GBA Team Blog

Some Christmas Stories

2011-12-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas is usually a time to gather with family and friends. It is rich in old traditions or starting new ones. A few of the employees at GBA shared what they did over Christmas break.

Lea Murray

In the Philippines we celebrate Christmas Season starting in September, we start decorating our tree and wrapping our Christmas gifts as early as September. However, the majority of the Filipinos here in the U.S.A. have a busy lifestyle so we celebrate it on December only, but we have parties almost every weekend. Yes we do like parties!! But we do not forget the reason of this season; it’s the birth of Jesus Christ. Nine days before Christmas we celebrate Simbang Gabi (Christmas Novena) and eat dinner after the mass. On Christmas Eve, each family prepare a dinner Feast, we call it Noche Buena, we open our Christmas presents at 12:00 a.m. and go to Church on Christmas day before we eat lunch.

I have 2 kinds of Christmas Tree at home we have the American Christmas Tree and the Filipino Christmas Tree, the Filipino Christmas Tree is in the Kitchen since we always assemble in the kitchen whenever we have get-togethers.

Doug Carpenter

This was an extra special Christmas around the Carpenter household. Not only was it the first official Christmas of the Carpenter household (my wife and I just got married on November 21^st of this year), but December 23rd also it marked the 10^th birthday of our yorkie, Cappy. So on Christmas Day, my parents joined us at our house for a late breakfast and we unwrapped all of our presents. As you can see in the picture, Cappy couldn’t wait to put on his new stylish outfit and pose for the camera. Hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Adam Stodola

My mom came down from Nebraska to spend the first Christmas in the new house and there was the requisite amount of eating, drinking, and being Merry. We took advantage of the warm weather by smoking a brisket on Christmas Eve and then taking it easy the rest of the weekend. Just how I like it… laid back and stress free… unless of course you consider the beating I took in the card games. That was not stress free.

All in all, it was a good Christmas… and I hope it was the same for everyone else.

Nathan Johnson
Christmas at the Johnsons was a blast!

We got the party started with baking and decorating cookies for Santa. After we recovered from the sprinkle induced coma, it was over the river and through the woods for dinner and presents at our Great-grandparents house, where we got to have all sorts of fun with our favorite cousins.

With great anticipation and just a couple tears we said goodbye to everyone and headed home where we finally got to sleep, anxious to see what Santa had in store for us.

Christmas morning just couldn’t get here soon enough.

Once it was finally time to open presents the wrapping paper couldn’t come off fast enough. We had so much fun opening all the fun toys and even the clothes, that we decided it would be a good time to head to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson’s for even more presents and a little brunch too.

Since there is no such thing as too much of a good thing, we loaded up and headed to Granny and Poppy Cano’s for a little dinner and just a few more presents.

After such an awesome day, the only way to top it off was cheering our Wildcats onto a big win and tournament championship in Hawaii. Only Daddy made it all the way through the game, but he said it was a great end to an even better weekend.

Happy Retirement, Anne!!

2011-12-29T07:01:00.000-08:00

After 26 years with GBA Anne is moving on to the next stage in her life. The first morning of retirement will no doubt be difficult, not for Anne but for the rest of us still working. The chair where she sat each day and wrote many an article will be difficult to fill. She will be missed for many reasons but mostly because her laugh is infectious, her smile contagious, and her heart filled with kindness.

Although it will not be the same around here without Anne, we are very excited for her. It has truly been a privilege to work with Anne and we wish her the very best in retirement.

Sharing Thoughts on Engineering Careers in PE Magazine

2011-12-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

In the December 2011 issue of PE magazine, a national publication produced by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Anne Schroer was one of 19 Young Engineer Award winners asked questions regarding their thoughts on recruiting and retaining the next generation of engineers. Anne stated that she learned about the profession after taking career quizzes and that she was not aware of the possibility in high school.

The 19 engineers were asked questions on whether they felt engineers were born, made, or both. Anne said she felt engineers were both. “Engineers have a certain way of thinking… but they would probably never become engineers without being introduced to the profession.” And if Anne hadn’t been an engineer? She would have chosen finance!

We’re glad she decided to be an engineer.

Holidays Bring Cheer to Many through the Johnson County Christmas Bureau!

2011-12-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

We’re pretty excited when it comes to the holidays and this year is no exception! The Monday after Thanksgiving found the office lit up like KC’s Country Club Plaza…well, maybe not quite like that, but sparkling nonetheless. Staffers decorated their various venues, and Harland Russell went all out with his own personal tree-lighting ceremony on the morning of December 6.

Thanks to our very generous GBA elves, gifts began to appear under Christmas trees in the lobbies as well. This year our gifts were earmarked for the Johnson County Christmas Bureau (JCCB), a non-profit, non-denominational agency created to provide the county’s low income families with everything from groceries and personal care items to clothes, books, and gifts for all ages. We delivered our gifts today!

While Johnson County has a reputation for affluence, the level of poverty has risen in these economic times and with it the number of families seeking assistance. The JCCB helps meet their needs with a Holiday Shop that serves more than 3,200 families, (more than 11,000 individuals) each year. Many are working families trying to make ends meet; more than 82 percent are women and children. And more than 600 nursing home residents are also served by the program. This year’s Holiday Shop is open through December 10, so if you act quickly you may still have time to donate!

If not now, however, then consider getting involved next year - you’ll feel the excitement too!

Happy holidays and best wishes for peace and prosperity in the New Year from all of us at GBA!

The Citizens of Olathe Are the Winners as City and GBA Are Recognized by ACEC Kansas with a ‘City Public Improvement Award’ for the South Cedar Creek Sewer Improvements

2011-11-21T09:04:00.000-08:00

The ACEC Kansas “City Public Improvement Awards” recognize engineering projects for their benefit to the citizens of a community, so when this year’s award in the “50,000 and above” population category went to the City of Olathe and GBA for the South Cedar Creek Sewer Improvements, the citizens of Olathe were the real winners!

We'll be there, along with representatives from the City, when the awards are handed out at the Kansas Association of City/County Management’s Annual Conference in Topeka on December 1. The improvements provide sewer service to developing areas that will support the BNSF Railroad’s Intermodal Development in southwest Johnson County.

The new gravity sewer, forcemain, and a submersible pumping station are not only functional, but also sustainable and funded by a special sanitary sewer benefit district. The latter means that the citizens of Olathe will receive the long-term benefits of additional property tax income without incurring capital debt. Equally important is the environmentally sound method by which the project was planned, designed, and constructed.

The City and Johnson County have plans for a recreational trail along the stream that lies within the improvement corridor. As a result, special care was given to providing sustainable solutions, from alignment selection to reduce loss of large-diameter hardwood trees to minimizing the visual impact of the project along the stream corridor by alternating construction clearing limits on each side of the project centerline, and restoring the stream bank using bio-engineering techniques. Stream crossing locations were also carefully selected to minimize interceptor disruption by high velocities/scour.

The Lights Are Bright on Kansas City’s Broadway Bridge, Recognized by AIA Kansas City with a 2011 Design Excellence Award!

2011-11-17T07:49:00.000-08:00

Mike Sinclair Photographer

We’re pleased that the Broadway Bridge over I-670 in downtown Kansas City has been recognized by AIA Kansas City with a 2011 Design Excellence Award in the Merit Awards category! This standout bridge replaces a deteriorating structure to provide better vehicular and pedestrian access between Kansas City’s ever changing Central Business District and a vibrant area to the south that includes the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Crossroads Arts District.

The bridge supports the effort to encourage walkability in the City by providing wider sidewalks, ADA accessibility, and improved crosswalk signalization. But what really caught the AIA’s eye was the focus on the pedestrian experience. GBA, the engineer on the project, brought in el dorado inc. to focus on architectural and artistic enhancements to the bridge. The result? A pedestrian railing that employs a three-layered system of galvanized mesh that, combined with color and light, adds eye-catching appeal to this prominent public improvement! What’s more, portions of the pedestrian barrier contain two-inch thick yellow acrylic panels that buffer noise from the vehicles traveling below and create a visual experience that changes throughout the day! Congratulations to all involved!

MoDOT Partners with UMKC to Provide Students, Including GBA’s Chris Farney, with Hands-On Experience! Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Partnership!

2011-11-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

In early 2010, MoDOT partnered with the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) to give engineering students an opportunity to receive hands-on experience while creating designs to improve traffic operations at intersections along Missouri Route 50. Chris Farney, an engineering intern who joined GBA’s Highways/Streets Group in May, was one of those students!

Chris, a Kansas City area native, earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering from UMKC in 2010 and completed his M.S. degree, also in civil engineering, at UMKC this year. He also has a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Kansas!

Chris Farney

According to Chris, the first semester involved a study with findings and recommendations presented to MoDOT. During the second semester, designs were completed and submitted for review. “It really helped prepare me for my work here at GBA,” Chris said. “MoDOT actually used some of our ideas and design work in the final design. It was really cool getting to see something that I helped design actually built!”

A ribbon cutting yesterday celebrated the partnership and the safety enhancements that resulted from it. The $2.5 million project enhances traffic operations and improves safety at seven intersections, providing smoother, wider pavement and additional lighting at all intersections. New turn lanes and acceleration lanes were added at some of the busier intersections.

'Chilimaster' Cook-Off Heats Up Halloween

2011-10-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Some of our best dressed, from left, Tim Ross, Coleen Parnell,
Karen Scherer, and Matt Kersten

Each Halloween a panel of brave GBA judges has the somewhat dubious pleasure of taste testing as many as 40 different chili and soup recipes to determine the recipients of the Golden Ladle trophy, and this year was no exception!

Chili winner Paul Miller (right) receives the
Golden Ladle from last year's winner Bryan Rasmussen

The annual “Chilimaster Cook-Off”…actually a soup category has been added since the contest originated but the name remains unchanged…attracts a group of enthusiastic GBAers who vie for trophies and bragging rights. It’s all in fun, as we enjoy the fare including some pretty tasty dogs, brats, burgers, and much, much more.

Congratulations to this year's winners!

Chilimasters

Bryan Rasmussen, who took home the gold in the soup
category, is shown with 3rd place winner Coleen Parnell.

1st Place Paul Miller

2nd Place Kiel Johnson

3rd Place Tie Josh Tedder & Tim Ross

Soupmasters

1st Place Bryan Rasmussen

2nd Place Clarence Munsch

3rd Place Coleen Parnell

Looking for a recipe for more durable concrete? A new video explains how the Kansas City Metro Materials Board (KCMMB) can help!

2011-10-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Click on the arrow above to view the video

The Kansas City Metro Materials Board (KCMMB) has launched a new video designed to introduce potential members to the benefits of standardized materials specifications for durable concrete on public works projects. This concrete alternative focuses on life-cycle costs rather than first costs. It’s the culmination of more than three years of research by municipalities to discover and prevent the causes of premature cracking and deterioration of pavement, sidewalks, curbs, and storm drainage inlets.

KCMMB is a cooperative effort of public works organizations in the KC Metro area. The KCMMB goal is to propose standardized material specifications and to simplify the approval process with the assistance of the KCMMB web site. GBA helps by maintaining the web site and reviewing concrete mix design submittals for compliance.

Take a look at the video to see just what KCMMB can do for you, or visit the KCMMB website to learn more!

