Kalamazoo College’s Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership Earns Awards for Miller-Davis Contractors

Exterior of Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership — Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. Steve Hall (c) Hedrich Blessing.

Miller-Davis Company, a general contracting and construction management firm based in Kalamazoo, has been awarded the 2014 Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Michigan Grand Award for the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership (Arcus Center) at Kalamazoo College. The Grand Award is given to the most significant construction project in Michigan.

This is the first time the AGC of Michigan has given out the Michigan Grand Award.

Miller-Davis also received a 2014 AGC Build Michigan Award for the Arcus Center, in the Construction Management New category.

“This unique building is like no other,” said Kalamazoo College Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Paul Manstrom. “The innovative design resulted in the most technically complex construction process I have experienced in my 24 years as the College’s representative for major capital projects.”

Five people standing with an award — Accepting the ACG Michigan awards were (l-r) Miller-Davis Chief Estimator Steve Zimmerman, K’s Paul Manstrom, Miller-Davis Senior Project Manager Michele Wregglesworth, Miller-Davis Senior Project Superintendent Rob Morris, and Miller-Davis President Rex Bell.

Kalamazoo College’s Arcus Center is the world’s first purpose-built structure dedicated to developing emerging leaders and sustaining existing leaders in the fields of human rights and social justice.

The one-of-a-kind $5 million, 10,000 square foot, Y-shaped, steel-frame, single-story pavilion embodies the College’s founding commitment to be a catalyst for positive social change and will serve as the hearth for social justice globally. The building was constructed utilizing nontraditional construction processes with the purpose of fulfilling its principles of economic, social, and environmental justice and is seeking LEED Gold certification.

“Miller-Davis is honored to be part of the construction team for the Arcus Center, which provides a space to study, meet, and host events where students, faculty, visiting scholars, social justice leaders, and members of the public will come together to engage in conversation and activities aimed at creating a more just world,” said the company in a news release.

AGC of Michigan presented the award during AGC’s Annual Meeting on February 20 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. Build Michigan project entries are judged on: meeting the challenge of a difficult project, excellence in project management, innovation in construction techniques or materials and state-of-the-art advancement, sensitivity to the environment and surroundings, responsiveness to client needs, the contractor’s contribution to the community and exceptional service.

Congrats, to our Miller-Davis partners!