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Candida Alvarez

March’s Featured Artist: Candida Alvarez

March’s featured artist of the month is Brooklyn-born, Candida Alvarez. She is well-known for her bold and colorful creations such as the piece featured above. I became acquainted with her work through her involvement within Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago. The painting featured in the Clark Collection, titled “No Chickens,” is particularly special because we added it while it was still being made. Since 1998, Alvarez has been a tenured professor of Painting and Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Alvarez works in a range of diverse mediums, including but not limited to sculpture, collage, and painting. Her work is often highly complex. It is full of pop, historical, and modern art references, while also incorporating world news and personal memories.

March 21, 2021

2021
Impact
Inspiration
Clark Art Collection
Art

Some Of My Favorite Books

I was recently asked to create a list of my top 5 books of all time. It’s difficult to narrow down my top 5, or even my top 50 books of all time. If you ask me in 6 months, my answer may even be different. However, here are some that come to mind.

March 4, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara, The Stand by Stephen King, Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read, The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman, The World Without Us by Alan Wiseman, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells, Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam by Fredrik Logevall, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young: la Drang – The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam by Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer

Beyond Black History Month: Celebrating Black Artists Year-Round

We’ve entered a new year, and we have a new administration, yet the challenges that we face as Americans are as old as any of us can remember. Every February, we celebrate Black History Month and then feel like we have done our part in recognizing both the adversity and the contributions of Black Americans in the making of America as we know it. However, I would argue that recognition limited to this one month, the shortest month of the year in fact, is not enough. Understanding and celebrating Black history is critical to the unification and healing that our country so deeply needs. What has been obvious to Black communities for the past couple of centuries, has finally made its way into broader American awareness, amplified by the events of 2020. This awareness is most welcome, but it is our response to the awareness that will be the most important thing.

February 24, 2021

2021
Impact
Inspiration
Clark Art Collection

The Books That Inspire Me to Think Big

Recently I decided to read, in quick succession, an assortment of books about phenomenal business and tech leaders. I’ve found that reading related books one after the other usually leads to new insights that come from seeing the similarities and the differences.

February 14, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger, How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathon Rosenberg

Centene Centre - Clayton, Missouri

My relationship with Centene dates back to 2008 when Clayco won its first project with the company to build a 21-story office tower, complete with a beautifully-designed public plaza and a 1,700-space parking garage. Working with Mr. Neidorff at Centene has been one of my greatest experiences. This first project was completed in 2010 and brought new life to Clayton, Missouri. Before the construction of Centene’s headquarters, the area was suffering from the financial collapse brought on by the economic recession. Clayco managed to develop a strategic financing plan, resulting in the entire facility being nearly fully leased in less than 15 months. The entire district was elevated as businesses quickly moved in and more people were present and supporting the businesses in the area. After this first success, of which we are very proud, Clayco was awarded the $770 million project of expanding Centene’s headquarters, providing a new structure that is adjacent to the current Centene Plaza. This expansion is also expected to create 2,000 new jobs for the state of Missouri, which is particularly important in these times.

February 9, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

Delmar Divine - St. Louis, Missouri

Delmar Divine, in my hometown of St. Louis, is a project that is near and dear to me. Located on Delmar Boulevard, the project is currently underway turning the original building of St. Luke’s Hospital into a community hub for at least 30 of St. Louis’s nonprofit organizations. Beyond that, it will be the epicenter for the transformation of an entire community. It is a rare example of a project that doesn’t necessarily excite me from a building perspective, but because of the potential it has to positively impact a community that has long been neglected. The building itself has a symbolic significance in the neighborhood. St. Luke’s was important historically because it was a catalyst for hospitals becoming a place of training, research, and medical advancement. In the same way, Delmar Divine proposes to be a place of social innovation and advancement. It will do so by providing the space and the resources to nonprofits who are doing important community work. St. Louis is a national leader in terms of nonprofits, and Delmar Divine will help to increase their impact and bring about shifts in the neighborhood. It will not, however, be a space solely for nonprofits — Delmar Divine will also have a community meeting space, 150 residential units, and a cafe for the tenants, residents, and surrounding community.

January 30, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

There has been a lot of press following the release of Barack Obama’s presidential memoirs. Many of the reviews point out how much our former President reveals his humanity in A Promised Land — the hefty volume that is only part one of two. The book is regarded as a beautifully-written, intimate and in-depth look into his youth and career in the years leading up to the presidency, followed by his first 2.5 years in office. It has been said to inspire us Americans to believe in ourselves and our democracy again and to encourage young people that they can make a difference where it is needed most. This is all true, yet this book is so much more than that. Obama was a leader who inspired me and others to see ourselves as a change agent for a more promising and more perfect union.