Ribbon-Cutting Marks Successful Completion of Interchange at K-7 and Johnson Drive/55th Street

2011-10-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

What can we say! It was a beautiful day for a celebration as dignitaries officially cut the ribbon signaling the successful completion of the new interchange at K-7 and Johnson Drive/55th Street in Shawnee, Kansas. Shawnee’s Mill Valley High School Marching Band created a festive air for the perfect fall day, while a gaggle of 5th graders from nearby Prairie Ridge Elementary School clapped and cheered.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback described the project as “wonderful” and proclaimed that “it provides an atmosphere for growth.” Kansas Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller agreed, saying “There’s nothing I enjoy quite as much as the opportunity to celebrate a success, and that’s certainly what this is.”

Other speakers included U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, U.S. Congressman Kevin Yoder, Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan, and Shawnee Mayor Jeff Meyers. All praised the work that had been done and its exciting implications for economic growth in Shawnee, Johnson County, and all along the K-7 corridor.

Many members of the GBA project team turned out to celebrate a job well done! Principal Clarence Munsch and Project Manager Todd Jones took to the stage for a second ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing the firm’s engineering design of the $21.4 million project.

Safety concerns and capacity issues prompted KDOT to initiate the project, which replaced an at-grade signalized intersection with the new interchange. The project included new bridges on K-7 over Johnson Drive/55th Street as well as a much-talked-about roundabout below the bridges, where K-7 on- and off-ramps merge with Johnson Drive/55th

Street. A second roundabout west of K-7 at the intersection of 55th Street with Hedge Lane Terrace was also part of the project. Two related projects are still under construction.

According to Governor Brownback, “The investment here and along the K-7 corridor …will provide important economic return and job creation for the region and state. But the return…won’t just be in dollars and jobs; the improved roads also will be measured in fewer crashes fewer injuries, and fewer fatalities.”

Congratulations to all involved in this very important project!

Join the GBA Team to Help Fight Hunger with Harvesters!

2011-09-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

In honor of Hunger Action Month, GBA is conducting a food and fund drive for Harvesters, The Community Food Network. Food and monetary donations will help feed those in need throughout Greater Kansas City.

We welcome staff, friends, and family to join us in our efforts. Please help us reach our goal of $500!

Hate shopping? Join GBA's Virtual Food Drive. Monetary donations can be made online at GBAfooddrive.harvesters.org. With every $1 donated, Harvesters can provide 5 meals. Donations can be made now through Friday, September 23rd. Transactions can be completed in a matter of minutes and e-receipts are available instantly.

Like doing things the old fashioned way? Collection barrels will be placed in the reception areas on the 2nd and 3rd floors of our Lenexa headquarters. Your donations will be accepted Monday, September 19th through Friday, September 23rd.

Most needed items:

Food
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Boxed meals - (Hamburger Helper, Pasta Roni)
• Canned Meat/Tuna
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Soup
• Cereal – hot and cold

Household Products
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Toilet Paper

Thanks in advance for your support!

Bravo! Celebration Marks Successful Completion of Broadway Bridge over I-670 in Downtown KC

2011-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Completed on schedule and under budget, this new GBA-designed bridge provides an important link to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts!

A brilliant late-summer day was the backdrop for a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the successful completion of the Broadway Bridge over I-670 in downtown Kansas City! GBA and the GBA BBQ team catered the event, creating a festive atmosphere on the bridge deck next to Bartle Hall, where representatives from MoDOT, the project team, stakeholders, media (see Fox 4 coverage here), and the public celebrated a job well done!

Completed just in time for the opening of the Kauffman Center (the bridge will open later this week, the Kauffman Center on September 16), the critical schedule kept everyone on their toes.

GBA delivered final plans on February 14, 2011, just three months after receiving notice-to-proceed! Clarkson Construction started work in early May and delivered the completed project just five months later!

The new structure includes wider, safer sidewalks for pedestrians and some nifty, decorative railings designed by el dorado architects!

Right now the bridge is scheduled to open by this weekend. Take a drive or walk the route; there's a lot going on and it's all exciting for Kansas City!

A Toast to Becoming the Best Communicator You Can Be!

2011-08-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

GBA Architect Suzanne Berkey recently received a
'Competent Communicator' designation from Toast-
masters. Suzanne is Vice President of Education for
Lenexa Toastmasters.

Suzanne Berkey just received her CC – Competent Communicator – designation from Toastmasters (congratulations Suzanne!) – and it reminded me that this resource is available right here in our office! GBA headquarters is home to Lenexa Toastmasters meetings so as you might expect, we have our share of competent communicators. To earn the designation, participants make ten formal presentations, master the art of extemporaneous speaking with “table topics,” and provide one another with support and constructive criticism. Suzanne currently serves as Vice President of Education for Lenexa Toastmasters.

But the club is not exclusive to GBA! Anyone interested in becoming a better communicator or improving leadership skills can attend Lenexa Toastmaster meetings. It’s an "open club," which means that guests and new members are always welcome. It doesn’t matter what time of the year you join. Your membership is prorated based on the month you turn in your membership application.

Meetings are held from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in the lower level training room at GBA, 9801 Renner Boulevard in Lenexa. The cost is just $46 every six months. You can learn more about Lenexa Toastmasters here, or tour the Toastmasters International website!

If you’d like to become a more confident and effective communicator, visit one of the meetings and see if the program is right for you!

New Broadway Bridge to Provide Access to Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

2011-08-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tawn Nugent, a New GBA Associate!

2011-08-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

GBA's Tawn Nugent has been promoted to Associate and we couldn't be more pleased. As a member of the firm's Transportation Group, Tawn has taken a leadership role on some of the firm's most high-profile projects.

Tawn is modest about her accomplishments and cites teamwork and the dedication and hard work of members of the team in getting these jobs done and done right! Absolutely true, but she's still a leader extraordinaire!

Several projects come to mind immediately, including big improvements to eight miles Missouri Route 150 in Jackson County that encompass the recently completed interchange of Rt. 150 with US-71 Highway; replacement of the Broadway Bridge over I-670 in downtown Kansas City, Mo., an important link to the very exciting, soon-to-open Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts; and improvements to the US-50/Route 179/Missouri Boulevard (Business Route 50) Interchange in Jefferson City, Mo.

Tawn is a proud Iowa native and earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Iowa State. She has a Master’s degree in engineering management from KU. Tawn is fully involved in the engineering community with very active memberships in ACEC, APWA, NSPE, and KSPE. She's also an alum of the 2010 Leadership Overland Park program.

So what are Tawn's guilty spare-time pleasures? For one, she serves on the Advisory Board of Heartland SPCA, a "comprehensive animal welfare solution for the Kansas City community" formed by the recent merger of Animal Haven and No More Homeless Pets KC. If not exactly a guilty pleasure, it's an extremely important commitment for this dog lover and parent of black labs Zoey and Libby. Other favorite things include travel, golf, football...and a good glass of wine!

Congratulations to Tawn on this well deserved promotion!

GBA Tees Up to Support Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc.

2011-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

Team members (from left)
Gary Beck - GBA, Terry Morrison - Ehrhart Griffin & Associates,
Pat Kastl - City of Omaha, and Kurt Hassler, GBA

Dear Gary,

Many, many thanks to you and your company for supporting Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc. with your sponsorship for our 18th Annual Charity Golf Classic on July 11th, 2011. The day was a little hot, but everyone had a great time, and enjoyed a fabulous round of golf. We had 196 players (the most ever) and were able to raise an estimated $32,000.00 for our Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc. programs. Please share the attached picture with your team members. Again, thanks so much, and we hope that you will be able to come out and play with us again, July 16th, 2012 at the Players Club at Deer Creek.

Sincere Best Wishes,
Keep Omaha Beautiful Staff & Board

GBA's Anne Schroer Honored by KSPE as ‘Young Engineer of the Year’

2011-07-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

GBA's Anne Schroer receives the "Young Engineer of the Year"

award from KSPE President Glenn Knak, P.E., Lochner, BWR Division.

Congratulations to Anne Schroer, who has been named “Young Engineer of the Year” by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE). The award is given annually to honor a young engineer for engineering achievements, involvement in KSPE, civic and humanitarian activities, and excellence in continuing education.

A civil engineer and member of GBA's Transportation Group, Anne is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2003 and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management in 2010. As part of the requirements for her Master’s degree, Anne developed the concept of “Sustainable Transportation Optimization,” which uses linear programming to maximize positive sustainable impacts in transportation projects.

One of Anne's passions is working within the engineering community to help create a more sustainable transportation future. She currently serves as Assistant Chair of GBA’s FocusGreen, a multi-disciplinary team of LEED APs dedicated to achieving sustainability in GBA’s designs and business practices.

Anne also represents the American Public Works Association (APWA) as a member of the 4A Collaborative, a group of planning and design professionals from APWA, APA, ASLA, and AIA committed to promoting sustainability throughout the Kansas City region. In addition, she is a member of the KC Metro Scorecard Subcommittee, which is charged with developing a sustainability scorecard for the Kansas City area.

Anne's involvement includes membership in the Linking Environmental & Transportation Planning Advisory Group that, through MARC, helped create an action plan and best practices guide for the Kansas City region. The Advisory Group continues to work to develop a clear understanding of what needs to be done to better integrate transportation and environmental planning in the Kansas City region.

And if all of that isn't enough, Anne completed the Boston Marathon this year in 3 hours, 41 minutes, and 8 seconds (3:41:08), qualifying her for a third consecutive year. That's an amazing average of 8:26 (minutes: seconds) per mile. Now that's sustainable transportation!

In the News: GBA Energy Audits Identify Potential Savings as Part of Resourceful Kansas Program

2011-06-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

GBA conducts energy audit of United Way Building, Lawrence, Kansas

The United Way building in Lawrence, Kansas, got an energy check-up earlier this week and the Lawrence Journal-World was there to chronicle the event! Thanks to Resourceful Kansas, an extraordinary program designed to help Kansans implement projects that will save energy, GBA’s Kevin Juhl and Brian Huff conducted the energy audit at no cost to Douglas County, which owns the building. The United Way building houses 21 nonprofit organizations.

According to the Journal-World, “What they found wasn’t promising: a heating and cooling system that has been in place since the building opened as a nursing home in the early 1960s.” But Juhl and Huff “were impressed with how the United Way has managed heating and cooling the building with the old system in place” and found energy use “…pretty good, based on national averages.” GBA will take this and other detailed information obtained during the facility audit to develop customized cost and benefit reviews and a prioritized list of energy-saving technologies.

The Resourceful Kansas program, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, is designed to promote energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy throughout the state. Participants attend a one-day seminar hosted by Resourceful Kansas partners GBA, Riley County Public Works, and Kansas State University at the Riley County Public Works facility, where they learn about the types of energy-saving technologies available, tour real-world examples, and learn about sources of capital available. GBA’s team of architects, engineers, and construction managers then conduct the energy audits for a select group of participants and will provide support to help these participants integrate concepts into their own facilities.

To date, two seminars have been held at the Riley County Public Works facility with a third scheduled for July 27. Over the course of the program, at least 120 organizations will attend the seminars and at least 80 organizations will receive energy audits through the program. For more information or to apply for the Resourceful Kansas program, click here.

GBA Selected to Serve as MoDOT BEAP Consultant

2011-06-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Jim Jarrett, P.E.
GBA Bridge Group Leader

MoDOT has selected GBA to participate in the Bridge Engineering Assistance Program, or BEAP as it is more commonly known. This important program provides engineering assistance to local public agencies throughout the state that do not have their own engineering staff to evaluate, prioritize, and develop design solutions for bridge maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair. GBA will be placed on a list of pre-approved BEAP consultants available to provide engineering services for structural analysis and prioritized design of rehab and repair.

