Professional Documents
Culture Documents
®
“VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
INSURANCE/
BONDING
Understanding
Working Capital
for Bonding
ON THE
WATERFRONT
Façade Renovation
of Historic
Detroit Towers
RENOVATION AND
RLoftEProject
STORATION
Provides a Graphic
Example of Urban Renewal
Plus: Through The Looking Glass – Literature, Science and the Arts (LS&A) Building Renovation at U of M
Sept 1-15 8/14/07 9:29 AM Page 2
D E S I G N W H A T Y O U D R E A M
Dream in Umbriano™
The look and feel of natural granite in colors and size options that
could only be Unilock.® Umbriano™ is perfect for commercial and unilock.com/cam
residential spaces and is available with stain-resistant finishes. 1-800-UNILOCK
Now you have the freedom to design exactly what you dream
and go beyond the limits of natural stone.
BOSTON BUFFALO CHICAGO CLEVELAND DETROIT MILWAUKEE NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA TORONTO
Sept 1-15 8/14/07 9:29 AM Page 3
Group Insurance
Quality, Affordability...
RENOVATION / RESTORATION
FEATURES
28 A Graphic Example
8 Letter to Our Members Restoration of the Graphic Arts Building in Detroit,
CAM’S President and Chairman of the Board Share Renamed the Lofts at New Amsterdam
Their Thoughts
CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT
12 Ben Capp Receives Lifetime
Achievement Award
A Family Man, Business Man and Volunteer Saluted
14 Irvin A. Yackness
In Memory of a Unique Individual
16 On the Jobsite
Making History on the Detroit River - Façade
Renovation of the Historic Detroit Towers
DEPARTMENTS
9 Industry News
10 Safety Tool Kit
48 Product Showcase
54 People in Construction
INSURANCE / BONDING 59 CAM Buyers Guide Update
60 Construction Calendar
24 Understanding and Enhancing 62 Advertisers Index
Contractors’ Working Capital for
Bonding ABOUT THE COVER
Look up...
stay safe, avoid power lines!
Thousands of Michigan-based Detroit Edison and DTE Energy workers are dedicated
to providing you with the level of service and dependability you’ve come to expect
for over a century. And that includes doing everything we can to keep you safe.
Whether you’re working or playing, if you’re outside, you need to be aware of power
lines — and avoid them. Especially if you’re carrying a ladder or working on a roof.
And should you ever see a downed wire, keep your distance and call us immediately
at 800.477.4747.
T h e P o w e r o f Yo u r C o m m u n i t y e = D T E®
Sept 1-15 8/14/07 9:30 AM Page 6
DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Vice Chairman
Randy L. Brooks,
Temperature Engineering Corp.
Thomas E. Doyle,
Can Be Scary!
Plante & Moran, PLLC
Vice Chairman Nancy D. Marshall,
Aluminum Supply Co.
Treasurer Jeffrey W. Cohee,
Ghost flow, which occurs in a hot water heating system Frank Rewold & Son, Inc.
President Kevin N. Koehler
when a pressure differential exists across an open loop
or circuit, will cause overheating & customer complaints. DIRECTORS Brian J. Brunt,
Brunt Associates
Avoid call-backs and unhappy customers by using
Rick J. Cianek,
Hydrotrol ™, the new generation of ghostbusters. Fraco Products
Brian D. Kiley,
Edgewood Electric, Inc.
R. Andrew Martin,
F. H. Martin Constructors
Ted C. McGinley,
Gutherie Lumber Co.
Glenn E. Parvin,
C.A.S.S.
DETROIT
(248) 354-3710 Michigan Society of The Communicator
• Association Executives
2002, 2004 & 2005
International
Print Media Competition
(616) 656-0821
•
SAGINAW CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward
(989) 652-3049 Ave., P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204 (248) 972-1000. $24.00 of annual membership dues is allocated to a
subscription to CAM Magazine. Additional subscriptions $40.00 annually. Periodical postage paid at Bloomfield Hills, MI
and additional mailing offices.
REPRESENTING
INSURANCE
& BONDING
General Insurance • Surety Bonds
248-828-3377
Fax 248-828-4290 - Bonding
248-828-3741 - Insurance
e-mail:mmiller@vtcins.com
www.vtcins.com
We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how much we value your continued membership with
the Construction Association of Michigan.
CAM was founded in 1885 by a group of 21 prominent leaders of Michigan’s Construction Industry as an
organization whose primary purpose was to provide news and information on construction projects, provide
services to help businesses grow, and to serve the entire industry as a place where members could interact and
network.
Over the past 122 years we have continued to provide our members with the best in products, services and
networking opportunities. We hope you’ve been taking advantage of all that CAM has to offer: CAM Online
Construction News; our website www.CAM-online.com; our electronic E-Newsletter; CAM Magazine; the Buyers
Guide; our CAMTEC education and safety programs; our labor relations service; Construction Federal Credit
Union www.cfcuonline.com; CAM Health and Workers’ Compensation insurance programs; and our many dis-
count programs, such as the Speedway SuperFleet gasoline purchasing program that saves you 4 cents a gal-
lon! As a CAM member, these products and services are available to you. If you haven’t been taking advantage
of these member benefits, then we strongly encourage you to do so.
As we negotiate the difficult Michigan economy, you have our pledge that we at CAM will continue to work
hard both legislatively (check out http://www.cam-online.com/eventscalendar/Events.htm for information on
the new MBT and past SBT efforts) and in the media to improve the climate and perception of Michigan’s con-
struction industry.
Again, we appreciate your continued support to the Construction Association of Michigan. Together we can
continue building Michigan.
Sincerely,
INDUSTRY NEWS
Barton Malow Company Builds Firm Barton Malow has a long-standing commitment to volun-
Foundations with Habitat for Humanity teerism. For more than 30 years, employees have supported the
Barton Malow Company partnered with Habitat for Humanity United Way. Philip Randolph Vocation and Technical Center,
of Oakland County for their 2007 Oakland County Habitat Blitz Wellspring, and Toys for Tots are among the many other commu-
Build on two foundation building dates. On May 24, students in nity-oriented organizations to which employees devote their
Barton Malow's LEAPS (LEArning Practicum for Students) sum- energies. The company has also played a large role in supporting
mer internship program closed out their orientation week with a the American Heart Association through the American Heart
Habitat for Humanity team-building event, completing a deck Walk campaign.
and porch for a new house. And on June 2, forty-three Barton Barton Malow Company provides construction management,
Malow employees, along with the future Habitat homeowners, design/build, program management, general contracting, tech-
constructed two house decks, two sheds, and three front porches nology and rigging services nationwide. The ISO quality certified
in a little over five hours. company has Green Building LEED accredited specialists on staff
and is an industry Building Information Modeling (BIM) leader.
L
vide answers to problems without com-
promising the structure by using a non-
ast month I the jobsite waiting for you to come along
destructive inspection method. Pictures
talked about and pick it up. Just make sure your eyes
illustrating problem areas can be seen at
“too much” are wide open. As I mentioned last
www.teamEME.com.
safety and whether month, even the most seemingly “trivial”
there could actually things may be the final straw in the acci-
be such a thing. dent continuum. Once we’ve identified The Engineering Society of
Well, how about the hazards, we need to look for ways to Detroit Awards Michigan’s
“too little” safety? eliminate them. Safety 101 puts what are Best in Construction & Design
There are compa- called “engineering controls” at the top of Welcoming curvatures, futuristic con-
nies out there that the list for protecting workers. If we can cepts, and environmentally friendly struc-
eliminate one hazard, we’ve effectively
Joseph M. Forgue
say they really care tures are but a few of the elements that
Manager of Education
about safety and eliminated one way for our people to get made five daring construction projects in
& Safety Services
hope no one gets hurt, but that’s as far as hurt. Substituting a toxic chemical for a Michigan winners of the coveted
it goes. To make any real effort… well non-toxic one or turning off a loud Construction & Design Awards given
that’s just too expensive, time consuming, machine before working in the area are annually by The Engineering Society of
and so on. So where’s the happy medium? good examples of engineering controls. Detroit (ESD).
