MARCH 13-19, 2023 MARCH 13-19, 2023 · VOL. 43, NO. 34 YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 $2.50 · SBJ.NET ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ $47M bond issues on ballot for Nixa, Republic by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Two growing school districts in the region have $47 million bond issues each going before voters April 4. The ballot measures for those living in the Nixa and Republic school districts have different types of projects proposed, but each seeks to address consistently growing student enrollment. While Nixa’s bond issue, if approved, would fund a variety of additional classrooms at existing buildings on its campus, Republic Schools wants to add a new building to recently purchased land at James River Freeway and Highway 60. Both issues require a 57.14% majority to pass, according to state law. Republic For Republic School District’s $47 million bond issue proposal, it is the second time in two years that voters are weighing in on a major school project. A $16 million bond issue was approved in April 2021, allowing for the construction of a new early childhood Leaders say measures are needed to address enrollment growth by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Voters will be asked to determine the fate of a $220 million bond issue for Springfield Public Schools in the April 4 election. If the measure is approved, general obligation bonds will be issued to fund school improvements that have been prioritized by a 32-member citizen task force. The district’s debt service property tax levy would remain at 73 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation, as it is now, but the levy, which has 16 years remaining, would be extended to cover the cost of the new bond, according to Travis Shaw, incoming deputy superintendent of operations for SPS. The bond would pay for safety and security upgrades at all school facilities. Two middle schools, Pipkin and Reed, would be replaced with new buildings, and Pershing, a K-8 building, would be renovated. Additionally, storm shelters would be constructed at Cowden, Holland, Mann, Pittman, Watkins and Wilder elementaries. The measure is titled Proposition S. If that sounds familiar to voters, it’s because a $168 million bond proposal with the same name was approved by 61% of voters in April 2019. Safety and learning are focuses of bond issue campaign Matt Pearce: If approved, the fifth- and sixth-grade center would open by 2025. ELECTION 2023 Prop S seeks $220M for SPS building needs CENTENARIAN SCHOOL Pipkin Middle School Principal Duane Cox points out to touring SPS district voters some of the century-old school’s shortfalls in safety, efficiency and accessibility. See PROP S on page 28 See SCHOOLS on page 37 HEATHER MOSLEY
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MARCH 13-19, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS Local firms submit 30 projects showcasing their designs and expertise. page 9 Architects & Engineers Open for Business Beer is flowing at 4 by 4 Brewing Co.’s new brewhouse and taproom in Christian County. page 4 Business Spotlight Al Boswell made a career change, and 25 years later he continues to produce custom furniture for residences in southwest Missouri. page 6 Candidate Q&A SPS Board of Education candidates answer question on teacher pay and district challenges page 36 City, owner far apart on value of Hotel of Terror by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Springfield City Council unanimously voted to seize a downtown holiday mainstay by invoking eminent domain – the right of a government entity to take over private property, with compensation, for public use. The decision to take over the building that is home to the Hotel of Terror haunted house, 334 N. Main Ave., came at the Feb. 21 council meeting. The Hotel of Terror opened 45 years ago in a 1904 building that held a series of railroad hotels with restaurants: the Traveler’s Inn, the Manuel Hotel, the Plaza Hotel and finally the Texas Hotel, which closed in the 1960s, according to the Dark Ozarks podcast. The family of Sterling Mathis purchased the building and opened the Hotel of Terror on the site in 1978, and Mathis now operates the haunted attraction with his sons. Mathis said he brought in $200,000 in the single month he was open in 2022, and despite the city’s vote to seize the property, he said it will be open at its current location for one last season this October. More steps remain before the city can tear down the Italianate commercial structure – a necessary step, officials say, toward the city replacing the Main Avenue bridge over Jordan Creek and, eventually, completing its multimillion-dollar Renew Jordan Creek project, which will establish walkways and amenities along the creek. The amount to be paid to Mathis will be determined by a three-person commission chosen by a Greene County Circuit Court judge, according to Paul Blees, the city’s right of way supervisor. That process will begin after the city files its condemnation petition. Reason for razing Part of the project requires the Main Avenue bridge north of the old hotel to be replaced, according to Blees. “It is not in good condition,” Blees said. He added that City Utilities of Springfield transit buses are no longer traveling over the bridge because of its load limit. This is especially inconvenient since the CU Transit Center is located a block away at 211 N. Main St. “It has hindered their capability and their flexibility of using Main Avenue,” Blees said. Kristen Milam, communication coordinator for the city, added that flooding impacts the area, another reason for the bridge replacement project. Blees said the foundation of the Hotel of Terror is close enough to the bridge that it poses a risk to the building. “Our contractors are very leery of doing any kind of work that close due to possible damage – they could possibly destroy the building during the construction process,” he said, though he noted he is not an engineer. Milam said the bridge will be expanded from a single span to two spans, with a span defined as the gap between supports. The See TERROR on page 32 REBECCA GREEN Owner Sterling Mathis has been operating the Hotel of Terror since his family bought it in 1978. DUNGEONS OF DOOM Hotel of Terror owner Sterling Mathis also owns Dungeons of Doom in this former granary, but he says relocating elements from the Hotel of Terror to it would top $1 million. VOTE
