http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php? The Latest News and Announcements regarding Peter R. Brown Construction en IvarsonA@peterbrownconst.com Copyright 2010 2010-08-20 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/1060/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/1060/ As published in Worship Facilities, May/Jun 2010 Humans demand accessibility, so it only makes sense for the church of 2010 to tap into that need and go the extra mile to meet people where they are. Three years ago, Four Oaks Community Church of Tallahassee, Fla., saw just that kind of potential in a 60,000-square-foot retail strip mall. For three years, Four Oaks worshipped in a high school. Plans for a permanent home came and went, but roots were never put down. “We were spending a lot of money renting space, a lot of energy setting up and tearing down, we were cramped and had no visibility as a church in the high school,” says Paul Gilbert, pastor of ministry development at Four Oaks. “We want to launch other campuses over the next 18 months, so strategically, we needed a home base.” Confident about a multi-site future, Four Oaks purchased the strip mall and made plans to convert the former Food Lion (29,000 square feet) and adjacent Dollar General (9,000 square feet) portions into a permanent home, while continuing to lease the remaining square footage to local tenants. Jim Tomberlin, founder and senior strategist with MultiSite Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., has coached Four Oaks in its move toward multi-site, saying it’s a viable option for any healthy, growing church. “Multi-site has put the ‘local’ back in the local church by taking church to places Jesus would go, like schools, theaters and retail centers.” “It was accessible, faster and more affordable than making a land purchase and building, and environmentally responsible—the structure was already there,” says Gilbert. Church member Richard Crowe, AIA, founding partner and principal of Tallahassee’s Gilchrist, Ross, Crowe Architects, was asked to redesign the retail space, while Les Stephenson, church member and president of Music Masters in Tallahassee, oversaw the audio, video and lighting aspects of the project. Finally, Peter R. Brown Construction Inc., a nationwide company owned by another church member, John Stewart, stepped in as the builder and construction manager. The decision to renovate existing space ended up saving the team a lot of time and money. “Existing retail space requires no new zoning, permits or site work,” says Nolan Raybon, project manager with the Tallahassee branch of Peter R. Brown Construction. “The parking spaces were already there. The whole project was ‘grandfathered in.’” Four Oaks made a down payment on the $5-million space using funds from a previous building project endeavor and chose to borrow approximately $5.1 million to finish paying for the space and finance the $6-million renovation. With the help of Brad Leeper at Generis, a stewardship consulting firm based in Atlanta, Four Oaks has raised $3.8 million through congregational pledges and offerings, all of which has paid down the loan. “[The capital campaign] was not a huge public effort, it was more grass roots. Overall, there was a high degree of ownership and involvement,” says Gilbert. “In spite of the economy, people were extraordinarily generous, even though many people today have little to give above their regular tithing.” Operation renovation The existing brick façade was left in place. “We wanted the design to reflect the character of the residential neighborhood,” says Gilbert. “We wanted to draw people in.” To soften the commercial lines, Crowe added a covered drop off made from angular white metal. Beneath it is a trellis-covered seating area where the church planted four oak trees, three on one side and one standing alone, a symbol of the church and its beliefs. The brick exterior is broken up with storefront glass to provide a modern, transparent feel. Above the front façade is the towering roofline of the sanctuary and a single cross. “The sanctuary mass creates a new form which serves as a physical sign that this is now a church,” says Crowe. Behind the brick and glass is a 3,000-square-foot gathering area. Exposed ceiling systems, a fireplace, abundant seating, artwork, a coffee bar and bookstore, and a multi-patterned, diagonally laid porcelain tile give the space a “warm warehouse vibe” according to Crowe. The coffee bar and bookstore are currently run by volunteers, but Four Oaks hopes to turn it into a [fully staffed] third place in the future. “That would give the public a whole new level of accessibility, especially since we’re already in a shopping center,” says Gilbert. A vestibule precedes the sanctuary and serves as a sound and light barrier. The sanctuary is a 90-foot by 90-foot square surrounded by a corridor lined with 13 classrooms. The 1,000-seat space sits on a flat, carpet-tiled floor, while a wrap-around balcony seats an additional 300. The painted concrete-block walls are covered with Tectum board and reach up to meet the new 55-foot ceiling. “The existing roof had to be removed completely because it was so low,” says Crowe. That wasn’t an easy task, as suites on either side of the Food Lion were occupied with paying tenants. “We had to build the new roof on top of the original one and cut a hole to lower the new structure into place,” says Nick Faurote, senior project manager with Peter R. Brown Construction. “We also added four inches of insulation and had to do some structural remediation on shared walls, which called for a lot of coordination with tenants.” The higher ceiling also introduced new challenges in the area of lighting. Stephenson first considered suspended truss lighting for the space, but knew it wasn’t a volunteer-friendly solution. Eventually, he decided to install SkyDeck, a wire grid truss product from InterAmerica Stage Inc., in Orlando, Fla. “It’s a catwalk I saw at a tradeshow,” says Stephenson, who also designed the portable projection and speaker system Four Oaks used in the high school. “I knew we could modify the design to meet our needs.” The classrooms surrounding the sanctuary are all permanently themed and accommodate children from birth through fifth grade. A special needs classroom and two A/V/L-outfitted praise and worship theaters are also included. All of the classrooms are carpeted with product from Lees Grab Bags, which are essentially