Community Service

You are currently browsing the archive for the Community Service category.

Our Graduate Gardener

May 16, 2012 in Community Service, Team Building, The Outdoors | No comments

This is the fourth year for our Community Garden. What started with a few tomato plants has expanded to fruit trees and a much larger vegetable patch.

New additions this year include:

Two large mounded beds. “Melon Mountain” will include six varieties of melons; “Squash Mountain” will be home to 5 varieties of squash and a handful of pumpkins. The seedlings are peeking out through small slits in their black weed covers.

A sprinkler system. Heads are mounted on poles throughout the garden, making watering far less labor intensive. We irrigate with water from our on-campus lake.

New plantings. We got creative this year. Beyond Alabama standards like tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, okra and peppers, we’re enjoying asparagus, blueberries and potatoes. Herbs are in full bloom.

A resting bench. Years ago, most cities used hewed stone for street curbs. On a recent project downtown, we unearthed some of these old curb structures. Three of these pieces have been formed into a garden bench, a place to rest a bit and enjoy the garden.

The most important addition is Sam Wilson, our gardener.

Sam is a recent graduate from Birmingham Southern College where he led a group of students, creating the school’s Community Garden. This project grew from a small raised bed operation into a working farm.

Like many college grads in this economy, Sam didn’t find just the right job fit upon graduation. He is between either graduate work or a full time career.

In the meantime, he’s with us a few hours each week, helping us. He is responsible for planting, harvesting and garden maintenance. Sam keeps our folks in the loop with regular email updates on the outdoors.

He’s proving to be a great asset to the team. He brought new gardening techniques and a fresh outlook to our Community Garden. We’re seeing his enthusiasm multiply through our team. In turn, we’re able to help him by providing short term employment.

As Sam said in his last email to our team, “This is your garden. Love it and it will love you back.” We’re seeing that in spades right now as we harvest potatoes, strawberries, asparagus, carrots, radishes, lettuce.

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

By Donating Office Space, Community Connectivity Comes to Us

May 2, 2012 in Community Service | No comments

When mapping out our corporate campus back in 2006, we allowed for expansion space in the floor plan. It seemed like a smart move for a growing company, and I stand by the decision.

However, challenges the economy has presented the last few years mean the extra space did not fill up as quickly as we anticipated.

Unlit offices and dormant space are good for storage, but not much else.

We decided to put the expansion space to a better use in the meantime by reaching out to deserving non-profits and emerging partners. We can house them during their establishment and growth phase, or in some cases, during periods of funding challenges where they might not be operating otherwise.

The benefits are a two-way street. The organization gets the benefit of the space and support. We get vibrant and passionate people spending time in our breakroom, sharing ideas with our team.

Currently, we are enjoying the company of a USGBC representative. Their Alabama Chapter uses a federal grant to train people in sustainable building techniques, coaching them in job seeking skills for this part of our economy. The program head has recently moved to our campus, and it has been a great pairing.

While we already had a paper recycling program, she has connected us with the Alabama Enviromental Center’s downtown collection spot. We now have a method of recycling materials such as glass that were not previously a part of our program.

This is a win/win for everyone.

In previous posts, I’ve mentioned how you can help the community without a big monetary investment and how to donate meeting space. How are you helping non-profits in your area?

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

Tags: , , , , ,

Civil Rights and the Evolution of Design

January 12, 2012 in Community Service, Construction Trends | 2 comments

Birmingham Mayor William Bell assists with ground breaking at ILR

There is something special about every project we build. Some bring vitality to communities. Adaptive reuse breathes new life into existing–often historical–buildings. LEED projects promote sustainability.

Last fall, we broke ground on a project that was more than special. It’s an honor.

Independent Living Resources provides community-based, non-residential services and advocacy for those living with disabilities. The new location we are building in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District seems more than fitting. As IRL Executive Director Dan Kessler, told The Birmingham News, “Human rights is a part of (the Civil Rights) mission, and disability rights is big part of that movement.”

Beyond all ILR gives the community, what most impressed us about their folks was the focus on something called Universal Design.

