St. Louis Construction News and Review Regional Excellence Award

The 2004 Construction News & Review Regional Excellence Award, which recognizes projects that demonstrate excellence in design, excellence in construction and a positive contribution to the St. Louis community, was presented to KCI Construction Company for its construction of the University of Missouri St. Louis, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

 

Masonry Institute of St. Louis Awards KCI

The Excellence in Masonry, Distinction in Design Award was presented to KCI Construction Company on October 18, 2003 for its contribution to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri — St. Louis.

 

CCC Will Graduate Its First Class

On June 28, 2005, Construction Careers Center (CCC) will honor 30 students as its first graduating class at the Millennium Student Center at University of Missouri, St. Louis.

CCC is a fully accredited four-year academic high school, providing a well-rounded education with emphasis on construction knowledge to 320 students. In 2001, the City of St. Louis approved the new charter school, which was the first publicly funded high school for construction nationwide.

Leonard P. Toenjes, president of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis, and Rick Grebel, president of KCI Construction Co., St. Louis, were instrumental in the creation of charter school. Rick headed the AGC task force and chairs the school board, known as the Construction Careers Board of Education. The school is a model for partnerships between industry, associations, labor, education, philanthropy and government.

The school is located at 1224 Truman Parkway, between Chouteau and Park, in the city of St. Louis. The former 1940s Clinton-Peabody School was extensively renovated in 2001, in preparation of the first freshman class. In 2004, a 5,000 square-foot shop construction lab was completed providing a hands-on training facility for students in preparation for entrance into construction industry apprenticeship programs. Tools and equipment were donated by AGC contractor members and suppliers for the new construction lab. In December, 2004 the school building was purchased from St. Louis Public Schools.

You Can Help

All of us in the construction community benefit from CCC. Support its ongoing success by getting involved.

You can help by:

  • Donating money
  • Donating materials
  • Donating tools and equipment
  • Providing mentoring or teaching time
  • Hosting field trip opportunities to project sites
  • Sponsoring an internship for a senior student

Call Bill Scheffler, CCC Administrator, at 314.5889991, Ext. 101, to discuss how you can help.

Ready, Set, Grow

Through the network of AGC chapters and local unions of the participating organizations, the CCC model can be replicated across the United States. For more information, contact the CCC at www.constructioncareerscenter.org or call Bill Scheffler, CCC Administrator, at 314.5889991, Ext. 101.

Take a Closer Look

CCC prepares young adults for college as well as the trades. Students wear uniforms, are assigned hard hats and safety glasses and are tested for drugs, a common requisite in many construction jobs.

  • Freshmen take an exploratory class that delves into architecture, floor laying, iron work, painting and every other industry trade.
  • Sophomores take a blueprint reading, estimating and scheduling class.
  • Juniors take a two-hour shop class and go on field trips to construction sites.
  • Seniors spend most of their time at new construction or rehabilitation sites.

For more information about or to apply for admission to CCC, visit its Web site: www.constructioncareerscenter.org or call Bill Scheffler, CCC Administrator, at 314.5889991, Ext. 101.

 

Walking The Talk

For 15 years, our own Rick Grebel has been involved in increasing minority opportunities in the construction industry. Recently, Rick has been instrumental in the development of the Construction Readiness Center in Wellston, Mo. scheduled to open November 1, 1999.

The center, which provides career awareness recruitment for minorities, ultimately hopes to prepare minorities for various construction crafts. By offering pre-apprenticeship training, remedial help or a refresher course, the center will provide a bridge for unskilled applicants seeking a way into union apprenticeship programs.

Many groups are working together to provide funding, facilities, recruitment and the curriculum for the new center. Advocates include MO-KAN, a minority advocacy group, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis, local labor unions, St. Louis Community College and state and local government officials. Rick’s history of minority program involvement also includes:

  • President of Contractors Assistance Program (CAP) for the past eight years. CAP, located at 1300 Convention Plaza, is a clearing house for information about upcoming construction projects. Minority firms can, at no charge, look at sets of plans, evaluate them, do a take-off, use CAP’s computers and fax machines or any other services to help them become part of the bidding process. The program is funded by the City of St. Louis through federal bank grant funds.

  • AGC representative on the Disparity Study Committee for the City of St. Louis examining the industry and helping to set goals for hiring minority contractors.

  • Chairman of the AGC Contractor Development Task Force.

  • Past Chairman of Pride Diversity Committee.

  • Corporate representative to MO-KAN working to increase the number of minorities at KCI and to select minority subcontractors to work with KCI.

 

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