Over the years, GBA has worked with MoDOT, KDOT, and with numerous cities and counties to realize savings for their bridge projects. GBA Bridge Group Leader Jim Jarrett, PE, and Bridge Design Engineer Jon Karst, PE, talk about some projects that may have similarities to your projects, with savings that may surprise you!

Resourceful Kansas Gets a Nod on the DOE's Energy Blog

2011-06-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

It turns out there’s more to harvest in Kansas than just wheat and soybeans. At least that's according to a post on the DOE's Energy Blog: Resourceful Kansas Puts Energy Efficient Technology on Display, Demonstrates Cost-Saving Benefits.

According to public affairs specialist Lindsey Geisler, as one of the windiest states in the country, (Kansas is) a great place to harness wind power. And through the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, the Resourceful Kansas team of GBA, Riley County Public Works, and Kansas State University is teaching the rest of the state about a wide variety of technologies available.

Read more about the program on the DOE's Energy Blog or visit the Resourceful Kansas webite. You may be eligible to participate!

K-7 / Johnson Drive Interchange Receives Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award from the Eastern Chapter of KSPE

2011-05-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

A unique interchange at Kansas Highway 7 and Johnson Drive in Shawnee, Kansas, has been honored by the Eastern Chapter of KSPE with the Chapter’s Outstanding Engineering Achievement award for 2011. Partners in the project include the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the City of Shawnee, Kansas, and GBA.

The project, which is on schedule for completion in November of this year, will replace a signalized intersection on K-7 at Johnson Drive/55th Street by constructing a modified single-point urban interchange with a large, multi-lane roundabout where ramps intersect Johnson Drive. The project will raise the profile of K-7 over Johnson Drive and will improve K-7 to interstate standards by providing a four-lane divided freeway. Provisions have also been included to add an additional lane in each direction as traffic volumes warrant. Two additional multi-lane roundabouts are being built on Johnson Drive on either side of K-7.

Accepting the Outstanding Engineering Achievement award are (from left) Howard Lubliner, P.E., project manager, KDOT; Todd Jones, P.E., project manager, GBA; and Doug Wesselschmidt, P.E., Director of Development Services/City Engineer, City of Shawnee.

According to GBA Project Manager Todd Jones, P.E., development along the K-7 corridor prompted the improvements. "The interchange will replace a potentially dangerous signalized intersection that accommodated about 30,000 vehicles each day," Jones said. "During peak traffic, left-turn lane queues backed onto through lanes of K-7, creating safety concerns." When the project is completed, the intersection will handle the projected traffic volume for 2040.

Winners of Chapter awards will be considered for awards at the state level, which will be presented at the KSPE Annual Conference Awards Luncheon Thursday, June 23rd at the Hyatt in Wichita.

New Interchange at Strother Road and I-470 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Receives 2011 Capstone Award for Infrastructure from the Kansas City Business Journal; GBA Part of Winning Project Team

2011-05-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

An interchange at Strother Road and Interstate-470 in Lee’s Summit has been named a winner of a Capstone Award in the Infrastructure category by the Kansas City Business Journal. Now in its sixth year, the Capstone Award program honors outstanding real estate development projects and transactions throughout the Kansas City area. According to the Business Journal, a panel of judges reviewed the applications, considering visual aesthetics, new technological concepts, and a project’s relevance to the community. The goal of the awards program is to look beyond dollar figures and square footages and consider how these projects are shaping the community.

Construction of an interchange at Strother Road was a long-time goal, a key component in the City of Lee’s Summit Master Plan as well as in earlier traffic and market studies. An interchange and enhanced local road system was expected to encourage development along the corridor, ultimately serving some six million square feet of office space, 2.5 million square feet of industrial space, and about 2,400 residential units. Based on anticipated land uses, more than 24,000 employees would ultimately be attracted to planned developments within the vicinity of the project daily.

GBA is part of the team that made the Strother Road interchange project a reality, providing traffic engineering needed to complete the Purpose and Need, Location Study, and Environmental Assessment required by MoDOT and the federal NEPA process. GBA also prepared construction plans for about 2.5 miles of local roadways built in conjunction with the new interchange. And because of the close proximity of Jackson County’s Lake Jacomo to the roadway network, extensive hydraulic and drainage studies were completed as well. GBA’s involvement also included input on lane configuration and traffic control strategies for the interchange and designs for traffic signalization, street lighting, pavement marking, permanent signing, and traffic control during construction.

gbaSI Staffers Fill Sandbags to Help Protect the City of Davenport, Iowa, from Mississippi Floodwaters

2011-04-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

When floodwaters threatened the City of Davenport, Iowa, a dedicated group of gba Systems Integrators’ staff immediately pitched in to help by filling sandbags for the City’s Public Works Department. “All of us live in the Quad Cities area on the Mississippi,” said gbaSI’s Chuck Metzger. “We all know someone, either family or friends, who suffer either property loss or damage when the river floods.” In addition to Chuck, staffers Jayne Robnett, Tuan Nguyen, and Collin Dyer went to work with four other volunteers to fill enough sandbags to consume three truckloads of sand! Special thanks to our committed – and weary – volunteers!

According to Chuck, the river crested on Saturday, April 23 at 20.7 feet and although flooding was significant, it could have been even worse without the help of hundreds of volunteers. “We were very pleased to be a part of that group,” said Chuck, who explained that both gbaSI and GBA have worked with the City of Davenport. This was the sixth highest river crest on record. Now the cleanup has begun. A record crest of 22.63 feet occurred during the floods of 1993! In addition to Davenport, the Quad Cities area includes Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois.

gbaSI - a GBA Company headquartered in Rock Island - provides traffic coordination for complex corridors and develops traffic-responsive programs in newly designed coordination systems. gba SI also designs, installs, and manages computerized communication networks and camera systems for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Advanced Transportation Management Systems, traffic signal control systems, and communication systems for sewer treatment plants and for college campuses, manufacturing complexes, and other large-scale facilities.

Governor Supports Changing Environmental Outlook for Kansas; Attends Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for 'Resourceful Kansas'

2011-04-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

A brisk breeze sent turbines spinning, setting the scene for a very successful ribbon-cutting ceremony for Resourceful Kansas on April 13. (See coverage on WIBW here.) The program is designed to encourage more energy-efficient communities throughout the state. Governor Sam Brownback joined the Resourceful Kansas team of GBA, Riley County Public Works, and Kansas State University at the Riley County Public Works facility to celebrate the launch of the program, which is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Governor Brownback added his support for changing the environmental outlook for Kansas communities, saying that the key to an energy-efficient transition is a balance of the three Es...Environment, Economy, and Energy.

GBA's Resourceful Kansas Project Manager Jennifer Gunby, P.E., LEED AP, explained that eight seminars involving a total of up to 120 organizations throughout the state will be held at the Riley County Public Works facility. These seminars will focus on practical applications of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. Following the seminars, GBA will provide customized energy assessments to a selected group of 80 participants and will provide the technical assistance needed to implement recommended strategies.

For more information or to apply visit www.ResourcefulKansas.org.

Governor to Attend April 13 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for 'Resourceful Kansas'

2011-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Governor Sam Brownback will join "Resourceful Kansas" partners Riley County Public Works, GBA Architects and Engineers, and Kansas State University on April 13 at 2 pm at the Riley County Public Works facility, 6215 Tuttle Creek Blvd., Manhattan, Kan., for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of "Resourceful Kansas: A Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Blueprint for Communities Across Kansas." The public is invited.

The program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is designed to engage communities throughout the state in making a fundamental shift toward a less energy-intensive, more efficient economy.

“Resourceful Kansas is a very exciting program designed to reduce energy consumption, increase efficient energy practices, help Kansas harvest its abundant, nonpolluting wind and solar resources, and cultivate new economic opportunities throughout the state,” said GBA Project Manager Jennifer Gunby, P.E., LEED AP. “This innovative program will engage local governments and others in implementing projects that will save energy and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of sustainable energy and economic development strategies for Kansas and surrounding states.”

Governor Brownback gave a nod to renewable energy in his State of the State address, saying "I want Kansas to be known not only as the Wheat State, but as the Renewable State."

Guests will have an opportunity to tour the facility immediately following the ceremony.

For more information and to apply for the Resourceful Kansas program, visit the website at ResourcefulKansas.org.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Breaks Ground for New GBA-Designed Administrative Building in St. Joseph

2011-03-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), a global leader in the animal pharmaceutical industry, is expanding its St. Joseph campus to include a new administrative building. BIVI, the U.S. animal health division of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, broke ground on March 10 for the new four-story, 100,000-sf building. As reported by the Kansas City Business Journal, the new administrative building will house 300 employees, including some new hires. Currently, employees work at different locations in the city.

"This consolidation will help our employees become better connected," BIVI spokesman Dan Norwalk said in a release. BIVI is part of the very significant Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which extends from Columbia, Mo., to Manhattan, Kan.

Members of the GBA team are pleased to be part of this exciting project, providing architectural and engineering design services for the new new administrative building. Special features of the design include a two-story atrium lobby, full-service dining area with outdoor patio, fitness center, and state-of-the art training/conference rooms. Among the sustainable features are a white roof membrane, under-floor air distribution, daylight harvesting sensor, and bamboo flooring.

The building is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2012.

Stream Crossings Can Pose Threat to Sanitary Sewer Systems: GBA's Gary Beck to Discuss Solution at MWEA/MO AWWA Joint Annual Meeting

2011-03-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Who: GBA's Gary Beck, P.E., Senior Associate
What: 2011 Joint Annual Meeting of the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association / Missouri Water Environment Association

When: March 27 - March 30, 2011

Where: Tan-Tar-A, Oasage Beach, Missouri

Why: Gary will present "A Comprehensive Stream Crossing Investigation: Johnson

County"

Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) is taking a proactive approach to maintaining and sustaining its sanitary sewer system. The utility, which owns and manages 2,100 miles of sewer line, has reviewed its sewer assets and assigned risk to all elements. It was determined that stream crossings are one of the most vulnerable elements of the sewer system, not surprising because crossings are prone to exposure from constant movement of streams. Because of the importance of stream crossings – JCW currently has 3,000 in its system – the utility has adopted a program to maintain them that includes a high level of surveillance and a new stream stabilization approach to improve crossings that have washed out or are in peril.

Find out more about the MO-AWWA/MWEA 2011 Joint Conference here.

Design-Build Team Takes Fast-Track Approach to New 170,000-Square-Foot Manufacturing Plant

2011-02-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

A design-build team led by Crossland Construction Company, Inc. headquartered in Columbus, Kan., with GBA providing architectural design, is taking a fast-track approach to the design and construction of a new 170,000-square-foot seat manufacturing plant for Johnson Controls, Inc. The facility will be located on a 25.5-acre site in the 800-acre Horizons Industrial Park in Riverside, Mo.

The state-of-the-art facility will manufacture seats for the Chevrolet Malibu produced at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan., and the Ford F-150 manufactured at Ford Motor Co.’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.

Johnson Controls is targeting LEED Silver Certification for the project from the USGBC. The company’s commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots and is a driving force behind the design and construction of this new facility.

According to GBA Project Manager Craig Rogge, AIA, DBIA, LEED AP, a variety of sustainable features are planned, from a structural load-bearing, precast sandwich wall building envelope system to a white TPO roof membrane, sunshades, use of regional materials, FSC certified lumber, and low VOC paints and finishes. A “job site” recycling program and other sustainability initiatives will be implemented throughout design and construction.

Groundbreaking: GBA Provides Architecture and Engineering for 340-Car Parking Structure in East Village Development in Downtown KCMO

2011-02-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

A cold February morning brought out an enthusiastic group of supporters of the growing East Village development in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, for a snow-covered ground-breaking ceremony. Attendees took refuge in J.E. Dunn’s new headquarters, which anchors the eight-block area bounded by Eighth, 12th, Charlotte, and Cherry streets on the City’s east side.

