The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has awarded The Palmer House Hilton a 2009 Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence for the exterior and interior restoration of its 85-year-old building. Built in the 1920s, the Palmer House is the third hotel to carry the name of real estate magnate and hotelier Potter Palmer. It is an excellent example of early 20th century classic French revival architecture. In 2005, Thor Equities, LLC of New York City selected Chicago architect Loebl Schlossman & Hackl to create a memorable design that would revitalize the structure’s landmark status and expand the retail opportunities of the

The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) has named pioneer Construction, Grand Rapids, Mich., a Certified Green Contractor. Pioneer is the first contractor in the Midwest, and just the ninth in the U.S., to receive the certification. The ABC Green Contractor certification program documents the construction community’s efforts to develop a sustainable workplace environment—both on and off the job site—while also recognizing ABC-member firms that are green-industry leaders. To earn the certification, Pioneer was evaluated by ABC and an independent on-site assessor. Each certified company must complete 13 prerequisites ranging from electronic distribution of documents to establishing an aggressive recycling program.

The garage at the lower level of the 82-story mixed-use Aqua building in Chicago now features the Midwest’s first electric vehicle charging station open to the public. Photo courtesy of Magellan Development Six of these new electric-vehicle charging units are now in the garage of Chicago's Aqua building. Each unit can charge four vehicles at once. The station at Aqua is the first public site in the Midwest. Photo courtesy of Magellan Development Magellan Development Group co-CEOs James Loewenberg (left) and Joel Carlins (center) join Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during introduction of the new electric-vehicle charging station at the Aqua.

A new development project in the life sciences arena was announced Sept. 30 as part of a new agricultural collaboration among Dow AgroSciences, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University and the state of Indiana. Related Links: Wis. Div. of State Facilities Will Require Construction-Waste Recycling in 2010 Plug-in Chargers for Electric Vehicles Installed at Chicago�s Aqua Building Ragnar Benson and William Charles Collaborate on Two Healthcare Projects Emerson Network Power Opens LEED-Certified Learning Center Holland Construction Completes Addition Two Weeks Early Wrightwood Crossing Project Under Way; LEED Platinum Certification Planned Kaiser Electric Wires Casino Queen's New Sports Bar Walton Construction Completes

Kaiser Electric, Fenton, Mo., and Granite City, Ill., recently completed electrical installation for the audio-visual, lighting and sound system in the Casino Queen’s new $2.15-million sports bar and entertainment venue “Sevens.” Photo courtesy of Kaiser Electric �Sevens� is the new $2.15-million sports bar and entertainment venue at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill. Kaiser Electric recently completed wiring for the club�s extensive array of lighting, stage, audiovisual, and bar equipment. Related Links: Wis. Div. of State Facilities Will Require Construction-Waste Recycling in 2010 Plug-in Chargers for Electric Vehicles Installed at Chicago�s Aqua Building Ragnar Benson and William Charles

The owner of a new four-story 19-unit development going up in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood plans to seek LEED Platinum certification–the highest level offered by the U.S. Green Building Council’s green-building rating system–when the project is completed next spring. Rendering courtesy of [1016] Architecture The 19-unit Wrightwood Crossing in Chicago�s Lincoln Park neighborhood will be submitted for LEED Platinum certification when completed in spring of 2010. Related Links: Wis. Div. of State Facilities Will Require Construction-Waste Recycling in 2010 Plug-in Chargers for Electric Vehicles Installed at Chicago�s Aqua Building Ragnar Benson and William Charles Collaborate on Two Healthcare Projects Purdue

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently presented its 2009 Value Engineering Award to a team from the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) whose value engineering will cut $48 million from the life-cycle cost of 33 miles of Interstate 94 in south-central Wisconsin Photo courtesy of Mead & Hunt Darrell Berry (second from left), formerly of the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation and now of Mead & Hunt, and Peter Garcia (third from left) of the Federal Highway Administration, accept the AASHTO Value Engineering Award at the National Value Engineering Conference.

Four Indianapolis architecture firms recently received awards in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Indiana chapter’s annual Design Awards. Photo courtesy of AIA Indiana AIA Indiana�s recently honored project: the Second Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy of AIA Indiana AIA Indiana�s recently honored project: the Indianapolis International Airport Operation Center Photo courtesy of AIA Indiana AIA Indiana�s recently honored project: the Bartlett Reflection Center at DePauw University. CSO Architects received an Honor Award for the Bartlett Reflection Center on the campus of DePauw University in Greencastle. BSA LifeStructures won a Merit Award for an addition and renovation at Second Presbyterian Church.

J.F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac, Wis., recently received a 2009 Build Wisconsin Award from the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin (AGC). Ahern won as a specialty contractor for the plumbing work performed at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research in Madison. The company was involved in a number of the winning projects, and will be recognized with the other awardees at an awards ceremony in early December.

The Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA) is now accepting entries for its 2009 Construction Excellence Awards, which will highlight exceptional work on projects completed in 2009. This year, the competition includes a new category called “Boutique” for any unique interior project less than 10,000 sq ft. To be eligible for the CISCA Excellence Awards, a project must be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Qualified entries must be received at CISCA no later than Jan. 15, 2010. Winners will be recognized at the awards breakfast on April 23, 2010, during CISCA’s national convention in Denver, Colo. Category descriptions, entry