ACW Alliance

ACW ALLIANCE - A TEAM APPROACH

ACW Alliance is a joint venture of three leading construction firms - Alberici, Clayco, and S. M. Wilson - providing a team of experienced specialists who bring the most innovative and cost-effective solutions to health care construction. ACW Alliance's combined strengths will provide health care customers in the St. Louis region and beyond with the greatest opportunity to improve quality, reduce costs and enhance the patient experience.

"Our clients can depend on the financial strength of the ACW Alliance. Our combined bonding capacity is among the highest in the industry."

GREGORY J. KOZICZ, Ph.D, Chief Executive Officer & President, Alberici

These three firms have competed for many years, with each constructing some of the most high profile health care projects in the region. Yet, the three firms also have a long history of collaborative efforts. Together they constructed the Institute of Health for Washington University and BJC HealthCare, a $206 million LEED Gold facility that included innovative construction technologies and required complex coordination to construct the facility above an operating Metrolink rail line.

"I'm excited about working with ACW Alliance's all-star team. Our team's expertise in health care project management, concrete and steel tower construction, and site logistics is second to none."

ROBERT G. CLARK, Chairman & CEO, Clayco

When S. M. Wilson built The BJC Institute of Health, Alberici installed the structural steel and Clayco placed the concrete. Our work together reaches into other fields: Alberici provided cranes for Clayco's Centene Tower in Clayton; and Alberici and Clayco built the American Axle headquarters in Detroit as a joint venture. By working together, we have built a bond of trust. After the Institute of Health was completed in 2009, the three firms realized that we can use our collaborative strategies to provide superior health care construction for extremely large projects. Last year, the leaders of the firms - Greg Kozicz of Alberici, Bob Clark of Clayco and Scott Wilson of S.M. Wilson - decided to create ACW Alliance, drawing together the most experienced health care specialists at the three firms.

ACW Alliance expects to offer its services to BJC for its upcoming Kingshighway Campus Renewal Project and to other health care providers undertaking major construction projects. ACW Alliance drives down costs. Through the strength of our combined subcontractor relationships, we create a larger pool of competitive firms, utilizing market forces to reduce construction costs. Our team is committed to achieving the highest goals for small and disadvantaged businesses to participate in any project we undertake.

"Our team's creativity continues to produce innovative ideas that save our clients time and reduce costs. The ACW Alliance employs creative sequencing, off-site prefabrication, and Lean Construction practices to ensure construction success."

SCOTT WILSON, CEO, S.M. Wilson

We are steadfast in our dedication to safety on every project. The ACW Alliance firms together have an Experience Modification Rate of 0.60, an outstanding safety record. Other numbers underscore ACW Alliance's capabilities:

Value of projects under management, 2010: $5.5 Billion
Value of health care projects under management, 2010: $697 Million
Bonding capacity: $1.8 Billion aggregate
Average number of field employees: 3800
Percentage of employees based in St. Louis: 90%

We recognize that construction can be intrusive if not properly managed to a hospital environment. Our construction team will ensure that construction does not adversely affect patients and families and serves only to improve the health care environment of our customers. Our mission is to ensure that the patient experience is taken into consideration at every step in the construction process.

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

ACW Alliance is committed to making a difference in the communities where we work. We support a variety of initiatives, from participating in philanthropic endeavors, to spearheading sustainability efforts that enhance our environment. We look beyond the construction project to ensure that we have the greatest positive impact possible for the communities we serve.

PHILANTHROPY
Gateway Chapter's MS150 Gateway Getaway Ride
ACW Alliance was a proud sponsor of the Gateway Chapter's MS150 Gateway Getaway Ride, which champions research and provides assistance for those living with multiple sclerosis. In addition, ACW Alliance is already encouraging vendors and subcontractors to participate in the 2012 event. Click here to learn about our challenge.

Missouri Baptist Hospital Foundation
ACW Alliance is a sponsor of the Choose Your Shoes 2 event benefiting the Missouri Baptist Hospital Foundation. The Foundation's funding efforts are directed towards, patient care, medical research, continuing education, the building endowment and strategic growth.

Pedal the Cause
ACW Alliance members participated in Pedal the Cause, a cycling fund raising challenge that benefits cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

SUSTAINABILITY
The ACW Alliance recognizes that our environmental impact goes beyond the construction site, accordingly we help our clients achieve their sustainability goals through an integrated process that begins in design and ends long after the end-users has occupied their new building. We help our clients find true value in sustainability in a way that ultimately pays for itself, whether it be through energy savings or a healthier work environment. Our experience ensuring our clients' projects to achieve LEED certification is unmatched, as illustrated by our staff accreditations and our resume of LEED certified and registered projects.

DIVERSITY
ACW Alliance members are at the forefront of developing and fostering a diverse workforce. Our proactive approach ensures that Minority- and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises are given the opportunity and the tools necessary to be successful. While helping sustain these diverse businesses, we also work closely with local community groups, employers and labor organizations to ensure that our "boots on the ground" workforce represents the communities where we are building. To assist us, Sandra Marks (Marks and Associates) has joined our team. Sandra brings a wealth of experience in fostering small businesses and encouraging minority apprenticeship programs.

Community Outreach Forums
Outreach Forums are proven to be an effective tool to attract qualified and interested subcontractors. Each Alliance member firm is expert in conducting project-focused outreach forums to maximize disadvantaged business participation.

Mentoring Programs
Over the years, ACW member firms have formed dozens of long-term mentoring relationships with diverse businesses, enhancing the skills of subcontractors and assisting them in the pursuit on new business opportunities.

Educational Opportunities
ACW Alliance firms offer free classes in which participants work side-by-side with our construction professionals to learn skills that are critical in the construction industry such as estimating, bid preparation and project safety.