In The News — Oates Associates

Date

News Release

Feb 21, 2012

Oates Associates Receives ACEC Merit Award for Koepfli Lane

COLLINSVILLE, IL – The City of Highland and Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, received a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois for the design of Koepfli Lane in Highland.

The ACEC competition recognized 51 Illinois-based engineering firms for outstanding projects at a recent luncheon attended by more than 300 engineers, clients and government officials.

The City of Highland identified the need to study a roadway corridor around the City to connect major routes, provide access to newly developing areas, and prevent future traffic congestion. As a result, the City is constructing a new peripheral route as identified in the Highland Peripheral Route Study.

The Koepfli Lane Extension project was the sixth phase of this new route, and includes two vehicular travel lanes and a continuous center left-turn lane. Alternative modes of travel are accommodated with four-foot-wide on-road bike lanes and a 10-foot wide offroad multi-use path as recommended in the Trail Master Plan.

Oates Associates’ planning and design involvement began with the successful completion of the Highland Peripheral Route Study in 1996. Thus far, Oates has provided engineering services for several roadways identified in the Highland Peripheral Route Study, including the reconstruction of Hemlock Street, Troxler Avenue, and Iberg Road South; intersection improvements at Koepfli Lane and Troxler Avenue, and Hemlock Street and US Route 40; and new roads on new alignment for the Hemlock Street Extension and the Koepfli Lane Extension.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Caption (left to right)
Engineering Excellence Awards Committee Chair John O’Neill
Oates’ President / Chief Executive Officer Bruce Schopp
ACEC IL President Phil Houser

Feb 16, 2012

Oates Associates Receives ACEC Merit Award for Roy E. Lee Field at SIUE

COLLINSVILLE, IL – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, received a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois for improvements at Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex on the SIUE campus.

The ACEC competition recognized 51 Illinois-based engineering firms for outstanding projects at a recent luncheon attended by more than 300 engineers, clients and government officials.

Roy E. Lee Field is the home stadium for the men’s NCAA Division I baseball team at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Roy E. Lee Field has undergone renovations to provide up-to-date facilities to support the competitive nature of intercollegiate athletics.

Oates’ involvement began in 2005 with the creation of a master plan for the Simmons Baseball Complex, which identified future improvements to the complex. Thus far, Oates has provided design and construction engineering services for a new synthetic turf infield at Roy E. Lee Field, a new clubhouse and a parking lot with a bioswale, a natural means for collecting stormwater runoff.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Caption (left to right):
Engineering Excellence Awards Committee Chair John O’Neill
SIUE Athletics Director Dr. Brad Hewitt
Oates’ Project Manager Tom Cissell
ACEC IL President Phil Houser

Jan 25, 2012

Oates Associates� Continues to Expand, Adds Daniel Baker

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, continues their staff expansion with the hire of Daniel Baker of Edwardsville, Illinois, as junior engineer. Baker will begin his professional career supporting Oates Associates’ structural group.

Baker is a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a minor in construction management. While completing his degree, Baker interned with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, inspecting dams and levees, identifying potential failures and developing solutions. He currently sits on the board of a local charity that repairs homes for the less fortunate and disabled, and is actively involved with local charities and churches helping the homeless of St. Louis.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jan 4, 2012

Travis Niederhofer of Oates Associates earns professional license

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Travis Niederhofer of Hoyleton, Illinois, a survey crew coordinator for Oates Associates, has earned his Illinois Professional Land Surveyor License. Oates Associates is a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm.

As Oates Associates’ survey crew coordinator, Niederhofer uses his 13 years of experience in all phases of boundary and right-of-way land surveying, from right-of-way platting to right-of-way acquisition procedures.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jan 4, 2012

Oates Associates� project manager elected to new APWA board position

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Michael Busch, PE, PTOE of Troy, Illinois, a project manager at Oates Associates, has been elected treasurer of the St. Louis Branch of the Missouri Chapter of the American Public Works Association. Oates Associates is a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm.

Busch has been involved with the American Public Works Association (APWA) for six years. He began his career at Oates Associates more than 13 years ago and currently is the project manager on roadway projects throughout St. Louis. He recently completed an Oates project for the Illinois Department of Transportation, coordinating utility relocations for the 16-mile expansion of IL 255.

The American Public Works Association is the voice of public works for people, agencies and organizations throughout the nation. APWA provides educational and networking opportunities for their 28,000 members, helping them to grow in their field.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Dec 12, 2011

Oates Associates� Project Manager elected to U.S Green Building Council position

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, is pleased to announce that Barb Anderson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP of Oates Associates, was elected as chair of the Advocacy Committee for the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC).

