News

Winter 2012

Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Muhlenberg College and Bruner/Cott and Associates, Inc. receive Construction Management Association of America National Project Achievement Award.

Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Muhlenberg College and Bruner/Cott and Associates, Inc. received the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) National Project Achievement award in the Buildings, Renovation/Modernization project with a Constructed Value Greater than $15 million category for the renovation and additions to the Seegers Union during the CMAA’s National Conference and Trade Show Recognition Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC on November 8, 2011. Alvin H. Butz, Inc. served as the Construction Manager of the project which was designed by Bruner/Cott and Associates, Inc. Read the full Press Release

Fall 2011

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. Announces Expansion of their Corporate Headquarters in Downtown Allentown. 

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. announced plans to expand their corporate headquarters located at 840 Hamilton Street with the purchase of the property located adjacent to their property at 824 and 830 Hamilton Street. The Butz family purchased the property to the east, and will build a 6-story, 50,000 square foot expansion that will include retail space on the first floor and Class A office space on the other five floors. The building will be designed by Roberson Butz Architects and built by Alvin H. Butz Inc. The firm intends to break ground by summer 2012 and plans to have space available for lease in early 2013. Read the full Press Release

SteelStacks and Spillman Farmer Architects featured in Architect magazine

The recently completed ArtsQuest Center @ SteelStacks, designed by Spillman Farmer Architects, was featured in the September 2011 issue of Architect.  Construction was managed by Alvin H. Butz, Inc.’s team including Senior Project Manager, John Szalachowski; Senior Manager – MEP Services, Larry McCabe; Project Manager, Ed Dreisbach; Assistant Project Manager, Melanie Fluck; and Superintendent, John Baer. “Standing in the shadow of the derelict mills, the centerpiece of the new cultural complex is the just-completed ArtsQuest Center, a $17.4 million performance venue designed by Spillman as a paean to Bethlehem’s past, and the firm’s. The four-story, 67,000-square-foot facility is a simple rectangular volume, simply expressed in a hybrid steel-and-concrete frame. Yet within that outline, along with a program of bars, cafés, movie theaters, and stages, the architects have packed a subtle historical polemic.” Architect September 2011.  Read the full Architect article on SteelStacks.

Summer 2011

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. completes LEED® Gold certified building at Lehigh University

Lehigh University teamed Bohlin Cywinski Jackson as architect with Alvin H. Butz, Inc. as the construction manager for the 135,000 square foot multi-disciplinary S.T.E.P.S. (Science, Technology, Environment, Policy & Society) building. Lehigh University, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, and Alvin H. Butz worked together to incorporate aspects of the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED framework into the building, paying close attention to issues of energy conservation, water conservation, resource management, indoor air quality, and site issues such as open space and heat islands effects. The S.T.E.P.S. building is the first LEED®-certified facility on Lehigh University’s campus.  It is the 10th LEED Certified project in the Butz portfolio; and an additional 7 projects are currently pending certification. Read more about the S.T.E.P.S. project.

Butz to Build Sands Event Center Core and Shell

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. has been chosen by Sands Casino Resort – Bethlehem to build the Sands Event Center. Construction is scheduled to begin in September. Butz will be responsible for building the core and shell which will include the entire structure of the building, as well as the roof and exterior surfaces.  It will also include mechanical and electrical systems for the building and public bathrooms.  Read more.

Butz Enterprises Hires Virtual Construction Coordinator and Project Engineer

Butz Enterprises Inc., consisting of Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Alexander Building Construction Co. and Shoemaker Construction Co., has hired Larry Warner as a Virtual Construction Coordinator and Project Engineer.  In his role as Virtual Construction Coordinator, Warner will help to train and educate employees of the Butz Enterprise Companies on the emerging trends and management techniques associated with Project Level Building Information Modeling (BIM). Read more.

ENR Ranks Butz Enterprises in Top 400 Contractors

Butz Enterprises Inc., consisting of Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Alexander Building Construction Co. and Shoemaker Construction Co., is once again among the Top 400 Contractors in the U.S. positioned at number 369 for 2010, as ranked and published by Engineering News-Record magazine (ENR).  ENR is a construction industry trade magazine published by McGraw-Hill Inc. of New York. The Top 400 list includes construction management and general contracting firms. Read more.

Allentown School District Phase 1 Facilities Improvements Complete

Phase I facilities improvements are now complete for the Allentown School District.  The first phase of construction consisted of renovations, additions and improvements to six schools in the District, South Mountain Middle School (119,700 SF), Trexler Middle School (117,227 SF), Roosevelt Elementary School (57,700 SF), Dieruff High School (237,500 SF), Ramos Elementary School (85,000 SF) and William Allen High School (447,147 SF).  Roosevelt Elementary School recently received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-Certification.  LEED certification is pending for Ramos Elementary School and William Allen High School.

Butz Managing Lehigh University's Rauch Business Center Upgrades

In May 2011, Alvin H. Butz, Inc. began HVAC upgrades to Lehigh University’s 120,000 SF Rauch Business Center facility.  The project involves new piping and ductwork, upgrading the current 2-pipe distribution system, adding 5 new dedicated outside air handling units, and removing and replacing ceilings to accommodate new ductwork.  Construction will be completed over two summers. 

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem's Retail Fit-out

Construction is underway for the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem’s retail fit-out.  The project which began in March 2011 and includes vanilla box fit-out of 200,000 SF of retail space at the casino resort will be completed in September 2011.  There are approximately 30 retail spaces available. 

