One of Chicago’s hottest new boutique hotels is also proving to be high on the energy-efficiency list. TheWit’s low energy consumption comes from a combination of several carefully designed efficiency features.The electric bill for the 27-story, 298-room hotel has run only about $7,000 per month. One example of the building’s efficiency is its extensive use of LED lighting, which draws less current per unit of illumination than incandescent lighting and generates less heat. The building also uses some incandescent and other types of lights where they are the best choice. Since opening in July, theWit, located on State Street in

HONORS SCHMIDT Wayne S. Schmidt, CEO and principal of Schmidt Associates of Indianapolis, was honored at the second annual “Legends IN Design” awards ceremony on March 25 at the Deer Zink Pavilion at The Indianapolis Museum of Art. “Legends IN Design,” sponsored by RJE Business Interiors, was hosted by the Indiana Interior Design Coalition (IIDC), the collective voice of Indiana interior designers, established to protect public health and safety through the adoption of nationally recognized interior design standards. Loebl Schlossman & Hackl of Chicago recently announced the national recognition of healthcare principals Abigail Clary and Mark Nichols. Clary has been

MROWIEC Construction managers and general contractors frequently include provisions in trade contracts and subcontracts granting the construction manager and general contractor discretion to modify the schedule and sequence of the trade contractors’ or subcontractors’ work. Those provisions usually then go on to preclude or limit any additional compensation for the change in schedule or sequence. As one court recently observed: “It is completely reasonable that a construction manager should have total and complete control over a project schedule, along with the ability to change the schedules of trade contractors so as to effectively manage the project.” Electric Machinery Enterprises Inc.

TOENJES Q: We want to improve the communication skills of our executives and some of our managers. I once heard about a large construction-management firm that took the unorthodox approach of hiring a theater company that offered communication-improvement services to business, in addition to the usual. That struck me as an innovative idea because it might be cost-effective. First, do you think something like that is a good way to save money or is it skimping? Beyond that, what is your assessment of executive communication skills? What ideas do you recommend to seek improvements? A: While the theatre certainly is

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has added the Chemetco site, a closed copper smelter in Hartford, Ill., and the Lake Calumet Cluster site in Chicago to the Superfund National Priorities List. Related Links: I-35W Bridge Receives PCA Design Excellence Award IIT Perfect Power Project Receives DOE Stimulus Funding Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most complex and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the U.S. The Chemetco site is on Illinois Route 3 in Madison County, about 2 mi south of Hartford. It was a secondary copper smelter from 1969 to 2001 before filing Chapter 7

The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute recently announced the winners of its biennial 2010 CRSI Design Awards program. Related Links: Aqua Lands International Design Award HOK-Designed Terminal at Indianapolis International Earns Recognition RTKL-Designed Central DuPage Hospital Surpasses Halfway Point For more than 37 years, the CRSI Design Awards program has honored excellence in reinforced concrete structures and acknowledged its designers. The CRSI Design Awards program is open to architects, engineers, contractors and fabricators. Midwest winners are as follows: •The New I-35W Bridge, Minneapolis,; Minn. Submitted by FIGG, Tallahassee, Fla. Reinforcing bar fabricated by Simcote, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., and Gerdau Ameristeel,

The unique Aqua mixed-use tower at Lakeshore East in Chicago has captured the acclaimed international Emporis Skyscraper Award for 2009. Aqua is the first Chicago and third U.S. structure to win the Emporis Skyscraper Gold Award. Of particular note are Aqua’s balconies that flow around the tower like ocean waves. Related Links: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Announces 2010 Design Award Winners HOK-Designed Terminal at Indianapolis International Earns Recognition RTKL-Designed Central DuPage Hospital Surpasses Halfway Point The award is considered the world’s top honor for high-rise architecture and has been presented annually since 2000 to new skyscrapers “that show outstanding architectural

J.D. Power and Associates recently gave the HOK-designed Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at the Indianapolis International Airport its highest marks in passenger satisfaction in a survey of 64 major airports. The HOK-designed Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at the Indianapolis International Airport was the first designed with new security protocols following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Related Links: Aqua Lands International Design Award Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Announces 2010 Design Award Winners RTKL-Designed Central DuPage Hospital Surpasses Halfway Point The $1.2 billion terminal earned 777 points – the most of any airport surveyed – in accessibility, baggage claim, check-in and

Marquette University and Opus North Corp. recently broke ground on a new five-story,115,000-sq-ft engineering facility called the Discovery Learning Complex. Marquette University’s Discovery Learning Complex will feature an innovative Discovery Learning Laboratory and a two-story engineering materials and structural testing laboratory, as well as other new teaching and research laboratories, common areas for students and office space. Related Links: Panduit Opens New World Headquarters Magellan Breaks Ground on Retail Center at Lakeshore East IESI Opens New Missouri Headquarters Opus North Corp. is the design-builder in tandem with Opus Architects & Engineers as the designer and architect of record. Hammel Green