Anderson has served on the Advocacy Committee for the past five years and will now serve as chair for 2012-2013. As the committee chair, Anderson will promote LEED certification and the benefits of sustainable buildings. She will oversee the Green Homes, which advances green home building, and the Government Advocacy Subcommittee, which encourages local and state governments to adopt green building initiatives.

Anderson has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of project types, including municipal, recreational, educational, health care, commercial and hospitality industry buildings. She is a LEED Accredited Professional with sustainable project experience. To help educate professionals about sustainability, Anderson often speaks at professional society events as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Volunteer Speakers Bureau.

The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to making green buildings available to everyone. Through education and advocacy, the USGBC is encouraging sustainable practices to organizations and communities throughout the nation.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact

Mary Schanuel

mschanuel@synergy-pr.com

314.961.9772

Sep 12, 2011

Great Rivers Greenway Selects Oates for Mississippi River Greenway Master Plan

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The Great Rivers Greenway District has selected Oates Associates for a $190,000 contract to provide planning services for the Mississippi River Greenway Master Plan. Oates expects to complete the master plan by the end of 2011.

The Mississippi River Greenway is one component of The River Ring, a system of greenways, parks and trails throughout the St. Louis region. Oates is the lead planner and landscape architect studying the eight-mile southern section, which stretches from the Gateway Arch in Downtown St. Louis to the River des Peres.

Oates Associates is analyzing existing conditions affecting the greenway and identifying both off-street trail and on-street connections along the corridor. Once a clear vision of the greenway is created, short-term and long-term SEED (Social Environmental Economic Development) projects will be identified to further the development of The River Ring.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Aug 22, 2011

Three Oates Associates Employees Earn Professional Engineer License

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Three employees of Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm, have received their Professional Engineer (PE) licenses from the state of Illinois.

Travis Helmkamp of Hazelwood, Missouri, is an engineer working on local infrastructure projects including the Collinsville, Illinois, Main Street Streetscape, which involves several miles of Federal Transportation Enhancement funded improvements. Helmkamp also has been involved in an inventory of the 400-mile sidewalk system in St. Charles, Missouri, and a transitional plan to correct deficiencies; and the St. Louis, Missouri, Salisbury Street Enhancements Project, a 10-block streetscape improvement project. Helmkamp has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University and has worked at Oates Associates since his graduation in 2006.

Randy Venhaus of Maryville, Illinois, is an engineer involved with transportation improvement projects and construction observation and testing. He has worked on the US 67 Jerseyville Bypass in Jersey County, Illinois, including 5.5 miles of new expressway on a new alignment with 12 bridge structures; the investigation of sections of the River Des Peres Drainage Works in Forest Park for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District; and the Governors’ Parkway, three miles of new three-lane rural highway in Madison County, Illinois. Venhaus has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIU-E) and currently is working towards an MBA at SIU-E. He has worked at Oates Associates since his graduation in 2007.

Timothy Verheyen of Maryville, Illinois, is an engineer providing services for educational, recreational and municipal clients in the design of roadways, streetscape, sidewalks, trails and parking lots. He has worked on synthetic turf projects at the Korte Stadium and the Roy E. Lee Field at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; and the Alton Feasibility Study to determine a north / south corridor to improve safety, capacity and access to IL 255 in Madison County, Illinois. Verheyen has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and has worked at Oates Associates since his graduation in 2007.

The National Society of Professional Engineers recently honored Oates Associates for its exceptional career development initiatives. More than half of Oates Associates’ 41 staff members are licensed professionals, including professional engineers, architects and a landscape architect. Of the 22 licensed professionals, 15 earned their licenses while employed at Oates Associates, which offers tuition reimbursement, paid time off for license preparation and examinations, and membership in professional organizations.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Aug 2, 2011

Oates Associates Receives Prestigious Professional Development Award

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm, has received the prestigious Private Practice Professional Development (PEPP) Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). The award, which honors exceptional career development practices, was officially presented to Jeffrey Rensing, P.E., of Oates Associates during NSPE's annual conference, held in Las Vegas from July 13-17.

The PEPP Award is presented annually to an engineering firm that exhibits exceptional career development initiatives and that advances the engineering profession through its employment policies and practices. The award encourages all engineering firms to adopt progressive career development policies and practices.

