Gray Design’s Lorrie Kramer wins Best CFO Award

Lorrie Kramer, CFO of Gray Design Group for almost 30 years, won the Saint Louis Business Journal’s Best CFO Award in the Small Private Company Category, 2010.

All of us at Gray Design Group are thrilled with this award, as we watch Lorrie tackling the responsibilities of not just a CFO, but a COO and CTO as well. Lorrie has tirelessly and selflessly dedicated herself to keeping an unwavering eye on the many issues necessary to run any company – much less a highly creative one – so well. No detail too small, no standard too high. You have set an excellent example for us all. Thank you, Lorrie!

Lakeside Crossing Building One + Two 

Southfield, MI — From hundreds of submitted projects, only the best have been selected as Building of America award winners. The award honors the country’s most innovative, unique and challenging projects — projects that are particularly noteworthy and/or that give back to their respective communities.  The Lakeside Crossing Building One + Two project is now available for viewing online at http://buildingofamerica.com/news/articles/cd/0510/lakesidecrossing/index.html. 

The Building of America award-winning projects represent the best in new construction and renovation in a wide variety of categories, including commercial and retail, mixed-use, multifamily residential, government, transportation/infrastructure, health care, education, religion, historical restoration, and more. Submitted projects are reviewed by a selection committee that is looking for projects with unique design or construction elements; innovative solutions to challenges, including financing, environmental, zoning, etc.; efficient and cost-effective methods of planning and execution; and/or that have a significant economical impact on the region, among others.

The existing building was a plain, concrete block building. It was designed as a low cost vehicle emissions testing building, – essentially a garage with two drive-through bays with a small attached office and waiting area. Once Missouri ended its vehicle emissions testing program, no one could figure out how to reuse it. No one, that is, until CB+E Construction Group.

According to Gus Cervetto, principal of the CB+E Construction Group, most people wanted to tear the building down and start anew, but CB+E rejected that on the basis of how damaging that would be to the environment. ‘We are very big believers in sustainable construction – we did the very first green building project in Missouri years ago – and we knew that the energy we would use in knocking the building down would be too great. The problem we were struggling with was what we could do with it that wouldn’t end up looking like a gas station.’

CB+E wanted a headquarters building of their own; something cutting-edge that would make a dramatic statement and define their corporate image. In the end, they concluded that the plain block emissions testing building had the potential. The way in which they accomplished the transformation has become a case study for one of the prime materials used, Reflectit by Dryvit.

‘Since CB+E wanted to use it as a corporate office building, the building needed to convey an image of quality and sophistication. We also wanted to make it appear bigger from the street. We came up with the idea of the curvilinear facade, what Gus calls a ’swoosh wall’, which really catches the eye and give is a frontage elevation about three times larger than the original,’ said Gray principal, Larry Milles.

Curved elements are more complicated than straight line elements, ‘but we were very budget conscious,’ Milles said. ‘We considered stone panels or metal panels, but they were too expensive. We ended up using Reflectit, which is a metallic coating. If you didn’t know, you might think there were metal panels on the wall. Using Reflectit, he said, ‘is an affordable way to upgrade the facade of a building. This is what everyone is looking for – how to recycle, how to create value in affordable way, and still have a little flair and cutting-edge. This is a high-tech look that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.’

Milles said the CB+E building was the first time his firm had used Reflectit and he thinks it is the first time the finish has been used in St. Louis.

The LEED Silver-certified Elsevier headquarters facility was selected from more than 2,500 projects as a Green Building of America award-winning project and will be featured in the upcoming Midwest Real Estate & Construction Review’s Green Success Stories edition. The issue showcases the region’s most important, innovative or unique sustainable facilities, both new and renovated. 

In addition, the Concrete Council recently recognized Gray Design Group’s Elsevier project as a 2009 Quality Concrete Award winner. Winners were presented with their awards at a formal dinner on Nov. 12, and the projects will be featured in the upcoming issue of Construction News & Real Estate. Gray found ways to use concrete to meet or exceed the functional and aesthetic properties of brick on the façade and structural steel bracing on the interior, as well as for pavers on the dining patio. 

