Valeo Behavioral Health Care celebrated a milestone earlier today when it initiated construction on a new, $5.5 million, 26-bed crisis center near S.W. 3rd and Oakley. The organization held a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by Governor Sam Brownback and Shawn Sullivan, Secretary of the Department for Aging and Disability Services. Also present were Mayor Larry Wolgast, City Councilman Bob Archer, along with many other local community leaders.

As Governor Brownback mentioned in his remarks, unfortunately mental illness affects us all in one way or another. One in four adults experience mental illness within a given year. Valeo has been fighting this battle for over half a century, progressing in their stated mission “To be the provider of choice for mental wellness and recovery services for the people of our community, our state, and our nation by providing:

The Right Amount of Service to 

The Right Person at

The Right Time with

The Right Outcomes for

The Right Cost.

With strides being made in awareness, involvement and critical breakthrough projects like the Crisis Center, mental health care resources are the best they have ever been in Topeka.

Congratulations Valeo on an exciting and encouraging day. KBS Constructors is honored to have been selected to help bring such a vital facility out of the ground!

For more information on Valeo and the wonderful services they provide, please visit ValeoTopeka.org

Matt Griffin, Project Superintendent; Governor Sam Brownback; Loren Dekat, Project Manger; Secretary Shawn Sullivan; Dan Foltz, KBS President/CEO

KBS Constructors Inc. 2013 Scholarship Award

This year the KBS Constructor's scholarship recipient was Niklas Bergstrom. He is the son of Steve and Jenny Bergstrom of Topeka, KS. Niklas is a member of the KSU Student Alumni Board and the K-State Concert Choir. He expects to graduate from K-Sate in May of 2015. Congratulations Niklas.

Willie Brooks - KBS, Niklas Bergstrom - KSU, Joseph Bramlage - KBS

Ready for Spring

This spring seems to be especially busy for us here at KBS. We have several jobs nearing design completion and we are anxious to get them started. Yet mother nature seems to have other ideas as Northeast Kansas was was recently plunged into a late April cold snap that came within a degree of record low overnight temperatures. Our crew at the Pottawatomie County Justice Center in Westmoreland, KS sent a picture of their job site this week.

This is hardly the kind of weather one would expect on April 23rd. Two days later and we are experiencing beautiful sunshine and close to 70 degrees expected for a high today. Now that is more like it.

Joseph Bramlage

KBS Constructors, - Marketing Director

Alligator Frenzy

KBS Constructors is proudly sponsoring the coming new interactive exhibit at The Topeka Zoological Park. 

Alligator Frenzy will open May 3rd, 2013. and will include a rare albino alligator in addition to a "feeding lagoon" stocked with 40-50 juvenile alligators. The exhibit will also showcase some of the zoo's other residents including  Walter the Crow, Lily the Turkey Vulture, and Pat the Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor. Yes, that's right a really BIG snake.

Fawn Mosure - Manager of Zoo Operations holds Pat the Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor. Fawn explained that when Pat first came to the zoo they were unable to tell if the boa was male or female. So she was named Pat after the androgynous fictional character created and performed by Julia Sweeney in the comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Now the staff believes the snake is in fact a female.

Visitors to the zoo may even have opportunities to have their picture taken while holding an alligator. You will be able to experience a bayou adventure like no other.

Drew Schwitzer from WIBW TV, broadcast his noon weather forecast from the  still under construction exhibit. Drew even got to hold a baby gator.

Brendon Wiley introduces KBS Employee, Loren Dekat to the juvenile American Alligator like the ones zoo visitors will have the opportunity to experience, hands on as well.

 Loren threatens the camera man (me) with a baby alligator. Not too scary really.

Dan Foltz, President of KBS Constructors explains why KBS has once again taken on financial responsibility for bringing this next new exhibit to the Zoo. KBS also sponsored the Penguin Plunge, a very popular zoo exhibit last summer. Dan explained that, "KBS is happy to contribute to the community by becoming involved with such events."

If you have not been to the zoo in a while, come again this summer. You will be amazed at how special the experience at your Topeka Zoological Park has become.

Joseph Bramlage

KBS Constructors - Director of Marketing 

Imagine the horror!

