MBPA will present 10 Elite awards at the event in the following categories: communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multiculturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, recruitment and selection, small business, and work-life balance.

Walbridge received an Elite award in the communication category from MBPA in 2009 and one for employee education and development in 2003.

Employees can only use portable communication devices in designated “safe areas”, including trailers, break or lunch areas, and other areas on site where no construction work is taking place and no hazards are present.

“We know how easy it is to initiate or take a phone call and lose your focus,” said Stephen Clabaugh, Vice President of Safety, Health & Environment at Walbridge.  “It’s a bad idea to talk on the phone or text while you’re walking around at a construction site.  You not only put yourself in danger, but you can endanger others.  We think this will help reduce distractions and minimize the risk of injury.”
Walbridge is currently working on projects in 22 states and in Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.  The company is instituting the new policy as part of its ongoing, industry leading safety program.

Walbridge has been recognized on a national basis for the quality and effectiveness of its safety efforts.  On March 19, the company was awarded first place in the Associated General Contractors of America’s 2009 Construction Safety and Excellence Awards competition.  Walbridge’s safety performance was ranked best in the nation in the Building Division (1 million – 4 million hours worked category.)
 

The first award recognized the efforts of Walbridge and architect Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. on the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, an 11-story, 760,000-square-foot building in Detroit that houses multiple education, non-profit and business organizations.  The design, an integral part of a renovation of the Argonaut Building, was noted for its “modern interpretation of this historic building.”   Physical improvements also reduced energy costs by more than 20 percent.

The second award was given for Walbridge’s work with joint venture partner Yates Construction on the new National Alabama Corporation Railcar Manufacturing Facility in Cherokee, Alabama.  The 2.1 million-square-foot facility is the largest railcar manufacturing plant in North America and combines “function, form and sustainable design with the capability of producing up to 12,000 cars annually,” according to the ESD.  Construction materials included up to 20 percent of recycled materials and low-emitting materials for adhesives, paints and sealants.  It is the world’s largest manufacturing facility registered under the LEED® Green Building Rating System.  Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. was the architect on the project.

The ESD Outstanding Achievement Awards for Building Design & Construction are among the premier recognitions accorded to members of the construction industry and their projects.  The awards, according to the ESD, “are unique in that they honor the three primary members of the building team: owners, designers and constructors who demonstrate outstanding team achievement and innovative use of technology in their projects.”  This year marks the 36th year for the ESD awards program.
 

The company is being recognized by the ASCC for safety program achievements in 2009.  They include reducing the rate of lost workday cases, for achieving zero lost workday cases due to injury and for achieving an incident rate below the national average for contractors.  For the Bennett Award, entrants are judged on three years of safety performance indicators, values and trends. 

“More and more owners and specifiers are looking carefully at their contractors, and the general perception is that a firm that is actively taking steps to control safety in their operations is also better managed in other areas,” the ASCC stated.

The winner of the W. Burr Bennett Award for Safety Excellence will be announced at the ASCC’s Annual Conference in Salt Lake City on September 16.

Walbridge maintains an industry leading safety program and has received numerous industry awards, including the 2009 Construction Safety and Excellence Award in the Building Division (1 million – 4 million hours category) from by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The ASCC is comprised of concrete contractors and others who provide services and goods to the industry.  Members include contracting firms, manufacturers, suppliers, architects, specifiers and distributors. There are more than 550 ASCC member companies in the U.S. and abroad.
 

The new facility will house several production bays and will be sized to handle multiple submarine modules.  Construction of the SMOF is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

“We’re pleased to be selected to manage construction of this significant project,” said Steve Helms, P.E., general manager of Walbridge Southeast.  “Our focus on safety and use of innovative technology to plan and manage construction helps us deliver a high degree of value in these types of assignments.”

Becky Stewart, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s vice president of submarine programs, said, “We are making substantial capital investments in our shipyard to support the increase in production to two Virginia-class submarines per year, the continued schedule acceleration and our cost reduction goals.  These investments include the new Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility, which will be a great addition to our other submarine construction facilities.”

This is the first construction project that Walbridge will manage for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, which is one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines.  In Newport News, the company builds, overhauls and repairs nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines.
 

For more information>

The Master Entrepreneur of the Year award, according to Ernst & Young, is presented in recognition of “a solid record of achievement, maturing management skills and a compelling vision that has led to success in more than one business, in multiple aspects of business and community life or over a lifetime of achievement.” 

