OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Sept. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- State and city officials today joined Black & Veatch professionals and former company CEO Len Rodman to dedicate the recently completed Rodman Innovation Pavilion. The Pavilion is the centerpiece of a $60 million renovation and expansion of Black & Veatch's World Headquarters in Overland Park.
Featuring renewable energy technology and a grass roof, the Pavilion serves as the main entrance of the headquarters building. Power is augmented by an electricity micro-grid using a natural gas micro-turbine, solar energy and a geothermal field. These features showcase the innovative solutions that the company brings to its clients. The Rodman Innovation Pavilion also includes interactive displays featuring the company's ground-breaking projects from nearly a century of global operations.
"The Rodman Innovation Pavilion reflects the creativity of our professionals as they work toward building a world of difference for our global clients," said Steve Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Black & Veatch. "Len led by example and set a high mark for us to follow. He strove to ensure that new ideas and better ways of doing things were explored in every opportunity with our clients."
Black & Veatch completed the purchase of its World Headquarters at 11401 Lamar Avenue in 2009. Updates to the facility, which the company has occupied since its original construction in 1976, began as its local workforce expanded. The company now has a global workforce of more than 10,000.
"Black & Veatch has partnered with numerous state agencies by providing vital services related to energy, water and telecommunications," said Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. "These are the very things that help the state grow and be successful. The company's global business growth directly boosts the Kansas City area economy. It also enables the company to support a variety of philanthropic organizations and programs."
Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach said, "We are proud of the commitment that Black & Veatch made in making our city the home of its World Headquarters, which features the Rodman Innovation Pavilion. Many of Black & Veatch's more than 3,250 Kansas City Metro area workforce live in Overland Park. Wherever you go in this region and around the world you find the company very active in community events and strongly supporting community betterment programs through donations of time and money."
Editor's Notes:
- Len Rodman was named President and CEO of Black & Veatch in August 1998 and was elected to the additional position of Chairman of the Board in January 2000, retiring in November 2013. He led the conversion of the company from an 85-year-old partnership to an employee-owned corporation.
- The Rodman Innovation Pavilion includes a client briefing center with integrated video/teleconferencing, local presentation and high-level technology.
- The Pavilion has 15,000 square feet of Reveille sod on its roof. There is an 80-inch Interactive Touch Panel display and other interactive displays featuring the company's innovative approaches and highlights of its global operations in the atrium of the Pavilion.
- Download photos of the Pavilion: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dwaiiqpiev80es1/AA...7QcXa?dl=0
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2013 were US$3.6 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.
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