Awards

The Betty Jayne, a ‘Modernist jewel,’ gets Architectural Recognition

Farnsworth Group — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 15:45:57 +0000

The Betty Jayne, a ‘Modernist jewel,’ gets Architectural Recognition Farnsworth Group Jan 25, 2021 / 9:45 am Awards

The Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts in Peoria Heights, IL, has garnered a commendation for its architecture, as envisioned and drawn up by the national architecture and engineering firm, Farnsworth Group.

Purchased in 2018 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Kim Blickenstaff, the former Peoria Heights Public Library went through a redesign and rebuild the following year. It was the first of Blickenstaff’s many developments in central Illinois, and he named it in honor of his mother, a dancer during the Big Band era.

Kim Blickenstaff, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Blickenstaff became a fan of the building’s original architect, Richard Doyle of Peoria Heights, known primarily for his work on two iconic central Illinois structures – Tower Park in Peoria Heights, and the former Robertson Memorial Field House on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, IL.

The central Illinois-born, California-based Blickenstaff wanted the fundamental integrity and feel of the building preserved – you’d still know it was a Doyle – while imbuing it with a whole new purpose, as a performing arts center.

From the perspective of the American Institute of Architects, Prairie Illinois chapter, it was mission accomplished.

What we’ve done there is an example of adaptive reuse. We don’t have to tear everything down. These wonderful buildings have a lot of life left in them, and they tell a unique story about their communities and the time periods in which they were created.

Kim Blickenstaff

The Betty Jayne “represents one of Doyle’s most sophisticated architectural achievements,” AIA wrote in its recognition. “Its carefully orchestrated ensemble of horizontal earth-hugging volumes, large expanses of glazing (including clerestories), and exposed steel elements (including a floating stairway) are all hallmarks of Modernist design. Yet its relatively modest overall size of 6,500 square feet, distributed across a main floor, a mezzanine, and a lower level, gives the library a true ‘pavilion’ or jewel-like quality. As such, it is probably the only such civic edifice of its kind in downstate Illinois.”

Farnsworth, in its submission, noted that “the origins of Modernism are centrally influenced by mass industrialization, deriving beauty from pure function above decoration. Richard Doyle’s training as both an architect and structural engineer gave him the perfect tools to create modern architecture.”

A self-confessed “architecture geek,” Blickenstaff said he was unfamiliar with Doyle’s work until happening upon it in Peoria Heights, where the latter once lived and where his style continues to make its mark.

The Betty Jayne Center for the Performing Arts incorporates elements from the building's previous service as the community library. Here, former album dividers used by the library to hold LPs serve as a prominent display case for liquor behind the bar area.

“I just love his stuff,” he said. “The building had been empty for awhile. We thought we could add some modern touches while retaining the history and essential character of the place. I’m just really pleased with how it turned out, and with the role the Betty Jayne is playing to enliven entertainment and the arts in the Heights."

Water Tank Named Top 25 in Nation

Farnsworth Group — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 19:13:40 +0000

Water Tank Named Top 25 in Nation Farnsworth Group Dec 18, 2020 / 1:13 pm Awards

The Limestone Walters Public Water District just outside of Peoria, IL, can lay claim to having one of the 2020 Top 25 water storage tank paint jobs in the nation.

The Limestone Walters tank was one of nearly 300 water towers nationwide that was submitted and competed for Tnemec Coatings’ annual Tank of the Year competition. The winners are chosen through an online public voting campaign where individuals vote for their favorite tank designs. The Top 12 water towers get the distinction of appearing in the Tnemec Coatings’ Elevated Storage Tank 2021 Tank of the Year calendar. More than 20,000 votes were cast online in the competition.

The Limestone Walters Public Water District, located on the West side of Peoria, contracted Farnsworth Group to rehabilitate its water storage tank in 2019. Communities and water districts offer creative displays, graphic images, and messages on their water tanks to evoke community pride. As part of the upgrade, rather than replace the existing logo on the tank, the District elected to add the Limestone Walters School District 316’s Rocket logo to the tank. The District’s decision not only shows community support, but also pride in the adjoining Limestone Walters school that sits just steps away from the water tower.

The elevated tank is more than 165 feet tall and holds a maximum 100,000 gallons of potable water serving area residents. Farnsworth Group was contracted to provide coatings design, bidding and construction-related assistance to assure that the project was completed during the summer months when school was not in session. Maxcor, Inc. based in New Lenox, IL, performed the coatings rehabilitation work.

Farnsworth Group Climbs on ENR Top 500 Design List

Farnsworth Group — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 15:28:57 +0000

Farnsworth Group Climbs on ENR Top 500 Design List Farnsworth Group Jun 8, 2020 / 10:28 am Awards

Farnsworth Group has been named one of the nation's top design firms, landing at No. 205 on the Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Designs Firms List for 2020. Last year Farnsworth Group hit No. 207 on the prestigious ranking.

ENR’s List of Top Design Firms ranks the 500 largest U.S. based architectural, engineering, and environmental design firms, both publicly and privately held, based on annual revenue, both at home and abroad.

