with ABC Keystone Excellence in Construction Award

     IKM Incorporated, architects for the $42 million new Reading Hospital and Medical Center Post Acute Rehabilitation Hospital, was honored to join the Wohlsen Construction Company team to receive the Keystone Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors Award of Excellence. The award was presented to Wohlsen Construction Company as the general contractors for the project.

     IKM’s principal in charge and design principal specializing in the design for rehabilitation facilities, Michael McDonnell, AIA,  attended the ceremony and was part of the group to receive the award.  “It is always gratifying to be recognized by your colleagues for quality work. We were pleased to work with Wohlsen on this important project for the Reading community.”

     “The project built a 110-bed facility designed to meet the needs of inpatient rehabilitation. The new Reading Post Acute Rehabilitation Hospital integrated key concepts of the interdisciplinary care team model of nursing and tertiary care for rehabilitation patients,” said McDonnell.

     The Keystone Chapter, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. (ABC) – recognized local contractor firms for work performed on area construction projects during the annual ABC Excellence in Construction Awards Gala, held July 13th in Camp Hill, PA. ABC Keystone’s Excellence in Construction Awards program has become the premier competition within the construction industry, recognizing outstanding construction projects across the region.

     ABC Keystone President and CEO John R. “Jack” Zimmer, CAE, stated, “This celebration of outstanding workmanship illustrates the high level of quality produced by merit shop contractors, and is a testament to the value of the free enterprise system in our community. ABC Keystone is proud of our members and the contributions they make to our industry.”

     Other IKM projects receiving award recognition include: LGH Women and Babies Hospital Focused Growth Expansion, Excellence Award in the plumbing contracting category and Merit Award in the healthcare category and Merit Awards for  Lancaster General Health Admitting Office Relocation and the Memorial Hospital Fast ER.

(Featured in the Photo, LtoR:) Dave Marsden, Project Manager, Wohlsen; Michael P. McDonnell, AIA, Principal in Charge, IKM Architects; George Nissley, Superintendent, Wohlsen; Sarah Kneller, Project Manager, Wohlsen; Dave MajorProject Manager, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center; Daryl Evans, Vice President of Construction, Wohlsen.

 

 

   

      IKM Incorporated, the Pittsburgh-based architectural firm specializing in healthcare and education design, has accepted the Architecture 2030 Challenge sponsored by the American Institute of Architects to adapt their operations and design philosophy to reflect a higher level of environmental consciousness that is critical to our future.

     “IKM understands the important role that we play as architects in issues surrounding design, construction and our product’s ongoing operational consumption of energy. It is important that we take a leadership position in being good stewards of the world entrusted to our care,” says John Schrott, AIA, president of IKM architects.

     “We need to be forward thinking in all aspects of our business from our design solutions being as sustainable as possible to how our internal processes are organized to be environmentally responsible.  We look forward to the continual evolution or our firm to be leader in sustainability.”

     IKM architects kicks-off their 2030 Commitment with a ceremonial electronic signing of the agreement letter by the firm’s principal architects and sending it to the AIA on the 40^th Annual Earth Day, April 22, 2010 from their downtown Pittsburgh offices.

     This effort is sponsored by IKM’s Sustainability Cohort an in-house group that was established in 2008 and led by Melanie Como Harris, AIA, LEED AP, project manager for IKM.

     Two years ago, IKM formed an in-house sustainability team that promotes green office practices as well as green design. The team has developed a series of objectives that included increasing our LEED expertise, working beyond LEED towards more comprehensive sustainability practices, incorporating sustainable design principles in every project, and greening the office’s business practices.

     Schrott says, “It is the goal of IKM to become a sustainable organization.” In that regard, IKM created a sustainability mission statement: “To become a firm of sustainability experts who can talk the talk and do walk the walk.”

     “We believe our sustainability objectives are well aligned with the 2030 Commitment’s goals and today is a momentous occasion for IKM,” states Ms. Como Harris. “We have been working towards sustainability goals similar to the AIA for some time now. It is exciting to be a partner with the AIA in this effort.”

     The AIA 2030 Commitment was developed by the American Institute of Architects recognizing that the global architecture and building community has an opportunity and obligation to create environmentally responsible new and renovated buildings.