More than half of Oates Associates’ 41 staff members are licensed professionals, including professional engineers, architects and a landscape architect. Of the 22 licensed professionals, 15 earned their licenses while employed at Oates Associates, which offers tuition reimbursement, paid time off for license preparation and examinations, and membership in professional organizations.

The PEPP Awards Committee selects the firm based on the organization’s current and longtime career development reputation, with particular emphasis on the preceding twelve months. Criteria include engineering personnel/licensure information, recruitment, employment, professional development and special employment practices.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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CAPTION: Jeffrey Rensing, P.E., manager of Oates Associates’ St. Louis office and Mark Davy, P.E., 2010-2011 PEPP Chair.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jul 27, 2011

Maryland Heights contracts Oates for McKelvey Woods Court Road Improvements

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The City of Maryland Heights, Missouri, has contracted Oates Associates to design roadway, pedestrian and drainage improvements for McKelvey Woods Court. The project will improve access and safety for motorists and pedestrians using the street, which provides access to McKelvey Woods Park and Dogport Dog Park.

The existing asphalt roadway at McKelvey Woods Court had deteriorated and needed repair. The road also lacked pedestrian facilities and defined drainage paths for storm water runoff. The $825,000 project includes reconstruction of the existing pavement with wider lanes, sidewalks with accessible curb ramps, curb and gutters. Inlets and storm water management facilities also will be installed to collect storm water.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jul 25, 2011

Maplewood Selects Oates Associates for Laclede Station Road Improvements

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The City of Maplewood, Missouri, has selected Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm, to provide design, project management and inspections for a Laclede Station Road Improvement project.

The $636,000 road improvement project will improve traffic flow, vehicular and pedestrian safety, and drainage along Laclede Station Road in Maplewood. The roadway, which has been overlaid and patched several times over its life, shows increasing signs of distress and the city finds it no longer cost effective to continually repair the surface.

This federally funded road improvement project includes utility relocations, sidewalk repairs, and replacement of the pavement, curb and gutter. Oates Associates will prepare design plans, conduct construction inspections, and provide project management. The project received funding through the federal Surface Transportation Program.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jul 7, 2011

Oates Associates St. Louis Office Celebrates Five Years of Growth Despite Recession

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The past five years may have been the most difficult in recent history to expand a construction-related business, but the St. Louis office of Oates Associates, an engineering and architectural firm, has thrived.

Oates Associates overall 2011 revenue is expected to total $5.5 million, up from $4.6 million last year, Oates CEO Joe Hagerty attributes much of that growth to strong performance by the St. Louis office, contracts with the Illinois Department of Transportation – up 35 percent from last year to $2.4 million – and the addition of building services.

“We’ve tackled a variety of interesting projects throughout the St. Louis region over the past five years, from the River Des Peres in Forest Park to Stablestone in Chesterfield and the Wildwood Community Park Master Plan,” said Jeffrey Rensing, P.E., manager of Oates Associates’ St. Louis office, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.

The Metropolitan Sewer District contracted Oates Associates in 2008 to inspect the massive 32-foot concrete pipes that carry the River Des Peres under Forest Park, to determine whether recent park renovations had affected the city’s historic storm water and sewage system.

In Chesterfield, Oates Associates engineered the reconstruction of Stablestone Drive, a project that received an honor award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri. The federally funded road reconstruction included unique traffic calming features, replacement of pavement, and handicap accessible sidewalk improvements.

Oates Associates currently is leading the planning team of Nelson Byrd Woltz and Vector Communications developing a conceptual plan for a world-class park in Wildwood that will balance the site’s rolling hills, grasslands, native woodlands and creek with the social and recreational needs of residents.

The St. Louis office of Oates Associates also has been awarded projects with Great Rivers Greenway, the cities of St. Louis, Maplewood, Maryland Heights, St. Charles County, St. Charles and Arnold, and other clients.

“We’re very pleased with the growth rate of our St. Louis office, particularly in these challenging economic times,” said Oates Associates CEO Joe Hagerty. Since the first full year of operations, the office has average three new clients each year.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200 .

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jul 6, 2011

Oates Associates� Chief Executive Officer elected to ACEC-MO Board

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Joseph Hagerty, chief executive officer of civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm Oates Associates, was elected to the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC-MO) Board of Directors. Hagerty is newly elected to this position and will serve a three-year term.

As a board member of ACEC-MO, Hagerty will help member firms survive economic downturn, enhance ACEC-MO’s image to the public, support legislative business issues and continue the enhancement of ACEC-MO liaison committees.