I take what I believe is a very realistic and Eliminating hazards prevents injuries. It The five winners are: General Motors
practical approach to safety. First, we also answers how much safety we really Global Headquarters at the Renaissance
have to evaluate the hazards related to need. By the way, it also saves time and Center; City of Warren, City Hall, Library
our work. In fact, MIOSHA standards money. If I can be of any assistance to and Parking Structure; GM Lansing Delta
require this. Although this isn’t as easy as your safety program, you can always find Township Assembly Plant; Lawrence
it may seem at first blush, all the informa- me at the end of 248-972-1141 or by Technological University A. Alfred
tion you need is just sitting out there on e-mail at forgue@cam-online.com. Taubman Student Services Center; and
Whitmore Lake High School. Two other
projects were recognized with honorable
www.gswins.com
mentions: William Beaumont Hospital as envisioned by GM, includes a world- Two other projects received honorable
Marcia & Eugene Applebaum Surgical class setting, facilities, headquarters, cor- mentions:
Learning Center; and Global Engine porate headquarters and a corporate office William Beaumont Hospital Marcia &
Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) Plant. – all built using innovative engineering Eugene Applebaum Surgical Learning
Submissions were evaluated by an solutions and construction techniques. Center: The center features 5,000 square
impartial panel of industry judges, repre- Whitmore Lake High School: The feet of state-of-the-art space, designed to
senting owners, designers and construc- school sits on 77 acres and features sleek, allow surgical teams from the United
tors based on five criteria: Effective team- modern lines fused with classic school States and around the world to learn
ing between the owner, designer and con- architecture. The interior houses advanced robotic and minimally invasive
structor; quality of the overall design and advanced science labs, leading-edge tech- surgical techniques.
construction; unique or innovative engi- nology labs, a media center focused on Global Engine Manufacturing
neering solutions and construction tech- computer research skills, a competition Alliance (GEMA) Plant: Unlike the
niques; sustainable design and social and and therapy pool, and more. box-like appearance of the traditional fac-
economic significance.
“In their 33rd year, the Construction and
Design Awards are very prestigious and
designed to recognize the best of the best
in the industry. We are lucky in Michigan
to be the home of many national and inter-
national design and construction compa-
nies whose talented staff is able to trans-
form ideas into realities and enhance the
landscape of our beautiful state,” said
Robert Stevenson, PE, chairperson of
ESD’s Construction & Design Awards
Committee and senior vice president of
Ghafari Associates, LLC.
Following are brief descriptions of the
winning projects:
City of Warren, City Hall, Library and
Parking Structure: This new city block
system is defined by a new street grid and
pedestrian system meant to encourage
mixed-use, high-rise developments. It
also features a new city square park, a
fountain pool that becomes a skating rink
during the winter months, and a pavilion
building.
GM Lansing Delta Township
Assembly Plant: This multi-award win-
ning project is a fusion of creative design
and environmentally friendly construc-
tion. The 2.4 million square-foot assembly
plant was designed by using natural
resources, such as rain water, indigenous
plants, and more.
Lawrence Technological University, A.
Alfred Taubman Student Services
Center: A welcoming curvature and an
environmentally friendly structure serves
as LTU’s new “front door” to the campus.
Its exterior features a large curbed
expanse of glass, while on the inside a
sweep of glass walls creates a naturally lit
atrium.
General Motors Global Headquarters
at the Renaissance Center: It features
more than 5.5 million square feet of exist-
ing office, hotel and retail space. The plan,
INDUSTRY NEWS
AOUN & CO., P.C.
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS tory, GEMA’s design team introduced Award. The award, which is considered
attractive elements to the structure, such the chapter’s highest form of recognition,
Understands Construction as a pedestrian walkway along the east is given as an expression of gratitude for
& Family Business and west elevations of the building, and distinguished service to the chapter.
added windows into the walkway to
bring natural daylight into the factory and
Personal • Professional
add a visual interest from the exterior.
Rich and Associates Selected to
Financial Statements Design Grosse Pointe Parking
Management, Banking, Bonding Structure
Richard C. Rich, PE, president of Rich
& Equipment Barton Malow, Clark
Construction, TEC, and JJR Win and Associates, recently announced that
his firm has been selected by the City of
Tax Planning & Preparation
2007 Pinnacle Awards
The Society for Marketing Professional Grosse Pointe to design a 242-space park-
Offers in Compromise, Payment Plans
Services (SMPS) announced Clark ing structure in the city’s downtown. The
& Audit Representation
Full Service Payroll Construction Co., Barton Malow structure, which will be known as the
Bookkeeping Company, Testing Engineers & Village Municipal Parking Structure, will
Consultants, Inc. and JJR, LLC as winners be a key element of the redevelopment of
of the second annual Pinnacle Awards. the former Jacobson’s Building into a new
QuickBooks Consulting
www.AounCPA.com The Pinnacle Awards recognize excellence mixed-use development called Kercheval
in marketing communications within the Place. Barton Malow Company,
(734) 261-9800 professional services industries in Southfield, will serve as general contractor
Michigan. for the Village Municipal Parking
Winners were selected based upon Structure project, along with several other
29701 Six Mile Rd. • Suite 120
graphic design, photography, content, projects in Grosse Pointe.
Livonia, MI 48152-8602
cohesiveness of concept and copy, and “Grosse Pointe is a vibrant community,
cpa@aouncpa.com
production costs. For their innovations in and the development of Kercheval Place is
distinctive categories, the 2007 Pinnacle an example of how the community is con-
Award Winners are as follows: stantly moving forward,” said Rich. “The
• Newsletter-External: Village Municipal Parking Structure will
Clark Construction be an important part of the Kercheval
• Website: Testing Engineers & Place project.”
MANUFACTURERS OF
CUSTOM TRIM Consultants, Inc. In addition to parking, the development
• Feature Writing: Barton Malow Co. will also feature space for retail use. The
• Direct Mail: JJR, LLC structure, which will feature a red brick
& HARDWOOD
• Internal/Employee façade that complements local buildings,
Communication: Barton Malow Co. will be built on the site of an existing park-
The Pinnacle Awards are open to all ing structure that will be demolished.
engineering, architecture, and construc- Based in Southfield, Michigan, Rich and
tion firms and are not restricted by SMPS Associates is one of North America’s lead-
membership. Calls for next year’s entries ing companies dedicated solely to parking
will begin in early 2008. design and planning. The firm has
In addition, the SMPS-MI Board of designed many award-winning parking
Directors presented Sheryl Maibach, structures, including the Compuware
FSMPS, VP & chief marketing officer for Headquarters Parking Structure and the
Barton Malow with the SMPS-MI Honor Detroit Opera House Parking Center.
• New Expanded Mill Facilities For
Faster Turn-Arounds On Millwork
• Highest Graded Kiln-Dried Ben Capp Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Domestic Hardwoods and Ben Capp, of Wolverine Stone Company in Warren, was recently
Mahogany honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from St. John Hospital at
• Custom & Radius Mouldings Run their 47th Annual Guild Dinner. Capp has been an active member of
To Spec the St. John Hospital Guild since 1975. He joined his family business,
Wolverine Marble Company, in 1956 and later served as president
from 1972 to 1992. Capp is also a past president of the Marble Institute
• Hardwood Plywood
credits their subcontractors for their hard of wrap-up insurance programs, such as
work and commitment to safety that has its Contractor Controlled Insurance
Turner Earns Coveted Safety
made achieving this award possible. Program. These benefits include coordi-
Award
Liberty Mutual recently presented
Throughout the project, Turner has held all nated claims, safety and loss control; cov-
Turner Construction Company with the
workers to a high standard of safety, at erage enhancements; enhances competi-
Gold Safety Award for Outstanding Safety
times going above and beyond MIOSHA tion and small/disadvantaged business
Performance in connection with the con-
requirements. One example of this is participation; and better coverage for
struction of the Metro Health Replacement
mandatory fall protection for all workers equal or lower costs. The new 208-bed,
Hospital Contractor Controlled Insurance
when working at six feet or above. 448,000-square-foot hospital will be
Program (CCI)). Liberty Mutual gives the
Turner strongly believes in the benefits completed this summer.
Gold Award to projects that have at least
500,000 man hours and have experienced
zero lost time injuries. Turner and their
subcontractors have over 845,000 man
hours to date on the project without a lost
time or serious injury.
Since 2000, Liberty Mutual has present-
ed the Gold Safety Award to only 21 job-
sites throughout the United States. Metro
Health is the first in Michigan. Turner
INDUSTRY NEWS
three new Tadano 130-ton all-terrain long-term reliability, which is good news
hydraulic cranes, ready now for rental. for us and our customers.”
The cranes are part of a 10-crane Tadano This acquisition is part of ALL’s ongo-
purchase, with the remaining seven to be ing commitment to maintaining the
delivered throughout 2007. “The equip- industry’s most modern fleet and also
ment market is tight right now, and these broadens the ALL companies’ offerings to
new, high-quality cranes will have an make sure they can take care of their cus-
immediate impact on our fleet,” says tomers by specifying the right type of
Liptak. “Tadano cranes are known for crane for every job.
