Ruby+Associates' Ottawa Power Street Station Project Earns New Accolades

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruby+Associates, a pioneer in the development of constructability of steel structures, today announced that its constructability work at the Accident Fund Insurance Company's new headquarters in Lansing's historic Ottawa Street Power Station earned an American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) Eminent Conceptor award, the top engineering award given.    

Built in 1939, the distinctive Art Deco style building at 217 E. Ottawa Street along the Grand River was praised for its engineering and architecture and became Lansing's prominent Art Deco landmark. After over 50 years of service, it was decommissioned in 1992.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building has been brought back to life as a beautiful work space.  The exterior, which features a broad base with stepped arch windows and metal doors, blocky tower form and graded-hue masonry, has been restored while the interior was carefully and completely gutted and rebuilt.  

"What was most rewarding about the Accident Fund Project was being part of team that proved that reuse and repurpose of historic structures is feasible," said Jeff Gasparott, PE, Ruby+Associates Project Manager.  "The designers and builders of this project will always be tied to this challenging accomplishment but the true winner is the community of Lansing."

"The complexity of this project cannot be understated," said Steven Reynolds, Accident Fund's Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Services.  "In the early stages, this project could have been rejected as 'impossible' by a team with less experience.  However, the hard work, ingenuity and unwavering dedication of our team is largely responsible for bringing the building to life.  The countless visitors who tour our beautifully finished facility are consistently awestruck."

Assisting The Christman Company and Douglas Steel, Ruby performed structural analysis for the $182 million renovation of The Ottawa Street Power Station to serve as the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America headquarters.  Ruby provided floor-by-floor sequencing to facilitate and maximize internal demolition while maintaining stability. Ruby provided the connection design for braced frames and the connections between the new and existing framing within the renovated structure, maximizing the use of existing materials.  By providing constructability expertise and evaluating design alternatives, Ruby+Associates facilitated early completion of the structural steel erection. 

Ruby's award was announced during the 2012 ACEC Michigan Engineering & Surveying Excellence Program event held February 25 at the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, MI, showcasing the year's best engineering and surveying achievements.  The Ottawa Street project had previously earned Ruby a Presidential Award for Excellence in Engineering from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).  Ruby was also notified that they will be receiving a National Recognition Award from ACEC National in April for this project.

For more information on Ruby+Associates and to read case studies from many of its projects, please visit www.rubyusa.com 

About Ruby+Associates
Ruby+Associates is considered a pioneer in the principles of constructability.  We look at every project as an opportunity to engineer or design something new, whether that means a better way to do the same thing, or a new way to do something never dreamed of before.  We deliver solutions that help clients do what they do best.

SOURCE Ruby+Associates