Butler University has broken ground on a $14-million environmentally friendly addition to its pharmacy and health sciences building in Indianapolis. The 40,000-square-foot, four-story addition, which was designed by Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf and will be built by Shiel Sexton, will become Butler's first LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building on campus.

The university is applying for Silver-level certification. "It is a university priority for Butler to become a more 'green' campus," says Mike Gardner, vice president for operations at the private university. "This addition will set the stage for all construction projects going forward."

According to Butler University, some of the green components of the addition include waterless urinals in the men's room and hand dryers rather than paper towels in all restrooms. Bicycle storage, changing rooms and showers will be added for people who ride their bikes. Also, 5 percent of the building's parking lot will be reserved for hybrid vehicles.

Classrooms will feature a combination of natural light and soft electric lights to reduce electricity use. Green electricity will be purchased through a program with Indianapolis Power & Light. The university will also recycle the construction waste material that would normally go to a landfill, and install recycled carpet and flooring throughout the addition.

As part of the construction, Butler will also renovate two pharmacy instruction labs in the existing building, which was built in 1951.

McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. has been named "General Contractor of the Year" by the Midwest Council of the American Subcontractors Association, a construction trade association of specialty contractors and suppliers serving the St. Louis and southern Illinois region. This is the third time McCarthy has been honored by the association in the last four years.

McAllister Equipment Co. has opened a Volvo Rents franchise at 5958 Columbia Pkwy. in Rockford, Ill. The new Volvo Rents Center, an independently owned and operated franchise, carries a comprehensive line of essential equipment for the construction, commercial and industrial markets, as well as an extensive line of Volvo compact excavators and wheel loaders and backhoe and skid-steer loaders.

Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Co., a division of Bridgestone North American Tire, LLC, has received a supplier quality excellence award from Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar bestows this honor annually on those of its suppliers deemed to be meeting the highest standards of quality for Caterpillar components.

Doka USA, a formwork engineering and products company, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 25 to signify the official opening of its new state-of-the-art, 21-acre facility in Channahon, Ill. The $12-million facility is located at 22901 W. Winchester Dr.

The new facility offers large office spaces for employees in operations, engineering and sales, as well as an expansive showroom, warehouse, re-conditioning and pre-assembly shop, and customer training center. The 8,200-square-foot office area has space for up to 40 workstations and includes about 6.5 acres of outdoor concrete-paved storage area, with 3 more acres that can accommodate future growth.

In Herndon, Va., the Interstate Mining Compact Commission recently announced the recipients of its ninth annual minerals education awards. The winner in the educator awareness category was Rick Crosslin of the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, and the winner in the public outreach category was the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers and its Public Information & Education Committee.

An honorable mention in the public outreach category was awarded to Tim Theobold of Vulcan Materials Co. in Manteno, Ill.

Case Construction Equipment will be exclusive provider of construction equipment to event teams as part of its Platinum sponsorship of the National Gas Rodeo. The 14th annual event will be held Sept. 19–20 in Fairview Heights, Ill.

The rodeo features competing utility crews in a variety of skill events showcasing natural gas equipment installations. The event attracts elite gas crews from across the United States.