Hagerty joined Oates Associates in 1991 and is responsible to its board of directors for overall firm leadership and guidance, and implementing the firm’s strategic plan. He oversees finance and accounting, marketing, and human resources.

With more than 5,000 member firms nation-wide, ACEC is the voice of the engineering industry. ACEC-MO represents firms across the state and strives to support member firms to advance their practice of consulting engineering, promote the image and effectiveness of ACEC-MO to the public, and maintain a strong governmental affairs program.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jun 8, 2011

Oates Associates project manager elected to new position

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Brian Heil, PE, of O'Fallon, Illinois, a project manager/engineer at the civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm Oates Associates, was elected to the Engineers’ Club of St. Louis 2011-2013 Board of Directors.

Heil has been active in the Engineers’ Club of St. Louis for several years. As a board director, Heil provides guidance for the overall club mission by coordinating with committee members and providing financial oversight of the Club’s funds. Heil also serves as the Engineers’ Club Fellowship Committee Co-Chair, organizing Fellowship Night and other social activities for Club members.

Heil is a project manager/engineer at Oates Associates, designing highway and local roadway projects. He is heavily involved in the US 67 Jerseyville Bypass project with the Illinois Department of Transportation, managing a team of three other consultants to design five miles of new freeway, two interchanges and eight road or railroad grade separations.

The Engineers’ Club of St. Louis represents over 1,000 members and has served their needs since 1868. Their mission is to promote educational, social and professional advancement of their members and offer advice and support to agencies to benefit the St. Louis community.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

May 19, 2011

Oates Associates Hires Stephen Noeth, Continues Expansion

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm, continues its expansion with the new hire of Stephen Noeth of Granite City, Illinois. Noeth has joined Oates Associates as a junior engineer.

Noeth is a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. While completing his degree at SIUE, he interned with the City of Edwardsville as an engineering technician. Mr. Noeth will begin his career at Oates supporting the firm’s structural group.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Feb 28, 2011

Oates Associates Recognized as Employer of the Year

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, has been recognized as the Employer of the Year by WTS (Women’s Transportation Seminar). Oates received the award during the professional society’s Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner on February 17.

The Employer of the Year designation celebrates Oates’ contribution to the transportation industry. The award acknowledges Oates’ continuing advancement of employees through education, training and professional society involvement. The company’s outstanding record of affirmative hiring practices, promotion opportunities at all employment levels, and available internship positions also were factors in bestowing Employer of the Year to Oates Associates.

WTS is an international organization of over 4,000 members, men and women, that is dedicated to advancing women in the transportation field.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Caption:
(l to r) Deanne Venker, Missouri Department of Transportation District 6 Area Engineer and WTS Executive Board President; and Bruce Schopp, Oates Associates President / Chief Operating Officer

Media Contact

Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Feb 24, 2011

Oates Associates Receives ACEC Honor Award for Stablestone Drive in Chesterfield, MO

ST. LOUIS, MO – The City of Chesterfield and Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, recently received an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Missouri for the design of Stablestone Drive in Chesterfield. The ACEC competition recognizes innovative and quality design.

Stablestone Drive / Greentrails Drive North is a one mile stretch of roadway that meanders through residential neighborhoods in the City of Chesterfield, Missouri. The reconstruction extends one mile from Ladue Road to Olive Boulevard, connecting travelers to major roadways.

Stablestone Drive / Greentrails Drive North serve more than 275 homes in the area, providing access to Ladue Road and Olive Boulevard. The reconstruction of Stablestone Drive / Greentrails Drive North has increased safety for both motorists and pedestrians. Improvements for this federally funded project included replacement of pavement, curb and gutter and drainage improvements. Traffic calming features, such as bump outs and striping, provide for a safer traveling environment by minimizing the roadway width, in turn, causing drivers to reduce their speed due to their perception of narrower driving lanes.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Caption:
(l to r) Jeffrey Rensing, Project Manager / St. Louis Office Manager at Oates Associates and Joseph Hagerty, Chief Executive Officer at Oates Associates.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Feb 17, 2011

Andy Mueller Honored at SIU Edwardsville Awards Banquet

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Andy Mueller of Freeburg, a junior engineer at Oates Associates, received the 2010 Outstanding Senior Award from the School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) during their annual awards banquet.