One of our Project Managers forwarded an image sent to him by the staff of the Topeka Zoological Park. I opened the image, which turned out to be from inside the refurbished dome at the RainForest exhibit. Now I have seen some amazing photos from that renovation, but this one caught me by surprise. 

What happened to the beautiful clear glazing we just installed I wondered? Somehow it has become dark and very opaque. Then I remembered the 9+ inches of snow which fell on Topeka last week and realized that this was simply a blanket of snow over the dome. 

What a relief. [GRIN]

Joseph Bramlage

Director of Marketing

Changing of the Season

As fall approaches, people in the Midwest are busy preparing. They plan for upcoming holidays. They travel to watch their favorite football team and anticipate another basketball season just around the corner. Retailers prepare for another big selling season. It’s like we are all running a race against cold weather.

When one works inside during winter, less thought is given to the brutally cold temperatures outside. The weather forecast is an aid for deciding which coat to grab on your way out the door. When one works outside, the weather forecast is a very important tool you use on the job. In the construction business the weather forecast can mean the difference between success and failure.

Everything on a construction site is more difficult as temperatures start to fall. Imagine a winter day when holding on to a cold steel structure all day is part of the job. Imagine masons who place concrete block after concrete block that only a few hours before were coated with overnight frost. At most construction sites in the Midwest, fall means getting the building "dried in" before winter. It is a race against anticipated colder temperatures or worse yet, frozen precipitation.

Last winter was relatively mild and this fall is cooler than normal. Perhaps this is some kind of an indication of climate change. Construction workers are practical people who work outside every day. Experience that tells them that very severe winters often follow unusually mild ones. "Old Man Winter" can be an erratic and inconsistent adversary. You start running your race early and hope your opponent will be weaker or slower this year. Yet you know cold winter temperatures are inevitable, so you prepare.

It is not easy working outside in the winter. What our crews do in very extreme weather conditions never ceases to amaze. Being outside all day on cold days takes endurance. Producing quality structures in cold weather also takes knowledge and ability. This time of year I applaud the skills and endurance demonstrated by our craftsman. 

J. Bramlage - Director of Marketing

Construction Professionals Do Amazing Things

I recently visited a project we are doing for our good customers at a KCP&L, on site at their IATAN facility. As I arrived I was thinking that a tour of this facility would be a fun.

Yet just seeing the building we are constructing there was also interesting. As I watched one of our subcontractors prepare for a big lift, it struck me that this is something that Marketing Directors don't get to see very often. Some people would never get to see such a lift.  So I took out my smart phone and filmed the lift. 

If you would like to view the 2 minute video of the lift, visit our youtube channel, which is located here.

Joseph Bramlage
Marketing Director

Pottawatomie County Justice Center

Progress is being made on the Justice Center in spite of a run of 100 degree temperatures. Crews are working especially hard to keep the project on schedule.

 

One can easily see how dry and hot the site became. As luck has it, just when foundation work begins, the county receives 4 inches of rain. 

Our team is not slowed long by a little water though. Work quickly resumes.

Foundations are nearly in, the ground source heating and cooling system below grade is in place. The building will soon rise above ground level.

Joseph Bramlage

Director of Marketing

Rainforest Renovations Nearing Completion

Domes on the rain forest building at the Topeka Zoological Park are nearly all installed. The building is being polished up to reopen again the end of this month. This building looks like it did when it opened 40 years ago. Now that plants inside the dome are mature, this exhibit will be better than ever. Make plans to visit the zoo again around the first of June and experience a Tropical Rain Forest exhibit as never before.

Joseph Bramlage

KBS Constructors, Inc.

Director of Marketing 

Golf Tourney - Benefits Children's Miracle Network

Monday May 7th, at Firekeeper Golf Course, come out and enjoy a fun round of golf to benefit the St. Francis Foundation and The Children's Miracle Network. 

Sign-up here: Miracles Golf

Penguin Plunge - Coming to Topeka Zoological Park.

KBS Constructors is a proud sponsor of this traveling zoo exhibit. Because of our involvement with The Zoo over the years, I have developed a whole new appreciation for the animals that live there and the keepers who work so hard to give them a good home. They make the experience fun for all visitors. Consider visiting the zoo again this summer. You will be glad you did.

Visit the Penguin Plunge website here!