The area is being transformed into a mixed-use residential, office, and retail development. The GSA hopes to build a new 493,000-square-foot building that will serve as the centerpiece for the development.

Ground was broken for a new three-story, 340-car parking structure located on the corner of 10th and Cherry, which will serve the needs of East Village. GBA was selected by GF Properties, a subsidiary of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, to provide architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and traffic studies for the structure. According to GBA Project Manager Craig Rogge, AIA, “our goal in designing the parking garage has been to provide a safe, secure structure that will serve the growing area.” Because of the prominent location, landscape features are planned for the full length of the west elevation.

Ground was also broken for the 50-unit East Village Apartments. Swope Community Builders is the Master Developer of East Village.

Behind-the-Meter Wind Keeps Spinning with New Solutions, Financial Incentives - GBA Provides Organizations with Turnkey Project Management

2011-02-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Harnessing “behind-the-meter wind” or “distributed wind” for the private sector has never been more financially attractive according to Jennifer Gunby, P.E., LEED AP, who heads up GBA’s Energy Studio, in a statement that appears online at Wind Today.

The reason, she explains, is that with the financial incentives available today, project payback can be achieved more quickly than ever before. But individual businesses, industry, and agribusiness must act now to take advantage of one of these incentives, which offers a 100% first-year bonus depreciation this year only for equipment acquired and ‘placed in service’ by the end of the year.

For those who aren’t aware, “distributed wind” differs from the large wind farms owned by utilities in that it is located behind-the-meter where it directly serves its owners. Owners may be cities, counties, state agencies, school districts, colleges and universities, business and industry, and agribusinesses – even individuals. Distributed wind projects may consist of a single turbine or multiple turbines ranging from 100kW to 1,000 kW. However, only taxpaying entities would benefit from the incentives provided from recent changes in the Tax Relief Act of 2010.

GBA’s Energy Studio helps guide organizations from start-up through installation of their wind project – and helps them negotiate the complexities of financial incentives to take full advantage of these unique tools that can provide much quicker return on investment.

Jennifer emphasizes that if there was ever a reason to act and act now, this is it! For more information about incentives available or how GBA can help, contact Jennifer at jgunby@gbateam.com or at 913.577-8375.

Dennis Cantrell Joins the GBA Team as a Vice President/ Principal for the Water Environment Group

2011-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

A warm welcome to Dennis Cantrell, who has joined GBA as Vice President/Principal for the Water Environment Group! Dennis will be headquartered in our Lenexa office and will work closely with GBA offices in Kansas City, O’Fallon, St. Louis, and Omaha.

Dennis’s broad experience includes assisting many large and mid-sized metropolitan areas to comply with the EPA’s Clean Water Act and NPDES requirements. Most recently, he has been responsible for management of design for facility and utility projects for the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s facilities, sewer, water, stormwater, and Overflow Control Plan (OCP); the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s sewer and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) program projects; and the Omaha, Neb., CSO program.

Dennis’s career has taken him around the world and back and he’s enjoyed every minute of it…well, almost every minute! In Seoul, South Korea, traffic jams were so severe in the 1990s that vehicles could, literally, be stopped in place for hours. Dennis said he would take a taxi as far as it could go, then walk to the nearest subway station for the rest of the commute. In each country, Dennis made a point of learning the local ways as he helped build water and wastewater infrastructure to meet the needs of the people, from Mexico and South America to Taiwan, the Philippines, Egypt, and the Middle East. By the way, he highly recommends a visit to the Cairo Antiquities Museum, a highlight of his many business travels!

If Dennis has traveled the world, his roots are still firmly planted in the Midwest. He is a native of Kansas City, Kansas, where he graduated from Wyandotte High School (he mentored students there until a couple of years ago), and earned a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas, where he still attends football and basketball games. Dennis and his wife, Betsy, met at KU, and their daughter, Lindsey, is studying communications and marketing there right now!

Dennis also points proudly to their other “daughter,” Kendrea, who came to them as a foster child and at 16 decided to stay! Now 42, Kendrea is a full-time officer in the Army National Guard and lives with her own family in Olathe. Dennis and Betsy clearly enjoyed their experience as foster parents to a number of children!

Dennis comes to us from HNTB Corporation, where he was Director of the Water Services and Water Resources Group for their Kansas City, St. Louis, and Omaha offices.

Our best wishes to Dennis in his new endeavors!

Helping You Achieve Project Success through CxA Selection

2011-01-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

John Riley (left) and Pat Prendergast

We're always trying to get the word out about commissioning, just what it is and why it’s important to your project. In an article that appeared in latest issue of "The Checklist," the quarterly newsletter of the Building Commissioning Association, GBA/ViroCon commissioning agents Pat Prendergast, P.E., and John Riley, P.E., talk about how to select a commissioning agent and why he, or she, holds the key to a successful project.

According to our authors, lots of people can perform commissioning tasks, from third-party commissioning agents (CxA) like GBA/ViroCon to construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, designers, and owners. Whoever performs commissioning, however, must have the appropriate expertise to ensure desired system performance.

Pat and John suggest that stakeholders determine the “depth and rigor” of commissioning required to achieve the desired goals for the project, then select the CxA with the necessary qualifications. Together they can develop and document specific commissioning goals to ensure that tests are written and executed by qualified personnel.

This leads to the fact that, at least for more complex or “critical” facilities, commissioning staff should be diverse and include system specialists, system engineers, and technicians who can be assigned appropriate tasks to maximize effectiveness and cost-efficiency. The CxA manages the overall commissioning process.

More information about the discipline-specific approach to commissioning, its total cost, the staffing approach and cost, and selecting a commissioning agent is available here.

GBA Selected by MoDOT to Design Replacement of Broadway Bridge over I-670 in Downtown KCMO

2010-12-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

Important Link to Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to be Completed for Grand Opening Gala!

A busy holiday season has gotten even busier for some of GBA's highway, bridge, and traffic designers who, teamed with el dorado inc., Hg Consult, and Kleinfelder, are working with MoDOT to design the replacement of the Broadway Bridge over I-670 in downtown Kansas City, Mo. An accelerated schedule calls for the high-profile new bridge to be completed by mid-September of 2011, in time for the grand opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

To make that happen, the team is pulling out all the stops and will submit final plans on February 14, just under three months after receiving a notice to proceed. A public information meeting is planned for early February, and the prominent location of the project has generated more than a passing interest from a wide range of stakeholders well beyond MoDOT and the Kauffman Center. Some of those involved include the City Manager's Office, Kansas City Public Works, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Westside Community Action Network, Crossroads Community Association, DST Systems, Inc, MC Realty Group, LLC, and the Downtown Council, to name a few!

The project is scheduled to be advertised to bidders on March 17, with an early May letting.

“In forming our team, we were very aware of the critical nature of the schedule and the need to create a design that could be constructed easily and in keeping with the context of the site and the architecture of the nearby Performing Arts Center and Kansas City Convention Center,” said GBA Project Manager Tawn Nugent. “Our design approach is to bring forth solutions that save money and that are critical to the overall success of the project.” GBA is providing bridge and roadway design, surveying services, traffic engineering and signalization, and required utility coordination.

GBA is working closely with Architect David Dowell, AIA, of el dorado to create a design that provides an aesthetic connection to the adjacent projects and is sensitive to the expectations of the community. David was the architect for the recently updated bridges over I-670 east of Bartle Hall that connect the Central Business District with the Crossroads Arts District. Team member Hg Consult, Inc., a Kansas City-based DBE-certified engineering firm, is providing design support, while Kleinfelder, a nationwide planning, engineering, scientific, and technical firm with offices in Kansas City, is providing geotechnical services.

We're excited about the project and will share the final design when it's unveiled!

Read more about the project in The Kansas City Star at Kansas City.com.

GBA’s Kent Dyck Receives Certified Energy Manager® Designation

2010-12-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

Senior Engineer Kent Dyck has achieved the Certified Energy Manager, CEM®, designation, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated high levels of experience, competence, proficiency, and ethical standards in the energy management profession.

Awarded through the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the certification signifies compliance with a board-approved set of requirements including pre-qualifications of field experience, prior educational achievements, and a passing score on the certification exam. The CEM® certification is an industry-wide accepted standard and is recognized as by the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE), the Office of Federal Energy Management Programs (FEMP), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID), as well as by numerous state energy offices, municipal entities, major utilities, and corporations.

Kent, who holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, has more than 20 years of experience in the study, planning, and design of mechanical systems for a wide range of building types. As a key member of GBA's Energy Studio, he heads up the team that focuses on energy studies and audits as well as the design and implementation of recommended energy saving alternatives.

The CEM® program was established in 1981 to meet the growing needs of individuals and organizations in the field of energy management/energy efficiency.

Congratulations to Kent!

In the Spirit of the Season, GBA Staffers Provide Meals to Families at Ronald McDonald House

2010-11-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

GBA staffers enjoyed an opportunity to provide an evening meal to families at Longfellow House, one of the two Ronald McDonald Houses in the Kansas City area. The families, whose children are in town to receive medical treatment, find a “home away from home” at the Ronald McDonald Houses, which provide temporary lodging to as many as 60 families each night.

Both the Longfellow and Cherry Street houses offer a warm and welcoming place to sleep as well as full kitchen facilities, laundry facilities, living rooms, and recreation areas to provide a
comfortable environment where families may relax away from the stresses of the hospital and meet other families experiencing similar crises. Annually, the Ronald McDonald Houses and Family Room provide lodging to nearly 6,000 families and support over 41,000 visits from family and friends of in-patients at Children's Mercy Hospital.

We had an opportunity to help these families through the Meal Program, which involves preparing dinner for guest families. Much of the cooking is done on-site, although some menu items such as baked goods and casseroles can be prepared ahead of time. If you’re interested in helping with meals or providing other support, here’s what you can do:

1. Help pay for a family's stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

2. Drop your spare change in a McDonald's® drive-thru donation canister.

3. Fundraise for us.

4. Shop for items that families need the most.

5. Get a group together and make a meal.

For more information, click here to go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities website.

7x24 Exchange’s ‘Newslink’ Features GBA’s Alan Lehman on “Commissioning UPS Lead-Acid Battery Systems”

2010-11-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Alan Lehman discusses the importance of and steps involved in commissioning UPS Lead-Acid Battery Systems in an article that appears in the Fall issue of Newslink. The publication is produced quarterly by 7x24 Exchange, the leading knowledge exchange for those who design, build, use, and maintain mission-critical enterprise information infrastructures. The goal of 7x24 Exchange is to improve end-to-end reliability by promoting dialogue among these groups.

According to Alan, “For powering critical systems, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is frequently the last line of defense against power disruptions. When the normal source of power fails, the UPS begins pulling power from its energy storage system to serve the critical loads. While there are several types of energy storage in use for UPSs, lead-acid batteries remain the most common.”

Alan goes on to say that battery systems in these applications sit unused and untested most of their lives. When the normal power source fails, the batteries must immediately begin supplying energy for the loads. UPS batteries are commonly sized to last only a few minutes, so power output during discharge can be extreme relative to their capacity.

Considering the critical nature of the loads they support, this is a very demanding application for batteries. Proper installation, startup, and commissioning of UPS battery systems can greatly improve the probability that they will perform when called upon. Alan goes on to talk in detail about design review, safety, installation verification, startup, UPS configuration, battery system testing, and documention.

