BUILDING
CVS Plans Distribution Center South Of Metroplex

Rhode Island-based pharmaceutical retailer CVS Corp. recently announced plans to construct a $120 million distribution center in Ennis, a city of approximately 15,000 residents about 30 miles southeast of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

According to a report in the Dallas Business Journal, the facility will employ at least 220 and will supply products to an increasing number of CVS stores planned for Texas, Arizona and Nevada.

The state-of-the-art facility will also be highly automated, utilizing robotics and computers to handle inventory and fulfillment.

The Stellar Group of Jacksonville, Fla., will handle development and construction of the 381,451-sq.-ft. facility. It will be the 10th distribution center nationwide for CVS and is scheduled to open in August 2004.

ENGINEERING
Walter P. Moore Takes Pair Of EEC Awards

The Houston office of Walter P. Moore & Associates Inc. recently won a pair of first-place awards at the 2003 Engineering Excellence Awards.

The company took home one honor for its role in the design of Houston's $450 million Reliant Stadium and the other for the design of the flood protection system for the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

The projects, which were judged best in the Structural Systems and Water Resources categories respectively, were two of only seven Grand Award winners selected from a field of 155 finalists by a panel of judges with backgrounds in engineering, architecture, government, media, academia and the military. The panel also selected 16 Honor Awards.

Sponsored annually be the Texas Council of Engineering Cos., all winners and finalists were recognized in April at a gala banquet at the Four Seasons in Austin.

ARCHITECTURE
FKP Architects Capture Houston Area Awards

Houston-based FKP Architects Inc. recently received a 2003 Good Brick Award from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance and a Landmark Award from the Houston Business Journal.

The Good Brick Award was presented for the restoration, renovation and expansion of Howard Keck Hall at Rice University. The chemistry building was designed in 1925 by noted architect William Ward Watkins.

FKP received a Landmark Award for its work at the Texas Children's Hospital, judged the best medical center project. The renovation and expansion project added more than 1.2 million sq. ft. to the hospital's existing complex.

HONORS
HOLT CAT Named Top Dealer For 2002

San Antonio-based HOLT CAT was recently named 2002 dealer of the year by one of the largest construction and mining companies in the world.

Fortune 500 company Peter Kiewit Sons Inc. selected the Texas firm from more than 450 manufacturers and equipment dealers worldwide, citing excellence in customer service, work quality and professionalism.

"It really means a lot any time one of our customers recognizes us for our contribution to their success," said HOLT CAT chief executive officer Peter Holt. "To be recognized by a company that does business with dealers all over the world is especially gratifying."

EQUIPMENT
JCB Inc. Appoints New Dealer in Northeast Texas

Savannah, Ga.-based JCB Inc. recently announced the appointment of a new dealer in Texas. Texarkana Tractor Co. will now provide sales as well as parts and service support for the full line of JCB machines in northeast Texas.

The main office for Texarkana Tractor is located in Nash, near the Arkansas border in northeastern Texas. The company's chief executive officer is James Carlow while the vice president is David Meadows.

The company also has a pair of branch locations in Texas: Queen City and DeKalb.

JCB Inc. is the North American subsidiary of JC Bamford Excavators Ltd., one of the top five construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It markets a wide range of construction equipment including backhoe loaders, wheel loader/tool carriers, Loadall telescopic handlers, rough-terrain forklifts, robot skid steer loaders, hydraulic tracked excavators and articulated dump trucks.

RDO Opens New Store In Suburban Austin Area

Fargo, N.D.-based RDO Equipment Co. recently hosted an open house at its newest Texas location in Pflugerville. The RDO Construction Equipment Division treated its guests to an all-you-can-eat fish fry, grand prize drawings and equipment demonstrations.

The new 26,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art facility is the latest of 45 retail stores in nine states for RDO Equipment, which features one of the largest networks of John Deere construction and agricultural stores in North America.

"The facility was constructed with product support foremost in our minds, not only for the support of the Deere product line, but also for all makes of machines," said store general manager Mike Brownlow.

LBX Opens Distributor Branch In San Antonio

Lexington, Ky.-based LBX Co., makers of Link-Belt earthmoving, forestry and material handling equipment, recently announced the opening of a new distributor branch in San Antonio.

B-C Equipment Sales Inc., based in Corpus Christi, opened the new branch location in San Antonio on Southeast Loop 410. The new Texas location is managed by Chuck Wehring.

The San Antonio branch was one of four new locations recently opened by LBX, joining others in Gulfport, Miss., Belton, Mo. and Deauville, Quebec, Canada.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Companies Join Forces, Open New Austin Office

Hunt Valley, Md.-based environmental service contractor MARCOR Remediation Inc. and Central Texas mold remediator contractor TurnKey IAQ have merged to open a new MARCOR location on Burnet Road in Austin.

"TurnKey has earned an excellent reputation in the state for the professionalism of its staff and its management of commercial and residential projects," said David Jungers, president and chief operating officer of MARCOR.

"With the opening or our operating location in Austin, we're now able to work side by side with former TurnKey personnel to handle a full range of service options."

Mark Sanders is general manager of the Austin location, which features a variety of environmental contracting services for the company's south-central region.

REORGANIZATION
Fort Worth Company Completes Reorganization

Crescent Machinery Co. recently emerged from bankruptcy after filing for Chapter 11 in February 2002.

Since that time, the Fort Worth-based company has closed seven branch offices in Nevada, California and Hawaii as part of reducing costs and focusing on eight other branches throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

"We are pleased to have worked through the reorganization process," said Crescent Machinery chief executive officer Eric Anderson. "With the negative cloud of the bankruptcy process behind us, we are excited about growing and improving our business."

Crescent Machinery is a full-service distributor in sales and rentals of construction equipment and supplies.