News
IRTBA’s Emerging Leadership Program
Susan Nelson, President, is pleased to announce that Michael Collins has been accepted into the 3rd Annual Emerging Leadership Program of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association. The program is designed to educate exceptional individuals about current and future transportation issues and to prepare them for active participation in the industry.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago WBE Certification
We are pleased to announce that Autumn has been certified as a Women Business Enterprise by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. The District serves an area of 883 square miles which covers the City of Chicago and 125 suburban municipalities.
Building Commissioning Association Course
Congratulations to Stephen Stroud for completing the Building Commissioning Association’s course “Leading the Commissioning Process: Step-by-Step Strategies for New Construction Projects” presented by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This industry-leading commissioning process course is designed to advance the skills of active commissioning providers and enables Autumn to continue offering state-of-the-art Commissioning services to its clients.
American Association of Airport Executives’ Annual Conference
Susan Nelson attended the American Association of Airport Executives’ 2010 Annual Conference in Dallas. Susan participated in the Sustainable Airport Manual (SAM) development workshop. SAM establishes guidance for airport development utilizing a rating system for sustainable achievements on airport projects. It was developed by Chicago’s Department of Aviation with extensive industry participation.
IDOT’s Documentation of Contract Quantities Certificates
Congratulations to Artie Banks who recently passed IDOT’s Documentation of Contract Quantities course. This continues Autumn’s tradition of promoting the importance of continuously upgrading our skills and qualifications and supporting our employees in that endeavor. Autumn’s Transportation staff now includes three members with active Documentation certificates, seven with OSHA training, two Professional Engineers and two LEED APs.
Maureen Kolkka Returns from Assessment Trip to Mali
Autumn’s Director of Engineering, Maureen Kolkka, P.E., returned from a two week trip to Mali in West Africa as leader of a delegation from Engineers without Borders. The community of Niono, Mali is plagued by severe flooding and waste management issues. For the past two years, the EWB team has been working with the town to collect the necessary data for design of a sustainable storm water management and solid/liquid waste management system. As a result of the recent trip, partnerships have been established with the Peace Corps, USAID, Millenium Challenge Corporation, Lux Development of Luxembourg, Rotary International and others to assist in providing funding and in-country assistance.
Facility Assessment of 79 W. Monroe, Chicago
Chicago’s Department of General Services has hired our team led by R.M. Chin & Associates, Inc. to provide a comprehensive assessment of the 14-story building located at 79 W. Monroe. This building was constructed in 1906 and consists of 171,000 rsf of office and retail space. Autumn will be performing an assessment of the Mechanical, Plumbing and Fire Protection Systems along with producing cost estimates.
Jet Bridges at O’Hare International Airport
Autumn has been hired by Walter Niese Machine Mfg. Co. to provide safety oversight and guidance during the removal and installation of jet bridges utilized by American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport.
WBE Certification by DuPage County
We are pleased to announce that Autumn has been certified as a Women Business Enterprise by DuPage County, IL. DuPage County has more than 925,000 residents and is an important driving force in the greater Chicago region. We look forward to participating in consulting opportunities with the County.
Director of Engineering Speaks at WTS Luncheon
Maureen Kolkka, P.E., LEED® AP spoke about Engineers without Borders (EWB) at the WTS luncheon held on Tuesday, September 22. Maureen is Autumn’s Director of Engineering as well as Vice President of the EWB Chicagoland Chapter. Maureen provided information about the history and progress of the organization as well as shared stories about her trips to Armenta, Honduras for a pedestrian bridge project and to Niono, Mali to work on a storm water management/flood control/sanitation project. Anyone interested in finding out more about EWB is invited to email Maureen at maureen.kolkka@autumnconstruction.com
City of Chicago’s Recycling Sorting Centers – Facility Inspections
The Department of General Services has hired our team led by R.M. Chin & Associates, Inc. to provide comprehensive facility inspections of three Department of Streets and Sanitation’s Recycling Sorting Centers. Autumn will be providing inspections and evaluations of the MEP and fire protection systems.
Public Building Commission of Chicago – J.O.C. Program
We are pleased to be working with The Gordian Group on the Job Order Contract (J.O.C.) Program for the Public Building Commission of Chicago. Autumn is providing construction inspection services on a wide range of projects including schools, fire stations and other public buildings and spaces.
Stephen Stroud, P.E. Earns QCxP Designation
Autumn’s Design Project Manager, Stephen Stroud, P.E., has earned the Qualified Commissioning Process Provider (QCxP) designation. It is obtained from the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s College of Engineering through a combination of training, examination and professional experience. Stephen is the second Autumn employee to earn this title.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Autumn has been hired by Hill Mechanical Corp. to provide safety-related professional services for the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The 1.25 million square feet hospital is located at 225 E. Chicago Avenue, just west of the New Prentice Women’s Hospital between Chicago Avenue and Superior Street. The hospital is scheduled to open during the Spring/Summer of 2012.
New Employee – Doug Anderson
We welcome Doug Anderson to the Autumn team. Doug is a highly qualified safety professional who has worked throughout the Midwest and East Coast on high profile projects including the Marquette Interchange, Millenium Center and the Logan Airport Baggage Screening Project. He is an OSHA 500 Construction Outreach Trainer and a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Occupational Health & Safety.