He concludes by saying that batteries are one of the most common points of UPS failures. “Clearly, commissioning can be an involved and costly process. If the load is important enough to warrant a UPS, careful consideration needs to be given to the need for commissioning the batteries. Proper commissioning will improve the probability of the UPS performing when called upon and provide a baseline for troubleshooting and future performance evaluation.”

Groundbreaking at Riley County Public Works Lays the Foundation for 'Resourceful Kansas'

2010-11-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

“Resourceful Kansas” generated lots of energy on November 4th, when dignitaries broke ground for four wind turbines to be built at the Riley County Public Works (RCPW) facility near Manhattan. GBA’s Jennifer Gunby, Kim Pearse, and Roman Bachamp were on hand for the ceremony, which marks the beginning of construction of several new renewable energy technologies at the RCPW complex. Riley County partnered with GBA, GBA Builders, LLC, and Kansas State University, to receive a $3 million grant awarded by the U.S. DOE earlier this year to implement the “Resourceful Kansas” program. The program is designed to engage communities throughout the state in making a fundamental shift toward a less energy-intensive, more efficient economy.

The first step involves adding renewable energy features to the recently completed RCPW complex, which is an award-winning model for sustainable design. GBA Builders is providing turnkey services for the installation of these additional technologies, including four wind turbines of 100 kW, 40kW, 20kW, and 2.5kW; solar-powered street lights; a used-oil heater; a thin-film PV system; and a solar under-floor heating system.

When the work is completed, representatives of selected Kansas cities, counties, state agencies, colleges and universities, agribusinesses, and other entities will have an opportunity to participate in seminars hosted at the RCPW facility. They’ll learn about available energy-saving technologies and strategies, tour real-world examples, and learn about public and private sources of capital available. Following those seminars, which will be led by Kansas State, GBA will conduct site energy assessments for selected participants. GBA’s retro-commissioning team will then provide guidance and professional support to facility owners.

Participants will be selected from applications submitted online at ResourcefulKansas.org. Initial plans call for a total of eight one-day seminars, each involving up to 20 different entities to engage a total of at least 120 communities across Kansas. Apply today!

GBA’s Pat Prendergast Makes the Case for Commissioning When AIA KC Members Meet for ‘Chow & Tell’

2010-11-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

How does an architect improve his or her client’s satisfaction? Provide a facility that meets or exceeds that client’s/owner’s needs and expectations. Provide a facility that works. Sounds simple enough, but that was the upshot of a lively and informative presentation made by our own Pat Prendergast before some 50 members of AIA Kansas City at the organization’s October 28 “Chow & Tell,” held at the AIA office at 18th and McGee in downtown KC.

According to Pat, architects are the team leaders and the owners’ confidants and, as such, are in a position to bring in a commissioning agent to ensure that the building and building systems work as intended. Obviously not all buildings need the same level of commissioning. Pat used the analogy of a lawn maintenance service. The lawn care needs of a warehouse in an industrial district differ dramatically from the needs of a commercial bank in the city’s financial district. The same is true for commissioning. Consequently, one of the first steps in the commissioning process is to determine the “depth and rigor” with which the commissioning activities should be performed to provide the level of assurance necessary.

Pat went on to talk about LEED, saying that it’s great – as long as the buildings are properly commissioned to work per the operational intent and energy model. He cited an analysis of measured energy use data from 100 LEED certified buildings that found that, while LEED buildings on average use 18-39% less energy per floor area than their conventional counterparts, 28-35% of LEED buildings use more energy than their conventional counterparts. Green buildings must be commissioned to ensure that they work as intended.

These are just a few of the highlights from Pat’s presentation. To learn more, contact Pat directly at 816.842-9225 or email at pprendergast@gbateam.com.

Unique Project Solutions Recognized with 'Excellence in Concrete' Awards

2010-10-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

Two unique projects, one in the City of Olathe, Kansas, and the other in the City of Prairie Village, Kansas, have been recognized by the Concrete Promotional Group (CPG) with Excellence in Concrete awards. The awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding work in concrete construction!

Old 56 Highway Bridge over Cedar Creek, Olathe, Kansas – Concrete Restoration

The rehabilitation of the Old 56 Highway Bridge over Cedar Creek in Olathe received the award in the “Concrete Restoration” category. For those of you who are technically inclined - and that's many of our followers - poor drainage was causing significant deterioration along the edges of the bridge deck, while the rest of the bridge was in good condition. The best and most cost-effective solution involved removing and replacing the deteriorated areas of the bridge, allowing the City to upgrade the safety barriers on the bridge while maintaining the basic structure. The new portions of the bridge deck and the improved safety barriers were constructed using KCMMB concrete. Bridge deck drainage was improved by using variable depth milling to increase the cross slope on the existing structure. The completed bridge deck was then covered with a multi-layer polymer concrete overlay. This project provided the City with a cost-effective means of extending the life of the existing concrete bridge.

Mission Lane Bridge Replacement, Prairie Village, Kansas – Concrete Bridges

This new concrete bridge, which is located in a high-traffic area of the busy Prairie Village Shopping Center, replaced a bridge originally built in the 1940s that was structurally deficient due to high levels of corrosive de-icing salt. If you can't make out the bridge in this picture, it's because the J.C. Nichols Company, which originally developed the area, enclosed the creek in a culvert in the 1960s to create additional parking.

KCMMB concrete was used on the abutments and deck for this bridge replacement. Precast prestressed double-tee beams were used to form a single-span bridge over Brush Creek, improving the hydraulic aspects of the creek. Complicating construction were the existing culvert structure and masonry channel walls, which had to remain in place. Shoring was used to support the walls during construction, while special tiebacks permanently anchor the walls to the newly constructed abutments. To conserve materials used, the new concrete bridge approach slabs were set on the existing footings; to provide long-term resistance to heavy salts applied during the winter, epoxy coated reinforcing steel was used exclusively and a multi-layer polymer concrete overlay was applied to create the final driving surface.

Congratulations to all involved in these interesting projects!

NASCAR Weekend: GBA Traffic Team Gets a Front Row Seat at the Kansas Speedway but the Cars They’re Watching Aren’t on the Track

2010-10-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd, with the sun shining brightly and plenty of fuel, Greg Biffle took his second trip to Victory Lane at the Kansas Speedway. It takes every member of a race team to get to Victory Lane, and teamwork is the key to a successful race day.

If teamwork is critical on the track, it’s just as important off the track as hundreds of thousands of race fans converge, creating the potential for monster traffic tie-ups. This NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event went like clockwork off the track as well as on, thanks in great part to the team of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCKS, the KCK Police Department, Bob Budd of Budd Industries, and GBA’s traffic engineers, who worked from the roof of the press box to coordinate signals and facilitate traffic movement before, during, and after the event.

Members of the team used computers, cameras, and fiber optic networks to monitor traffic and change signal timing and function as needed to keep traffic flowing. The upshot: following Sunday’s race, with more than 100,000 fans in attendance, the entire parking lot was cleared in just two hours! Now that’s a race!

GBA's Bill Carter Receives 2010 WEF Excellence Award

2010-09-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Kudos to GBA Vice President Bill Carter, who has been honored by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) with that organization's prestigious Collection Systems Award! The 2010 WEF Excellence Awards, which were announced recently, will be presented during WEFTEC® 2010, WEF’s 83rd annual technical exhibition and conference, to be held in October in New Orleans.

Bill, who heads up GBA's Water Environment Group with the zeal and commitment one would expect from a WEF Excellence Award-winner, currently serves on two national committees for WEF including Programs and Collection Systems. A member of WEF and the Kansas Water Environment Federation (KWEA) since 1983, he is active on the steering committee for WEF’s Private Property Virtual Library. This on-line library is a source of information for all types of private property sanitary sewer issues. In the mid-'80s Bill served as chairman of the Kansas Collection Systems Committee (KCSC) and was an active member of the KCSC during the '80s and '90s.

Bill's memberships also include the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). Over the years he has been recognized by his peers with a number of special awards, among them the 1st Annual Ray Stillwell Award sponsored by KWEA in 2009; the 5S Award (2005) and Golden Manhole Award (1998) from KWEA; and the Golden Manhole Award (2000) from WEF’s Collection Systems Committee.

Bill’s more than 30-year career has focused on wastewater collection and treatment and includes more than 20 years with GBA and, earlier, more than 10 years with Johnson County Wastewater in Kansas. He earned a BS degree in Civil Engineering from K-State in 1976 and is a registered professional engineer in Kansas and Missouri and a certified Design-Build Professional.

Congratulations to Bill on being recognized by WEF with this significant honor!

WEF is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world.

Congratulations to Tawn Nugent, a Member of the Leadership Overland Park Class of 2010

2010-08-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tawn, a senior engineer with our Highways Group, who recently completed the 2010 Leadership Overland Park program. Leadership OP is a program of the Overland Park Chamber’s educational foundation. GBA, a Chamber member, sponsored Tawn's participation in the Leadership program.

Leadership OP informs participants about the critical issues facing the City, Johnson County, the Metro area, and the region, and helps them develop the leadership and stewardship skills necessary to successfully address these issues.

Tawn has taken a leadership role on a number of high-profile projects for GBA, including improvements to an eight-mile segment of Missouri Route 150 in Jackson County that encompasses the new interchange of Route 150 with US-71 Highway. The project has been ranked as the 9th largest project now under construction in the Kansas City Metro Area by the KC Business Journal!

Tawn also serves on the Board of Directors of Animal Haven, one of greater Kansas City’s largest no-kill animal shelters. A non-profit, Animal Haven serves as a home between homes for as long as the animal needs it, and works full-time to reunite pets with their owners.

Tawn is already putting into practice what she learned, both on the job and in the community!

GBA Team Provides Commissioning Services for First LEED Platinum Facility in Greensburg, Kansas

2010-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

On the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas, was devastated by a tornado that traveled rapidly through the area, leveling at least 95 percent of the city and killing eleven people. The tornado was estimated to be 1.7 miles wide with winds reaching 205 mph. After the damage was assessed and calm returned to the southwest Kansas community, the city council passed a resolution stating that all new city buildings would be built to LEED platinum standards.

The Greensburg Business Incubator was the first LEED Platinum facility constructed in downtown Greensburg following the tornado. The two-story, 9,580 sf facility provides opportunity for startup businesses to obtain office space and meeting space.

A GBA team provided services to achieve LEED v2.2 EA Prerequisite 1, Fundamental Commissioning, and EA Credit 3, Enhanced Commissioning. The building achieved LEED Platinum certification with greater than 50% energy savings and innovative water-reuse systems.

Kudos to the citizens of Greensburg for making a commitment to “green” and for making it happen. The community is an inspiration and a model for communities everywhere. And kudos to the GBA team for being part of this important effort.

Thanks to Wikipedia for facts and figures cited about the tornado.

Business Journal Names Top Kansas City Area Construction Projects

2010-07-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

GBA-designed improvements to an 8-mile segment of Missouri Route 150 in Jackson County – including the new interchange of Route 150 with US-71 Highway – have been ranked as the 9th largest project now under construction in the Kansas City Metro Area by the KC Business Journal!

MoDOT launched the $54.6 million project in 2006 to improve traffic safety and operations along the major east-west corridor, which provides access for Grandview, Kansas City, and Lee's Summit to the US-71 and M-291 highway corridors.

GBA’s Project Manager, Tawn Nugent, P.E., explains that the improvements involve widening what was mostly two-lane rural highway to a four-lane, median-divided urban highway with curbs and underground storm drainage. The project was phased to expedite construction, with the final phase accelerated to qualify for ARRA funding.