Construction Complete at PBS 39

Construction is complete at PBS 39’s Public Media and Education Center at Steelstacks.  The 29,000 SF center includes two television studios featuring state-of-the-art high definition production and broadcast equipment, a green screen, an HD master control broadcast booth and office space to accommodate future staff expansion.  The project will seek LEED certification.

Spring 2011

Gaige Building Nears Completion at Penn State Berks
Construction is nearing completion at the newly named Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building at Penn State Berks (read more on the new building at bctv.org). Architects RMJM Hillier designed the facility, and Alvin H. Butz is the Construction Manager. The Gaige Building will be the largest academic facility at Penn State Berks at more than 60,000 square feet, and will house 24 classrooms and labs, 50 faculty offices, a commercial kitchen, café and retail space. The new facility will also house the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement, the Learning Factory, and the Emerging Technologies and Business Intelligence Laboratory helping to make the campus a greater leader for growth and innovation. The building incorporates many sustainable strategies and will be submitted for LEED-Gold certification.

Alvin H. Butz Celebrates Groundbreaking at DeSales University for Gambet Center

DeSales University broke ground on June 10, 2011 for the Gambet Center for Business and Health Care Education. Alvin H. Butz will manage the construction of the building designed by Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects. The Gambet Center will become the home for the business department, the nursing department, and the physician assistant program. The building will feature 4 smart classrooms, IT and telecommunication infrastructure, a seminar classroom and a specialized business classroom that will include an electronic ticker tape and simulated trader stations as well as classrooms for nursing and physician assistant students, and simulation laboratories for adults, children, and birthing shared by both programs. In addition to the technological advances in the learning spaces, the Gambet Center will seek LEED-Silver certification for its sustainability advances.

Alvin H. Butz wins CMAA Award

Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Muhlenberg College and Bruner/Cott Associates, Inc. received the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter's Project of the Year award in the Higher Education Project under $20 Million category for the renovation and additions to the Seegers Union during the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of CMAA's Annual Award Banquet at the Union League in Philadelphia on June 9, 2011. Read more about the project.

Emeril’s Italian Restaurant Opens in the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

Construction on Emeril’s Italian Restaurant in the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem was completed in April.  The 6,584 SF restaurant will be Emeril’s third dining venue located within the Casino.  The restaurant includes an open wood oven and charcuterie station in a Tuscan, bistro-style setting. Old barn wood was purchased, deconstructed and remilled with the help of a local firm, Artisan, and used to construct and accent the new restaurant.

Construction Completed at ArtsQuest’s New Center for Performing Arts at Steelstacks

Construction is complete for ArtsQuest’s new center for performing arts at Steelstacks.  The new facility includes two cinemas, a 600-seat Musikfest Café live music venue and the “Blast Furnace Room,” a 4,000 SF multipurpose gathering space.  The north wall of the three-story building is glass, allowing visitors to view the Bethlehem Steel furnaces.  Every exposed steel beam is painted the International Orange – the same color used to paint the Golden Gate Bridge, which was built from steel produced by those furnaces. 

Fall/Winter 2010

Construction at Allentown Art Museum 50% Complete

Construction is 50% complete on Allentown Art Museum’s Expansion and modernization project.  The expansion will create two additions totaling 7,900 SF.  Included in the front addition will be an expanded storefront and relocated main entrance, a new main lobby, museum store and a café overlooking the Allentown Arts Park.  The rear addition will provide two new galleries, an additional classroom and a new loading dock/service entrance.  Renovations and upgrades are planned for the existing galleries and restrooms as well as elevator relocations and upgrading of mechanical and lighting systems.

Groundbreaking at Community Services for Children Inc.’s New Development Center

Butz broke ground in October 2010 on Community Services for Children Inc.’s new Early Head Start Infant, Toddler and Family Development Center.  The one-story, 12,000 SF building will include five classrooms, therapy rooms, mental health related rooms, a meeting room and a parent-child greeting room. Plans also include a kitchen, laundry & utility facilities, offices and an indoor play area. 

Construction Underway at Pennsylvania State University’s Berks Campus

Construction is underway for the Pennsylvania State University’s Berks Campus 62,000 SF new classroom / lab building.  The building is designed utilizing a two and three-story layout.  It will house 24 classrooms and labs, 50 faculty offices, a commercial kitchen, café and retail space.  The project is targeting a LEED-Gold certification and completion is scheduled for July 2011.

Butz managing Lehigh Heavy Forge’s Steelton Plant Expansion

Butz has been selected to manage the construction of Lehigh Heavy Forge’s Steelton Plant Expansion.  The 13,000 SF expansion will provide additional capacity to manufacture ingots for drive shafts. 

Spring/Summer 2010

Butz ranked among ENR’s Top 400 Contractors

Engineering News Record (ENR) ranked Butz Enterprises, Inc. among the top 400 contractors in 2010, at number 338.  The top 400 list includes construction management and general contracting firms.

Geisinger Health Systems Project Honored with 2010 Vista Award

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. was recently honored with a 2010 Vista Award by The American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE).  The award, in the category of new construction, recognizes Butz, Geisinger Health Systems and the architectural firm Francis Cauffman for the design and construction of the Critical Care Building at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA.   (Click here for a full press release.)

Butz and Sands Bethlehem Gaming, LLC recipients of a CMAA Regional Project of the Year Award

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. and Sands Bethlehem Gaming, LLC are the recipients of a Construction Management Association of America Mid-Atlantic Chapter Project of the Year Award for the construction of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.  The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem project won the award in the Private Sector Project over $100 million category.  (Click here for a full press release.)