January 16, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club
A Promised Land by Barack Obama

ICON Mechanical

ICON is a full-service design-build mechanical firm that has on-site pre-fabrication ability. ICON has been working with Clayco since 2004 when we first partnered together on the design-build of the Cortex One facility. From the beginning, ICON has been a solid and capable partner. They have been an advocate for the advancement in technology and creative thinking that Clayco brings to the table, helping to improve the project delivery process and overall end-product for our clients. They are always eager to help us with our most difficult assignments. ICON was recently instrumental in helping us implement our new approach to prefabrication and modularization. This method was successfully applied to our Pfizer project in Chesterfield, MO, where they built all of the pre-fabricated core walls that lead to millions of dollars saved and a tremendous improvement to the overall schedule. The President of ICON, Mike Bieg, said: “The collaboration between all of the partners involved is what made this project a big success. By communicating with our partners during the process, we were able to adjust traditional decisions to minimize risk while ensuring we were not only completing the work on time but also ahead of schedule.”

January 12, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

Titan Electric

For over 12 years, Titan Electric has been a strong partner for many of Clayco’s projects in the Chicago market. Successfully performing design-build electrical work, they’ve helped us quickly complete complicated projects such as the Zurich North American Headquarters parking garage, Cook County Hospital, Berner Foods in Cherry Valley, IL, Project Tarpon (Amazon traditional non-sort), and Crossroads building “A” in Channahon, IL, among many others. Titan Electric consistently works to find cost-effective ways to adhere to budget constraints on projects, all while delivering top quality work, with the utmost attention paid to safety. Led by Vice President Derek Olenek, the communication, planning, coordination, and overall leadership have led to projects being finished on time and achieving excellence in terms of client satisfaction. Olenek is always the first to say “How can I help?” or “What can I do?” when a hurdle presents itself in the midst of a project. Titan Electric is a partner that I never have to worry about on a project team. They help lead the way and get it done, time and again.

January 12, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

100 Above The Park - St. Louis, Missouri

100 Above the Park, a luxury residential tower designed by Jeanne Gang and built by Clayco, is the latest addition to the city’s diverse architectural splendor, and hopefully just the beginning of a new era. It is certainly one of the most incredible buildings to be built in St. Louis in the past century. It is a spectacular monument to modern architecture and has the important job of shaping up St. Louis’s western skyline. In terms of design, the facade is scalloped and the building is leaf-shaped, making it incredibly unique. It has been designed in such a way as to help residents connect with nature, and the shape of the building allows for plenty of outdoor space for a quarter of the building’s apartments. There are also communal outdoor spaces providing excellent views and shared luxury amenities. One of the coolest things about the design of the building is that it maximizes light and efficiency and it has been Green Globe certified for sustainable and energy-efficient design. Every unit in the whole building has a corner living room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

January 11, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco
Bob

Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella

I recently reacquainted myself with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s book Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone. It is required reading for my senior team. Nadella sums up the book perfectly when he writes: “This is a book about transformation.” It is about the transformation that Microsoft is undergoing with Nadella at the helm, but it is also about how Nadella himself has been transformed in the process, and his philosophy that one of the most important human qualities is empathy. Empathy, Nadella insists, is at the heart of how companies, society, and individuals must transform. The book is written in three main sections: his early life and journey to Microsoft, the story of Microsoft’s transformation-in-progress, and his views on technology and the future. One thing I appreciate is that Nadella wanted to write the book now, while everything is happening, so that the reader can share in the story alongside him, rather than looking back in retrospect. He wants it to be a picture of the mess, not the final product. This is the reality of having a significant leadership role in a company — it is always a work in progress with many obstacles to overcome and things to improve. Nadella shows this magnificently. It’s also written in a way that is really simple to digest and tames the complexity of subjects like the cloud and artificial intelligence for the average person.

December 17, 2020

2020
Inspiration
Books
Beyond Book Club
Hit Refresh The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone

Clayco Rising — A Hub for Diversity and Inclusion Impact

In building, everything starts from the ground up. 25 years ago, we started building diverse and inclusive practices into our company, while also shifting things in the industry. We were the first to introduce a diversity and inclusion program, and have continued to pave the way by breaking through the barriers of income, race, sexual orientation, and gender that are prevalent in the construction industry. Over the past 25 years, we have focused on developing and nurturing relationships, creating opportunities, and remaining accountable in all our operations when it comes to making sure people of color and women have equitable opportunities. We have done so through many initiatives over the years, including some of our most notable programs like CCDI, M/WBE mentorship, Clayco NOW, and our extensive community outreach. Another key area in which we focus on inclusion is in our subcontractor and partner relationships.

