Shiel Sexton

Shiel Sexton Honors Earth Day at Franklin College

2010-04-26T16:26:00.001-04:00

Shiel Sexton sponsored an Earth Day Luncheon at Franklin College Friday, April 23, 2010. Special guest Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, spoke on Climate Policy and Sustainability.

Mr. Cohen presented compelling data that supports theories involving climate change and energy issues. He noted that most impacts on the environment are obvious and immediate: hazards, air and water pollution, and the quantity of energy we use and waste. However, the climate change will impact us in the future, not in our lifetime, or that of our children or grandchildren.

According to Cohen, more than half of the world population lives in cities and any impact will affect a higher concentration of people. We can mitigate some of these problems, but most will be left for us to adapt our habits and lifestyle to. Many of us are quite comfortable with today's modern conveniences and the most effective method of reducing our carbon footprint will be our rate of consumption. Technology is a major player on sustainability, in that there are fewer resources used, but more importantly we need to learn to consciously consume resources that are renewable.

So, you may be asking yourself what Earth Day means to construction and Shiel Sexton?

Building construction is among man's most environmentally destructive activities. Shiel Sexton Company believes that growth and progress do not have to be at odds with environmental health and conservation. Our goal at Shiel Sexton is to make a lasting and positive impact - not only on our industry, but on our planet. These are the steps Shiel Sexton takes to Reduce Our Footprint and Leave Our Mark:

Achieve LEED points on buildings
Utilize local vendors to reduce transportation cost and support our local economy
Recycle debris and waste on jobsites
Use green material alternatives
Implement security to reduce waste due to theft and vandalism
Adaptive reuse of existing structures

Shiel Sexton voted one of the Top Workplaces in Central Indiana

2010-04-19T17:19:00.007-04:00

Shiel Sexton has been recognized as one of the Top Workplaces in Central Indiana by The Indianapolis Star for 2010. We were ranked No. 2 in the Midsize Company category, which involved companies ranging from 150 to 399 employees. The ratings were based on a two-part process consisting of an employer questionnaire and an employee satisfaction survey.

Shiel Sexton has received several honors in regards to employee satisfaction and workplace environment. We believe work should be fun and personally satisfying and recognized a long time ago the relationship between enjoying your job and performance. The foundation of our values stem from an internal focus on an entrepreneurial work environment and this philosophy has ranked us among the top places to work in Indiana in the past and for years to come. Thank you to our employees for making Shiel Sexton a great place to work!

Shiel Sexton Celebrates 48 Years!

2010-04-05T14:33:00.011-04:00

Shiel Sexton celebrated 48 years of service April 1, 2010. The employees gathered for food, fun, and games to reflect the growth and success of the company. Below is a brief time-line that traces Shiel Sexton's remarkable milestones that have shaped our corporate culture and entrepreneurial work environment. Get to know Shiel Sexton by viewing our 48th Anniversary video.

Three Indiana Universities Make the NCAA Bracket!

2010-03-16T12:51:00.011-04:00

Submitted by: Steve Wolff, Business Development Manager

Congratulations to Indiana's three NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's invited participants. Shiel Sexton is proud to have been a part of shaping the landscape of these college campuses through construction of various facilities. We would like to shine the spotlight on the achievements of these three schools and highlight facilities that we are privileged to have built.

In the #4 Seed of the South bracket we have Purdue University. Purdue was consistently ranked in the top 5 for most of the season and is in position to make a strong run in the tournament. Shiel Sexton provided construction services on the Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, completing the previously shelled space of 44,460 sf. for the Music and Theater divisions as well as space for Art Education and Dance programs.

In the #5 Seed of the West bracket is Butler University. Butler beat Wright State to win the Horizon League Championship. Butler's stifling defense and outside shooting ability will certainly match up well against any tournament team. Shiel Sexton recently completed a renovation and addition on the Pharmacy and Health Science Building that totals 54,000 sf.

In the #6 seed of the South bracket is University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame finished the season strong and made a deep run in the Big East Conference Championship. Many consider Notre Dame to be the most explosive team in the Big East and look for them to make a statement in the tournament. Innovation Park at Notre Dame was completed in September 2009 with Shiel Sexton as Construction Manager. The 50,000 sf., three-story facility consists of wet and dry labs, research, and office space for start-up companies. This is South Bend's first certified technology park.

Shiel Sexton is proud to have partnered with each of these schools, helping to provide the best facilities for their student's education. Shiel Sexton wants to wish each of Indiana's teams good luck. We will be cheering for you.