Entrepreneurs nationally are nominated and evaluated by local business, academic and community leaders.  All regional honorees are invited to Ernst & Young’s national Entrepreneur of the Year gala, hosted by NBC’s Jay Leno, on Nov. 13 in Palm Springs, Calif. 

“It’s an honor to receive this award and I’m proud to accept it on behalf of our entire Walbridge team,” Rakolta said.  “Our organization takes great pride in being innovative, delivering superior results for Walbridge customers, and making positive contributions to our communities.”

The Entrepreneur of the Year program honors entrepreneurs regionally in June, leading up to the national awards in November.  The overall national U.S. winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year title in June 2011.

For more information>
 

According to the ESD, the Rackham Award is presented in recognition of an individual’s “outstanding humanitarian achievements as exemplified by meritorious technical accomplishments for the benefit of mankind or by recognition on either a local, national or international level for extraordinary achievements in civic, business, public-spirited or humanitarian endeavors.”

In addition to serving as Walbridge chairman and CEO since 1993, Rakolta served from 2003 through 2009 as chairman of New Detroit, a coalition of civil rights and advocacy groups, and civic and business leaders focused on creating positive change in the community; he continues to serve on its board of directors.  He is also a member of the board of directors of the Detroit Police Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Detroit Downtown Partnership and Business Leaders for Michigan (formerly Detroit Renaissance.)

Walbridge provided general contracting services for construction of the airport’s 125,000-square-foot, seven-gate terminal with atrium, snack bar and retail shops, 148-foot air traffic control tower, a 16,000-square-foot public safety building, air cargo and maintenance facilities, and a 3,000-square-foot utility building.  The complex also features a taxi shelter and rental car area. 

The first passengers to depart from the new airport flew to Orlando on a Southwest Airlines flight.  Southwest and Delta Air Lines will offer service from the new airport, which improves domestic and international access to northwest Florida.

“We take great pride and satisfaction in this major undertaking and are especially pleased that more than sixty-one percent of our subcontractors and suppliers came from the area of northwest Florida that will be serviced by the airport,” said David Hanson, senior vice president and general manager for Walbridge’s Florida group. 

The airport terminal was designed to be the first certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver airport terminal in the nation.  The terminal features a state-of-the-art storm-water management system and extensive use of sustainable materials.  Landscaping at the site does not require supplemental irrigation.

Walbridge was selected for the project by the Panama City-Bay County Airport Authority and the firm worked with architect HNTB and engineer Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jerrigan.  Through value engineering, the construction team lowered the airport’s construction cost by $9.8 million below the original low bid to $58.8 million.

Previous Walbridge airport projects include general contracting and construction management of new terminals, maintenance facilities, hotels, parking and other facilities at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Mexico City International Airport, San Antonio International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Learn more about this project >

David Hanson, Walbridge senior vice president and general manager of its Florida group, co-authored the cover article of the Summer 2010 issue of Airport Consulting, a publication of the Airport Consultants Council.  Read the full article at acconline.org >

The National Alabama Corporation Manufacturing Facility project team took home a Michigan Steel award in recognition of design excellence through innovative use of steel products. Walbridge provided construction management services for the 2.2 million square-foot facility designed by Albert Kahn Associates. 

The DTE Energy Campus Enhancement project earned an Honor Award in the building category. Working with Neumann/Smith Architects, Walbridge provided construction management services for the renovation of the 80,000 square-foot corporate campus, including the enclosure of an exterior plaza, a new pedestrian bridge, renovation of the main lobby and extensive site improvements.

The jury for awards is composed of at least three prominent architects from outside of Michigan.  Projects were judged in competition with other entries and on the basis of the solution to the problems presented.

Each year, AIA Michigan members sponsor the Honor Awards Program to bring public attention to examples of good design and to recognize the people who make significant contributions to the built environment.

Construction Manager Walbridge worked in conjunction with the College for Creative Studies, Larson Reality Group, Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. and SDG Associates to renovate the over 80-year-old Argonaut Building. The new 760,000 square-foot A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design is an integrated learning center for CCS undergraduate and graduate design programs, an art-centric school for middle and high school students and provides additional tenant space.

“Preserving Michigan’s historic buildings enhances the uniqueness of our communities and stimulates economic activity,” Granholm said.  “This year’s awards demonstrate that Michigan history can be preserved when individuals and organizations unite to do so.”