The SIUE School of Engineering hosts an annual banquet to celebrate excellence among students and faculty. The Outstanding Senior Award is given in honor of academic achievements, service and leadership. In December, Andy graduated with cum laude distinction. Some of his activities include serving as American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Chapter Secretary, participating on the ASCE Concrete Canoe Team, being a member in the Chi Epsilon Honor Society, and volunteering with the Freeburg Fire Department. Andy joined Oates Associates in January to support the Oates transportation group.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Caption (l to r)
Hasan Sevim, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, presents the Outstanding Senior Award to Andy Mueller, Junior Engineer at Oates Associates, Inc.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Feb 16, 2011

Oates Associates Receives ACEC Merit Award for Collinsville Main Street Streetscape

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – The City of Collinsville, IL, and Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, recently received a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois for the design of Collinsville's Main Street Streetscape, Phase II. The ACEC competition recognized 47 Illinois-based engineering firms for outstanding projects at a recent luncheon attended by 350 engineers, clients and government officials.

The City of Collinsville enlisted the help of Oates Associates to design streetscape improvements for Main Street, in an effort to retain existing businesses and attract new business to the area. Main Street Streetscape, Phase II is part of a multi-phase, federally funded beautification project. Phase II stretches seven blocks and includes sidewalk and curb replacement, handicap accessible curb ramps, crosswalk imprinting, decorative street lighting and street tree plantings. The improvements provide a safe facility for pedestrian traffic.

Oates Associates’ involvement with the Main Street Streetscape project began in 1999 with the first phase of the project. Phase II started with the completion of an application for Transportation Enhancement Program funding, which was in July of 2005. Oates is currently designing Phase III improvements and recently completed the federal funding application for Phase IV.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Photo Caption (l to r):
Bruce Schopp, President / Chief Operating Officer at Oates Associates; Michael Tognarelli, Former Director of Streets for the City of Collinsville (currently consultant to the City); Joseph Hagerty, Chief Executive Officer at Oates Associates.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jan 18, 2011

Jason Dreyer of Oates Associates Earns Masters Degree

COLLINSVILLE, IL – Jason Dreyer of Collinsville, a junior engineer at Oates Associates in Collinsville, recently earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.

Dreyer joined Oates Associates in 2008 and assists in the design of structural and roadway projects. He has developed a strong understanding of structural systems through his education and his experience at Oates Associates.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jan 6, 2011

Andy Mueller of Freeburg Joins Oates Associates

COLLINSVILLE, IL – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering/architectural design firm, continues their expansion with the new hire of Andy Mueller of Freeburg, Illinois, as a junior engineer.

Mueller is a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. While completing his degree at SIUE he worked for the Village of Freeburg Public Works Department and most recently, the US Army Corps of Engineers. Mueller will support the Oates transportation group.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, institutions and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Dec 6, 2010

Kevin Gates Joins Oates Associates� Expanding Building Services Group

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Kevin Gates, LEED AP, of Freeburg, Illinois, has joined Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, as an architectural technician.

Gates earned his Master of Science in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kansas. His studies focused on building performance and sustainable practices. He brings to Oates a strong background in architectural programs, including Revit, having previously led Revit learning workshops for co-workers.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Nov 11, 2010

ROHO Group Expansion Designed by Oates Associates Is Complete

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Work is complete on the 11,600-square-foot expansion of the ROHO Group factory in Belleville, Illinois. Oates Associates provided architectural services, structural engineering and site design for the project. Holland Construction Services was the general contractor and Design Six of Belleville provided additional design services.

ROHO manufactures shape-fitting medical and comfort cushioning products. The expansion provided additional warehouse space for raw materials to meet increasing demand for ROHO’s products. Shipment and delivery also was expanded with two new receiving docks and a driver security area.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Oct 20, 2010

Wildwood Hires Oates Associates to Plan New Community Park

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The City of Wildwood, Missouri, has contracted Oates Associates and the Planning Team of Nelson Byrd Woltz and Vector Communications to prepare a conceptual plan for a future world-class park to support the avidly recreational community near St. Louis.

The park would be located on a 66-acre tract of land that the City owns at Highways 100 and 109, near the Wildwood Town Center. The land features gently rolling hills, grasslands, native woodlands and a creek.

“Our goal is to create a diverse set of memorable spaces that embody Wildwood’s character while protecting the unique topography of the land,” said Bill Burke, Senior Planner of Oates Associates. “The park will balance the site’s natural amenities with the everyday social and recreational needs of Wildwood residents.”

The planning program will begin with a public engagement process to obtain input from residents. The layout for park facilities and recreational areas will be based on the desires of the citizens, the surrounding development pattern and the physical characteristics of the land.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in St. Louis, Missouri, and Collinsville, Illinois. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, urban planning and landscape architecture, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, and structural engineering. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 314.588.8381 or 618.345.2200.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Oct 14, 2010

Oates Associates' President Inducted Into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Bruce Schopp, president of the civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm Oates Associates, has been inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Alumni Association.