The interchange and first phase of the highway improvements are scheduled for completion in November of this year. The final two phases of the project will be completed in 2011.

This very complex project involved three municipalities, four separate TIF districts, and approximately 60 parcels, making communications key to its success. Tawn says that 3-D design was critical in communicating project impacts to stakeholders and coordinating within the project team.

Congratulations to Tawn and the entire GBA team!

GBA Selected as One of the 'Best Companies to Work For'

2010-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ingram’s magazine has selected GBA as one of the “Best Companies to Work For” in the Kansas City area in 2010. The recognition was announced in the May issue of the publication, which noted that all of the selected companies share a few common traits that elevate them from good to great. According to Ingram’s, “The thread running through this year’s winners – as with past honorees – is that the leadership collectively understands the need to help employees strike a balance in their lives. A great workplace, then, is about more than just work.”

The article notes that GBA employees enjoy “fun, focus, and fraternity.”

The fun “comes from a corporate culture that engages 180 employees of the company…with special-event potlucks, birthday celebrations, ice-cream socials and sports leagues.”

The focus “comes from a wide range of career-development initiatives meant to improve on client services and staff skill-building.”

And fraternity is “expressed in an array of community-service, volunteer and fund-raising efforts that help set the Lenexa-based company apart.”

Uniform Interconnection Standard Needed for Kansas

2010-05-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

A recent article in The Kansas City Star got our attention. Written by Steve Everly and entitled "Kansas' potential for new energy is getting lost in the wind," it questions Kansas' commitment to wind energy for “community-scale” applications.

Kansas is second only to Texas in its potential for wind energy. But the state has not adopted interconnection standards that would make it easier for individuals, businesses, and communities to install wind turbines. Other states have already adopted these standards and exceed Kansas in installed wind-generating capacity.

According to the article "Over the years, a hodgepodge of requirements imposed by utilities has made hooking renewable-energy equipment, such as wind turbines, to the electric grid more difficult and expensive. States interested in boosting renewables have been replacing the mishmash with a simpler, easy-to-understand interconnection standard."

Kansas was headed that way, but the Kansas Corporation Commission's staff recommended that, rather than develop a uniform interconnection standard, the details be left up to each individual utility to determine.

Just how all of this will progress is uncertain. According to the article, KCP&L, the state's second largest utility, objects to uniform standards and believes that system requirements should be decided at the utility level. The Kansas Corporation Commission will hold a hearing about interconnection next month.

Although the amount of energy produced by community-scale applications is small compared with utility-scale wind farms, we support a uniform standard that will encourage the use of all kinds of clean, abundant, and renewable energy sources. Wind energy fits that bill and efforts should be made to encourage its use in Kansas.

GBA’s Energy Studio is a collaboration of architects and engineers dedicated to finding solutions for our clients that conserve energy and utilize renewable energy sources.

Photo courtesy of Norther Power Systems, Inc.

Congratulations to Kiel Johnson, Recognized by KSPE Eastern Chapter as 2010 Outstanding Engineer Intern

2010-05-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Kiel Johnson (above right) has been recognized as the 2010 Outstanding Engineer Intern by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE) – Eastern Chapter. The award, which was presented by Chapter President Adam Stodola (left above), recognizes Kiel’s exceptional service to the organization and the profession. Both Kiel and Adam are highway engineers for GBA.

"As an Engineer Intern, Kiel has been an extremely valuable and active member of our chapter since joining KSPE in 2007," said Brent Johnson, PE, secretary of the Eastern Chapter.  "Kiel is currently the chapter's chair for the Young Engineers' Committee and has done an outstanding job recruiting young engineers and new members to the chapter."

As a highway engineer for GBA, Kiel provides transportation planning and design for state DOTs and local agencies. He balances his full-time work at GBA with his committment to professional and community service.

Kiel regularly volunteers his time to both KSPE/NSPE and ASCE's Young Members organizaton.  His activities include work as a MathCounts grader and Future City mentor as well as volunteer activites for Habitat for Humanity, Christmas in October, and Community Emergency Response Teams. In addition, he serves on GBA's Kansas City Corporate Challenge Steering Committee and smokes up some mean pulled pork as one of the founding members of GBA's Genuswine Brisket Authority BBQ team!  Kiel has a BS degree in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University.

"Kiel consistently demonstrates his commitment to our endeavors and brings a fresh perspective and energy to our chapter..." concludes Brent Johnson. We think he does the same for GBA!  Congratulations to Kiel for this very significant achievement!

Students from the Shawnee Mission School District Recognized by GBA for Innovation/Engineering Excellence

2010-05-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

In his exploration of 3D digital animation, Shawnee Mission West student Linden Stirk (left) took his audience on a journey around the globe. Linden used special effects and filters to best exemplify the climate and landscape of scenes of famous places to create his video animation. The project earned Linden GBA’s award for Outstanding Engineering Performance in Career and Technical Education. Judges noted that his work shows “dedication, creativity, and a thorough understanding of several sophisticated computer programs.”

Parker Henley (right), a 7th grade student at Westridge Middle School, received GBA’s Award for Outstanding Engineering Performance in Science. Parker’s investigation, A Study of Connection Types for a Simple Wooden Truss, studied how different types of truss connections affect the strength of the truss and its resistance to deflecting load under pressure. Parker’s project contained precise diagrams from which he built models to test the strength of the truss. He combined science, mathematics, and engineering to complete this focused study. It is no surprise that Parker is interested in the field of engineering as a career.

GBA’s Suzanne Berkey, Sandra Bachamp, Roman Bachamp, and Dan Abitz had the pleasure of judging these and other innovative entries in this year’s Shawnee Mission School District Research & Development Forum, which was held on April 28 at the Indian Creek Technology Center.

The Forum provides a wonderful opportunity for middle school and high school students from the District to showcase their very best science and technical projects. And as they have in the past, many of the students delivered amazing projects!

GBA is pleased to recognize these outstanding students! Congratulations to them and to all who participated. The future is in your good hands!

We're #...334! ENR Announces Top 500 Design Firms

2010-04-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Yes we're #334 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms for 2009, up from #413 last year! The list, published annually in April, ranks the 500 largest U.S.-based design firms—both publically and privately held—based on design-specific revenue.

According to ENR, the Top 500, taken as a group, had overall design revenue of $80.02 billion in 2009, down 11.7% from 2008’s figure of $90.85 billion. Domestically, Top 500 revenue fell 13.1%—from $68.14 billion in 2008 to $59.22 billion in 2009—while revenue from projects outside the U.S. dropped by 7.3%, from $22.44 billion to $20.80 billion last year.

Click here to read more.

Don Horine to Retire April 30 after 39 Years with GBA; Brad Burton to Take the Helm of the Civil/Site Development Group

2010-04-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

Best wishes to Don Horine (above, left), GBA VP and Principal in charge of our Civil/Site Development Group, who will retire on April 30 after 39 illustrious years with the firm! Senior Associate Brad Burton (right) will assume Don's position as head of the group.

Over the years Don has had a hand in shaping the landscape of communities throughout the KC Metro Area and beyond with projects that include:

• Renner Ridge Corporate Center, a 75-acre business park and mixed-use development in Lenexa, Kansas;
• Executive Park, a 1,200-acre business and industrial park in the Northeast Industrial District of Kansas City, Missouri;
• Southlake Technology Park, a 310-acre planned business park in Lenexa, Kansas;
• Lenexa City Center’s East Village and North Village, new urban mixed-use developments that encompass a total of 77 acres in Lenexa, Kansas;
• The Falls, a 200-acre retail and recreational development in Independence, Missouri;
• The Wilderness, a 460-acre upscale residential community in Overland Park; and
• Sprint World Headquarters Campus, a 200-acre corporate campus in Overland Park, Kansas.

And many, many more! Don is leaving the Civil/Site Development Group in good hands with Brad at the helm. A 25-year veteran of GBA’s Civil/Site Development Group, he will ensure continuity and continuing excellence as we move forward.

Congratulations to both Don and Brad as they launch into new and exciting endeavors!

The New Era of Suburban Development: Don Horine Shares His Thoughts in CJ Midwest Magazine

2010-04-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

GBA’s Don Horine knows his stuff, and that “stuff” was the subject of an article that appeared in the February/March issue of CJ Midwest magazine. As a VP and Principal who heads up our Civil/Site Development Group, Don has worked closely with developers in the Kansas City area and throughout the Midwest. He definitely knows a thing or two about engineering planning and design work for developments of all types.

So when CJ Midwest asked Don to write about changes in suburban development, he jumped at the chance. The essence of the article is that we’re seeing a rapidly changing environment in which the era of sprawl, which began after WWII and lasted, basically, through the end of the 20th century, is being replaced.

The new era embraces “smart growth and encourages sustainability and energy efficiency in all types of development, from the design of conventional, single-use properties to the development of new, mixed-use communities.” What’s more, Don says “many cities and counties are adopting form-based codes as well as mixed-use zoning ordinances and design guidelines intended to control the character of developments rather than to establish land use types.” What’s involved? How have things changed? And how have they stayed the same? You can read the full article here.

February's APWA Reporter...In the Spotlight: Council Bluffs' Successful Sanitary Sewer Rehab Program

2010-03-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

GBA Senior Associate Gary Beck and Council Bluffs Director of Public Works Greg Reeder shared the success of the city’s Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program in an article that appeared in the February issue of the APWA Reporter. The article sets out the level of effort required and steps needed to significantly change the level of protection of the city’s sewer system. Other cities can learn from this example.

A quick summary. Back-to-back storms during the summer of 1987 exceeded storm intervals and brought system inadequacies to the forefront. Even before the storms, basement backups and overflows to streams were common during storms. Deteriorating sewers, early design practices that allowed private storm connections, and incomplete and often inaccurate city records, contributed to the problems faced by the 150-year-old city. The following year Council Bluffs selected GBA to evaluate the condition of the sewer system and develop and implement an improvement plan.

Today more than 20 years later the program has been a great success. Steps have included investigation and pilot studies, funding source determination and approval, selection of design storm protection, investigative phases, database and GIS mapping, I/I reduction, structural repairs, and capacity improvement.

While the success of the Sanitary Sewer Rehab Program is apparent – damaging sewer backups and overflows have been reduced from hundreds annually to almost none – city leaders realize that maintaining the integrity of the system requires constant monitoring and capital investment.

KC Business Journal Talks to GBA VP Roy Wilson About LEED Certification in the Current Economy

2010-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

KC Business Journal staff writer Mark Kind talked with GBA VP Roy Wilson for an article entitled "Cost concerns growing, but LEED is not slowing" that appeared in the February 5 issue of the publication. How has the recession in the construction industry affected the pursuit of LEED certification? Roy shared his thoughts along with Bob Berkebile, principal of Kansas City's BNIM Architects, and Bob Courtney, energy manager for the Olathe School District.

All agree that energy-efficient buildings are the gold standard today, whether LEED is part of the mix or not. In fact, Roy noted that some states are developing alternative regulations to allow state-owned energy-efficient buildings to avoid the costs associated with LEED verification. Countney said that he's not sure the district can justify going for an award (LEED certification), and opted out of obtaining LEED certification for three existing schools because of the high cost. He will do the same with another school now under construction. Yet Berkebile noted that while fewer projects are being designed and built because of the recession, the percentage of those seeking LEED certification is growing.

Commissioning is a well documented, systematic method of assuring that a building’s systems perform according to design standards and meet the needs of the owner and occupant. It is a prerequisite for LEED certification. Roy noted that commissioning is a critical step, especially for buildings containing critical 24/7 operations. But while many owners elect to have their buildings commissioned, they choose not to seek LEED certification.