Farnsworth Group saw increased expansion in service lines and geographic regions during 2019, including a new office location in Iowa with the acquisition of Design Alliance. Earlier this year, Farnsworth Group completed the acquisition of FWAI Architects, a 13-person architecture firm based in Springfield, Illinois.

Farnsworth Group Earns Fourth Consecutive Great Place to Work Certification

Farnsworth Group — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 19:04:18 +0000

Farnsworth Group Earns Fourth Consecutive Great Place to Work Certification Farnsworth Group Aug 30, 2019 / 2:04 pm Awards

Make it four in a row! Farnsworth Group earned its fourth consecutive Great Place to Work certification by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work. Farnsworth Group earned the honor based on extensive ratings and feedback provided by its employees in anonymous surveys.

"We are especially proud of the Great Place to Work certification because it is a direct result of the feedback provided by our employees," said Farnsworth Group President & CEO Karen Jensen. "We've developed a unique culture here at Farnsworth Group and it is Farnsworth Group's employees that truly make the Company a great place to work. Farnsworth Group is a place where employees can succeed and expand in their careers, help clients solve their engineering and architecture challenges, and make a difference in the communities they serve."

“We congratulate Farnsworth Group on their Certification,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Best Workplace List Research at Great Place to Work. “Organizations that earn their employees’ trust create great workplace cultures that deliver outstanding business results.”

Nearly 300 Farnsworth Group employees completed the Great Place to Work survey. Of note, more than 90 percent of respondents stated that employees are treated fairly, the Company creates a safe to place to work, new employees are made to feel welcome, and employees are able to take time off work when necessary.

Farnsworth Group not only uses results of the Great Place to Work survey as a valuable recruiting tool, but also uses employee feedback from the survey to further improve the Company.

Farnsworth Group Earns Top Safety Award

Farnsworth Group — Tue, 21 May 2019 18:55:04 +0000

Farnsworth Group Earns Top Safety Award Farnsworth Group May 21, 2019 / 1:55 pm Awards

The Security Insurance Company awarded Farnsworth Group the prestigious Dale Sabers Excellence in Safety Award in recognition of the Company's exemplary safety performance.

The award is a recognition given annually to members who participated in Security's captive for two full years and demonstrates safety excellence through practice and performance. This year marked Farnsworth Group’s first year of eligibility and is a significant accomplishment to earn the award during the initial eligibility period.

Farnsworth Group was recognized for its outstanding Safety record.

"Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees, and those that we work with and around every day," said Farnsworth Group President & CEO Karen Jensen. "This award is affirmation of the Company's commitment to safety and the priority that is placed on our safety program. While these awards are an opportunity for recognition and validation, we are forever vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety of our employees."

Safety practice and performance measures evaluated included: OHSA metrics and workers compensation claim results being below applicable industry averages; participation in the captive group events (i.e., trainings, webinars, and workshops); and results of a thorough Gap Analysis performed by the captive safety consultants. The Gap Analysis included a comprehensive review of Farnsworth Group records and programs such as trend analysis tracking of incidents and near-misses; completion of Job Hazard Analysis/Job Safety Analysis (JHAs/JSAs); safety committee establishment and participation; accident/incident reporting, incident investigations, and implementation of corrective measures; new employee safety orientation training/criteria; and OSHA compliance training.

Read more about Farnsworth Group's focus on Safety here.

Jensen Earns ISU Alumni Achievement Award

Farnsworth Group — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:46:31 +0000

Jensen Earns ISU Alumni Achievement Award Farnsworth Group Mar 12, 2019 / 10:46 am Awards

Farnsworth Group announced today that its President and CEO Karen Jensen received the Illinois State University Alumni Achievement Award during the University’s Annual Founders Day Celebration.

The award recognizes significant achievements of alumni to society, their profession or Illinois State. Selection is based upon significant accomplishments in one’s chosen field measured by statewide, national, or international recognition; honors from associations or employers; or documentation illustrating work that has proved beneficial to a pronounced segment of society.

Jensen received her master’s in business administration at ISU in 1986 and is currently a member of ISU’s College of Business Hall of Fame and serves on the College’s advisory board. She joined Farnsworth Group in 2002 and began working as a Principal of the firm’s infrastructure division. She was named President and CEO in 2006.

The Company has enjoyed steady growth under Jensen’s leadership, and today is ranked as one of the nation’s Top 200 Design Firms by Engineering News-Record. Farnsworth Group has expanded to 22 offices nationwide with 500 employees whose client list ranges from small municipalities to some of the world’s most recognized brands.

The Illinois State University Alumni Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization that serves more than 215,000 alumni, the University, and its students. Each year the Association recognizes individuals who personify the university’s traditions as an environment for excellence. Established in 1971, the awards program has grown to five award categories including the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Alumni Achievement Award, E. Burton Mercier Service Award, Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Senator John Maitland, Jr., Commitment to Education Award.

Western Colorado University Unveils Farnsworth Group Project

Farnsworth Group — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 19:46:21 +0000

Western Colorado University Unveils Farnsworth Group Project Farnsworth Group Sep 6, 2018 / 2:46 pm Awards

Western Colorado University announced today its plans to construct the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering Building.

