special issue 2010 cam magazine

OCTOBER 2010 VOL. 31 • NO. 9 • $4.00

“ V O I C E O F T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N I N D U S T R Y ”

Get a FREE

e-Subscription

to CAM Magazine!

Click Here to

Sign Up Now!

http://www.cam-online.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98&Itemid=174

http//www.rsdale.com/

Rob Walters • CAM Administrative Services Phone: 248.233.2114 • Fax: 248.827.2112 Email: [email protected]

The CAM Benefit Program is underwritten by

QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY AND Solid PROTECTION

Your Association sponsors the CAM Benefit Program for all employees and dependents of member companies. This GroupHealth Insurance Program offers a variety of innovative plandesigns including HSA and HRA options. All plans include Wellness benefits, including well child immunizations.

Combining our flexible plan design options with our competitivepricing, we can assist you in providing a full array of quality affordable benefits for your employees and their dependents.

• Medical PPO• HSA Plan• RX Drug Card• Dental PPO• Life

QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY AND Solid PROTECTION

SHOPPING FOR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE? LET US PROVIDE YOUR COMPANY

WITH A COMPETITIVE QUOTE!CONTACT YOUR AGENT OR CALL US TODAY FOR PRICING AND FURTHER DETAILS.

CAM BENEFIT PROGRAMGROUP HEALTH INSURANCE

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.camads.com

Curtis Glass

Edwards Glass Co.

Glasco Corp.

Hess Glass Co.

Huron Valley Glass Co.

Icon Glass Systems

Madison Heights Glass

Modern Mirror & Glass

Peterson Glass Co.

Universal Glass & Metals

GCA GLAZINGCONTRACTORSASSOCIATION

GCAGLAZINGCONTRACTORSASSOCIATION

“A Continued Search for Industry Excellence”

43636 Woodward Ave.Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

(248) 972-1132

AN ASSOCIATION OF QUALIFIED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, DEPENDABLE AND RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS,OUR MEMBERS STAND COMMITTED:

• To maintain the highest industry-wide standards of personal and professional conduct

• To promote and provide dialogue among other construction professionals

• To advise the membership with important informationand changes within the industry

• To hold training seminars on products, techniquesand application

• To provide social gatherings for members toexchange informal ideas and questions related tothe industry

• To promote the advancement of the association atlocal and state levels, supporting its goals and objectives

GCA MEMBERS

www.gcami.com

http://www.gcami.com

1175 West Long Lake Rd., Suite 200, Troy, MI 48098248-828-3377 • Fax 248-828-4290 Bonding • 248-828-3741 Insurance

www.vtcins.com

GRIFFIN, SMALLEY & WILKERSON, INC.

37000 Grand River, Suite 150, Farmington Hills, MI 48335248-471-0970 • Fax 248-471-0641

www.gswins.com

VTC INSURANCE GROUPRepresenting

http://www.vtcins.com

http://www.gswins.com

6 CAM MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”®

FALL 2010 SPECIAL ISSUE

12 Madonna University Franciscan Center for Science and MediaValue Driven

20 A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design EducationDesigning a New Detroit

32 Greektown CasinoFrom the Greek

40 Gerald R. Ford InternationalAirport & Parking ImprovementFly the Friendly Skies of Grand Rapids

50 Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. New Administration BuildingBuilding in Michigan’s Silicon Valley

58 Karmanos-Crittenton Cancer CenterThe Healing Lodge

C O N T E N T S

Inthis 15th annual Special Issue, we’re proud to present 12 ofthe most outstanding Michigan construction projects fromthe past year. They represent a wide cross-section of our daily

lives - education and research, gaming, travel, high-tech industry,healthcare, transit, retail and exploration.

This year we’ve introduced some new features to the Special Issue. Forthe first time, nine projects have received recognition with HonorableMention awards; they are listed beginning on page 110.

We will also be selecting a “Project of the Year” from among the 12Special Issue winners, as voted upon by our readership (see notice onpage 81 for details). E-mail notificationsand online ballots will be forthcoming.Votes will be accepted until December31, 2010, and the “Project of the Year”will be announced at the Special IssueAwards in February 2011.

We sincerely hope that you enjoy thisedition of Special Issue 2010.

Amanda TackettEditor

F R O M T H E E D I T O R

GREEKTOWN CASINO

Expanded Opportunities

http://www.iuoe324.org

http://www.oe324jatf.org

http://www.324lmec.org


C O N T E N T S

FALL 2010 SPECIAL ISSUE

68 Rosa Parks Transit CenterWheels on the Bus

74 Novi Public LibraryBuilding a Best Seller

82 Central Michigan UniversityCollege of Education & Human ServicesIn Front of the Class

88 Eastern Market’s Shed 3 Renovation & RestorationSeed Money

96 Canton Center for Advanced Medicine & SurgeryThe Doctor is in… Canton

104 Dequindre Trail Expansion ProjectBuilding the Missing Link

110 Honorable Mentions

110 Project Subcontractor Lists

GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

a

t

HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

ABOUT THE COVER

The genesis of great architectural designsometimes begins in unlikely places. Adiscussion with a client over lunch canbring about the rough seedling of anidea, which later blossoms into the fineworks of construction found inside thepages of this year’s Special Issue 2010 –highlighting 12 outstanding constructionprojects of the past year.

Special thanks to TMP Architecture, Inc., Bloomfield Hills.

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=82

http://www.tmp-architecture.com

Protect your assets with Hartland Insurance Group and

Auto-Owners Insurance

Take advantage of CAM’s endorsed program for both Commercial Lines and Personal Lines Insurance.

All CAM Members are Eligible!To receive a no-obligation quick quote, contact the program administrator—

Hartland Insurance Group at (800) 682-6881—or contact your local Auto-Owners AgentPlease mention Group #515 to receive your CAM discount and SAVE!

Hartland Insurance Group, Inc. is a family owned insurance agency based in Michigan for almost 50 years!

www.hartlandinsurancegroup.com

Big Discounts for CAM Members!

Commercial LinesBusiness Insurance

Personal LinesAuto & Homeowners Insurance

Plus Multi Policy Discounts

A Voluntary Employee Benefit for yourself and employees from Michigan’s most respected Insurer of contractors and

their valued employees

Automobile Homeowners

Boats Condos

RV’s Vacation Homes

Personal Umbrella Renters Insurance

http://www.hartlandinsurancegroup.com


PUBLISHER Kevin N. KoehlerEDITOR Amanda M. Tackett

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mary E. KremposkyDavid R. Miller

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. AustermannGRAPHIC DESIGN Marci L. Christian

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Gregg A. MontowskiACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy A. Jones

DIRECTORSOFFICERSChairman R. Andrew Martin,

FH Martin Constructors

Vice Chairman Brian D. Kiley,Edgewood Electric, Inc.

Vice Chairman John O’Neil, Sr.,W.J. O’Neil Company

Treasurer James C. Capo,DeMattia Group

President Kevin N. Koehler

DIRECTORS Gregory Andrzejewski,PPG Industries

Stephen J. Auger,Stephen Auger + Associates Architects

M. James Brennan,Broadcast Design & Construction, Inc.

Kevin French,Poncraft Door Company

Frank G. Nehr, Jr.,Davis Iron Works

Donald J. Purdie, Jr.,Detroit Elevator Company

Kurt F. Von Koss,Beaver Tile & Stone

Jacqueline LaDuke Walters,LaDuke Roofing & Sheet Metal

Michigan Society of Association Executives

2002, 2004, 2005 & 2007Diamond Award

2003, 2006 Honorable Mention2010 Silver Honorable Mention

Gallery of Fine Printing

2002 Bronze Award

MARCOM InternationalCreative Awards

2005 Gold Award

The CommunicatorInternational

Print Media Competition

Overall Association Magazine

Magazine Writing

CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 WoodwardAve., P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204 (248) 972-1000. $24.00 of annual membership dues is allocated toa subscription to CAM Magazine. Additional subscriptions $40.00 annually. Periodical postage paid at Bloomfield Hills, MIand 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]. For reprints or to sell CAM Magazine: 248-972-1000.

Copyright © 2008 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.

2006GRAPHIC DESIGN USA

AMERICAN INHOUSEDESIGN AWARD









www.cfcuonline.com

Equal Housing Lender NCUA

Founded and chartered in September of 1974,to serve the members of the construction trades and their families, we have been providing unmatched personal service ever since.

Join us and experience banking made better,service the way it used to be.

Helping people live better lives is what we do, everyday.

http://www.cfcuonline.com

12 CAM MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010

Construction and design professionals have becomeaccustomed to value driven projects. Owners always want tomaximize what they receive for their money, but the current

economic climate has resulted in a heightened awareness of everydollar spent. The recently constructed Franciscan Center for Scienceand Media at Madonna University was no exception to this trend,but fiscal responsibility was only one of many values that the project

team needed to adopt.Saint Francis of Assisi founded the Order of Friars Minor, better

known as the Franciscans, but he is also revered as the patron saintanimals and the environment, so a strong commitment towardssustainability was a virtual certainty. An early task for the projectteam was to define this value as it related to the built environment.The answer to this overriding question was not revealed until the

CAM MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010 13Visit us online at www.cammagazineonline.com

Green Design Charrette, when Sister Rose Marie Kujawa, president ofMadonna University, first voiced the four words that became amantra for the entire team: “Good, Growing, Gorgeous and Green.”Developing a 65,000-square-foot facility that embodied these fourconcepts was a challenge ably undertaken by construction managerClark Construction Co., Lansing, architect and engineer SmithGroupIncorporated, Detroit, and a skilled team of subcontractors.

GOOD

“It stands to reason that everything about this building mustbe good; good in purpose, in people, in programs and in progress.From its inception to its dedication, commissioning andoperation, it should bring out the best in us, for it stands onhallowed ground, blessed many times over.”