As our clients know, we are committed to helping then achieve their goals for sustainability, from small steps that incorporate green materials, principles, and practices, to helping them earn LEED certification. That's the goal of our FocusGreen Team of LEED Accredited Professionals.

GBA Receives Award from Hillsdale Water Quality Project

2010-02-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

GBA's Les Barnt, Associate head of the firm's Stormwater/Environmental Group, accepted the Hillsdale Water Quality Project's (HWQP) 2009 Water Quality Supporter of the Year Business Award on behalf of the firm. Les currently serves on the HWQP board of directors. The award was presented to GBA for "outstanding effort and dedication to improve, restore, and protect water quality in Hillsdale Lake." Kudos to Les and to members of his group who have been involved.

Hillsdale Lake is located in Miami County, Kansas, and contributes to flood protection on the Marais des Cygnes, Osage, and Missouri rivers. As a flood control device, it is designed to contain more than 7,000 surface acres. It serves as a recreational destination for more than 2 million visitors annually.

Yet Hillsdale's water quality was threatened by phosphorous, nitrogen, pesticides, and wastewater treatment discharges within the watershed. In 1991, concerned citizens initiated the Hillsdale Lake Water Quality Protection Project to help ensure the long-term protection of the lake and its watershed. To date, the Project has been very effective in assisting communities with learning to protect their water resources to sustain growth and the growing demand for water.

GBA Opens Full-Service Office in Omaha

2010-02-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

GBA has opened a new office at 9370 G Court in Omaha, Nebraska. It's the firm's sixth office and will focus on providing GBA’s multidiscipline services for water, wastewater, and transportation infrastructure, building design, land planning, civil/site development, municipal engineering, roof consulting, and surveying.

According to GBA Principal and VP Bill Carter, GBA is committed to a long-term relationship with the City of Omaha and the new office will enable the firm to provide local support to them and other area clients. Carter, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, will head up the Omaha office.

Kids, Creativity...and Baby Jay! All in a Day at This Year’s Future City Competition™ - Great Plains Regional

2010-01-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

The KU Student Union in Lawrence was the site of the National Engineers Week Foundation’s 2009-10 Great Plains Regional Future City™ Competition on Saturday, January 26. And according to our contacts, the designs were inspired and the future looks bright indeed!

From a city named Tomotto, where tomatoes are the primary export and the leaders are Tom and Otto, to a fanciful city on the moon named Apollo, these cities of tomorrow were envisioned, designed, and built by teams of imaginative middle schoolers.

This year’s competition attracted 57 teams, most from Kansas and the Kansas City Metro Area, although we know of at least one team from as far away as St. Louis. The challenge for these seventh and eighth graders: Design affordable housing for those most in need, while adhering to LEED recognized green building standards, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and a low carbon footprint.

GBA’s Suzanne Berkey judged the GBA-sponsored “Mother Earth Award,” which recognized team Overbrook from Leawood (Kan.) Middle School for the most innovative use of recycled materials. While all teams recycle cans and bottles, Overbrook stood out for the creativity that was shown in each detail of their model, from artfully torn printed office paper decoupage used to create building exteriors to small pine branches that served as trees to enhance the landscape. All buildings in the model proudly displayed a plaque of LEED certification.

In addition to Suzanne, GBA participants included mentors Megan Walter, Kiel Johnson, and Scott Moeder, and judges Adam Stodola, Dave Mennenga, Kim Pearse, Matt Parker, and Tait Karlson.

The National Future City Competition is sponsored in part by the National Engineers Week Foundation, a consortium of professional and technical societies and major U.S. corporations. The first place teams in the regional competitions will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national finals during National Engineers Week, February 13-16, 2010. More information is available at http://www.futurecity.org/.

GBA Staffers Help Design Renewable Energy Project Now Providing Power at HMHB Clinic in Haiti

2010-01-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Just a year ago, members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-KC) (http://www.ewb-kc.org/) started work on a renewable energy project in Torbeck, Haiti, in partnership with Healthy Mothers – Healthy Babies (HMHB) (http://www.hm-hb.org/). HMHB operates Maison de Naissance (MN) (http://www.maisondenaissance.org/), a free birthing home in Haiti, near Les Cayes, which had relied on a diesel generator to power lights, fans, and computers. Members of the EWB team designed and built a solar power photovoltaic system that is providing much needed power to the clinic. GBA staffers Keri McGill and Alan Lehman, who were part of the design team, provided updates on the project throughout the year, below.

For those interested in donating to an organization that is on the ground and poised to assist with immediate relief efforts in and around Port au Prince, Partners in Health (http://www.pih.org/home.html) has been in Haiti for over 20 years and is actually the second largest employer in Haiti. PIH is at the forefront of providing medical care to Haitians and has an earthquake donation link set up on their website. The NY Times blog "The Lede" discusses some of PIH’s recent activities in Haiti [link].

Haiti HMHB Project Update – Post Earthquake, January 2010

Members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of EWB designed and installed a solar power photovoltaic system on the clinic’s roof in the Spring of 2009. We are happy to report that the system is working and MN won’t be caught in the diesel shortage. Although MN wasn’t hit directly by the earthquake, they are and will be affected for years to come. Not only does MN anticipate a hearty increase in expenses to maintain even the simplest of operations, there is currently a major urban-rural migration occurring. An influx of people into the rural areas will further tax the availability of materials that have typically been delivered via Port-au-Prince. You can donate directly to the Maison de Naissance Foundation on their website. US Office: 6247 Brookside Boulevard, Suite 224, KCMO.

Haiti HMHB Project Update, June 2009

GBA's Alan Lehman and Keri McGill worked with other members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of EWB on a renewable energy project for a Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies (HM-HB) birthing clinic near Les Cayes, Haiti. The clinic previously relied on a diesel generator for all of its electricity. Alan and Keri assisted with the design of a solar power photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the facility. An implementation team traveled to Haiti in April and again in May to install the solar panel system.

Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies, January 2009

Local professional members of EWB-KC have started work on a renewable energy project in partnership with Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies (HMHB) for Maison de Naissance (MN), a free birthing home in Haiti. MN is welcoming and friendly – in keeping with the hospitality of a home rather than a medical center which can be culturally intimidating. All services are free, because even the least financial expectation would be a deterrent to preventative care and early treatment of problems.

MN does not have electrical service. HMHB is currently spending $3,000 per month on fuel for a diesel generator to power lights and fans in about 8 rooms. Access to the computers and the internet allows HMHB to provide first world care in the poorest of settings. HMHB can reduce their operating costs through solar power. Members of EWB-KC are currently designing a solar power system for the facility. Members of EWB-KC will also assist in the installation of this project in early 2009.

Recommend a Student for an ACEC Scholarship!

2010-01-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

Most of us understand the importance of building strong relationships with our young engineers and land surveyors early in their careers. We want to encourage these young, enthusiastic, and bright minds to become involved and be the best that they can be.
You know that everyone benefits from students’ hard work...our companies, our profession, and our communities.

Please consider taking the time to sponsor a student from KU, KSU, or Wichita State for an ACEC scholarship. All it takes is a little time to fill out a form and let them know that their education is important to us. Your support can make a big difference in a student’s life as she or he strives to achieve personal goals.

ACEC is looking for scholarship applicants for three General Scholarships and one Special Scholarship. General Scholarships are open to Engineering or Land Surveying students entering their Junior, Senior, Fifth, or Graduate year in the fall of 2010. National ACEC Scholarships are $5,000, $7,500, and $10,000, and must be recommended through ACEC of Kansas. ACEC of Kansas will also consider the same applicants for smaller local scholarships of $500 to $1,000.

Aother Special National Scholarship is open to Masters students in a Structural Engineering Program in the fall of 2010. The scholarship is $5,000.

Applicants should be recommended by consulting engineering or land surveying firms if they want to score the maximum number of points. Additional information is available at http://www.acecks.org/. Please send questions to: acecscholarships@gbateam.com. Hard copies must be submitted and sent to:
GBA
Attn: Tim Ross
9801 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2010.

CANstruction in Kansas City, Part II

2010-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Members of GBA's CANstruction team defied expectations, logic, and gravity as they built this fantastic sculpture on the floor of Kansas City's Union Station. The unconventional art "exhibit," which is made up of thousands of cans, will be on display January 15 through February 11 for all to enjoy. The build-out took place on January 13, with teams from local architecture and engineering firms working through the day to complete their designs. At the close of the exhibition, all of the canned food used in the structures will be donated to Harvesters, Kansas City's Community Food Network!

GBA's very enthusiastic and creative CANstruction team was headed up by Molly Oller with lots of support from Jennifer Gunby, Tawn Nugent, Sam Wagner, Keri McGill, Megan Walter, Suzanne Berkey, Mike Burton, and Dave Mennenga.

Join the GBA team for the ninth annual CANstruction Preview Party to benefit Harvesters on Thursday, Jan. 14, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108. Tickets are $20 at the door; kids 12 and under are free.

CANstruction in Kansas City

2010-01-14T06:58:00.001-08:00

GBA Revs Up Support for New Victory Junction Gang Camp in Wyandotte County

2010-01-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

Kids come in first at the Victory Junction Gang Camp (VJGC) and we're cheering for them all the way. The camp for children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses is scheduled to open on a 71-acre campus in Kansas City, Kansas, sometime in 2011. This is the second Victory Junction Gang Camp founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, to honor their son Adam Petty, who lost his life in a racing accident in May 2000. The original camp opened in North Carolina in 2004.

The camp will operate solely on donations from corporations, organizations, and individuals, allowing campers to attend at no cost to their families. GBA, which has pledged to support VJGC with donations over a five-year period, made our first contribution as a corporate sponsor in December.

The mission of the VJGC is to enrich the lives of these children by providing life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering in a safe and medically sound environment. Most of these kids would be unable to spend a week away from home, much less a week in a fun camp environment, without close medical attention. Many are also economically disadvantaged. In association with local hospitals and health care providers, these children not only experience the camp, but also receive much needed medical treatment and medications free of charge.

To learn more about the camp and opportunities to help, go to http://www.victoryjunction.org/.

Dan Abitz Talks Commissioning in Online Interview

2009-12-31T13:51:00.000-08:00

Commissioning is the focus of an interview with Dan Abitz that appeared in a syndicated column written by Ron Wilson of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University. The article appeared online on December 30 and 31 in Farm & Ranch Guide, Midwest Producer, The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper, and the OttawaHerald.com. At the time of this writing, you can find it at http://www.midwestproducer.com/articles/2010/01/04/news/regional_news/regional19.txt
Roman Bachamp of GBA Builders first introduced Ron to GBA on a trip to K-State to look at a project. Interested in GBA’s expertise in commissioning critical facilities and research laboratories, Ron followed up with Dan.

A second interview featuring GBA Builders and some of its unique projects should be published online in early January.

GBA Shares in the Spirit of the Holidays with 'Coats for Kids'

2009-12-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Holly Boomsma, Bridge Structural, (right) shared the holiday spirit with staffers, from left, Linda Bollinger, GBA Builders, and Heidi Thummel, Marketing, by readying coats donated by GBA staff for distribution to children in the metro area. GBA's effort, which was spearheaded by Holly, is sponsored by NewsRadio 980 KMBZ and Pride Cleaners to help ensure that children in need have warm coats this winter! Last year nearly 10,000 coats were dry cleaned and distributed. Thanks to all who contributed! Together we can make a difference!!