Spotlight on: Richard Hennessey, Executive VP

2010-03-09T16:17:00.006-05:00

Submitted by: Stephen Wolff

Richard (Buddy) Hennessey is an Executive VP at Shiel Sexton heading up the Real Estate side of our company. We sat down and asked him a few questions, which are featured below:

What is your role at Shiel Sexton and how do you define it?
My role has evolved. I started out as CFO as well as heading up Real Estate Development. I also had a very successful CPA practice, which I still have. As time went on I took more of a focus on the development side of things and grew out of the CFO role. Also, being an owner, I am involved with strategy and the continuing future of our Company.

How did you get to this position at Shiel Sexton?
The company I was working for started working with Shiel Sexton on several projects and I got to know Andy, Mike and Brian. Andy and I discussed the idea of becoming CFO and a Partner and it made sense for me to make that move in my career. It was a natural transition.

What do you enjoy most about the company?
What I enjoy most are the people. I love the people here and the way we as a company treat our people. There always seems to be new and creative things to do and we are not afraid to try new things. I love how we do take some risks and position ourselves early on, trying to spot trends and I'm happy to be a part of that. Overall, it's a fun and exciting place to work.

What would you do if you weren't in the construction industry?
Well, I've always been sort of a "bean counter" and think I would remain a CPA to some extent, as I enjoy being a "tax guy". I like to see results and with tax dollars, that's real money. I also enjoy gardening, and getting dirt under my fingernails.

What is one thing that everyone should do or experience in their lives?
The joy of raising children and watching them grow and prosper. I have two children that I am very proud of, and just think it's one of the greatest gifts of life to see them turn into such amazing people.

What's something most people don't know about you?
I am a gardener, but don't look at it as just gardening. I like to consider myself a collector. I like to take different kinds of plants and see if they will grow in my garden, so I have a lot of different species of plants that may not be typical in the average garden. I really enjoy getting dirty and working the soil.

What do you like to do for fun?
As I said I like to garden but I also like to golf and spend time with my family. I can often be found traveling to visit my family and go on adventures with them. Hiking/skiing in Colorado and Montana or just walking the South Carolina beaches.

Shiel Sexton named As One of the Best Places to Work in Indiana 2010

2010-03-04T08:13:00.004-05:00

Submitted by: John Andrews, Business Development Director

Shiel Sexton Company was recently named as one of the 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana. The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, BizVoice, Inside INdiana Business, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Indiana, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. The 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana list is made up of 28 companies in the small/medium-sized list (25-249 employees in the United States) and 42 companies in the large-sized list (250+ employees in the United States). Shiel Sexton has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana.

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Have at least 25 employees working in Indiana;
- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
- Be a publicly or privately held business;
- Have a facility in the state of Indiana; and
- Must be in business a minimum of 1 year.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Indiana. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Indiana and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

Shiel Sexton will be recognized and honored at the 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana Awards Dinner coordinated by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, May 6th. The final rankings will be announced at the event. In addition, all ranked companies will be featured in the May-June issue of the award-winning BizVoice magazine.

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Indiana program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkIN.com or contact Jackie Miller at 877-455-2159.

College Campus Sustainability

2010-02-23T15:52:00.007-05:00

Submitted by: Cameron Smith, Project Engineer, LEED AP

With future energy costs still uncertain, finding innovative ways of saving money and resources has become increasingly important for colleges and universities. Shiel Sexton, which has worked on the campuses of colleges and universities for many years, is helping to lead the way in developing Green buildings that are becoming the standard on college campuses. Recently, Shiel Sexton has been involved with three major Green building or renovation projects on three college campuses.

The newly completed College of Pharmacy and Health Science Building addition at Butler University won an Indianapolis Sustainability Award for Energy and has applied for LEED-Gold certification, which is currently under review by the U.S. Green Building Council. Elsewhere, University of Notre Dame's Geddes Hall and Ball State University's DeHority Residence Complex both recently received certifications. Geddes Hall, a 64,000 sf. facility houses the University's prestigious Center for Social Concern and Institute for Church Life, received a LEED Gold Certification. The DeHority Residence Complex, a 131,000 sf. project which included renovations to the complex, creating more beds for students, received a Silver Certification.