The State Historic Preservation Office began the award program in 2003 to recognize outstanding historic preservation achievements reflecting a commitment to the preservation of Michigan’s unique character and the many cultural resources that document the state’s past. 
 

Built in 1928, the Albert Kahn-designed Argonaut Building was an automotive research laboratory, later becoming General Motors Corporation’s design center. The 11-story Art Deco building appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

Learn more about this project >

The AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards program is the industry’s elite safety excellence awards program for companies of all sizes and occupational divisions.  CSEA recognizes companies who have developed, implemented and maintained premier safety and loss prevention programs.   This is Walbridge’s second nomination in four years.

"There's no better measure of a company's commitment to quality than the strength of their safety program," said Doug Pruitt, the association's past president who announced this year's winners. “While completing magnificent projects is important, protecting hard working employees is essential in this industry."

Safety is Walbridge’s number one core value.  The Walbridge safety program’s success relies on the company’s Safety FIRST mentality.   The Safety FIRST system provides a pathway to safety success with steps ensuring employees follow processes, inform, review effectiveness, share lessons learned and train to be safer.  Program highlights include daily safety huddles,  visual management, behavioral-based training, use of 100% personal protection equipment and fall protection, and custom safety programs including Walbridge’s Crane Action Plan, Stop Look and Listen Safety Observations and a high angle rescue plan.

"We have always put a premium on safety for our customers, partners and employees," said Walbridge Chairman of the Board John Rakolta.  "We have found that our repeat customers give us the work because of our safety record and the value we place in protecting lives."

Walbridge recently surpassed 7,000,000 safe works hours and has worked since October 2003 without a lost-time injury.  The company’s innovative safety program has won over one hundred national, local and project safety awards in the past ten years, and the company was named one of America’s Safest Companies by Occupational Hazards magazine.

Learn more about Walbridge's Award Winning Safety Program >

The scope of work includes site preparation and construction of a 35,290 square-foot Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility for a combat engineer battalion.  Support facilities include site utilities, electric service, security lighting, fire protection and alarm systems and landscaping. The project is scheduled to be completed by July 29, 2011.

March 23—Walbridge was awarded a $40,686,943 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of three Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facilities at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Project construction will take place on three nearby but separate sites. Each TEMF will provide facilities to maintain and repair tactical organizational equipment and vehicles, repair and maintenance bays, equipment and parts storage, administrative offices, secure vaults, oil storage buildings, hazardous material storage and other supporting facilities.  The project’s estimated completion date is Dec. 30, 2011.

March 5— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District has awarded Walbridge a $19,650,700 lump sum contract to build an Armed Forces Reserve Center at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The complex will include a training building, organizational maintenance shop, unheated storage building, wash rack and related site work. 

Walbridge also received an award to construct a 2,600 person stand-alone dining facility at Fort Benning.  The dining facility will host two battalions with separate dining areas for each. Supporting facilities include utilities, security lighting, communications, fire protection, storm sewer system and detention structure, paving and sidewalks, site preparation and landscaping.

Built on the site of a former parking lot, the 822,000 square-foot sustainable complex includes an engine manufacturing facility, material handling building, administration building and energy center. 

Sustainable measures undertaken during construction included a robust waste management plan, managed by Walbridge, which diverted more than 90 percent of construction waste from landfills.  Additionally, 44 percent of materials used were recycled with over 80 percent of construction materials purchased within a 500 mile radius, reducing travel and carbon impact.  The team also used an indoor air quality management plan focused on the use of low emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings and carpet systems. 

“To meet LEED objectives, you have to plan ahead,” said Walbridge Project Manager Karlos Melgar. “From the start, we partnered with Chrysler and the architects to find materials that provided maximum recycled content at the lowest possible cost.

“We also couldn’t have met Chrysler Group’s LEED goals without our subcontractors’ commitment to training and continuous communication from submittal reviews through construction,” Melgar said.

Chrysler Group honored the Trenton South Engine Plant project team’s commitment to production related environmental protection with a 2009 Environmental Leadership Award. 

With standards exceeding regulatory guidelines, the Walbridge Intelligent Sustainability and Environmental Program, GreenWISE, is comprised of 18 job site practices focused on construction methods that affect a project’s carbon footprint. 

Current Walbridge projects registered with the USGBC include Volkswagen Group of America’s Chattanooga Assembly Paint Shop, TN; Infantry Brigade Combat Team Barracks at Fort Stewart, GA ; National Alabama Corporation Rail Car Facility– the world’s largest industrial facility registered under the LEED Green Building Rating System and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport  designed to be the country’s first LEED certified airport.
 

