowlton gives a new view of the Old West and how its movements and cowboys achieved incredible goals, rose, fell, and left a lasting impact on society.

July 29, 2022

2022
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club

Xalt Energy (Dow Kokam) Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Facility

I am always excited to see how Clayco’s use of transformational design-build technology helps our construction projects come together so efficiently. Our construction innovation paired with technology and automotive innovation produced a 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art battery manufacturing facility for XALT Energy (Dow Kokam). This futuristic plant produces affordable lithium-ion batteries and consistent energy solutions for customers in the expanding electric vehicle market. The single-story manufacturing plant includes 45-foot clear heights and clean-dry rooms for manufacturing processes as well as 600 million additional watt-hours and incorporated battery pack assembly equipment and production. It was also built with insulated tilt-up concrete wall systems and features glass exterior design elements.

July 28, 2022

2022
Business
Clayco
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