MARCH 13-19, 2023 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net 4 by 4 Brewing Co. Restaurant Queen City Soul Kitchen LLC moved Jan. 13 to 1626 N. Boonville Ave., where it shares space with Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar LLC’s drive-thru location. Francine Pratt co-owns Queen City with Lyle Foster, who also is the owner of Big Momma’s. The eatery, which began in 2020 as a pop-up restaurant at Big Momma’s on Commercial Street, formerly was in the Woodland Heights neighborhood at 2006 N. Broadway Ave. Foster said relocation costs to the 800-square-foot space were $15,000, declining to disclose lease terms with building owner The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Manager Janae Cunningham leads the six-employee staff, he said. Soul food is on the menu at the restaurant, including fried chicken wings, catfish, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and candied yams. Combination meals start at $8 for lunch and $13 for dinner. Foster said Queen City mostly offers takeout service but has limited inside seating and plans to provide outdoor seating in warm weather. Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Schibler embarked on her first ownership venture with the Dec. 12 launch of In Home Pet Euthanasia. Operating via MJ Schibler Vet Services LLC, she said startup costs were $7,000 for the home-based mobile business. Euthanasia services for cats and dogs are $175, and private cremation costs range $120-$140, depending on weight. In Home’s coverage area is a 50-mile radius of Springfield, and travel charges range $25-$150. She said evening and weekend appointments also are available. Schibler, who is the lone employee, said she started her career in veterinary medicine 12 years ago caring for small and large creatures as a mixed animal practitioner, making her comfortable with visiting client homes. She continues to work part time at Nixa Animal Hospital and provides relief veterinary services for various clinics and hospitals in the Ozarks. After hearing an increasing number of clients ask for veterinarians to make home visits for euthanasia, Schibler said she was inspired to start the business. Adjacent to Fremont Hills Country Club, 4 by 4 Brewing Co. LLC held a grand opening March 4 for its second location at 9903 Sawgrass Ave. in Nixa. A quartet of couples own 4 by 4, which joined the local brewery scene in 2017 after launching in Galloway Village. The company broke ground in August 2021 on a 12,000-square-foot brewery, taproom and event center. Stinson Building Co. was general contractor for the project designed by Torgerson Design Partners LLC. Past reporting put the project cost at $2 million, but co-owner Danielle Shimeall declined to say if it exceeded that price tag. She said 4 by 4 Brewing employs 33 people between its two locations, noting all staff occasionally will work in each facility. In addition to two separate seating areas, each with 22 beers on tap, the Fremont Hills brewery hosts food trucks, live music and has space for indoor and outdoor games. Shimeall said the Galloway location, dubbed The Unhinged Project, will include a barrel-aging program and exclusive beers. ☎ 417-861-1030 4by4BrewingCompany.com Queen City Soul Kitchen In Home Pet Euthanasia ☎ 417-379-8614 Facebook.com/QueenCitySoulKitchen ☎ 417-414-0337 DrMaggieVet.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS KATELYN EGGER From left, Justin and Stacy Steenburgh, Shila, Chris and Avery Shaffer, Kelly and Steve Dobbs, and Danielle and Derek Shimeall apcsolar.com 888-272-9875 info@apcsolar.com Businesses throughout MO, OK, and AR are accessing the potential of their commercial building rooftops and installing solar. In return, increasing their businesses sustainability by significantly reducing future electricity costs and creating cash flow over the life of the system. APC Solar is the solar contractor of choice for dynamic energy solutions that enhance capital and decrease operational costs. Trusted by CPA firms and numerous local entrepreneurs
MARCH 13-19, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 5 Send your company’s new hires, promotions, awards and achievements to newsmakers@sbj.net or click “Talk to SBJ” on our homepage. Please include job titles and relevant career and educational experiences. We’ll publish high-resolution color photos attached as space permits. LET US KNOW by Eric Olson · eolson@sbj.net Architecture Nia Bard of Dake Wells Architecture Inc. earned the designation of registered architect in Missouri and membership in the American Institute of Architects after passing the architectural registration exams. She’s worked as a designer and intern at the firm and holds a master of architecture from Drury University. Banking & Finance The Goldsmith Oplotnik Group at Morgan Stanley was named to Forbes Magazine’s 2023 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. Ranked No. 39 in Missouri, the selection is based on in-person, virtual and telephone meetings to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials and compliance, as well as assets under management and revenue. First Midwest Bank named Matt Bower as community bank president for the Springfield market. He’s worked 22 years in financial services and holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration and leadership studies from Drury. Carley Baker was promoted to wealth management marketing manager for Central Bank in Springfield, responsible for its trust company, and investment and private banking divisions in the region. Previously the marketing coordinator for Central Trust Co., she has five years of marketing experience and holds a bachelor’s in marketing/ advertising from Missouri State University. Construction & Development Terracon Consultants Inc. promoted Ty Alexander to senior principal, managing the firm’s offices in Springfield, Joplin and Rolla. The professional engineer has 26 years of experience, specializing in geotechnical services, and he holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Wyoming. O’Reilly Development Co. LLC added Kevin Harris and Hunter Hein a partners and hired Ashley Simpson as director of investor relations. Each previously worked at TPB Wealth Advisors in Texas. Harris serves O’Reilly Development as chief investment officer and has 25 years of experience in business and asset management, while Hein works in developments and acquisitions, and previously served as an investment strategist. Simpson’s experience is in wealth strategies. Law Missouri Lawyers Media recognized several local attorneys in its 2023 Missouri