– Sister Rose Marie Kujawa

Building something that is good can take on a lot of differentmeanings, but the project team saw this first and foremost as achallenge to create a structure that functioned well in its intendedrole, and which would bring out the best qualities in students andfaculty alike. To accomplish this, the project team needed todevelop a thorough understanding of the diverse programs thefacility would serve.Madonna University has operated a well-respected broadcast and

cinema arts program out of converted classrooms for about 30years, but the specialized nature of the training, coupled with ever-changing technology, resulted in a strong desire for a facility builtspecifically for media arts.“We really wanted a facility that would replicate what students

would see out in the industry,” explained Patricia Derry, director oftechnology learning services for Madonna University. “We broughttremendous challenges into the design, so we worked very closelywith the architects to make sure that our needs were addressed inthe early planning stages. In all honesty, architects don’t design TV

http://www.cammagazineonline.com


studios very often.”Despite having limited opportunities in

which to fine-tune their skills, the designteam created a media arts center that fulfillsMadonna University’s educational missionquite well. Key challenges included

designing a flexible electrical system thatminimized consumption whileaccommodating a wide variety of lightingconfigurations, and performing a thoroughacoustical analysis to control sound inbroadcasting spaces. Broadcasting spacesalso needed to be completely isolatedagainst outside noise. Lighting fixtures are operated by highly

efficient dimmers that produce the desiredillumination level by altering the sign waveof the incoming power as opposed toturning a filament on and off. Although thedimmers were adapted to the University’sexisting light fixtures, they can easilyaccommodate LED lights that may be usedin the future. The studio floor rests on a bedof sand and is separated from thesurrounding walls by an expansion joint thatserves as an acoustic barrier. Soundproofingsurrounds the studio from the footings tothe roof.Air handling equipment was also carefully

designed and installed to minimize noise.The 1,200-square-foot-studio is very wellventilated with 10,000 CFM of air coming in.Oversized ductwork lets this air in at a verylow velocity, while warm air exits the back ofthe studio through massive grilles measuringthree feet tall by 15 feet wide. These grilleswere not “off the shelf” items. Carefulplanning prevented long lead times from

adversely affecting the project schedule.“When you use BIM [Building Information

Modeling] on a project, you start out withthe schedule,” said Timothy Ward, projectmanager for Clark Construction. “You knowwhat the long lead time items will be and

you take care of those items first.”An even more significant advantage of

using BIM on the project was the eliminationof conflicts in the field through clashdetection. In fact, no change orders wereissued because of conflicts betweenmechanical and electrical systems that wereencountered in the field, a rareaccomplishment given the size andcomplexity of the project.Creating a flat floor was another

challenge associated with building thestudio. Even the slightest flaw could createvisible movement as a camera rolled across,so the project team went to extraordinarylengths to create a smooth surface. Theconcrete was wet cured to harden thesurface, but this also slows the process, soadditives to accelerate the curing time wereincorporated to compensate. Concrete wasalso specially formulated with minimal airand low slump to prevent anyimperfections. The most critical step was theapplication of a special low-VOC epoxy thatsmoothed out the surface to a glass-likefinish.Other broadcast and cinema arts spaces

include the state-of-the-art control room, aradio station, editing suites and classrooms.All are a vast improvement over existingfacilities, but these spaces only represent afraction of the needs for the new facility. TheUniversity’s science program had its own listof requirements.Existing science laboratories at Madonna

University were outdated. Chemicals werestored in a central area and hand-carried tothe labs, often through occupied hallways.Once the chemicals arrived, the smallnumber of fume hoods in the labs limited

Even the slightest flaw could create visiblemovement (above) as a camera rolled acrossthe studio floor, so the project team went to extraordinary lengths to create a smooth surface. Concrete was specifically formulated for the job and a low-VOC epoxy was applied.

Equipment in the control room (bottom)replicates what students will use after graduation.


what could be done with them. Manyexperiments must be performed under afume hood for safety reasons, so the newfacility includes 29 fume hoods, includingpass-through hoods that facilitate thetransfer of chemicals from one laboratory toanother without the need to traverse publicspaces. All laboratories also are linked by a“ghost corridor” that runs along theperimeter of the building, thereby allowingtravel between laboratories withoutentering public corridors.“We can run experiments that we couldn’t

run before for safety reasons,” said TheodoreBiermann, dean of science and mathematicsfor Madonna University. “Now, we have anice, modern, safe situation.”Needless to say this is a far cry from

Biermann’s years as a graduate assistant at awell-known Midwestern university, when heoften stood by with a fire extinguisher just incase an experiment got out of hand. Inaddition to enhanced safety andproductivity, the new facility includes threestudent/faculty research laboratories whereexperiments can be set up over a period oftime, which opens up many new possibilitiesfor the institution. The Franciscan Centerundoubtedly will fuel a great deal of interestin Madonna University, where a combinationof factors has contributed to increasedenrollment in recent years.

GROWING

“It must reflect a growing institution,founded in solid traditions, but not stuck in stodginess. Elements of growthsuch as freshness, renewability, vision and creativity must grace the building,for it holds our future.”


Madonna University is growing, butgrowth is not always a steady, even, orpredictable process. For example, interest inMichigan’s burgeoning film industry has ledto explosive growth in the broadcast andcinema arts curriculum that outstrips mostother University programs in recent years.Madonna University must respond to trendslike these to maintain its relevance. Theinstitution must also reflect thecharacteristics of the student body.Before the construction of the Franciscan

Center for Science and Media, the campuswas essentially divided with academicbuildings to the south and the residence halland student cafeteria, to the north. The largepercentage of commuter students enrolled

DETROIT CARPENTRY JOINT APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING COMMITTEE

DETROIT & SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN

STRENGTH THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL

1401 Farrow • Ferndale, MI 48220 Phone: (248) 541-2740Web site: www.detcarpapp.org

Union Trustees

Charlie Jackson, ChairmanScott LowesDick ReynoldsToney StewartBart Nickerson Rich Williamson

Management Trustees

Brian Sedik, SecretaryGene AugerArt Hug, Jr.

Patrick LandryJack RussellChuck Raeder

� �

http://www.detcarpapp.org



in the University missed the experience of a true campus settingbecause they seldom had reason to venture beyond the academicbuildings. One key goal for the new building was to create a greatersense of community by facilitating easy transit through the facility.Doors were strategically placed to allow for cross traffic, while a two-story gathering area looks out over the St. Francis pond, providingan attractive indoor environment. Those who prefer the outdoorscan enjoy Cardinals Square, situated outside the Franciscan Center,which honors Adam Cardinal Maida and Edmund Cardinal Szoka,

archbishops of Detroit, while offering a tranquil environment forreflection or collegiate interaction.In spite of the University’s steady growth, the Franciscan Center

for Science and Media is the first stand-alone building to beconstructed on the campus in 40 years. The opportunity to create astructure that was worth the wait was a strong motivator foreveryone involved.“The University invested a lot in this building because it was their

first new building in 40 years,” said Jeffrey Hausman, AIA, LEED AP,senior vice president and office director for SmithGroup. “Therewere a lot of hopes and dreams on the table. Getting a clearunderstanding of what those hopes and dreams were was critical. Ithink that the most important thing that we did in the beginning

was to sit down with the faculty and ask them for their vision, so wecould work towards it. Our approach was to create that vision, writeit down, and put it up for everyone to see.”Fine-tuning the vision was a laborious process, but the end result

of the effort must be seen to be appreciated. In addition to creatinga facility that met all of the University’s programmatic needs, theproject team also fulfilled the desire for a structure that was pleasingto the eye.

GORGEOUS

“ It should be gorgeous, beautiful in style, capturing some ofthe grandeur of the Lombardian Romanesque architecture ofthe Provincial House, some of the bold boxiness of the ‘ 60s,and many futuristic components which define it as a building forthe 21st Century.”


Many design elements make the Franciscan Center a glory tobehold, but it is the abundance of natural light that truly makesthese flourishes shine. Daylighting was crucial for sustainabilitygoals, as Gold-Level certification under the USGBC’s LEED ratingsystem has been achieved, and the sun’s rays also provide the bestlight to showcase the natural beauty of the structure. LEEDguidelines require natural lighting in a percentage of spaces, but thestandards are continually evolving to allow for the creation of greenfacilities that fit a variety of intended purposes well. The need forprecise control precludes natural lighting in some broadcasting andlaboratory spaces of the Franciscan Center.“If daylighting is detrimental to the operation of the space, it gets

taken out of the calculation under LEED,” explained William Jensen,LEED AP, project architect and associate with SmithGroup. “Everyroom where we have daylight coming in, there is a lot of it.”Nothing catches the light more brilliantly than the stained glass

window that hangs in the east window of the Franciscan Center’sgathering area. During the early planning phases of the project,Kujawa received a call from the pastor of St. John Cantius Church.The church was slated for demolition soon and the pastor assumedthat Kujawa might want a statue or some other item from thehistoric parish, the second oldest in Detroit and Kujawa’s childhoodchurch. Though the window probably wasn’t what the pastor had inmind, and Kujawa’s request required the approval of theArchdiocese of Detroit, it would be hard to find a more fittinglocation for the image of St. John Cantius, the patron saint ofteachers and students.“As a professor, he really belongs in a university, so we were very

happy to be able to put him up here,” said Kujawa.Unlike the breathtaking stained glass window, the natural beauty

of some building components is not made more apparent by theplentiful natural light. Wood used throughout the facility certainlylooks attractive under any light, but it also holds an inner beautyfrom a sustainability standpoint. The project team was able toachieve LEED credit for using a substantial percentage of FSC-certified wood, a feat that requires significant commitment from theowner and the entire project team. Mary Kane Butkovich, projectdirector for Clark Construction, has participated in several LEEDprojects, but the Franciscan Center is the first to achieve thisdistinction.“I think that we all take great pride in the FSC credit,” said

Butkovich. “Clark [Construction] won’t take credit for that, it wasreally the subcontractors who did it. SmithGroup and Madonna

Material selection played a key role in meeting sustainability goals.The project team achieved LEED credit for using a substantial percentage of FSC-certified wood and water is the only substancethat is used to clean cork flooring throughout the facility.


[University] talked to us about theircommitment, and that got thesubcontractors to really think about whatthey were putting into this building.”In addition to putting attractive and

sustainable finishes into the building, theproject team also took great care inselecting materials that could be maintainedin an environmentally responsible way.According to Craig Flickinger, director of theoffice of the physical plant for MadonnaUniversity, water is the only substance that isused to clean cork flooring inside the facility.In his experience, dirt tends to be morevisible on cork, but this can easily behandled with a damp mop. A specializedmachine that hyper oxygenates water isused for more thorough cleanings. Nosealing or waxing is required, and theclosed-cell formation of the flooring makesit naturally anti-bacterial. Long before thefirst routine cleanup of the FranciscanCenter floor, the project team was hard atwork creating a facility that would be cleanand green.

Lawyers Specializing In Construction Litigation

Patrick A. Facca Gerald J. Richter Bruce M. PreglerMichael A. Hassan

6050 LIVERNOIS • TROY, MI 48098

PH. 248-813-9900 • FAX 248-813-9901WWW . F R P L AW . C O M

n Contract Disputesn Corporate Mattersn Lien & Bond Claims

n A/E Liabilityn Arbitrationn Construction Claims

FACCARICHTER &PREGLER,P.C.

New science laboratories include 29 fume hoods, including pass-through hoods that facilitatethe transfer of chemicals from one laboratory to another. A “ghost corridor” also allows travelbetween laboratories without entering public corridors.


http://www.frplaw.com

http://www.woodsconstruction.com


GREEN

“ Finally, it must be green. St. Francis chose for his dwellings cavesand islands, woods and lakesides. Wemust capture some of these same elementsto reflect our Franciscan values, areverence for creation, an understandingof our role in the stewardship of theplanet, and a sense of gratitude for thisgift of ‘ sacred space,’ which is ourlegacy. Let us preserve it, beautify it andenhance it for generations to come.”


