Helmkamp Construction Articles

Stange Named Helmkamp Industrial Director

Thu, 23 Aug 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. has promoted Joe Stange of Godfrey, IL to Director of Industrial Construction. Stange is responsible for Helmkamp projects at Dynegy, COP, Ameren, Olin, Dominion and Clean Coal Solutions.

Stange joined Helmkamp in 2001 and has spent a significant part of his career on power generation projects. He has been the project manager for a $45 million FGD civil work project at the Dynegy Baldwin plant in Baldwin, IL. He has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and has 30 hours of OSHA training.

Helmkamp is a relationship-based general contractor working exclusively for private, professional, repeat buyers of construction, primarily in the industrial, power, healthcare, higher education, and telecommunication industries.

St. Louis Construction News & Review ©August 2012

Helmkamp Construction finalist for awards

Mon, 20 Aug 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. of East Alton, Illinois, was named a 2012 Construction Keystone Award finalist for their work as general contractor on the Phillips 66 (formerly ConocoPhillips) Wood River Refinery - North Property Storm Water Upgrade Project.

The Construction Keystone Awards are presented annually by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis.

Helmkamp is one of three finalists in the category of General Contractor/Construction Manager/Prime Contractor for Industrial/Infrastructure Projects Under $10 Million. The awards are given in ten categories spanning a wide range of projects including power plants, educational facilities, hospital renovations, entertainment facilities and data centers.

The awards recognize the highest level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, professionalism and quality construction among St. Louis area general and specialty contractors.

Award winners will be announced at the AGC Construction Awards Gala on Thursday, November 1 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis. For infomration, visit www.helmkamp.com or call (618) 251-2600 or (314) 355-2808.

Alton Telegraph ©August 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. completes Endoscopy Unit at Gateway Regional Medical Center

Fri, 17 Aug 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. completed building an Endoscopy/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City.

The new unit is on the second floor of an active, six-story patient tower. A surgical suite was immediately adjacent to the construction site, while the maternity unit was located above it and radiology was located below it.

All needed to stay in continuous operation throughout the construction, and workers were able to build around those existing hospital units.

The Endoscopy/PACU unit was designed by Trivers Associates architects. The completed project was a finalist in the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis' recent Keystone Awards.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ©August 2012

Finalists Announced for 2012 Construction Keystone Awards

Mon, 18 Jun 2012

Construction Projects Represent the Highest Quality Work by St. Louis Area Contractors

St. Louis, MO (June 18, 2012) – Craftsmanship, excellence, attention to detail and professionalism are just a few of the attributes associated with the construction projects selected as finalists for the 2012 Construction Keystone Awards. Finalists include a wide range of diverse projects including power plants, educational facilities, hospital renovations, entertainment facilities and data centers.

The Construction Keystone Awards are presented by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis. The submissions, spanning ten categories, represent the highest level of craftsmanship and quality in construction and were accepted from St. Louis area general and specialty contractors. A panel of judges selected these elite projects as finalists last week, and will continue their review of additional data provided by the finalists in order to determine the winning project in each category.

The Construction Keystone Awards honor the highest achievements of St. Louis construction firms and salute their contributions to the community by building the facilities that support and enhance the quality of life.

The winners of the 2012 Keystone Awards will be announced and celebrated at the AGC’s Construction Awards Gala scheduled for Thursday, November 1st, at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Charlie Brennan of KMOX Radio.

“The Keystone Awards were created to recognize the best projects built by St. Louis area construction firms,” said Leonard Toenjes, AGC President. “The professionalism and craftsmanship represented by this year’s finalists continue to exemplify the spirit of the Keystone Awards – even while the industry is enduring an economic depression. The quality of work represented by our finalists is unquestionable.”

The media sponsor of the 2012 Construction Keystone Awards is KMOX Radio.

General Contractor/Construction Manager/Prime Contractor
Industrial / Infrastructure
Project Under $10 million
ACME Constructors, Inc.
Project: Pillow Loading Dock Expansion
Owner: Henkel, Inc.
Helmkamp Construction Co.
Project: Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery North Property Storm Water Upgrades
Owner: Phillips 66 (formerly ConocoPhillips)
Power Up Electrical Contractors, LLC
Project: Capitol Electric Renovations at the Jefferson City State Capitol Building
Owner: State of Missouri

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ©June 2012

Helmkamp places 14 systems for clean coal at power plants

Fri, 25 May 2012

East Alton-based Helmkamp Construction Co. completed the installation of 14 CyClean Refined Coal Facilities for Clean Coal Solutions at power plants in 10 states.