Lawyers Awards: Nick Smart and Jacob Lewis of Strong, Garner & Bauer PC as Legal Champions for taking on the pro bono defense of an employee accused of embezzlement and winning her acquittal, and in the Law Firm Leaders category, Joseph Passanise of Wampler & Passanise for leading the firm through the death of his law partner and Elizabeth Wente of Spencer Fane LLP for chairing the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. Manufacturing Storyteller Overland LLC named Trent Tiffin as general manager and executive vice president of its Global Expedition Vehicles subsidiary. He has eight years of recreational vehicle industry experience, previously working in sales and marketing for his family business, Tiffin Motorhomes. Nonprofit The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce issued its annual Nixies Awards. Honorees were Small Business of the Year: Massengale Real Estate Group of Keller Williams; Large Business of the Year: Sam’s Club-South Springfield; Ambassador of the Year: Jeff Snelling of PlumThumb Web Design; Member of the Year: Tony Manasseri of Prudential Financial; Chamber Board of Excellence: 4C Sertoma (Christian County Children’s Charities); Sharon Whitehill Lifetime Achievement Award: Wayne Glenn, a Nixa resident and historian; The Big Nixie MVP: Rob Marsh of Price Cutter; and Citizen of the Year: Steve Rook of Nixa and Larson Heating, Air & Plumbing. NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Alexander Wente Passanise Tiffin Bard Bower Manasseri Rook Baker Land Development • Educational Development • Healthcare Development • Community Development • Residential Development Transportation • Roadway Planning • Roadway, Roundabout, & Signal Design • Roadway Safety Evaluation Construction Phase Services • Construction Administration • Construction Observation • Construction Reports Land Surveying & Mapping • Boundary Survey • Topographical Survey • Alta’s & LiDAR Surveys gocjw.com TRUSTED, EXPERIENCED & CLIENT FOCUSED
MARCH 13-19, 2023 6 · SBJ.NET NEWS BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Furniture from the Forest by Kristi Waterworth · Contributing Writer If a tree falls in the forest and it’s not turned into unique custom furniture, did it even make a sound? Al Boswell is the man to ask. His Mount Vernon-based business, Boswell Custom Furniture Inc., has been creating one-of-akind pieces for homes across the country since 1998. He produces a couple dozen handmade pieces most years, but with tables starting at $5,000 and running upwards of $10,000 and dining chairs $500-$1,500, it takes significant time and dedication to each piece to ensure the quality he and his customers expect. About half of the company’s sales are in dining sets, Boswell says, declining to disclose revenue. That means handcrafted tables and chairs, and he builds all kinds of furniture for homes as unique as the trees he chooses for his lumber. Boswell says he makes a point to work with many unusual woods, including trees that are native to the Ozarks. “I’ve tried to break out of the walnut and oak realm as much as I can,” says Boswell. “I use a wide variety, including sassafras, Osage, hackberry and persimmon. Red elm is another beautiful wood. I really try to use the underdogs as much as I can, because they’re beautiful; they just haven’t caught on with the general population.” The way Boswell chooses the lumber is a lot more art than science, but how he gets it ready for turning into sculptural furniture is a specific process. “I do have some really good sources, some sawmills that I do business with,” says Boswell. “Lots of times, I will go and pick out a log, have it milled to my specifications, have it air dried and then kiln dried. Then I get it and make things out of it. Sometimes, I do use woods that aren’t from here, but I try to stay within the United States. There are some woods that clients do request that are out of our area.” One lumber supplier is The Rosewood Shop in Ash Grove, owned by fellow wood aficionado Michael Pyeatt. Pyeatt has worked with Boswell on projects for over a decade and has gotten very familiar with his craftsmanship. “Somebody that builds fine furniture like Al builds, they’re few and far between,” says Pyeatt. “He’s a real craftsman. He laminates things and he puts in a lot of arches and a lot of curves – there’s a midcentury influence in his stuff. He’s doing really unique frames and angles.” Boswell typically orders exotic woods from Rosewood, such as myrtle from Oregon, ziricote from Mexico and, recently, curly hickory from Michigan. Rosewood is one of two main suppliers, along with Chapman Sawmill & Logging in Neosho, where Boswell procures local hardwood. Jacque Pitts, owner of Jacque Pitts Interiors LLC, a Kimberling City design firm, calls Boswell when she needs something special for a client’s home. Her clients especially prize his tables. “We’ve done several dining tables with him,” says Pitts. “His finishes and his unique pieces of wood are really why I started using him. Every table I’ve done with him, it just can’t be repeated.” Although Boswell builds many types of tables, he finds some of his biggest challenges – and delights – working with chairs. He says dining and guitar chairs are the most popular sellers. “Chairs are a challenge because they have to do three things,” says Boswell. “First, they have to catch a person’s eye: They have to look good and attract them in one way or another. Second, they have to be comfortable. And I pride myself on that. I like to look at the faces of my clients when they sit in a chair and see the surprise as to how comfortable they are. And third, they have to be constructed very, very well, so that they will endure all kinds of abuse for a long time. I hope that my pieces are handed down for generations.” The vast majority of Boswell’s work is in the residential market, and he sometimes does custom pieces for display and sale in galleries in Wyoming to showcase the most unique woods and techniques. Commercial jobs are rare, he says. He’s working on a new design for a lowback dining chair. “My designs tend to be contemporary and clean, kind of simple,” says Boswell. “I don’t embellish much at all; I kind of let the sleekness and the quality of the work and the beauty of the woods speak.” He considers the latest design even more streamlined and clean. “I changed my joinery technique totally for these chairs, which has been the biggest challenge. I’ve used a similar joining technique on chairs for years. It’s proven – it works great, it looks good – but I just wanted to do something different. I thought a lowback chair would be a good place to try that.” Boswell’s drive to constantly improve his work after 25 years is a testament to his dedication to this, his second career, after working 20 years as a large animal veterinarian in central Nebraska. But he says that every day he’s learning something new, growing and changing, just like the trees with which he works. “It sounds so trite, but I feel unbelievably lucky to do what I do,” says Boswell. “I just love wood and I love seeing what it can be.”