The $17 million William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri, has received two new awards — the “Best of 2010 Award of Merit” from Midwest Construction and the “Construction Keystone Project of the Year Award” from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis.
KAI Design & Build designed the building. KAI founder and chairman Michael Kennedy Sr. received the 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the St. Louis American foundation on Nov. 10. Kwame Building Group (KWAME) of St. Louis was the construction manager and owner’s representative on the project. Kozeny-Wagner Inc. was the general contractor.
A jury of independent industry experts selected projects for the Midwest
Construction “Best of 2010 Awards” based on safety, innovation, contribution to the community or industry, construction quality and craftsmanship, and function and aesthetic quality of design. Winning projects will be entered into the National Best of 2010 competition and judged against projects from other regions. The AGC St. Louis Keystone Awards honor the highest achievements of St. Louis construction firms for their efforts to deliver projects on-time and on-budget.
The Harris-Stowe Early Childhood Center also has received the “2010 Regional
Excellence Innovation Award” from St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate magazine and the “2009 Quality Concrete Award” from the Concrete Council.
Internationally recognized architect Adrian Luchini designed the dramatic
47,000-square-foot building at Harris-Stowe, which houses the university’s Early Childhood Education unit and a childcare center for children ages six weeks through five years. The center also offers a variety of parental guidance services.
The university is seeking gold LEED certification for the facility based on its environmentally friendly features, such as a highly energy-efficient mechanical system, a rain garden, recycled rubber on the playground surface, and pervious pavement and play surfaces to slow storm water.