Salute to Construction kicks off

A mixer at The Discovery Center brought together construction and design professionals, at right, to promote the Nov. 2 Salute to Construction banquet. The annual awards banquet begins with a 5 p.m. social hour and 6:30 dinner at Clarion Hotel, 3333 S. Glenstone Ave.

Discovery Center was the selected kick-off site because of the green-building techniques applied to its recent expansion. The addition to the interactive science center has a garden on the rooftop, where rainwater is captured and used to flush toilets. Also, builders used flowable fill, a concrete mix with a high percentage of fly ash, which is a recycled material, instead of rock and soil to fill in excavation.

Below right, The Uncivil Servants provides the evening's entertainment. The band is made up of local professionals, including Mike MacPherson, city of Springfield senior planner; Ken Hopper, Glendale High School teacher; and Del Thompson, a CAD drafter at Midland Group.

Below left, Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson proclaims the week Salute to Construction Week.