• REBECCA GREEN Al Boswell is in his Mount Vernon workshop, where he makes custom furniture and is working on a new design for a low-back chair. Boswell Custom Furniture Inc. Owners: Al Boswell Founded: 1998 Address: 209 High St., Mount Vernon Phone: 417-818-9302 Web: BoswellCustomFurniture.com Email: al@boswellcustomfurniture.com Products: Custom wooden tables and chairs Employees: 1 Twenty-five-year furniture maker sources straight from the trees
MARCH 13-19, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS arvest.com | (417) 885-7357 Buy your dream home, connect with a personal banker, and easily schedule an appointment with digital tools from Arvest Bank. Goodbye banking with limits, hello banking as it should be. Goodbye limits. Hello possibilities. Loans subject to credit approval. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Recreational weed helps set monthly sales high of $103M by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Local players in the marijuana industry noted February was a record-setting sales month as recreational weed made its ShowMe State debut. Some companies reported sales doubling and even tripling since adult-use marijuana became legal to sell Feb. 3. The market expansion beyond medical marijuana occurred three days earlier than many in the industry expected, as a Feb. 6 recreational launch date was previously anticipated. It contributed to a state record of $102.9 million in cannabis sales for February, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Nearly $72 million of the total was generated by adult use, with $31.2 million coming from medical sales. February easily surpassed the industry’s previous monthly sales record of $40.5 million in December 2022. Humansville-based Flora Farms LLC and Republic-based Easy Mountain Cannabis Co. were among over 300 companies ready to begin selling at the start of the month after their dispensaries were approved for a comprehensive license by the state Division of Cannabis Regulation. Mark Hendren, Flora Farms president, said its four dispensaries in Springfield, Humansville, Neosho and Ozark saw increased customer traffic immediately when recreational sales began. “It’s a significant increase in sales as we had hoped and expected since last year,” he said, noting company sales increased 250% in February from its average month but declining to disclose figures. “Every retail outlet we have is up.” Both Hendren and Alex Paulson, Easy Mountain co-owner, say February was the largest single month for sales in their respective companies’ young history. Flora Farms opened in late 2020, followed by Easy Mountain in early 2021. “It’s coming up on about three times our normal business,” Paulson said, noting the 300% sales increase started the first weekend of recreational marijuana sales and has mostly remained consistent ever since. Paulson said his business tracks its customers, which he refers to as patients, regardless of whether they buy products for recreational or medicinal purposes. “Previously, to see 150 patients was a really busy day for us,” he said, noting that would usually be a Friday and Sunday might have about 70 customers. “Now, we’re seeing 400 people on a Friday and 250 on a Sunday. That’s adult use and medical.” At Easy Mountain, the adult-use and medical marijuana customer split is roughly 60/40, Paulson said. Hendren said about 70% of Flora Farms’ customers are recreational weed buyers. However, the 30% that continue to purchase marijuana for medical purposes is holding steady, he said. Medical users pay a 4% tax on their purchases while recreational marijuana is taxed at 6%. Municipalities are allowed to increase that 6% if approved by voters. Several Springfield-area towns, including Ozark, Monett and Mount Vernon, have a 3% marijuana tax proposal on the April 4 election ballot. City of Springfield spokesperson Cora Scott said no decision on the issue is Mark Hendren wants to hire up to 30 more employees at Flora Farms. HEATHER MOSLEY Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services HITTING NEW HIGHS February marked the first month of adult-use and medical marijuana sales in Missouri. The previous five months of medical-only sales averaged $36.5 million. Medical Use LEGALIZED ADULT USE Adult Use $120 $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 0 ’22 SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. ’23 JAN. FEB. $37.2M $34.3M $35.3M $35.5M $31.2M $71.7M $40.2M $102.9M Company officials say sales are meeting expectations as the state marijuana industry expanded last month See WEED on page 34
MARCH 13-19, 2023 8 · SBJ.NET NEWS Jason Gage: You can’t have quality of place with trash strewn along major corridors. Craig Hosmer: City’s chamber of commerce membership is a conflict of interest. County resident asks city to fix litter issue Council member resumes critique of chamber influence by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Some of the vehicles hauling waste to the city’s Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill are strewing garbage along Missouri Route 13 north of Springfield, according to Jeanie Sullivan, who addressed Springfield City Council about the issue at its meeting March 6. Sullivan raised the issue of trash flying from improperly tarped vehicles on their way to the dump. Sullivan lives outside of Springfield in Greene County on Farm Road 94. “I know that it’s a state problem, because that’s where the trash lands on the road, and it’s the state’s responsibility to get it cleaned up, but basically I’m here to talk about prevention,” Sullivan said. She shared photographs with council of roll-off trucks that she described as improperly tarped. The landfill does require tarps, but she said her photos showed vehicles on which tarps had been used incorrectly, allowing trash to blow out of them. She suggested the city require the landfill to reject loads that do not properly use tarps. Sullivan noted that the Missouri Department of