Universal Design centers on accessibility for as many people as possible. This can be in the form of environments, objects and systems. For followers of the concept, buildings should to be usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability or status in life.

Independent Living Resources is able to take universal design to a new level, because the majority of people on staff have disabilities. Involving them in the design process has been particularly enlightening.

Here are a few ways Universal Design is being used at ILR:

Door Openers. Standard accessible entrances include a push button for access, which excludes those who lack upper body mobility. ILR will be installing a version that can be activated using a wheelchair footrest. These will be placed inside and outside at the front and back doors.

Quiet Room. Individuals with stress disabilities or those prone to migraines can use this space to relax. It will be equipped with a daybed, and no cell phones or work materials are allowed inside.

Parking spaces. The 14 spaces closest to the building are divided by bollards and feature a detectable paver system for the vision-impaired. This also provides good visual separation for all drivers.

HVAC. The building has been divided into smaller HVAC zones, giving more control of the temperature in personal workspace and increasing the comfort of those people who work and visit.

Workstations. Areas such as the reception desk will have low and high transaction counters for better access for those who are doing business from a wheelchair.

Light. The lighting has been designed to minimize triggers for people who suffer seizures and other similar conditions. The open workspace features lots of windows, and glass partitions let the light flow throughout the office.

Site Selection. The building is located with convenient access to public transportation and sidewalks have been modified with ramps down to the street for access by people with disabilities.

Community Connectivity. The site is within walking distance of the power and gas utility companies, the Social Security office, and several other public buildings and community service organizations.

What we’re learning is that the principles of Universal Design make sense. Open spaces, wider halls, additional light and facilities that can be modified don’t just benefit people with disabilities. They make buildings better for us all.

What accessibility changes have you made to make your facilities better for everyone?

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

A Simple Garden Grows More than Produce

April 27, 2011 in Community Service, Conservation, Customer Relationships, Family, Team Building | No comments

Three years ago we decided to plant a few tomato plants beside our office. That small patch of land has become much more.

Our plot has grown into a full garden featuring silver queen corn, rosemary, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, watermelons, squash, turnip greens, cucumbers, peppers and of course—tomatoes.

Beyond the beautiful produce, the beds have become a way for our company to share with the community. In the height of the growing season we harvest vegetables and put them on our kitchen table.

We share among our employees, friends that drop by and our neighbors. One year we had an over-abundance of tomatoes, so it became a team effort to see what all you could make out of a tomato. You’d be amazed at the creative recipes.

It is a joy for all of our employees to share what we grow with our customers. When we build a building we give them a home for their team, but being able to share from our garden extends into their homes as well.

Those personal relationships are the foundation of our company.

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

Tags: , , , , , , ,

A Simple Flower Can Bring A Company Together

April 5, 2011 in Community Service, Conservation, Family, Preservation, Team Building | No comments

Every year, we have a Christmas gathering to bring all the Stewart Perry families together.

The first year this reunion was held at our place, we spent one Saturday morning planting several hundred daffodils across the lake on the hillside. We chose that spot because it is visible from our conference room and is a reminder of renewal and hope that comes with each new year.

The experience that Saturday with our team and their families was invaluable. We all worked together to create a nice addition to our campus. In the years since then we have added more daffodils so that now every spring across the lake we have a beautiful vista of flowers.

Our daffodils are the gift that continues to give year after year. When we construct an “owner occupied building”, during the design stage, I share with the client that to me a building should be more than 4 walls and a roof and that it should leverage important values of the company. In our case, the daffodils serve us as a reminder to our team of the importance of being cohesive. I wonder what are the important values that your environment helps to communicate?

 

 

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Save Time & Money by Watching ASTM Standards

March 28, 2011 in Community Service, Customer Relationships, Leadership, Recession, Tips from the Field | 1 comment

ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an organization that can have a substantial impact on construction projects, yet quite a few folks are not familiar with it. ASTM was founded in 1898 for the development and delivery of voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide variety of materials, systems and services.

ASTM’s construction standards are generally recognized as the benchmark by which materials are tested. They cover basics such as wood, stone, concrete, geotechnical engineering and much more. In many projects, these standards can be the deciding factor in whether the job proceeds, so it’s important to get to know them.