Please see the links below for pictures and articles on the above mentioned projects:

Butler: Pharmacy and Health Science
BSU DeHority: Video
Geddes Hall Photos: Photos

Innovative Design and Building Techniques Make a Greener School

2010-02-17T17:11:00.002-05:00

Submitted by: Ben Wilhelm

In Camden, S.C. Shiel Sexton is constructing the new Jackson Elementary School. What makes this 81,000 s.f. structure so noteworthy is the green design and building techniques being incorporated into the school. The facility's 5.6 kw system will actually feed power back to the grid with an array of 10 additional solar panels to power two large water heaters using solar thermal technology. Also the system will include a four panel system to provide the lighting for the monument sign at the main entrance. Other innovative technologies being used include a system of solar tubes that direct soft natural light to the building through a light pipe using reflective surfaces directed to indoor spaces. The school is LEED registered with a goal of Gold Certification.

Leaving Your Mark & Being a Good Neighbor

2010-02-11T14:39:00.006-05:00

Submitted by: Richard Hennessey

At Shiel Sexton we live by the motto "leave your mark". This has been realized through construction projects in a number of locations, some of our projects specific to Central Indiana include the new Downtown Convention Center and the Carmel Performing Arts Center. This has also been realized through less conspicuous projects to help revitalize the north side of Downtown Indianapolis. Starting with our own building at 902 North Capitol Avenue, once the Indianapolis Casket Company, that is now our headquarters. Since then we have continued to "leave our mark" on our neighborhood by buying and revitalizing three more buildings, most recently 1302 N. Meridian, which used to be the old Buick/GM showroom in the early 1920's. The building is now home to August Mack Environmental.

These building, which once were a part of a thriving manufacturing center are being revitalized and modernized for new use. The impact of these projects on the city and the potential revenue through increased property values and expanding tax base will serve as a catalyst for future growth opportunities. It is clear we are leaving our mark in our neighborhood, but isn't that what being a good neighbor is all about?

The Lexington at 12th and Meridian

Shiel Sexton Helps Kick-off Community Super Bowl Program

2010-02-02T16:30:00.012-05:00

Submitted by: Structure Man

Last Friday Indianapolis Colts Mascot, Blue, and Shiel Sexton's Assistant Safety Director, Matt Main, hung a 21 foot blue and white scarf around the neck of Shiel Sexton's famed Structure Man. The scarf is part of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee's Super Scarves program. In an effort to involve more demographics in the excitement of the Super Bowl, Super Scarves hope to knit 8,000 scarves to be handed out to Indianapolis volunteers at the 2012 Super Bowl. Shiel Sexton's "Structure Man" was sought out to be one of the first(and largest)participants of the program. Shiel Sexton is proud to lend our trademark and our team to the city to also be part of the Practice Facility Committee and the Super Bowl Village Committees.

The Super Bowl means more to Indianapolis than just a "Big Game". The Super Bowl will have an impact that will last for years to come. Mayor Ballard, in a speech to kick-off the Super Bowl committee's efforts said, "It became clear that the return on the investment for hosting the Super Bowl would be hundreds of millions of dollars". Even beyond the tourism and entertainment dollars that will flow through the city, the planned east side redevelopment will leave a lasting legacy long after the last snap is taken. Shiel Sexton is proud to be a participant in this monumental event for the city of Indianapolis.

For additional coverage check out these stories:

WISH TV Story

WTHR Story

IBJ Story

Executive Profile: Kris Altice, General Counsel

2010-01-26T14:00:00.004-05:00

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.

Dow AgroSciences: Job Creation Through Collaboration

2010-01-19T14:06:00.005-05:00

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.

Collaboration and New Ideas Leads to GOLD

2010-01-13T16:17:00.004-05:00

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.

Building Information Modeling

2010-01-05T16:19:00.004-05:00

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.

Arsenal Tech High School: Updating History to Create a Brighter Future

2009-12-29T09:37:00.009-05:00

Submitted By: Ken Bradley, Project Manager

Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis' east side is a unique institution. In addition to the occupational driven curriculum, the site was at one time a US military arsenal. In 1903 the federal government closed the arsenal. In 1912 the City of Indianapolis was growing and needed a location to hold an overflow of students from two high schools. The empty arsenal made an ideal location for a school.

When it was decided that the school was long overdue for improvements, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) selected Shiel Sexton to provide construction services to transform the civil war era weapons facility into a 21st century education facility. The $16 million first phase included; installing a new HVAC system, larger classrooms were built as well new science rooms, and wiring was updated and safety features were added. To provide the least amount of disruption of learning, much of the project was done at night or in the summer. To create as much activities space as possible, we worked closely with the design team to place all air-handling units in the existing attic space. The $7.6 million phase II included; replacing the rest of the HVAC system, replaced old ceilings and improved lighting in the music area, cafeteria, and west gym, as well as adding restrooms throughout campus, improved security and resolving ADA compliance issues.