Schopp was honored at an awards dinner on October 8, 2010 for his achievements in the engineering field and his contributions to both the community and SIUE. A licensed professional engineer and structural engineer, Schopp has been with Oates Associates for 25 years and recently was promoted to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.

Schopp is active in several professional society organizations and sits on the SIUE School of Engineering Advisory Board. He also is involved in various community organizations, including St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Freeburg, Illinois. Other honorees at the awards dinner included a Fulbright Scholar, a Tampa Bay Rays major league baseball television announcer, and presidents and founders of various organizations.

The SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame honorees are nominated and selected based on their success and contribution to their field of study, their concern for the community, and their distinguished reputation. Each college honors two alumni every year, recognizing them with a plaque that is displayed on campus.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jun 28, 2010

Jason Schreckenberg of Oates Associates Elected as ISPE Officer

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Jason Schreckenberg, PE, SE, of Millstadt, Illinois, a project manager at the civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm Oates Associates, has been installed as treasurer / secretary for the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE), St. Clair Chapter.

Schreckenberg has been involved with ISPE for many years and has served as the chapter scholarship chair. He recently received the Society’s “Young Engineer of the Year Award” which recognizes young members who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and/or community.

Schreckenberg has been with Oates Associates for more than 10 years, primarily in structural design of bridge and building projects. He has provided design services for highway bridges, local roadways, and educational, commercial, manufacturing, and correctional facilities. Schreckenberg recently managed the structural design of the new pedestrian bridge connecting downtown Alton to the Alton Riverfront.

The Illinois Society of Professional Engineers represents more than 2,500 engineers and has served their needs for over 120 years. Several employees at Oates are active in the organization, with many serving on various committees.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jun 22, 2010

Oates Associates President Bruce Schopp Elected to ACEC-IL Board

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Bruce Schopp, PE, SE, of Freeburg, Illinois, president of the civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm Oates Associates, has been elected to the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL). Schopp was elected by members and installed as a board member during the organization’s annual meeting on June 3.

The ACEC-IL board oversees the business and administrative affairs of the professional organization. Schopp previously served on the ACEC-IL Scholarship Committee and as chair of the IDOT Bridge Committee. He also is a member of the IDOT Liaison Committee.

Schopp has been with Oates Associates for 25 years, rising to the position of chief structural engineer responsible for structural engineering and the firm’s major transportation projects. He recently was promoted to president/chief operating officer and oversees all operations including project selection and management, technical production, quality assurance, technical and professional staff development, and client development.

With more than 5,500 member firms nation-wide, ACEC is the voice of the engineering industry. ACEC-IL represents firms across the state and strives to support members in providing better consulting engineering services by means of supporting the advancement of the practice of engineering, promoting the welfare of its members and by safeguarding the industry’s ethical standards.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Jun 17, 2010

Stacey Wolff of Oates Associates Earns Professional Engineer License

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Stacey Wolff of Bunker Hill, Illinois, a junior engineer at the civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm Oates Associates, has passed the exam to become a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.

Wolff has been with Oates Associates in 2004, providing construction observation, site design, utility work and right-of-way negotiations. She recently completed work on the IL 255 Utility Coordination project for the Illinois Department of Transportation, coordinating utility relocations for the 16-mile expansion of IL 255. Wolff is vice president of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) St. Louis chapter board of directors.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

May 4, 2010

Barb Anderson Joins Oates Associates' Building Services Group as Senior Architect - LEED Accredited Professional

Click to view and download high res photo

Barb Anderson
Senior Architect

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Barb Anderson of Edwardsville, Illinois, has joined Oates Associates, as a senior architect.

Anderson has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of projects including municipal, recreational, educational, health care, commercial and hospitality industry buildings. She is a LEED Accredited Professional with extensive experience in sustainable projects, most recently serving as project manager for the National Great Rivers Research & Education Field Station.

To help educate professionals about sustainability, Barb often speaks at professional society events as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Volunteer Speakers Bureau.

Anderson earned her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois. She is a licensed architect in Illinois and Missouri and is a member of the American Institute for Architects, United States Green Building Council, Architectural Advisory Board at Ranken College and the Mayor’s Climate Protection Committee. She also is a S.A.V.E. volunteer (Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation Coalition) and has two daughters.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact:
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Apr 22, 2010

Oates Associates Project Manager Attains Professional Licenses

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates announced that Jason Schreckenberg, PE, of

Click to view and download high res image

Jason Schreckenberg, P.E.