Unfortunately, people do not respect the ASTM standards until it’s too late. Even though the building owner may not ultimately be responsible for low results on strength tests, he or she will be affected if a job is delayed significantly because of it.

We prefer “Design-Build” projects as we can utilize these ASTM standards and are prepared before we reach problems during a project. We work with architects directly on behalf of our client and this helps to alleviate any problems before they arise thanks to our knowledge of ASTM standards and past experiences.

Therefore, it is wise to be respectful of ASTM. These technical committees meet twice a year, so keep track of any changes in standards. It might not seem like the most interesting material to monitor, but it could be the most important.

Share

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email

Tags: , , , ,

Want to Build a Greener Society? Demand It.

August 21, 2010 in Community Service, Conservation, Construction Trends, Green Building, Leadership, LEED certified, Preservation | 1 comment

I’ve heard it a million times: “Actions speak louder than words.”

In a country like the U.S., where we vote with our dollars, that becomes even more true. We make a demand and the supplier who meets it wins the sale. Sometimes the government—the officials we elected to regulate policy—can give a push to make it happen. The question is, are we speaking up?

Three weeks ago, we bought a used van for our millwork shop. With a price tag of only $500, it seemed like a great deal. A few days later our shop foreman said the van was getting barely 12 MPG. No problem, I thought. We just need a tune up. Sadly, that did nothing.

The van is circa mid to late 90s. We checked, and the rated MPG when it was brand new was only 13 MPG. At the time, that was all the federal government required. As it turns out, it was operating at peak fuel efficiency.

Due to the rising price of gas, consumer demands and resulting government regulations, fuel-efficiency standards have increased. Pickup trucks are in the 20-MPG range now. Down the road, they’ll probably get closer to 30 MPG. To me, this is an example of the government pressing us to do better. In a perfect world, we’d all become more energy efficient on our own. But the reality is, sometimes laws are needed to encourage businesses (and people) to do the right thing.

On January 1, 2011 every building permit issued in the state of California must be designed to meet green standards. I have no doubt that this can be accomplished throughout the U.S.  I believe we can improve our overall energy efficiency and sustainability practices, like we did with fuel mileage.

So, are you letting manufacturers and elected officials know what you want? We can prompt a gentle nudge in the right direction.


Share/Bookmark

_____________________________________________________________

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email.

Tags: , ,

Building a Community Takes More Than Brick and Mortar

June 22, 2010 in Community Service, Family, Local Craftsmen, The Weekend | No comments

We at Stewart Perry like where we live, and we like our neighbors. Donna Sue Groves believes you can express those feelings through her relatively newfound art—barn quilts.

“The barn quilts are public art that celebrates the place people call home. They make people feel good about themselves and where they live.” – Donna Sue Groves

We decided to give it a shot on our woodworking barn. We plan to paint several quilts over the coming year to reveal the unique diversity within our small community.

Ms. Groves originated the barn quilt project in Adams County, Ohio in 2001. Almost ten years later, this simplistic concept of painting a quilt square on an eight foot square piece of plywood and hanging it on a barn for others to enjoy is now called the National Quilt Barn Trail, spanning more than 20 states and British Columbia.

She feels this phenomenon sweeping the nation reveals something about our communities. “When we all become part of a team, we actually weave the fiber that brings people together,” she says. I agree wholeheartedly.

Our first effort could not be a better illustration of how teamwork builds a better community. Mitchell’s Place, our across the street neighbor, is a center specializing in services for children, young adults, and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  This past Saturday, several Stewart Perry and Mitchell’s Place families joined together to paint our first barn quilt. As I watched everyone, especially the children, painting the 128 triangles that would make up 64 squares to finally form one large quilt, I could not help but be reminded of how rewarding it is when everyone comes together to accomplish a common goal. Even more rewarding was the laughter of the children, the smiles from the parents and the fun had by all as we got to know our neighbors better.

The geometric design, created by our own Lynn Wilkins, symbolizes the colors representative of autism awareness. All of the pieces, painted by several and pulled together as one, reveal our individual perspectives with collective aspirations. Our hope, like Ms. Groves, is simply for all to enjoy.