Transportation can’t control everything that goes down the highway, but the city can control what goes across the scale at the landfill. City Manager Jason Gage agreed with Sullivan that the issue is a problem. “We talk a lot about quality of place, but you can’t have quality of place if you have trash strewn along roadway corridors,” Gage said. He said he suspects the city may need to tweak its ordinance to penalize haulers that contribute to the litter problem. “Certainly, we will look towards the guidance of council, perhaps a committee if we need to do that,” he said. Sullivan suggested offending haulers be required to clean up the roads, or for taxpayers to be given tax credits for cleanup efforts or for maintaining clean yards. Councilmember Craig Hosmer suggested police or landfill personnel cite haulers at the landfill. Gage said a law review is necessary to determine what the city’s options are. “All options are on the table,” he said. Chamber influence With a series of questions directed at the city manager, Hosmer raised what has become one of his persistent themes: the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s influence on the city’s governing body. Hosmer asked Gage if the city was still a member of the chamber, and if so, how many memberships it had. Gage said following previous council direction, he was working to limit the city’s membership to one. Hosmer said that the chamber had endorsed City Council candidates for the April election, which affects the mayor, two incumbent council members running unopposed and three seats being vied for by two newcomers each. Hosmer is not up for reelection in April. Hosmer asked Gage if the city had given any input toward the chamber’s endorsement, since it is a member. Gage said the city doesn’t get involved with election activities. “Do we even know what their criteria was for interviewing?” Hosmer asked. “Because I’ve heard from people running for council that they never even got interviewed by the chamber. ... It seems sort of counterintuitive that you’d want to interview people to make sure those people have the same values that our city does and priorities that we think are important.” Gage said city staff do not weigh in on issues related to the council election. “Quite honestly, if they did ask the staff to be involved, because of our separation from the elected aspect, we would decline that,” Gage said. Hosmer asked Gage to find out if, in choosing candidates to endorse, the chamber considered recent local issues like the 7 Brew Coffee on Sunshine Street and Jefferson Avenue or a proposed Galloway Village development and rezoning that citywide voters decided against last year. Hosmer said voters can become confused since the city is a member of the chamber and See COUNCIL on page 34 CITY BEAT from the March 6 City Council meeting • Conditional use permits can now be modified by council, following an 8-0 decision. • Special obligation improvement bonds will raise $15 million for facility improvements, including renovations to Historic City Hall, in a measure approved 8-0. • The art museum may purchase a $200,000 outdoor sculpture with its own acquisition funds. • Two annexations were approved. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat
SPRING PROJECT REPORT FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS From the spark of an idea through construction, architects and engineers use their expertise to bring their clients’ visions to fruition. They are designing structures and systems aiding in economic expansion across the country. For this special edition, local firms submitted 30 projects to give readers an insight into their portfolios. —Christine Temple, Executive Editor PROJECTS CONTINUE ON PAGES 11-21 Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective is the architect and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer for a 30,500 square foot, multistory mixed-use building for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield Inc. A portion of the second floor will be leased for youth services and an overnight shelter. Officials say the building includes a two-story atrium, dining facilities to feed up to 200 kids daily, a high school-sized basketball court, collaborative office spaces, conference rooms, and classrooms and maker spaces. The building is a multistory, pre-engineered metal structure with a facade of brick, metal panel and aluminum, and a glass storefront. Architectural canopies and overhangs create an outdoor patio area. Nonprofit officials previously set a $12 million goal for the teen center’s capital campaign, which includes three years of operating expenses. Ross Construction Group LLC is the general contractor and additional engineering work is by Anderson Engineering Inc., civil; and J&M Engineering LLC, structural. The project is slated for completion in August 2024. The Risdal Family Center for Great Futures 810 W. Catalpa St. Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective Pinnacle Design Consultants LLC is the structural engineer for the 93-unit University Lofts at Greensborough Village. The $8.3 million three-story, mixed-use development includes office and retail spaces in addition to microlofts, around 400-450 square feet apiece. Officials say the lofts feature a full kitchen, living room, washer and dryer, and 12-foot ceilings. The complex will also have a pool. Arch & Craft Design (Fayetteville, Arkansas) is the project architect, Jetton General Contracting Inc. (Jonesboro, Arkansas) is the general contractor, Associated Engineering LLC (Jonesboro, Arkansas) is the civil engineer and Malicoat-Winslow Engineers PC (Columbia) is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer. The project is slated for completion in May. provided by BUXTON KUBIK DODD DESIGN COLLECTIVE provided by PINNACLE DESIGN CONSULTANTS LLC Designed by nForm Architecture LLC, this facility at the Springfield-Branson National Airport will accommodate Ozarks Technical Community College’s degree program in airframe and powerplant maintenance. The facility is adjacent to OTC’s flight school and will include laboratories and classrooms surrounding an airplane hangar, officials say. Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc. is the civil and structural engineer, frankZdesign LLC is the landscape architect and Interpres Building Solutions LLC is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer. Project officials have not selected a general contractor, and the completion date is unknown. provided by NFORM ARCHITECTURE LLC University Lofts at Greensborough Village Pinnacle Design Consultants LLC Jonesboro, Arkansas OTC Airframe and Powerplant Training Center Springfield-Branson National Airport nForm Architecture LLC SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 MARCH 13-19, 2023
