There are smiles all around at Lamar Johnson Collaborative – and deservedly so. Clayco’s partner company received two awards for our outstanding project work at the 2023 AIA St. Louis Design Awards night! LJC is a dedicated and talented team of creative professionals who understand what it means to inspire and connect communities. Earning the MERIT Award in the Architecture Category for the St. Louis County Library – Lynn Beckwith Jr Administrative Building, “The Beck,” and the HONOR Award in the Unbuilt & Master Plan Category for Brickline MP are testaments to the organization’s impact.
Societal advancements are often sparked by powerful conversations between peers. The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) hosted a panel discussion for the U.S. launch of Thomas Heatherwick’s book, “Humanize: A Maker’s Guide to Designing Cities,” a prime example of how constructive partnerships can lead to some of our world’s greatest innovations. It was a packed house with 300 guests attending this engaging event. I thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in the panel alongside Thomas, Shapack Partners founder Jeff Shapack, and CAC President & CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski. We explored the book's themes and discussed Chicago's architectural landscape while scrutinizing the impact of design and development processes on public health.
Libraries aren't just quiet spots to read; they are vibrant places for people to gather and connect. I had the chance to tour the Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County library system with Jane. The two-story, 74,000-square-foot development is coming along amazingly well! St. Louis County Library’s original headquarters needed greater efficiencies and infrastructure to support the evolution of its patrons – so we decided to do something about it. The Clark family was humbled to donate $6 million to the new HQ and towards educational programming to further the library’s mission. Clayco’s partner company, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, is designing the modern and spacious building into a powerhouse destination for employees, students, families, and authors.
Missouri has played a fundamental role in Clayco’s history and my own. I grew up and started Clayco in the St. Louis region, and it is a heartfelt focus of mine to help the area regain its past glory. As the next step toward this mission, I am thrilled to announce the relocation and expansion of our St. Louis offices and operations center! Our St. Louis regional offices will come together in Berkeley, Missouri, in a newly recycled and renovated Clayco hub. What’s truly serendipitous about this is that Clayco designed and built the office for another company 11 years ago – and soon, it will be our new home. The 230,000-square-foot facility in NorthPark Development will accommodate over 1,000 team members committed to engaging the local community with their time and hands.
My inspiration of the month is Clayco Structural Engineer Keiko DeClerck! Every year, I have a fellow selected from our lead interns and first-year employees to attend mentoring sessions, Monday presentations, and client and employee meetings. Last year, Keiko was chosen to be mentored by me –and she also mentored me in return!
Illumination 2023: Underwater was a tremendous success last weekend! Since it started, Illumination has been one of my favorite events to advocate for and attend. It was an unforgettable night filled with musical performances, a laser light show, glowing artwork, food, and great friends. Most importantly, the 1200 people who joined us at Vertiport Chicago raised $1.1 million to cast a light on rare diseases and support the search to cure RVCL. This has personally impacted me, as my late wife Ellen was diagnosed with RVCL in 2005.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what is right,” – and Clayco has a rich history of doing the right thing. We have continuously operated with our people, places, and clients in mind to build “Beyond These Walls.” This mantra emulates that what happens inside the buildings we construct is more important than the bricks and mortar.
October has been filled with so many incredible moments and people to celebrate that I’ve doubled down on my Inspiration of the Month and added Ciere Boatright to the list! Ciere is the perfect example of how when you invest in your community, the rewards return to you tenfold. She is currently the Vice President of Real Estate and Community Development at CRG but takes on the role of the City of Chicago’s commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development next month! Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Ciere’s appointment yesterday, and I could not support his decision more.
World-renowned English architect, designer, and founder of Heatherwick studio, Thomas Heatherwick, is coming to Chicago! The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is hosting a panel discussion for the U.S. launch of Thomas’ book “Humanize: A Maker’s Guide to Designing Cities” on November 8th. It will be an insightful conversation about contemporary building design and how the spaces we develop can spark inspiration or leave us devoid of it – which I am happy to be a part of!
Nothing slows our Clayco team down! We are celebrating several office openings across the country, demonstrating the success of the continued growth of our construction family. In the Southwest, we commemorated the grand opening of our regional headquarters in Phoenix! The 48,000-square-foot office is home to 400+ employees and our partner companies, LJC, CRG, Concrete Strategies, and Ventana, that support thousands of skilled workers throughout Arizona.
I think of the unlikely and extraordinary success we have had in both the Clark family and at Clayco in a series of notable moments. Seminal moments. Starting Clayco in 1984 with basically no experience and no capital, with only a pickup truck and willpower, we began doing simple interior finish projects: carpet, painting, drywall, and doors. That led to an account at Mercantile Bank doing the same work. A lucky break came in meeting the bank’s VP of facilities, John Ward, and eventually the bank’s chairman, Don Lasater. I got an even bigger break building multiple banks for Mercantile when I was partnered with a well-known, local St. Louis architect, Robert (Bob) Boland.