Sustainability is not a mere buzzword atMadonna University; it is a mission. From“Trayless Tuesdays” in the school’s diningroom, to the recycling program that operatesevery other day of the week, a keen desire totread lightly on the Earth permeates everyactivity on campus and beyond. Building tothe LEED standard was a natural extension ofthis commitment.Energy efficiency emerged as an early

challenge for the team. Energy anddaylighting targets were set in similar waysunder LEED guidelines. Certain activities inlaboratory and broadcasting spaces involveda “process load” that was largely dictated bythe equipment that was used, and thereforecould not be cut substantially. HVAC loads,

on the other hand, could be greatly reduced.Three separate HVAC units were installed,helping the project team achieve seven outof 10 possible energy points under LEED,where only four or five had been the initialgoal. The building energy simulationindicated an overall 42 percent energysavings, resulting in a 23 percent yearly costsavings. All building systems needed to workharmoniously together to achieve this.“On a technical building like this, you need

to see how systems react to each other,” saidRonald Henning, PE, LEED AP, principal forSmithGroup. “If you have a fume hood, airhas to come from somewhere toaccommodate it, the exhaust fans have toadjust and the control sequence might needto allow for extra heating because you haveso much more air. You need to work eachroom in individually.”LEED is well respected in the industry, but

it can lend itself to a certain degree of beancounting as project teams can be tempted tochase points instead of basing every facilitydecision on what makes the most sense. TheFranciscan Center project team avoided thisby never setting an exact certification levelgoal. LEED was merely the means to adesirable end, not the final objective. Goalswere set in individual areas, but theoverriding purpose was simply to make thefacility as green as possible.“It became our challenge to take areas

where the goal was one point and make ittwo points,” said Butkovich. “We were able todo that with waste diverted from landfills.Instead of 50 percent, we were able to getover 75 percent. We also exceeded the goalfor recycled content. Great products werespecified for this project, but we had to goout into the field to make sure they werebeing used.”Even though specific point totals under

LEED were not the goal, the recycledmaterials used throughout the FranciscanCenter are certainly a point of pride for theproject team and Madonna University. Otherhighpoints are a state-of-the-art, 150-seatlecture hall and a green roof planted withsedum to help control stormwater runoff.The green roof is situated above thebroadcasting studio, where it provides soundinsulation against aircraft approachingDetroit Metropolitan Airport and it can alsobe viewed from a higher portion of thebuilding. A student lounge makes good useof this view and augments it witheducational displays detailing the manysustainable features of the Franciscan Center,which is indeed good, growing, gorgeousand green.

The stained glass window in the gathering area was salvaged from St. John Cantius Church,which was slated for demolition. It would be hard to find a more fitting location for the imageof St. John Cantius, the patron saint of teachers and students.


24

INKSTER

BROWNSTOWN

WARREN

SEVEN MILE

WAYNE -CANTON

SPRINGWELLS

FRENCH ROAD

REDFORD

Our experienced people are trained in promoting McCoig's "Customer-First" attitude, providing local plant contacts for your project Superintendents, assuring individualizedCustomer attention. Our high production concrete plants are strategically locatedwhere you need them, to provide an unmatched capacity for Service-on-Demand. Allplants and materials are NRMCA, MDOT and County Certified. LEED focused mixdesigns available, utilizing recycled materials.

A Great Mix of Personnel & Technology

Seven Mile: 313-368-1133

Springwells: 734-357-2124

Redford: 313.531.4190

French Road, Detroit: 313-921-3410

Wayne-Canton: 734-326-4200

Warren: 586-775-7200

Brownstown: 734-285-1000

Inkster: 734-721-0422

Contact our nearest plant location to order your concrete

www.mccoigmaterials.com

http://www.mccoigmaterials.com


http://www.clarkcc.com


Designing a New

DetroitBy Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor Photography by Justin Maconochie Photography LLC


General Motors’ historic ArgonautBuilding is once again thebirthplace of bright ideas. Vacantfor 10 years, GM’s former mecca of

automotive design is now the home of theA. Alfred Taubman Center for DesignEducation, a creative hub in Detroit’s NewCenter area that honors the spirit of thelegendary Harley Earl, General Motors’ firstvice president of design. Within this fabledbuilding, Earl turned the automobile intothose sculpted, two-tone, tail-finned worksof wonder that continue to draw millions tothe annual Woodward Dream Cruise. Thanksto the Detroit dream team of Walbridge andAlbert Kahn Associates, Inc., history isrepeating itself in wonderful ways as thisonce shuttered landmark opens its doors tothe next generation of designers. Part of thebuilding now houses the second campus ofthe College for Creative Studies and itsacclaimed department of TransportationDesign.

The building’s studios dazzle the eye withpainted clay models of 21st Century cars.Harley Earl – the father of the Corvette, thetail fin, and the first concept car called theBuick Y Job - would probably welcome thisgrand display of invention by a schoolregarded as having the best transportation

design program in the world. Flash back to1939, the year Earl created the ground-breaking Buick Y in his design studio on thetop floor of the Argonaut Building. Flashforward to 2010 and beyond, a portion ofthe same floor houses CCS design studiosblessed with a broad canvas of space for thecreation of their own dream machines andother visionary works.

CCS transportation design studios havefound the perfect home in a building thatwitnessed the invention of the field ofautomotive design and whose open spacesaccommodated GM’s first vehicle testingfacilities. Shaped like an inverted L, thebuilding is composed of two joinedstructures: Building A was originallyconstructed in 1928 as GM’s first laboratoryand testing facility; the construction ofBuilding B in 1936 transformed the complexinto GM’s first design center.

The 760,000-square-foot complex is thework of another American master, namelyAlbert Kahn, architect of both of theseclassic structures whose signature bands ofdecorative brick and limestone have beenpart of the New Center’s skyline for over 80years. “The project saves one of AlbertKahn’s legacy buildings,” said Alan Cobb,FAIA, LEED® AP, Kahn director of design,

architecture and sustainability. “It’s a classicindustrial-style building with this greatconcrete structure that was originally usedfor laboratories, but can be used foranything because of the way Kahn designedit. You can take a vehicle anyplace in thebuilding because of its sizeable floorcapacities. Basically, it is a great represen-tation of a loft building that has universaluse.”

WELCOME BACK Universal use is an apt description of an

11-story building that is home to a host ofenterprises, including the Henry FordAcademy: School for Creative Studies, an800-person charter school for middle andhigh school students operated jointly byCCS and the Henry Ford Learning Instituteand funded by the Thompson EducationalFoundation. Plus, this neighborhood withina building houses CCS dorms and tenantspace for businesses in the creativeeconomy. With such diverse tenants, “thedevelopment offers opportunities for collab-oration and synergy among differenteducational levels and among students andbusinesses,” said Richard Rogers, CCSpresident.

The public is also welcome in this vertical

The legendary Harley Earl, General Motors’ first vice president of design, onceunveiled his latest concept cars in part of the very space now occupied by thisstate-of-the-art public conference area.



neighborhood blanketing an entire cityblock between Second and Cass Avenues.Currently housing an atrium, gallery space, abookstore and sundries shop, the first levelwill soon host a Tim Horton’s eatery and theArgonaut Grille, added Rogers.

A portion of the top floor houses theBenson and Edith Ford Conference Center, apublic conference area occupying the actual

site of Harley Earl’s design studio. On a hotJuly morning, CCS students were busybuilding furniture in the Harley Earl Lounge,the site of the design guru’s office directlyadjacent to the main conference space. Theconference center was buzzing with activityin preparation for a three-day event. “Themost exciting part for us is to see how thebuilding is being utilized,” said Kenneth R.Herbart, AIA, Kahn senior associate and seniorarchitect.

A building that may have become anothercasualty of urban decay is now a new anchorfor Detroit’s Midtown. “Tearing it down wouldhave been another sign of defeat,” saidRogers, “because it would have left a hugehole in the New Center area.”

The re-invented Argonaut Building nowtakes its place among established Midtowninstitutions, such as Henry Ford Hospital,

Wayne State University, and Tech Town, athink tank and business incubator foralternative and energy-efficient technologies.The newly christened Taubman Center is onlya heartbeat away from the Detroit MedicalCenter expansion, the new inter-modallocation for the proposed M-1 light railprogram, and the Amtrak station with a routeto Chicago, added Matthew M. Robertson,

project manager, Larson Realty Group. Larsonis a Bloomfield Hills company engaged in realestate investment, development, assetmanagement, leasing and consulting.

At night, the building once again adds itsglow to the New Center, along with two otherKahn-designed landmarks called CadillacPlace and that “nightlight” of Detroit – theFisher Building. The lights have come back onin this grand old building in more ways thanone. The light bulb as a symbol of a creativeidea glows once again within this historicbastion of design where CCS students aredesigning prototypes of cars, furniture andelectronics, plus producing sketches of transitstations and compelling works of fine art.Rogers is clearly satisfied with the college’snew home. “The project has exceeded ourexpectations,” said Rogers. “We are basicallythrilled with the building.”

THE DREAM TEAM Bringing this hub of innovation back to

life took its own share of inspiration … andcash. Clark Hill, PLC, Detroit, and Plante &Moran, PLLC, Southfield, helped to assemblea financial package more complex than theBook-Cadillac’s revitalization plan, said GeoffSleeman, CCS director of facilities.

Every member of the team brought itsown spark of creativity and professionalacumen to restore this venerable buildinglisted on the National Register of HistoricPlaces in 2005. Kahn’s programming strategyfit this Rubic’s Cube of diverse spaces into asecure, functional and efficientarrangement.

Kahn also designed flexible CCS studios,some with actual walls on wheels. “We canreconfigure the studios on a daily basis,” saidRogers. “Because it is highly flexible, thebuilding provides an ideal space for designeducation.” Heating and cooling isaccomplished with equal ease through theuse of a central water source heat pumpsystem. Overall, Kahn’s energy-efficientstrategies reduced the building’s operatingcosts by 20 percent.

Walbridge peeled away decades offinishes and material layers to reveal thebasic structure, managing a host of surprisessuch as an extensive matrix of floor cavitiesin-filled with fly ash, wood, and in somecases, two inches of asphalt. Despite theunknowns of an older building, Walbridgedelivered the project in time for the grandopening in September 2009 by forming fiveseparate teams to build out different tenantareas, said Nils Vitso, Walbridge projectdirector. Said Rogers, “This just couldn’t havehappened without a team that was verycommitted to accommodating the college’sneeds, and making it work on a tightschedule.”

A compressed 14-month schedule forrevitalizing this massive structure - andbuilding a 20,000-square foot gymnasium -never compromised safety. Walbridgeachieved a lost time incident rate of 1.12,well below the 1.90 national average. “Wehad a full-time safety manager on the job,and every subcontractor was required tohave a full-time safety coordinator, as well,”said Vitso.

About 520,000 man-hours were pouredinto the $145 million project with actualconstruction beginning in June 2008 andreaching completion in August 2009. “Wehad great contractors and great tradespeople who were able and willing to dowhatever we needed to get the job done,”said Robertson.

The newly christened A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education is part of the tapestry ofbuildings designed by Albert Kahn. The Kahn “empire” includes the Fisher Building and thenearby Cadillac Place.


�")",�'��*).,� .*,-��*)-.,/ .&*)��)�$",-

�&) "��

��

��

��

100 Years of Building Trust

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��

��).*)��").",�#*,�!0�) "!��"!& &)"��/,$",3�.��*-"+%��", 3��"�'.%��3-."(��))�,�*,

�"),3� *,!��"-.��0&'&*)��",.& �'��2+�)-&*)

�%�,.",��*1)-%&+�*#��&'#*,!� &,"��.�.&*)��*��

�%�,.",��*1)-%&+�*#�'**(#&"'!��"1��")&*,��").",

With a constant commitment to excellence, Kulbacki, Inc. has provided exceptional

products and services since 1977

Featured Projects: • Argonaut Building

• Marysville Axle Plant

• City Center Las Vegas

• HFCC Nursing Relocation

• Michigan Motion Pictures

Contact Us: 35480 Forton Court • Clinton Township, MI 48035 Phone: 586-792-5960 • Fax: 586-792-5095 • E-mail: [email protected]

Argonaut Building

With a constant commitment to excellence Inc.ulbacki,K


,With a constant commitment to excellence has provided exceptional




http://www.auchconstruction.com


LET’S TALKIncredibly, the project began with a chance encounter in

November 2006 between Rogers and Matthew P. Cullen, thengeneral manager of GM’s Economic Development and EnterpriseServices. “We were sitting next to one another at a social dinner andhaving a simple chat that began with the question, ‘What are youworking on these days?’ ” recalled Rogers. “I said, ‘I am looking forspace, and he said, ‘I have a building. Let’s talk.’”