The CyClean process is designed to reduce future emissions.

CyClean is a patented refined coal technology that enhances combustion and reduces emissions of coal burned in cyclone boilers. The process uses a simple storage and conveying system to add a cost-effective granular additive after the coal leaves the power plant's crusher house, evenly distributing it before combustion.

At each power plant, Helmkamp installed the CyClean conveying system and the chemical application equipment, plus all supporting structural steel.

Stltoday.com ©May2012

Spectrum Streamlines Helmkamp's Construction Management

Tue, 08 May 2012

Helmkamp Construction installs refined coal system

Tue, 01 May 2012

Clean coal technology installed at coal-fired power plants

Wed, 11 Apr 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. has completed the installation of 14 CyClean Refined Coal Facilities for Clean Coal Solutions at power plants in 10 states.

The process is a patented refined coal technology that enhances combustion and reduces emissions of Power River Basin coal burned in cyclone boilers. CyClean also uses a storage and conveying system to add a cost-effective granular additive after the coal leaves the plant’s crusher house.

Helmkamp installed the CyClean conveying system and the chemical application equipment plus all supporting structural steel on a turnkey basis at each power plant. The system also has tax credits associated with the installation of the process. Helmkamp helped Clean Coal Solutions install and demonstrate the full-scale CyClean system at several power plants earlier in 2012. The installations often had to be performed on a 24-7 basis in an operating plant with no outages.

Helmkamp also worked with Clean Coal Solutions to install and demonstrate their new M45 refined coal solution at power plants in Mississippi and Texas. M45 is another new technology that reduces emissions of mercury by more than 40 percent and NOx by more than 20 percent. M45 is not limited to cyclone boilers.

Power Engineering © April 2012

Company installs systems at power plants

Tue, 03 Apr 2012

EAST ALTON – Helmkamp Construction Co. has completed the installation of 14 CyClean Refined Coal Facilities for Clean Coal Solutions at power plants in 10 states.

The turnkey CyClean process will reduce future emissions and help coal-fired power plants meet the “placed-in-service” requirements of the IRS Section 45 tax credit program for the use of refined coal.

CyClean is a patented refined coal technology that enhances combustion and reduces emissions of Powder River Basin (PRB) coal burned in cyclone boilers. CyClean uses a simple storage and conveying system to add a cost-effective granular additive after the coal leaves the power plant’s crusher house, evenly distributing it prior to combustion.

The 10-year federal tax credit incentivizes the production of refined coal systems like CyClean to reduce emissions of NOx fine particulates and mercury. Helmkamp helped Clean Coal Solutions install and demonstrate the full-scale CyClean system at several power plants earlier in the year to prove its ability to meet the emissions reduction requirements of the tax credit.

At each power plant, Helmkamp installed the CyClean conveying system and the chemical application equipment plus all supporting structural steel. Every installation came with its own unique challenges according to Helmkamp power generation project manager Joe Stange, who also was the lead project manager on a $40 million flue gas desulfurization program at the Dynegy Baldwin coal power plant in Baldwin, Illinois.

At one plant, for example, a tire feeder and its conveyor structure, which also supported the existing utilities, had to be demolished to make room for the new equipment. The installations often had to be performed on a 24/7 basis in an operating plant with no outages, requiring meticulous project coordination and skilled, reliable millwright and ironworker team members.

“Helmkamp has been very good to work with on the CyClean refined coal projects,” said Craig Myers of the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO), one of the power utilities where a CyClean system was installed. “The Helmkamp team demonstrated professionalism and attention to detail.”

The installations were delivered with quality, speed and safety in a time-sensitive manner to meet the tax incentive deadlines.

Helmkamp also worked with Clean Coal Solutions to install and demonstrate their new M45 refined coal solution at power plants in Mississippi and Texas. M45 is another new technology that reduces emissions of mercury by more than 40 percent and NOx by more than 20 percent, meeting the standards needed to quality for the Section 45 tax credits. M45 is not limited to cyclone boilers.

The EPA Air Toxics Rule, which went into effect this February, requires existing and new coal-fired electricity generating plants to drastically reduce emissions of heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, chromium and nickel by 2015. Refined coal technologies allow some older coal-fired power plants to meet the reduced emissions requirements without have to install costly flue-gas desulfurization upgrades.