Cook County Pre-qualification
Autumn has been pre-qualified by the Cook County Office of Capital Planning & Policy to provide professional services on both current and future projects. Cook County is the second most populous county in the nation and the 19th largest government in the United States.
O’Hare Cargo Fuel System Replacement
Autumn has been hired by Meccon Industries, Inc. to assist with the management of the O’Hare Cargo Fuel System Replacement project. The project involves decommissioning of the existing cargo fuel/glycol storage and dispensing systems and construction of a complete cargo storage and dispensing facility including tanks, piping, pumps, utilities and cathodic protection. Autumn’s services include project management, quality and safety related professional services.
New Employee – Laura Schmidt
We welcome Laura Schmidt to the Autumn team in July. As our Office Manager, Laura will be instrumental in helping us manage our growth. Laura brings much experience and expertise in administration and finance obtained during her career working for professional service firms in the construction industry.
New Employee – Maureen Kolkka, P.E., LEED® AP
We are pleased to announce that Maureen Kolkka, P.E., LEED® AP has joined Autumn as Director of Engineering. Ms. Kolkka has more than 25 years of experience in Planning, Design and Construction on a wide variety of projects for public and private clients. Her most recent experience includes design and construction oversight of Tollway and Aviation projects. In addition to being a registered Professional Engineer in Illinois and a LEED Accredited Professional, Maureen is the Vice President of the Chicago Chapter of Engineers without Borders and a member of the IRTBA-Green Building Council Accreditation Committee.
Stephen Stroud Earns P.E. License
Autumn’s Design Project Manager, Stephen Stroud, has earned his Illinois P.E. license. Stephen is a mechanical engineer with 16 years of experience. Stephen’s achievement is in keeping with Autumn’s goals of fostering professional development and providing growth opportunities. Congratulations Stephen.
New Employee – Phil Sloan
Autumn is pleased to announce that Phil Sloan joined the company in June as a Site Safety Officer. Phil has more than 30 years of construction industry experience. He is a certified OSHA Construction Outreach Trainer authorized to conduct 10-hour and 30-hour construction outreach training. Phil has been the General Contractor’s Site Safety Officer on many large projects in the Chicago area including several for the City of Chicago’s Department of Aviation for both the Capital Improvement Program and the O’Hare Modernization Program.
Design of Runway 9C-27C at Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Autumn is proud to be part of the team awarded the design of Runway 9C-27C at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. HNTB is leading the team in the design of this runway capable of handling the largest passenger airliners in the world. Autumn will be concentrating on elements of construction phasing, construction packaging and cost estimating. This runway is a critical piece of the O’Hare Modernization Program. Design has begun and construction is expected to be complete in 2014.
New Employee – Artie Banks
We welcome Artie Banks as a key member of the Autumn team. Artie is a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor (WV) with more than 30 years in the construction industry. His experience includes surveying, engineering design, estimating, construction project management, and quality and safety management for many of the largest companies in the industry including Kiewit and Power Construction Company. Artie joins us in June, 2009.
Qualified Commissioning Process Provider (QCxP)
Autumn’s President, Susan Nelson, has earned the Qualified Commissioning Process Provider (QCxP) title that signifies a professional knowledgeable in the commissioning process. This independently recognized certification offered through the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s College of Engineering is earned through a combination of training, examination and professional experience. Autumn offers Building Commissioning services including LEED Basic and Enhanced Commissioning to complement its existing Building Systems Consulting practice.
New Employee – Robert Ewan
We are pleased to announce that Robert Ewan has joined the firm as Project Manager. Robert has worked on a number of high profile projects in Chicago including the CTA Brown Line and the Elysian Hotel and Private Residences where his abilities to organize teams and to manage resources have been tested and proven. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and is fluent in Spanish.
Illinois Tollway’s Tri-State Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Autumn is providing Phase III Engineering Services to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority as part of a team led by Bowman, Barrett & Associates, Inc. The $12 Million bridge rehabilitation project is located on the Tri-State Tollway between the Bensenville Railroad and Lawrence Avenue. Construction began in March, 2009 and is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. Autumn’s personnel on this project include the Assistant Liaison/Resident Engineer and the Document Technician.
New Employee – Nancy Barham
Autumn is pleased to welcome Nancy Barham to the team. Nancy has 18 years of experience in the construction industry. Ms. Barham has been a part of major programs including the Chicago Public Schools Capital Improvement Program and the O’Hare Modernization Program. She joins our team in March, 2009 as Senior Office Engineer.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accreditation
Autumn is pleased to announce that Michael Collins, VP, has earned the LEED® Accredited Professional designation. Sustainable green building and development practices are here to stay and we look forward to assisting our clients navigate through this rapidly expanding and vital field.
Vertical Conveyors at O’Hare’s Terminal 3
Autumn has been hired by American Airlines to provide an assessment of thirty-nine vertical conveyors in Concourses H, K and L of O’Hare’s Terminal 3. The assessment includes identification of primary equipment, determination of the maintained condition and estimation of remaining life expectancy of major components and making recommendations for modernization based upon industry and code standards.
Chicago Housing Authority’s Kenmore Apartments Renovation
Autumn is a member of Holabird & Root’s winning team to provide comprehensive design services for the CHA’s Kenmore Apartments Renovation project. Autumn will be providing cost estimating and other design support services to the team. Design work for this eight story senior housing high rise has begun and is scheduled to be complete by June, 2009.