CCS needed more space for existing academic programs, newgraduate programs, and student housing. Discussions were alreadyunderway with the Thompson Educational Foundation for a charterschool partnership, but the actual school lacked a location. Withexpansion of its existing campus in the Cultural Center deemed toodisruptive and too expensive, CCS was seeking a site of sufficientsize to support its broad vision and sufficiently close for integratedoperations between its two campuses.

Only a mile from the Cultural Center, the massive ArgonautBuilding was a dream come true. “The Argonaut Building more thandoubled the square footage of our overall campus, and gave us theopportunity to look at these alternate and diverse uses,” saidSleeman.

The building also fit the college’s future expansion needs. “Thebuilding is a golden opportunity for us, because it addresses ourimmediate needs and has growth potential,” said Rogers. “We arelooking at developing new programs, and we anticipate enrollmentgrowth.”

A FINANCIAL BLUEPRINTGeneral Motors donated the building, funded a substantial

portion of the due diligence, and covered the cost of asbestosremediation and removal of underground fuel storage tanks. Tax

credits, bridge financing and a capital campaign supplied the rest ofthe gold in this golden opportunity. “We generated $70 milliondollars from a combination of state Brownfield, federal New Marketsand federal and state historic tax credits,” said Rogers.

For the actual building, CCS formed the Argonaut CampusDeveloper, LLC to take full advantage of the tax credits. “There arealso seven or eight limited liability corporations formed to takeadvantage of the tax credits,” added Sleeman.

“The financing was incredibly complex,” said Robertson. “Therewere a large number of public and private partnerships, as well asrelationships with banks and other traditional lenders.” TheMichigan Historic Preservation Network, the New Center Council,and the University Cultural Center Association were a few of thestrong supporters of the project.

The Thompson Educational Foundation contributed $17 millionfor the build-out of the charter school spaces and construction ofthe gymnasium addition. “We used some CCS money from aprevious fundraising campaign targeted at facility improvement,”said Rogers. “The last piece is a $55 million dollar fundraisingcampaign launched in July 2009 and set to conclude thisDecember.”

Added Robertson, “The project has won financing awards, and is atemplate for what can be done on other private and publicpartnership projects.” As an aid, a University of Michigan graduatestudent has written a white paper detailing the project’s financingmechanisms.

Timing and good fortune also assisted the cause. “We closed ourfinancing probably at the beginning of July 2008 – only shortlybefore the finance markets started to collapse,” said Robertson.Overall, the financial “construction” of this grand building consumedalmost a year.

This stunning boardroom graces the interior of the Taubman Center.

The total due diligence process – assessing costs, examiningfinancial possibilities, and investigating the building – was quite aninvestigative undertaking. “Walbridge played a very important and avery intimate role during the due diligence process,” said Rogers.

A BAD PARKING SPOTWalbridge “walked the building” with its team of estimators and

engineers to assess the condition of the building and assign a costprojection, said Vitso. This discovery phase revealed damagedparapets along 50 percent of the roofline and remnants of an oldvehicular ramp in the interior.

Only full-scale demolition can reveal the extent of buildingconditions. Demolition of the asphalt overlay blanketing the mainparking deck uncovered the poor condition of the concretestructure. This discovery led to demolition of the parking structurethat wrapped around the building’s southeast corner. “Having todemolish the parking structure was a major change in the scope ofthe project in the early phases,” said Cobb.

The revised agenda called for construction of a new parkingstructure and the rebuilding of the concrete surface deck toaccommodate the underground parking still existing below theformer garage. Kahn’s master plan selected a site due south of theTaubman Center for a new parking deck built by a different projectteam. According to Sleeman, CCS retained its status as a not-for-profit organization to finance the parking structure usingtax-exempt bonds, and for managing development of GM-donatedparcels to the west, south and east of the building.

INTERIOR DEMOLITION: THE GRAND “OPENING”Late Spring 2008 marked a different type of grand opening.

Walbridge began interior demolition of this massive building,stripping away layers of flooring, lay-in ceilings, and old mechanicaland electrical systems that had accumulated over the course ofalmost 80 years of renovations. Basically, a thick layer of camouflagecovered the building’s true condition. “It was like peeling back thelayers of an onion,” said Cobb. “When we got to the base wediscovered what the building was really like.”

One surprise was the extent of the in-filled floor cavities. “Many ofAlbert Kahn’s industrial andoffice buildings, including theArgonaut Building, had thesecavity slabs that were a versionof an early raised floor system forinstalling wiring and buildingsystems,” said Cobb.

Averaging two inches deep,the cavities blanketed thousandsof square feet of floor spacethroughout the building. Thecavities had been filled in overthe decades with an assortmentof materials, ranging from fly ash,wood and asphalt. Vitsoestimates that this conditionimpacted 50 to 60 percent of thebuilding’s floor slabs.

Some cavities were onlydiscovered while polishing theconcrete floor. “The collegewanted to preserve the raw loft-type atmosphere by havingpolished concrete floors,” said

Herbart. “We would be grinding the floor, and that is when we woulddiscover some of the in-fill material. Some of the filled cavities had tobe abated, and all the in-fill had to be removed to create theappropriate substrate for the selected finish material.”

THE CORE: PAST IMPRESSIONSThe past left its imprint in other ways. Walbridge removed the

roots and remnants of a vehicular ramp that once coiled through thefirst six levels of this historic automotive testing and design facility.Parts of the ramp had been removed during construction of the BBuilding to create a continuous floor connection from west to eastwithin the building interior.

Walbridge removed remnants extending from the basement tothe fourth floor. This internal pruning created space for a two-storyatrium that currently houses John Chamberlain’s famous sculpturecalled Detroit Deliquescence – the once controversial work formedfrom dented auto body parts.

Structurally, this reinforced concrete building is in rock solidshape. “The A Building is built like a fort,” said Vitso. “Because of afew leaks, some of the rebar had rusted in Building B, but weremoved the concrete, cleaned the rebar, and patched it backtogether.” In addition, the first floor sustained minor salt damagefrom its past use as a parking area.

Structural alterations included inserting a staircase in the shaft ofone of two freight elevators. The other freight elevator was restoredand once again transports prototype vehicles and major suppliesfrom the first floor all the way to its final exit into the grandconference space on the top floor.

THE SHELL: FIRST IMPRESSIONSThis historic building has a wonderful street presence with its

decorative brick and limestone bands rimming the parapet andmuch of the building’s lower level. An ornate semi-circle of the samemasonry outlines the grand arches of the upper levels, giving thebuilding its own unique signature among the other notablestructures of the New Center area.

“Most of the brick and limestone weathered extremely well for itsage,” said Cobb. “It’s a great example of how well brick and masonry

Visit us online at www.cammagazineonline.com CAM MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010 25

The roughly L-shaped complex houses a contemporary gymnasium addition attached to Building B, originally constructed in 1936. The other half of the inverted L is Building A, a structure originally built in1928 that once housed GM’s first laboratory and testing facility, as well as a car dealership with a two-storyshowroom facing Second Avenue.



can hold up and be repaired back to itsoriginal elegance.”

Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.,Plymouth, surveyed and assessed thefaçade’s condition. “The parapets incurredthe most damage along with some of thewindow headers,” said Vitso “In fact, about50 percent of the parapets had to bepartially rebuilt.”

Salvaged masonry was used to repair theparapets and the entire façade. “The

parapets were dismantled, repaired, andthen reassembled using the originalmaterials,” said Herbart. “No new masonrywas necessary for any of the exterior brickwork.” This includes the repair of theexposed southeast façade that had oncebeen blanketed by the now demolishedparking deck.

Restoration of this beautiful buildingcloak entailed tuck-pointing and re-caulkingof the entire façade, as well as repainting ofthe iron clad plates and ornamentation nearthe arches. “The exterior is back to itsoriginal state as of 1936,” said Cobb.

Beyond restoration, the project teammarried the elegance of the past with theenergy-efficiency of the present. EnergyShield, Inc., Pontiac, blanketed the non-insulated brick wall with 100,000 pounds ofspray polyurethane foam. Installation of awhite TPO roof membrane also improves thebuilding’s energy efficiency. “The newroofing system also includes new roofsumps and properly designed drainage

slopes,” added Vitso.About 1,900 new windows with thermal

break sashes complete the building’s shieldagainst high-energy costs. Windowselection, however, took a great deal ofhuman energy. “Because the building is anational landmark, we had to negotiate withand obtain approvals from the National ParkService (NPS),” said Cobb. “We had a numberof sessions to work through the details andNPS approvals.” Alterations to this historic

building also required reviews by the City ofDetroit Historic Commission and the State ofMichigan Historic Preservation Office.

Ultimately, replacement windows wereremoved and windows true to the building’soriginal façade were installed. “The mulliondesign harkens back to what the originalsteel sash windows looked like,” saidHerbart.

On the interior, removal of lay-in ceilingsdrew in the daylight and restored the top ofthe window arches to their original configu-ration. “We restored the original masonryopenings and in-filled each with the entireoriginal window unit,” said Herbart. “Thisincreased the daylight coming into thebuilding by a third at each window.”

21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTUREThe new building systems also maximize

energy efficiency. Walbridge eradicated allvestiges of the building’s mechanical,electrical and plumbing systems and beganinstallation of new systems in the summer of

2008, said Vitso. “A new central water source heat pump

system essentially borrows and circulatesthe latent heat from the interior of thebuilding,” said Cobb. “We are not generatingthe heating and cooling from electricity,rather we are re-apportioning it within thebuilding.” A computerized buildingmanagement system with energy andlighting controls also boosts the energy-efficiency of the facility, added Sleeman.

The HVAC system includes the use ofseveral dedicated 100 percent outdoor air-handling units designed with dual rotaryheat recovery wheels and supplementalheat pump coils to deliver neutral-temperature, outdoor ventilation airthroughout the building. With over 10,000light fixtures illuminating the facility, variouscontrol systems, including photo cells,motion sensors, multi-level switching, low-voltage timer switches and relays, are usedto conserve energy.

Overall, using TRANE System Analyzersoftware and Detroit Edison utility rates,Kahn was able to determine a life-cycle costanalysis that revealed a 20 percentreduction in overall operating costs for thefacility. Of course, “saving our buildinginfrastructure from the landfill is the highestform of sustainability,” added Cobb.

From interior demolition to new buildingsystems, Kahn and Walbridge synchronizedtheir work to keep the project on pace. “Weworked on the core and shell, while the

A neutral palette, exposed infrastructure, and flexible studio space, including studios with actual walls on wheels, offer the College for CreativeStudies the optimal learning environment for design education.