Helmkamp Construction Co. is a full service general contractor with construction management and design build experience. Located in East Alton, Illinois, northeast of St. Louis, Helmkamp has self-performed industrial, power generation/transmission, healthcare, education and corporate building projects since 1938.

For more information, visit www.helmkamp.com or call (618) 251-2600 or (314) 355-2808.

Alton Telegraph April 2012

Rob Johnes named president

Sun, 01 Apr 2012

Rob Johnes, a 1998 graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was named president of Helmkamp Construction Co. Inc. in Wood River. He has been with the company since 1997 and is the first company president not a relative of company founder Gilbert Helmkamp.

Collinsville Herald March 28 2012

Helmkamp Installs 14 Clean Coal Facilities

Fri, 23 Mar 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. has completed the installation of 14 CyClean Refined Coal Facilities for Clean Coal Solutions at power plants in 10 states. The turnkey CyClean process will reduce future emissions and help coal-fired power plants meet the "placed-in-service" requirements of the IRS Section 45 tax credit program for the use of refined coal.

CyClean is a patented refined coal technology that enhances combustion and reduces emissions of Powder River Basin (PRB) coal burned in cyclone boilers. CyClean uses a simple storage and conveying system to add a cost-effective granular additive after the coal leaves the power plant's crusher house, evenly distributing it prior to combustion.

The 10-year federal tax credit incentivizes the production of refined coal systems like CyClean to reduce emissions of NOx fine particulates and mercury. Helmkamp helped Clean Coal Solutions install and demonstrate the full-scale CyClean system at several power plants earlier in the year to prove its ability to meet the emissions reduction requirements of the tax credit.

At each power plant, Helmkamp installed the CyClean conveying system and the chemical application equipment plus all supporting structural steel. Every installation came with its own unique challenges according to Helmkamp power generation project manager Joe Stange, who also was the lead project manager on a $40 million flue gas desulfurization program at the Dynegy Baldwin coal power plant in Baldwin, Illinois.

At one plant, for example, a tire feeder and its conveyor structure, which also supported the existing utilities, had to be demolished to make room for the new equipment. The installations often had to be performed on a 24/7 basis in an operating plant with no outages, requiring meticulous project coordination and skilled, reliable millwright and ironworker team members.

"Helmkamp has been very good to work with on the CyClean refined coal projects," said Craig Myers of the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO), one of the power utilities where a CyClean system was installed. "The Helmkamp team demonstrated professionalism and attention to detail." The installations were delivered with quality, speed and safety in a time-sensitive manner to meet the tax incentive deadlines.

Helmkamp also worked with Clean Coal Solutions to install and demonstrate their new M45 refined coal solution at power plants in Mississippi and Texas. M45 is another new technology that reduces emissions of mercury by more than 40 percent and NOx by more than 20 percent, meeting the standards needed to quality for the Section 45 tax credits. M45 is not limited to cyclone boilers.

The EPA Air Toxics Rule, which went into effect this February, requires existing and new coal-fired electricity generating plants to drastically reduce emissions of heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, chromium and nickel by 2015. Refined coal technologies allow some older coal-fired power plants to meet the reduced emissions requirements without have to install costly flue-gas desulfurization upgrades.

Helmkamp Construction Co. is a full service general contractor with construction management and design build experience. Located in East Alton, Illinois, northeast of St. Louis, Helmkamp has self-performed industrial, power generation/transmission, healthcare, education and corporate building projects since 1938.

St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate ©March 2012

Business News - Rob Johnes

Sat, 17 Mar 2012

Rob Johnes, a 1998 graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was named president of Helmkamp Construction Co. Inc. in Wood River. He has been with the company since 1997 and is the first company president not a relative of company founder Giblert Helmkamp.

Suburban Journals ©March 2012

Johnes named president of Helmkamp Construction

Thu, 01 Mar 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. Inc.'s appointment of Rob Johnes of Alton as president marks the first time in the company's 74-year history that the firm's president is not a family member of Gilbert Helmkamp, who founded the company in 1938.

Johnes, 37, succeeds Brad Farrell of Alton, Illinois, grandson of the founder and president of Helmkamp, who has transitioned from the role of president to chief executive officer. Farrell was president of the firm from 1994 through 2011.

Johnes joined Helmkamp in 1997 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in construction engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Johnes has worked with clients as diverse as Ameren, Washington University, Gateway Regional Medical Center, and ConocoPhillips.

