Ajax Building Corporation Earns Four Awards from the ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter
Every year Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) holds an Excellence in Construction (EIC) competition in which they honor exceptional projects based on vision, innovation, execution, safety, quality control and degree of difficulty. Ajax received two Eagle and two Merit awards for projects by the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.
The Eagle Award is given to the highest-scoring project in each category after being nominated for top honors by the judges. The Award of Merit is presented to projects that may not qualify for top honors, but that the judges endorse for commendation.
Eagle Award: Sumter County Public Safety Buildings, The Villages & Bushnell
Ajax was the leader of the Design-Build team who constructed two Public Safety Centers for the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners near The Villages and City of Bushnell. The Villages Center includes the Northern headquarters for the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the County’s Emergency Operations Center. Fire, Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services offices are also housed in The Villages Center, as well as 911 Joint Dispatch and Emergency Call Centers. Holding cells are included for prisoners awaiting transport to the county jail in Bushnell. The Bushnell Center is a 20,080 SF Public Safety Center which houses the Sheriff’s Southern office and serve as a backup facility for capability for all other services.
Eagle Award: Trimark Properties; Ingenuity Office Building, Gainesville
This project increased available office/research space within Innovation Square in downtown Gainesville, FL for Trimark Properties. Other than repurposed buildings, Innovation Square previously lacked any large office/research space to lease or purchase. Innovation Square was also devoid, except for space within Florida Innovation Hub, of Class A or above office/research space. Ingenuity was 63,000 SF of new construction that included four (4) stories, a shared common core for future addition, core and shell build out, on-site surface parking and storm water retention. The infrastructure included, but was not limited to: utilities, roadways, access points, signage, landscaping and lighting to complement the new building and future expansion(s). The new office/research building allows Trimark to provide accessible parking via the existing surface lots.
Award of Merit: Pinellas County Schools Largo High School, Largo
The new Largo High School building was modeled after a college campus, with an emphasis on efficient transitions in between classes, safety and security, readiness for the technology of the next several decades and, most importantly, student achievement. The project included the construction of two new buildings totaling approximately 229,000 square feet and houses classrooms, a student union, 1,590 seat gymnasium, as well as a central energy plant. Renovations to the existing auditorium were also performed. The School District views the new school to be the prototypical high school for other schools to model throughout Florida and the country, stating that the building was built for the year 2050, instead of 2016.
Award of Merit: City of St. Petersburg Police Training Center, St. Petersburg
This project consisted of renovations to a 7,192 SF existing building with an addition of 11, 173 SF to the existing City’s indoor firing range, adjacent to an active city sports complex. The existing building interiors were completely demolished to reconfigure the space to house classrooms, simulation training, tactical vehicle storage and an armory with weapons and ammunition storage. The addition now accommodates a new 10 lane, full tactical training 50 yard indoor firing range. Specialized indoor firing range systems include a range recirculating ventilation system with state of the art laminar airflow, acoustical measures with ceiling baffles and PEPP wall panels, intelligent targeting systems, and a rubber bullet containment trap. The facility was designed and built to meet sustainability requirements with a goal of USGBC LEED Silver including the installation of roof mounted photovoltaic panels for onsite power generation.
About Our Company: Ajax Building Corporation, founded in 1958, is an employee owned and third generation family operated construction management firm. During the past 61 years, Ajax Building Corporation has steadily grown to become one of the Southeast’s premier contractors. Ajax Building Corporation has a growing presence throughout the Southeastern United States and is one of the fastest growing construction companies in the nation. Our signature is embedded in projects throughout the Southeast. As a part of the STO Building Group, we bring Project Experience throughout the United States. Our solutions to construction challenges are innovative and often exceed our owners’ expectations, regardless of the complexity or size of the project. Ajax prides itself on delivering projects on time, in budget and with the highest level of safety, customer service and quality.