SPECIALTY PRODUCTS FOR CONSTRUCTION

REPRESENTING:

BALCO/METALINES (www.balcousa.com)

EXPANSION JOINT COVERS l ENTRANCE GRIDS & MATS l STAIR NOSINGS

CORNER GUARDS l HAND & WALL RAILS

RUSKIN MANUFACTURING (www.ruskin.com)

LOUVERS l PENTHOUSES l EQUIPMENT SCREENS l SUNSHADES SYSTEMS

LARSEN’S MANUFACTURING CO. (www.larsensmfg.com)

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS l F.E. CABINETS l HOSE & VALVE CABINET l DETENTION EQUIPMENT

l ACCESS DOORS

BABCOCK-DAVIS (www.babcock-davis.com)SMOKE VENTS l ROOF HATCHESl FLOOR & CEILING HATCHWAYS

ACURLITE STRUCTURALSKYLIGHTS, INC.(www.acurlite.com)

AMERICAN SKYLITESACRYLIC l POLYCARBONATE

TITUS(www.titus-hvac.com)

GRILLES l REGISTERS l DIFFUSERS

MARSH INDUSTRIES(www.marsh-ind.com)VISUAL DISPLAY BOARDS

GRECO ALUMINUM RAILINGS(www.grecorailings.com)CUSTOM BALCONY RAILING

www.e z a b c i n c . c om

13380 Capital l Oak Park l MI 48237Ph: 248.399.4340 l Fx: 248.399.0944

ArchitecturalBuilding Components

College for Creative Studies Taubman Center - Argonaut Building

On Time...Every Time!28011 Grand Oaks CourtWixom, MI 48393-3340

Ph: 248.348.6500 • Fx: 248.348.1299

Email: [email protected] A. Bisoski, AHC

http://www.balcousa.com

http://www.ruskin.com

http://www.larsensmfg.com

http://www.babcock-davis.com

http://www.acurlite.com

http://www.titus-hvac.com

http://www.marsh-ind.com

http://www.grecorailings.com

http://www.e



http://www.energyshield.net

http://www.ezabcinc.com


design was being developed for the build-out of tenant spaces,” said Vitso. Nearing core and shell completion,

Walbridge could turn its attention to thebuild out of the different “neighborhoods”within the interior. However, the demolitionphase and its discoveries – for example, thepresence of 11 underground fuel tanksinstead of the anticipated two – tightenedthe schedule for the rest of the project. “Itwas quite intense, but we pulled it off bybreaking the job down into manageablecomponents,” said Vitso.Walbridge assigned five separate teams to

different tenant spaces. “We managed eacharea as a separate job,” said Vitso. “We werealready well underway with core and shellcompletion, so it was a matter of coordi-nating several large tenant jobs within thefacility at the same time.” Walbridge evenworked several shifts almost six to sevendays a week in the last five months of theproject.

GET WITH THE PROGRAMEarlier in the project, Kahn met with

building users to master plan the placement

of these interior neighborhoods. Kahndevised an efficient use of space, stackingsimilar spaces floor by floor. Overall,educational spaces are stacked in Building Awith the charter school occupying the firstfour floors and CCS spaces occupying thesixth through the eleventh floors. “Thescience labs for the charter schools are evenvertically stacked in the same area,” saidHerbart.

The plan takes advantage of the naturaldivision between the two building wings.While Building A on the west is a high-riseschoolhouse, Building B on the east is acompletely separate world. Building B isprepped for office space on the second, thirdand fourth floors; the entire fifth floor isreserved for business tenants. Under the master plan, CCS students

boarding in the D live in Building B. Thedorm rooms on the sixth through tenth floorring the perimeter, leaving the central coresfor communal areas, including a fitnesscenter on one floor and a gaming room onanother. Creating this arrangement was a detailed

process. “We looked at important

adjacencies, building codes for egress, futuregrowth considerations, and security issues,”said Herbart. Card readers, tailored to eachuser, permit access to specific building areas.The entire building has a 24/7 in-housesecurity command center, as well as closecircuit cameras. Four different entrances accommodate

the building’s diverse tenants. “Onechallenge was preventing conflicts withother building users during the charterschool’s drop-off and pick-up times,” saidCobb. “By putting the charter school over onthe west side of the building in the first fourfloors, we were able to push those activitiesto the west near the Second Avenueentrance.”

A BLANK SLATE Within the building, CCS and the charter

schools share similar floor plans: CCS designstudios and charter learning studios bothring the building perimeter, offering art anddesign students the natural light of a loftinterior. The CCS core is devoted tocomputer labs and classroom space; thecharter school core is reserved for collabo-

Lawrence Technological University Office of Admissions21000 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075-1058 800.CALL.LTU • ltu.edu

A S S O C I A T EConstruction Engineering Technology

B A C H E L O R ’ SArchitectural Engineering

(combined bachelor’s and master’s programs)

Civil EngineeringConstruction ManagementEngineering Technology

M A S T E R ’ SCivil EngineeringConstruction Engineering ManagementEngineering Management

[ To have your application fee waived, visit ltu.edu/applyfree ]

Build a Better FutureDistinctive Degrees for Construction Leaders

Explore over 100 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in Colleges ofArchitecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management.

http://www.serviceiron.com

http://www.ltu.edu


ration space and filled with locker-linedwalls. The difference is in the finishes. The

charter school has carpeted floors andbright accent colors. “They wanted to have asimilar feel as the CCS spaces with theaddition of primary and secondary colors asaccents in the flooring and on the walls,”said Christine A. Trupiano, ASID, LEED® AP,Kahn senior associate, manager of interiordesign. CCS preferred an interior exposing the

“bare bones of the building,” said Cobb. “Thebuilding becomes a blank canvas for thestudents’ work.” CCS spaces have polishedconcrete floors, exposed building systems,and a neutral color palette of white or grayfor the display and critique of student art. “Ithink the entire project team did a great jobof collaborating with the owner to come upwith the end result, which is a designaesthetic of raw, authentic finishes,” saidRobertson. Jennifer Luce, AIA, owner of LuceEt Studio, San Diego, contributed to theproject as an owner-selected interior designconsultant. Luce Et Studio contributed tothe aesthetics of the common spaces within

For the best in commercial and industrial polymer floors. We specialize in durable, decorative polymer floors and concrete polishing - it's all we do.

You can depend on us for the materials, manpower, equipment and experience to meet all your flooring needs. A true single-source supplier, we formulate our own resins and use our own technicians, workmen and installation machinery.

Hoover Wells is a family-owned company of people dedicated to the principles of quality craftsmanship and satisfied customers. When we floor it, you get top performance.

2011 SEAMAN ST. • TOLEDO, OH 43605 • WWW.HOOVERWELLS.COMPHONE: (419) 691-9220 • FAX: (419) 691-8318

Argonaut Building Flooring Restoration

With its beautifully restored decorative masonry and its interior spaces humming with activity,this once vacant landmark is again a vibrant part of Detroit and the entire Southeast Michiganregion.


http://www.hooverwells.com


the first and second floors, providedfurniture selection for CCS, including customdesigned pieces for the common areas, andcontributed to the color selections for theproject.

The exposed interior is also ideal for heavyshop activity in the art world’s version of aconstruction zone. “CCS students are not

just designing on a computer, but workingin foam, clay and wood,” said Sleeman. CCSstudios are bustling with the hands-oncreation of wood, metal, plastic resin andclay prototypes. Students translate ideasinto hand-drawn sketches followed bycomputer-generated designs made tangibleby CNC machines and spray paint booths

that finally turn an idea into an actual objectcoated in living color. An elaborate dustcollection system and special air-handlingunits remove dust and odors far below thelevel of detection.

All of this work is done in wonderfullyflexible spaces. “CCS wanted classroomswithout walls, spaces that were more flexiblethan what could be achieved with conven-tional operable partitions,” said Trupiano.“The end result is partitions on wheels thatcan be easily reconfigured and spaces thatcan be resized according to daily needs.”

Added Cobb, “It’s a true universal spaceconcept with walls on wheels and electricalpull cords that can be drawn down andmoved wherever the student wants withinthe studio.” In addition, building systems arein exposed cable trays for easy access andalteration in these flexible, open and light-filled creation zones.

Because the systems are exposed, instal-lation had to be visually appealing, and withtight floor-to-floor spans, the infrastructurehad to hug the structure closely. “Theownership wanted to maximize the heightof the ceilings,” said Robertson. “Theexposed mechanical and electricalequipment is kept as high as possible tokeep the volume of the space.”

On the top floor, Building B houses thenew conference center that once housedEarl’s design studio and office. The projectteam restored the actual turntable Earl usedto display the latest concept car, unveilinghis innovative creations to the assembledmedia by drawing back heavy velvet drapesthat once hung in lush folds from the room’sproscenium arch. Contemporary events canpromote their ideas using the conferencecenter’s elaborate electrical, sound, lightingand IT systems. Pre-function space withfabulous views of the city, plus a series ofprivate offices converted into breakoutrooms, are other enviable assets of thiswonderful and historic conference space.

The project has already garnered a host ofawards, including 2010 ESD Construction &Design Award, 2010 Michigan GovernorsAward for Historic Preservation, 2010Michigan Historic Preservation Network TaxCredit Award, and

2010 CREW Detroit Impact Award forRedevelopment.

Thanks to the incredible efforts ofWalbridge, Kahn and the entire projectteam, Harley Earl would surely give thisamazing building final design approval. Hisspirit lives on, as does this once shutterednational landmark now beautifully restoredand fully alive with the collective creativeforce of the human enterprise.

http://www.plantemoran.com

http://www.cam-online.com


Like no others since, the Ancient Greeksknew how to tell a story. Heroic deedsand fantastic creatures from mythology

have long captivated readers. Even thenames demand attention. A story aboutpeople looking for the coat of a gold-haired

winged ram wouldn’t have been longremembered. The tale of the quest for theGolden Fleece undertaken by Jason and theArgonauts, on the other hand, is sure to drawa crowd.The flair and showmanship of the Greeks

of old is also evidenced in the rebirth ofDetroit’s Greektown Casino. Now the site ofa 400-room hotel, a 2,900-car parking deck,and a state-of-the-art gaming facility thathas been transformed by renovations plusthe addition of 125,000 square feet,

From the GreekBy David R. Miller, Associate Editor Photos by Peplin Photographic


Greektown Casino-Hotel is a trueentertainment destination. The projectteam that brought delivered this modernGreek classic included master architectHnedak Bobo Group, Memphis, TN;construction manager Jenkins/SkanskaVenture, Detroit; and local architects Richand Associates and Rossetti Architects, bothof Southfield.