As vice president at Helmkamp, Johnes coordinated numerous technology improvements including the integration of systems for total robotic station, project management, accounting, and customer relationship. He also has directed the training and continuing education of Helmkamp’s project management team.

Illinois Business Journal ©March 2012

Helmkamp Construction names Johnes president

Mon, 27 Feb 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. Inc. has promoted Rob Johnes to president, the East Alton, Ill., general contracting firm said earlier this month. Johnes, 37, is the first non-family member to hold the title of president.

He replaces Brad Farrell, who will assume the role of chief executive. Farrell had served as president of Helmkamp from 1994 through 2011.

“Rob is the logical choice to provide continuity and to take Helmkamp to the next level as I transition out over the next eight-10 years,” Farrell said.

Johnes joined Helmkamp in 1997 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in construction engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He has worked with clients as diverse as Ameren, Washington University, Gateway Regional Medical Center and ConocoPhillips. Johnes has coordinated technology improvements at Helmkamp including the integration of total robotic station, project management, accounting and customer relationship systems. He also has directed the training/continuing education for Helmkamp’s project management team.

Helmkamp, one of the largest general contractors in the area, employs 150 people and has projected 2012 volume of $38 million.

St. Louis Business Journal ©February 2012

Rob Johnes named new president at Helmkamp Construction

Tue, 21 Feb 2012

Rob Johnes of Alton, has been named president of Helmkamp Construction Co. , the company's first non-family member to have the role, the Telegraph reports. He joined the company in 1997 and has served as vice president since 2006. Brad Farrell, grandson of the founder and former president of the company, is now CEO.

St. Louis Business Journal ©February 2012

Helmkamp Construction names new president

Sat, 18 Feb 2012

For the first time in Helmkamp Construction Co.'s 74-year history, a non-family member will assume the role as president of the company.

Rob Johnes of Alton, who joined the company in 1997 and has served as vice president since 2006, has accepted the position of president.

"Rob's appointment is a first for our company and a personal milestone for me, as it coincides with my 25th year with Helmkamp," said Brad Farrell, grandson of the founder and president of Helmkamp from 1994 through 2011. "Rob is the logical choice to provide continuity and to take Helmkamp Construction to the next level over the coming eight to 10 years as I transition into retirement."

Farrell has taken the new role of CEO.

Johnes joined Helmkamp in 1997 after completing his bachelor of science degree in construction engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

As vice president at Helmkamp, Johnes coordinated numerous technology improvements, including the integration of systems for total robotic station, project management, accounting and customer relationship. He also has directed the training and continuing education of Helmkamp's project management team. Over the years, he has worked with clients Ameren, Washington University, Gateway Regional Medical Center and ConocoPhillips, among others.

"I have always been interested in construction," Johnes said. "I kept busy doing residential work through college, and then I started here as part of an internship and never left."

Johnes said that among the projects he has been involved with through Helmkamp, a current multi-year project performing Life/Safety upgrades for Principia College in Elsah stands out in his mind.

Under his leadership, the company plans to expand geographically beyond its two-hour radius of the St. Louis/Metro East region.

Johnes lives in Alton with his wife, Karin, and their 5-year-old twins, Caroline and Raymond. He said the family enjoys traveling.

"My in-laws live on the East Coast, so we like to go and see them whenever we can," he said.

Gilbert Helmkamp founded Helmkamp Construction in 1938. Today, the company boasts 22 office employees, with an average of 150 workers at any given time.

Helmkamp is a relationship-based general contractor working exclusively for private, professional, repeat buyers of construction, primarily in the industrial, power, health care, higher education and telecommunication industries. It provides self-performed general contracting services, including civil, millwright, concrete, carpentry, structural steel and pile driving.

The projected 2012 volume is $38 million.

The Telegraph ©February 2012

Rob Johnes named president of Helmkamp Construction

Fri, 10 Feb 2012

Helmkamp Construction Co. Inc. appointed Rob Johnes as president. He is the first Helmkamp president who is not a relative of Gilbert Helmkamp, who founded the company in 1938.

Johnes joined Helmkamp in 1997 after completing his bachelor's degree in construction engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He previously served as a company vice president.

As vice president, Johnes coordinated numerous technology improvements, including the integration of systems for project management, accounting and customer relationships. He also directed training and continuing education.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ©February 2012

Johnes Named President, Helmkamp Landmark

Fri, 03 Feb 2012

A landmark has been reached in the 74-year history of Helmkamp Construction Co., Inc. with the appointment of Rob Johnes as president. Johnes, 37, is the first president of Helmkamp who is not a member of the family of company founder Gilbert Helmkamp.