Millstadt, Illinois has been licensed as a Structural Engineer (SE) in the State of Illinois. He also obtained his Professional Engineer’s license in the State of Missouri through reciprocity.

Schreckenberg has been with Oates Associates for more than ten years, primarily concentrating in structural design for a range of projects including highway bridges, local roadways, and educational, commercial, manufacturing and correctional facilities. He recently managed the structural design of the new pedestrian bridge connecting downtown Alton, Illinois to the Alton Riverfront.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact:
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
314.961.9772

Apr 14, 2010

Oates Associates Transitions Leadership, Elects Officers

COLLINSVILLE, IL -- As part of their transition to a second generation, the Oates Associates board has elected new

Click to view and download high res image.

Joe Hagerty,
Chief Executive Officer

Bruce Schopp, President / Chief Operating Officer

David Oates,

Chairman of the Board

officers – Joe Hagerty as Chief Executive Officer and Bruce Schopp as President / Chief Operating Officer. Founder David Oates, was appointed Chairman of the Board. Oates Associates is an engineering, architectural and planning firm with solid expertise in transportation and municipal projects, and a key player in Metro East development over the past 20 years.

Oates Associates is implementing an ownership transition plan that was initiated 15 years ago, just five years after David Oates bought the firm in 1990.

“My philosophy of leadership is to find and secure the future, not to control everything,” said Oates, who will gradually reduce his time commitment to the firm but will continue to mentor and develop top and middle-level managers. Oates also is involved in advocacy on a regional and national level to ensure future funding of public works projects.

Hagerty began with Oates Associates in 1991 as controller and has served as vice president for several years, responsible for finance and administration. In his new role as CEO, Hagerty will head the executive / administrative side of the business with responsibility for overall profitability, finance and accounting, human resources, business management and business development.

Schopp is a licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer and has been with Oates Associates for 25 years. During his career, he rose to the position of Chief Structural Engineer with responsibility for all structural engineering and the firm’s major transportation projects. As President / COO, he will oversee all operations including project selection and management, technical production, Quality Assurance, technical / professional staff development and client development.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact:
Mary Schanuel, Synergy Group
(314) 961-9772
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com

Mar 22, 2010

To The Editor -- Metro East Levees

Recent news articles and letters have criticized Metro East officials for questioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood mapping process. In my opinion, some of that coverage ignores important facts and places much more faith in federal bureaucrats from outside of the region than in our local elected and appointed officials.

Questioning the FEMA process is not “quibbling.” It is a serious issue when 150,000 residents, who are already paying increased sales tax to fix the levees, are also asked to pay even more to insure against those same levees’ failure. That the cost of insurance for residents and businesses in the region will likely exceed the cost of the levee repair is even more serious.

First, local officials aren’t delaying the levee fix. As soon as the problem was brought to their attention, the three counties formed a new flood prevention district and implemented a tax to fund the repairs. Those officials continue to work for more funding, now that the Corps of Engineers has increased their estimate of the repair cost.

Second, while the Corps is not technically responsible for the levees, they participated in the original design and construction years ago, and have been involved in the evaluation of the levee condition since. The Corps also declined to “re-certify” the levees (this is where the locals are questioning the process) even though they are still working on studies to tell the levee owners what the problems are and what it will cost to fix them.

Third, some comments have misstated the flood risk that is shown in the FEMA studies. The record flood elevation occurred in 1993, the only flood over FEMA’s 100-year level. No other flood -- 1973, 1995, or 2008 -- has exceeded the 100-year level. None of the floods, including FEMA’s 500-year level, are expected to overtop the levees.

The problem is not water going over the levees, but water seeping under the levees. While a serious problem, the ability to predict the magnitude of the under-seepage problem and how to fix it is much more theoretical than simply addressing higher flood elevations. Computer modeling methods and required factors of safety have changed since the levees were built and continue to be evaluated. That a levee designed fifty years ago doesn’t meet new standards isn’t the fault of the local levee districts -- nor a reason to assume the levees will fail.

Finally, some statements about the causes for increased flood risk (such as on-going engineering of the Mississippi River” and “secondary contributions from the levees”) question the wisdom of development in this area. That opinion might be valid in areas where new development has taken place in previously unprotected flood plains, but in the Metro East, federally funded and built levees have been in place for fifty years. Those residents and businesses in the area should not be expected to pay twice for continued flood protection -- once for a tax to fix the levees and again for insurance.

