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4 CAM MAGAZINE MAY 2015 “The Voice Of The Construction Industry”®

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AIA-MI DESIGN PERSPECTIVES

14 Why Design Matters...to Education!

SUSTAIN-ABILITY

16 DTE First Utility to Offer ‘Real-Time’ Energy App

ROOFING

18 Repairing Detroit’s Skyline Detroit Cornice & Slate Resurrects

St. Josaphat Steeple

RENOVATION/RESTORATION 28 Welcome Home: The Christman Company Returns to the

Fisher Building

CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT 36 Restoring A Detroit Gem: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Moves

into the Cornice & Slate Building

16

3618

28

DEPARTMENTS

6 Industry News

11 Safety Tool Kit

13 Marketing on the Level

43 Product Showcase

47 People in Construction / Corporate News

50 CAM Welcomes New Members

51 Construction Calendar

51 Advertising Index

ABOUT THE COVER

The amazing Klimer KPM-8 allowed Detroit Cornice & Slate

access to the very tip of the St. Josaphat Steeple in Detroit, and

permitted repair of the gold-leafed cross and its base. From base

to the top of the cross, this well-known landmark is now

stabilized, straightened and beautifully re-clad. Photo courtesy

of Detroit Cornice & Slate.

CAM MAGAZINE MAY 2015 5

PUBLISHER Kevin N. Koehler EDITOR Amanda M. Tackett

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary E. Kremposky

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. Austermann GRAPHIC DESIGN Noelle E. Scharer DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Gregg A. Montowski ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy A. Jones

DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chairman Larry S. Brinker, Jr. The Brinker Group

Vice Chairman Stephen J. Hohenshil Glasco Corporation

Vice Chairman Donielle Wunderlich George W. Auch Company

Treasurer Joe S. Palazzolo Detroit Spectrum Painters, Inc.

President Kevin N. Koehler DIRECTORS Thomas R. Broad Midwest Steel, Inc.

Joseph Fontanesi Fontanesi & Kann Company Architectural Building Components, Inc.

Brad Leidal Mason Contractors, Inc.

Jennifer T. Panning Artisan Tile, Inc.

John Raimondo Roncelli, Inc.

John W. Rieckhoff C.L. Rieckhoff Company, Inc.

Kevin F. Ryan Powerlink Facility Management Services

Preston Wallace Limbach Company, LLC

CAM MAGAZINE EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE William L. Borch, Jr. Ironworkers Local Union 25

Gary Boyajian Division 8 Solutions, Inc.

Stevan Bratic Bratic Enterprises, LLC Marty Burnstein Law Office of Marty Burnstein

George Dobrowitsky Walbridge

Daniel Englehart Peter Basso and Associates, Inc. Chris Hippler Capital Letters Dennis King DMKING Consulting, LLC

Nancy Marshall Aluminum Supply Company

Rick Rys Hi Def Color

Sanford (Sandy) Sulkes International Building Products, Inc. James Vargo Capac Construction Company, Inc.

CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward 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. POSTMASTER, SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: CAM MAGAZINE, 43636 WOODWARD AVE., BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302-3204.

For editorial comment or more information: [email protected] reprints or to sell CAM Magazine: 248-972-1000

Copyright © 2015 Construction Association of Michigan. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. CAM Magazine is a registered trademark of the Construction Association of Michigan.

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ASTM INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPS

FIRST PRODUCT CATEGORY RULES

FOR THE ASPHALT ROOFING

INDUSTRYStandard Measurement Guidelines will Create Streamlined

Product Data Industry-Wide

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has

partnered with ASTM International to develop Product Category

Rules (PCR) for asphalt roofing in North America. The new PCR will

provide consistent methodologies for asphalt roofing manufacturers

to measure and report the expected environmental impact of their

products. This new document can be accessed for free on ASTM

International’s website (www.astm.org/certification).

PCRs provide guidelines for the development of Environmental

Product Declarations (EPDs) for a specific product group. PCRs

are valuable to any industry because they streamline the process

through which products are measured and their environmental

impacts communicated, creating globally consistent

documentation. Asphalt roofing manufacturers can use these

guidelines to review their own products and develop an EPD, which

is a verified document that reports the expected environmental

performance of a product based on its expected life cycle. An EPD

uses the data collected through PCR guidelines to provide

comparable environmental impact data for similar products.

“This PCR is a significant, universal resource for the asphalt

roofing industry,” said ARMA Executive Vice President Reed

Hitchcock. “It provides asphalt roofing manufacturers with a way

to collect, measure and communicate data pertaining to expected

product environmental impacts through an Environmental Product

Declaration, and will give consumers and industry professionals

new insight into asphalt roofing materials. Developing these

guidelines helps further ARMA’s commitment to transparency and

environmental sustainability.”

ARMA and several of its member companies participated in the

development of this PCR, titled “Asphalt Shingles, Built-Up Asphalt

Membrane Roofing, and Modified Bituminous Membrane Roofing.”

The guidelines cover asphalt shingles applied over underlayment,

and low-slope roofing assemblies consisting of various

combinations of factory-produced asphalt-saturated or coated

base sheets, ply sheets and cap sheets together with specified

viscous asphalt coatings, adhesives and surfacings.

ASTM began its PCR and EPD program in 2012 to provide an

infrastructure that can be used for the evaluation and

communication of a product’s full-lifecycle environmental impacts.

ASTM develops PCRs in partnership with various segments of the

building construction industry and in accordance with international

standards. ARMA’s partnership with ASTM was an efficient way to

provide a PCR to asphalt roofing manufacturers that is standard

among researchers, developers, consumers and businesses.

For more information about asphalt roofing visit the ARMA

website at www.asphaltroofing.org.

CHRISTMAN COMPANY, DANIELS

BUILDING CO. AND MIOSHA SIGN

PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT

WORKERS DURING STATE

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

PROJECT

The Christman Company (Christman) Daniels Building Co., Inc.

(Daniels), the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

(LARA), the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (MIOSHA) and partnering subcontractors signed a

formal partnership today with the goal of enhanced safety and

health protection, and zero worker injuries during the construction

of the state’s new State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).

“MIOSHA is pleased to once again partner with Christman and

for the first time, Daniels, in what is the agency’s pilot level three

construction partnership,” said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder.

“This designation signifies Christman’s prior MIOSHA partnership

experience and long-standing record of safety and health, as well

as the expectation that both companies, which are jointly serving

as the project’s general contractor, act as mentors to other

partnering companies in the future.”

The new SEOC, which will be used by the State of Michigan to

coordinate emergencies and disasters with local, state and federal

agencies, is a $22 million project consisting of a 27,000-square-

foot addition to the General Office Building located at 7150 Harris

I N D U S T R Y N E W S

Visit us online at www.cammagazineonline.com CAM MAGAZINE MAY 2015 7

Drive in Dimondale. It will also include

37,000 square feet of renovations to two

floors of the building adjacent to the new

addition.

The building’s hardened design complies

with Federal Emergency Management

Agency (FEMA) requirements and will be

built to withstand strong storms and

tornadoes. The project began November

10, 2014 and is expected to be completed

by December 30, 2015.

Signing partners included MIOSHA

Director Martha Yoder; Christman Vice

President and Safety Director Don Staley,

Senior Vice President John Holmstrom, and

Project Superintendent Robert Winquist;

Daniels President Michael Daniels; and 42

subcontractors working on the project.

Partnerships are an important emphasis

in the MIOSHA Strategic Plan to improve

the health and safety of workers through

cooperative relationships; they move away

from traditional enforcement methods and

embrace collaborative agreements.

The safety and health of the SEOC

project’s workers are fundamental to this

partnership with MIOSHA. The leadership of

Christman, Daniels, partnering trade

contractors, LARA and MIOSHA are aligned

and committed to achieving the objective of

worker protection by providing a workplace

with an effective safety management

system that is hazard-free.

”We are honored to have been selected

to take part in this first-ever level three

safety partnership,” said Don Staley,

Christman vice president and safety

director. “We take seriously the challenge to

not only commit to the success of the

SEOC project, but to commit to improving

the effectiveness of the use of a job hazard

analysis, a leading industry wide safety

planning tool, and mentoring other

companies in the future.”

All partners agree to commit their

leadership, time and resources to achieve

this valuable goal.

The active integration of the safety and

health programs of Christman and Daniels,

along with the partnership with the

subcontractors and MIOSHA, will endorse

the ultimate goal of zero unsafe conditions

and work practices. As a level three

partnership, the primary goals are limited in

scope to a specific focus.

The goals of the partnership include:

• The establishment of metrics to review

the effectiveness of subcontractor

usage of job hazard analysis (JHA) at

the start of the project and at key

milestones throughout the duration of

the project. A primary focus will be on

how the content of the JHA is

communicated to the workers and

identifying communication techniques

which will help to universally improve

their overall effectiveness. Additionally,

the team will work to identify

improvements for typical JHA formats

being used.

• Assuming direct responsibility of no

less than the minimum level of

performance set forth in the Project

Safety and Health Program, which

means full compliance with the

Michigan Occupational Safety and

Health Standards, and all applicable

federal, state and local regulations.

• Developing, promoting and maintaining

a positive safety climate at all times.

• Giving consideration to all safety

factors during the planning and

scheduling of work operations to

control potential injury and property

damage hazards. (JHA or Pre-Task

Analysis required.)

• Providing and enforcing the use of all

necessary personal protective

equipment, which includes but is not

limited to: hard hats, safety glasses,

earplugs, face shields, respirators,

safety harnesses, lanyards, fall

protection devices and anchorage

systems, etc.

“The MIOSHA program is committed to

partnering with employers to continually

improve Michigan’s workplace safety and

health,” said Martha Yoder. “Through these



important partnerships, MIOSHA can offer employers a voluntary,

cooperative relationship to help eliminate serious hazards and

achieve significant safety and health management goals.”

The partnership does not preclude MIOSHA from enforcing its

mission of addressing complaints, fatalities, or serious accidents,

nor does it infringe on the rights of employees to report workplace

hazards.

MICHIGAN’S TOP ENGINEERING

AND SURVEYING PROJECTS

RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL ACEC

EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan

(ACEC/M) recently honored firms for engineering and surveying

excellence during the association’s 50th annual Engineering and

Surveying Excellence Awards ceremony. On February 28, design

professionals and guests gathered at The Henry Ford in Dearborn

to recognize outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying

projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals

who have

significantly

contributed to the

profession. The

ACEC/M Awards

Program recognizes

outstanding efforts

of professional

design firms to solve

clients’ needs

through exceptional

projects, and offers

the opportunity to

showcase the year’s

best engineering

and surveying

achievements to an

audience of peers,

clients and decision

makers at all levels.

“This program

serves as the final celebration of Engineers Week,” said Ron

Brenke, PE, ACEC/M Executive Director. “The knowledge and

expertise that filled the room on Saturday was astounding! The

projects engineered by private sector firms have a profound effect

on the quality of life for all Michigan residents. Their efforts result in

quality roads and bridges, safe drinking water, and a clean

environment for people to live, work and play.”

This year’s engineering Eminent Conceptor Award winner was

NTH Consultants, Ltd., Detroit, for the structural analysis for Cobo

Arena Demolition and Reconstruction. During the redevelopment

of Cobo Arena, a $279 million project, NTH Consultants, Ltd.

utilized the shell-like geometry of the original structure, performed

detailed analyses for each stage of demolition and reconstruction,

and worked with the contractors to safely sequence the work,

thereby eliminating the need for an estimated $1 million in internal

temporary bracing.

Four firms were honored with the Engineering Honorable

Conceptor Award: Bergmann Associates for The Rapid/Amtrak

Passenger Station Relocation (Grand Rapids); Fishbeck,

Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. for the Grand Rapids Downtown

Market and for Michigan State University West Circle Drive, Phase

3; OHM Advisors for the Farmington Hills Elevated Storage Tank

and Parsons Corporation for the I-96/M-50 Bridge Slide Design.

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to HNTB Michigan,

Inc. for the I-94 Truck Parking Information and Management

System; Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. for the Orion Road Bridge

Replacement (Oakland County); NTH Consultants, Ltd. for the

Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain; Parsons Corporation for the

US-131/3 Mile Road Bridge Slide; Prein&Newhof for Lake Street

Improvements (City of Whitehall); RS Engineering, LLC for the I-96

Interchange at Latson Road; and ROWE Professional Services

Company for the

Uptown Bay City

project.

Surveying

Honorable Conceptor

Awards were

presented to Fleis &

VandenBrink for the

Osceola Inn

Demolition Project

(Reed City) and Spicer

Group, Inc. for the

South County Water

Authority Asset

Collection Project.

The Judges’ Choice

Award for Board

Design was given to

Hubbell, Roth & Clark,

Inc., for the project

board designed to tell

the story of how the "Accelerated Orion Road Abridgement

Replacement Saves Cider Season."

This year’s ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was

presented to Paul C. Wade, PE, recently retired from Spalding

DeDecker Associates, Inc., to honor his outstanding leadership

roles in ACEC and several community organizations. The ACEC/M

Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Gerald M. (Jerry)

Belian, PE, FESD, of SME for his actions and contributions to

enhance the image of the profession.



MODEL OF PANAMA

CANAL LOCKS

RECEIVED BY CITY OF

LIVONIA

A $20,000 model of the Panama Canal's

Gatun Locks was gifted to Livonia, MI by

the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, MO.

