Submitted by: Stephen Wolff

Kris Altice serves as General Counsel at Shiel Sexton. Kris has been an important part of Shiel Sexton's team for 11 years. She is our first spotlight for our executive profile and we are excited for you to get to know her a little better through a few questions we've asked her below:

What is your role at Shiel Sexton and how do you define it?
I see my role as an advisor and problem solver. I envision Shiel Sexton as a big wheel with each employee acting as a spoke in the wheel. If one of the spokes was to break, the wheel wouldn't turn smoothly. My job is to help grow the company responsibly; to learn, understand, digest and articulate complex information in a way that people without a legal background can understand and relate. The company has to be nimble to move in and out of markets, so understanding our company and employees is very important.

How did you get to this position at Shiel Sexton?
I had a great job in prominent Indianapolis law firm where I was in business litigation. I was starting to become frustrated because I was always reacting to client issues rather than working proactively to avoid issues. So, I wrote a letter to Shiel Sexton CEO and Owner, Andy Shiel, and said that that I would like to work for Shiel Sexton. Andy responded to my letter; "how did you know that we were looking?" We met and Andy offered me the job.

What do you enjoy most about working for Shiel Sexton?
The greatest thing about working at Shiel Sexton is the people and the way the company treats people. It is a fun place to work where people are able to see the results of their work daily and it feels like you are building something more than just a company.

What would you do if you were not in the construction industry?
If I wasn't working in the construction or legal industry I would like to be a professional golfer. I love being outside and I think it would be great to be able to see the world and play a game I love at the same time.

What is something that everyone should do or experience once in their lives?
Waiting tables is one thing I think everyone should experience. It's a real eye opener on human behavior - the good, the bad, and the ugly. You end up learning quickly that nothing is beneath you. It's all about customer service.

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I think people would be surprised to know that I've seen Neil Diamond live in concert three times.

What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy golf, of course, cooking, traveling with my family, and just being outside. We try and take the family somewhere new whenever we get the chance. When we travel, we explore. Really anything we can do together is great.

Labels: Kris Altice, Shiel Sexton General Counsel, Steve Wolff

Submitted By: Frank Duck, Group Manager

Dow AgroSciences, Purdue University, and the State of Indiana have collaborated to create up to 48 jobs in Indiana's fast growing life sciences sector. Shiel Sexton is building a 6,000 sf. new greenhouse attached to a 5,000 sf. research and support center, in collaboration with the state, and 15,000 sf. build-out for research and office space in the new Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center. Dow AgroSciences will be the sole tenant of the greenhouse being built on the south side of the Ross Enterprise Center. The green house and research center will play an important role in their global technology and development plans, while the build-out at the Technology Center will focus on biotechnology and discovery.

The collaboration is natural fit for Dow AgroSciences, a recognized world leader for their innovative agricultural products, and Purdue University, internationally recognized for their agricultural programs and research. The partnership provides Dow with access to some research campus facilities and faculty and Purdue students enjoy an enriched educational experience through collaboration with premier ag research scientists. Additionally, the partnership benefits Indiana by not only creating jobs directly, but creates opportunities for jobs that will be created by the commercialization of the innovations and the products discovered or created within these facilities.

Shiel Sexton has enjoyed long standing relationships with Purdue University, Purdue Technology Park, and Dow AgroSciences. Purdue University and Dow AgroSciences are dynamic partnership. We are excited to be a part of this important project.

Labels: Dow AgroSciences, Frank Duck, Purdue Univeristy, Ross Enterprise Center

Submitted By: Stephen Oesterreich, Project Coordinator, LEED AP



On Friday January 8, 2009 we learned that the Gene Glick Family Support Center was awarded LEED Gold Certification for its new facility, located at 16th and Martin Luther King Drive in Indianapolis. During the early planning stages, the Glick Center's owner, The Children's Bureau, decided to make this a green building and pursue USGBC certification. Originally the team decided that the project would contend for LEED certification, but during the construction process, the team determined that a LEED Gold certification was not only achievable but would be the best option for the Center. Pushing toward that goal, Shiel Sexton incorporated a variety of green driven products and techniques working with the architect to pursue additional design credits.

The team earned special credits for the use of waste diversion systems, regional materials, and recycled materials. Some of the special features of the building include bike storage, showers, and a white roof. Other resource and energy saving systems include Daikin mechanical system that provide energy savings of 24% and low-flow lavatory and dual flush toilets that reduce water use by 32.8%. During construction, 93.6% of all waste was diverted from the landfill and 21.4% of materials used in construction were comprised of recycled waste. The combination of these environmentally minded additions and spirit of collaboration allowed this project to achieve a Gold LEED certification.

Labels: Children's Bureau, Daikin mechanical system, Gene Glick Family Support Center, LEED certification, Stephen Oesterreich, USGBC

Submitted By: Frank Duck, Sr. Project Manager

Shiel Sexton is constructing the Carmel Regional Performing Arts Center with the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Using BIM 3-D data to look at the inner structural and mechanical systems within a structure (pipes, duct work, steel beams, plumbing, fire protection, etc.) we are able to identify physical clashes prior to any work being performed, saving thousands of dollars in material waste, potential rework claims, and schedule delays.

The video below shows a fly through of Carmel Regional Performing Arts Center with the use of BIM and the picture below shows a clash that was worked out prior to any work being performed.

Labels: BIM, Building Information Modeling, Carmel Regional Performing Arts Center, Frank Duck