Read the full story at airportbusiness.com >

“Walbridge is proud to be recognized by the Savannah District, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for our Serious About Safety commitment.  Safety is our top core value,” said Walbridge Executive Vice President and General Manager Ron Hausmann P.E., “This honor is representative of the hard work and dedication of our teams in the field who think, demand and deliver safety each and every day.”

Walbridge Corporate Safety Manager Dennis Jones also received a Certificate of Appreciation in gratitude for his active role on the Contractor Advisory Board.  Jones presented on crane safety during the annual conference.  Walbridge representatives Robert Crane and Rick Kinney were also on hand to receive the safety honors. 

Walbridge is providing construction services on 19 military bases throughout the United States.  A sample of current projects includes the Anniston Army Depot Transmission Addition Facility, Alabama; Vehicle Technology Directorate's laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; the 5th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Barracks at Fort Stewart, Georgia; the Combat Aviation Brigade Tactical Equipment Facility at Fort Bliss, Texas and the Moffett Field Armed Forces Reserve Center, California.

Walbridge will be working closely with MCCC representatives and Hobbs + Black Associates Inc., the architect/engineer already secured by the college. To meet the college’s growing enrollment needs, the new facility will provide teaching labs and training classrooms with infrastructure that is flexible to workforce demand. Training will be focused on construction management, alternative energies, hybrid auto, computer-aided design, and nuclear engineering, for which MCCC recently received a $200,000 federal earmark.  

Walbridge Chairman and CEO John Rakolta, Jr, said, “We are pleased to oversee construction of the new Career Technology Center, and support MCCC’s vision for expanding the skill sets of current and future Michigan workers.”

Upon completion, the Career Technology Center will apply to become certified under the U. S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

This is the first construction project that Walbridge will manage for MCCC.   Among the many higher-education projects recently completed by Walbridge are the Wayne State University Mazurek Medical Education Commons, Stockwell Hall at University of Michigan, University of Michigan Law School renovations, and the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education at the College for Creative Studies.   Late in 2009, Walbridge was named construction manager for Eastern Michigan University’s Pray-Harrold Building renovation.

Read the full story at the UTSA Today Web site >

The AGC Construction Safety and Excellence Awards (CSEA) recognizes companies who have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs achieved through management commitment, employee involvement, and program innovation.

Walbridge’s innovative safety program has won hundreds of national, local and project safety awards in the past ten years, and the company was named one of America’s Safest Companies by Occupational Hazards magazine. 

Walbridge was nominated by the AGC of Michigan.  

Walbridge Safety Team Leaders Steve Clabaugh and Mark LaClair Accept an Outstanding Safety Performance Award from AGC Michigan.

“It’s great to see the North Terminal receive the recognition it deserves,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “It’s an important element in anchoring the Detroit Region Aerotropolis to create the jobs and prosperity of the future.” 

One of the first airport complexes fully designed and constructed post-9/11, the 26-gate, 850,000 square foot North Terminal can accommodate 14 million passengers annually.  The linear footprint creates a faster, more efficient path for taxiing aircraft, which conserves fuel, reduces environmental emissions, and saves time for travelers.  Natural daylight, bright color, and dramatic lighting enhance the passenger experience and impression of the facility. Built within a budget of $431 million, the North Terminal establishes a new benchmark for value-conscious airport planners. 

The work included a multi-airline terminal, Federal Inspection Services (FIS) for international flights, baggage handling, hydrant fueling system, and apron replacement.  Additionally, the team created an enclosed skywalk between the terminal and a parking garage, and a ground transportation center for commercial traffic, to leave the curbside for passenger vehicles.

“We extend our thanks to the local contracting community, which understood the significance of this work, and was committed to excellence throughout,” said Barton Malow Project Executive Doug Maibach.

“Walbridge was pleased to contribute our innovations to this project,” added Walbridge Chairman and CEO John Rakolta, Jr.  “The North Terminal team not only achieved ambitious goals in costs, logistics, and deadlines, it has enhanced the role of Detroit Metro Airport as a world-class gateway to the Metro Detroit Region.”

Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson summed up the meaning of the Build Michigan honor and the importance of the new facility.  “The North Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport is a shining example of how to achieve more with less,” he said. “Working with a very modest budget and a tight set of design limitations, the project team created a facility that satisfied the bookkeepers, provides an ultra-efficient operating environment for airlines, incorporates a number of eco-friendly features, and—most importantly—delights Detroit travelers and visitors to our region.  You can’t ask for much more than that!”