The gift was arranged by Joe

Neussendorfer, Aff.M.ASCE, ESD, founder

of the Alfred Noble Historical Society. Noble

was born in Livonia in 1844. He was the

proponent of the engineering technology

that was used in building the Panama Canal

that celebrated its 100th Anniversary last

year. Civil Engineer Alfred Noble was the

president of the national American Society

of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1903. ASCE

will soon be celebrating its own 100th

Anniversary.

The model is now open for public display

at the main branch of the Livonia Public

Library located in the City Campus at Five

Mile Road and Farmington Roads.

ACEC/MICHIGAN

PRESENTS “FIRM OF

THE YEAR” HONORS

TO SMALL AND LARGE

ENGINEERING

COMPANIES

The American Council of Engineering

Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently

presented the 2015 member “FIRM OF THE

YEAR” awards at the Engineering &

Surveying Excellence awards ceremony in

celebration of Engineers Week. Both a large

firm (>30 employees) and a small firm were

recognized. In the large firm category,

ACEC member firm HNTB Michigan Inc.,

headquartered in Detroit, took the honor.

The 2015 ACEC small firm of the year was

awarded to Byce & Associates, Inc., located

in Kalamazoo. This is the highest honor

bestowed and the only award program

instituted to recognize ACEC/M member

firms for their leadership in professional

practice and community service.

Recognition is based on actions taken by a

member firm to progressively develop its

management practices and for assuming

leadership roles in community outreach

activities and ACEC/M programs that

strengthen the profession for all ACEC/M

members.

ACEC LARGE FIRM

OF YEAR

HNTB Michigan, Inc. stands out as being a

company that is actively involved in the

success and growth of ACEC/Michigan,

advancing the consulting design profession

and giving back to the community.

Employees are actively involved in

partnering with local schools providing

mentorship and learning opportunities to

young people through Engineering

Discovery Day, Construction Science Expo,

Engineers Week and ITS World Congress.

HNTB employees give back to the

community through park clean-up, tree

planting, Habitat for Humanity, and sending

troop care packages, along with several

other charitable activities.

HNTB also engages in a variety of

activities to positively impact the

engineering profession and ACEC. Through

leadership involvement with multiple

chapters of the American Public Works

Association (APWA) and the American

Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), HNTB

has been instrumental in raising funds for

student scholarships and creating

programming for professional development.

HNTB Vice President Len Becker serves as

an ACEC/Michigan Director and is the chair

of ACEC/M’s membership committee.

HNTB Corporation is an employee-

owned infrastructure solutions firm.

Celebrating a century of service, HNTB

understands the lifecycle of infrastructure

and addresses clients’ most complex

technical, financial and operational

challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver

a full range of infrastructure-related

services, including award-winning planning,

design, program management and

construction management.

ACEC SMALL FIRM OF

THE YEAR

Providing innovative, practical solutions to its

clients’ needs for more than 55 years, Byce

& Associates, Inc. (Byce) brings a passion to

serving the needs of their clients, employees

and neighbors: the community. Byce has

been an industry leader in the engineering

profession, serving its clients, staff, and

supporting industry partners as well as

fostering the enhancement and viability of the

engineering profession at both a State and

National level.

Community involvement is paramount to

Byce, both for the company as a whole and

for its employees. James Escamilla, PE,

president/CEO, as well as many other

employees, sit on many local boards,

committees and associations. In addition,

Byce actively participates in philanthropic

projects aimed to benefit the local community

and prides itself on its relationship with local

non-profits, providing architectural and

engineering services with a substantial

portion of the fee waived as a donation.

Byce principals and employees are actively

involved in contributing to the success of

ACEC/Michigan and the engineering industry

as a whole. Escamilla has served ACEC/M in

the capacity of president and National

Director. Brenda Longman, vice president,

serves on the Business Practices Committee,

and Matthew Norko, marketing coordinator,

serves on the Engineering & Surveying

Excellence Awards Committee. Bryan

Webster, PE, vice president, is actively

involved in mentoring senior engineering

students through the “Capstone” process.



OBITUARY

Frank R. Kruse died peacefully in New Mexico on February 23rd, 2015. He was 91.

Frank was a graduate of the University of Detroit, and a civil engineer. He was a

general contractor for more than 50 years, building many landmark buildings in

Detroit and the Metropolitan area. Frank was a contract negotiator for the Mason

Contractors Association. He was a nominee for National Construction Man of the

Year by the Engineering News Record in the ‘80s. He was president of the

Construction Industry Management Board, Washington, D.C. He was also a

Construction Failure Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Frank served

his country as an officer in the 3rd Army, Signal Corp, during WWII first in Heidelberg.

He was then assigned to the Palace of Justice courtroom, at the Nuremberg War

Crimes Tribunals throughout 1946, first as acting, then as chief signal officer. He is

survived by his wife Carole; siblings; children; grandchildren; stepsons; nieces;

nephews; and dear friends. There will be a celebration of Frank’s life this summer in

Michigan.

OBITUARY

One of Michigan’s top and best-known

boom truck salesmen, Dennis “Berls”

Berling, passed away on March 5,

2015 at the age of 71. Dennis worked

for Ford Motor Company’s Rouge Plant

in an office setting responsible for

shipping cars, from 1966 to 1987.

After three years as owner of his own

business (Denny’s Dairy Mart), he

landed a job as an equipment

salesman for KMH Equipment Co. in

Novi. Dennis sold boom trucks for

KMH for the next ten years, from 1990

to 2000, and gained the reputation as

“Mr. Boom Truck.” His love for sales

and people, along with his gift of gab,

launched him into a career seemingly

designed just for him. He became one

of the country’s top boom truck

salesman, and certainly number one in

Michigan. Dennis left KMH in 2000 to

take a job as “Boom Truck Specialist”

with Cloverdale Equipment Co. in Oak

Park. There, he left his mark on the

industry for another eight years before

deciding to retire at age 65.

Dennis was born in Detroit in 1943. He

is survived by his wife, Jo; his children;

step-sons; grandchildren; great-

grandchildren; and two sisters. He will

be missed by all who enjoyed his

friendship and companionship

throughout the years.



By Tracey Alfonsi

CAM DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND EDUCATION

OBSERVING A NATIONAL

STAND-DOWN

Have you ever had a moment when you were so overwhelmed by the

bustle of life that you wished you could just scream “STOP,” take a deep

breath, and start fresh? In the world of workplace safety, we call that a

Stand-Down. A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to

talk directly to employees about safety. Construction sites across the

United States are being encouraged to participate in a nation-wide Stand-

Down, May 4th through May 15th. This Stand-Down focuses on "Fall

Hazards" and reinforcing the importance of "Fall Prevention."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal falls, slips or trips took

the lives of 699 workers in 2013. Falls to a lower level accounted for 574

(82 percent) of those fatalities. In 2013, the height of the fall was reported

for 466 of the fatal falls to a lower level. Of those, about one in four

occurred after a fall of 10 feet or less. Another one-fifth of the fatal falls

occurred from falls of over 30 feet.

Anyone who wants to prevent falls in the workplace can participate in

the Stand-Down. Last year, participants included commercial construction

companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, sub- and

independent contractors, highway construction companies, general

industry employers, the U.S. Military, other government participants,

unions, employers’ trade associations, institutes, worker interest

organizations, and safety equipment manufacturers. CAMSAFETY

presented fall prevention training at three different Stand-Down events.

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have

a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety

equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific

hazards. Managers are encouraged to plan a Stand-Down that works best

for their workplace anytime during May 4-15, 2015. In addition,

companies can log their event at

https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/ and receive a Certificate of

Participation.

For more information about FREE fall prevention training or access to

toolbox talks and other training material, contact Tracey Alfonsi at

[email protected].


Top Performance in ROOFING SERVICES

T. F. Beck Co. Rochester Hills MI 248.852.9255

J. D. Candler Roofing Co., Inc. Livonia MI 313.899.2100

Christen/Detroit Detroit MI 313.837.1420

Detroit Cornice & Slate Co. Ferndale MI 248.398.7690

LaDuke Roofing & Sheet Metal Oak Park MI 248.414.6600

Lutz Roofing Co., Inc. Shelby Twp. MI 586.739.1148

M.W. Morss Roofing, Inc. Romulus MI 734.942.0840

Newton Crane Roofing, Inc. Pontiac MI 248.332.3021

North Roofing Co. Auburn Hills MI 248.373.1500

Dave Pomaville & Sons, Inc. Warren MI 586.755.6030

Royal Roofing Co. Orion MI 248.276.ROOF (7663)

Schena Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Inc. Chesterfield MI 586.949.4777

Schreiber Corporation Wixom MI 248.926.1500

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THREE COMPELLING REASONS TO UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE

We all know that your car loses the most value the moment you

drive it off the lot. The same idea holds true in the world of

technology. There is always a new laptop, Smartphone, or whatever

else coming out in the next few months that is faster, has more

memory, or a better operating system. So how can you prevent

your website from becoming obsolete?

Your Website is the Digital Presence of your Brand

In a past column, I wrote that your website is the front door to your business, but it is

more than that. It is your brand to prospects, clients and future employees. So what

does it say about your company - your brand - if your website technology is obsolete,

your portfolio of work is dated, or your site just looks tired? Focus on these three areas

to stay relevant.

• Search engine OPtimizatiOn (SeO)

Simply having a website is not enough. Search Engine Optimization – or SEO – is the

process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a website from search engines

via organic (i.e. not paid for) search results for targeted keywords.

The success of your website is largely dependent on whether people can find your

site from a search engine or link index. Directories are constantly changing the way

they rank and display sites, and some search engines will not index your site at all

unless your pages contain appropriate Meta tags, well-structured content or error-

free HTML code. This requires ongoing supervision and interaction to assure that your

site remains listed properly.

With so many companies wanting to improve their search engine position, SEO has

attracted fly-by-night companies and "experts." If a company calls and promises page

one placement for your company, expect to write a very big check. Or just hang up.

• reSPOnSive DeSign (rD)

There’s no question that mobile devices have become a staple in everyday business.

Now more than ever it’s important that websites be optimized for mobile devices. RD

ensures that your site will appear and perform on multiple devices and screen sizes.

Mobile optimization can increase sales, generate more traffic, and boost customer

engagement.

• cOntent management SYStem (cmS)

If you build your site with a Content Management System (CMS) you will be able to

publish, edit and modify the content from a central interface. In other words, you will

be able to do it yourself.

The websites of most CAM members are showplaces for their work, services or

products. Regular updates of completed projects, new personnel, new products, and

professional recognition will let your customers and prospects see that you are thriving.

Fresh material on your site keeps visitors coming back. Google spiders love it too.

Every site should feature new content, text or images, to build the traffic of repeat

visitors. Don't limit your website to a static presentation. Spend time and resources

to keep the site fresh, and you will reap dividends. It will give you an edge over the

competition, too.

“Marketing on the Level” is written specifically for CAM members and the commercial and industrial

construction industry. We are specialists in developing and maintaining websites, and online marketing. Ideas

for a column, or questions about marketing are always welcome! Contact Chris @

[email protected] or (734) 353-9918, or visit Capital Letters at

www.capitallettersmarketing.com.


BY CHRIS HIPPLERPRESIDENT, CAPITAL LETTERS


As Dennis King, FAIA, articulated in the January 2015 issue, design is a key contributor to

a sense of place and community vitality. The strength of design excellence is evident in

building spaces, places and experiences that not only enrich the community, but also help

to build the community. When we stop and analyze the factors that make our communities

successful and desirable, the impact of design is at the top of that list. The effect of design

excellence on education is similarly meaningful.

As information access and knowledge creation have accelerated and become more

sophisticated in the 21st Century, so too has the need to provide new learning environments

that facilitate knowledge gathering and inquiry in ways not previously possible. Classrooms

have remained relatively static for more than 100 years, but are now evolving into learning

studios and collaborative laboratories that rely on design and critical elements that provide

new learning experiences. Just as the stage is a platform for creative presentation in the

arts, the classroom/studio has become a platform for creative sharing and access to

information and ideas.

Through the creative design process, space is shaped and invigorated in order to facilitate

multiple learning styles and teaching platforms.

Project-based learning is facilitated through the

creation of maker space with hands-on

opportunities, and active learning grows along with

group problem-solving through the creation of

collaborative space. Presentation space has

evolved through technology to become a center

for shared content and group interaction. Informal

space is designed to foster socialization,

interaction and social learning while providing an

atmosphere of welcome and comfort.

While learning studios sound very different

from the classrooms of the 20th Century and seem

difficult to create, there are five key elements that

all creatively-designed teaching/learning

environments share. These necessary ingredients

give students access to learning in multiple styles

and methods. Some have walls, some do not.

Some are more traditional, some are not. All,

however, share these features:

1. FLeXiBiLitY. Furniture and fixtures that

are easily moveable, comfortable and

provide a variety of individual and

grouping options are essential to learning

studio design.

AIA-MIDESIGNPERSPECTIVES

WHY DE S I GN MAT T E R S. . . T O E DUCAT I O N !

By TIM CASAI, FAIA

PRESIDENT, TMP ARCHITECTURE, INC.

A SOC I E T Y O F T H E AMER I CAN I N S T I T U T E O F A RCH I T EC TS

pPhoto Courtesy of TMP Architecture, Inc.


2. acOuSticS. Space that allows learners to hear each

other clearly and to cleanly process presented content,

whether from an instructor or through technology, is an

essential key to understanding that content.

3. technOLOgY. The importance of seamless access to -

and sharing content of - information and ideas through

digital tools cannot be understated. Multiple output

opportunities allow for critical thought, analysis and

collaboration.