collections of carpet remnants that can be laid in the same manner as carpet tile. “For $2 per square foot we achieved a colorful and unique design in each classroom, and we can easily replace stained areas,” says Crowe. The Dollar General space was transformed to house student ministries and administrative space. The youth area has its own exterior entrance, but can also be accessed from the main lobby. The first area entered is a party lounge with coffee bar, bar seating and flat screen television. Next is the large meeting room, which boasts an exposed ceiling, stage and a loft game room complete with pool tables. Friday night concerts call for sophisticated sound, achieved with a system built around a 32-channel mixing console that can be run live or operator-free. “The idea behind all the materials chosen was durability,” says Faurote. “Concrete floors and concrete block are nearly indestructible.” While Four Oaks didn’t seek LEED-certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design as offered by Washington, D.C.’s U.S. Green Building Council), Crowe is confident the building could have risen to the task. “Choosing an existing structure meant no new footprint,” says Crowe. “We also chose recycled materials, like the grab bag carpeting, which really cut costs.” According to Raybon, the added rooftop insulation will reduce heating and cooling costs, as well, and an A-frame shape makes the roof ideal for installation of solar panels. Slipping into the future The same front-of-house system used in the high school was carried into the new facility, where Stephenson adapted it to work with three 14-foot by 10.5-foot screens [sometimes used for image magnification or IMAG] and three Panasonic 6,000-lumen projectors. The entire system can be operated from a single laptop and can be disconnected for remote use. “We wanted to maintain portability because our future vision is to start a remote campus,” says Stephenson. “This system can be sent to the new location when the time comes.” “Church leadership saw this project as the next step toward becoming a multi-site church,” says Tomberlin. “Because of its central location in the community and its technological capabilities, this facility is positioned to be an ideal home base.” Four Oaks Community Church Saves Time and Money by Re-purposing Existing Space 2010-08-20 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/773/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/773/ Not even the cold, windy morning could keep supportive community members away Thursday, as the Jackson County Health Department broke ground for their new facility. Various elected officials, community members, health department employees and patients were all in attendance as officials spoke on the project. The crowd shivered as JCHD Administrator William Long spoke on the hard work of many to get the go-ahead for the project. “We are as proud as we can be,” Long said. “This project has been 12 years in the making with efforts to secure funds starting back in 1999. “The road to get here has been a long one, with many obstacles. We’ve had two or three architects, a protest from one and a hold on the location.” Regardless of all the road blocks along the way, many congratulated Long Thursday morning for his ceaseless efforts. An official with the Surgeon General’s Office said the facility speaks to the dedication to the community, even in difficult fiscal times. Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna agreed. “This facility is a fine example of team work. And I’ll tell you, Mr. Long has been presenting his needs to us from day one,” Rep. Coley said. Long thanked all in attendance and was sure to mention all those who assisted in making this facility a reality. Long stated that Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, played a huge part in securing the funding for the facility, with help from Rep. Coley. Long also thanked city and county commissioners in attendance for their efforts in granting the permission for use of the site. The county, in cooperation with the city of Marianna, made the site possible Long said. The former home of a Sykes call center is set to house the new health department facility, with actual construction set to begin mid-March. Completion is expected around April 2011. Long joked that he has high hopes that the new facility will not share the fate of the old Sykes building, which was destroyed some years ago by a tornado. The new facility will serve as a replacement for the current health department offices, and will combine all of the services from multiple sites into one. There are currently four locations around Marianna, with offices spread all over the city, from 4th Street and Guyton Street to U.S. Highway 90. These four locations all total about 17,000 square feet of office space. The new facility, however, will be a one-story, 48,950 square foot multi-use facility, giving employees the much-needed extra space. According to Long, the project was initiated not only as a way to consolidate the services and employees all in one place, but to also provide the community with a much needed upgrade to their local health department. The current health department facility was built in 1956, with few renovations or remodeling since. The new building will house all health department services, including Women Infants and Children, social services, a dental clinic, a mobile dental unit, a medical clinic, medical records and intake, vital statistics, environmental health, school health and business support, among others. All the administration offices will also be located at the new site, along with a multi-purpose space for public service training programs. According to a release from the county health department, this public meeting room will serve as a community multi-use facility. It will be positioned on the property to allow for its use after hours without violating the security of the rest of the facility. The facility is being constructed by Peter Brown Construction Inc. The local architectural firm David H. Melvin Inc. is serving as the civil engineer and landscape architect for the facility. The project has a construction budget of $8.2 million. Long says the funding for the facility is coming from an appropriation from the state legislature. The total amount awarded was around $11 million, according to Long. The excess will go towards furniture, fixtures and equipment Long said. The site currently provides