Principal Toby Heddinghaus led Gray’s team on the project. Gray achieved enough points for Silver certification under the LEED for New Construction green building rating system by conserving water and increasing energy efficiency while providing an appealing contemporary and upscale design. Using a significant quantity of regional materials and successfully diverting nearly all of the construction waste from landfills provided LEED credits that set this large building apart from the rest. Elsevier’s products are showcased amongst a 1½-story granite-clad water feature located at the building’s grand central staircase and the thru-lobby, which features suspended acrylic canopies with indirect lighting complemented by stainless steel and back-painted glass clad elevators. The modern canopy-style lighting concepts extend into the full-service cafeteria, which has open ceilings and exposed duct work. 

Milles was one of three winners of the first-ever Distinguished Leadership Awards, which were announced at DBIA-MAR’s Annual Awards Banquet on Dec. 2 in Overland Park, Kan. Milles was the only St. Louis-based winner. 

“It is truly an honor to be recognized for my role in promoting and supporting this methodology that I’ve become so passionate about,” said Milles. “Design-build allows for a team of professionals to come together at the onset of the project, which is beneficial on so many levels. When the entire team is committed to a singular goal of producing the best possible product, everyone wins, particularly ownership.” 

With more than 30 years of experience and 500-plus successful projects under his belt, Milles is widely known as the “go-to-guy” for the design-build process. Milles is licensed to practice in 20 states, recently working on the mixed-use facility Schattdecor, which merges industrial and high-end office space under one roof in Maryland Heights, Mo. Milles has been principal and design-team leader on numerous high-profile projects, including the 100,000-square-foot APC/Schneider Electric in O’Fallon, Mo., 300,000-square-foot Troy Concept Center in Detroit, West Springs Church in Ballwin, Mo., Tetra Plastics in Missouri Research Park and Park Place in Clayton, Mo.

Since joining Gray Design in 2004, Waldman has worked on a variety of major projects, including Rawlings Sporting Goods, Renaissance Financial and APC/Schneider Electric. She also has designed spaces for Boeing, Bakers Footwear and Washington University, just to name a few. 

‘Kami is an enthusiastic team member, with a natural artistic inclination that fuels her passion for creating beautiful spaces,’ said Gray. ‘We are privileged to have her at Gray Design and excited to recognize her work with this promotion.’ 

Waldman holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from the University of Missouri. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and also is credentialed by the National Center for Interior Design Certification.

The essence of traditional aesthetics are woven into the space through the use of neutral tones and classic elements of natural stone and wood. Accents of contemporary elements were introduced into the space via technology; essential in today’s banking environment.

Carefully selected artwork provided an upscale transitional atmosphere. The bank has been a welcome addition to the Saint Louis community and has experienced tremendous growth since opening in April of 2008.

A strong focus on building materials and structural elements provided the base for a design accented with bold color, pattern and rhythm. Gray Design Group’s creative space planning and unique design elements created a progressive yet comfortable office environment that has launched KPFF into the new millennium.

This annual award recognizes remarkable women who excel in careers in the business arena and illustrate the breadth of talent and achievement among St. Louis-area women. She was honored at an Aug. 7 luncheon event at the Renaissance Grand Hotel.

‘I am both honored and humbled to be recognized among such an outstanding group of accomplished women,’ said Gray. ‘The business of design has many implications and applications that allow us to make a positive difference in the built environment and quality of life. Over the last 28 years our clients have become not only repeat customers, but lifelong friends. How fortunate to be able to do what I most love on a daily basis!’

ST. LOUIS – About 450 employees of the world’s leading publisher of science and health information, Elsevier Inc., moved into the company’s new three-story, 152,000-square-foot office building in Riverport Business Park last week. Gray Design Group provided architectural and interior design, while Duke Realty Corp. served as the developer and general contractor for the building, which is targeted for LEED certification. 

‘Just in the last few days, our employees have given an overwhelming positive response to the building, with specific compliments on the natural lighting, open areas and café,’ said Jennifer Meyer, project director working on behalf of Elsevier. ‘I personally love the two-story granite-clad water feature next to the grand central staircase.’