STAYING AT GREEKTOWNGreektown Casino had a strong following

well before the hotel was built on the site.Building a hotel to appeal to casino visitors

entailed having an understanding of theclientele.“When you get into the hotel/casino

business, it is all about building a bettermousetrap,” said Bill Williams, vice presidentof guest services for Greektown Casino-Hotel. “Our goal was to put up a 400-roomhotel, which our development agreementrequired us to build, and to create a productthat would speak to the customers that wewere going after. We wanted to develop aproduct that met their needs, and one thatwe could sell to them at the right price tomaximize occupancy in the hotel.”At only 1.3 nights, the average guest stay

at Greektown Casino-Hotel is significantlyshorter than at many other lodging facilities.This realization allowed the design team tooffer rooms with a generous amount of floorspace by cutting things that are commonlyfound in hotel rooms, but simply would notbe missed here. Hotels that cater to families,for example, usually include full bathtubs toaccommodate children who are too youngfor showers. Replacing bathtubs with well-proportioned showers saved space in eachroom, but this benefit would be of littlevalue to guests if guests wanted bathtubs.Guests who missed this amenity would suremake their feelings known through theapproximately 250 comment cards receivedby the hotel each week.“I’ve read every single card since we’ve

been open,” said Williams. “Not a singleperson has asked about the tub.”Bathtubs are not the only amenity found

in many hotel rooms that would be oflimited value for the Greektown guest.Shorter average stays limit the amount ofspace that is needed for storing personalitems, so closets and cabinets are smallerthan what is typically found in hotels. Bytaking away these items that would not beused anyway, the designers were able tocreate an open design that never feelscluttered. Greektown guests can easily walkon both sides of their beds, which is a truerarity in hospitality settings. In fact, creating the proper feel for the

rooms was so important that the ownersdecided to expand the width of the entirehotel beyond what would comfortably fit onthe site to make the rooms the proper size.Only a total of five feet were added, but theeffect on the guest rooms was dramatic. Thedistinctive “bump-outs” visible on theexterior also widened certain floors. By removing some of the frills, Greektown

is able to offer luxurious overnightaccommodations at an attractive price withan average rate of $100 a night. Creating afacility that exceeds any expectations

created by the affordable room rates was achallenge for the entire project team. Thesuccess of this effort is apparent throughoutthe building, but nowhere more so than inthe lobby.A massive teardrop chandelier made from

2,300 individual pieces of blown glassdominates the five-story-high lobby. Uponfirst glance, this structure appears to be alight source, but its dazzling luminescence isactually provided by a series of wall-mounted lights that are pointed at it. Goldleaf squares, which were individuallyinstalled, catch the light while capturing theeye. Other lobby features include a 12-footlong fireplace, a monumental staircase, astainless steel mirrored ceiling and a uniqueGlass-Fiber Reinforced Gypsum wall thatlooks more like a flowing canvass than anunmoving wall. The entire space is alsoaccented with architectural features thatcreate the image of a massive spherepassing through the oval shape of the lobbyitself, which adds visual interest through itscomplexity. All of these features combine toforcefully expel any lowered expectationsthat may have resulted from the affordableprice.Also exceeding expectations are the many

other fine amenities offered by the hotel.The facility boasts 25,000 square feet ofconference or banquet room space, a fitnesscenter, a restaurant and two bars. ShotzSports Bar & Grill makes the best use of itsground floor location with eye-catchinggraphics that are designed to draw inpatrons who are attending sporting eventsin Detroit. Shotz also features a dramaticonyx bar that is backlit to provide adistinctive look and DJs add to theexcitement on weekends. Liveentertainment is featured on weekends atthe more refined Eclipz, which is locatedright off the casino floor. Dining options atthe hotel include the 175-seat Bistro 555,with sophisticated décor and spectacularviews of the opulent lobby, along with thelimitless portions and nearly limitlessoptions that are available at the morerelaxed International Buffet.There are plenty of things to see and do at

the Greektown Casino-Hotel, but none ofthem would be possible unless the projectteam found a way to build on thischallenging site.

BUILDING IN GREEKTOWN As visitors approach the Greektown

Casino-Hotel, the glass soaring hotel tower isundoubtedly the first thing they will see.The painstaking efforts that were taken toblend the structure in with its surroundings,



evidenced by exterior brick on the lowerfloors, become apparent at a closer distance.“We thought it was very much to the

owner’s credit that tying the building innicely neighboring structures was a priority,”said Deena Fox, PMP, MBA, LEED AP, associateand project manager for Rossetti Architects.“Our entire team looked at brick samples andthe cladding of the existing buildings in theneighborhood. We looked at our optionsand made selections that would be

appropriate for this new building, so it wouldfit in well with the fabric of theneighborhood.”Fitting into a neighborhood entails much

more than merely building a facility to blendin. Building a structure as large as theGreektown Casino-Hotel would certainlycause some inconvenience for neighbors,but the project team maintained a steadyflow of information to minimize this. Mostbusiness owners were cooperative, at least

partly because they realized that they toowould benefit from enhanced foot trafficthat would be generated from the reinvig-orated entertainment destination. Inaddition to working with neighbors, theproject team needed to adapt to tight siteconditions.“We knew that there would be some issues

with staging,” said Nathan Peak, leaddesigner for Hnedak Bobo Group. “We knewthat we would take up every square inch ofwhat we were building on, so we needed towork with Jenkins/Skanska to figure outwhere we could put tower cranes.”Getting workers and materials safely

onsite was a challenge in itself, but some ofthe biggest logistical issues centered on thenearby casino.“We couldn’t prevent people from coming

into the building and it is a 24/7 operation,”said Dave Pettijohn, general superintendentfor Jenkins/Skanska. “We couldn’t justschedule work on Sundays and plan on nothaving anyone here. There were people hereat 2:00 in the morning.”The project team also needed to make

accommodations for the Wayne CountyJuvenile Detention Facility (WCJDF) locatedacross the street. Like the casino, the WCJDFnever closed. A number of busy surfacestreets, along with I-375, were also locatednearby. Although the project team wasnever able to close any of these majorthoroughfares completely, they could closeindividual lanes as long as all lanes wereopen for rush hour.“Typically, you close off lanes of traffic to

create the limits of your site and you don’tthink about it again until the project is done,”said Darrell Greer, LEED AP, senior projectmanager for Jenkins/Skanska. “We had todeal with it every day here. Every day, we hadto accommodate something different.”Since the hotel, parking deck and casino

expansion/renovation were all taking placeconcurrently, there were six separateopenings as various project elements werecompleted. Permits were required for eachopening, but the project team had very highpraise for the code officials who conductedinspections in a timely manner. Though theproject team was quick to point out that theywere not given a “free pass,” they were ableto open every new element as scheduled.The efforts of the project team played thelargest role in this accomplishment, but theflexibility of the City of Detroit Building &Safety Engineering Department certainlyhelped.Of course, opening new portions of the

facility would mean very little if patrons wereunable to get to them.

As visitors approachthe GreektownCasino-Hotel, thesoaring glass hoteltower is undoubtedlythe first thing theywill see. Painstakingefforts were taken toblend the structure inwith its surroundings.


PMP MARBLE

& GRANITE17 Years in the Natural Stone Business

On-site inventory of more than 6,000 slabs of marble, granite, slate,travertine, onyx and limestone in over 250 different colors is handselected by PMP staff to meet their standards for only the highest quality of stones. New shipments arrive weekly and are imported fromcountries around the world, including Italy, Spain, Brazil, India,Argentina, Canada, Greece and Israel. The state of the art fabricationfacility is equipped with the latest in CNC cutting technology as well asother computerized fabricating machines.

1360 East Big Beaver Road – Troy Michigan 48083248-740-1400 Fax 248-740-1421

www.pmpmarble.com

View Our Completed Work At:Greektown Casino, College of Education & Human Services at Central MichiganUniversity, MGM Grand Detroit, Royal Park Hotel, Arab American Museum, Four Winds Casino & Resort, Turtle Creek Casino, Michigan InternationalSpeedway Suite/Media Building, MSU Brody Hall, U of M North Quad, Delta Dental Headquarters, Accident Fund Headquarters and Dearborn Town Center Medical Office Building

1360 Big Beaver Rd.Troy, Michigan 48083248-740-1400Fax: 248-740-1421www.pmpmarble.com

Marble Institute of America

Natural Stone Importers, Suppliers Fabricators and Installers




Marble Institute of America

Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, MI

Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, MI

http://www.pmpmarble.com

http://www.pmpmarble.com



http://www.partlanlabadie.com


(Above) A massive teardrop chandelier made from 2,300 individual pieces of blown glass dominates the five-story lobby.

(Below) Shotz Sports Bar & Grill features a dramatic onyx bar that is backlit to provide a distinctive look.


GETTING AROUND IN GREEKTOWN For most visitors, the Greektown Casino-

Hotel experience will begin in the newparking garage that was built on site. Earlysite plans called for an eight-level garageover what is now the combined footprint ofthe hotel and garage, with the hotel beingbuilt at another site nearby. Space for thehotel was eventually carved out of what hadbeen planned for the garage. Even thoughthe garage was expanded vertically to 12levels, space was at a premium. An intricatedouble-threaded helix was the only optionto move cars between levels in the spaceallowed. This series of intertwinedcorkscrews would be a challenge to buildunder any circumstances, but an additionalcomplication soon arose.“We were anticipating that the double-

threaded helix would be a typicalpour-in-place, post-tensioned system, withthe rest of the structure being precast,”explained Matthew Jobin, AIA, associate forRich Associates. “We ended up with aprecast double-threaded helix. If we haddone cast-in-place, we would have beenwaiting for the ramp to get done. Precastgave us the opportunity to erect thebuilding the way that we wanted to, so wecould get the building up and occupied asquickly as possible.”It took about three weeks just to

determine if precast was a viable optiongiven the complexity of the structure.Precision was crucial, as forms for cast-in-place concrete can be bent or adjusted inthe field, but once precast pieces arrive onsite, their shapes are literally set in stone.Much to their credit, National Precast, Inc. ofRoseville performed this work flawlessly.Casino visitors stepping out of the

parking garage would have been in for apretty long drop if the team had ended theirwork with that portion of the project.Fortunately, the team created a pedestrianbridge crossing the intersection of St.Antoine and Monroe. Getting casino patrons across the street

was only one hurdle the for the projectteam. The original entrance to the casinowas on the opposite side of the building, soa new grand entry was created. The newwalkway that provided access to this entrysafely carried pedestrians through the hotel,which would not be finished for another 16months, through a renovated portion of theOld St. Mary’s School and through a singlestructural bay of the new gap buildingbefore structural steel work was evencomplete. Getting an occupancy permit forthis portion of the Gap building required acoordinated effort from everyone involved,

Your Legal Team in Michigan and IllinoisSullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton has stood for strength,experience, dedication and teamwork for more than five decades. We providecomprehensive construction, business, transactional, and litigation servicesto the business community. As a client of our law firm, you will work with ateam of lawyers whose experience and knowledge are especially suited to yourspecific legal and industry needs. You will be an integral part of that teambecause you know your business better than anyone else.

KEVIN J. GLEESONConstruction Law Practice Group LeaderE-mail: [email protected] • www.swappc.com

SOUTHFIELDMICHIGAN

248.746.0700

GRAND RAPIDSMICHIGAN

616.459.9040

CHICAGOILLINOIS

312.214.3175


http://www.swappc.com


http://www.connellycrane.com



including code officials, structural engineerDesai/Nasr Consulting Engineers, Inc., WestBloomfield, and structural steel contractorRoss Structural Steel, Inc., Detroit.In addition to getting patrons to the

casino, the project team tackled numerousother issues to successfully complete theproject.