Learn more about this project >

Walbridge joins one of the nation’s largest minority-owned educational program management and construction management firms, Brailsford and Dunlavey and the country’s third largest educational planning and architectural firm, Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. in overseeing the facilities program.
 

Read the complete story >

The entire project could take a decade. But by May 2011, employees who now work in a World War II-era facility will be in a new $39 million building.

Read the full story at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times >

Housing the offices of the College of Arts and Sciences Departments and incorporating the University’s Department of Information Technology, the Pray-Harrold classroom building opened in 1969 and is the largest classroom building on the EMU campus, serving 10,000 students daily.

Walbridge will be working closely with both EMU representatives and SHW, the Architect/Engineer already secured by the university.  Walbridge will lead both the pre-construction and construction phases of this renovation, which will place high priority on mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure Improvements.

“We are pleased to take on this new project for Eastern Michigan University,” said Walbridge Chairman and CEO John Rakolta, Jr.  “Our team’s preconstruction and renovation experience will enable Walbridge to help EMU preserve its rich history while better serving its growing student base.”

This is the first construction project that Walbridge will manage for EMU.   Among the many university renovation projects recently completed by Walbridge are the Wayne State University Mazurek Medical Education Commons, Stockwell Hall at University of Michigan, and the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education at the College for Creative Studies, for which a ribbon-cutting was held in September.

Read the full story at www.tampasdowntown.com >

Read the full story at Chattanooga's timesfreepress.com >

Throughout the year, Walbridge participates in Project ONE, an MMBDC initiative that expands participation of MBEs by offering exposure to participating corporate members.  Walbridge’s supplier diversity program also sponsored exhibits at procurement conferences to aid minority business owners.
 

For more information about Walbridge's supplier diversity program, please contact us >
 

The 760,000 square-foot Taubman Center adds a second campus for the College for Creative Studies and is home to the new Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies.  Over 2,000 students, faculty, parents and visitors are expected per day to fill classrooms, labs, exhibition space and a 360-seat dining facility.  Additionally, 300 students will reside in the building.  The facility has 80,000 square feet of developmental space for new or growing creative businesses, professional networks and support services. 

Restoration of the historic building required extensive demolition, removal of hazardous materials and preservation of the building’s façade. Designed in 1928 by Albert Kahn, the Argonaut building served as General Motor’s first research facility featuring the legendary Harvey Earl’s automotive design studio.
 

Read the latest at Panama City's News Channel 7 WJHG.com >

Entries are evaluated by a panel of three or more industry experts with scores based on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation and use of technology.  The Walbridge/Silverscape Web site submission scored an average 25% higher than its industry peers. 

Read more at www.mmbdc.com >

Army Research Laboratory Director John Miller says the state-of-the-art facility will allow VTD researches to develop the technologies necessary to protect soldiers. 

Building construction is scheduled to complete by April 2011.
 

Read more at Crain’s Detroit Business >

Winning companies are selected based on the following categories: communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multiculturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, small business, recruitment and selection and work-life balance. 

FRANKFORT, Ky – A new wastewater treatment facility in Petersburg, Ky., is being built under a construction safety partnership between the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Sanitation District No. 1 in northern Kentucky and Walbridge Construction and Dugan & Meyers, two construction companies that have joined forces for the project.

The Construction Partnership Program is a voluntary agreement in which safety and health experts from the Kentucky Office of Occupational Safety and Health (KOSH), Division of Education and Training make quarterly, consultative visits to the building site to provide extensive safety and health surveys. 
       

Labor Cabinet Secretary J.R. Gray, who today signed the agreement with company officials, said construction partnerships have positive impacts on reducing injuries and implementing safety programs. “Construction partnerships have numerous goals, strategies and measurable results that benefit workers. In fact, employee involvement is a requirement.

“Partners, including the general contractor and subcontractors who want to participate, work to identify training needs and inadequacies in their written safety programs and to identify on-the-job hazards,” added Gray.

Education and training on Kentucky OSH standards are provided when applicable. This continuous engagement between labor and the company eliminates the need for random compliance inspections as long as state requirements are being met. Regular safety meetings also are conducted onsite.

