Tag: Tarlton

“Filling white space with fresh and trendy graphics can add excitement to a space,” says architect Adriana Perrone, “but most companies and campus architects want their budgeted dollars to do more than pay for fancy wall paper.” Perrone of Mackey Mitchell Architects, knows what she’s talking about. She designed the colorful murals on the walls in Simon Hall’s lower level.

Major renovations have transformed Simon Hall over the past two summers with new classrooms, lounges, the Undergrad Programs Office and more. The new hallways in the lower level opened up a once dark maze of offices into a bright, welcoming space. But the makeover wasn’t complete until Perrone’s graphic designs hit the walls.

“Thoughtful graphics can shape space and add visual depth while sparking the interest of the passersby and serving as a conversation starter.” -Adriana Perrone

“Adriana has amazing graphic design abilities and created those graphics digitally from Wash U campus stock images we were provided through Public Affairs,” says Marcus Adrian, Principal at the Mackey Mitchell firm. “The whole composition was printed on 3M vinyl wall covering material by local graphics and signage company Engraphix, and installed by them in mid-April of this year.  The install is only slightly more sophisticated than hanging wallpaper, though the final product is considerably more durable.”

In a blog post titled, “Walls Can Talk: 3 Ways To Get More Out Of Your Hallways” Perrone writes about the Simon Hall project:

“It is imperative to remember that environmental graphics aren’t just for decoration.  Decoration is fine…When designs incorporate learning, emotion, storytelling, or community, an environmental graphics budget can suddenly add intellectual depth and purpose to a space that was once just an empty hallway.”

Tell us what the walls to say to you!

From the top of the cupola tower to the lower level of Simon Hall, Tarlton construction teams have been busy renovating Simon Hall this summer. The transformation of the former Weston Career Center, BSBA program offices, and McWilliams Computer Lab on the lower level will be complete by mid-August. We got a preview – click on the video above. Six new classrooms, a new Taylor Lab for Marketing Research, and a new north side entrance to Simon with a stairway to the lower level are all part of the facelift.

Check back here in a couple of weeks to see the completion of Phase II of Simon Hall’s renovations.

The Journal of the American Institute of Architects posts an article June 18, 2015, about the construction of the five-story glass Atrium in the new Knight Hall and Bauer Hall. Read the article here: “Washington University’s Olin Business School’s new buildings feature Super Sky skylights finished by Linetec”.

Tarlton Corporation, a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm with 2014 revenues of $177 million, has won one of the construction industry’s highest honors—the 2015 Alliant Build America Award.

The award recognizes Tarlton’s work on the $90 million LEED® Gold certified Knight Hall and Bauer Halls expansion project for the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. Chosen from a highly competitive field of entries nationwide, Tarlton is the only Missouri construction firm to win one of 21 Alliant Build America Awards this year. In addition, two firms were honored with AGC Build America Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence awards, a separate category.

The Alliant Build America Award is sponsored by Alliant Insurance Services Inc. and the Associated General Contractors of America, the nation’s largest and oldest construction trade association. For 30-plus years, the Build America Award has recognized AGC members that build the nation’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions. The awards were presented March 19 at the AGC’s 96th Annual National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Accepting the award were Frank Freeman, project manager at Washington University; and Tarlton team members Matt Pfund, senior vice president and project director; Cameron Denison and Sondra Rotty, project co-managers; and Eric Nichols, project superintendent.

The Build America Awards program honors the “best of the best” among construction projects nationwide. Build America recipients are selected by a panel of a contractor’s toughest critics – other contractors. Judges look for projects that have “excelled in state-of-the-art advancement; excellence in project management; innovation in construction or use of materials; contribution to the community; superiority in client service; rising to the challenge of a difficult job; and sensitive treatment of the environment and surroundings.”

“Recognition by one’s peers is one of the highest honors a general contractor can receive,” said Tracy Hart, president, Tarlton Corp. “We are proud of the Tarlton team on the Olin Business School expansion project, which was one of the most collaborative projects we’ve ever worked on. The award represents the embodiment of the many stakeholders who share a passion for construction, core principles and values that helped to guide the complex, multi-faceted construction process,” she added.