David M. Oates, President
Oates Associates, Inc.

David Oates is a principal of Oates Associates, Inc., a Collinsville, IL based engineering firm. Oates has over thirty years experience in drainage and public works projects. Oates Associates has evaluated the new FEMA flood maps for a number of communities and is currently part of a team preparing a Stormwater Master Plan for Madison County. Oates is also Past President of the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois and a member of their levee task force. He has also served as State President for the American Council of Engineering Companies/ Illinois and the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.

Mar 16, 2010

Oates Associates Wins ACEC Merit Award for Governors' Parkway

COLLINSVILLE, IL – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, has received a

Click to view and download high res image.

(see news release for caption)

Merit Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois for the design of Governors’ Parkway in Madison County, Illinois. The ACEC competition recognized more than 50 Illinois-based engineering firms for outstanding projects at a recent luncheon attended by 250 engineers, clients and government officials.

In response to continued residential and commercial growth in the Edwardsville area, the Madison County Highway Department decided to design and construct a new east-west route from I-55 to the entrance to Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville along a route acquired by IDOT more than 35 years ago. Madison County hired Oates Associates to design the third phase of Governors’ Parkway, a three-mile section consisting of three-lane pavement with a center two-way left turn lane, a bridge, several large culverts and three signalized intersections. This new segment now connects a growing residential section of Edwardsville to I-55 on the east and the city’s major retail section to the west.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

Caption: (l to r) Gary Wilkin, HDR / CWI (EEA Committee Chair); David Oates, Oates Associates, Inc.; Mark Gvillo, Madison County Highway Department; Alan Goepfert, Oates Associates, Inc.; Michael Klinger, Klinger & Associates (ACEC-IL President)

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Media Contact:
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
Synergy Group
314.961.9772
www.synergy-pr.com

Jan 12, 2010

Bill Burke to Head Up Oates Associates' New Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture Group

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Bill Burke, RLA, APA, of Glen Carbon, Illinois,

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Bill Burke heads up the urban planning and landscape architecture group at Oates Associates.

has joined Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, to head up the firm’s new urban planning and landscape architecture group. Burke’s appointment marks the firm’s second expansion within six months. Oates added architectural services in August 2009.

“For many years, Oates has contributed to the quality of life in our region through thoughtful and aesthetic design,” said David Oates, president of Oates Associates. “We’re excited to enhance our planning, landscape and architectural design capabilities within the firm, to provide our clients with cost-effective design solutions that are also sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. Bill will contribute his talents to our municipal planning, recreational site designs, bike trails and streetscapes.”

Burke has more than 20 years of experience in planning, urban design and landscape architecture. His noted projects include the Citygarden public sculpture garden in downtown St. Louis, the Gateway Mall Master Plan, the Arch Grounds Connector engineering and urban design study, the Edward Jones Campus Master Plan and the Cape Girardeau, Missouri Comprehensive Plan.

Burke is a member of the American Planning Association, the Urban Land Institute and has served on the Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council and the Village of Glen Carbon Planning and Zoning Commission. He has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis. Oates provides a wide range of engineering and architectural services to communities, corporations, facilities and public agencies throughout the Midwest. Services include engineering and architectural design, transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering, urban planning and landscape architecture. For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200 or 314.588.8381.

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Media Contact:
Mary Schanuel
mschanuel@synergy-pr.com
Synergy Group
314.961.9772
www.synergy-pr.com

Aug 13, 2009

Oates Associates Adds Architectural Services

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS – Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering firm with offices in Collinsville and St. Louis, recently announced the addition of architecture to their list of services. Jason Plough, AIA joined the firm in July and will provide architectural design for the firm’s existing base of clients as well as new government and private clients. In his previous employment, Mr. Plough has designed schools, commercial buildings and municipal facilities.

David Oates, President of Oates Associates, said this is a natural expansion of the firm’s existing building design services. “We are already providing site and structural design and we are now bringing the architectural design piece in-house. This will allow us to better control the process for our clients. It also allows us to grow the firm using some of our existing capabilities.”

Since 1980, Oates Associates (www.oatesassociates.com) has served communities and businesses throughout the Midwest. Oates offers a wide range of engineering services, including transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and street design, storm water management, site design, structural engineering and now architecture.

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Media Contact:
Cheryl Ross
Phone: 618-345-2200
Email: cheryl.ross@oatesassociates.com