The Western Water Reclamation Facility, located at 5459 Belleview Road in Petersburg, will be a 20-million gallon per day (GPD) wastewater recovery facility. The project costs an estimated $69 million and is scheduled for completion in August of 2012.
 

Read the full story at construction-today.com >

Read the full story at Chattanooga's timesfreepress.com >

There are four levels of LEED Certification bestowed by USGBC:  Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  Certifications recognize new construction as well as commercial interior (CI) projects.  The CI award received by Walbridge was for the renovation of the interiors of the two floors of the 777 Woodward building that comprise Walbridge’s headquarters across the street from the popular gathering place, Campus Martius.

“We were excited to move our headquarters into the heart of Detroit two years ago,” said Walbridge Chairman and CEO John Rakolta, Jr.  “Today we’re pleased to bring the city recognition that comes with the achievement of an exceptionally high level of sustainability in construction work. 

“Constructing a green office space was the right thing to do for many reasons,” he continued.   “Most importantly, we wanted to foster a culture of sustainability and better benchmark the system that we lead many of our customers through.”

“A CI LEED certification can be even harder to achieve than a new construction project,” explained Dan Lamble, the Walbridge engineering manager responsible for the renovation effort.  “When you’re dealing with existing construction, you must reconfigure and redesign systems as well as replace materials, which is often more complex than starting from scratch.”

The Walbridge office space was constructed using recycled and environmentally safe materials.  For instance, a large percentage of construction materials – flooring, ceiling tiles, wallboards and workstations – were produced using recycled content.  Nearly 80 percent of construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills, and more than 60 percent of the furniture from Walbridge’s former headquarters site was reused, diverting it from landfills.  Also, more than half of the materials utilized during construction were purchased from within a 500-mile radius of Detroit, minimizing the project’s carbon footprint.  Read more about this project > 

Walbridge’s commitment to reducing environmental impacts during construction continues.  In March, the company launched a sustainable job site program, GreenWISE, as an extension of its existing sustainability efforts.  This new initiative includes requirements that surpass Environmental Protection Agency, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulatory and municipal guidelines.

For more information, contact Walbridge Marketing Director Karen Manardo at 313.442.1209.

Founded in 1916, Walbridge has steadily grown to become one of the top 50 construction firms worldwide.  Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Walbridge provides diverse delivery options including construction management, program management, general contracting, design-build and turn-key solutions.   Services include pre-construction, engineering management and decommissioning.  The company also self-performs structural concrete and flatwork, millwright and rigging, equipment installation and facilities management.  While Walbridge remains the leading firm in the construction of automotive facilities in the United States, the company also possesses expertise in construction market segments that include airports, healthcare, education, federal government, infrastructure, manufacturing, research and development and power and energy.  For more information, visit the Walbridge website at www.walbridge.com.
 

"One of my top goals, as the commanding officer of what I certainly consider to be the finest naval air station in the world, is to anticipate the needs of war fighters and ensure they have the right equipment and facilities needed to accomplish their missions.  This magnificent structure brings me one step closer to achieving my goal," said NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr.

With construction completed months in advance, the facility incorporates many sustainable design principles including the use of recycled steel, day lighting throughout the hangar and a rain water collection system to recycle water for a helicopter wash rack.

“A project of this magnitude does not happen overnight,” said NAS Jax Public Works Officer Comdr. Chuck Lewis.  “Many personnel from the Navy, both military and DoD civilians and Walbridge played significant roles in the day-to-day execution of this project ensuring the highest quality, timely completion and exceptional safety record through 482,000 man-hours of construction.”

Walbridge was awarded the design-build project by NAVFAC SE on March 21, 2006.

Read more about this project >

Read more about the hangar's opening at Clay Today Online >

The program recognizes outstanding achievement in community planning, architectural design, building development, environmental sensitivity, and encourages future projects to benefit the region through mixed-use and urban connectivity.   The 27th Annual Community Design Awards also marked the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. 

Walbridge executives Richard Marshall, Tim Sewell and Project Manager Cranston Harris, who led the $20 million facility’s construction team, received the honor for the Tampa Bay History Center.  Also accepting were Hillsborough County Architect, William Hand and C.J. Roberts, the museum’s president and CEO.  The Tampa Bay History Center was nominated in the Commercial, Public or Quasi Public category based on its contribution to community connectivity, unique and attractive design features and energy or natural resource conservation.  Situated on a former industrial site, in the heart of the Channelside District, the 60,000 square-foot museum is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and intends to pursue LEED® certification.  Also receiving honors in the category of Historic Preservation and Restoration was Walbridge’s work on Orange Grove Middle Magnet School.  The school, originally built in 1927, received a $3.4 million restoration.  The award was accepted by John Williams of Hillsborough County Schools. 