parking for 422 vehicles, access to Caverns Road and State Road 166, along with an emergency generator. All attendees were excited about the new facility, and many were congratulatory to Long and his staff for their efforts. Peter Brown Construction breaks ground on the new Jackson County Health Department 2010-03-23 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/733/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/733/ MADISON, FL – Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. has been a long-time supporter of North Florida Community College and this February made a generous $10,000 donation to support minority scholarships at the college. “I have been working on the NFCC campus [construction projects] for the last 12 years and in the North Florida area for 15 years,” said Scott Brewer, Senior Vice President Regional Manager of Peter Brown Construction. “This was an opportunity to give back to the college and the community.” According to NFCC Foundation Director Gina Rutherford, Peter Brown Construction, a PBSJ Company, has been a constant and major supporter of NFCC since 1999 – “Peter Brown Construction has been very supportive of the college and its programs,” said Rutherford. “We are very grateful for this generous donation to help support scholarships for area students.” Peter Brown Construction’s donation will begin NFCC’s new PBSJ Foundation Scholarship. The new scholarship will be available to minority students with scholarship awards applied toward tuition and book fees. For more information about the NFCC Foundation or the new PBSJ Foundation Scholarship at NFCC, please contact the NFCC Foundation at (850) 973-9414, email Foundation@nfcc.edu or visit www.nfcc.edu (Search: Foundation/Giving). Peter Brown Construction makes $10,000 donation to NFCC 2010-03-05 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/601/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/601/ Congratulations, Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. has been listed in Engineering News Record as one of the top 400 contractors! With the economy in recession and the market in decline, Peter Brown has remained healthy showing growth amidst a season of decline. The ENR Top 400 Contractors raked in $338.38 billion in contracting revenue in 2008 and Peter Brown slid in at a comfortable #329, not bad for a first timer! Peter Brown among Top 400 Contractors 2009-06-03 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/507/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/507/ The new $12 million Sanibel Island recreation center provides the city with an affordable facility in which its residents can exercise, entertain children in after-school programs and hold private events. Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. of Clearwater, Fla., completed its work on the 186,000-sq-ft center in 15 months. The project includes a gymnasium, weight room, dance/fitness room, locker rooms, meeting rooms, tennis courts and aquatic area with a six-lane competition pool, plunge pool, exercise pool and shallow pool. The team did not seek LEED certification but incorporated many green features, including a hydrochlorofluorocarbon-free air-conditioning system; solar thermal systems; environmentally sensitive building materials; a monitoring system for indoor air quality; daylighting; water-conserving plumbing fixtures; and energy efficient low-e glass to filter out unwanted ultraviolet/near-infrared light while minimizing heat loss/gain. The interior uses special indoor chemical and pollutant source controls and low-volatile organic chemical primers, paints and clear wood floor sealer. Owner: City of Sanibel, Fla. Contractor: Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc., Clearwater, Fla. Architect: Woodroffe Corp. Architects, Tampa, Fla. Sanibel Island Recreation Center is Southeast Contruction’s Best of ‘08 Sports/Recreation Project 2009-01-21 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/497/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/497/ Tampa, FL – The PBSJ Corporation (PBSJ), parent company of the engineering, architecture, and sciences company PBS&J, PBS&J Constructors, and PBS&J International, announces the execution of an agreement for the acquisition of Clearwater, FL-based Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. They will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation. Founded in 1963 by Peter R. Brown, Peter Brown Construction (www.peterbrownconst.com) has 150 employees located in Clearwater, Destin, and Tallahassee, FL, and in Warner Robbins, GA. The company was purchased by three principles of the company in 2000. Today, Peter Brown Construction provides comprehensive construction management and design-build services to public and private clients primarily throughout the southeastern U.S. The company was recently named as one of the top 50 fastest growing privately held companies for 2008 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “This is a very strategic move by both Peter Brown Construction and PBSJ to enhance our position in the marketplace and to better serve both our clients and our employees,” states John B. Zumwalt, III, chairman and CEO of PBSJ. “Together we offer a strong, totally integrated project delivery service.” Peter Brown President Judy Mitchell states, “This is a good fit for both companies. Our services complement each other nicely, and our company cultures are unusually compatible. We are excited about the ability we now have to grow our company in the national arena and the opportunities it affords our employees to grow professionally.” Effective immediately, PBSJ will pursue and carry out all new construction management at risk projects through Peter Brown Construction. According to Zumwalt, the goal will be to integrate over time the best of Peter Brown Construction’s and PBS&J Constructors’ cultures and practices. Mitchell will remain president of Peter Brown Construction and her partner Vargas will continue to serve as executive vice president. The PBSJ Corporation (www.pbsj.com) is an employee-owned family of businesses that addresses infrastructure needs for the purpose of improving life for generations. The acquisition of Peter Brown Construction significantly expands the corporation’s ability to provide construction management at risk services for vertical and horizontal facilities. With this acquisition, the projected annual revenues of The PBSJ Corporation increase to approximately $850 million for 2009. (The above information contains forward-looking statements concerning our future operations and performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to market, operating and economic risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Factors that may cause such differences include, among others: increased competition; increased costs; changes in general market conditions; changes in industry trends; changes in the regulatory environment; changes in our relationship and/or contracts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency [“FEMA”]; changes in anticipated levels of government spending on infrastructure, including the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users [“SAFETEA-LU”]; changes in loan relationships or sources of financing; changes in management; changes in information systems; late SEC filings; and, the restatement of financial results. