Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama honored Bhate Geosciences Corporation with its Excellence in Construction Award for the firm’s work on the Shelby Research Building project at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The new $90 million building will provide UAB with 340,000 square feet of research space. Shelby will help generate approximately 1,400 new jobs and $100 million plus per year in grant support for programs housed in the facility.

Bhate performed a comprehensive subsurface exploration and geotechnical engineering evaluation for the site.

Bhate brought several innovative techniques to the project that allowed the university to minimalize construction costs for the project, including StructureScan GPR services.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation, a Birmingham-based company, has provided engineering services throughout the southeast since 1973.

Bhate Geosciences Corp. has known for 20 years what industrial analysts are finally figuring out: Cullman, Ala., is a great place to do business.

As a testament to the area's growth and with dozens of Cullman projects already under its belt, the Birmingham-based engineering and environmental consulting firm recently took the relationship two decades in the making to the next level by opening its first field office outside the Birmingham metropolitan area.

Bhate provides geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting and materials testing services for the land development and construction industries.

Charles Burgin, Bhate vice president and principal-in-charge of the Cullman office, says the newest endeavor might be small in stature but timing and climate make it the "right place at the right time."

Indeed, economic development expert Jack Schultz listed Cullman among the nation's Top 100 industrial growth areas in Boomtown USA, with Fort Payne and Eufaula the only other two Alabama cities making the cut.

"He (Schultz) based his choices on factors we have long recognized as catalysts for doing business in the Cullman area, like the vision and backing the municipality provides to encourage growth and the blossoming communities surrounding that growth," Burgin says.

To date, Bhate's Cullman base has only one employee on site, but Burgin expects to increase the payroll four-fold within the next 12 months.

Adam Cornelius, a Cullman native and a third-generation construction professional, will manage the new office, which currently has only one project on its plate, Cullman Regional Medical Center's newest professional building.

A second out-of-state field office also is slated to open in early 2005.

Burgin says the company will rely primarily on its existing client base to keep the new office hopping.

The company has provided geotechnical and testing services for major projects, including the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Topre Corp., Rehau Corp., ITCO Tire, Menasha Packaging and the Cullman Industrial Parks.

The office is also geographically convenient to Madison, Morgan, Marshall and Etowah counties, all of which currently are exhibiting significant industrial growth, Burgin says.

Bhate Geosciences, formerly Bhate Engineering Corp., has provided engineering services throughout the Southeast since 1973.

(Printed in the Nov. 5, 2004 edition of the Birmingham Business Journal. Written by Kelli Dugan from BHATE news release. View the article at the BBJ's website here.)

The Birmingham Business Journal named Uday Bhate, CEO of Bhate Geosciences Corporation, to its "Who's Who in Construction" list, joining over 50 clients and colleagues from the industry.

"I've worked with (Bhate) for over twenty years and can say that few people are more important to the construction industry," said Chuck Burgin, vice president-geotechnical department.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation has provided the southeast with solutions for geotechnical, environmental and materials engineering since 1973.

The Birmingham Business Journal selected Bhate Geosciences Corporation as the Best in Business Award winner for companies with 26 to 100 employees. Uday Bhate received the award during the awards dinner at The Club this evening.

"This is truly an honor," said Uday Bhate during his brief acceptance speech. "The employees are the ones that really make this happen."

BHATE topped The E Group Engineering Services, Redmont Crown Plaza and Kathy G and Company for the award.

The Birmingham Business Journal ran a feature on the company in its June 11 issue. In the article, Bhate gives a positive outlook for 2004. Click here to view the article.

The award is the first recognition of the company with the "Geosciences" moniker.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation, a Birmingham-based company, has provided engineering services throughout the southeast since 1973.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation announces the hiring of David Johnson, P.E., as lead engineer for the construction materials testing division.

Johnson, a native of Mississippi , has eight years of experience in geotechnical, environmental and materials engineering. He will manage the CMT division and will provide training for testing technicians.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation, formerly Bhate Engineering Corporation, is a Birmingham-based company and has provided engineering services throughout the southeast since 1973.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) honored Bhate Geosciences Corporation with its Engineering Excellence Award for the firm’s work on the North Pavilion project at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

North Pavilion, an addition to University Hospital, is a nine-story, 850,000-square foot facility that will provide UAB with the technological capability to accommodate minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery. The facility will also increase space needed for emergency care, intensive care and surgery.

Bhate performed a comprehensive subsurface exploration and geotechnical engineering evaluation for the site. Based on their subsurface exploration, Bhate recommended a foundation system combining spread footings in shallow rock and drilled shafts in deep, poorer-quality rock.

Bhate brought several innovative techniques to the project that allowed the university to minimalize construction costs for the project.

In addition, Bhate performed a site-specific seismic evaluation of the building site, which allowed structural engineers Hellmuth, Obata + Kassaubaum of St. Louis, Missouri and Birmingham-based Lane Bishop York Delahay to design the structural frame according to actual site conditions, saving thousands of dollars in design costs.

Bhate also designed special excavation support and provided vibration monitoring during blasting excavation in order to maintain the safety of the public and to protect sensitive equipment in neighboring UAB facilities.

Bhate Geosciences Corporation, a Birmingham-based company, has provided engineering services throughout the southeast since 1973.