MAKING HISTORY
ON THE
DETROIT RIVER
Façade Renovation of Historic Detroit
Towers Underway on the Riverfront
BY MARY E. KREMPOSKY, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
T
he sun-washed ribbon of the Detroit in 1925 on a long, narrow strip of land that
River has been flowing by the stately once formed the southern anchor of Indian
Detroit Towers for over 80 years. The Village. “The tower is one of the earliest
building resembles a wave on the Detroit high-rise buildings with a reinforced
river with the stepped form of its eastern face concrete structural frame,” said Edward D.
steeped in the light and shadows of early Francis, FAIA, principal of Detroit-based
morning. Built in 1926, this 18-story residen- GunnLevine Architects and one of the most
tial tower is also steeped in the history of the dedicated and knowledgeable architects in
Motor City. Past residents of this tall, narrow the historical restoration field.
structure, located three miles east of down- GunnLevine Architects and Chezcore, Inc., a
town Detroit, include Charles E. Sorensen, the skilled Detroit contractor specializing in his-
vice president and general manager of the torical buildings and façade restoration, are
Ford Motor Car Company who, along with bringing their expertise to bear in renovating
colleague Charles Lewis, first demonstrated a the masonry façade of the Detroit Towers.
proto-assembly line to Henry Ford in 1908. Riding the scaffold up and down the face of
The late C. Howard Crane, the architect who this roughly 210-foot-tall building, these
designed theaters in Detroit and across the experts in historical building design and con-
globe, may have pondered his design plans struction systematically analyzed every
for the Fox Theater, State Theater, and the square foot of façade, methodically searching
Detroit Opera House in his spacious living for the root cause of the moisture plaguing
quarters on the 12th floor of this soaring the plaster and paint on these spacious inte-
riverfront tower. rior units that each consume between 2,400
The building itself is part of Detroit’s con- to 2,800 square feet.
struction history. The same architect who Rather than take a band-aid approach to
designed the Wonder Bread factory (now repair, the board of this cooperatively owned
housing Motor City Casino) designed the high-rise condominium hired design and
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CHEZCORE, INC.
Detroit Towers, namely Walter W. Aschlager, construction professionals to assess the root
Jr., a prominent Chicago architect nationally cause, perform repairs, and in a step seldom
known for his design of hotel and theater taken by owners, prepare a final record of the
structures, including the Sheridan Plaza in repairs for future use. This approach will ulti-
Chicago and the Roxy Theater in New York. mately save time and money, and will help
Walbridge Aldinger Co., founded in Detroit in preserve the building, itself. John Stapleton,
1916, began building this residential high rise vice president of Chezcore, says only a select
ON THE JOBSITE
meaning that the brick wall was in fact arch- could be anywhere from 10 feet to 50 feet,” unexamined during the three-month Test
ing over unsupported from steel angle to said Stapleton. “The Test Drop was at the Drop. The architect and contractor worked
steel angle,” said Francis, who compares the northwest corner of the building and together examining every lintel, every lineal
analysis to a forensic investigation in its intri- spanned a width of 30 feet. I’ve used a Test foot of mortar joint, and every square foot of
cacy and detail.“It didn’t cause any particular Drop quite frequently over the years for own- brick by disassembling wall sections and pho-
failure in the brick. It was odd and unusual, ers who are very interested in understanding tographing and measuring different pieces to
but it was doing its job.” the building and repairing it correctly, not understand the work necessary on the wall.
cutting any corners and not leaving any The Test Drop established a predictable pat-
SOLVED MYSTERIES stone unturned, so to speak.” tern of concerns, according to a Chezcore
Understanding the wall’s construction led GunnLevine and Chezcore left nothing summary. “Over the course of those three
to a proper diagnosis of the ailing and leaking
building. The ties were in good condition, but
many of the building’s shelf angles were rust-
ed and inflicting façade damage. “The steel ®
Spider, a fall protection
used 80 years ago wasn’t galvanized, so as
soon as water enters it begins to rust,”said Art
A Division Of SafeWorks LLC manufacturer that sells direct...
Callum, Chezcore’s site superintendent. “As Designed by contractors
steel corrodes it expands up to seven times for contractors
ON THE JOBSITE
www.interfacefinancial.com/knight
itself then nine times out of ten we will find
the same reason for it in another area,” said
Donald D. Vanderworp, project architect,
GunnLevine. “We’ve been using it ever since
to analyze the rest of the building. We found
that it’s been very consistent as we’ve gone
through all subsequent drops. The first one
313•531•2700 took the most time, but the knowledge
gained speeded the process up.”
CONNELLY CRANE
Complete Crane Rental RENTAL CORP.
WORKING ON THE WALL
Once diagnosed, GunnLevine established
Services Since “1943” the scope of work, Chezcore submitted a pro-
posal, and then began corrective action.
Chezcore has renovated the entire western
face of the building over the course of a year
and a half from 2005 to the fall of 2006 and is
One Of Michigan’s Largest actively working on the south building face in
Also Serving the Lansing Area summer 2007. The firm replaced 88 of the
CONNELLY
12635 MARION • DETROIT (REDFORD)
from the building. Without a drip, “the water
migrated and ran down the face of the build-
ing, washing out the mortar and producing a
sizable area needing tuckpointing,” said
1-96 & TELEGRAPH AREA Vanderworp. The ingenious Chezcore team
custom fabricated its own tool to actually saw cut a drip in the field.
Typically, the drip – a mere quarter -inch slot – is cut in the shop dur-
ing fabrication, but in this case the crew cut the drip edge in place on
the wall.
Unlike a conventional rectangular high rise, the Detroit Towers has
“every shape under the sun and every angle you can think of,” said
Stapleton. Its irregular contours offer Detroiters a unique building on
the river, but pose a swing stage challenge. But with Chezcore’s expe-
rience, the firm found a way to access walls virtually untouched dur-
ing past renovations, including the radius portion of the western wall
topped by a conical roof. A flat wall only has two of what is termed
“lookouts,” meaning points of attachment for cables that allow the
scaffold to ride the wall with the ease of a window washing operation.
“With the conical roof, we had to have a third point in the middle,”said
Stapleton. “We had to build a radius rig to kind of wrap that wall,
which is a very unique approach. We worked with our scaffolding sup-
plier, Spider, a Division of SafeWorks, LLC, to develop a way to get a 3-
point pick on each end and in the middle, so we could have a contin-
uous access to that radius wall.”
GunnLevine and Chezcore carefully selected brick and mortar
replacements to match the original, choosing Belden Brick’s “Rainbow
Blend Matt A.”“Chezcore also performed tuckpointing, analyzing the
original mortar and obtaining a formulation that matched the build-
ing in consistency, color and texture,” said Stapleton. “U.S Heritage
Group provided the mortar that is now on file. All the owner has to do
for future projects is call up U.S. Heritage. They have the mortar for-
mula and they will bag it and send it out.”
ON THE JOBSITE
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ing document for each drop. A copy of the
This precast griffin once adorned
The heart of the project goes beyond cur- CAD drawing is used on site as a guide for
the rooftop of the building
rent repair and into extensive documenta- but now stands sentinel
masonry repairs. In turn, any discovery issues
tion for future work. “We would track the near the building’s encountered during actual work are incorpo-
actual construction work and record what patio overlooking rated into the CAD drawings, thus maintain-
was done, so that 25 years from now, the the Detroit River. ing a current record document. After comple-
owners will have a record of the work per- tion of repairs on a given drop, Chezcore and
formed,” said Francis. “This type of record is GunnLevine team again ride the scaffolding
not done very often.” reviewing the quality of work and verifying
Stapleton elaborates, “We have a color- completion of repairs. Work updates are
coded system identifying the type and loca- made to the CAD drawing, producing a final
tion of each repair on each of the vertical record document for the satisfied owner.
drops. At work’s completion, we tally up per- Today, this condominium along the
centages and total of materials used, giving Detroit River will continue to provide its for-
the owner a comprehensive document at the tunate residents with stunning views of the
end of this process.” waterway in its backyard.“This narrow build-
Chezcore’s executive report explains the ing has 36 units with only two units per
documentation process: GunnLevine pre- floor,” described Francis. “The living room,
pares background elevations for work on the dining room and library all stretch across the
selected drop. Callum and Vanderworp ride front of the A units and give residents a
the rig , thoroughly inspecting the façade panoramic view of the river.” High ceilings,
using standards established during the Test fireplaces and now plaster walls that won’t
Drop. Findings from this inspection are hand crack and paint that won’t peel are the lega-
PHOTO BY MATTHEW AUSTERMANN
INSURANCE/
BONDING
Understanding and
Enhancing Contractors’
Working Capital for
Bonding
S
urety companies, agents, and under- the determination of issuing a bond for a
writers establish criteria in deter- contractor. Working capital represents
mining when to issue a bond for a the contractor’s ability to have the current
contractor. This criterion is also used in financial ability to perform the job. The
establishing the total value of bonds the financial definition of working capital is
contractor will have at any particular current assets less current liabilities. This
time. definition is the beginning point for
The criterion usually contains the three sureties. Modifications are made related
C’s: Character, Capacity, and Capital. to certain asset and liability categories.
Character includes examining the owner The other type of capital is ownership
and decision makers’ past history of capital. If the contractor fails to perform
integrity in dealing with customers, sub- the job, the surety has insured the owner
contractors, vendors, and employees. A of job completion. The surety contracts
level of trust between the surety and con- with another contractor or subcontractors
tractor needs to be present before pro- to complete the job. The surety then
ceeding further in evaluating the contrac- attempts to be reimbursed from the bond-
tor for bonding. ed contractor. If the contractor has suffi-
Capacity represents the second C. Does cient ownership capital, the surety com-
the contractor have the skill and expertise pany will not recognize a loss on the
to perform the anticipated job? This bonding. To assess this risk of potential
includes experience with the particular loss the surety company reviews the
type of job, the appropriate personnel to amount of ownership capital, or equity. A
perform and supervise the job, and own- common ratio reviewed is the debt to
ing or having access to the necessary equity. This debt to equity ratio ideally
equipment to perform the job. should be 3:1 or lower.