Kim Pearse Appointed to Board of Shawnee Chamber

2009-12-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Kim, a professional engineer and Director of Marketing for GBA, on his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Shawnee, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce. The two-year term will begin January 2010. As Director of Marketing, Kim heads up our efforts to position the firm in key markets, overseeing strategic marketing, business development, and branding efforts. For 18 years prior to that he headed up GBA’s Structural Engineering Group. Kim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Kansas State University. He was named an associate of the firm in 1995 and in 2009 was promoted to senior associate and elected to the GBA Board of Directors.

Who Me? A Home for Me? Animal Haven is Helping; GBA Is Too!

2009-12-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

Dogs rule! At GBA, we like dogs! We like cats too! And we're very pleased to be working with the folks at Animal Haven, who help find homes for little guys just like this. And they do, with great success!

Each year, 2,500 dogs and cats are adopted from Animal Haven! And each year, 1,000 dogs and cats are reunited with their families thanks to Animal Haven's Lost Pet Center! But the no-kill shelter has outgrown its Kansas City Metro Area facility in Merriam, Kansas, and is looking to move to a larger space where they can devote even more love and attention to these special animals.

GBA's Kim Pearse and Tawn Nugent are working on the front lines, serving on the capital campaign committee, developing a Speakers' Bureau presentation to take to the community, and devoting their time and expertise to the organization. In fact, Tawn just finished volunteer training and joins other volunteers who ensure that all dogs get outside for a walk and some play every day!

Animal Haven, which serves 12 municipalities in the Metro Area, shares a vision with other local animal welfare organizations whose goal is to transform the Greater KC Metro Area into a No-Kill Community by the year 2012. All of us can help!

BTW, this fine pup was adopted by GBA's Bobbi and Brad Burton and their son, Jacob. Jacob, who is nine, is pictured here with Freddie, one!

Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar, Part III - Suzanne Berkey

2009-11-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

The exhibit hall was larger than ever this year and I could have spent two solid days visiting all the booths. Two of my favorites dealt with small building details that may often get overlooked in the grand scheme of things. One consisted of light-reflective, prismatic interior window shades that allow diffused light to pass through without the harmful UV rays and heat transmittance. The other incorporated LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology into composite decking to provide lighted walkways and an indication of level changes, such as stairway nosing. Both of these are examples of the exhibited green technologies that go beyond mainstream awareness.

Beyond the educational sessions, exhibit hall, and keynote speaker, the best part of Greenbuild is the congregation of people in an environment that promotes innovation and forward thinking. Average people really do have the power to make positive changes for present and future generations. Possibilities are out there that we cannot even fathom at this time and the excitement about what lies ahead is uplifting and challenging at the same time.

GBA's Recipe for Holiday Giving

2009-11-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

A Saturday in mid-November found GBA staffers and friends cooking up a sweet treat for Harvesters for the holidays! GBA’s “gingerbread house recipe” called for a total of 900 cans of food and household items, which were generously donated by staff. All ingredients were combined in BIM, mixed well, and allowed to “rise” until done. Well done! The holiday creation will be on display in the lobby at GBA headquarters in Lenexa for several weeks before it is dismantled and donated, along with all the trimmings, to Harvesters, the Community Food Network. Click here to watch GBA staffers cook up our holiday recipe http://www.gbateam.com/gallery.holiday.asp

Thanks to all who all who participated!

Excellence in Concrete Award: 39th Street, Independence, Missouri

2009-11-30T14:50:00.000-08:00

An award for Excellence in Concrete for Municipal Paving was presented recently to GBA by the Concrete Promotional Group (CPG). The awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding work in concrete construction. The 39th Street improvements involved all new construction of about two miles of four-lane divided roadway bounded by the Little Blue River on the west and RD Mize/Woods Chapel Road on the east. The project was funded by the 39th Street Transportation Development District (TDD), which was established, along with a one-eighth cent sales tax, by Independence voters in 2002. The 39th Street extension is the second project that the TDD has funded. In 2005, two right-turn lanes were added and other lanes widened at the intersection of 39th Street and Lee’s Summit Road.

"Municipal Sewer & Water" Features Stream Characterization Approach to Infrastructure Protection

2009-11-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

Paul Miller's focus on design repairs of pipelines within streams and rivers is the focus of an October article that appeared in print and on-line in "Municipal Sewer & Water." The subject: JCW's approach to protecting at-risk sewer infrastructure at stream crossings. The solution: GBA's watershed analysis, localized stream reach surveys, and "natural" design solutions to ensure long-term sustainability for pipeline protection.

As GBA's stream specialist, Paul headed up our efforts on the work and is interviewed in depth, along with Aaron Witt, engineering manager for JCW. Paul has completed more than 500 hours of specialized training and field experience in fluvial geomorphology analysis and natural stream restoration techniques (Rosgen Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4). He is GBA’s recognized expert in stream stability and stream bank stabilization analysis and is a locally respected fluvial geomorphologist. Under Paul's leadership, our Stream Team has completed more than 30 projects. Paul himself has evaluated more than 500 miles of streams and rivers in Kansas and Missouri! To read the complete article go to Municipal Sewer & Water.

Talking ‘Water’ with UMKC’s Dr. Deb O’Bannon on KCMO Talk Radio 710

2009-11-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

GBA Principal Bill Carter took to the airways on Sunday, November 22, to talk “water” with Dr. Deb O’Bannon. The subject was Johnson County Wastewater’s (JCW’s) Blue River 26 project, which includes a 3,300 lf tunnel under the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The radio show, “Water, Water Everywhere,” airs each Sunday at 11:30 CST on KCMO Talk Radio 710. Dr. Deb, a civil and mechanical engineering professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, explores water issues and how they are affecting our economy, health, roads, homes, and environment with Kansas City-area policymakers, experts, and community members.

Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar, Part II - Suzanne Berkey

2009-11-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

My time in the educational sessions covered a wide array of topics specific to green building practices, the design profession, and federal involvement. Common threads carried through many of the sessions regarding Risk Management about the implementation of LEED into future projects. I felt one particular session classified risk concerns into an order that made the most sense.

Top 5 Risk Concerns
5. Material Substitutions
4. Ongoing Education
3. LEED v3 New Rating System
2. LEED NC vs. EBOM (Disconnect)
1. Guarantee of Building Certification

The recent release of Neighborhood Development was another area I have interest in learning more about. The pilot ND program has just been completed with forty-seven projects now certified and in the final stages. St. Louis Park, MN proves to be an ideal LEED ND project development located at the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and Grand. Mixed-use buildings offer the core components for a sustainable community. What used to be a road flanked on either side by block after block of strip malls and shopping centers now has a better proportion of building density with open green space.
More information can be found http://www.USGBC.org/leed/nd

In one of the off-site educational sessions, I visited a LEED EB building on the campus of General Dynamics C4 Systems. The Director of Facilities Management, Patrick Okamura, informed us of the process they went through internally to apply for LEED EB. Not only did he find a way to renovate an existing building, he also serves on the Sustainability Task Force with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) established in November 2008. He also created a unique relationship with Deborah Schneidermnan and the Interior Design Department at the University of Arizona. This mutually beneficial relationship works toward the goal of achieving environmentally friendly work environments.
More information can be found http://www.ifmafoundation.org/

Shaun Kotwitz Is New CFO

2009-11-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

GBA is very pleased to welcome Shaun to our team in the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will work alongside Rich Monroe, vice president and treasurer, who will retire in February after a long and very successful career at GBA! Shaun will play a key role in developing and implementing financial and accounting strategy and policies, and is responsible for day-to-day financial and accounting operations.

Shaun looks forward to the challenges of this new post but comes to it with all kinds of great experience in the financial and accounting fields. He's a CPA and Summa Cum Laude grad of Missouri State U where he earned a BS degree in accounting. Shaun's 15 years of experience include, most recently, a stint as controller for another consulting engineering firm and, earlier, as Senior Manager of Accounting Policies for Applebee's International.

Shaun's passions include his family - that's wife Amy and sons Cameron, eight, and Christian, five; sports, he played football, basketball, and baseball in high school and coaches his kids; and landscaping. Yes, he plants a mean annual and nurtures his special perennials. Oh, and on Shaun's bucket list are trips to the World Series and the Super Bowl!

Brazilian Wood Deck Adds ‘Wow Factor’ to Almost Completed Mission Hills Bridge

2009-11-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

The "wow factor" is definitely a feature of this relatively small but charming bridge nearing completion in Mission Hills, Kansas. And that's just what the City and GBA designers had in mind. The bridge, which is located on Indian Lane over a tributary to Brush Creek, reflects the ambiance of the gracious homes, expansive manicured lawns, and mature trees that surround it.

And what, you ask, creates that "wow"? Jon Karst, a GBA bridge designer on the project, first points out the ipe deck. Ipe is an exotic hardwood most commonly harvested from the forests of Brazil. It is resilient and strong - a 3x3 ipe post is the structural equivalent of a 4x6 post of standard lumber - and resists weather wear, abrasion, and naturally occurring wood rot. It's also incredibly dense and hard. Because of this, it is naturally resistant to fire and mold damage. It's also beautiful, with a rich brown color that, with the proper staining, won't weather to gray over time.

GBA recommended and the City of Mission Hills selected York Bridge Concepts (YBC) http://www.ybc.com/, for the timber portion of the project. YBC is the nation's largest on-site Timber Vehicular Bridge builder and the industry leader in Timber Vehicular Bridge Construction. They not only supplied the materials for the bridge but built the timber portion as well.

John Belger Construction Company built the rest of this beautiful project, including the concrete work, stone facade, stream work, planters, approach roadways, etc.

Other pretty "wowie" features of this bridge? Glu-laminated structural timber beams and a sub-deck constructed of Southern Yellow Pine, an attractive stone facade, six ample stone planters, three located on either side of the bridge, subtle lighting embedded along the bridge rail, and a "brick" herringbone approach roadway.

Also fyi, ipe is a renewable resource that comes from managed forests. The industry is heavily regulated and there are also organizations that promote and sponsor the responsible use of ipe and other hardwoods, including the Forest Stewardship Council and the USGBC.

Architect Suzanne Berkey Reports: Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar

2009-11-25T12:38:00.000-08:00

Greenbuild 2009 drew nearly 28,000 advocates for sustainability to the dessert city of Phoenix, Arizona, November 11-13. The annual conference was hosted within the recently awarded LEED Silver Convention Center located downtown, just steps away from the new light rail system. I used the light rail system the very first day I arrived to travel from Mill Street in Tempe, site of the University of Arizona, all the way downtown. Although the train car I entered contained many passengers, I managed to find a seat and found the system very user friendly. It provided me a different perspective of Phoenix and the surrounding metro area. I took the chartered bus every day to and from the Convention Center, used the recycling stations placed throughout the building, and ate the organic food prepared in mass quantity. Compared to other conferences held across the US, Greenbuild definitely sets a high bar for other's aspirations.

Overall, the conference was a success and I came back to Kansas City empowered and motivated to continue on the track of sustainability in my personal and professional life! In the Opening Keynote held at Chase Field, Al Gore quoted an old African Proverb that states, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." He followed saying, "We have to go a long way, fast." Which means we have to work individually and together to reach our goals and sustain our existence on this Earth.

FocusGreen Submission Wins First Place

2009-10-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

GBA's FocusGreen submission won first place in the Kansas City EGB Chapter's 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition. In November, the submission will compete as a national finalist at the Greenbuild Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Team members include: * Suzanne Berkey (Representing the team in Phoenix), Molly Oller, Doug Norman, Amanda Schowengerdt, Megan Walter