10 · SBJ.NET MARCH 13-19, 2023 abbye bobbett Architect and Chief Operations Officer, Kinetic Design and Development LLC A CONVERSATION WITH ... provided by KINETIC DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT LLC You and partners Adam Kreher and Griffin Bobbett left your dad John Torgerson’s firm, Togerson Design Partners, last year to start Kinetic. Why did you want to create a firm of your own? It was kind of threefold why we left, and it was a hard decision. It took about a year to decide. We wanted to create a firm that was very people focused. We’re trying to put our staff first, put our clients first over profit – and sometimes that can be hard in this industry. Along with that comes work-life balance. When the construction industry is really busy, so are we, and we’re trying to keep up, but we don’t want to see the burnout that we were seeing. That’s why we’re trying the four-day workweek, which has gone really well. Then, we also wanted to grow the development services side. One of our partners, Griffin, my husband, he’s a commercial real estate broker, but his passion really is in development. We’ve really been able to grow it to a new scale here, doing everything from lease negotiations, site selections, demographic studies in the beginning to find the right site all the way down through the architectural design and then through construction. We’re a turnkey process for developers. We’ve hired development coordinators and project coordinators. The third piece was being innovative. We want to be a firm that’s always forward thinking in technology, whether that’s the software we’re using or even the processes that we’re putting in place to work with clients. Adam is really passionate about product development. Eventually, we would love to grow an innovation lab within our company that researches products and develops. What are the main areas of architecture you focus on? And what are projects you’ve taken on in your first six months? We do a lot of retail. We specialize in corporate clients. Finding a client like O’Reilly Auto Parts or Bass Pro and just building a team to champion their work, we’re really good at it so they continue to come back to us. We work with a lot of developers all over the country that are putting up Dollar Generals, 7 Brews, Chipotle, Qdoba, Starbucks. They’ve realized how nice it is to kind of push that [development] work off onto us. We’ve gotten off to a really good start, a fast start, and we’re really solid in the corporate client realm. But I really want to grow our local base. That’s probably our biggest goal for this year. We’re working with Nixon & Lindstrom insurance, that’s one of our local projects, and helping with the remodel and addition. Were you able to bring clients from Torgerson Design Partners? We are working with some of the same clients. What trends are you noticing in your industry? The whole process is changing. A lot of firms want to stick in the more traditional realm of the design-bid-build process, where the client comes, you design their building, it goes out to bid, it gets built. But we’re seeing a lot of our projects that are more negotiated bid. So, the contractor comes on very early in the design process, and we’re working very closely with him or her to just help navigate the weird construction realm that we’re in and we’ve been in since COVID with material supply chain issues. We were, not too long ago, seeing HVAC units that were 60 weeks lead time. That’s not going to work for a lot of projects that we’re on. We’ve heard that technology companies are getting involved in the process much earlier now, to outfit buildings for tech from the start. What other ways have you seen collaboration? That’s huge, what you hit on with the IT companies. We love to get the owners and vendors involved as soon as possible, whether that be IT, whether that’s security figuring out where cameras go and what kind of locks they want. If we can get that in early on in the bid or in the bid drawings, it definitely helps make all the process a lot smoother. If they’re coming in during construction or even after construction, having to re-retrofit or rewire things obviously is a waste of time. The environment is a lot more collaborative. Has the firm’s people-first approach been good for business? I think so. We’ve been in business for six months now, and we just looked at some of the historical data of how many people we’ve hired, which is 21, and how many projects we’ve worked on, which is in the 250 range. It’s just been incredible to see the amount of work we’ve done and still how happy our people are. I’ve heard a lot of good feedback about our new policy on work-life balance. We have six or eight hybrid workers, some fully remote. That has not been widely accepted in the architecture field. Everybody has the same view that you really need to be in the office collaborating, and there is a lot of value with that, but with today’s technology we can still do a lot of that. We have one in California that’s fully remote and one in Kansas that’s fully remote. Excerpts from an interview by Executive Editor Christine Temple, ctemple@sbj.net 417-831-1700 • pcnetinc.com Managed IT Solutions That Propel Your Business Forward CONTACT US TODAY FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 MARCH 13-19, 2023 olsson.com Most see a school. We see a place that instills lifelong learning. FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS Toth and Associates Inc. is the civil and structural engineer for the $7.5 million renovation and addition to the Co-Mo Electric Cooperative operations facility in Sunrise Beach, an industrial space combined with an office area and hardened spaces components. Officials say open office areas were relocated to the front of the building to maximize natural light, and a break room acts as a transitional space between the garage and offices. A meeting space doubles as a safe room and features company branding on a wall near the building’s entrance. The design blends the existing building and addition under a single roofline. The garage features a Kalwall translucent cutout, which provides natural light into the garage. Officials say the updated design by Sapp Design Associates Architects PC modernizes