Underwriters typically view completed
and work in process job schedules to
assist in the evaluation related to capacity. COMPUTING MODIFIED WORKING
Job gross profit margin, number of loss
The surety underwriters begin with the
CAPITAL
jobs and profit fade are specific items they
perform analysis on. normal financial computation of working
Capital is the third C. Sureties have an capital of comparing the difference
interest in two types of capital in making between current assets and current liabil-
ities. Modifications are made to better tory is committed to a signed contract. ity is shown as a long-term liability.
reflect the available financial resources to Also if the inventory turnover is high (12- Reasons to structure the maturity as long-
perform the particular proposed job. 15), the discounting of the inventory will term could include compliance with loan
Modifications include the review and be minimized. covenant ratios, enhancement of prequal-
adjustments to accounts receivable. Two Advances to related parties and any ification ratings, etc.
adjustments common with accounts investments in related parties are also Underwriters review the maturity of
receivable include subtracting related subtracted from working capital. These the line of credit facility. Lines of credit
party receivables and accounts receivable assets are typically considered illiquid are to be used for financing the temporary
over ninety days. Contractor communi- and unavailable to the contractor for per- shortages of cash flow caused by contrac-
cation is important with the surety agent forming anticipated jobs. tor payments for materials, labor, and
to make sure that these adjustments are A further adjustment to current assets subcontractors before the collection of the
appropriate. Related accounts receivable includes a discounting of prepaid expens- accounts receivable and retainage. If the
may include a related vendor relationship es. The most common prepaid expense of line of credit has been classified as long
for various business reasons including any significance would be prepaid insur- term on the balance sheet, it will be sub-
liability issues. If it can be shown that the ance. tracted from net working capital. This is
related party receivable is no different Most surety underwriters add cash sur- true even though the financial reporting
than a normal trade receivable, then this render value of life insurance, a non-cur- is in compliance with generally accepted
receivable should not be discounted. rent asset, in the computation of modified accounting principles.
Another adjustment to working capital working capital. This asset does have If the contractor is taxed as an S corpo-
is a modification to inventory. Typically current liquidity to it and would be avail- ration, partnership, or sole proprietor-
inventory is discounted up to fifty per- able to a contractor for performing a job. ship, no accrued or deferred tax liability
cent in computing modified working cap- Contractors' assets are commonly appears on the balance sheet. The under-
ital. Again communication with the sure- leveraged through financing. writers compute the anticipated tax con-
ty agent can minimize this adjustment if it Occasionally, contractors structure their sequences in computing modified work-
can be shown that a portion of the inven- line of credit maturities so that this liabil- ing capital as cash flow will be distrib-
who’s
helping you
reduce taxes?
You’ve built a successful construction company. Now you need a strong,
experienced partner to provide proactive, construction-specific tax
strategies. Over 1,000 Midwest contractors—big and small—trust
Virchow Krause to help them realize their financial and business dreams.
So can you.
Virchow Krause. Just the Right Fit.
Compliance & Tax Minimizat i on
Audits • Tax minimization planning
Cost segregation studies • Project cash flow planning
State & local taxes • Credits & incentives
INSURANCE/
BONDING
increase in under billings and decrease of entiating what the balance sheet debt was the lines of communication open. It is
inventory. used for. Was it used to finance the cash important to know how the surety is
Utilization of operating leases rather shortfall caused by the timing difference making their decisions in issuing and
than capital leases would increase work- between payment of job costs and collec- pricing of the bond. Character, capacity,
ing capital if the underwriter does not tion of the contract price, or was the and capital are important criterion in this
add minimum annual lease payments of financing used to purchase assets? Many decision. By clearly communicating the
operating leases to current liabilities. contractors use their line of credit to correct information by the contractor to
Operating leases are a method of using finance fixed asset purchases such as the surety, the surety will have quality
off balance sheet alternative financing to vehicles, skid loaders, etc. Consideration and accurate information to facilitate the
perform the contracts without affecting should be made to establish a separate risk measurement and provide the con-
liabilities on the balance sheet. equipment line of credit and term this tractor an equitable bonding evaluation.
Discuss with the underwriter the past financing facility out each year.
and expected tax obligations. The under- Also many asset based lenders, such as
writer may not be aware of special tax equipment companies, are offering lines J. Brian Watson is a partner with the
attributes and calculations that the con- of credit. It is important that the contrac- construction and real estate practice of the
tractor can realize on the income tax tor and surety underwriter communicate regional CPA firm of Virchow, Krause &
return that may not show on the financial as to how much of these types of lines of Company, LLP. Brian is also a certified
construction industry financial professional
statements. Examples would be tax depre- credit are used for operations versus fixed
(CCIFP).
ciation methods, Section 179 write-offs, asset purchases.
percentage depletion, amortization, etc.
248.519.1400 | www.ghbh.com
R E N OVAT I O N /
R E S TO R AT I O N
A GRAPHIC EXAMPLE
By David R. Miller, Associate Editor Photos By Curt Clayton, Clayton Studios
D
evelopers have scrambled to pro- manship of a bygone era and a sense of loft, but those who also want to be a part
vide loft spaces in recent years. heritage that has people clamoring for of an urban legacy would be best served
Amid the frenzied push to meet more? New buildings can be designed to elsewhere.
the needs of consumers, some in the provide the layout of a loft, and even to The Graphic Arts Building, now called
industry are asking a basic, yet very replicate the appearance of an earlier the Lofts at New Amsterdam, provides an
important question – why do so many time, but none can truly capture the rich appealing option for people who want a
people want to live and work in lofts? Do history of a loft conversion. New build- loft lifestyle in a building steeped in local
airy floor plans and abundant natural ings can be a good choice for those who history. This 1929 light industrial build-
light draw people in, or is it the crafts- are merely seeking the configuration of a ing was originally built to house graphic
artists associated with the automotive New Amsterdam holds a lot of automo-
industry, but the structure has recently tive history, but architectural history is
been converted into 39 lofts suitable for also on display. L. Francis Burns and Jack
residential and office use. Jonna K. Murphy, the architects of the Graphic
Construction Co., LLC, Southfield, Arts Building, were strongly influenced
QUINN EVANS ❘ ARCHITECTS (QE ❘ A), by the renowned work of Albert Kahn,
Ann Arbor, Rossetti, Southfield, and an architect of the Fisher and former General
able team of subcontractors, combined Motors Buildings, among many others.
their talents to provide a graphic example Frequent commissions for new types of
of a historic loft development inside manufacturing facilities, including many
Detroit’s urban core. automobile plants, let Kahn and his
brother Julius Kahn experiment with new
building materials, particularly concrete.
The Graphic Arts Building sits in While factories were often dark, dirty and
ABOUT THE BUILDING
ous lot sizes, proximity to downtown stood vacant for several years, potential
Detroit and access to major roads. was clearly evident from the outside.
“New Amsterdam is what a light “The cool thing about this building is
industrial park looked like in the 1920s,” the terra cotta and the Moorish pattern on
said Elisabeth Knibbe, AIA, principal, the columns,” said Knibbe. “We were for-
QE ❘ A. tunate that most of the terra cotta was still
R E N OVAT I O N /
R E S TO R AT I O N
building, which was a tremendous advan- guidelines worked very well here.” was very well preserved, but the interior
tage in this case,” said Richards. “We Of course, the guidelines could only was another story.
wanted to preserve the ornate terra cotta work if the building was salvageable. “The biggest challenge was the aging
work on the Burroughs Road façade and Making that determination required a condition of the building,” said Richards.
the less ornate work on the sides. Any careful appraisal of the building’s interior. “It had been left open for some time, so the
Everything Old
Is New Again.
• Historic Restoration or New Construction.
• Replication from Old Photographs,
Drawings or Existing Details.
• Duplicating Terra Cotta, Carved Stone,
Sheet Metal, Carved Wood or Cast Metal.
1st Street Lofts 460 South Saginaw Street, Flint MI
• Founding Member of The American Built: 1916 • Restored: 2006
Composite Manufacturers Association.
• Park Service Approved Supplier.
Established 1963
R E N OVAT I O N /
R E S TO R AT I O N
Specializing in
E.I.F.S.
Commercial Exterior
and Interior
Plastering
21750 Schmeman
Warren, Michigan 48089 Some of the lion heads at the top of the building had been stolen over the
years, but a remaining one was used as a pattern to replicate replacements.
(586) 775-8700 Both of the lion heads seen in this photograph are original.
FAX (586) 775-7717
Concrete columns are softened with a delicate martini glass shape that
expands the top out to accept more floor load, which helps reduce the span
of the floor. The interior layout was carefully planned to include one of these
signature columns in each loft.