December 17, 2020

2020
Business
Clayco

How Clayco’s Award-Winning Photographer Matthew McFarland Stays Inspired

Matthew McFarland is the photographer behind some of the most stunning images of Clayco buildings and job sites. His studio, M Studio West, is based in St. Louis, where he lives with his family. One of Matthew’s photographs from the SK Battery Site in Commerce, Georgia, was chosen as a finalist to potentially appear on the January cover of Engineering News-Record Magazine (you can vote for it here until December 21st). I asked Matthew if he wouldn’t mind sharing with us about his work and inspiration: Can you shed some light on your relationship and history with photography? How did you get to where you are now?My creative journey started as a child growing up in a creative environment. My mother was an interior designer. I was exposed to design, architecture, and visual arts. I explored a broad range of art mediums including ceramics, drawing, and design. Ultimately, I discovered I was able to express my vision most clearly through the lens of a camera. My parents were instrumental in supporting my desire to pursue my vision. I studied photography at The Kansas City Art Institute. Soon after graduating, I opened my first photography studio in 1998 and started my practice photographing advertising work. My eye for architecture was quickly acknowledged through award-winning recognition.

December 7, 2020

2020
Business
Clayco

December's Featured Architect: Jeanne Gang

Architect Jeanne Gang, who was named Time Magazine’s most influential architect in 2019, deserves recognition for both her incredible designs and her work in raising awareness about ecological issues in the industry. Gang hails from Belvedere, Illinois, and went on to study architecture at the University of Illinois followed by studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Like some of the most talented architects in the world, she worked with Rem Koolhaas at OMA in Rotterdam and then founded her own firm in Chicago—Studio Gang—in 1997. Gang has been designing award-winning cultural centers, public projects, and other buildings since she founded her firm. Some of her most unique works are Aqua Tower in Chicago, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Mira in San Francisco, and The Writer’s Theater in Glencoe, Illinois. She is also designing the prestigious Global Terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport that Clayco, in partnership with AECOM, is helping to build; it is truly a thing to behold. It is important to Gang to design places that connect people with their environment and she is inspired by ecological systems, both in her design as well as her building techniques. She is also active in research and exhibitions that raise public awareness about ecologically-friendly practices and closing the gender wage gap in architecture and design. Gang believes that cities and buildings can coexist with nature in sustainable and sensitive ways. Her activism, as it relates to architecture, stems from her belief that architecture is not just a “wondrous object,” but a “catalyst for change.” She calls this “actionable idealism.”

December 2, 2020

2020
Inspiration
Architecture

Michael Kennedy Jr. — The UP Companies

Mike Kennedy is the founder and president of The UP Companies—which provides full-service Electrical, Carpentry, and Laborer Services. Over 25% of their 300-person field workforce is comprised of minority workers and they provide services mainly in Southern IL, St. Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, while also traveling for select projects around the country with Clayco. Michael is an outstanding role model. He advocates for providing opportunities for minorities in the construction industry and beyond. Kennedy himself works to provide these opportunities and serves on the board of the Association of General Contractors MO, BJC Christian Hospital, YPO Gateway Chapter, and Urban Land Institute. I consider my responsibility as a mentor to Michael very important, and the learning has gone both ways. Kennedy grew up in the construction industry, learning from his father who founded KAI Design & Build, before graduating from Hampton University’s business school and entering the company himself. In 2011 he founded The UP Companies, creating a new business model that brought together a collection of subcontracting companies that integrates vertically and creates a unique collaborative advantage to contractors. Sharing overhead, eliminating cost, but offering a high-quality, high-service experience for General Contractors.

November 22, 2020

2020
Business
Partnership

Michelle O’Toole — O’Toole Design Associates

Michelle O’Toole is the principal designer and owner of O’Toole Design Associates, which offers commercial interior design services. She is LEED AP certified and designs in an environmentally responsible way. For O’Toole, design starts with the needs of the people who will work within the space along with those of the clients who will visit the space. People and relationships have been her priority since the beginning, and it has led her to great success over the past 27 years, and even to being named one of the top interior design firms in St. Louis. Michelle and I have worked together on many spaces and her work embodies our brand of “beyond these walls.” We both know that the work that happens in the spaces we create is more important than the physical. However, that space can and should be inspirational. Michelle has done literally all of my private workspaces including my Aspen Rooms in the Clayton and St. Louis offices, and my “living room” in the Chicago office. I like to keep these spaces free of delivering bad or disappointing news (I don’t fire people in these rooms) and only use these spaces for uplifting personal interactions with my team.

November 21, 2020

2020
Business
Partnership
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