Tarlton received an award in 2014 from the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers – read more in this blog post.

Bauer Hall

The 177,000-square-foot expansion project is the largest single project completed on the Washington University Danforth campus in the shortest span of time, nearly doubling Olin Business School’s footprint on the campus. The construction process and fast-track schedule was a project management triumph for the design-construction team. Tarlton recently garnered a 2014 Best Practices Award for materials management and front-end planning on this project by the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers. The annual awards recognize successful use of Construction Industry Best Practices validated by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) to improve project quality, budget and schedule.

The Olin Business School expansion project champions craftsmanship in its innovative design. Knight and Bauer Halls, topping five stories each, are united by a dramatic five-story glass atrium that provides abundant natural light to an expansive amphitheater-style forum below. The inviting space unites the ensemble of buildings housing seven classrooms, study rooms, a 300-seat auditorium, 75 faculty offices, lounges, office, and other spaces to foster interaction. “We wanted these buildings to make a statement, to inspire everyone who is going to walk through these corridors, not just today, but for years to come,” said Olin Business School Dean Mahendra Gupta. “The world-class facilities give everybody a confidence that the university is committed to create a world-class program.”

Knight Hall

Stakeholders on the Olin Business School expansion project include Moore Ruble Yudell, architect of record; Mackey Mitchell Architects, associate architect; BuroHappold Engineering; William Tao & Associates Inc.; KPFF Consulting Engineers; Cole; MPC Enterprises Inc.; Ben Hur Construction Co.; John J. Smith Masonry Co.; TJ Wies Contracting Inc.; Sachs Electric Co.; and Rock Hill Mechanical Corp.

The prestigious honor marks Tarlton’s fourth Build America Award. The firm also won awards in 2008 for the historic renovation of a former Maplewood church into new headquarters for Moosylvania, an independent advertising and promotions agency, and in 2007 for the critical first phase of the Cross County Metrolink Expansion. In 2003, Tarlton received a Merit Award for its work on the Ameren Missouri Coal Transfer Terminal.

In business since 1946, Tarlton Corp. is a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that completes projects up to $150 million for wide-ranging clients in the life science, health care, institutional, commercial, power and industrial markets, as well as hydro excavation and industrial vacuum services. In addition, Tarlton is a recognized regional leader in concrete construction, restoration and maintenance, with several projects honored for excellence in concrete work. The award-winning firm is recognized for sustainable construction and business operations, with12 LEED projects completed.

-Source: Tarlton News Release

Congratulations to our friends at Tarlton construction for recognition at the recent St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers (SLCCC) annual awards for best practices and inclusion advocacy.

Accepting a 2014 Best Practices Award for the Olin Business School Expansion at Washington University in St. Louis are (front row, from left) Tarlton project manager Sondra Rotty and project assistant Kelly Santacruz; and (back row) Jerry Anderson of Ameren, SLCCC chairman; Cameron Denison, Tarlton project manager; Frank Freeman, Washington University project manager; Joshua Fisk, Tarlton senior project engineer; and Hiram Warner, SLCCC Awards Committee member. Photo courtesy of St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers.

Tarlton was honored for their work on Knight Hall and Bauer Hall completed in March 2014. Here is the citation for their award:

Olin School of Business – Washington University in St. Louis was recognized for material management. Team members were Washington University; Tarlton; Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners; Mackey Mitchell Architects; BurroHappold Engineering; William Tao & Associates; KPFF Engineers; and Cole.  Switches to precast from poured in place to fight a winter time frame;  pre-assembly of the building’s centerpieces –  a 90-foot-by-90-foot unsupported skylight— in the fabricator’s yard to avoid on-site glitches; and prefabrication of mechanical systems, saving 90 days out of the schedule allowed the 22-month project to finish on time.

Read story on the Construction Forum St. Louis website.