CHICAGO, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Mortenson Construction has brought the Great Hall at Union Station and its attached 8-story office building into the 21st century while preserving its historic heritage. As part of a $25 million infrastructure improvement project funded by Union Station owner Amtrak and project-managed by Jones Lang LaSalle, Mortenson Construction upgraded or replaced the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems while installing fire safety equipment, including sprinklers and fire alarms to help make the 87-year-old building compliant with city regulations and set the stage to market the upper floors for tenants.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/CG30378)

Amtrak is already reaping financial returns from the capital improvement program, which it can use to offset operating costs. It has moved its Chicago office employees back into the building, partially occupying the second and third floors and saving more than $2 million in annual rent. By eliminating inefficient radiator heat, utility costs have dropped by more than $1 million so far in 2012, with an expected yearly savings of more than $2 million.

In addition, air conditioning in the Great Hall is making it a hot spot for cool events in the summer, with a record nine events in May and four weddings in June. The Great Hall, a waiting area for Amtrak and Metra train passengers and favorite location for movies from "The Untouchables" to "Man of Steel," is now a year-round venue for events and expected to bring in another $1 to $2 million annually.

To generate more revenue to put toward operating costs, Amtrak is working with Jones Lang LaSalle, the building's property manager, to market the rest of the available Headhouse office space as well as 60,000 square feet of upgraded retail space surrounding the Great Hall. "What was previously unrentable space because of life-safety issues and inadequate ventilation systems has become prime real estate," says Ray Lang, President of the Amtrak-owned Chicago Union Station Co. and the railroad's chief of state government relations.

Mortenson Construction successfully tackled significant logistical and operational challenges while working on the historic landmark, including doing some of the overhaul in a public space, without interrupting passengers, the train traffic control center, several retail businesses and private and public events. "The challenge is similar to redoing a kitchen while you're still cooking in it, although on a much larger scale," says Frank Tverdek, Jones Lang LaSalle's General Manager of Union Station. "Mortenson brought immense value to the project."

The primary portion of the work occurred in the sub-basement of the facility, which is inaccessible by vehicle and located two floors below the water level of the Chicago River. Mortenson relied on extensive use of 3D laser scanning and modeling, first to determine the best way to disassemble and remove the old mechanical and electrical systems, then to carefully design, fabricate and assemble onsite the new systems. Without this powerful tool, the extraction of existing equipment and installation of five industrial boilers and two 600-ton chillers would have added considerable cost and time.

For Chicago Union Station, Mortenson drew on deep experience in historic renovation and restoration, including other train station projects. In a $243 million restoration that will largely be completed by the end of 2012, Mortenson is reviving St. Paul's Union Depot for tenants that include Amtrak, and it renovated and converted Kansas City's Union Station, built in 1913, into an interactive science museum and Amtrak station. Mortenson has completed more than 30 historic preservation projects over the years, including cultural and performing arts centers, municipal and civic facilities, education buildings, churches, and office buildings.

"Restoring historic buildings is one of the most sustainable ways to build," says Greg Werner, vice-president and head of Mortenson's Chicago office. "The true success of an historic renovation is when visitors can't tell that we were ever in the building except that it looks and operates better." Chicago Union Station was envisioned by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and opened in May 1925 after ten years of construction at a cost of $75 million dollars. Burnham died before construction began and the work was completed by the firm Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Burnham's successor.

Excerpt from:
Chicago's Historic Union Station Is Better Than Ever

CARLISLE -- Pennsylvania State Police Carlisle are looking for a man who's making a habit of stealing food off people's porches and leaving his bike behind while he walks awa eating.

On June 24 at 10:25 p.m. Hannah Darhower, 24, of the 200 block of Alexander Spring Road in South Middleton Township, just finished making food and placed it on her front porch while she went back inside to get something, according to police. When she came back, she saw a man kneeling beside her house eating her food.

The man is described as a white, non-HIspanic male approximately 5'10" weighing 140 lbs., in his early 30s with dark hair and possibly a ponytail.

The man stood up from where he was kneeling and carried the plate away from the residence, walking through the grass toward Walnut Bottom Road. The man left his bicycle at the scene, an older style 10-speed Raleigh bike.

According to State Police, this incident is similar to a food theft on Bonnybrook Road on June 13 at 1:20 a.m. when a man left behind a bicycle at that scene as well. The description of the man is similar in both incidents.

Anyone with information - especially those living on the southern end of Carlisle Borough near State Route 34 and Walnut Bottom Road, and South Middleton Residents, are encouraged to contact PSP Carlisle, Trooper Boardman, at 249-2121 ext. 3.

See more here:
Police looking for man making a habit of grabbing dinner off porches in Carlisle

25-06-2012 17:06 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible building strategy with church leaders. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Follow this link:
"Ministry during Church Construction" with BGW's Don Mahoney - Video

25-06-2012 17:22 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible building strategy with church leaders. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Read more from the original source:
"Integrating Fundraising

25-06-2012 17:32 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible building strategy with church leaders. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Read more:
"Stewardship during Church Building", by BGW's Don Mahoney - Video

25-06-2012 18:07 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible strategy for building. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Read this article:
"BGW Church Architecture" by Don Mahoney - Video

25-06-2012 18:09 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible building strategy with church leaders. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Link:
"A new way to Design

25-06-2012 18:09 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible building strategy with church leaders. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Originally posted here:
"Building God's Way vs Building World's Way", By Don Mahoney - Video

25-06-2012 18:10 Church Building with Building Gods Way @ , shares an incredible strategy for building. Building God's Way is a remarkable network of services that includes ministering to workers on the jobsite while in the church construction process. Don't wait till your building is finished before you reach out to further growth in His kingdom BGW has a nationwide builder network, specializing in church building, that fully endorse and support the Ministry of Construction outreach program. An example of that Builder network is listed here, visit any to learn more: Connect with us on facebook & twitter:

Read this article:
"Church Construction - Repurposing Retail

A Chicago church plans to build a 6,000-seat mega-church on this vacant lot in south suburban Riverdale, but the mayor doesnt like the plan, because the church wouldnt bring any property tax revenue to the cash-strapped village. (Credit: CBS)

RIVERDALE, Ill. (CBS) South suburban Riverdale has the unfortunate distinction of having one of the nine worst municipal credit ratings in the nation, so the last thing some city leaders want is a new church that wont pay any taxes, but thats exactly what theyre going to get.

The Israel God of Church in Chicagos South Shore neighborhood has plans to move to a vacant lot in south suburban Riverdale, where the Board of Trustees already has approved construction of a 6,000-seat church at 500 W. 138th St.

CBS 2s Dorothy Tucker reports the final sale is scheduled for next month, but the controversy is just beginning.

A defunct fueling station that sits on 19 acres of cracked concrete and overgrown weeds could soon be home to a new mega church owned by the Israel of God church.

We dont need no church. We have a church sitting at least 100 yards away, said Riverdale resident Ken Allen, who is among those who oppose the plans for the mega-church.

Its not because of religious objections, but economic concerns.

Is that church gonna give us jobs? he said. Thats what we need out here. We need work. We need employment We have too much people out here unemployed.

The church also represents a loss of property tax revenue, since the owners of the vacant lot were still paying about $100,000 a year in property taxes for the 19-acre property.

The village was getting about half of that money, and Riverdale Mayor Deyon Dean said they cant afford to lose that funding.

Read more here:
Riverdale Mayor Hardly Excited About Church Replacing Vacant Lot