This year, 25 projects were entered in ten categories.  Winners were selected by judges with experience in the fields of planning, architecture and landscape architecture and who reside outside of Hillsborough County. 
 

Representatives from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality presented the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Dundee plant with a Green Corporate Citizen Award. GEMA, supported by the Walbridge Facility Management team, helped reduce production costs by as much as $5 per engine through sustainable solutions and conservation. 

Walbridge Facility Management’s on-site team initiated and implemented many of GEMA’s sustainable measures including lighting reductions, recycling of water used in floor scrubbers and dunnage washing water filtration and reuse. WFM made additional improvements to efficiency in the powerhouse, bulk material handling area and plant operations. 

Read the full article from MonroeNews.com>
 

DETROIT- March 17, 2009- Walbridge, a national construction service provider, has launched a sustainable job site program designed to reduce environmental impact during a facility’s construction.

The Walbridge Intelligent Sustainability and Environmental Program, GreenWISE, surpasses Environmental Protection Agency, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulatory and municipal guidelines.  An extension of Walbridge’s sustainability efforts, the job site specific program identifies 18 on-site environmental practices including safety and spill control, use of alternative power and waste management plans.  In addition to creating public awareness, GreenWISE engages Walbridge team members and partners in measurable steps to reduce the environmental impact on communities and promote conservation during construction. 

“GreenWISE is not just a process but a provocative expression of Walbridge’s beliefs and commitment to meet our responsibility to preserve, protect and promote our most precious gift next to life, the environment,” said President and Chief Operating Officer, Richard Haller, who is championing the program. 

Haller said through implementation of GreenWISE, Walbridge will develop a collection of evolving solutions in order to fulfill our responsibility to the next generation.

Job sites will be designated by level of achievement based on performance metrics published quarterly.   Each participating job site will display GreenWISE signage made from eco-friendly materials with a graphical overview of the sustainable practices employed at the site.  

Learn more about GreenWISE >
 

“We commend your entire on-site staff and subcontractors for this accomplishment.  We also thank you for providing a safe work environment for all personnel on your construction site,” said Area Engineer and Chairman of the Fort Benning Safety Committee, George P. Condoyiannis, “This requires a great deal of daily commitment, dedication and focus on your part and I urge you to keep up the outstanding results.”

As a quarterly winner, Walbridge is eligible to receive a 2008 safety award at the Savannah District’s annual Serious About Safety Conference and Awards Banquet.

After finding the low bid of $68,570,000 to be significantly over the expected value, an intensive value engineering effort was conducted with the airport’s consultants including Program Manager, KBR; Lead Designer, Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jerrigan; Architect, HNTB; Systems Engineers, TLC and  firms performing specialty design on the project.  The result of this effort was an agreed scope of work over $10 million less than the original bid. 

 “We are proud to be a part of the team building the first new green field airport in the United States in over a decade,” said Walbridge Senior Vice President, David B. Hanson, “this new gateway to northwest Florida will be a great economic stimulus to the region, as well as provide a wonderful front door to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.”   Work is scheduled to begin this month with completion in the spring of 2010.  It is anticipated that well over 85 percent of the work on the project will be performed by Florida businesses, with the bulk of the efforts coming from the Panhandle Region of northwest Florida.

With worldwide volume over $1 billion and Florida volume of $137 million in 2007, Walbridge is a major force in general contracting for both the public and private sectors.  Walbridge’s current Florida projects include the aviation, K-12 schools, higher education, retail, healthcare, institutional, federal facilities and museum markets.  The company also has broad national and international expertise in automotive and general manufacturing facilities, water/wastewater and power. 

Founded in 1916, Walbridge has steadily grown to become one of the top construction firms worldwide.  Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Walbridge provides a full range of services including:  program management, turnkey, process engineering and technical services, construction management, general contracting and design-build. The company also provides self-perform construction services such as concrete, millwright and rigging, production equipment installation and facilities maintenance.  While Walbridge remains the leading firm in the construction of automotive and manufacturing facilities in the United States, the company is also experienced in the commercial, residential, healthcare, research and development, institutional, education, municipal, public works and cultural facilities markets.  For more information, please visit www.walbridge.com.

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