4. Lighting. Creative design solutions should allow access

to, and control of, natural light with generous use of

windows, sun shades and other devices. Natural sunlight

combined with a thoroughly developed artificial lighting

system should allow learners to see both analog and digital

material clearly.

5. cOmFOrt. A heating and cooling solution that not only

provides personal comfort, but does not affect hearing and

flexibility is a cornerstone of today’s learning environment.

“Too hot” or “too cold” compromises the ability to focus and

to process information. In addition, finishes and furniture

that support acoustic and visual acuity contribute to learning

comfort.

The challenges of creating new learning environments and the

renovation of last century’s classrooms depend on design to

facilitate critical thinking and creative solutions. Our learning

communities are as critical to our shared future as our living

communities are, and therefore design matters… to education!

About the Author: Timothy A. Casai, FAIA is president of TMP Architecture, Inc.

of Bloomfield Hills, with a branch office in Portage. He has over 40 years of

professional architectural experience. In 2011, Casai was honored with the AIA

Michigan Chapter Gold Medal Award, and in 1999 he was recognized as a

Fellow in the AIA. In 1992, he was presented with AIA’s Robert F. Hastings

Award, given annually in recognition of significant effort and contribution to the

society and to the architectural profession. Casai can be reached at

[email protected] or 248/338-4561.

pPhoto Courtesy of TMP Architecture, Inc.

The new DTE ‘Insight’ APP reveals home

energy use on your Smartphone. First

released in August 2014, the App is an

interactive tool to help, in a graphic way, to

understand home energy usage. On the

theory that ‘what you can measure, you can

manage,’ it enables DTE electric customers

to see and better understand how to track

your home energy use. Once I tried this

myself, I was pleasantly surprised to see

how easy, fun, and educational this could

be. After all, they say knowledge is power.

hOW it WOrkS

DTE’s Insight app links customers’ iPhones

and Android phones to their advanced

meters to help them discover their energy

usage in real time. Since more than 1.3

million advanced meters have been installed

in DTE Energy’s Southeast Michigan electric

service area, there is a good chance yours

is already connected. Just go to the App

Store, search for, and install DTE Insight.

“We’re excited to be the first utility in the

country to offer this type of technology to

our customers,” said David E. Meador, DTE

Energy vice chairman and chief

administrative officer. “DTE Insight is

another way we help educate our

customers about energy efficiency and give

them a practical tool to use. People want to

save money on their bill, but they need to

know how they use energy before they can

save.”

the Free inSight aPP FrOm

Dte OFFerS:

• A personalized energy-savings coach.

DTE Insight makes it easy to track

electric usage, set goals and compare

with others in the Insight community.

• A view of the daily, weekly, monthly and

annual electric usage of customers’

homes and the energy consumption

patterns of their families.

• Energy-saving tips that suggest and

encourage do-it-yourself home

improvement projects.


INDUSTRY NEWSSUSTAIN|ABILITY

BY DOUGLAS ELBINGER

ENERGY SYSTEMS ANALYST,

NEWMAN CONSULTING GROUP, LLC

[email protected]

DTE FIRST UTILITY TO OFFER ‘REAL-TIME’ ENERGY APP

p“We’re excited to be the first utility in the

country to offer this type of technology to

our customers.”

David E. Meador

DTE Energy Vice Chairman and

Chief Administrative Officer

Photo Courtesy of DTE

• Weekly challenges designed to engage

and provide rewards for saving energy.

• The PowerScan Tool for iPhone users

to scan electrical appliances’ power

cords to instantly see its energy

consumption and an estimate of their

monthly operating costs.

• A dashboard view that provides tips,

alerts and other information to help

customers quickly find the best ways

to increase their energy savings.

• The DTE Energy Bridge that provides

customers with a real-time view of how

much and when their homes are using

energy. There is a limited quantity of

Bridges at this time and interested

customers will participate in a pilot

program.

maDe in michigan

“We’re also pleased that this service has

allowed us to expand our Pure Michigan

Business Connect Initiative by working with

three Michigan companies,” Meador said.

“It’s important to grow the state’s economy

and we’re committed to doing that.”

The App and Energy Bridge device were

developed by Royal Oak-based Vectorform,

who partnered with Saline Lectronics and

M.A.K.S of Troy to prototype and assemble

the Energy Bridge hardware.

“We’re proud to be working in partnership

with DTE Energy to invent a new way for

customers to discover and improve their

energy consumption,” said Kevin Foreman,

director of product vision at Vectorform.

“With a unique blend of coaching,

gamification and social elements, DTE

Insight is able to engage users with their

personal energy consumption and

ultimately reduce their energy use, with

increased efficacy over traditional energy-

reduction methods.”

Customers with iPhones and Android

phones, and have their home equipped with

an advanced meter, can go to the App

Store or Google Play to download the App

today. For more information visit

dteenergy.com/dteInsight.


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vices emolition Ser

tTwo Klimer KPM-8 single mast-

climbing work platforms transported

workers and materials from the

steeple’s base to the very tip of its

aging cross. Note the red sculpture,

called Man in the City, on the right

mast.

Detroit’s Skyline


St. Josaphat Church in Detroit has been keeping parishioners on

the straight and narrow since 1889. As a centennial roofing

company even slightly older than this Roman Catholic parish,

Detroit Cornice & Slate Co., Inc., Ferndale, made straight the

church’s crooked steeple after a strong windstorm twisted and

threatened to topple the slate-clad spire.

Robert Darvas Associates’ well-designed system of cables, floors

and turnbuckles was the saving grace responsible for the steeple’s

stability. The other saving grace was Detroit Cornice & Slate’s access

strategy. Placed on opposite sides of the main church building, two

Klimer KPM-8 single mast-climbing work platforms transported men

and materials from the steeple’s base to the very tip of its aging cross,

perched over 204 feet above East Canfield Street.

Marc Hesse, co-owner of Detroit Cornice & Slate, suggested the

use of the Klimer system, having used it on the renovation of the

City of Ypsilanti’s iconic water tower. “Access was 90 percent of

the battle on the St. Josaphat job,” said Detroit Cornice & Slate

President Kurt A. Hesse, co-owner of Detroit Cornice & Slate.

The Klimer single-mast towers were anchored in tight pockets

of space within the exterior nooks and corners of this late Victorian

Romanesque-style church. Because of the building’s multiple

wings and assorted side steeples, the work platforms did not have

access to grade, and without this access, a more traditional

double-mast climbing system was not a viable option. “There is

no other machine that could have performed this task,” said Kurt

Hesse. “They are also self-erecting. Each has a small crane of its

own on top. It picks up each piece of metal tower and sets it on

top of the other, one at a time. It builds itself.”

Doing lunch 200 FeeT Above grADe

A Connelly crane hoisted materials to the Klimer work platforms

that descended the mast towers almost every evening – at least to

a point just above the bell tower and over 100 feet above the street.

This arrangement made for an interesting evening and morning

“commute” to the worksite for the Detroit Cornice & Slate crew.

“When we came down in the evening, we could only come down

to an area near the bell tower,” said Kurt Hesse.

Morning and evening, the crew navigated a series of stairs and

ladders within the church to access the exterior work platform or

the steeple interior, depending on the phase of the job. The usual

morning drill: climb a steep wooden ladder to access the bell

tower; scale a vertical steel ship’s ladder placed flush to the bell

tower wall; and then either move from the attic-like space above

the bell tower to the exterior work platform or traverse a series of

newly installed wood floors and ladders within the steeple interior

to access the day’s worksite.

“We also cut periodic access holes in the steeple, placing them

at the new floor levels within the steeple,” said Kurt Hesse.

“Sometimes we left the materials on the work platform at these

access points to save time the next day.”

Detroit Cornice & Slate had to monitor and synchronize the

movements of the two work platforms as the units scaled the mast

towers. “We had people stationed on the corners to make sure

both machines went up level,” said Kurt Hesse. Each work

platform can scale its metal mast in only a few minutes, powered

by a gasoline engine and controlled by a simple hydraulic and 12-

volt electrical system.

At mid-day, man and machine joined forces for a well-deserved

lunch break 200 feet above grade. The lunch drill: call for carry

out and lower a bucket filled with cash for a stack of sandwiches

to the perplexed delivery person standing on the sidewalk below.

Then hoist your daily bread hundreds of feet in the air to the work

platform, and hope the order is right. All in all, it was just another

day on the jobsite at St. Josaphat Church’s steeple renovation.

The hole in The Skyline

The project officially started in March 2014, but the actual story

began on a wickedly windy day in November 2013. Violent winds

R E P A I R I N G

Detroit Cornice & Slate Resurrects St. Josaphat Steeple

BY MARY E. KREMPOSKY, ASSOCIATE EDITOR • PHOTOS COURTESY OF DETROIT CORNICE & SLATE

R O O F I N G

nearly succeeded in toppling the 112-year-

old steeple. As the “first-responder,” CASS

Sheet Metal, Detroit, stripped the slate from

the steeple to remove this imminent safety

hazard. The intense winds had even

damaged the actual wood substructure in

places, calling for CASS to install plywood

to cover the open gaps. “CASS also

installed some cabling in the steeple interior

for initial stabilization,” said Kurt Hesse.

“They kept it from falling over.”

CASS also contributed the concept of

using cables for the permanent stabilization

of this well-known spire rising along the

edge of I-75 near downtown Detroit. “Given

the height of the steeple and its condition,

there was quite a bit of difficulty accessing

the steeple,” said Robert Darvas Associates

Managing Director, Erik Majcher, SE, PE.

“Glenn Parvin, CASS Sheet Metal, brought

up the idea of using cables as the lateral

bracing system, as they are lightweight and

flexible, allowing hoisting to be a simpler

task than that of a rigid member.”

After initial stabilization, money was the

only missing ingredient for a full steeple

renovation. As a godsend, donations from

the entire Detroit metropolitan area poured

into a campaign called Save Our Steeples.

The campaign – and some insurance

money – funded the repairs necessary to

soundly secure and completely re-clad St.

Josaphat’s landmark spire. “No one could

imagine driving down I-75 and not seeing

the steeple,” said Marc Hesse. “It would

have created a hole in the skyline.”

The same campaign will also help

stabilize several other steeples, including

the nearby Sweetest Heart of Mary Church.

In fact, this church marked the beginning of

Robert Darvas Associates’ involvement at

St. Josaphat Church. “We worked with the

parish previously to provide a structural

condition assessment of the steeples at

Sweetest Heart of Mary,” said Majcher.

“Based on our work and relationship from

that project, and a recommendation from

my academic advisor at the University of

Michigan, Peter von Buelow, the parish

reached out to us to help with the steeple

at St. Josaphat when it became an

emergency.”

urbAn FArmerS

The new stabilization system is far superior

to the original system of wood beams

installed at the time of the building’s original

construction in 1901. A dense labyrinth of

wood braces had been installed piece meal

over the course of a century to stabilize the

steeple. “The steeple originally had a

system of wood braces throughout its

center to resist lateral forces,” said Majcher.

“That system, however, was inadequate,

and over time more wood framing and ad

hoc systems were added to try to reinforce

the steeple. The end result was a very

congested system of bracing within the

steeple, all concentrated in the center.”

Detroit Cornice & Slate Project Manager

Mike Wilson describes the bracing system

and the November storm’s damage to this

wood maze: “Originally, there was a large

wood post up the center of the steeple.

The wood cross bracing and lumber filled

the steeple interior to such an extent that

you could hardly see up through it. The

wind storm ripped out a lot of nails and

busted up a great deal of the structural

framing.”

Wilson provides an overview of the

contemporary stabilization strategy: “Four

floors were built at different levels using

laminated beams and plywood. The

laminated wood is much stronger than

using two-by-four lumber. We cross cabled

each of the four areas from floor to floor.

This enabled us to move each area one

level at a time.”

Using a system of turnbuckles, each of

the four areas could be pulled in a different

direction to restore the steeple’s straight,

sleek line. According to Majcher, “The


pDetroit Cornice & Slate left out areas where the mast-climbing scaffold was tied into the

steeple. As the crew completed work above and began descending and breaking the mast

down, they filled in the gaps with slate.

pThe project had several means of access:

two, single-mast climbing scaffolds, a crane

and the sheer muscle power of ascending

interior stairs and ladders.


turnbuckles allow the cables to be tightened

or loosened without twisting the cables.”

Amazingly, the steeple, twisted by the

wind to resemble the bent tip of a wizard’s

hat, is now properly aligned. “We exceeded

the church’s expectations,” said Kurt Hesse.

“They were hoping for stabilization, but they

never thought it would become straight.”

The Hesse brothers credit Wilson and the

team of seven crew members, sheet metal

workers by trade but all of whom were

raised on a farm and accustomed to

stabilizing and tightening the cables of

wood-framed barns. Ironically, the crew’s

down-on-the-farm expertise saved this

valuable structure in Detroit’s urban core. “I

can’t say enough about Mike Wilson,” said

Kurt Hesse. “He’s fantastic. We couldn’t

have done it without him.”

The amazing Klimer allowed access to the very

tip of the steeple and permitted repair of the

gold-leafed cross and its base. From the base to

the top of the cross, this well-known landmark

near downtown Detroit is now stabilized,

straightened and beautifully re-clad.

uThe roofing saviors of St. Josaphat Church’s

steeple, left to right: Marc Brantley; Jose

Bock-King; Doug Carnahan; Matt Adkins;

Robert Maxwell; Kurt Hesse; Randy Default;

and Mike Wilson.