PROBLEM SOLVING Unexpected issues are bound to come up

on any project as large as the GreektownCasino-Hotel, but one in particular hadeveryone talking.“Halfway through this job, the owner went

bankrupt,” said Scot Norris, project executivefor Jenkins/Skanska. “Fortunately, nobodypanicked. If only one big sub had said, ‘I’moutta here,’ this job would have cometumbling down. The owner was very openabout the situation and no one was asked tooverextend themselves. We met with thesubs regularly, told them what we knew, andanswered any questions that we could.Surprisingly enough, everyone had a little

faith and everyone got paid.”The owner built up trust by never making

promises that could not be kept and bykeeping lines of communication open.Subcontractors quickly came to understandthat the owner had a vested interest inseeing the project completed and theynever needed to look farther than theGreektown Casino, which never closed, tounderstand that the money that wouldmake the project possible was still comingin. They were quick to chip in and they evenprovided some innovative solutions to getthe job done.When delivery of marble countertops for

some of the rooms was delayed, ceramic tilecontractor Michigan Tile & Marble, Detroit[working under subcontract to carpentry,drywall and ceiling contractor Turner-Brooks, Inc., Madison Heights] fabricatedsubstitutions out of marble slabs. Aftertaking field measurements in the rooms,crews raced down to a fabrication shop thathad been set up in the parking garage andthen hauled the completed countertops upto the rooms for installation, which saved aconsiderable amount of time overfabricating them elsewhere. Millworkcontractor Trend Millwork, Inc., Lincoln Park,also received high praise for producingquality work on an accelerated schedule.Incorporating meeting spaces into the

hotel was problematic from a structuralstandpoint. Columns can inhibit thefunctionality of a meeting room, but thehotel’s narrow footprint made it difficult tocreate large clear spans. The solution wasfound in a massive beam that transferred aportion of the buildings load to compensatefor not having columns in the meetingrooms, but the six-foot-deep, 146-cableconcrete beam presented a sizeableobstacle for mechanical and electricalcontractors to work around. Mechanicaland electrical contractors also helped toensure the success of the project by routingtheir work for the hotel through a heatedplenum in the parking garage that had beenconstructed to compensate for the lack of ahotel basement in which to placeequipment.The project team that created the

Greektown Hotel-Casino is truly the stuff oflegends for their combination of expertise,dedication and problem-solving ability. Itremains to be seen if the story of theirsuccess will be passed down to futuregenerations, like the myths of old.Fortunately, we can enjoy the fruits of theirlabor today at Detroit’s Winning Address, theGreektown Casino-Hotel.

This Glass-Fiber Reinforced Gypsum wall looksmore like a flowing canvas than an unmovingstructure. The lobby’s fine features combine toexpel any lowered expectations that may haveresulted from the affordable room rates at thehotel.

With over 58 years in the union electrical contracting industry, MotorCity Electric Co. has developed capabilities in engineering, construc-tion and project management farbeyond those of most electrical con-tractors. These capabilities—andthe powerful combination ofresources that support them, uniquely qualify MCE to serve yourelectrical construction needs. Whenquality and productivity are on theline; come to Motor City Electric Co.

Contact Motor City Electric Co. todayto experience our capabilities first-hand.

Company Headquarters9440 Grinnell • Detroit, MI 48213

313-921-5300Regional OfficesMichigan • Indiana

Nevada • Kentucky • IowaFlorida • Texas • Ontario, Canada

www.mceco.comMotor City Electric Co.

Registered to ISO 9001:2000

The Argonaut Building Revitalization

Greektown Casino Hotel Expansion

Where Experience and Innovation Meet

http://www.mceco.com


888 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 1200, Troy, Michigan 48084www.oaklandcompanies.net

Our primary Client Goals:protect Your Assets • Control Your Costs • provide Exceptional Service

ISO 9001:2000Certified Co.

OAklAND COmpANIESINTEGRITY • COMMITMENT • SECURITY

Ph (248) 647-2500 • Fax (248) 647-4689

INSURANCE BONDING

Concrete

Foundations

& Flatwork

Commercia l

Industr ia l

Inst i tut iona l

Park ing Decks

6655 COTTER

STERLING HEIGHTS

MICHIGAN 48314

586.731.6804

586.731.3732 Fax

http://www.oaklandcompanies.net



When the wheels of Air Force One touched down on therunway at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in GrandRapids this past July, our current Commander-in-Chief was

in good hands at a facility that has customer service and operationalefficiency down to an art. Thanks to the inspired design of Gresham,Smith and Partners, Nashville, and the quality work of The ChristmanCompany, Grand Rapids, the airport itself can be viewed as a work of

art. An amazing wave of glass and steel – measuring 200-feet-wideby 600-feet-long - forms a sun-washed canopy linking the existingterminal to a new parking deck. The streamlined curve of thecanopy sweeps above a wide boulevard and an inviting streetscapefilled with the warm terracotta cladding of the recently completedparking deck. The Terminal Area and Parking ImprovementProgram truly has turned the second busiest commercial airport in

Fly the Friendly Skies of Grand Rapids

By Mary E. Kremposky Associate Editor Photography by Curt Clayton, Clayton Studio


the state into an impressive gateway to WestMichigan. Christman built this $118 million dollar

project over the course of two years withoutdisrupting the smooth operations of anairport that generates over $500 millionannually in economic activity. Christman

delivered a quality facility on budget and onschedule. “The quality of the workmanship issecond to none,” said James A. Koslosky,A.A.E. executive director of the Kent CountyDepartment of Aeronautics. Christman’s focus on quality produced a

4,700-car parking deck with a beautiful

facade of terracotta, metal mesh andexposed concrete. One section of thisremarkable parking deck hosts a welcomingwall, framed in terracotta and filled with aphoto art mural of West Michigan. Quality control was even more vital for the

canopy’s streamlined waves of steel. Theentire canopy is composed of 13 differenttrusses, each formed of three truss sectionswelded together on site with the aid ofengineered jigs, said Daniel C. LaMore, PE,Christman, senior vice president, WestMichigan operations. The use of engineeredjigs insured a seamless alignment of theshop-built pieces.Christman and Steelcon, Inc., Kalamazoo,

employed a mighty Manitowoc crane to liftthe trusses, achieving a perfect fit of eachtruss and its two support columns. Theproject team worked virtually everySaturday night throughout the summer of2008, essentially hoisting a new truss everyweekend to avoid disrupting airportoperations. “We had to make sure we werenot disruptive in any way,” said LaMore. “Werecognized that even though the airport isour customer, they aren’t the core customer.The real customers are the airlines and the10,000 people who come to this airportevery single day.” Christman and the Kent County

Department of Aeronautics worked closelytogether to maintain airport operations andcustomer service, all for a project dedicatedto taking that service to an even higherlevel. Every customer and weary travelernow enjoys an easily navigated parkingstructure with a clear “flight path” or routethrough the garage, across a sky bridge andinto the terminal building with its ownimproved circulation pathways. The two, glass-enclosed sky bridges flow

directly into two newly carved terminalentrances. Christman also constructedadditions to the existing terminal building,installing four new escalators to improveinterior routing. The overall project providescustomers a smooth trajectory from theminute they leave their car to the momentthey take their seat on one of the airport’s125 daily flights.

AN AIRPORT TAKES FLIGHTThe project began with the basic need for

more parking. “We were running at 100percent capacity in the main lots,” saidKoslosky. The airport was tight on parkingand short on shelter. “We had all surfaceparking prior to this project,” Kosloskyadded. “With the vagaries of WestMichigan’s weather – we have about 100inches of snow annually – the parking



garage became an issue of customerservice.” The project increased the airport’s

parking capacity from 6,000 to just under10,000 spaces. About half of the spaces arehoused in this classy and convenient newparking deck with two light courts, as well aselectronic signage stating the number ofparking spaces available on each level. Beyond convenience, what visitors will

find memorable is the sheer enjoyment ofbeing in a wonderful space. The 142,500-square-foot canopy is a broad and lovelywave of curved steel and segmented glasspaying tribute to the region’s vast GreatLakes shoreline. “The curvature of the grandroadway canopy was inspired by the shapeof a water wave, and references LakeMichigan’s significant influence on WestMichigan,” said Alan J. Pramuk, PE, CM,Gresham, Smith and Partners. The development also honors the

airport’s host city, for the deck’s terracottacladding is a contemporary expression ofthe brick buildings of downtown GrandRapids. The canopy soars 36 to 56 feetabove the streetscape and deck; its trussescasting shadows across the light-washedterracotta and the wide boulevard unfoldingbeneath this inspired glass wave. “Glass wasselected as the main material for the GrandCanopy to allow as much natural light onto

the roadway below as possible,” saidPramuk. “Bands of tinting were utilized tocreate some variance in the amount of lighttransmission below, while still creating theeffect of a light, airy space.”Beyond beauty and shelter, the canopy

also serves another core function. “Visually,the curved shape of the canopy blends thefour-story parking deck and one-storyterminal in such a way that the terminalbuilding does not become dwarfed,” Pramukadded.The canopy works with the parking deck

to turn a bustling, successful airport into adestination space. “Because we wanted agateway image for the entire region,” saidKoslosky, “we didn’t want a parking structurethat looked like a blockhouse out in front ofthe terminal building.”The parking deck is an ensemble of

distinctive shapes, beginning with a circularor helical ramp and a glass stair and elevatorenclosure or beacon tower. Pramuk offers avisitor’s eye-view of this exciting newdevelopment, “When driving down the mainroadway into the airport, the driver willexperience design elements in sequence:first the arc of the gateway, then the helixramp, the beacon tower around the corner,and finally the grand roadway canopy andthe big welcome wall beneath it.” Accolades are pouring in from the

airport’s customers. The response can besummarized by a single word: Wow. “I oftenjust walk through the airport as part of mymanagement approach, and I met a mantaking photographs who said, ‘I’ve neverseen an airport as beautiful and asconvenient as this one. I didn’t expect this ina city the size of Grand Rapids,’” saidKoslosky. A satisfied Koslosky added, “Wenow have a modern, state-of-the-art airportterminal. The facility is very welcoming andtruly offers a gateway image for WestMichigan.”

THE FLIGHT PLANMost successful endeavors have a long

history. The genesis of this 20-acre project isan airport master plan formulated in 1992.“The master plan forecasted we would needa parking structure by 2005,” said Koslosky.“The update in 2004 reaffirmed the need forthe facility.” The Kent County Department of

Aeronautics and the airport boardnetworked with a Community AdvisoryCommittee to produce a list of clearlydefined project goals, ranging fromgenerating a gateway image to maintainingreasonable parking rates. “We obtainedinput from the Grand Rapids parkingauthority, the chamber of commerce andeconomic development organizations,” said

With this wonderful welcome wall, travelers across the country and around the globefeel right at home in an airport whose operational efficiency matches the quality ofthis remarkable expansion’s design and construction.


Koslosky. The airport began building the

improvement program on paper, both as afinancial feasibility study and as aconceptual design. Design reviews wereconducted at 30, 60 and 90 percentcompletion to track and refine the cost.Gresham, Smith and Partners finalized thedesign in summer 2007 with the airportreleasing it for lump sum bids and awardingthe contract to Christman in August 2007. Christman, an experienced construction

manager/general contractor with a nationalpresence and offices throughout Michigan,near Washington, D.C. and in Augusta, GA,carved $4 million to $5 million off the bid invalue-engineering strategies. “We looked atover 120 different items to somehow reducethe costs,” said Thomas R. Ecklund, P.E. KentCounty Department of Aeronautics facilitiesdirector. “The vast majority of the valueengineering came from Christman. They dida great job in identifying certain areas forcost savings.”Replacing the colored concrete of the

boulevard with asphalt was one of the moresignificant cost reductions. “We alsochanged the design and thickness of someof the metal mesh in the parking structure,”added Ecklund.The airport board was adamant about

retaining the terracotta cladding as aninvestment in the image and future of thisimportant Michigan transportation hub.“We want this to be a showcase facility thatis going to be here for 50 years or more, sowe said, ‘Let’s do it right,’” recalled Koslosky.“Doing it right” included minimizing

walking distances between parking deckand terminal, and creating a parking deckwith quick, convenient and simple vehicleaccess. The ideas of a local transit groupwere even taken to heart in the planningprocess. Three transit stations line theboulevard’s center median, including onereserved for public transit to the airport.“One transit station services hotel shuttles,the other is a parking shuttle for both thepublic and the employee lots, and the thirdservices public transit coming to the airportfrom a Grand Rapids mall,” said Koslosky.Bus service from downtown Grand Rapidsdirectly to the airport transit station isexpected in the future.