INSURANCE BONDING
OAKLAND COMPANIES
INTEGRITY • COMMITMENT • SECURITY
R E N OVAT I O N /
R E S TO R AT I O N
building needed to be repaired and Building. Structural damage can be more pose, but this approach lacks the charm of
enclosed.” problematic. The Graphic Arts Building the Graphic Arts Building. Of course, no
The structure was left to the elements fol- closely mimics Albert Kahn’s style, which amount of charm can offset unanticipated
lowing an earlier restoration effort, which speaks volumes about it durability. costs. Restoration projects never go exact-
gave project members an opportunity sel- “Based on our experience, Albert Kahn ly as planned, and the past uses of the
dom enjoyed inside historic facilities. buildings hold up very well,” said Pete Graphic Arts Building created a few
“We were literally ice skating on the Jonna, president of construction for Jonna unique challenges.
floors,” said Knibbe. “Plaster was just Construction Co. “They are built so stout- “We’ve done this type of project before, so
falling off the walls because of water dam- ly that there are usually not a lot of issues we sort of know what to expect, but there
age, but there was enough plaster left on with them.” are always surprises when you buy these
the ceiling to create molds.” Substantial concrete columns helped the buildings,” said Jonna. “We had to
Despite the diminished condition of the building stand tall over the years. The remove a layer of asphalt that we hit
interior finishes, subcontractors made a columns are softened with a delicate mar- underneath the flooring on the second
valiant effort to restore them to their for- tini glass shape that also serves an impor- floor. We’re not sure why it was there.
mer glory. tant structural role. There was a printing company there, and
“The faux stone on the walls is actually “The shape expands the top of the col- we removed a huge chemical tank on the
plaster that had been painted over many umn out to accept more floor load, which second floor. The asphalt might have been
times and was in pretty rough shape,” said helps reduce the span of the floor,” their form of waterproofing.”
Knibbe. “Russell Plastering Company explained Richards. “My sense is that con- Despite the surprises, the building was
(Ferndale) did a beautiful job of restoring crete workers had either developed a structurally sound and even the unfore-
it. Very skilled people did everything by method for making them or they had a seen difficulties could be taken care of to
hand. Tradespeople really like to take ready to use form that made them eco- the make the building habitable. The only
advantage of what is there and to bring it nomical.” challenge that remained was in adapting it
back.” No matter how the columns were man- to the needs of modern loft dwellers.
Developers can often turn a building ufactured, they are a welcome addition to
with worn finishes into a profitable ven- the building. Cast-in-place concrete used
ture, even when the damage is as extensive today utilized today often uses a teardrop Graphic artists are particularly depen-
MODERN PROBLEMS
as what was found at the Graphic Arts shape to achieve the same structural pur- dant on consistent illumination to evaluate
the quality of their work. The Graphic concrete column. tors can come right to the door without
Arts Building took this need into account The lofts themselves are also situated to passing through a common corridor.
c artists
with ample windows on all four sides, but make best use of the building. All units Lofts on higher floors offer spectacular
work, but
these windows would need to transmit on the west side of the first floor have views of Detroit’s skyline, and the build-
d not be
more than just light to function in a loft doors leading out to private outdoor ing itself is well positioned to attract pro-
Finding
environment. spaces. In addition to being a great resi- fessionals affiliated with TechTown or
equired
ds was a
allenge. “The windows were fixed, but because dential amenity, this makes the space an Wayne State University students.
we were converting the building into lofts, attractive option for home offices, as visi- Overall, the Graphic Arts Building should
we needed to bring in a certain amount of
fresh air from the outside,” said Jonna.
“The wind loads and fresh air that were
required made it difficult to meet all of the
required historical and functional needs.”
Getting fresh air into the build was only
part of the problem. Infrastructure to uti-
lize this air also needed to be added into a
building that wasn’t designed to accom-
modate them.
“With the ventilation systems that were
required for loft apartments, we had to do
a lot of coring and specialty venting,” said
Jonna. “We also had to put in fire alarms
and smoke/heat detectors. The shafts
needed for venting and fire/life safety got
very complicated.”
In spite of the difficulties associated
with concerting the Graphic Arts Building
into lofts, the structure is almost ideally Michigan’s Structural Repair,
suited for the purpose in many ways.
“This is a perfect building for a loft Waterproofing & Protection Specialists
because there is a hallway down the mid-
dle with space on both sides,” said Judy
Jonna, leasing consultant for the Jonna
Companies. “Some of these buildings
Structural Repair: Building Envelope Repair:
have very unusual spaces, so they can’t be • Concrete Repair • Masonry Repair
used as well as this one.” • Post-Tensioning Repair • Balcony Repair
The Graphic Arts Building also
includes unusual spaces, but they serve to
• Epoxy Injection • Facade and Cladding Repair
define the character of the structure • Parking Structures • Handrail, Door & Window
rather than limit its functionality. The • Plaza Deck Upgrades Repair and Replacement
interior layout was carefully planned to
include one of the signature martini glass
• Historic Restoration
columns in each loft. The column takes
up a fair amount of floor space, but its
value as a design element far exceeds the
Strengthening: Waterproofing & Protection:
loss. Multiple floor plans were designed • Add / Restore Structural • Membranes
to let tenants fit the columns to their own Capacity • Protective Sealers and Coatings
personal needs. With some two-bedroom • Blast Resistance • Cathodic Protection
units, for example, the column runs right
into the second bedroom, making this • Structural Modifications • Expansion Joints
space ideal for tenants who want a sepa-
rate room, for a study or nursery perhaps,
but it would probably be difficult to fit an
adult bed and other furniture into the
space. In other two-bedroom lofts, the
column runs through the common area,
making it a striking visual centerpiece.
All lofts feature a gently curved wall to
create a separate kitchen space while soft-
ening the industrial look created by the www.structural.net • 800-813-5715
Visit us at www.cam-online.com CAM MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2007 35
Sept 28-37 Renovation 8/14/07 9:43 AM Page 36
R E N OVAT I O N /
R E S TO R AT I O N
be an appealing option to people who are the classic urban loft with exposed brick,
seeking an opportunity for a true urban ductwork, concrete floors and concrete
THE FOLLOWING SUBCONTRACTORS AND
“The people who are looking now are of loft. There are some people who prefer
CONTRIBUTED THEIR SKILLS TO THE
more progressive,” said Judy Jonna. wood floors and a more finished look, but Address Sign – Cornell Sign, Clarkston
PROJECT:
“They want an urban lifestyle and they the people who want a true loft feel really Appliances – Whirlpool Appliances,
■
want to live in the city. They’re looking for like these units.” Hazel Park
■
Stockbridge
■
Corp., Livonia
■
Farmington Hills
HVAC – Exclusive Heating & Cooling,
Detroit
■
Royal Oak
Millwork – Design Cabinets, Troy
Painting – Trident National Corp.,
■
Fenton
■
Chesterfield
■
CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT
TTHROUGH
H RO U G H
HE LOOKING
TTHE LO O K I N G
GLASS
GLASS
N
othing provides as vivid a snap-
shot of the human condition as
the buildings in which we spend
our days. When created they are set in
stone, sometimes literally, and they cannot
be changed on a whim. Those that have
survived over the years offer a glimpse
back to when they were constructed.
Details may change over years, but the
basic structure is frozen in time. Few
buildings illustrate this more clearly than
the Literature, Science and the Arts
(LS&A) Building on the University of
Michigan’s Ann Arbor Campus.
The prosperity of the postwar years is
etched into the walls of the LS&A
Building, which was constructed largely in
response to the educational aspirations of
returning veterans in 1948, many of whom
were attending college under the GI Bill.
The inner workings of a typical mid-centu-
ry office environment, which would be
considered inefficient by today’s stan-
dards, were also on display prior to the
renovation. Since the building has only
seen minor upgrades to its infrastructure
since it opened, it even offered insights on
The LS&A Building was constructed largely in response to the educational aspirations of
returning veterans in 1948. The mid-century retro furniture selected for this second floor
how people coped before air-conditioning lobby seating area harkens back to the era in which the structure was built.
and information technology pervaded
workspaces. The project team led by
DeMaria Building Company and Matthew Fuller, PE, project manager for
SmithGroup Inc., both of Detroit, recently The LS&A Building renovation project
CREATURE COMFORTS
the University of Michigan, noted that the
undertook the unique challenge of adapt- began with the goal of adding modern sys- primary focus of State funding was infra-
ing the LS&A Building to effectively func- tems to the facility. Renovation of the structure improvement. “The lion’s share
tion in modern times while preserving the LS&A Building was funded by the State of of the funding had to go to upgrading the
workmanship that made the structure a Michigan legislature as part of a capital mechanical systems. The building was not
great example of post World War II outlay program in 1996. air conditioned, so air conditioning was
Modernism. added and fire protection systems were
installed. All of the mechanical systems
were essentially renovated with new
equipment. We also replaced windows
around the entire facility.”
Finding room for bulky mechanical
equipment in or adjacent to the existing
facility quickly emerged as a key project
challenge.
“One of the big issues was figuring out
where we would put all of the mechanical
equipment needed to make the building
work,” said Douglas Koepsell, associate
university architect for the University
Architect’s Office at the University of
CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT
CO N ST R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T
eration.