     The goal of the 2030 Commitment is to slow the growth rate of greenhouse gas emissions by adopting targets for energy consumption performance. This includes more aggressive fossil fuel reduction standards over the next 25 years by implementing sustainable design strategies, generating on site-renewable power, and/or purchasing renewable energy or certified renewable energy credits. Additional information from the AIA can be found at the following sites: http://www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAB079544 and http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/index.html

     Schrott concluded, “We are proud to support the AIA in their effort to reform our industry.”

On-going Lunch & Learn Lecture Series eases Staff Concerns about the Current Economic Situation

  

As part of the firm's continuing education efforts and Lunch & Learn lecture series, IKM Incorporated hosted Robert Fragasso, CFP, president of Fragasso Financial Advisers, for a one hour discussion on the current economic situation.

Mark Witouski, vice president and leader of IKM's Continuing Education Cohort responsible for planning and bringing speakers into the office said, Bob's presentation was very informative, we need to know what to expect then position the firm to respond to those market conditions.
With history as the guide, Mr. Fragasso reassured staff that while no economic downturn is pleasant the situation is not that unlike times past, such as the 1970s.

Mr. Fragasso said, No one can predict the future, however, history would indicate we are looking at an economic recovery in the next couple of years. He continued, But here is an important point, the investment markets typically lead the economic recovery and could begin to recover much sooner.

During Q&A, IKM staff asked questions about the healthcare industry and other subjects of interest. The outlook is positive, changes will occur, and these times will spawn innovation and industry to be better.

 

About IKM
IKM is a knowledge-based architecture, planning and interior design practice founded in 1911. The firm's portfolio exemplifies the reputation of excellence in executing high profile, high design commissions including the LEED® Silver renovation and addition to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the University of Pittsburgh's LEED® Gold McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the award winning projects the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Lancaster Orthopedic Center.

 

About Fragasso Financial Advisors
Fragasso Financial Advisors is a full-service, fee-based investment management and financial planning firm located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a full-service firm, Fragasso has the capabilities to meet all individual and organization financial planning needs. Additionally, the firm sells no internal, proprietary products, making recommendations only after considering a wide range of investment products, and always with the client's best interests in mind. Fragasso Financial Advisors currently oversees nearly $700 million in assets under management, representing more than 1,500 households, corporations, endowments and retirement plans. www.fragassoadvisors.com

 

Groundbreaking is scheduled for summer 2009 for a $26 million medical center in Indiana County, a recent venture between Indiana Regional Medical Center and the Center for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (COSM). The Indiana Musculoskeletal Institute will be a 74,000-square-foot building located behind the hospital.

Pittsburgh-based IKM Incorporated is the architect for the project. IKM was selected because of their knowledge base of healthcare design, specifically their expertise in orthopaedic center design, having designed more than 250,000 square feet of space for this market sector over the past five years.

“The building will contain all service lines associated with outpatient orthopaedic services including an ambulatory surgery center, physician practice, business offices, and facility support including a central two-story atrium; imaging center, rehabilitation center and a wellness center.“ said John Schrott, AIA, ACHA, president of IKM and head of the Orthopaedic Design practice for the firm. “A 17,000 second story tenant space was designed to house various physician practices.”

Each of the program areas is located in a discrete building volume, which allows each area to be designed appropriately to its function. This reduces the visual scale of the building providing a more intimate and less institutional experience for users and visitors.

The exterior construction of the building will be a combination of brick masonry, metal panel and glass.

“The combination of materials reflects the nature of the building’s owners and the processes taking place within: an intersection and dialogue between two entities, the natural and the man-made, the high-tech and the traditional,” said John Keelan, Manager/Design Architect for the project.

IKM is working with the Owner investigating opportunities to achieve LEED-NC Silver certification.

The Center for Orthopaedics will be built on an 18-acre site and the service lines will be operated as a 50-50 joint venture with the hospital. The Institute has been years in the planning.  According to a hospital spokesman, the Institute will be the biggest such facility in Indiana and surrounding counties.

 

About IKM

IKM is a knowledge-based architecture, planning and interior design practice founded in 1911. The firm’s portfolio exemplifies the reputation of excellence in executing high profile, high design commissions including the LEED^® Silver renovation and addition to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the University of Pittsburgh’s LEED^® Gold McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the award winning projects the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Lancaster Orthopedic Center.