STAbilizATion: A PlAy-by-PlAy

Straightening the steeple was a complex

orchestration, requiring intense coordination

between Detroit Cornice & Slate and Robert

Darvas Associates. “Every time we ran into

an obstacle, Erik was right there with us

evaluating the situation,” said Wilson. “He

went back to his office and had an

approved solution the next day.” Marc

Hesse added, “Robert Darvas did a nice job

of engineering it. It is better now than it ever

was.”

Ultimately, straightening the steeple took

close to two weeks. “The entire stabilization

– the cables, the floors, and the final

straightening - took three to four weeks,”

said Wilson.


STeP one: A Single cuSTom

brAckeT

The first step in the stabilization and

straightening of this historical spire was the

installation of 64 custom brackets to hold

the cables. Robert Darvas Associates

designed and Detroit Cornice & Slate

fabricated and installed the brackets. “We

bolted these special brackets - 16 per level

- to the structural lumber in the hips of the

eight-sided steeple, only four of which are

cabled,” said Wilson.

For efficiency, Robert Darvas Associates

was able to design a single custom bracket.

“In order to properly transfer loads from

member to member, the line of force in each

member needs to coincide with each

member’s neutral axis,” said Majcher.

“However, given the geometry of the

steeple, there were several unique

conditions that would have required the use

of several different types of brackets. We

were able to design a single custom bracket

that could be used at each of the unique

connections in the steeple by rotating or

flipping the bracket, making fabrication and

erection simpler.”

STeP Two: From wooD brAceS To

STeel cAbleS

According to Marc Hesse, Detroit Cornice

& Slate removed the existing maze of wood

braces and installed 3/8th inch cables

formed of No. 19 galvanized steel, stringing

the cables across one end of an interior wall

to the floor below. “The cables were

installed on four different perimeter walls on

each level to avoid the congested center of

the steeple,” said Majcher. “Once the

cables were installed, the existing

inadequate bracing could be removed one

level at a time. In the end, the existing

system was replaced with a more

permanent solution.”

STeP Three: STreSS-Free cAbling

For basic stabilization, Detroit Cornice &

Slate had to make each cable taut without

officially tightening the cables into final

position. “For each cable, we would tighten

the cable and then let it relax,” said Wilson.

“If you pull the lumber too much at once, it

will start breaking. We had to get it to the

point where the cable had some tension on

it, then relax the cable and wait a few days

before retightening it.”

This approach aided in making the

steeple streamlined and straight. “One of

the goals of the strengthening, or tensioning

and loosening, was to attempt to straighten

the steeple as much as possible,” said

Majcher. “For this to happen, the steeple

had to be adjusted incrementally, which

required the cables to be tensioned and

then loosened. Once the steeple was as

straight as it could be, the cables were

pulled tight to keep the structure rigid.”

STeP Four: All hAnDS on Deck

Detroit Cornice & Slate built the floor decks,

each deck constructed to fit the shape of

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R O O F I N G


the steeple interior at each different level.

Majcher offers his engineering take: “In

order to transfer the lateral forces, wind for

example, from the individual exterior

framing members to the cables, there is a

need to have something that collects the

individual loads and transfers them to the

cables. The floor is essentially a diaphragm

that serves as this ‘collector.’ It also

creates a working platform and a simple

way of traversing the steeple for future

inspections.”

STeP Five: ProPer TenSioning = A

STrAighT STeePle

Detroit Cornice & Slate then began the final

tensioning of the cables, pulling the cables

and tightening a series of turnbuckles with

the expertise of master “puppeteers,” all to

restore the proper alignment of St.

Josaphat’s steeple.

Detroit Cornice & Slate would scrutinize

the steeple in the morning before

ascending to the worksite. “We would walk

around it and examine every floor,” said

Wilson. “We knew where our floor decks

were, and we could tell, for example, if the

first level needed to be moved to the north

or the second floor had to go east.”

This contemporary stabilization system is

also adjustable far into the future. “The

system was designed to withstand future

wind occurrences,” said Majcher.

“Materials also have a tendency to move

and adjust over time, so there is a need for

intermittent inspections and adjustment of

the cables, which the system allows.”

rooFerS go Above AnD beyonD

The cAll oF DuTy

Installing a new substructure further

stabilized this venerable old steeple. First,

Detroit Cornice & Slate secured the existing

deck boards with stainless steel screws.

“The nails had rusted off on many of the

boards, and some boards were actually

missing and then replaced,” said Wilson.

Lining the steeples’ hips with galvanized

steel created a stable, rock-solid structure.

“We tied all eight corners, or hips, together

with 20-gauge metal plates from the heel to

the top,” said Marc Hesse.

In addition to its very own “hip

replacement,” the restored steeple now has

a completely new substructure, including a

new half-inch layer of CDX exterior grade

plywood, an ice and water shield and a

layer of 30 lb. felt. The crowning glory is a

new exterior cloak of Camara slate from the

quarries of Vermont. Thanks to the

craftsmanship of a company that has been

installing slate since 1888, approximately

8,100 pieces of slate are now fastened with

copper nails to 4,500 square feet of the

renovated steeple. “We left out areas where

the mast-climbing scaffold was tied into the

steeple,” said Kurt Hesse. “As we came

down and began breaking the mast down,

we installed slate in these gaps.”

Detroit Cornice & Slate also extensively

tuck-pointed both interior and exterior areas

of brick, because the wild winds of

November even moved the steeple on its

brick podium and actually damaged some

of the masonry. “We did much more work

on the steeple than we were contracted to

do, including tuck-pointing and some

woodwork,” said Marc Hesse.

The olD ruggeD croSS

The steeple wasn’t the only damaged

element on this historical church. The cross

at the very top of the steeple was leaning

backwards and tilting to either side,

depending on the wind direction. “A good,

strong wind would move it five or six feet,”

said Marc Hesse.

The copper-clad cross was actually

pocked with bullet holes in addition to being

completely exposed to the weather. A 10-

inch piece of copper on the very top of the

cross was completely missing, exposing

this gold-leaf painted cross to the full force

of the elements. All the flashings and joints

of the copper wrapping the ball-like base

were separated at the joints. “The cross

was in rough shape, and it was loose,” said

Wilson. “Thank God, there was a wood

member in the center of it. This wood post

actually goes down into the building about

eight or 10 feet.”

Detroit Cornice & Slate repaired the

damaged flashings, fabricated new copper

pieces and enveloped the wood

substructure in new exterior plywood and

copper cladding. As the final touch, the

base was painted white and the cross was

given a fresh coating of gleaming gold leaf.

Access to the cross and to the higher

reaches of the steeple was again a large

part of the battle. “The farther the metal

tower rises, the further the work stage

becomes away from the steeple,” said Kurt

Hesse. Problem solved with two adjustable

arms that draw the working platforms in

closer to the working surface of the steeple

and cross.

Detroit Cornice & Slate also created a

series of intersecting work bridges. Two

secondary metal stages span the main

work platforms; a wood bridge then spans

the secondary stages in an elaborate

crisscrossing of layers, all to gain access to

the sloping flanks of an increasingly narrow

spire.

The STeePlechASe

Detroit has a host of historic churches

whose steeples have been part of the city’s

qThe Klimer single-mast towers were

anchored in tight pockets of space within

the exterior nooks and corners of this late

Victorian Romanesque-style church.

R O O F I N G

his arresting red silhouette.

Majcher shares Detroit Cornice & Slate’s

enthusiasm for Detroit’s revitalization. “I

have a strong sense of pride in Detroit and

an eagerness to play a significant role within

the city,” said Majcher. “The opportunity to

work on any project that contributes to the

preservation or renewal of Detroit and the

entire region is a source of great joy and

pride for me. The joy and pride I feel in

being part of the team that successfully

completed work on St. Josaphat’s steeple

is immeasurable.”

The Detroit area’s gratitude to the

companies who hammered copper nails,

installed cables and straightened this

damaged but iconic steeple is

immeasurable, as well. Drivers on I-75,

accustomed to seeing St. Josaphat’s cross

and steeple set against the blue glass

towers of the GM Renaissance Center, can

thank the engineers and the Roofers in the

City for a job well done.


skyline for over a hundred years. A few

have fallen and several may be on the brink

of falling, including the Sweetest Heart of

Mary steeple near St. Josaphat. “Sacred

Heart Church’s steeple on Mt. Elliot actually

toppled over eight years ago and landed

right on the road,” recalled Marc Hesse.

“St. Josaphat Church was very lucky that

their steeple didn’t come down.”

Fortunately, the Detroit area enjoys the

services of roofing craftsmen, such as

Detroit Cornice & Slate. The company has

restored and stabilized steeples and other

towering structures, both locally and

nationally. Detroit Cornice & Slate

renovated steeples for Kirk in the Hills

Church in Bloomfield Hills, as well as two

smaller steeples, one for Zion Lutheran

Church and the other for Salem Lutheran

Church, both in Ann Arbor. National

projects include steeple renovation for a

chapel in a Dayton, Ohio Veterans

Administration complex, and for St. Francis

Church in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

Detroit Cornice & Slate is continuing its

“heavenly” work, having commenced

repairs on the Sacred Heart Church in

Dearborn this past April. The company’s

tradition of craftsmanship is deeply rooted,

having begun with the Hesse brothers’

great grandfather, Frank Andrew Hesse, a

tinsmith who immigrated to the United

States from Magdeburg, Saxony, Germany

in 1872. He founded Detroit Cornice &

Slate in 1888, and the rest is history for this

long-lived company and one of CAM’s

oldest members.

The company is dedicated to Detroit’s

historic structures and to the fine art of

craftsmanship, itself. At the St. Josaphat

Church jobsite, Detroit Cornice & Slate

even showcased the work of Detroit artist,

John Sauve, the creator of the Man in the

City Sculpture Project. The Man in the City

is a bold, red-painted metal cut-out of a

man in a dapper hat that is popping up on

buildings throughout the metropolitan area,

but especially on urban structures, adding

a touch of outdoor art to The D. At St.

Josaphat’s, the Man in the City was

perched on the very top of the Klimer mast,

watching over the intricate work below with

United Union of Roofers,

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Beginning the work week in a building

known as Detroit’s largest art object

banishes the Monday morning blues. This

Valhalla of over 40 different types of marble,

barrel-vaulted ceilings glowing with color,

and bronze elevator doors etched with

cockatiels can be none other than the

Fisher Building in Detroit’s New Center. The

location of The Christman Company’s new

southeastern Michigan office can be none

other than this phenomenal Art Deco

building constructed by Christman itself in

1928.

In the late ‘20s, the clarion call of

hundreds of air hammers, riveting the steel

“bones” of this Cathedral of Commerce into

place, filled the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Peak manpower was around 2,000

workers, and of those, close to 900 were

Christman employees,” said Christman

Senior Vice President Ronald D. Staley,

FAPT.

Christman constructed Albert Kahn’s

signature building in only 15 months – and

then moved in for the next 30 years. “We

maintained offices on the 10th floor from

1928 to the late 1950s,” said Staley.

In May 2015, Christman returned home

to this National Historic Landmark and

turned the lights back on in a space vacant

for five years. Christman’s 25-person

Southeast Michigan staff of estimators,

project managers and business

development professionals now occupies

the 26th floor. Being enveloped in the

craftsmanship and swift project delivery of

its own company will certainly inspire a new

generation of Christman professionals to

new heights.

This lofty aerie of an office actually served

as the private executive bastion of the

seven Fisher Brothers, the team of siblings

that brought the closed car body to the

automotive world and placed the famous

stamp of quality – Body by Fisher - on the

door panel. The fit is perfect: A Body by

Fisher and a building by Christman, two

companies with a legacy of quality

workmanship.

Step off the elevator on the 26th floor and

step back in time. The lobby is an elegant

jewel, clad in walnut, marble and

BY MARY E. KREMPOSKY

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Welcome HomeTHE CHRISTMAN

COMPANY RETURNS

TO THE FISHER

BUILDING

p TOP

A reception area greets visitors and clients to The Christman

Company’s new southeastern Michigan office.

p BOTTOM

Location, location, location … The Christman Company’s new

southeastern Michigan office renovated and now occupies the

former executive bastion of the Fisher brothers in the Fisher

Building. Christman restored the walnut, marble, ornamental

plaster and chandeliers of the elevator lobby on the 26th floor.

PHOTOS BY IKE LEA


ornamental plaster. Floral carvings festoon the walnut fireplace. The ceiling: two

restored original chandeliers of silver and brass, as well as pure white ovals of

ornamental plaster with designs as elaborate as a wedding cake. The floor: a carpet

set in a richly patterned marble border. “I came up to the 26th floor, saw the lobby

and fell in love with it,” said Staley.

Staley not only fell in love with it, but he also spearheaded the effort to renovate the

entire floor and to re-establish the firm’s presence in southeastern Michigan. Hannah-

Neumann/Smith LLC, Detroit, worked collaboratively with Christman to blend historical

elements with contemporary office spaces and building systems. As partner in charge,

Beverly Hannah coordinated with Neumann/Smith project designer, Charlott Lembke,

and supervised construction document production.

Beyond the lobby, Christman’s new 6,000-square-foot corporate residence is a

contemporary office suite with glass partitions and accent walls painted in the

company’s trademark copper color. However, the original building materials of this

storied space are highlighted in multiple locations throughout the workspace. In the

two conference rooms, opulent ceilings of restored ornamental plaster co-exist with the

large-screen video conferencing capabilities of a modern boardroom.