The new school is made possible by an $80 million gift from Paul M. Rady, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Colorado-based Antero Resources and Antero Midstream. Mr. Rady is a 1978 graduate of Western Colorado University (Western) with a Bachelor’s degree in Geology.

“I am proud of the team that has designed and created this great project. In particular, Mesa Properties, owner's representative and general contractor, and a host of specialty consultants including Kimley Horn (civil), Research Facilities Design (lab design), Dark Energy (energy modeling), EDI (technology), Wave Engineering (acoustics), & BG Buildingworks (LEED) have worked closely with our internal team to underscore this design’s success,” said Terry Rucker, Principal.

Farnsworth Group is proud to be the architect of record and is providing architecture; interior design, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering; landscape architecture and land surveying services.

For more information from Western, please click here.

Additional information about our project can be found here.

Farnsworth Group Earns Third Straight Great Place to Work Certification

Farnsworth Group — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 13:56:00 +0000

Farnsworth Group Earns Third Straight Great Place to Work Certification Farnsworth Group Sep 4, 2018 / 8:56 am Awards

For the third consecutive year, Farnsworth Group was certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work. Farnsworth Group earned this credential based on extensive ratings provided by its employees in anonymous surveys. A summary of these ratings can be found at

http://reviews.greatplacetowork.com/farnsworth-group-inc

"We are extremely proud of the culture we have built here at Farnsworth Group," said Farnsworth Group President & CEO Karen Jensen, PE. "This achievement wouldn't have been earned without the amazing support and dedication of our employees. Our Company is marked by the people we have, the passion shown for our work and clients, and in the performance we deliver each and every day."

“According to our study, 84 percent of Farnsworth Group, Inc. employees say it is a great workplace,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Great Place to Work Certification & List Production.

Farnsworth Group, Inc. employees completed 269 surveys, resulting in a 90 percent confidence level and a margin of error of ± 3.12.

Farnsworth Group Named an MEP Giant

Farnsworth Group — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:25:05 +0000

Farnsworth Group Named an MEP Giant Farnsworth Group Aug 30, 2018 / 1:25 pm Awards

Farnsworth Group has been named a 2018 MEP Giant by Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine. The 100 engineering firms distinguished by this award are recognized in the August 2018 issue, highlighted online at http://www.csemag.com/giants, and honored at a dinner and networking awards event in Chicago in October.

The MEP Giants program lists the top mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), fire protection engineering firms in the United States and Canada. The detailed analysis of these firms reveals industry insights, and how the industry has changed over the last several years.

The 2018 MEP Giants have earned this title by proving that they find opportunity in the many changes in the building engineering industry. The 100 firms selected as the 2018 MEP Giants continuously push the boundaries in the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering sectors, providing the top engineered systems in the building industry. Data collected from these firms over the past several years has helped Consulting-Specifying Engineer analyze and identify trends in the marketplace.

Farnsworth Group's Marv Fisher Sworn in as 99th SAME President

Farnsworth Group — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:28:56 +0000

Farnsworth Group's Marv Fisher Sworn in as 99th SAME President Farnsworth Group Jun 22, 2018 / 11:28 am Awards

Col. Marvin Fisher, LEED AP, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), was sworn in as 99th National President of SAME at the 2018 Joint Engineer Training Conference in Kansas City, MO.

Marvin Fisher is sworn in as the 99th SAME President.

Currently, Col. Fisher is the Chief Strategy Officer of Farnsworth Group, which he joined in 2013. In this role, he is responsible for strategy formulation and implementation to support the growth of the Company. This includes national strategic development planning, client management programs, and working with other principals and the business development team to expand the Company’s services to local, regional and national clients. He also leads the Company’s federal initiatives.

As SAME President, Col. Fisher will lead a 51-member Board of Direction and an international organization of over 100 Posts in locations around the world and more than 28,000 members who work through the military, government, industry, academia and nonprofit sectors and come together to support the Society’s mission of “leading collaborative effort to identify and resolve national security infrastructure-related challenges.”

"It is truly an exciting time to be a part of our Society,” Col. Fisher says. “We have been gaining a lot of momentum over the last several years as we continue to enhance the SAME experience. We are witnessing a transformation of our organization with evolving programs, increased member participation, and expanded partnerships. Since our strategic shift in 2015 and our renewed focus on national security versus just national defense, we have been able to significantly increase the value we offer. Our Society has truly grown into a professional association providing support to our military, our industry partners, and the future STEM leaders of our nation.”

Col. Fisher served 25 years as a Civil Engineering officer in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2006. In his last assignment, he was Director of Installations at Air Force Space Command. Senior assignments include Mission Support Group Commander, Peterson AFB, CO, and Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan; and Director of Plans & Programs, Office of The Civil Engineer, Washington, D.C.

Within SAME, he has served in leadership positions at all levels—including National Vice President; National Elected Director; Chair, National Education & Training Committee; Chair, National Strategic Alliance Task Force; Dallas Post President, 2013; and Founder and President of the Dolomiti Post in Italy, 1997. He became an SAME member in 1995 and was invested in the Academy of Fellows in 2005.

Col. Fisher graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He holds master’s degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology and the National Defense University.