Peoria NEXT Selects Otto Baum Company, Inc. for Phase One Construction of Innovation Center
Posted on January 31st, 2006
Peoria, IL – The Peoria NEXT Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Otto Baum Company, Inc. (OBCI) has been selected to conduct Phase One construction of the $12 million Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, located in the heart of Renaissance Park on the 800 block of West Main Street in Peoria.
Phase One construction will consist of basement and foundation concrete and earthwork for the approximately 50,000 square-foot Innovation Center. A second bidding process for Phase Two will take place in late Spring 2006 and will be for the construction of the building.
OBCI is a prominent, multi-faceted union contractor known throughout Central Illinois for performing quality work in the areas of concrete, masonry, earthwork, site/civil, and restoration services on commercial and industrial projects. Some of the projects OBCI has been involved in include the masonry and concrete work for Methodist Medpointe, Peoria City Hall restoration, site/civil and earthwork on the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, and masonry work on the University of Illinois Beckman Institute. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois, OBCI is a member of the Core Construction Group, Ltd. (CCG) family of contractors with operations in Illinois, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.
“We’re excited about the selection of Otto Baum as the contractor for Phase One construction on the Innovation Center. Otto Baum was selected from five outstanding bids and we look forward to collaborating on this project with such a reputable and experienced group of contractors,” says Jim McConoughey, President/CEO of The Heartland Partnership. “We are dedicated to designing this world class facility which will position the Peoria area as a desired location for new technology-based businesses.”
Construction for the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center is scheduled to begin with a groundbreaking celebration on the 800 block of West Main Street at 10:30 AM on Friday, February 3rd. The public is encouraged to attend this important community event.
About the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center:
The Innovation Center is designed to provide a place for entrepreneurs and technologists to commercialize innovative ideas into successful free standing businesses, and could also eventually house various facilitation groups providing valuable services for start-up companies. The Innovation Center will leverage the strengths of Caterpillar Inc., the USDA Agriculture Laboratory, Bradley University, and other health-science and technology organizations throughout the region to mature start-up companies to commercial successes. The facility will be owned and operated by Peoria NEXT, in cooperation with the Heartland Commerce and Economic Development Foundation, Caterpillar Inc., and Bradley University.
Peoria NEXT Mission and Vision:
Through collaboration and creativity, Peoria NEXT will facilitate Discovery, Innovation and Commercialization of new technologies for economic development. By 2015 our regional economy will be more diversified and be a desired location for new technology-based businesses.