The project has had its share of challenges, but we have always been able to overcome the problems through collaboration and ingenuity. As we move into the phase III renovation and upgrades to several buildings totaling 415,000 square feet, we will once again work collaboratively to overcome the challenges that such a historic site will bring. The history and the lore surrounding this site has been interesting to learn and filled with fascinating stories and legends. Beyond the fascinating history and lore the best part of this project for me has been helping to further IPS' goal of providing high quality facilities and education for our students.

The Changing World of Senior Living - Update

2009-12-29T09:36:00.003-05:00

The Indianapolis Star printed an article about the Marquette project in the Sunday December 27th edition of the paper. Check out the article below.

December 27th Marquette Article

The Changing World of Senior Living

2009-12-22T14:18:00.005-05:00

Submitted by: Lissa Woods, Resident Advocate/Project Admin

The world of senior living is changing and so are the buildings. Shiel Sexton is currently working with Marquette, located on the Northwest side of Indianapolis, to build onto an existing facility to continue to provide some of the highest quality of living. A unique aspect of this project is working with not only the owners of the project, but also the future residents and striving to meet their needs to ensure that they will be happy in their new homes. At Marquette the residents can chose from 12 floor plans, choose their flooring, as well as the other surfaces. This is certainly a departure from many preconceived ideas about senior living facilities as being one size fits all. The overall success of this project will be measured by satisfying the individual standards of the future residents.

There have been some challenges involved with constructing a facility on a site with an existing living facility. One of our biggest hurdles was how to efficiently move forward with the project, while creating minimal disruption. We were able to mitigate the inconvenience to the residents by completing the project in stages. As we have moved through one stage to another we have created temporary rooms and common areas as construction crews and equipment occupy these spaces. The construction consists of a new 4-story building called "The Terraces" which will hold 48 independent living, built-to-suit, apartments that are currently being roughed-in. A new resident life center will be constructed along with numerous renovations to the existing buildings. The project is about 60% finished and is planned to be completed in December 2010. Over the past two years it has been a thrill to watch the project take shape. For me, the most rewarding part of this project has been interacting with the current residents and future tenants as we work to accommodate their needs and wishes for their future homes built just for them.

Old Design, New Recognition

2009-12-15T17:16:00.006-05:00

Submitted by: John Andrews

Shiel Sexton was recently honored by the construction trade magazine "Midwest Construction" in its "Best of 2009 Awards" issue for December. The magazine competition drew 128 entries to the contest this year. A team of judges, who are experts in the fields of engineering and construction, chose 44 winners across 20 categories.

Shiel Sexton received a "Best of 2009 Award of Merit", in the category of Worship, for the construction on the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Carmel Indiana. The church is loosely modeled after the Hagia Sophia and is unique to the midwest. In fact, this is the first Triad Byzantine-design church constructed since the Hagia Sophia in over 1,400 years.

Click here to see the press release announcing the winners.

Giving Back to Your Community

2009-12-08T14:11:00.005-05:00

Submitted by: Kevin Potter, VP of Human Resources

Over the past 5 years Shiel Sexton has given over $2.6 million and its employees have given over 54,000 hours back to the community. At Shiel Sexton employees are given opportunities to volunteer during work hours without having to make up the hours they are volunteering. We are so proud of our employees for taking the initiative to find places and ways to volunteer on their own accord. This holiday season, while there is much to be thankful for, there are plenty in need and also plenty of opportunities to give back.

Volunteer: There are many places around every town that need your physical help, not just monetary help. A good website to visit to find opportunities to help in your area is http://www.volunteermatch.org/. This can be anything from packing goods up for the elderly to mentoring kids.

Donate Money: Giving even the smallest amount of money can help someone a long way. This time of year is a great time to "adopt a family or child" to be sure they can have something for the Holidays. You can also donate money at most stores to different causes around the Holiday Season.

Donate Goods: Donating gently used clothing or shoes won't cost you anything either. There are plenty of drives, especially in the winter months for coats, gloves, scarves and hats. There are also many sites that allow you to donate calling cards or care packages for our troops overseas. As a business, you can hold a drive at your work and see huge returns because it is convenient and people don't have to go out of their way to donate.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to give back to your local community without it costing much, if anything and there are benefits for everyone young and old. So this season, find a way to give back to the community and you'll be glad you did.