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.) Peter Brown Construction Joins the PBSJ Corporation as a new Subsidiary Company 2008-12-19 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/278/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/278/ The Tampa Bay Business Journal has named the 50 fastest growing privately held companies for 2008, and they appear below alphabetically. The ranking is based on percentage of annual growth over a three-year period. There also will be a special list and award for total revenue growth in dollars from 2005 to 2007. Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Florida 2008-07-30 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/213/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/213/ Millions in dollars in education funding is being cut by state lawmakers this year, but residents of a small town in Liberty County are celebrating because they're receiving funds. The 2008 legislature approved close to $15 million in grant funds to renovate and rebuild Hosford School. The small town of Hosford came together Saturday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking of their new school. Many who attended are past graduates, and with them they brought future Hosford Panthers. "Not only have my children came, but my grandchildren will also start coming, so it's very exciting and we're looking forward to the new additions and the new school itself, the beauty of it and what it says about Hosford and our community," said Betty Orama, a Hosford parent. Construction will begin at the school within the next 30 days and will take approximately one year to complete. The addition will include a two story building holding 20 classrooms and a new cafeteria. It's a project that's been a long time coming. "The last school was built here in 1937, so you can see why we're so excited about a new school building," said David Summers, Liberty County School Superintendent. School board members originally applied for the funds a couple years ago and were denied, but the Hosford Community did not give up on their dream. "Our kids need a good safe place to go to school, and we really this it's uplifting our community to have a good place for them to go to school, a safe place," said Michael Anthony Clark, a Hosford resident. School officials hope the new buildings will be ready to open by the 2009-2010 school year. Peter Brown Construction breaks ground on the Hosford K-8 School Addition & Renovation 2008-07-24 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/212/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/212/ Students in the panhandle will soon have a unique way to learn about science and mother nature. The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center broke ground today in Freeport. The program will specifically provide students in Walton and Okaloosa Counties with a classroom in the wilderness, but the program will service the entire panhandle. Community members are excited about the local and national possibilities. Local government officials, businessmen and contractors were just some of the people that gathered to support the groundbreaking of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center. Plans show this education facility will offer students an opportunity to interact directly with nature. Carlene Anderson, Walton County superintendent, said, "Our first phase for this, field trips for our elementary students and that will spark the energies in them and anyone who has that interest. And in our middle school we hope to have a weeklong field trip." The CEO and founder of the center, M.C. Davis, says this project was created around the idea that children need to experience nature to grow to love it and one day want to preserve it. M. C. Davis said, "If a child is growing up in a major apartment complex in the city and he or she never touches a flower or a wild animal or never walks down a trail, how can they fall in love?" The 10 acres eventually hold an education facility that will have access to a 48,000 acre nature preserve, Nakuse Plantation. Project organizers say this area of Florida is home to a numerous species of plats and animals which will provide a diverse learning experience for students in the area and throughout the region. "When we think it'll impact the Walton County school district I get very excited, but when we see it's going to be national impact to teachers, in service training, professional development and down to the desktops of our children, that's an exciting concept." The Biophilia Center is set to open in 2009. Peter Brown Construction breaks Ground on the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center 2008-07-24 http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/211/ http://www.peterbrownconst.com/index.php?/current/news/211/ The University of Tampa unveiled plans for the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, a project valued at $19.5 million. The 12,750-square-foot facility will be in the center of the campus and include a 250-seat main hall, meeting and meditation rooms, pipe organ, a plaza, and a 60-bell musical sculpture and fountain. The chapel and center will be the seventh completely new building on UT's campus in the past decade, the release said. Peter R. Brown Construction Inc. in Clearwater is the contractor. Construction begins this summer. Thompson Ventulett Stainback and Associates, based in Atlanta, is the architect. Peter Brown Construction is selected to build the University of Tampa Sykes Chapel 2008-07-24