Western Builder articles from February 2005

Western Builder archives from February 2005

Editor's Report.(working safely in cold weather)(Editorial)
February 3, 2005... By Barry Gantenbein A mail carrier once told me that the coldest he had ever been was walking his route on a rainy, raw day in late December. The temperature was almost at the freezing point, and a steady rain was falling -- chilling...

Innovative Work.(Merrill Municipal Airport reconstruction project done by Becher-Hoppe Associates got Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association Innovation Award)
February 3, 2005... By Barry Gantenbein, Editor, Western Builder Recycled pavement, fly ash stabilization used in airport construction in Wisconsin What a difference a year can make. At the end of 2003, alligator cracks scarred old asphalt general...

Snared by the Web.(project communications through websites of contractors)
February 3, 2005... By Charles Rathmann Project communications are an increasingly important part of contractors' Web sites A few short years ago, many mid-sized general contractors had only a minimal Web presence -- if any at all. But now, engineers,...

In Control.(grade control systems)(Buyers Guide)
February 3, 2005... Staff Automated grade control as easy as 1, 2, 3 Novelist Alfred Doblin once said, "The world is made of sugar and dirt." For many dirt-moving contractors the sweet taste of success is being found with the help of automated grade...

Conexpo-Con/Agg.
February 3, 2005... Staff March 15-19, 2005 Las Vegas, Nevada www.conexpoconagg.com Come see these exhibitors at the show! New Products Staff Moline, Ill. -- John Deere's newest equipment will deliver maximum productivity and uptime along...

Fast Track.(Midwest Regional Rail System plans for high-speed passenger rail system)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Staff Wisconsin and eight other Midwestern states reaffirmed in December support for a regional, high-speed passenger rail system radiating from Chicago. The states released an executive report on the Midwest Regional Rail System (MWRRS)...

Record Pace.(exhibitions)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Staff CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005 exhibit space sales have topped a record-breaking 1.85 million net square feet (172,000 net square meters), making the 2005 show the largest CONEXPO-CON/AGG ever. The co-located IFPE 2005 International...

Council Member.(appointments)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Staff Joel Becker of Hunzinger Construction has been appointed to serve as a citizen representative of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce Alteration & Change of Occupancy Code Council. This is a newly created council that will...

Maintaining A Healthy Hydraulic System.
February 10, 2005... By Rudy Urbano, Caterpillar Inc. You hear about it all the time. The skinny guy from work who ran a marathon a couple of months ago, but just had a heart attack. Or the vegetarian next door who's recovering from a stroke. Even the fittest...

Bid-Rigging Sentencing.(Streu Construction Co.)
February 10, 2005... By Barry Gantenbein, Editor, Western Builder Two Streu Construction executives sent to prison; ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution and fines Streu Construction Company executives' involvement in a bid-rigging scheme cost the...

Homeland Security.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Staff The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Greater Milwaukee has announced its membership in the Southeast Wisconsin Homeland Security Partnership. The mission of the Southeast Wisconsin Homeland Security Partnership is to...

Rock Blasting.
February 10, 2005... Staff The Second Edition of the former Federal Highways Administration book, "Rock Blasting and Overbreak Control" is now available. The book is a guide to efficient blast design and vibration control for heavy construction, mining and...

On The Job.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Staff MSI General Corporation has announced the completion of the second phase of Delavan Crossing in Delavan, Wis. Delavan Retail II is a multi-tenant building with 11,000 square feet of retail space. In addition, Douglas J....

Election Results.(Contractors association)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Staff The Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Wisconsin has announced the election of officers and board members. Joe Hengel, Hengel Brothers, La Crosse, Wis., has been elected president. Jim Eron, Eron & Gee/Hermans...

Apprenticeship Advisory.(Wisconsin State Masonry Apprenticeship Advisory Committee)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Staff Tim Just of C.G. Schmidt, Inc., Milwaukee, has been appointed to serve as an employer member of the Wisconsin State Masonry Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. Just will serve a three-year term on the committee, and replaces...

Safety Products.
February 10, 2005... Staff Madison, Wis.-based Conney Safety Products announces the release of their new 468-page Buyers Guide. This catalog includes the newest additions to the company's selection of safety and first aid products. The Conney Buyers...

Making The Connection.(Downtown Milwaukee's Riverwalk Third Ward reconstruction work done by Beyer Construction)
February 17, 2005... By Barry Gantenbein, Editor, Western Builder Milwaukee's Riverwalk links city's downtown, Third Ward The link between Downtown Milwaukee and the city's Third Ward was severed with the construction of Highway I-794 in the 1960s, but the...