Go Green and Save Green This Winter

2009-12-01T17:57:00.006-05:00

Submitted by: Cameron Smith, LEED AP, Project Engineer

Today more than ever, individuals and businesses are looking for new ways to reduce their energy costs. As world-wide energy supplies dwindle and the threat of increased energy costs hang over consumer's heads, this topic has become a major talking point in the business world.

Shiel Sexton is doing their part to provide clients with opportunities to address these concerns through a number of techniques. One such example of a recent project involved a University's new Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building. The University was looking for ways to reduce energy costs for their new building. Through discussions with the project team they decided to utilize occupancy motion sensors for lighting throughout the facility. The motion sensors detect when people are present and more importantly when there is no one present. When the sensor does not detect any one, it will automatically shut off the lights in the room. Lighting accounts for 30% to 50% of a buildings energy use, so simply turning off the lights can reduce direct lighting energy consumption up to 45%. That adds up to a significant savings over time.

At Home
As the weather gets colder home energy costs go up, but you don't have to buy motion sensing lights to save money at home. By turning off the lights when you leave a room you can decrease your lighting costs. Below are several other simple techniques that can be done to save energy, and save you money, in the winter months.

Turn Down Your Water Heater
Most water heaters are set to a temperature of 140 degrees F by installers, typical households don't require this much heat, and end up paying for it, whether it be in dollars or the occasional 2nd degree burn. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees F (or lower) could reduce your water heating costs by 6% to 10%.

Think About The Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are an easy and inexpensive way to reduce your heating bill. A typical household shells out 50-70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling, so programming your thermostat to turn down when you are not home can save you between 1-3% on your energy bills.

Bundle Up
Be like Mr. Rogers and dress warmer for winter, even inside. More or less, a light long-sleeved sweater is worth about 2 degrees in added warmth, while a heavy sweater adds about 4 degrees. So snug up and start saving.

It is important to note that all of these home energy saving tips are inexpensive and can be done in very little time. So, why not be green and save green in the coming year.

Simon Brute: Continuing to Serve with Purpose

2009-11-24T15:52:00.007-05:00

Submitted by: Mike Dilts, President and COO

Shiel Sexton has partnered with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for over 30 years. Recently we had an opportunity to partner with BSA Life Structures to convert the Simon Brute' Cloister Monastery into housing for Marian University Seminarians. The project allowed Shiel Sexton a chance to work on a structure with religious significance and unique to the history of the Catholic Church. It truly was a pleasure and a project that only comes along once in a career. Part of the reason it is so special is that the community who lived in the building, which resembles a medieval castle, was so unique. The community was a cloister community. A member of a cloister lives out their life in a community separated from the rest of the natural world. While working on the project you were able to get a feeling for what it was like to live in a cloister community.

The challenge for the designers and builders of the monastery was to create a space that enabled the public to interact with the sisters without violating the cloistered community. This was done with redundant halls and mechanical space that was accessible from the outside without having to enter the cloister. The front office operated with a turn style cabinet that allowed the sisters to receive of goods without any contact physically and visually with the outside world. It was really a building within a building. It was fascinating to observe how the original architects designed this while respecting the values that make this space sacred.

When you stand in the courtyard you can't help but think about how the sisters inside the cloister were really in a small community with-in a larger community. It's easy to wonder what could make a person want to do this, to leave the great big world and limit themselves to such as small physical space. Then you begin to understand that the sisters were committed to the spiritual world not just the physical world. They lived in a small space, so that they could experience a greater spiritual existence. This facility was designed to allow its inhabitants to live a life of contemplation and service. The whole existence of the cloister, which was recently moved to another facility, was to pray for the vocations of the church and provide the church with sacraments through their labor. The residents selflessly served as both a physical and spiritual support and foundation for the Archdiocese.

You also cannot help but be impressed by the self-sustaining and self-sufficient nature of the cloister. As a cloister they had to have an understanding of plumbing, electrical, masonry, building, and general maintenance. The sisters of the cloister maintained the structure with very little help from the outside. If something needed to be fixed, they fixed it; if something needed to be built, they built it. When we got into the project, we found that every system had been labeled and recorded. You can go down to the crawl space and see labels hanging from wires and pipes to mark what they are and what they did.

The challenge for the design and construction team was to convert the space into a new use while respecting its historical significance. The building has always had a purpose of supporting the church, and its new mission as housing for seminarians will enable the building to continue that mission. We are proud to have been a part of that.