Brad Farrell, grandson of the founder, who served as president of Helmkamp from 1994 through 2011, will assume the role of CEO. "In addition to Rob's appointment being a first for our company, a personal milestone for me coincides with this change: This year is my 25th year with Helmkamp. Rob is the logical choice to provide continuity and to take Helmkamp to the next level as I transition out over the next 8-10 years."

Rob Johnes joined Helmkamp in 1997 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in construction engineering from SIU-E. He has worked with clients as diverse as Ameren, Washington University, Gateway Regional Medical Center, and ConocoPhillips. Johnes has coordinated technology improvements at Helmkamp including the integration of total robotic station, project management, accounting, and customer relationship systems. He has also directed the training/continuing education for Helmkamp's project management team.

Johnes lives in Alton with his wife Karin and five-year-old twins, Caroline and Raymond.

Helmkamp is a relationship-based general contractor working exclusively for private, professional, repeat buyers of construction, primarily in the industrial, power, healthcare, higher education, and telecommunication industries. Helmkamp provides self-performed general contracting services, including civil, millwright, concrete, carpentry, structural steel, and pile driving.

Helmkamp employs 150 people and has projected 2012 volume of $38 million.

St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate ©February 2012

707 Berkshire Blvd. Helmkamp Construction Company

Fri, 06 Jan 2012

Our new building provides more space and a better flow that allows our project managers and support staff to be more efficient. We've also created better spaces for meeting with clients and a large, multi-media-equipped training facility for our employees.

St. Louis Business Journal ©January 2012

Helmkamp nearing completion on emission control projects at Dynegy plant

Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. is nearing completion on site work and foundations for a Dry Flue Gas Desulfurization project designed to improve the quality of emissions at Dynegy’s 1,800 MW coal-fired Baldwin Energy Complex in Baldwin, Illinois. Once the new systems come online, Dynegy Baldwin’s sulfur dioxide emissions are expected to be the lowest of any coal-fired units in the state. Helmkamp is completing $45 million in civil work included site preparation and installation of foundations for baghouses and dry scrubber equipment, the specialized equipment that removes sulfur dioxide.

Illinois Business Journal ©December 2011

Helmkamp Construction nearing completion of foundation work at Baldwin, Ill., energy plant

Fri, 09 Dec 2011

East Alton-based Helmkamp Construction Co. is nearly finished with onsite work and foundation installations for a dry flue gas desulfurization project. The project is designed to improve the quality of emissions at Dynegy's 1,800 MW coal-fired Baldwin Energy Complex in Baldwin, Ill.

When the new systems come online, Dynegy Baldwin's sulfur dioxide emissions are expected to be the lowest of any coal-fired units in the state.

Helmkamp is completing $45 million in civil work, including site preparation and installation of foundations for baghouses and dry scrubber equipment, the specialized equipment that removes sulfur dioxide from the coal plant's exhaust flue gases. In addition, Helmkamp installed foundations for duct supports, support buildings, utility racks and silo foundations. Helmkamp placed more than 4,000 anchor bolts and 2,500 auger cast piles at 60-foot depths with no reworks. They achieved that accuracy using a Robotic Total Station and desktop software.

St. Louis Post Dispatch ©December 2011

Helmkamp emission controls project at Dynegy coal plant nears completion

Thu, 17 Nov 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. is nearing completion on its portion of a dry flue gas desulfurization project to improve the quality of emissions at Dynegy's 1,800 MW coal-fired Baldwin Energy Complex in Baldwin, Illinois. Once the new systems come online, Dynegy Baldwin's sulfur dioxide emissions are expected to be the lowest of any coal-fired units in the state.

Helmkamp is completing $45 million in civil work including site preparation and installation of foundations for baghouses and dry scrubber equipment, the specialized equipment that removes sulfur dioxide from the coal plant's exhaust flue gases.

In addition, Helmkamp installed foundations for duct supports, support buildings, utility racks and silo foundations. Helmkamp also is performing all excavations for the required mechanical and electrical underground installations.

The 36-month project was complex and challenging, demanding precise coordination and communications to work within the fully operational power plant on a tight site between the Dynegy Baldwin plant and Baldwin Lake.

Helmkamp placed more than 4,000 anchor bolts and 2,500 auger cast piles at 60-foot depths with no reworks. They achieved that accuracy using a Robotic Total Station and desktop software to perform layout tasks, which allowed the team to easily re-establish pile locations as needed later in the project.