Christman and Hannah-Neumann/Smith scoured the material vault in the basement

of the Fisher Building to find original building materials for use as unique accents

throughout this contemporary office. As a result, Christman’s new Southeast Michigan

R E N O V A T I O N / R E S T O R A T I O N

In 1911, Christman opened its first Detroit office on Washington

Street across from the Book Building. The company worked with

Henry Ford and Albert Kahn on constructing many of the buildings

that made Detroit the Motor City, including the Ford Highland Park

Factory “A” addition in 1917. In 1918, Christman constructed the

Ford Shipbuilding Plant, a facility within the Rouge complex

dedicated to building World War I submarine chasers known as

Eagle boats or victory ships.

Besides the Fisher Building, Christman’s other notable Detroit

projects of that era include Detroit Masonic Temple in 1926, the

Maccabees Building in 1927 and The Detroit Times Building in 1929.

Christman recently moved from its Livonia office of six years to

its former home in the Fisher Building as part of re-establishing a

southeastern Michigan regional office. “The new office covers all of

southeastern Michigan, from US 23 east and south to Toledo,” said

Christman Senior Vice President Ron Staley. “It’s a good portion of

A STORIED COMPANY RETURNS TO A STORIED SPACEthe five-county area of southeastern Michigan.”

The move will allow a company founded in 1894 to be a part of the

next chapter in Detroit’s history. “We also want to support Detroit-based

companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan and DTE,” said

Staley. “It’s great to have a dedicated presence in Detroit. What is fun

too is being closer to firm’s like CASS Sheet Metal that have worked in

Detroit for years.”

Christman has already rolled up its sleeves and is delivering two

adaptive reuse projects for Bedrock Real Estate Services. The projects

include 1201-1217 Griswold, and 1215 Griswold, a building in the

Capitol Park Historic District with first floor commercial space and five

levels of apartments. Contemporary projects include work for Wayne

State University, the Detroit Medical Center, Oakland University, ice

arena modifications for Cranbrook, and a $25 million conversion of a

former DTE service center in Southfield into the world headquarters for

Durr Group, a German OEM manufacturer.

pThe main conference room is a seamless blend of

contemporary space and historical flourishes in the

form of the newly restored ornamental plaster ceiling.

tA historical dining sign

discovered in the Fisher

Building’s material vault is

the perfect complement to

this contemporary,

multipurpose space that

serves as an employee

lounge, conference break-

out space and after-hours

business and social

gathering hub.



regional office is a happy marriage of the

early 20th and 21st Centuries. But like any

good marriage, it took work to make it a

success.

GEttinG With thE PROGRam

The interior was a conventional, bland

office-scape. “Think of the worst of the

1960s to the 1980s,” said Staley. “Think of

an eight-foot, lay-in acoustic tile ceiling grid,

ugly carpeting and drywall. All the

ornamental plaster had been covered up to

make way for air-conditioning, and the

space had been used as five different office

suites rather than one suite for one

company.”

Before stripping these outdated finishes,

the project team tackled two core concerns

to transform and program the space. First,

the large elevator bank is not centered in

the exact core of the 26th floor. The offices

surround the elevator in a square, but not

all sides of the square are equal. “Some

sides are quite wide, while the others are

quite narrow,” said Staley. “Because the

elevators are offset and consumes a large

part of the footprint, probably the biggest

challenge of the project was taking an

inefficient floor plate and making it into a

functional contemporary office space.”

The east end is spacious; the west end is

cramped and narrow. The north has

generous space but less inspiring views; the

south has small offices but a grand view of

downtown Detroit’s skyline and of the

Detroit River coiling along the city’s edge

from Belle Isle to beyond the Ambassador

Bridge.

Secondly, the level of intact decorative

detail in any given area was a strong factor

in space programming. Hannah-

Neumann/Smith removed several test

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NEW CRANBROOK OBSERVATORYHENRY FORD ESTATE

p BEFORE

Former tenants had covered the original

ornamental plaster with a standard ceiling grid

to make room for modern HVAC systems. The

plaster in different areas was in various stages

of disrepair.


acoustic ceiling tiles to pinpoint the location

and gauge the condition of the original

ornamental plaster, hoping to match high-

visibility spaces with intact original materials.

Only a full-scale removal of the ceiling

tiles could chart the way forward. “Very

early on in the project, Christman was able

to get the building management to pull all

the old acoustic ceiling tiles out,” said

Hannah-Neumann/Smith Principal and

Historic Preservation Architect J. Michael

Kirk, AIA, LEED AP. “This allowed us to

assess which areas had severe damage

and which did not. We could then program

the functional spaces that Christman

required, and also understand how the

location and different adjacencies of those

spaces could work with the best features

uncovered in the building.”

The unveiling revealed a fair amount of

water damage from the Fisher Building’s

stepped roof. Fortunately, the plaster in the

spacious east end was fairly intact, allowing

the area to be used for a central reception-

kitchen lounge flanked by two conference

rooms. In fact, the ornamental plaster in the

conference rooms is “probably 80 percent

original and 20 percent repaired,” said Staley.

A large northwest corner office, now

Staley’s own, also has a grand canvas of

ornamental plaster in good repair. All three

intact rooms have different plaster patterns,

because each office had its own plaster

pattern, as well as its own distinct marble

floor border, ranging from circles to

diamonds.

Other plaster ceilings were damaged

beyond repair, including most of the north,

south and west quadrants. “Some areas of

plaster were so destroyed that it didn’t

make sense to keep it,” said Staley.

thE PaRty iS in thE KitchEn

With generous space and original building

details in good repair, the entire east

quadrant could be used as high-visibility

spaces. In fact, Hannah-Neumann/Smith

relocated the employee kitchen from the

south to the east side, placing it between

the two conference rooms and directly

behind the reception area.

According to Kirk, this approach freed up

space for two more south-side offices and

turned the kitchen into an employee lounge,

a breakout area for conferences, and an

after-hours space for business and social

gatherings. “The saying goes, ‘Where does

the party always happen?’” said Christman

Senior Project Executive Samuel J.

Ruegsegger III, LEED AP BD+C, AVS. “It’s

in the kitchen.”

“Christman Vice President Paul Jacob

suggested this idea,” said Kirk. “He came

in probably midway through design and

challenged us all. He was looking for ways

to get more density and future flexibility out

of the space. It was his idea, which we then

translated into an actual space. I think the

idea was a great contribution to the

effectiveness of the layout.”

To make it happen, a floating wall,

emblazoned with the Christman name and

logo, was inserted to informally separate the

reception area from the upscale, community

kitchen. The circulation paths in the east

end were kept fluid to “create circular paths

between spaces in order to maximize the

area as an entertainment space,” said Kirk.

This new lounge can even serve as a

more comfortable version of a conventional

waiting area. “Ron Staley and I kidded

about the fact that we didn’t want to have

somebody sit in a cold chair near a

reception desk with outdated magazines to

wait to talk to us,” said Ruegsegger. “With

our kitchen, a visitor comes in, has a cup of

coffee and takes a seat at our pub table. It’s

much more comfortable and welcoming.”

Not to mention the panoramic view of

Detroit stretching to the horizon, and the

occasional glimpses of a peregrine falcon,

a fellow “tenant” that nests in the upper

reaches of the Fisher Building.

The east end is a show piece, while the

west end is a work horse. Located directly

adjacent to the office of Christman’s lead

estimator, the area can be used as a “war

room” on bid days. “The bid room also

serves as flex space for our employees, for

training sessions and even formal

meetings,” said Ruegsegger. “We now

have a multitude of configurations in that

area, giving us a truly dynamic space on the

west side of our building.”

ElEvatOR OR StaiRS?

With the programming plan in place, June

2014 marked the beginning of full-scale

demolition and asbestos and lead

abatement. In some areas, Christman

peeled off three or four layers of flooring

before reaching the marble border and the

concrete base that once framed ornamental

floor coverings. “Some areas had linoleum,

sheet linoleum and then carpeting on top of

the marble,” said Staley. New carpeting

now covers and protects the marble

borders in the former Fisher offices; new

laminate beautifully simulates richly grained

wood in the reception-lounge area.

Ferndale-based Russell Plastering Co.,

one of several trade contractors hand-

picked by Christman for the project,

p aFtER

Russell Plastering Co. restored the ornamental

plaster to its former beauty in areas capable of

being salvaged. The plaster had never been

painted, but was always a pure white throughout

the Fisher brothers’ stay in the 26th floor offices.


PHOTO COURTESy OF THE CHRISTMAN COMPANy


repaired and restored the delicate

ornamental plaster. Less intact than the

conference rooms, the reception area has a

few “missing” scrolls and curlicues, but the

untrained eye could never tell given the

sheer amount of plaster “eye-candy.”

“There are a few areas where the plaster

wasn’t finished and restored because the

water damage was severe,” said Staley.

“But we didn’t want to make the office like

a museum; we wanted to show the history

of the building.”

In working almost at the pinnacle of the

Fisher Building, the only access for

materials was the freight elevator. “We told

the trades that if the materials can’t fit in the

elevator cab, they will have to bring it up 26

flights of stairs,” said Ruegsegger. “you can

imagine everybody picked the freight

elevator.”

Christman identified and clustered

together longer materials, such as the metal

studs and the ceiling grid. These materials

were transported during a specified time

period with the aid of two specialty trained

elevator operators. “One person operated

the elevator and another inspected it to

guarantee proper clearance,” said

Ruegsegger.

thE BESt OF BOth WORldS

Unlike past tenants, this project team didn’t

want to sacrifice the loveliness of the

space’s original craftsmanship for the

comfort of a modern HVAC system. But

how do you insert new HVAC and fire

suppression systems without marring the

delicate tapestries of ornamental plaster?

The HVAC duct work was actually

installed vertically rather than horizontally in

the conference rooms. “The HVAC

contractor, Dee Cramer, Holly, examined the

air flow calculations and determined that we

could use the same size duct turned on its

side vertically,” said Kirk. “We matched the

dimensions of the upper cornice, and

placed the duct work in that area rather

than having it flow across the rooms’

ceilings. Enclosed in another soffit, piping

for a new fire suppression system runs

beneath the cornice on the opposite side of

the room.”

Building drywall soffits for the HVAC

system along the side walls preserved the

upper cornice in other areas. The project

team also installed large HVAC equipment

in areas too damaged for exposing any of

the original materials. “The narrow west

end was chosen to house the air intake and

other large mechanical pieces,” said Staley.

“Damage to the original walnut beams in the

reception area led to installation of drywall

soffits to house the HVAC system in this

area.”

Besides modern amenities, Christman

wanted to preserve the sheer height of the

ceilings. “We selected the right

configuration of above-ceiling units and

thought out the proper placement of piping

to get that high-ceiling height,” said

Ruegsegger. “It was disheartening that the

plaster was ruined over the years, however,

its absence provided the opportunity to

install modern technology into the building

and still have the desired ceiling height.”

Christman also installed some of the

condensing units in the mechanical

penthouse housed inside the roof of the

pDawn Bilobran, a Christman project

engineer, was among the team that

scoured the material vault in the

basement of the Fisher Building to find

original building materials for use as

unique accents throughout this

contemporary office.

pThe elevator lobby is the elegant portal to the The Christman Company’s new southeastern

Michigan office.

PHOTO COURTESy OF THE CHRISTMAN COMPANy


Fisher Building. “One challenge was finding

a pathway from the 30th level to the 26th

story to bring those services down and

connect them to our equipment,” said

Ruegsegger.

Installing a new fire suppression system

in the elegant lobby was a tour de force.

Few would ever notice its presence. The

sprinkler system piping is actually exposed,

but the pipes are painted to match the

wood paneling; the fire suppression heads

are painted a pure white to blend with the

plaster. “We actually stood at different

angles with the painter, Midwest Pro

Painting, Livonia, on a scaffold to get the

right transition line, so no one will ever

notice it,” said Ruegsegger.

ExPlORinG thE catacOmBS

The project team thoughtfully inserted

contemporary building systems into the

Fisher brothers’ old offices. Staley, Kirk and

Dawn Bilobran, a Christman project

engineer, also plumbed the depths of the

Fisher Building’s basement to retrieve

original materials for the new office. “We

called the basement the catacombs of the

Fisher Building, because in some areas the

structural height was about four feet high,”

said Kirk. “We had to get down on our

hands and knees in some areas. Building

management allowed us to use these

original building materials, both unused as

well as those from previous renovations, in

our suite design under the stipulation that

anything we used had to be retained in its

original size and configuration.”

Exploring the “catacombs” unearthed

some treasures now gracing the walls of the

Christman suite:

• In the east end, three large, decorative

cast iron air grills are attached to the

kitchen area wall.

• In the south corridor, the Fisher

Building’s iconic green-glazed terra

cotta roof tiles are used as wall

accents. “We found them stacked in

the basement and covered with a half-

inch of old dust,” said Staley. “They

were probably left over from when the

Fisher was originally built.”

• In the north corridor, a gorgeous

expanse of fluted marble panels forms

a wainscot along a portion of the wall.

CASS Sheet Metal installed a copper

shelf along the marble panels for use

as a picture rail.

Because of these efforts, the office suite

has a “rhythm” of contemporary and

historical materials that creates a truly

unique space almost 400 feet above West

Grand Boulevard and Second Avenues.