■ Lien & Bond Claims ■ Construction Claims
The building’s narrow footprint was utilized to let natural light permeate the space. Despite the 126,000 square feet of space in the building, it is
nearly impossible to get lost because abundant windows provide outside views.
CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT
insufficient quality control might have LS&A Building, but the biggest benefits The LS&A Building reflects the times
been a factor as manufacturers scrambled are derived by what people cannot see. when it was built shortly after World War
to meet skyrocketing demand. Borchelt The facility is part of an effort to maxi- II, but the recently completed renovation
also discounts this theory, as quality con- mize system efficiency by connecting also speaks of the present. Future genera-
trol issues would have resulted in spalling multiple structures to the same chiller tions will draw their own opinions about
that would certainly have been noticed plant system, thereby running the plant at us by the facilities we leave behind, and
over the life of the building. It is almost full capacity, rather than having a number our drive and ingenuity are well reflected
certain that the orange color is exactly of plants operating at reduced efficiency in the renovation of the LS&A Building.
what the designers wanted at the time, in several buildings.
even though it is not popular today.
Although the urban myth about the brick
color has been dispelled, the project team
is confident that their efforts will help to
endear the LS&A Building to a new gener-
ation. The issues that have made the
building less popular over the years were
much more than skin deep.
“Over time, the appearance of the build-
ing began to deteriorate,” said Shultis.
“Windows were filled with little air condi-
tioning units. A lot of appendages were
added to the building because of the radio
station inside. There was a large satellite
dish and large antennas that made it some-
what unappealing. Through the reposi-
tioning of program elements on other
parts of the campus, and through this proj-
ect, all of those things were removed from
the building. It is much more in keeping
with the way it was originally designed,
with the exception of the small addition on
the roof. It is much more handsome now.
All of the lines are much tighter. The win-
dows are new. We won’t know for anoth-
er four or five years, but I suspect that
there will be a different opinion about this
building.”
In addition to offering a cleaner design,
the LS&A Building has been remolded to
reflect modern sensibilities relating to sus-
tainability. The decision to keep the exist-
ing facility, as opposed to building a
replacement, is consistent with this mind-
set.
“There are a broad range of process
issues that contribute to sustainability,”
said Koepsell. “One of the biggest is the
decision to reuse the infrastructure that is
here instead of demolishing it and buying
all new materials to put up a new building.
There are huge embodied energy and cul-
tural costs in doing that. Reusing this
building was the first big sustainable deci-
sion that was made.”
It was the first of many such decisions.
Koepsell pointed out that attention is often
focused on materials because they are
what people see everyday, and many eco-
friendly choices were included in the
CO N ST R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T
■ Asbestos Abatement/Demolition –
PROJECT:
HBC, Lansing
■ Building Insulation – Ann Arbor
Wixom
■ Carpeting – Mastercraft Carpet
Service, Redford
■ Ceramic Tile – Boston Tile & Terrazzo
Company, Detroit
■ Concrete Materials – Amalio
Corporation, Sterling Heights
■ Controls – Johnson Controls,
Milwaukee, WI
■ Electrical – Tri-County Electric Co. of
Washtenaw, Saline
■ Elevators – Schindler Elevator
Corporation, Chicago, IL
■ Excavation – Eagle Excavating &
Specialties, Northville
■ Painting – L & R Painting, Inc.,
Highland
■ Plaster – Nass Fresco Finishes, Fox
River Grove, IL
■ Plumbing – Al Walk Plumbing Co.,
Ann Arbor
■ Roofing – Ann Arbor Roofing Co.,
Whitmore Lake
■ Selective Demolition – Great Lakes
Steel, Saginaw
■ Stonework – PMP Marble and
Granite, Troy
■ Waterproofing – Chezcore, Inc.,
THICK
Detroit
FOR
$295
variety of industry trade segments, keeping pace with the
Michigan construction scene. It also provides a great opportunity
for companies to advertise directly to the construction market.
the 2008 CAM Buyers Guide and get • E-mail Notification for both new and tracked projects
the 2nd Classified Listing FREE • Online Plans, Specs, Adenda and Bid Documents
CAM-ONLINE • And much more!
List your website address in the CONSTRUCTION REPORTS
Buyers Guide and receive a FREE link CAMSAFETY is ready to help with all your
to your home page from the CAM safety questions.
website (www.cam-online.com) Services available to CAM Members include:
SAVE
OVER $450! • Free evaluation of your current safety plan
• Development or updating of company safety plans
• Jobsite audits with an emphasis on hazard identification
• Assistance with job hazard analysis
• Accident Investigations
CAMSAFETY PROGRAM • Assistance with MIOSHA inspections
• Safety questions answered anytime
M
ER GOOD FRO • And much more!
* OFF
T 6 TO
AUGUS R 17, PUBLICATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
BE
SEPTEM Call the CAM Membership Dept. at (248) 972-1000, or (616) 771-0009
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
comfortable ride.
The air suspension operator’s seat is
adjustable and equipped with full arm-
rests and a three-inch retractable seat belt.
Listed are just some of The seat swivels 14 degrees to the right for
the services DiHydro… the better blade and ripper viewing and
enhanced controllability designed to
leader in water technology
reduce operator fatigue.
& pipe restoration… offers The combination of a three-speed trans-
to the Great Lakes region… mission with two-speed (Hi/Lo) steering
yields six forward and reverse ground
•Pipe Restoration Dressta TD-15M Extra Crawler
speeds for unsurpassed load matching
•Corrosion Analysis capabilities. The TD-15M Extra has a sin-
Dozer Long on Productivity
gle-lever joystick control that combines the
•Corrosion Control
and Operator Comfort
Dressta has introduced the TD-15M functions of three levers into a single joy-
•X-Ray Testing Extra Crawler Dozer with enhanced pro- stick.
•Utility Mapping ductivity and operator comfort. Dressta engineers have combined the
•Pipe Freezing Productivity is based on a fully-electronic hydraulic control system on the TD-15M
Tier III-certified Cummins engine that Extra with advanced solid state electronic
•Closed Loop Cleaning
delivers 190 net horsepower (142 kW) and circuitry in an exclusive electro-hydraulic
•Legionella Control a maximum torque of 745 ft-lbs. Power rat- motion control system. All control func-
•Lead Testing ings are achieved with an engine speed of tions are activated by moving the joystick
1950 rpm, 250 rpm slower than the previ- or by pushing a control button located on
DiHydro Services, Inc. ous model. The new engine provides aver- the face of the joystick.
40833 Brentwood age increases in drawbar pull of approxi- The joystick control provides up and
Sterling Heights, MI 48310 mately 15 percent, substantially increasing down shifting of the transmission, Lo or
(586) 978-0425 • fax 978-0370 overall machine productivity, while reduc- Hi range selection of both left and right
ing operator and bystander noise levels. track drives, or full power geared turns.
The engine on the Dressta TD-15M Extra Pushing the right or left rocker switch
is equipped with an air intake grid heater selects the desired Hi or Lo range.
as standard equipment, eliminating the Moving the joystick forward or back-
need for the optional ether starting attach- ward moves the dozer in the same direc-
ment in cold weather operating environ- tion – a Front/Rear (F/R) detent provides
ments. The machine has an operating hands-free motion. Moving the joystick
weight of up to 46,451 lbs. (21070 kg) and left or right activates clutch-brake or pivot
a blade capacity of up to 7.8 yd3 (5.95 m3). type turns.
A modular, countershaft power shift A rear platform located behind the fuel
transmission with electro-hydraulic con- tank aids in refueling, air conditioning fil-
trols delivers the speed and power to drive ter changes and cab rear window cleaning
the Dressta TD-15M Extra through the to enhance serviceability. Maintenance on
toughest jobs. The system allows the oper- the Dressta TD-15M Extra includes a 500-
ator to preset the travel speed and auto- hour oil change interval. The air condition-
downshift. A single stage 13-inch (330mm) er condenser was moved to the rear of the
torque converter with a 2.6:1 stall ratio cab roof for easier access.
leads from the transmission through a The Dressta TD-15M Extra is available in
double universal joint to maximize tractive Standard (STD), Long Track (LT), Wide
effort. Track (WT), and Low Ground Pressure
Contributing to a comfortable full day of (LGP) track configurations. Blade configu-
work is the optional six-sided cab, which rations include Straight, Semi-U, Angle
offers a deluxe interior with superior all- and 6-Way to meet a variety of applications
around visibility. The two doors have slid- including construction, roadwork, demoli-
ing windows to go along with the large tion, landfill and forestry operations.
window area of the cab to provide good In addition to the Dressta TD-15M Extra,
blade and ripper viewing for precise con- the wide range of the Dressta crawler
trol of the machine. dozer line includes the TD-7M, TD-8M,
The cab is sealed and has a built-in air TD-9M, TD-10M, TD-12C XP, TD-20H, TD-
recirculation system. It has a sound sup- 25M, and TD-40E.
pression system and is separated from the Visit www.dresstanorthamerica.com for
engine compartment for a quieter, more more information.