The barn quilt will be hung this week end. Please let me know if you happen to drive by. We’d like to hear your thoughts.


Share/Bookmark

_____________________________________________________________

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Scout’s Honor: Communication is the Key to Business

May 21, 2010 in Community Service, Customer Relationships, Leadership, Management, The Weekend | No comments

I have been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for about 35 years. It’s a wonderful organization—I would encourage you to find a troop for your sons or grandsons if they are not already active. BSA teaches many essential skills that help children as they grow. I’ve found the basic principles they learn as Scouts carry over well into adulthood.

One of the Scouting merit badges is Communications. It’s required to earn the Eagle Scout rank, and that’s for a good reason. They emphasize conversation, listening, writing, persuasion and public speaking—all things that if mastered, comprise good communication. Honing this valuable skill at a young age can give Scouts a tremendous leg up. That’s because communicating effectively is a key to success at all stages of life, whether it’s interaction with your teacher, your boss, your employees or especially your clients.

Think of the classic vision of a Scout: a young boy helping an elderly lady cross the street. He learns early on the importance of looking both ways. The same is true in communication. It is a two-way street in which the traffic from both directions – speaking and listening – is equally important. You must not only be able to communicate your ideas clearly, but also truly take in what is being said. Listening is a huge part of communication. If something is said and it’s not heard properly, then what have you really accomplished? You’ve probably missed valuable input.

How can communication make us more effective? I think seamlessly and clearly sharing our thoughts, then listening intently in return will take us a long way as business leaders, family members and citizens.

Share/Bookmark
_____________________________________________________________

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email.

Tags: , , , , ,

Are Good Manners the Next Trend in Construction?

March 23, 2010 in Community Service, Construction Trends, Customer Relationships, Management, Projects, Tips from the Field | 4 comments

As business leaders, I think it is always good to stay in the loop and try to identify current industry trends. We want to be on the front end of things that are moving in the right direction. I’ve written about economy-related pricing trends and green building, but what’s on the horizon now? I think we’re about to see a little more of the Golden Rule in action. Maybe this goes along with the reuse, recycle and sustainability aspect we are seeing on sites. Maybe it’s a trend toward job sites that are friendlier to consumers as well as the total environment. Here’s why.

I recently read an article in Architectural Record about the city of New York pressing contractors to present a more positive image on city construction sites. While the approaches vary, the theme is not so different from an initiative I stumbled upon in London last fall.

The UK Considerate Constructors Scheme is a national project founded in 1997. Sites and companies that register are monitored against a “Code of Considerate Practice” designed to encourage best practices beyond legal requirements. The Scheme covers any area of construction with direct or indirect impact on the image of the industry as a whole, and focuses on 3 categories: the general public, the workforce and the environment. More than 40,000 sites have participated so far.

So what does the Code of Considerate Practice include to protect builders from getting a bad rap and improve industry image? Here are the 8 basic premises for site evaluation and grading:

  1. Considerate: Does the site minimize inconveniences for all those who may be affected by the work?
  2. Environment: What is the site doing to minimize impact on the environment?
  3. Cleanliness: Is the site doing all it can to appear tidy and well presented at a standard the industry should be proud of?
  4. Good Neighbor: How well is the site communicating with those who may be interested/affected? What impression will contractor leave behind when finished?
  5. Respectful: Does every person on the site create a positive image of their company and the industry?
  6. Safe: Is there a proactive approach driving up safety standards?
  7. Responsible: Is the contractor playing a role in the recruitment and training of the industry’s future workforce?
  8. Accountable: Is the contractor accountable and accessible? What is being done to create a sense of pride in working in construction? Are there any measures taken on the site that could be classed as exceptional and unique?

How’s that for a report card? If you could improve your grades in those 8 areas, think about what you could do for your community and your business. It’s happening in London. It’s happening in New York City. Can you make it happen in your city?

Share/Bookmark

_____________________________________________________________

Merrill Stewart is Founder and President of the Stewart Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him via email.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

« Older entries