RE-OccuPy dEtROit

One of the final steps in completing

Christman’s new office was the dusting and

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polishing of the walnut, marble and brass in

the lobby. On a Saturday in late winter,

about 10 people from Christman, along with

10 to 12 graduate students from Eastern

Michigan University’s Historic Preservation

graduate program, began “spring cleaning”

in this elegant old lobby. “It was very

rewarding to be able to polish and lay hands

on some of the work of these craftsmen of

the 1920s,” said Vice President Marketing

and Corporate Communications Angela E.

Bailey.

The Fisher brothers would be content

with the depth and richness of their newly

restored walnut fireplace and wall panels.

“We cleaned the woodwork with a

restoration cleaner, which is a non-abrasive,

very mild hand soap that we left on for a few

minutes before wiping it clean,” said Staley.

Thanks to this dedicated crew, the

golden glow of the brass elevator doors –

almost alive with intricate etchings of

cockatiels, Japanese koi and gears in a type

of floral whirl – now fills this once private

sanctuary of the Fisher brothers. One

elevator, located off the main lobby, served

as a private elevator for use by the brothers

and their associates; the cab has not been

opened in over 30 years.

The finishing touch over the fireplace will

be hanging a sepia-tone photo of the seven

brothers, “dressed to the nines” in the

skimmer hats of the 1920s and celebrating

the groundbreaking of their monumental gift

to the City of Detroit. Two doors flank this

restored fireplace, one a false door and the

other leading directly to Christman’s new

bid room.

Moving back into one of Detroit’s crown

jewels is exciting for The Christman

Company and for the entire region, as the

drive continues to save, restore and re-

occupy Detroit’s amazing heritage of

historical buildings. Soon to change

ownership, the Fisher Building is a regional

and a national treasure now with a newly

renovated office suite near the very pinnacle

of this grand building.

The following trade contractors contributed

to this amazing project:

• HVAC - Dee Cramer, Inc., Holly

• Fire Suppression and Plumbing - John E

Green Co., Detroit

• Electrical and Fire Alarm - Detroit Power

Systems, Detroit

• General Trades - Christman Constructors,

Plymouth

• Wall Finishes - Acoustical Ceiling & Partition

Co., Ann Arbor

• Painting - Midwest Pro Painting, Livonia

• Plaster Restoration - Russell Plastering,

Ferndale

• Soft Flooring - Shock Brothers Flooring,

Roseville

• Hard Tile - Booms Stone, Redford

• Glazing Systems - Edwards

Glass, Livonia


BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN MOVES INTO THE CORNICE & SLATE BUILDING

photography By

John d’angElo

The original Cornice & Slate

Building and its stainless

steel-clad addition fill the last

gap in building ownership in

Blue Cross Blue Shield of

Michigan’s Detroit campus.

By Mary E. KrEMposKy

associatE Editor

RESTORING A DETROIT GEM


In 1872, a Saxon tinsmith, Frank Andrew

Hesse, immigrated to the United States,

ultimately forming the Detroit Cornice & Slate

Co. with business partner John Creswell.

Hesse’s legacy: A still thriving centennial

company, a long line of descendants with

the middle name Creswell and an elegant

jewel of a building with an ornate pressed tin

façade that once served as the company’s

headquarters and still stands today as part

of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s

(BCBSM) Bricktown campus in downtown

Detroit. In fact, the Cornice & Slate Building

is the last pressed tin façade remaining in

Detroit and one of the few in the entire State

of Michigan.

“There was a cast iron façade building on

Woodward Avenue that was demolished in

the late 1990s, so I think this is the last

completely metal façade in Detroit,” said J.

Michael Kirk, AIA, LEED AP, principal and

historic preservation architect, Hannah-

Neumann/Smith, LLC, Detroit. “There are

even a diminishing number of these pressed

tin facades regionally.”

Kirk offers more historical background on

the façade: “The pressed metal was used

extensively in both Victorian and Italianate

architecture to replicate details originally

formed in wood and later in stone. It tended

to be used just for single building elements,

such as the cornice or a canopy. Being

used on an entire façade, as on the Cornice

& Slate Building, is fairly unusual.”

Built in 1897, the building and its Italianate

façade are in remarkable condition, thanks

to a long line of building owners who took

good care of this treasure. In 2013, the

baton of ownership passed to BCBSM. The

building is clearly in good hands. BCBSM

selected Hannah-Neumann/Smith and The

Christman Company’s new southeastern

Michigan office to renovate the building and

make it fit the needs of staff working in

approximately 100 work stations for three

BCBSM departments: Executive Services,

Community Responsibility and Business

Continuity. “Employees have reacted very

positively to the building,” said BCBSM

Senior Project Coordinator Stan Mroz.

“They enjoy the character of the space, the

large historical windows, exposed brick and

the imperfections in the exposed wood

columns. These are unique elements to our

Detroit campus. The project turned out

wonderfully.”

a long history of ExcEllEncE

BCBSM acquired this unique gem to fill the

last gap in building ownership in its

downtown Detroit campus, which includes

several buildings in an area bordered by

Beaubien, Lafayette, I-375 service drive and

Congress Avenue. “The Cornice & Slate

Building was the only little piece that we

were missing,” said Mroz. “The building was

a natural fit to our campus; the historic

character was an added bonus.”

Acquiring the building is in perfect

alignment with BCBSM’s goal of deepening

its commitment and investment in Detroit.

Over three years ago, BCBSM relocated

3,000 employees from Southfield to the 500

and 600 Towers of the GM Renaissance

Center and its headquarters at 600 East

Lafayette. Both Neumann/Smith

Architecture and The Christman Company

were involved in the move to downtown

Detroit. Neumann/Smith developed the

master plan and then provided architectural

services in association with Ghafari

Associates, LLC. The Christman Company

provided program management and

development services for the project, said

Christman Project Executive Samuel J.

Ruegsegger III, LEED AP BD+ C, AVS.

Neumann/Smith has performed extensive

work throughout the entire BCBSM campus

for over 20 years, including a parking

structure with a rooftop walking track, a

sweeping outdoor pavilion and a brick plaza.

“We’ve done a lot of successful projects

together,” said Mroz. “Neumann/Smith has

the talent and experience, and we are just

continuing that tradition.”

taKing rEnovation to a nEw lEvEl

Continuing the very existence of adaptive

reuse projects takes an experienced and

knowledgeable team. The Cornice & Slate

project was implemented under Alteration

Level Three in the rehabilitation code. The

approach encourages the redevelopment of

historical, older and existing buildings by

exempting these structures from some of

the requirements of the current building

code, while still preserving important life

safety measures and systems. Kirk

explains: “Architects, who are not familiar

with working with existing buildings, may try

to apply the full force of the main building

code, which makes reuse of the building

problematic and costly. The theory behind

the rehabilitation code is that it is trying to

encourage improving the life safety of the

building, while not requiring everything in the

building to be brought up to the new building

code.

“Hannah-Neumann/Smith is very

experienced in this area. We have a great

working relationship with the Detroit Historic

District Commission (DHDC) and the Detroit

Building Department. At BCBSM’s Cornice

& Slate Building, we were able to show the

Department our code analyses early in the

project. They agreed with our approach,

which was quite helpful in managing the

overall construction tasks required on the

project.”

a BriEf history of a dEtroit gEM

Thanks to this knowledgeable team,

pThe Cornice & Slate Building is the last

pressed tin façade remaining in Detroit.

Being used on an entire façade also

distinguishes this highly ornate building.

Typically, pressed metal was used only on a

cornice or canopy.

C O N S T R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T

BCBSM and over 118 years of caring

owners, anyone can stand at the corner of

St. Antoine and E. Lafayette and take in the

pressed tin “eye-candy.” Garland swags,

Old World patterning, and a metal eagle with

outstretched wings as a roof pediment give

this modest three-story building a definite

street presence, even among its high-rise

neighbors – the nearby 30-story sleek blue

glass monolith of Greektown Casino Hotel

and the modern 22-story Detroit Tower

headquarters of BCBSM.

Detroit Cornice & Slate Co. occupied the

building from 1897 to 1972, using it as an

industrial workhorse for its roofing and sheet

metal business. On the west side, two sets

of stacked double doors show material

delivery methods, 1890s style. Monday

morning, 1897: A horse-drawn wagon trots

into the construction yard and enters the

lower doors. A pulley and winch,

suspended from a second-floor wood

beam, hoists the slate - and maybe even the

tin sheets for the building’s own façade – up

and through the double doors on the

second level. Today, that wood beam and

the original doors still remain, lending

character to the campus and honoring the

history of Detroit Cornice & Slate.

“Just to hear how the building functioned

was remarkable,” said Ruegsegger. Detroit

Cornice & Slate Co-Owner Kurt A. Hesse

remembers playing as a child with the

cables of the old freight elevator once

housed in what is now Floods Bar & Grille, a

popular eatery occupying the building’s first

floor. “It really brought the building to life for

our team to listen to those stories,” said

Ruegsegger. “We could really appreciate

what the building was all about when a

family member came back and was able to

connect us to the history of the building.”

A developer, Toby Citrin, purchased the

building in 1972, switching its use from

industrial to restaurant and office space.

William Kessler & Associates renovated the

building in 1973, and also became a tenant

as well as the architect for the building’s

1990 contemporary, stainless steel-clad

addition. The Metro Times is also a former

occupant of the facility.

a 118-yEar-old Building’s latEst

rE-invEntion

The building’s latest re-invention began with

investigative demolition in late 2013 and

structural repairs in 2014; both phases

reached completion at the end of March

2014. “We removed much of the old drywall

and plaster to expose the building structure

and gauge its condition,” said Hannah-

Neumann/Smith Senior Project Manager

Kathleen M. Buck, RA, LEED AP BD+C.

Ruegsegger adds, “We developed a

strategy as a team. Many of the existing

walls had to come out anyway to create an

open office environment. We said, ‘Why

don’t we just open up everything, so we

don’t have to guess at what is behind the

walls?’ A few surprises will always be

revealed, but I think this approach aided in

the team’s ability to understand the

structure, aid design and predict costs.”

The Christman Company kept the budget

on track through it all, but unknown

conditions are still the bane of adaptive reuse

and renovation. “Existing facilities, especially

historical facilities, are a wild card,” said

Ruegsegger. “We ran across issues, but we

stayed true to form and budget.”

One surprise was the condition of the

two-inch-thick concrete floor topping. The

concrete topping over the wood floor had

come loose in places and was not level in

other sections. Consequently, the entire

two-inch-thick concrete topping was

removed, leading to the discovery of some

wood floor joists in need of some TLC.

“We thought we could stabilize the

existing topping, but then it began to

become a little more questionable the

deeper that we literally dug,” said Buck.

“We removed the topping, and that process

exposed other unseen issues.”

Christman had to sister some of the joists

in the floor structure before placing a new

concrete topping over the entire floor.

“Overall, the wood floor joists were actually

in pretty good shape, with only a few areas

needing repair,” said Buck.

The floor structure’s durability is rooted in

the fact that it is primarily formed of old-

growth White Pine installed in 1897. “Today,

we use all the wood from a tree, but in the

1890s the wood was actually selected from

the best part of the interior of the tree,” said

Kirk. “That is why it has lasted so long. In

addition, the sap in the wood actually

petrifies over time. Any carpenter that has

tried to drill through this type of wood will tell

you that you will run out of drill bits, because

they burn them right up trying to go through

the wood.”

purE dEtroit

The building’s White Pine floor structure is

Pure Michigan. Its walls of locally produced

soft common brick are Pure Detroit. “Many

people think soft common brick will fall apart,”

said Kirk. “Actually soft common brick and

soft lime mortar holds up much better to

Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycle than

contemporary building materials do. The

softness of the brick and mortar will expand

and contract with the weather with less

resistance. Hard brick will have more of a

proclivity to come apart. Sometimes, a

company will put in hard Portland cement

mortar in those old mortar joints. Because the

mortar is stronger than the brick, it will actually

crack the face of the old brick right off.”

This soft but hardy common brick is now

beautifully exposed throughout the interior.

“This area of Detroit is known as Bricktown,

so it is natural to highlight and showcase the

brick in this building,” said Buck.

Preservation of the interior brick and other

exposed historical materials had to be done

with sensitivity to Flood’s Restaurant and to

the new office inhabitants. “BCBSM wants

a high level of environmental control and

environmental finish within their facilities,”




said Kirk. “We had to strike a careful balance

between the preservation process, which

sometimes can be a little gritty, and providing

a highly hygienic and modern office space.”

A chemical wash of the interior brick

would not be optimal given these concerns.

“All the brick was cleaned using a dry

method,” said Kirk. “In addition, if we just

left the brick in its natural state, it would tend

to powder over the years and create brick

dust at the bottom of the walls. We chose

to seal the brick to stabilize the finish.”

The ultimate Pure Detroit material is the

actual pressed tin façade made right on site

in Detroit. For the 2014 BCBSM renovation,

only five to 10 percent of the pressed tin

façade was in need of repair. The actual

repairs were concentrated near the eagle on

top of the building, and “as you would

expect, more of the repairs were down in the

lower portions of the façade near the street

level that incurs heavy foot traffic,” said

Ruegsegger.

What accounted for the durability of the

pressed tin? The answer: Bondo. “Part of

Kessler’s 1970s specifications was to have

an experienced auto body repairman

actually Bondo the façade as part of the

restoration effort,” said Kirk, who actually

worked for Kessler in the late ‘70s.