If there is anything that we need more of across industries and communities, it is passionate people who are working to improve our world. Luckily, there is no shortage of these talented individuals, many of whom are featured on Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 under 40 list – including my son Shawn! Crain’s nominates 40 innovators who have made a mark on their industries and the city of Chicago with no end in sight. It is an amazing recognition demonstrating the importance of emphasizing evolution, diversity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Since Shawn and I started working together, I have watched him lead Clayco’s booming real estate development arm, CRG.
Businessman and philanthropist Chuck Feeney passed away on October 9th. He was best known for co-founding Duty-Free Shoppers (DFS) with Robert Miller in 1960. DFS grew to be one of the world's largest luxury retailers, catering primarily to travelers and making Feeney a billionaire in the process. However, what made him particularly notable and admired was not his business success but his unique approach to philanthropy.
If there is one aspect of Clayco that has consistently rang true since its establishment decades ago, it's that our organization is dedicated to bettering the lives of people in underserved communities. Clayco is proud to be one of the many sponsors of the Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), which connects youth in underserved communities with career opportunities in construction. This past weekend, CCDI hosted its first Saturday Academy session at Clayco with 25 ambitious high school students looking to expand their personal and professional development. It was an incredible success! Events like these are integral to connecting youth from under-resourced neighborhoods with career opportunities in construction. CCDI has a strong class of seniors in the program this year, and it’s great to see how the initiative helps them discover their path in construction.
How to live longer and healthier is a topic that’s currently drawing a lot of attention. I recently read Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Canadian physician Peter Attia, co-authored by Bill Gifford. The book highlights the significant health problems humans face and compares our current reactive approach to a proactive method that promotes longevity. Luckily, I already practice much of what’s in the book – but there is always room for improvement! Trained as an oncological surgeon, Attia’s take on longevity is fascinating. He talks about the 'Four Horsemen' – diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease – and how they’re all connected. He believes that if you have diabetes, for example, you might be at risk for heart disease or cancer.
Congratulations to Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, for receiving the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! Their revolutionary work has paved the way for the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, showcasing the significant strides science can achieve. Their research, carried out at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, has changed the course of global health.
Children are the future, and investing in their wellness is committing to creating a brighter and healthier society. Clayco recently hosted its second-annual Kids Dig in partnership with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. This event attracted over 120 young patients and their families to participate in hands-on construction education and the chance to operate bulldozers, excavators, and other equipment in a giant sandbox with professional assistance. The best part about this incredible fundraiser is that all proceeds go directly to Lurie Children’s, supporting the more than 220,000 children who come to the hospital for treatments annually.
I often post about the Cloud, and people ask me, “What is it?” While I could explain that the energy that powers our technology comprises over half a million miles of undersea cables, hundreds of exchange points, around 8,000 data centers, and more, it may be easier to show you.
Clayco supported finding a cure for cancer as we committed to our 13th year with Pedal the Cause! Almost every member of our Clayco family has been impacted by cancer, whether it is that of a family member, friend, or colleague. Our goal as an organization is to innovate communities and industries to build a better, healthier future beyond our walls. Pedal the Cause is an important initiative that aligns with our core values and supports lifesaving research with its efforts.
The most remarkable projects are developed through strategic partnerships that achieve exceptional results. Clayco prides itself on partnering with the best in business to embody the Art & Science of Building, and KONE is a great example of how our extended team of subcontractors helps us accomplish that. KONE is a proven global technology leader in the elevator and escalator industry. The company provides elevators, escalators, automatic building doors, and solutions for maintenance and modernization and aims to improve the flow of urban life. Clayco and KONE are devoted to safety, diversity, strong company cultures, and expertise that brings the most powerful projects to life.
Clayco is helping build a healthier campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville! Our team recently celebrated the groundbreaking of SIUE’s new health sciences complex, where we are working with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, along with PoetkkerJV and Christner Inc., to develop the facility.
Constructing spaces that foster community growth and connection is crucial to creating a sense of belonging that leads to stronger, more resilient communities. Clayco’s partner company, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, has done an excellent job building beyond these walls into the neighborhoods where we operate to deliver PopCourts! – a “small plaza that turned into a movement” – which won an Honor Award in Urban Design from the 2023 ASLA Professional Awards.
We’re breaking ground and helping pave the way toward higher education! Construction began on September 8th on the Center for Emerging Technologies and the Financial Services & Enrollment Center at St. Louis Community College’s Meramec campus. This groundbreaking is part of six new buildings planned across STLCC’s four main campuses as part of a facilities update.
Electric vehicle manufacturing is a pivotal step toward pioneering newer, greener frontiers - and Clayco and ENTEK are at the forefront! ENTEK, the only US-owned and operated manufacturer of wet-process lithium-ion battery separators, has made its single largest investment to date. On September 6th, the company broke ground on a $1.5 billion separator plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, and chose our Clayco team to design and build it.
We are bringing a “pawsitive” development to Columbus, Georgia! Clayco, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, and Concrete Strategies are working on a pet food ingredients facility for AFB International. AFB creates and sells palatant ingredients globally, enhancing the taste of pet food, treats, and supplements. This ensures pets not only enjoy their meals but also receive vital nutrients. The company focuses on palatability, partnership, and people to bring pet food solutions that enrich relationships and lives.