the industrial space. Additional engineering work, for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, is by RTM Engineering Consultants LLC. The project is expected to be completed in April 2024. Co-Mo Electric Cooperative renovation and addition 17698 State Highway 5, Sunrise Beach Toth and Associates Inc. provided by TOTH AND ASSOCIATES INC. Baron Design & Associates LLC designed a two-story, 19,000-square-foot branch for OakStar Bank in Nixa. The location will feature the bank’s signature design elements blended with white architectural metal panels and gray stone, officials say. This building includes a two-story atrium, conference area and rooftop patio. Base Construction & Management LLC is the general contractor, frankZdesign LLC is the landscape architect, and engineering work is by Lee Engineering & Associates LLC, civil; J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and CJD Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is expected to be completed in September. OakStar Bank 605 W. Aven Ave., Nixa Baron Design & Associates LLC provided by BARON DESIGN & ASSOCIATES LLC
Crockett Engineering Consultants LLC is the civil engineer for 32,000 square feet of renovations and an addition to Centralia High School. The $6.2 million project includes renovation of science labs and restrooms, an addition and renovation to offices, and a classroom addition to the high school’s agricultural building. Paragon Architecture LLC is the project architect, Sircal Contracting Inc. (Jefferson City) is the general contractor, Toth & Associates Inc. is the structural engineer and RTM Engineering Consultants LLC is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer. The project is slated for completion in December. Centralia High School improvements 849 S. Jefferson St., Centralia Crockett Engineering Consultants LLC True Engineering Group LLC is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer on the library’s new $7 million branch in Riverside. The building entrance is just off a nearby park, and the front of the building is surrounded by trees. Officials say a continuous trellis wraps the front of the building to create an overhead enclosure and continue the tree canopy feel. The north wall brings natural light into the library and faces the park. Interior elements like flowing ceiling baffles mimic the pattern of the louvres of the trellis seen through the north glass wall. Public spaces will include a children’s area, study spaces, collaboration rooms, a community room and an outdoor back patio. Sapp Design Associate Architects PC designed the project, J.E. Dunn Construction Group Inc. is the general contractor, and Olsson Inc. is the civil and structural engineer. The project is expected to be completed in April 2024. Mid-Continent Public Library, Riverside Branch Riverside True Engineering Group LLC provided by TRUE ENGINEERING GROUP LLC provided by CROCKETT ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS LLC MARCH 13-19, 2023 12 · SBJ.NET FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS Ireland Architects Inc. designed a renovation to the terminal at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The $12 million project pays homage to Cape Girardeau’s aviation history and modernizes the space through use of technology, officials say. KCI Construction Co. is general contractor, with engineering work by Olsson Inc., civil and landscape; J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and RTM Engineering Consultants LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion in April 2024. Cape Girardeau Regional Airport renovation 860 Limbaugh Drive, Cape Girardeau Ireland Architects Inc. provided by IRELAND ARCHITECTS INC.
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 13 MARCH 13-19, 2023 FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS Olsson Inc. is the civil engineer for the 12,000 square foot Building 6 at Missouri State University’s Jordan Valley Innovation Center. The $4.1 project comprises a preengineered metal building designed by Paragon Architecture LLC to house offices, a conference room, training lab and large composite lab. Officials say the composite lab will house a braider system and create a learning lab for advanced composite materials. DeWitt & Associates Inc. is the construction manager with additional engineering work by J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and Interpres Building Solutions LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion in September. Jordan Valley Innovation Center, Bldg. 6 530 N. Boonville Ave. Olsson Inc. provided by OLSSON INC. “We were doing cool roofs before they were cool” - Jimmy Spears, Delta Roofing 417-831-5634 | 1-800-884-1918 | www.DeltaRoofing.net A FULL SERVICE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 417.447.4400 | CarnahanEvans.com The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. ALEXANDRA A. HENSON ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY Sapp Design Associates Architects PC designed the $6.5 million Independence library with a concept focused on a lantern, playing with glazing and light between the interior and exterior, officials say. The entryway features a two-story glass facade, and the north wall is designed with a louver system that balances light with shadow for added depth, wrapping around the entry to form a canopy. Officials say high-efficiency glass assists in book preservation and heat regulation. The warm wood tones used reference the trees and forest on one end of the property, while the building’s height functions as a roof screen for mechanical equipment. The northeast entrance is connected to a central spine adjusted diagonally within the building, leading patrons to the center of the building and allowing a view to a west-facing glass facade showcasing the woodland. Helix Architecture & Design Inc. (Kansas City) is the project’s interior designer, and J.E. Dunn Construction Group Inc. is the general contractor. Olsson Inc. is the civil and structural engineer, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is by True Engineering Group LLC. The project is expected to wrap up in March 2024. Mid-Continent Public Library, East Independence Branch Independence Sapp Design Associates Architects PC provided by SAPP DESIGN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS PC