What better material to restore a building

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pThis contemporary conference room in the

1990 Kessler addition is modern in more

than just aesthetics. All the new utilities

travel across this ceiling before being

distributed to the rest of the building. The

utilities were delivered via an underground

trench and a new brick-clad utility shaft

before entering this very room.

in the Motor City than this 3M putty mainly

used as an automotive body filler. The

strategy has worked for decades in

preserving this unique façade. Today, only

one element is not original to 1897. “In

1946, the original eagle on the roof was

stolen,” said Buck. It seems scrapping may

have started in the 1940s.

a window into thE past

Hannah-Neumann/Smith and Christman

also restored the wood window sashes on

the ornate St. Antoine face of the building.

“We demonstrated that there were some

fairly significant rotted areas where the style

and rails of the window sash connected,”

said Kirk. “The existing window frames

could be preserved, but not the operating

sashes. History Windows in Illinois recreated

the sashes to meet the dimensions and

profiles of the historical sashes and then

reinstalled the sashes in the original window

frames.”

New insulated glass units were selected

and installed with the same keen awareness

of the need to preserve the windows units’

historical integrity. “On the St. Antoine side,

the glass was replaced with insulated glass

units to address current energy codes,” said

Buck. “The new units do not alter the profile

of the original window assembly. The new

glazing unit is also of a thickness acceptable

to the Detroit Historic District Commission.”

Kirk adds, “The Detroit Historic

Commission has a very rigorous standard.

You have to have a survey of the windows

done and prove to them that the windows

are damaged beyond repair before they will

permit replacement, which we did.”

BiM MEEts thE 19th cEntury

Restoring historical materials is a careful art

and science. At the BCBSM project, subtly

inserting MEP and fire suppression systems

presented another level of complexity, both

on the rooftop and underground. To maintain

the façade’s original profile, Hannah-

Neumann/Smith had to select rooftop

mechanical units not visible from street level.

Hannah-Neumann/Smith used BIM

technology to meet this requirement. “The

building is a single-property historic district,”

said Kirk. “In order to get approval from the

Detroit Historic District Commission, we not

only had to show that we were restoring all

the primary materials, but that the new

rooftop units would not be more prominent

than the existing ones. We accomplished

this by conducting 3D BIM analyses of the

building exterior.”

Hannah-Neumann/Smith Partner-in-

Charge Beverly Hannah supervised the 3D

laser scanning of the building, the BIM

model and rendering, and the historic view

shed analyses of the building exterior and

rooftop unit additions, as well as the BIM

analyses of the exterior plaza lighting.

Subtle alterations had to be made to

support the weight of the units. “The wood

columns in the interior of the upper level

needed to be strengthened with steel

channels to support the new mechanical

units on the roof,” said Buck.

Below grade, linking the mechanical,

electrical and fire protection systems of this

ornate satellite office to the “mother ship” of

BCBSM’s headquarters involved digging an

underground trench below the brick plaza

and its curved brick walls.

Digging the utility trench underneath the

brick plaza led to the discovery of some

unanticipated obstructions. Being an urban

site, hundreds of years of history are buried

below grade in a maze of footings and

unknown systems. “When we came across

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pLocally produced in 1897, the soft common

brick walls were left exposed in the interior,

adding character to the new Detroit offices of

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.



the courtyard with our utilities, we

encountered some obstructions, including

old footings,” said Ruegsegger. “We had to

shift to the east, ultimately taking a bit more

real estate away. We also had to come

across and widen the trench.”

The route: The underground utilities enter

the service yard of Floods Bar and then

scale a column hidden within a brick-clad

utility shaft. “We worked very hard to find a

brick that was harmonious, and that was the

best in a soft brick that we could find,” said

Buck. “It has a similar sort of mix and

character to the rest of the building.”

The utilities travel across the ceiling of a

second-story conference room and are then

distributed throughout the rest of the

building. Completing this circuit of

infrastructure, “the mechanical, electrical,

fire, and all life safety systems are then

monitored by a building automation system

that feeds into our command center in our

headquarters,” said Mroz.

going with thE flow

Once in the interior, MEP and fire

suppression systems tend to be viewed as

the ugly ducklings of the built environment.

At BCBSM’s new offices, the systems are

both concealed and revealed.

Ceiling clouds conceal the mechanical

systems throughout much of the interior, and

add a contemporary touch to the raw brick

walls and exposed wood columns, many

with the original markings from the facility’s

past usage as a 19th Century contractors’

operations center. Also true to this historical

building, the ceiling clouds are pitched on the

upper third level. “We wanted to expose the

original roof’s pitch, so the ceiling clouds are

also pitched,” said Buck.

“We had many meetings to make sure we

got it right,” said Ruegsegger. “The benefit

of all that effort is apparent in the space,

because it really flows. You get the modern

feel of the clouded ceilings, but the historic

feel of the exposed brick and other

elements.”

Open borders at the edges of the clouds

reveal a glimpse of the dense layers of data

cable trays, electrical conduit, sprinkler

piping and all the other systems that make

a contemporary office work. “We didn’t take

the ceilings all the way to the walls,” said

Buck. “We wanted to expose and celebrate

some of the duct work and pipes. You can’t

imagine all the planning sessions involved

that brought all the trades together to map

out what has to be above what other

system, and how to determine the

necessary amount of clearance.”

Working in close proximity to Floods Bar

added another layer of complexity to

inserting not only new MEP systems, but

also an entirely new elevator. “The new

elevator is only a few feet from the original,

but its footprint changed drastically,” said

Buck. “We tried to minimize the amount of

space the elevator would require.”

After three different iterations, “We

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removed the existing elevator and provided

underpinning and shoring of the structure to

bring the new elevator up through the

building,” said Ruegsegger. “We minimized

the impact of our operations to Floods’

business. They were great to work with and

very gracious in accommodating our needs,

both for the elevator and for bringing MEP

services through their space, as well.”

The three core construction issues - the

concrete topping, bringing new utilities into

the building and installing a new elevator -

were easily resolved given the positive

working relationship between all members

of the project team. “I never felt that these

issues were a struggle,” said Ruegsegger.

“That is a testament to the team, and how

we worked through these concerns. We put

them on the table, and we just came up with

solutions. If I could take this team – Stan

Mroz as owner, Kathy Buck and Mike Kirk

as architect – that’s the team I would travel

with.”

Buck also praises the entire project team,

as well as the opportunity to work on such a

building. “I find it absolutely thrilling to have

been a part of restoring this gem,” said Buck.

Buck also finds satisfaction in having played

a role in creating the entire BCBSM campus

that sweeps across a wide swath of Detroit’s

Bricktown. “I have been so fortunate to have

worked on the entire campus, including the

parking structure and other renovations on

the BCBSM campus,” said Buck.

Thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of

Michigan, Hannah-Neumann/Smith and The

Christman Company, the Cornice & Slate

Building is entering its 118th year in excellent

repair and with its incredible façade still

gracing the streets of downtown Detroit.

Ruegsegger sums it all up: “The building

has stood the test of time, and now serves

yet another generation of people.”

The following trade contractors participated

in the project:

• Structural Repair — Christman

Constructors, Plymouth

• Masonry Restoration — The Grunwell-

Cashero Co., Detroit

• General Trades — MIG Construction,

MBE, DCBE, WCBE, Detroit

• Fire Suppression — John E. Green Co.,

Detroit

• HVAC & Plumbing — Great Lakes

Mechanical, Detroit

• Electrical & Fire Alarm — Detroit Power

Systems, MMSDC, DBE, DHB, DSB,

Detroit

• Elevator — Otis Elevator Co.,

Farmington Hills

• Brick Pavers — WH Canon Company,

Romulus

The list of trade participants was provided courtesy of

the construction manager, architect and/or owner.




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Atlas Copco Completes New Soil Roller Linewith Dynapac CA1300 and CA1500 Rollers

Atlas Copco has introduced its CA1300 and CA1500 single-drum

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The engines on the CA1300 and CA1500 are cross-

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And because the engines are cross-mounted rather

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The CA1300 features a Tier 4 Final, 75-horsepower Kubota diesel

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achieve the same compaction speed every time.

For more information, call (800) 732-6762 or visit

www.atlascopco.us.



Larson Electronics Releases Innovative NEW300 Watt Explosion Proof LED Light Fixture

The Larson Electronics EPL-HB-2X150LED-RT Explosion Proof

High Bay light fixture provides operators with a powerful and

energy efficient alternative to traditional hazardous location

luminaries. LED technology and compact design makes this lamp

an excellent replacement upgrade option for the older, bulky and

high maintenance cost fixtures.

This Class 1 Division 1 & 2, Class 2 Division 1 & 2 explosion

proof light fixture provides 24,000 lumens of high quality light while

drawing only 300 watts. The copper free aluminum alloy body is

powder coated for added durability and an attractive aesthetic

appearance. Special heat dissipating design in conjunction with

LED technology helps this fixture to achieve an excellent 60,000

hour rated lifespan with 80 percent lumen retention. Light weight

and a low profile make this unit an attractive alternative to larger

and heavier older fixtures and require much less hardware to install.

This light is multi-voltage capable and can be operated with 100-

277 VAC, 50/60Hz without any need for a special ballast. The

aluminum body and LED lamp give this light excellent durability

and resistance to vibration and impacts. The housing is specially

designed to dissipate heat which increases the efficiency and

lifespan of the LED luminaries. The LED lamp produces 24,000

lumens with a color temperature of 6000K and a color rendering

index of 70 which produces colors and details much more

accurately than high pressure sodium or mercury vapor luminaries.

The EPL-HB-2X150LED-RT offers several mounting options

including ceiling mounting, pendant mounting, wall mounting and

cable mounting.

Larson Electronics carries an extensive line of LED light towers,

portable distributions, explosion proof lights for hazardous

locations, portable work lights and industrial grade LED area lights.

You can view Larson Electronics’ entire line of lighting by visiting

them on the web at www.Larsonelectronics.com. You can also call

(800) 369-6671 to learn more, or call (903) 498-3363 for

international inquiries.



Custom Roof HatchesAvailable to Meet Any AccessRequirementThe Bilco Company’s Type D double leaf

roof hatch features a large opening that

allows equipment to be easily installed or

removed from a building. Roof Hatches are

custom fabricated to meet virtually any

access opening requirement.

While Type D roof hatches have been

available since the 1950s, technical

advances over the years have allowed for

the manufacture of extremely large hatches

that are both durable and safe to operate.

These improvements have led to a broader

use of the product in a wide variety of

applications while satisfying a number of

unique access requirements. Hospitals have

utilized this roof hatch for the installation of

large MRI facility and to provide easy

access to this equipment for repairs or

replacement. Manufacturing facilities are

using equipment access hatches to bring

large pieces of processing equipment into

a building. In addition, hatches have also

been used to lower air handling equipment

into the top floor of high-rise buildings. More

commonly, the large access opening of the

Type D roof hatch is often used to bring

equipment through the building and onto

the roof for installation during building

construction.

Type D Equipment Access roof hatches

are designed for weather-tight performance

and safe and easy operation regardless of

the cover size and weight. Products feature

full EPDM gasketing, insulated covers and

curb and an overlapping cover design to

ensure energy efficiency and performance.

Each product is designed with lift assist that

is specifically engineered to the cover size

and weight to allow for easy, one-hand

operation.

For more information on the Equipment

Access roof hatches, or for CAD details,

BIM models or three-part specifications,

please visit www.bilco.com.

Larson Electronics has added to its

extensive range of industrial grade

lighting equipment with the release of a

five stage 50-foot telescoping light

mast. This light tower features a fold

over assembly, a rotating boom that

allows for 360° of rotation, and a

removable mast head for storing

mounted equipment when not in use.

The LM-50-5S fold over five stage

light mast from Larson Electronics

provides a safe and effective way for

operators to quickly deploy lights,

security cameras and other equipment

to elevations up to fifty feet. This light

boom can be extended to a height of

fifty feet for effective coverage and

collapsed to thirteen feet. The tower is

constructed of square steel tubing with

a base section 11’ in length and 6” x 6”

x 3/16” thick with a top section that is

11’ in length and 2” x 2” x 1/18” thick.

Each section of the mast has a fifteen

to eighteen inch overlap. The mast is

elevated from its folding position with a

2,500 pound hand winch that is fitted

with 3/16” cable. A second 2,500

pound hand winch provides the 13-50

foot elevation of the mast. The 360°

rotation is provided by a single T-

Handle. By loosening the T-Handle,

operators can rotate the mast with

ease in either direction. It can be locked

into place once the desired position is

found by tightening the T-Handle.

These light masts are typically

mounted to trailers or other stable

surfaces by an 18 inch x 18 inch, 3/8”

thick mounting base plate which has

been predrilled to accept six 1/2”

anchor bolts. A 44 inch wide and 1/8”

thick mounting plate is attached to the

upper section of the mast which

provides a strong and stable platform

for lights or equipment. When lowered

to 13 feet, the mast can withstand

winds up to 125 MPH. The light tower

weighs approximately 1300 pounds

and can easily support and lift 150

pounds of weight. The light tower is

shipped standard with two manual

hand winches but is offered with

optional electric winches for ease of

operation.

Larson Electronics carries an

extensive line of LED light towers,

portable power distribution systems,

explosion proof lights for hazardous

locations, portable work lights and

industrial grade LED area lights. You

can view Larson Electronics’ entire line

of lighting by visiting them at

www.larsonelectronics.com. You can

also call (800) 369-6671 to learn more

or call (214) 616-6180 for international

inquiries.