The project required about 30,000 cubic yards of concrete, much of it poured during two cold, snowy and icy winters. The largest single concrete pour was for the lime storage and waste ash silo foundation, in which three concrete pump trucks simultaneously poured a total 2,200 cubic yards of concrete in a limited access area. The second largest pour was about 1,300 cubic yards.

Numerous underground obstructions not shown on the drawings were located and identified during many of the projects excavations. These and other related issues were quickly resolved to keep the project on schedule and within budget.

Helmkamp performed 280,000 work-hours on the project with only one recordable incident. In 2008, Helmkamp received a zero injuries award from the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee for 57,321 injury-free self performed man-hours on the Dynegy Baldwin job. Helmkamp received this same award from the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee for 102,800 injury free work hours for the 2009 calendar year.

Electric Light & Power © November 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. moves into new East Alton headquarters

Fri, 07 Oct 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. of East Alton moved its headquarters from a 4,600-square-foot facility in Wood River into a 20,000-square-foot building, which the company bought in March and recently renovated.

The new location, at 707 Berkshire Boulevard in East Alton, doubles the company's office space and provides room for future expansion, as well as space for leasing to tenants.

First Bank provided financing for the build-out project. Subcontractors included Kaiser Electric, Kane Mechanical, Bazan Painting, Stephens Floor Covering, Southern Illinois Interiors and St. Louis Woodworks.

St.Louis Post Dispatch © October 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. moves into new East Alton headquarters

Fri, 07 Oct 2011

Helmkamp Moves to New Headquarters

Tue, 06 Sep 2011

Although the recession has sent many in the construction industry scrambling to survive, general contractor Helmkamp Construction Company of East Alton has grown rapidly, more than doubling its annual revenue to $50 million between 2008 and 2009, and outgrowing its corporate headquarters in the process. Helmkamp is a full service general contractor with extensive experience in industrial, power generation/transmission, healthcare, education and corporate building projects.

Helmkamp Construction recently moved from a 4,600-square-foot space in Wood River, Illinois, into a 20,000-square-foot corporate headquarters building, which the company bought in March and recently renovated. The new location at 707 Berkshire Blvd. in East Alton, about a mile-and-a-half from their previous headquarters, doubles their office space and provides room for future expansion as well as lease tenants.

"We grew so fast that we were using conference rooms and meeting space as offices," said Brad Farrell, president of Helmkamp. "At our new building, we now have a training center for 60 people, a formal conference room, several common areas and large private offices to accommodate smaller meetings."

Helmkamp's expansion is due, in part, to its growing energy industry work. They are a general contractor on the ConocoPhillips Wood River $3 billion Coker and Refinery Expansion (CORE) project, which will make the refinery the sixth largest in the U.S. upon completion later this year. Helmkamp also is nearing completion on its portion of a $500 million emissions control project at Dynegy's coal-fired Baldwin Energy Complex in Baldwin, Illinois. Helmkamp has performed work for both companies for more than 40 years.

"We're a relationship-based business and we tend to work with customers over and over again," said Farrell. "Our clients typically are professional buyers who need our high-quality construction services on a repeat basis."

Helmkamp, in business since 1938, specializes in work for private commercial clients in the automotive, building, civil, educational, food & beverage, healthcare, industrial, labs, renovations, and telecommunications industries. The company self-performs excavations, pile driving, demolition, concrete foundations and slabs, structural steel, rough carpentry, finish carpentry, millwright equipment installations, and laser alignment/precision leveling tasks.

Helmkamp was at its previous location in Wood River for 25 years and will maintain an existing storage yard and warehouse space there.

First Bank provided financing for the build-out project. Subcontractors included Kaiser Electric, Kane Mechanical, Bazan Painting, Stephens Floor Covering, Southern Illinois Interiors and St. Louis Woodworks.

St. Louis Construction News and Real Estate ©September 2011

On the move - Helmkamp

Fri, 26 Aug 2011

Helmkamp Construction Co. recently moved a mile and a half from 4,600 square feet in Wood River to 20,000 square feet in East Alton. President Brad Farrell said revenue peaked at $50 million in 2009, dipped to $40 million in 2010, and is tracking in the mid-$30 million range this year, still higher than the $25 million and less it averaged before 2009. It is a general contractor on Wood River’s $3 billion ConocoPhillips plant.

St. Louis Business Journal ©August 2011