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
ANTI-VIBRATION TECHNOLOGY
POWER PERFORMANCE
ELECTRONIC
SPEED CONTROL
Leading 15 AMP motor for the most Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT™) for
demanding applications 2x less vibration with an exclusive
counter balance
“TOOL-LESS”
BLADE CHANGE DURABILITY EFFICIENCY
VARIABLE SPEED
PRESET DIAL
Unique clutch system protects gears Preset variable speed dial with
should the blade bind 6 settings
ORBITAL ACTION Available At:
“TOOL-LESS”
SHOE ADJUSTMENT
makitatools.com
50 CAM MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2007 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”®
Sept 48-53 Prods 8/14/07 9:52 AM Page 51
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
combinations of variables that were run. tioning (CRAC) units accurately without property sheets, and numerous other per-
The response surface can be viewed modeling their detailed internal structure. formance-enhancing features.
through either a 2D or 3D chart window The CRAC unit is defined by entering a For more information, visit Flomerics'
making it easy to visualize the sensitivity few parameters such as total available website at http://www.flovent.com
of the cost function to changes in particu- cooling power and desired supply temper-
lar design parameters. The optimum value ature. This makes it possible quickly to
of the cost function is automatically identi- determine the effect of using different
fied and saved as a new project file. numbers of CRAC units in different loca-
The ability to visualize the entire design tions to cool a data center.
envelope and the response surface Flovent V7 also includes the ability to
improves design insight and intuition, import 2D DXF files and extrude them
improves communication with colleagues directly into 3D shapes. This capability is
and customers, and enables instant deter- particular designed for bringing floor plan
mination of which design parameters are data in from architectural CAD systems.
crucial and which have little effect. This in The new release also includes the ability to
turn minimizes costs by ensuring money is model transient variations of ambient tem-
not spent on the wrong aspects of the heat- perature and solar radiation. This feature
ing/cooling and ventilation system. is important because the amount of heat
Common real-world applications of the lost by a building through radiation can
Ensure Performance and
process include: optimizing the placement vary greatly depending upon whether it is Productivity with New PAN-
of air handling equipment such as dif- radiating to a cold source, such as the DUIT Crimping Tools
fusers and louvers; optimizing cooling in night sky, or a warmer source, such as a PANDUIT has introduced two new
data centers and IT rooms; optimizing nearby building. The new Visual Editor crimping tools, the Battery Powered
glazing or building fabric, etc. post-processing window boasts “fly- Terminal Crimping Tool (CT-2500) and the
Flovent V7 includes a new SmartPart through” and “fly-by” results animation, a Semiautomatic Ferrule Crimping Tool (CT-
model that makes it possible to model the Japanese-language user interface, a new 1000). Designed for superior performance,
performance of computer room air condi- easier data entry/edit method based on these crimping tools combine with PAN-
Erection & Call us for a free crane library of load charts on CD or visit
Crane Rental Corp. www.allcraneloadcharts.com
TERM® Terminals and Ferrules to deliver insects, making it appealing for use in all Double Raised Panel, Recessed Panel,
high quality terminations at a low areas of the country. Double Recessed Panel, Tapered Plain,
installed cost. Fypon offers the non-structural PVC Tapered Raised Panel and Tapered
Featuring a lightweight 3.3 lbs. design Column Wraps in Plain, Economy Plain, Recessed Panel styles ship in two weeks.
and a quick 2-second cycle time, the CT- Fluted, Raised Panel, Double Raised Panel, Craftsman style caps and bases are stan-
2500 terminates all PANDUIT #22-#10 Recessed Panel, Double Recessed Panel dard with all tapered columns and option-
AWG terminals, disconnects and splices and Tapered Plain styles. Fifty sizes are al caps and bases are available.
for maximum productivity and ease of use available that ship standard within five For additional information, call 1-800-
in continuous workflow operations. The days. Special order column wraps in 446-3040 or visit the company’s website
CT-1000 features an innovative rapid load Fluted, Double Fluted, Raised Panel, www.fypon.com.
design utilizing continuously molded fer-
rules to significantly reduce installation
time. This multi-use .54 lbs. tool cuts, strips
and crimps wire for all PANDUIT #20-#14
AWG continuously molded ferrules.
For more information on PANDUIT
Termination Solutions, request Product
Bulletin SA-TMCB04 through customer
service (email: cs@panduit.com, phone:
800-777-3300) or visit
www.panduit.com/ct22.
PEOPLE IN CONSTRUCTION
retention for the association. of the Shelby Township office of Soil and
Materials Engineers, Inc. (SME), was
SMPS-MI (the Society for recently named president
Marketing Professionals- of SOCME, the South
Michigan) has announced Oakland County
the three winners of its Municipal Engineers,
first annual Scholarship when they elected their
Fund. This year the schol- 2007-08 Board of Directors.
Lyman
arship winners were: Also, Gerald Belian, PE,
Dawn Lyman of TMP Belian
vice president/principal at
Associates Inc., Bloomfield Hills, who SME, was recently awarded the 2007
received a $1,000 scholarship to attend the “Outstanding Leadership Award” by the
SMPS/PMSA National Conference in Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD). The
Washington, D.C.; and Patricia Cole of award was presented at the ESD Annual
Cole Financial Services, Detroit, along Dinner held in June.
with Sheila Monohon of Giffels-Webster
Engineers, Rochester Hills, who both BrassCraft, a Novi-based leading manu-
received $500 toward earning their CPSM facturer of plumbing products, has
Radonovich
Michael Schwartz, PE, its Rylance as an engineering
v
w. Ser
Schwartz
tions to the civil engineer- Snarski as a
ur
the SHW Group, with offices in Michigan, firm with offices throughout Michigan and Eight engineering technicians and staff
Texas, and Virginia. in Cincinnati, Ohio. engineers in the construction engineering
services group at G2 Consulting Group in
Wade Trim, Taylor, The Board of Directors at Troy and Brighton, recently earned certifi-
recently announced that Bloomfield Hills-based cation or recertification in Density
two new corporate Board TMP Associates Inc., an Technology and Bituminous Paving
Members have been architectural/engineering Operations from the
appointed part of internal firm, has promoted Brett
Michigan
strategies to grow staff and A. Carte from associate to through Ferris State University: Tim
Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Groya
advance the firm's techni- Carte senior associate.
cal leadership. Leah Groya,
Dumala; Mike Evans, EIT; Ryan Hargrave-
PEOPLE IN CONSTRUCTION
Zervos Group,Inc.
Thomas; Andrew Harris; Ian Miller; Ken Kalamazoo-area facility to warehouse
items associated with converting two
Evans and O’Brien also successfully com-
Nowak; Casey O’Brien; Mike Ricketts.
Kalamazoo-area Wal-Mart Stores into
• BONDS pleted courses for Michigan Certified Wal-Mart Supercenters. The Midlink
Aggregate Technician and Certified Business Park is a 340-acre, multi-tenant,
• CONTRACTORS Bituminous Laboratory Technician-Level I multi-discipline complex that occupies
training through Ferris State University. the buildings and the land of the former
General Motors stamping plant in
INSURANCE
Southfield-based Barton Comstock Township, just outside of
• ENVIRONMENTAL is Kalamazoo.
pleased to announce the
Malow Company
INSURANCE
following promotions:
Michael Dishaw to vice has relocated to larger offices in Grand
Soil and Materials Engineers Inc. (SME)
• LIFE & HEALTH president, from con- Rapids. SME’s new location is: 4705
troller–project financial Clyde Park Avenue SW, Grand Rapids,
Dishaw
control for the company's MI 49509-5114. The phone and fax num-
Over 50 Years
Central Region; and James bers remain the same. The new 7,800-
of Experience
Dome, AIA, to vice presi- square-foot facility provides the added
dent of space needed for SME to continue
(248) 355-4411 Architectural/Engineering expanding in western Michigan.
Services, from managing
24724 Farmbrook Rd. director of Barton Malow DeMaria Building Company, Detroit, is
Southfield 48034 Dome Design and the A/E pleased to announce the following con-
Services Group. tract awards: From the Detroit Medical
Center (DMC) to renovate the Orthopedic
Suites at the Children’s Hospital in
Gus E. Zervos Steve M. Zervos
companies that were nominated. Award and 2007 American Public Works
Companies (ACEC) Honorable Conceptor
COMING UP IN
Award” to the project. Previously, the GEM’s markets include automotive,
Monroe Bank & Trust was honored as one health care, institutional, commercial,
of the outstanding projects of the year in metals, power generation,
CAM Magazine’s Special Issue 2006. refining/chemical, retail and food pro-
cessing.
The Novi Town Center, located at the
corner of Grand River & Novi Roads in Spalding DeDecker Associates (SDA), a
Novi, has contracted with A.R.Brouwer Detroit-based civil engineering firm,
Company of Dexter to build three new has re-launched their website at
retail buildings: Oberweis Ice Cream & www.spaldingdedecker.com. The new October
Dairy Store, Pei Wei Asian Diner, and site features a fresh, new look that reflects • Metals/Steel
Potbelly Sandwich Works. Wah Yee the culture and expertise of SDA and its
Associates of Farmington Hills designed employees.