Topeka Zoological Park - Rain Forest Dome Upgrades

How does one know when it is time to replace the glazing on a tropical rain forest? Perhaps when the facility exceeds 40 years old and the acrylic panels are becoming hazy and cracked. Maybe then the time is right. 

Such is the case with the Tropical Rain Forest Exhibit at the Topeka Zoological park. As residents patiently wait, KBS Employees are quickly replacing the glazing panels at the facility.

Dome residents awaiting completion of renovations

Of course you might still wonder if the expense of restoring the dome is really necessary. 

Interior of the dome prior to upgrades

Then you see the difference new acrylic panels make. 

Re-glazing work underway

Make plans to come by the Topeka Zoological Park this summer. Experience the refurbished Tropical Rain Forest Exhibit and see the plants and animals again, this time in all their splendor.

Volunteers for KBS Constructors Foundation are working on Catch For A Cause, a fun event to promote Victory Junction and raise money for construction of the Victory Junction Midwest camp. This year we are combining the Fishing Tourney with the Fishing Festival on the same day, Saturday June 2nd. We think it will make for a more exciting event. Watch this location for more details. You can also monitor updates on Facebook. Search for Catch For A Cause. We hope to see you there.

Bowyer Building is Ready For The Community

NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer was in his home town of Emporia, KS to dedicate a building bearing his name. KBS Constructors is proud of our relationship to the Bowyer organization and we are happy to provide this facility for the people of Emporia. View a video of the dedication ceremony here: 

2012 Miracles Golf Classic Sponsorship

We are proud to announce the formation of a partnership between St. Francis Health Center Foundation and KBS Constructors Foundation to promote the Miracles Golf Classic—Monday, May 7, 2012 at Firekeeper Golf Course, Prairie Band Casino and Resort. Proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at St. Francis to provide much-needed medical assistance to children in northeast Kansas. 


KBS Constructors Foundation has a history of promoting events to benefit area children, especially those in need of care. We value our new relationship with the St. Francis Health Center Foundation very much. For tournament entry information please visit this location: www.miraclesgolf.org

Morris County Hospital Addition

We are delighted to announce that the latest addition to Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, Kansas is now complete. Here are a few photos of the completed space.

Rainforest Exhibit is Getting a Facelift

Those of us who have visited the Topeka Zoological Park know about the Tropical Rainforest Exhibit. This 100 foot diameter acrylic dome, which has become a Topeka landmark, is very much in need of repair. Engineers who have studied this building have determined that the structure of the dome is actually in fine shape. However most of the existing acrylic lenses are original to the structure which was constructed in 1972. In general, the life expectancy for an acrylic skylight is approximately 20 years and these are approaching a service life of 40 years.

Help is on the way! KBS crews are now preparing to construct an addition to the rainforest connecting support facilities that will help preserve the animals and plants while work is completed on the dome and inside the exhibit. Plans for the upgrade include, replacing the sprinkler & irrigation system, as well as every one of the acrylic lenses in the dome, including new seals and gaskets. This is an exciting project for us for most of our employees have visited this facility before as children and we appreciate the opportunity to help preserve this exhibit for our children and grandchildren to enjoy as well. Working around these wild animals is pretty challenging work, but for us it is routine Critical Environment Construction. Follow our progress on this project on Facebook where we will continually post new progress photos. To see the latest go to: KBS Constructors Facebook Page.

Bowyer Building - November Progress

The Bowyer Community Building in Emporia is showing great progress through November. Crews are working on exterior siding and trim, anticipating the arrival of cold weather. Soon the building will be enclosed so interior finishes can be completed. We anticipate completion of the building sometime after the first of the year.  A complete set of November progress photos have been uploaded to our Facebook page, KBS Constructors.

Announcing Splatfest 2

KBS is organizing a paint ball tournament

To Raise money to benefit Victory Junction Midwest. Victory Junction is a camp that provides life changing experiences for kids with chronic medical conditions/serious illnesses.

Paint Ball Tournament (Bring your own gear)

Saturday, October 1^st (Registration deadline is Sept. 24^th)

Cokeley Farms Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays, Delia

Starts at 12:00 pm

5-Man Teams @ $20 per man = $100 per team

CONTACT INFO…..Kerry Priddy (785) 633-9058 kerrypriddy@kbsci.com