News

Iowa State University recently celebrated the topping out of the new Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) complex that is currently under construction on the Ames, Iowa campus. The event featured a ceremonial signing of one of the final structural support beams for the facility. Students, faculty, staff and alumni all had the opportunity to sign the beam before it was hoisted into place.

The event was especially meaningful for one alumnus in particular. Not only did Andy Bates graduate from ISU in 1999 with a degree in Ag Engineering, but he also is helping to lead the construction of the building as the project manager for The Weitz Company.

 How about you? What beams have you signed? Let us know on Facebook.

The Colorado office of The Weitz Company is hosting a pre-Memorial Day celebration Thursday, May 23, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm on the 47^th floor of the 1801 California project in downtown Denver. Enjoy a 360 degree view of the city as we celebrate our past and current clients and display the space available for lease in this updated building.  RVSP by Monday, May 20th by contacting our Denver office, email: jennifer.pye@weitz.com.  In recognition of Memorial Day, the Colorado office of The Weitz Company is asking you to please consider making designated donations to Operation TBI Freedom through Rocky Mountain Human Services. Operation TBI Freedom is an organization which assists veterans and active duty military personnel with service-related traumatic brain injuries.

Work on the 1801 California project consisted of a renovation of this prestigious Denver icon originally built by Al Cohen Construction in 1983. The Weitz Company acquired Cohen in 1986 and many of the workers on today’s project also helped build the original building. Renovations involved a complete facelift of the main lobby entrance, including a new glass storefront. Interiors of the original lobby were completely gutted and much of the existing second floor of the structure was demolished to create an open majestic look. The project features Italian granite flooring and marble wall panels. The client is Brookfield Office Properties; project architect is Morrison + Dillworth + Walls; general contractor is The Weitz Company.

The Denver office of The Weitz Company was established in 1952 and is a full-service general contractor with special expertise in Office, Tenant Improvement, Healthcare, Retail and Pedestrian malls; and Multi-Unit Residential buildings. Local projects include 1801 California; RE/MAX International; Cherry Creek Mall Renovations; and Swedish Medical Center.

Karmyn Babcock, IT Director of The Weitz Company, Des Moines, Iowa, has been selected by Building Design + Construction magazine as a 2013 Top 40 Under 40 honoree. Babcock was previously honored this year by Engineering News-Record magazine as an ENR Midwest Top 20 Under 40 professional.

BD+C 40 Under 40 honors individuals who represent the next generation of leadership in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. The honorees are chosen by the editors of BD+C based on career achievement, service to their professions and communities, and active participation in charitable work.

Babcock served as an intern with Weitz in 1997 and was hired as a full-time employee in 1998. Over the course of her 15 years with Weitz, Babcock has been involved in every facet of the corporate IT strategy, successfully merging the disciplines of engineering and technology. Major innovations include Babcock’s development of a real-time integration between the Prolog and JD Edwards systems regarding project financial information making Weitz the only contractor industry-wide with this technology.

Not only has Babcock pioneered advancements between construction and technology but she also has championed giving back to the community. She volunteers as a kickboxing instructor for charitable groups and regularly assists with fundraising kickathons several times a year.

Babcock is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Master of Science in Civil and Construction Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the Prolog Customer Advisory Board; iPad in Construction; ISU ConE Alumni; Construction Executive Leaders; and McGraw-Hill Construction Future Tech CIO.

The Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory located in Olathe, Kansas, and built by the Kansas City area office of The Weitz Company, recently earned a Capstone Award in Green Design from the Kansas City Business Journal.  The Capstone Awards honor projects in the Kansas City metropolitan area that enhance life for residents, use green building methods, or make it easier for companies to do business.  The project team included Johnson County, Kansas (owner); Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (end-user); PGAV Architects (designer) and The Weitz Company (construction manager).

The Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory is a LEED Platinum registered state-of-the-art crime lab with nine specialized laboratories.  The nine labs require separate environments regarding air pressure, air flow, temperature, noise control, EMF shielding, vibration tolerance, lighting and odor control to name a few.  Sustainable design features include ground-source heat pumps, thermal wells, energy recovery systems, reduced flow chemical hoods, as well as solar panels.  Other features include evidence storage and handling areas, conference rooms for public and private meetings, and the facility connects to the existing County Communications Center.

Other recent honors include:

The 2012 Go Beyond Award from the International Institute of Sustainable Laboratories and Research & Design Magazine.

The 2012 Charles H. Weitz Award for Excellence – awarded April 2013 – recognizing construction operational excellence in quality, customer service and safety.

AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice (AIA/AAJ) – 2013 Facilities Review magazine feature article.

Florida client Broken Sound Club unveiled on Thursday, April 18, 2013 the completion of the final phase of a three-year transformation program. Click here to read more about this 5-Star Platinum Club and its new enhancements.