• Healthcare Construction
the buildings, which Brouwer expects to
complete by fall 2007. NTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH), with
offices throughout Michigan, recently
FALL 2007
GEM Industrial, Perrysburg, OH, is cele- announced that it will diversify to pro- SPECIAL ISSUE
brating its 25th anniversary with a new vide engineering services to the natural
name and corporate identity: GEM Inc. gas utility industry. The announcement
GEM Inc. is a member of the came shortly after NTH successfully
Rudolph/Libbe family of companies. established offices in Indianapolis, IN November
They have offices in Walbridge, Lehigh Valley, PA. • Electrical
Cleveland and Lima, OH, and Detroit. • Excavation / Site Work
BIDDING
MADE EASY!
WITH -ONLINE’S NEW SOFTWARE!
CAM-ONLINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NEWS -
View, sort, track and print projects instantly, for less than
printed versions.
OR CAM-ONLINE PLANROOM -
Featuring Online Construction Project News
PLUS online plans, specs, addenda and bid documents.
CALL THE CAM MARKETING DEPT. & SUBSCRIBE NOW! (248) 972-1000 or (616) 771-0009
to low-income people.
email: tec@tectest.com
1-800-835-2654 www.testingengineers.com
Offices in: Ann Arbor, Detroit & Troy A Certified WBE/DBB
Premier
UPDATE s you all are probably aware, the 2007 Construction
Electronics
Fire Alarm and Critical
Protection Systems
• Commercial
15th of every month.
• Industrial
Return to this section every month in CAM Magazine to
• Institutional
get heads-up information and news involving the Construction
Phone: 586-247-5356
Invoices for the listings have been generated and mailed. Prompt payment ensures a good-
Fax: 586-247-5346
standing membership and ability to list in the 2008 Buyers Guide. We will gladly answer any
questions regarding charges on invoices.
Preparation for the 2008 Buyers Guide has begun – look for renewal forms in your mail.
R
DANGE
Air/Pro Associates, Inc. Tim Krause Construction., Inc. US Construction and Design
29445 Beck Rd., Suite A203 15778 Peters Farm Rd. Services, LLC
Wixom, MI 48393 Irons, MI 49644 2346 W. Warren
Phone: 248-848-4200 Phone: 866-857-2873 Detroit, MI 48208
Fax: 248-848-4205 Fax: 231-859-4460 Phone: 313-647-6216
Fax: 248-366-3392
Apollonio Building, Inc. Lyden Oil Company
69394 N. Main St. (Formerly Spartan Oil Corp.) Walbridge Aldinger
Richmond, MI 48062 419 Spring St. 777 Woodward Ave., Suite 300
Phone: 586-727-8130 Lansing, MI 48901 Detroit, MI 48226
HIGH
Fax: 586-727-8140 Phone: 517-485-2285 Phone: 313-963-8000
Fax: 517-485-0605 Fax: 313-963-8150
Comiskey, Bobrowski & Co., P.C.
570 Kirts Blvd., Suite 229 O’Neill Masonry Weathercraft Contracting, LLC
Troy, MI 48084 11971 West Shore Dr. 22360 Natasha Lane
Phone: 248-362-9110
Fax: 248-362-9120
Pinckney, MI 48169
Phone: 734-954-0870
South Lyon, MI 48178
Phone: 248-437-2900 EXPOSURE
Fax: 248-437-2900
Construction Ventures, Inc. PM Technologies, LLC
29488 Woodward Ave., Suite 29395 Wall St.
177 Wixom, MI 49393 BE SURE TO When You
Royal Oak, MI 48073 Phone: 800*-419-5199 CHECK OUT THE Advertise In
Phone: 248-854-7725 Fax: 248-374-6408
Fax: 248-822-5036
BUYERS CAM Magazine!
Poe Restoration &
FES Group, LLC
28036 Oakland Oaks Ct.
Waterproofing Co.
13401 Cloverdale
GUIDE (248) 969-2171
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: 248-344-2800
Oak Park, MI 48237
Phone: 248-360-7778
ONLINE Fax (248) 969-2338
WWW.CAM-ONLINE.COM
Fax: 248-344-1650 Fax: 248-360-7140
CONSTRUCTION CALENDAR
CONSTRUCTION
CALENDAR
Please submit all calendar items no less than six weeks
prior to the event to: Calendar Editor, CAM Magazine,
P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204.
The SOURCE, the training facility locat- sions. Reserve a spot or sponsorship in the out-
Class Schedule
ed at the Cooper Lighting headquarters in For more information, call the ASCC ing by calling Diana Brown at 248-972-
Peachtree City, Georgia, has released a office at 866-788-ASCC (2722), or visit 1000.
2007 calendar of classes for the lighting www.ascconline.org.
and design community.
Additional information and registration
Sept. 20 – Third Annual Building
can be found online at The Associated Owners & Developers Building Connections is the largest
Sep.17-Oct. 15 – AOD Conference Connections
www.cooperlighting.com/education. (AOD) will host industry forums on the annual gathering of the construction com-
following dates at the following locations: munity in Southeast Michigan, providing
Sep. 17-18 – Washington, D.C. a unique opportunity for informal and
The American Society of Concrete Oct. 15 – Atlanta, GA social interaction while supporting the
Sep. 13-16 – ASCC Conference
Contractor’s (ASCC) Conference at the Visit www.constructionchannel.net or Boy Scouts of America, Detroit Area and
Westin Charlotte in Charlotte, NC will call 703-734-2908 for more information. Clinton Valley Councils. This year’s event
Your Building Will be Protected When You Put Your Roofing Project
in the Hands of a SMRCA Contractor
No matter what kind of weather, you won’t have to worry about whether your roof will leak.
SMRCA Roofing Contractors are professional union contractors with the experience and expertise to install a
quality, trouble-free roofing system. Insist on quality from a professional SMRCA Roofing Contractor!
Call us today for a “Roofing Facts” brochure that will tell you what you need to know before purchasing a new roof.
T.F. Beck Company J. D. Candler Roofing Company, Inc. Newton Crane Roofing, Inc. Dave Pomaville & Sons, Inc. Schena Roofing &
Rochester Hills, MI Detroit, MI Pontiac, MI Warren, MI Sheet Metal Company, Inc.
248.852.9255 313.899.2100 248.332.3021 586.755.6030 Chesterfield, MI
586.949.4777
Christen/Detroit LaDuke Roofing & Sheet Metal North Roofing Company Royal Roofing Company
Detroit, MI Oak Park, MI Auburn Hills, MI Orion, MI Schreiber Corporation
313.837.1420 248.414.6600 248.373.1500 248.276.ROOF (7663) Detroit, MI
313.864.4900
Detroit Cornice Lutz Roofing Company, Inc.
& Slate Company Utica, MI
Ferndale, MI 586.739.1148
248.398.7690
M.W. Morss Roofing, Inc.
Fisher Roofing Company, Inc. Romulus, MI
Dearborn Heights, MI 734.942.0840
313.292.8090
3560 EAST NINE MILE ROAD • WARREN, MI 48091 • Ph.: 586.759.2140 • Fax: 586.759.0528 • www.smrca.org
(248) 649-5443.
FALL PROTECTION AND
TRAINING 1-800-693-1800 SAFETY SERVICES
www.deepfoundations07.org.
GEOTECHNICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
YABBA CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING
UNEARTHING POSSIBILITIES
ADVERTISER INDEX
$ISCOUNT &UELING 0ROGRAM
Speedway SuperAmerica SuperFleet
fueling program can save your
company 4 cents per gallon
of fuel $ 15% off at Valvoline
Instant Oil Change locations.
Call Tom Farnham at (989) 615-2736 Call Rachel Hamill at (734) 953-9700
$ISCOUNT #AR 4RUCK 0REFERRED &LEET 0ROGRAM
"UYING 3ERVICE Discount fleet purchasing or
New car & truck purchasing & lease leasing on all makes & models
program helps Members get the of cars, trucks, cargo vans
lowest possible price. & construction trailers.
Call Amy Elliot at (586) 757-7100 Call Ardene Reilly at (866) 834-9166
$ISCOUNT 6OICE 0REFERRED )NTERNET 3OLUTIONS
$ATA )NTERNET 3ERVICE
High-performance business
Web design, content management
T-Mobile has calling plans for the hosting, e-mail & domain setup,
communications solutions: CAM
on-the-go professional... at home, marketing strategies & consulting.
Members receive free consultation and
at the office, on the road. Visit us at: www.eliquid.com
15% off your communications solutions.
Call John Polizzi at (586) 883-0249 Call Ron Kozak at (248) 530-2155 Call Steve Guadette at (800) 954-0423
Sept 54-64 8/14/07 9:55 AM Page 64
4 COMPETITIVE PRICING
4 SELECTION
4 SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
4 CUSTOM ORDERING
4 IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
4 CONVENIENT LOCATION
866-471-5785
VAN DYKE AT I-696, WARREN
www.rinkepontiacgmc.com