There's nothing like connecting with remarkable individuals and minds from across the globe – which made the Mexico GRI Real Estate 2023 conference a premier destination last week! The event provided a dynamic platform for real estate and infrastructure executives to exchange innovative strategies and solutions. I loved my trip to Mexico City and enjoyed witnessing the nation's journey toward a promising future with many positive signs, including a strong peso, growing population, and entrepreneurial spirit. The country is also ready to receive global manufacturers to provide nearshore supplying to the USA in the next decade.
As Clayco's partner company, CRG, continues to expand its national presence, it requires more creative minds and innovators to do so. In light of this, please welcome the latest addition to CRG’s leadership team, Susan Bergdoll, as Senior Vice President and Partner for the Midwest industrial region! We are thrilled to have her expertise in navigating complex land acquisitions, lease negotiations, and municipal processes in our organization. Susan brings transformative knowledge to the firm with 25+ years of experience in commercial real estate and striking deals with Fortune 100 and 500 brands. Before joining CRG, she managed Duke Realty's nearly 40-million-square-foot Midwest industrial portfolio, valued at over $1.7 billion. Susan’s impressive background will be an advantage as she aids in developing CRG’s speculative and build-to-suit warehouses for e-commerce, Fortune 500, and other clients.
Jean Nouvel is one of the most important architects of the past 50 years. His style fuses innovation, contextual awareness, and a willingness to defy conventions. I admire his work because it reflects a deep understanding of the relationship between architecture and its environment while embracing the possibilities offered by modern technology and materials. Nouvel’s personal story began in Fumel, France. He was raised in a family of teachers and creatives. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne but later focused on architecture, attending the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Clayco has been at the forefront of the data center boom across the US! Our team delivers high-performing centers fast and efficiently as we work alongside mission-critical design teams and engineers. Data centers are built by people for people, with every project team committing to positively impact the local community through improved morale, attracting labor, and setting up career paths with top talent in nearby cities. If there are construction elements that we can consistently guarantee, it’s that our team will deliver a fusion of high-performance projects with creative solutions. As society increasingly depends on technology, so does the need for more facilities with enhanced performance capabilities. We also understand the importance of confidentiality in projects and design and use proven practices to build facilities safely and privately.
While I was serving as U.S. Commissioner General at Expo 2020 Dubai, I read a remarkable book that is back in the spotlight. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, was the inspiration for the current box office hit Oppenheimer. This 721-page-long book is tough to read at times, and incredibly captivating. Twenty-five years in the making and exhaustively researched, the biography won the Pulitzer Prize in 2006. It’s a captivating portrait of a brilliant, complex, and flawed figure who played a critical role in shaping the course of 20th-century history.
We are approaching the finish line at Washington University’s School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Siteman Cancer Center! Concrete Strategies recently held the project’s precast erection topping-out ceremony & dinner to honor the hard work and dedication of our on-site crews.
The centerpiece for advancement is sharing wisdom, experiences, and perspectives to foster the greatest innovations possible. To do this, we must build connections through communities and industries – like attending the upcoming Mexico GRI Real Estate 2023 event! In Mexico City, from August 30th to 31st, GRI Club is working to build valuable relationships between the most prominent leaders in the real estate sector. This conference brings together hundreds of real estate and infrastructure executives to discuss evolutionary strategies and find solutions for a sustainable future.
VinFast has reached a significant milestone toward its global expansion! It was an exciting celebration as the company began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market today, following VinFast and Black Spade Acquisition Co’s completed business combination. VinFast’s Global CEO, Madame Thuy Le, rang the bell to mark the moment!
Known for their determination to get the job done, American postal workers often endure harsh conditions to keep loved ones, businesses, and officials connected. Now, Clayco is helping the United States Postal Service in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, upgrade its facility to better assist its customers and communities. As America’s technology and businesses become increasingly electrified, the USPS is following suit and moving toward greener energy. This project will help modernize USPS’ delivery network with electric vehicle charging stations and improved package handling. It will also help centralize carrier operations in new and extensive sorting and delivery centers and make processes more efficient.
What an incredible honor! Clayco’s Los Angeles office was named one of the best places to work in the small category at the 17th annual Best Places to Work awards. The Los Angeles Business Journal hosted the event and revealed the rankings of the Top 100 LA companies setting trends and redefining the employee experience. Our LA office opened in May 2022, and it’s great to be making such a strong impression in the area.
If you’re looking for a leader who embodies what it means to use your skills and resources to spark positive change, look no further than my good friend Lisa Goodman. Lisa is my August inspiration because of her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout her impressive 30+ year career path and tireless commitment to advancing communities. Lisa is a successful businesswoman with experience in complex and capital-intensive sectors, including technology, health care, retail, financial services, commercial real estate, and hospitality. She is currently on the executive team of The Benaroya Company, a real estate company that finances, develops, and manages projects for global and regional organizations.