Project Kick Off at Camp LeJeune

2009-11-18T09:06:00.002-05:00

Submitted by: Ben Wilhelm, President of Southeast Region

Our team kicked off our first partnering session at Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, NC this month as we are building two Childcare Development Centers, totaling 62,000 square feet on base. This design-build engagement will be Shiel Sexton's first opportunity to work with the Department of the Navy. We have conducted highly productive design meetings in concert with Luckett & Farley (architect/engineer), Louisville, KY, in preparation for a spring groundbreaking. Everyone is pretty jazzed about the project because it gives us a chance to drive more backlog with defense contracting nationwide while we wait out a slow economic recovery. Stay tuned!

New Owner for Condo Tower

2009-11-16T08:39:00.007-05:00

More than a year after it was abandoned, an unfinished condo tower will get a new owner next week with less-lofty plans for the building.

Instead of holding condominiums selling for up to $3 million, the tower will be renovated with federal stimulus funds for modestly priced rental housing.

The new design for the eight-story midrise at 707 E. North St. calls for 40 apartments, while renovating the top floor to hold offices of the project's developer, the Whitsett Group.

As on-site landlord, "We'll make sure it stays real nice," said Joseph Whitsett, who co-owns the small development company with son-in-law Tony Knoble.

Whitsett said his 2-year-old Indianapolis company will close on the sale of the tower next week from Fifth Third Bank and the court that's handling a foreclosure against the property. The original developer was a partnership put together by Beilouny Luxury Properties of Indianapolis.

Work on the condo project ground to a halt last year after the recession hit and a national credit crunch dried up funding for high-end condos and other commercial development. The tower is a shell with an unfinished interior.

Contractor Shiel Sexton will start work later this month to build out the interior of the building, which includes a two-level garage.

When the renovation is complete in June, 32 of the units will be rented under government affordable housing guidelines. One-bedroom units will rent for $570 to $620 a month and two-bedrooms for $372 to $740, Whitsett said. Eight units will be rented at market rates of more than $900 a month.

"We expect to fill up quickly," he said.

The only tenant amenity will be an exercise room.

Funding comes from two loans totaling $10.4 million through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, using federal stimulus money, Whitsett said. PNC Bank will lend $6 million,which will help repay the federal loan, he said.

A long-term private loan will be arranged later, "when the credit market lightens up a little," Whitsett said.

Reported by IndyStar.com

Innovation Park at Notre Dame has Grand Opening

2009-11-11T17:40:00.004-05:00

"Innovation Park at Notre Dame" had its grand opening ceremony on October 23rd, bringing a certified technology park to South Bend area. Technology parks are a source of entrepreneurship, talent, and economic competitiveness, which are a key ingredient to the infrastructure that supports growth in today's global economy. They boost the development, transfer, and commercialization of technology, helping to potentially create jobs and bring business to its surrounding region.

Shiel Sexton worked as Construction Manager with CSO Architects to complete the first building at Innovation Park, which is LEED registered and pursing a LEED Silver Certification. The new facility is a 55,000 sf., three-story building that consists of wet and dry labs, research, and office space for startup companies. The new space helps facilitate the commercialization process for startup companies. Its tenants will include entrepreneurs from the University's faculty, student or alumni community, as well as other enterprises that can grow from resources made available through the Park's network.

South Bend Mayor Luecke called Innovation Park "a crucial economic driver for this region, building on our strong history of innovation and entrepreneurship; it connects town and gown in a vital way. Innovation Park at Notre Dame will be a center for creativity and a meeting place for innovators in the greater South Bend area."

Shiel Sexton is proud to be a part of this project that will help to move South Bend and the Indiana economy into emerging business sectors. The products and technologies developed in the facility will aid in creating growth-oriented businesses poised to make a difference in the marketplace, and we are honored to have had a hand in it today.

Historic Downtown building set for $7.5M makeover

2009-09-30T15:36:00.001-04:00

Indianapolis - A $7.5 million renovation of a historic 1920s Buick auto showroom at 1302 N. Meridian St. will turn the three-story building into leasable office space.

Indianapolis contractor Shiel Sexton said it will renovate the 54,000-square-foot building in the next three months by restoring windows, rehabbing the interior and installing new electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems.

August Mack Environmental will be the first tenant, relocating its offices into the third floor from a nearby building, said Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, the leasing agent. The building most recently was used by Extra Space Storage.

The building is owned by a newly formed partnership whose manager is Richard E. "Buddy" Hennessey, executive vice president of Shiel Sexton.

Reported by TheIndyStar.com