Ask Yourself.(entrepreneurial skills you need before you launch a business)
February 17, 2005... Staff Eight questions to ponder before launching your own business For most of us, being an entrepreneur has a certain romantic appeal. If you're a modern-day galley slave metaphorically chained to a desk in a windowless cubicle, the...

Downtown Madison.(Madison Common Council, Alexander Company Inc. to convert Methodist Hospital in Downtown Madison to housing units)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff The Madison Common Council has approved plans by Madison-based The Alexander Co. to convert the former Methodist Hospital in Downtown Madison into as many as 400 new housing units. Plans call for much of the original hospital to...

On Board.(Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee appointed officers for board of directors)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff The Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee (AGC-GM) has announced its officers for the 2005 Board of Directors. These board includes: Tom Miotke of J.P. Jansen Co., to serve as president; Larry Rocole of J.P. Cullen...

President Fischer.(Mechanical Contractors Association of North Central Wisconsin appointed Robert Fischer, Donald Tennie, Mark Loper, etc.)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff The Mechanical Contractors Association of North Central Wisconsin announced that Robert Fischer, J.F. Ahern Company, Fond du Lac, Wis., has been elected president of the association for 2005. Donald Tennie, E.G.I. Mechanical,...

Renovation Project.(C.G. Schmidt to renovate patient rooms of Southwest Tower of Waukesha Memorial Hospital)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff C.G. Schmidt has been selected to renovate the second-, fourth- and fifth-floor patient rooms of Waukesha Memorial Hospital's Southwest Tower. The $9-million project also includes the construction of a 2,400-square-foot...

Master Builders.(Master Builders Association of Wisconsin Inc. acquired Contractor's Exchange)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff Master Builders Association of Wisconsin, Inc. has announced the acquisition of the assets of Contractor's Exchange. Master Builders is a Milwaukee-area based construction trade association serving Wisconsin contractors since...

Happy Anniversary.(A&J Specialty Services Inc. changing name to A&J Water and Mold Restoration)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff This year marks a milestone for A&J Specialty Services, Inc. in Deforest, Wis. It was 20 years ago that President Kent Rawhouser began the mold and water remediation company. In connection with the anniversary, the company will...

TCA Winner.(Tilt-Up Concrete Association gave 2005 Tilt-Up Achievement Award for the structure of a building constructed by Newcomb Construction Co. for RS and K Advertising)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2005... Staff Construction of RS+K Advertising Office in Madison, Wis., by Newcomb Construction Company of Madison earned a 2005 Tilt-Up Achievement Award from the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA). The 20,539-square-foot office building...

At The Show.(Manitowoc Cranes Inc. products at Conexpo)
February 17, 2005... Staff Manitowoc Cranes bringing full contingent to CONEXPO-CON/AGG Manitowoc Cranes' Model 12000 will make its first public appearance at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005, but the unit will already be familiar to industry as several are currently...

Best In State.(Engineering Excellence Awards)
February 24, 2005... Staff Engineering Excellence Awards to be presented at the American Club Seven engineering projects have been chosen as finalists for the top award in this year's Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) program. The EEA, sponsored by the...

On the Job.(Total Team Construction LLC and Tuckaway Country Club contract)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2005... Staff Total Team Construction LLC, has been awarded the contract to provide construction management services for the interior remodel and upgrade of Tuckaway Country Club in Franklin, Wis. The firm also announced it has completed the...

Bentley Expansion.(Brief Article)
February 24, 2005... Staff The Bentley Company, Milwaukee, has announced the expansion of the firm's services with the opening of a Madison, Wis., location and the formation of BMG Corporation. BMG offers integrated program management services and property...

AGC Comments.(Kenneth D. Simonson of Associated General Contractors of America on construction sector)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2005... Staff The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) commented on the value of construction put in place, which soared in December to an 11th consecutive record $1.03 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, as reported by the...

Good Work.(Kapur and Associates Inc. named as best workplace)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2005... Staff Kapur & Associates, Inc. has been named one of the "Best Places to Work" in Southeastern Wisconsin in Milwaukee Magazine and MRA -- The Management Association's fourth annual study of workplace practices. The firm was also cited...

Safety Partners.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration and CG Schmidt Inc. contract)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2005... Staff The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an agreement to partner with Milwaukee-based contractor CG Schmidt during the construction of GE Healthcare's world campus for its GEHC Information Technologies,...

Summer Vacation.(Department of Transportation and Zignego Company Inc. contract for highway construction)
February 24, 2005... By Tom Wirtz No work allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Wisconsin Dells highway project Wisconsin Dells, Wis., is becoming a year-round destination for tourists, but summer is still king of the Dells. Indoor water parks...