Mettemeyer Engineering LLC is the structural engineer for a Public Works facility in Wentzville. Officials say the new building will be a step toward the city’s goal of housing all public works and operations teams on one campus. The design includes two programming spaces, a garage to service and maintain city vehicles, and new offices with open workspaces and training rooms. Exterior materials and design will utilize limestone and composite wood accents to blend with existing municipal buildings while also being durable, officials say. H Design Group LLC is the project architect, Premier Design Group (Wentzville) is the civil engineer, and Henderson Engineers Inc. (Lenexa, Kansas) is the mechanical engineer. The project is slated for completion in spring 2025. Wentzville Public Works 1295 Interstate Drive, Wentzville Mettemeyer Engineering LLC Interpres Building Solutions LLC is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer for a $1.3 million renovation to improve the function of space at the Polk County Library. Design officials say library staff wants to relaunch programs shut down during the pandemic and start new ones to better serve the community. The renovation will create a multifunctional space and rework unused square footage to add flexible spaces for the programs. The remodel features a children’s area, a hearth with seating, community room, outdoor patio, open office spaces and private offices. A new entryway will feature natural light. Sapp Design Associates Architects PC is the project architect, and J&M Engineering LLC is the structural engineer. The project is expected to be completed in 2024. Polk County Library renovation 1690 W. Broadway St., Bolivar Interpres Building Solutions LLC Hood-Rich Inc. is project architect for TelComm Credit Union’s operations center. Officials say the facility just north of TelComm’s Sunshine Street branch facility is needed due to growth of the credit union. The design focuses on exterior views with connection to the outdoors and includes fitness, wellness amenities and a training facility for staff. The ground floor includes leasable space. DeWitt & Associates Inc. is the general contractor, frankZdesign LLC is the landscape architect, and engineering work is by Wilson Surveying Co. Inc., civil; Mettemeyer Engineering LLC, structural; and CJD Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion in May 2024. TelComm Credit Union operations center 1730 S. Luster Ave. Hood-Rich Inc. provided by HOOD-RICH INC. provided by INTERPRES BUILDING SOLUTIONS LLC provided by METTEMEYER ENGINEERING LLC FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS MARCH 13-19, 2023 14 · SBJ.NET
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 15 MARCH 13-19, 2023 FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS Dake Wells Architecture Inc. is the architect for the Humansville School District’s new gymnasium, comprising 16,000 square feet and 800 seats for athletics, academics and extracurricular events for the community. The gym will include a lobby, concessions and locker rooms. The general contractor has not yet been selected as officials say the project will go out to bid in May 2023, and it’s expected to be completed by fall 2024. Engineering work is by Anderson Engineering Inc., civil; Miller Engineering PC, structural; and Interpres Building Solutions LLC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Humansville School District gymnasium 300 N. Oak St., Humansville Dake Wells Architecture Inc. provided by DAKE WELLS ARCHITECTURE INC. BRP Architects designed the second phase of Cambium Apartments, a fivestory, 53-unit apartment building, for the Edgewood Real Estate Investment Trust. The $12 million complex will include roughly 6,500 square feet of office space, a conference room, rooftop garden, outdoor lounge, fitness center, coffee bar and ancillary storage for residents. O’Reilly Build LLC is the general contractor, with engineering work by Anderson Engineering Inc., civil; J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and CJD Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is expected to be completed in July 2024. Cambium Apartments, Phase II 1616 Bradford Parkway BRP Architects provided by BRP ARCHITECTS
Anderson Engineering Inc. is the civil engineer of a project to renovate the Hillcrest annex building, the former Fairview Elementary School, into the new home of the district’s Academy of Exploration, which offers choice schooling programs centered on STEM education. The original building is 13,600 square feet and was constructed in 1944 with additions in 1968 and 2000. BRP Architects designed the project, estimated at $2.1 million, according to SPS officials. Nesbitt Construction Inc. is the general contractor, and additional engineering work is by J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and CJD Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion by August 2023. Springfield Public Schools Academy of Exploration 3241 N. Grant Ave. Anderson Engineering Inc. Torgerson Design Partners LLC is project architect for the new Nixa station of the Christian County Ambulance District. Officials say the previous building near Main Street was demolished for the $2.1 million project financed by Ozark Bank. Construct Cos. LLC is the general contractor, and engineering work is by Madrid CPWG Engineering, civil and landscape; J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and CJD Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion in November. Christian County Ambulance District, Nixa Station 301 N. Main St., Nixa Torgerson Design Partners LLC Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. is project architect for a precast storm shelter/classroom addition and new entry at Ozark Middle School. The storm shelter will house seven classrooms, and the administration office area will be renovated as the main entrance for the middle school, improving access for students and staff, officials say. The $6.3 million project was approved by voters in 2022 through a bond issue. Branco Enterprises Inc. is the general contractor, and engineering work is by CJW Transportation Consultants LLC, civil; JS Smith Consulting Engineers PC, structural; and RTM Engineering Consultants LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The project is slated for completion in March 2024. Ozark Middle School additions 3600 State Highway NN, Ozark Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. provided by ESTERLY SCHNEIDER & ASSOCIATES INC. provided by TORGERSON DESIGN PARTNERS LLC provided by ANDERSON ENGINEERING INC. FOCUS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS MARCH 13-19, 2023 16 · SBJ.NET
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