Larson Electronics Five Stage 50-Foot Telescoping Light Mast



The Engineering society of detroit has named

robert Magee executive director. Magee was

named interim executive vice president of ESD last

August. He was named to the permanent post by

a vote of the ESD Board of Directors in late

February. Magee is a veteran executive with 30

years of progressively greater responsibilities at

AT&T Advertising Solutions. He worked for the

telecommunications company as a general manager, regional vice

president, Midwest sales vice president, and vice president of

telephone sales. His career took him from his native Mississippi to

positions in Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, California, and finally,

Detroit.

Grand Rapids-based triangle

associates recently appointed

Brianne pitchford, lEEd ap

Bd+c, as senior project manager;

steve Moore as construction

superintendent; and cody watt

as employee relations

administrator. Pitchford will

manage multiple projects and team members

while completing the responsibilities for

administration, control and application of

resources, safety and profitability. Moore has more

than 27 years of experience in the construction

industry, overseeing all phases of commercial

construction projects. Watt will be responsible for

weekly payroll processing and financial management of the

company’s non-construction LLCs. He will also work with the

human resources department in various capacities.

harley Ellis devereaux is

pleased to announce that they are

expanding their Detroit office

leadership team. susan diMario

(Business Development) and

scott Morgan (Mechanical

Engineering) have been named as

new associates of the firm; and

Joe furwa (Architecture + Design)

and Mark hieber (Landscape

Architecture) have been named as

new principals of the firm.

Jay smith, executive vice president of the

christman company, Lansing, has been elected

2015 Chairman of the associated general

contractors (agc) of Michigan. Smith was

installed during the association’s annual meeting

in Detroit. Smith has 38 years of experience in the

construction industry. He is active in Michigan’s

construction industry and his community, having

served on the Board of Lansing Diocese Construction Committee,

MSU’s Wharton Center Advisory Board and the Lansing Rotary

Club.

fishbeck, thompson, carr & huber, inc. (ftch) is pleased to

announce the following eight additions to their novi team: Jacob

J. abair has joined the firm as a staff chemical engineer in the

Environmental Services Department; Kevin r. ostrowski, pE has

joined as a civil engineer; Michael l. Mitchell, pE joined as a civil

engineer; Jennifer l. Zitlau has joined as an office technician;

david p. Eno, pE has returned to FTCH in the capacity of senior

engineer/project manager; Kevin g. hughes has joined as a staff

civil engineer; amelia J. davis has joined as a staff civil engineer;

and Mark a. Mitera has joined as a survey technician.

fishbeck, thompson, carr &

huber, inc. (ftch) is pleased to

announce the following eight

additions to their grand rapids

team: Jeffrey a. hammond, aia,

ala has joined as a senior

architect/construction

administrator working in the

Architectural Department; Brian s.

smits, pE has joined as a senior

environmental engineer in the

Environmental Services

Department; nathan r. torrey,

Magee

Watt

MoorePitchford

HieberFurwa

MorganDiMario

Smith

MiteraDavisHughesEno

ZitlauMitchellOstrowskiAbair

MahlerTorrey

SmitsHammond

P E O P L E I N C O N S T R U C T I O N


pE, cfM has joined as a civil

engineer; penni d. Mahler

joined the FTCH

Environmental Services

Department as an

environmental data specialist;

Kevin J. aalderink, aia,

lEEd ap Bd+c has joined

as a senior architect; ronald a. duimstra is working as a construction administrator;

shawn t. lettow recently joined as a staff architect; and steven a. romkema has joined

as an intern architect.

The Board of Directors of

fishbeck, thompson, carr

& huber, inc. (ftch) is

pleased to announce the

following key management and

leadership promotions:

Senior Associate -

timothy platz, ps, Senior

Associate to Senior Surveyor;

Associates - Jeremy Kramer,

pE, Associate to Senior Civil

Engineer; Michelle lazar, pE,

gisp, Associate to GIS

Manager; ryan Musch, pE,

lEEd ap Bd+c, Associate to

Senior Civil Engineer; Kyle

patrick, pE, Associate to

Senior Civil Engineer; Jason

vander Kodde, pE,

Associate to Senior Engineer;

david potter, pE, csi-

ccca, Associate to Senior

Civil Engineer; Maria sedki, pE, Associate to Senior Civil Engineer; todd

campbell, cpg, Associate to Senior Geologist; randall J. oostdyk,

cdt, Associate to Senior Construction Manager; richard sageman, pE,

Associate to Senior Structural Engineer; david s. Meade, cM-BiM,

Associate to Design Technology Manager; and christopher l.

weatherford, Mcp, Associate to Senior Network Administrator.

CORPORATE NEWS

fishbeck, thompson, carr & huber, inc. (ftch), headquartered in Grand Rapids, has

earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the

american council of Engineering companies’ (acEc) 49th annual Engineering

Excellence awards for Phase 3 of the West Circle Drive Steam Tunnel Project on the

North Campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. The project is among 170

engineering projects throughout the nation and around the world recognized by ACEC as

preeminent engineering achievements and eligible for one of the top 2015 Engineering

Excellence Awards. Final winners, including 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards and

the prestigious “Grand Conceptor Award”

for the year’s most outstanding overall

engineering achievement, were announced

at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala

held in April at The Marriott Wardman Park

Hotel in Washington, D.C.

hubbell, roth & clark, inc. (hrc), a 100-

year old Michigan-based professional

engineering services firm, announced that

Mickalich Engineering, inc. (MEi) will be

merging with hrc. MEI was located in

Clarkston and provided engineering and

surveying services to private development

projects. HRC Vice President, Walter H.

Alix, PE, PS, said, “HRC is thrilled to tap into

MEI’s expertise in providing professional

site/civil engineering and surveying services

for private development projects.

Mickalich’s President, Albert P. Mickalich,

PE, brings a wealth of engineering

expertise, as well as an established private

development customer base which will

complement and expand HRC’s broad

professional services offering. In addition,

Stephen Jacobi, PS, and Andrew Groat, of

MEI, have considerable surveying

experience that will help expand HRC’s

surveying capabilities. The HRC/MEI merger

will provide for increased opportunities

given the current uptick in the local

Michigan economy.” Originally established

in 2000, MEI provides site/civil engineering,

surveying and conceptual/site planning

services for commercial, office, residential,

industrial and educational projects.

clark construction company,

headquartered in Lansing with offices in

Southfield, has been awarded an

outstanding safety performance

award by the associated general

contractors of Michigan (agc of

Michigan). The award was presented at

AGC of Michigan’s recent Annual Meeting

at Cobo Center in February. This marks the

14th year in a row that Clark Construction

Company has been honored with this

award. The winners of the Outstanding

Safety Performance Award are determined

by comparing the injury incident rates of

each company. The injury incident rate is

LettowDuimstraAalderink Romkema

Platz

SagemanOostdykCampbell

SedkiPotterVander KoddePatrick

MuschLazarKramer

Meade

Weatherford

P E O P L E I N C O N S T R U C T I O N / C O R P O R A T E N E W S


based on the number of injury cases that a

firm experiences during the award year, as

it relates to the total amount of work hours

generated. Clark Construction was

honored by AGC Michigan due to the fact

that the company has logged over 200,000

hours last year without a lost time injury. In

total Clark has logged 3,574,044 total hours

over the past 14 years without suffering any

lost time due to injury.



Southfield, has been recognized by the

associated general contractors of

Michigan (agc of Michigan), as the

recipient of the Keystone award for

Educational Excellence for its training

program, On-Time Delivery: Clockwork and

Pull Planning. This marks the second

consecutive year that Clark has received

this prestigious honor. The award was

presented at AGC of Michigan’s recent

Annual Meeting at Cobo Center in February.

Clark Construction’s On-Time Delivery:

Clockwork and Pull Planning program has

improved productivity, increased

professionalism and overall project success.

This program combines Clark’s current

branded service, Clockwork™, with a Lean

Construction process, Pull Planning. This

process has brought such benefits to the

team members at Clark Construction that it

became a core training module for their

Campus program targeting all project

engineers, superintendents and project

managers. The Keystone Award for

Education Excellence honors exceptional

and innovative professional development

programs for construction supervisors,

managers and executives. Programs

considered offer education to construction

site foreman, supervisors, superintendents,

project engineers, project managers and/or

other construction executives.



Southfield, has been selected as the

construction manager for Macomb County

government’s campus in downtown Mt.

Clemens. The Macomb County Board of

Commissioners recently approved a $65

million plan to renovate their campus of

county buildings. The plan calls for

renovating five existing buildings and the

construction of a new parking deck. The

buildings that are set to be remodeled

include: the Old County Building; the

Administration; Circuit Court; Clemens

Center; and Talmer buildings. The

groundbreaking was planned for April 2015

and the project is slated for completion in

September 2017. Macomb County began

planning this project in 2013 after a fire

forced the county to close the old county

building, a move that displaced over 150

workers.

clark construction company, one of the

nation’s premier Construction Management

firms, has moved to a new office in

Southfield, MI. Clark’s new location is:

clark construction company, 29110

inkster road, suite 150, southfield, Mi

48034. The new SE Michigan office is a

result of the company’s continued growth in

what has become a major geographical

market. Clark’s presence in SE Michigan

began in the late 1980s when the company

completed numerous wastewater treatment

plants, prisons, and retail work. In 1990,

Forbes-Cohen Properties selected Clark

Construction Company to manage the

vertical expansion of the Somerset

Collection in Troy, which established Clark

as one of the premier construction

companies in SE Michigan. The company

now has several SE Michigan projects to its

credit.

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CAM Social Outings 2015May 15 CAM Spring Sporting

Clays – Detroit Gun Club

June 16 CAM Golf Outing –

Baypointe Golf Club

July 14 CAM Golf Outing – Links

of Novi

august 4 CAM Connect at

Comerica Park - Tigers v.

Royals

august 15 Woodward Dream Cruise

- Cruise Into CAM

august 18 CAM Golf Outing –

Fieldstone Golf Club

september 17 Boy Scouts Building

Connections Detroit

Historical Museum

september 22 CAM Fall Sporting Clays

– Hunters Creek Club

september 28 CAM Golf Outing –

Indianwood Golf &

Country Club

For more information, visit www.cam-

online.com.

May 5, 2015

the Engineering society of detroit

conference – Energy Efficiency

Suburban Collection Showcase, Novi

In its 18th year, this conference – the only

one of its kind in Michigan – is designed to

educate small-to-large commercial and

industrial businesses on energy technology,

products and services that will assist them

in successful energy management. The

event draws close to 800 people every year.

For more information, contact Leslie

Smith, CMP, at 248-353-0735, ext. 152 or

[email protected].

CAMTEC, the training and education center at

CAM, offers a wide variety of classes,

seminars and presentations on all aspects of

construction. All sessions are available at the

CAMTEC facility in the CAM headquarters

located in Bloomfield Hills, or can be taken to

the field on jobsites, in office settings, etc.

Visit our website at www.cam-online.com

for dates, times, and tuition rates.

UPCOMING CAMTECCLASSES:

May 4-8

Project Management Boot Camp

(5 sessions)

May 12

Live Streaming Production: Construction Liens;

Payment Bonds; Preparing Documents;

Prevailing Wage (1 session each)

May 13

First Aid; CPR & AED Combined (1 session)

May 20 & 21

MIOSHA 10-Hour Training (2 sessions)

May 26 & 27

Contracts & PO’s (2 sessions)

JunE 2 & 3

OSHA 10-Hour Training (2 sessions)

JunE 4

Get A Grip! Power Lunch

JunE 9 & 10

Project Management (2 sessions)

JunE 9

Project Accounting (1 session)

JunE 10

Project Close-Out (1 session)

JunE 11

Certified Lead Renovator Refresher Training

(1 session)

Ace Cutting Equipment..............................49

Aluminum Supply Company.......................45

Aoun & Company ......................................21

Arisco........................................................13

Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

Union Local #2 ......................................27

Butcher & Butcher .....................................23

CAM Affinity.................................................3

CAM Comp ...............................................34

CAM Newsroom ........................................33

C.A.S.S. ....................................................30

C.E.I..........................................................17

Comcast Buisiness ....................................22

Commercial Contracting Corp. .................BC

Connelly Crane Rental Corp.......................50

Contractors Connection Inc./

GRS Stohler ............................................5

Detroit Dismantling ....................................27

DiHydro Services .......................................21

Doeren Mayhew ........................................10

Environmental Maintenance

Engineers, Inc........................................42

G2 Consulting ...........................................40

Homrich ....................................................50

Jackson Associates...................................21

Jeffers Crane Service, Inc. .........................26

Lippitt O’Keefe Gombein, LLC ...................25

Michielutti Brothers ....................................39

Next Generation Services Group, Inc. ........35

North American Dismantling Corp ..............17

Oakland Insurance.....................................26

Oakland Metal Sales, Inc. ..........................11

Plante Moran .............................................41

Power Vac.................................................17

RL Deppmann Co......................................12

Ronald B. Rich ..........................................15

Roofers Local 149 .....................................25

Roofing Technology ...................................15

SMRCA .....................................................12

Scaffolding Inc...........................................39

Spartan Specialties....................................35

Testing Engineers & Consultants ..................7

Valenti Trobec Chandler Inc./Griffin, Smalley &

Wilkerson .............................................IFC

MAY CONSTRUCTION CALENDAR

Please submit all calendar items no less than six weeks prior to the event to: Amanda Tackett,Editor: [email protected]

C A L E N D A R / A D I N D E X