NIGHT FLIGHTBuilding this massive project required

another set of detailed “flight plans.” Thetwo-year project was broken into a series ofphases designed to keep the airportoperational. “We paid a great deal ofattention to customer service, working very

effectively with Christman to establish andimplement the phasing plan,” said Koslosky.September 2007 marked the launch of

this large-scale undertaking with Christmanbeginning construction of the north half ofthe 2-million-square-foot parking structure.The footprint of the south half temporarilyhoused the airport’s curbside and groundtransportation operations displaced by the

canopy’s construction. Christmanconstructed a series of temporary roadwaysand shelters to service this zone. “The existing curbside operation

continued as Christman constructed thetemporary roadways and shelters,” saidPramuk. “Once the temporary curbside wascompleted, operations were shifted to thistemporary area overnight, and work could

Using our signatory contractors guarantees a customer gets the

best trained masons for the best quality workmanship.

Do not settle for inferior training!

Our brick, tile, and cement masons undergo rigorous

education in these training areas:

Built on TrainingBuilt on Quality

MASONRY SCIENCE IMASONRY SCIENCE IIBLUE PRINT IBLUE PRINT IIJOURNEYMAN UPGRADING SEMINARSWELDING CERTIFICATION ~ MCCOSHA 500OSHA 10 HOUR 1926OSHA 30 HOUR 1926GROUT CERTIFICATIONCPR/FIRST AIDACI – Cement CertificationsAAC – Block TrainingJAHN STONE PATCHINGSUSPENDED SCAFFOLD COMPETENT

PERSON TRAINING

SCAFFOLD USERS TRAININGMUST SAFETY MODULES & DRUG

SCREENINGSELF RESCUE ROPE TRAININGSTONE UPGRADING CLASSTILE UPGRADING CLASSMARBLE UPGRADING CLASSTERRAZZO UPGRADING CLASSTERRAZZO TERRA TOP CERTIFICATIONFOREMAN TRAININGSUPERVISOR TRAININGFLASHING CERTIFICATIONCONFINED SPACE TRAININGHYDROMOBILE USER AWARENESS MASONRY WALL BRACING/RESTRICTED

AREA TRAINING

BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS UNIONLocal #1 • 21031 Ryan Road • Warren, MI 48091ph. 586-754-0888 • www.bricklayers.org

Sponsored by: Bricklayers Labor Management, Bricklayers /Cement Masons Apprentice Training Committee, Tile Marble Terrazzo Labor Management, and the Tile Marble Terrazzo Apprentice Training Committee.

http://www.bricklayers.org



begin on the Grand Canopy.” For canopy construction, a different type

of liftoff took place after the last planetouched down for the night at Gerald R. FordInternational Airport. Clearing the runwayof the last plane and the baggage area of thelast passenger was the signal to turn on thelight towers and spring the Manitowoccrane into action for the lift of another 19-ton truss. Midnight through 4 a.m. on Saturday

night and into early hours of Sundaymorning was the fleeting window of timeavailable for truss installation – one girderper Saturday over the course of the summer,except for the first two trusses that wereinstalled together for structural stability. “Ithad to be done between the last flight andthe first flight,” said Koslosky. Both advance and flexible planning were

part of the game plan. The project teamprepared a new diagram and action plan forevery lift. “Christman and the airport createda series of plans that plotted the position ofthe lifting crane and the jigs,” said Ecklund.“The plan determined the zone of influencefor each girder lift, because we had to closedifferent parts of the terminal for differentlifts.” Added LaMore, “Every truss operationwas basically the same, but the coordinationin the terminal was different. As we kept

moving down the line, we were effecting adifferent group of people and a differentarea of the terminal.” Keeping airport visitors safely out of the

construction zone involved the installationof temporary pedestrian tunnels or enclosedwalkways that were moved to more thannine different locations over the course ofthe project. “The temporary coveredwalkways were very effective, because theycould pick them up in sections to connectwith the terminal building,” said Koslosky. Late Saturday night at the airport began

the orchestration of man, machine and steelas Christman and airport managementconvened in the Golden Eagle boardroom toassess current conditions. “We first met inthe boardroom to check the schedule offlights to see if we could actually start atmidnight,” said Ecklund. “The baggage areamight still be open at midnight, dependingon the flight’s actual time of arrival. We hadour staff placed in different locations in theterminal to direct pedestrian flow down theproper ramp and out the proper door. If thelift impacted the temporary roadwaysystem, we would have police officersavailable to stop any traffic. Personnelacross the airport were in constant radiocommunication with each other.” Cleared for “take-off,” the Manitowoc

crane – the largest in its class with the mostmass lifting capacity – would lift, swing andhoist the 12-foot-deep curved truss skywardbefore setting it into position. Members ofthe Steelcon crew, called connectors,worked from Condor lifts to connect thetruss to the four bolts of each column’smating plate, explained LaMore. “What wasamazing to me is setting a three-dimensional, curved truss on two fixedpoints and having the trusses and columnsmatch perfectly – every time,” said Koslosky.

A PERFECT FITChristman’s rigorous quality control hit

the bulls-eye every time, successfullybringing each of the 13 massive girders intoperfect alignment with their two supportcolumns. A series of crossbeams link thegirders into a stable structural system. “It wasa complicated but very much controlledoperation,” said LaMore. This amazing alignment was the product

of precision planning in every phase ofconstruction, beginning with the placementof the canopy’s 26 columns using lasers andGPS. Each column is composed of aconcrete-filled, 3-foot diameter steel pipethat rests on a 20 x 20 spread footing. Accurate placement of the columns was

critical. “With a structural steel building, one

Night work and other strategies enabled Christman to deliver this $118million dollar project without disrupting airport operations.

PHOT

O CO

URTE

SY O

F GR

ESHA

M, S

MIT

H AN

D PA

RTNE

RS


THICK or THIN

DETROIT TERRAZZOCONTRACTORSASSOCIATION

artisan tile (810) 220-2370 boston tile (313) 535-7700

TERRAZZO can be thick or thin, heavy or light, textured or smooth, exotic or conservative, plain or colorful, interior or exterior. No matter what your flooring requirement is TERRAZZO has the answer.

WSR 18-A Reciprocating Saw

Cut more, cordless.Come in for a demonstration.

Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.

Detroit Hilti Center28190 Schoolcraft Rd.

Livonia, MI 48150734-522-7660800-879-8000

Grand Rapids Hilti Center

640 44th Street SWGrand Rapids, MI 49548

616-534-7368800-879-8000



800-879-8000 616-534-7368

and Rapids,Gr640 44th Str

Hilti C

800-879-8000734-522-7660

MI 48150Livonia,aft Rd.hoolcr28190 Sc

800-879-8000 616-534-7368

MI 49548and Rapids,eet SW640 44th Str

Center

HEATINGCOOLING

DEHUMIDIFYINGAIR FILTRATION

THERMAL REMEDIATION

24/7/365Nationwide Service

800-678-1488www.temp-air.comR

ENTA

L SER

VIC

ES

http://www.temp-air.com


http://www.us.hilti.com


can actually move columns out of plumband bring them back in to make things fit,but this is not possible with these largediameter, concrete-filled columns,” saidLaMore. “We didn’t have any give intolerance to be able to shift these largecolumns.” For quality control, the trusses were

manufactured off site and delivered to thejobsite in three sections. “Theymanufactured as much as they could in thecontrolled environment of a shop,” saidLaMore. Once on site, the three sections ofshop-fabricated steel were welded togetherusing engineered jigs built in the shop. Theguidance of these engineered jigs was vital

to achieve perfect alignment. “Whenwelding steel it is very important to haveeverything perfectly aligned,” said LaMore.“It is not like working with wood or thinmetal that has some flexibility.” Using GPS, the fit of truss and column was

checked and double-checked by Christmanand Steelcon teams. “Everyone would buyoff before we would mobilize,” said LaMore.“Given what needed to happen to build thetruss, to gear up to set the truss betweenmidnight and 4 am, to shut down theterminal, and to mobilize crew, equipment,and airport staff, we just couldn’t afford forthe truss not to fit. We checked it over andover, because we only had one chance.” Allof this meticulous work bore fruit at themoment the truss clicked perfectly intoplace during all 13 lifts. After completion of this phenomenal

steel structure, the Christman crew installedapproximately 3,000 pieces of segmentedglass almost an inch thick. One last materialcompletes this inspired canopy. A barelyvisible expanse of netting blankets thecanopy to prevent birds from nesting in thenew structure.

AN AMAZING FEATThe canopy’s creation was quite a

construction, engineering and logistical feat.“When they were installing the glass, thebird netting and painting the trusses, Ilooked out my window one day andcounted 18 different cranes in use,” saidEcklund. Gresham, Smith and Partners designed

the free-standing canopy to withstandvarious loading conditions. “I was told thatyou could drive a pick-up truck across thetop of the canopy just to give an idea of theload the canopy is capable of supporting,”said Koslosky. For starters, the canopy is designed to

handle uplift – a powerful force that givesflight to a plane but could damage this partwing, part wave-like structure. “Wind createspressures and uplift forces, similar to theaerodynamics of how an aircraft wing lifts aplane and how a sail acts to propel sailboats,” said Pramuk. “The structure also hadto account for the extreme snow loads inWest Michigan. Overall, the structuralmodeling accounted for uplift, snow load,and for snow drifting and ice meltconditions for this geographic region.”Pramuk explains the rainwater and

snowmelt management system: “Rainwaterwill be directed by the curved form of thecanopy to the large rain gutters sitting at thelow points of the profile. The manufactureroffered a panelized system of glass, gaskets

An amazing wave of glass and steel - measuring 200-feet-wide by 600-feet-long - forms a sun-washedcanopy linking the existing terminal to anew parking deck.

PHOT

O BY

GRE

EN F

ROG

PHOT

O


and framing between the structural trussesto provide a watertight system, whichdirects water and snow to the gutter systemthat accommodates large snowmelts andthe region’s rainfall.”

ALL HANDS ON DECKChristman worked simultaneously on the

canopy above and the utility grid below theboulevard. “Work under the Grand Canopyrequired additional phasing to insure allwater and sewer operations continued toservice the airport,” said Pramuk. “This civilwork was performed during the installationof the canopy steel, glazing and applicationof paint. At one point, utility contractorsproceeded under the canopy while 41 liftsjockeyed all around them.” In total,Christman removed, relocated and replacedsewer, water, stormwater, gas and electriclines, often encountering infrastructure inlocations not accurately represented on theas-built drawings, added LaMore. In this atypical work sequence, “The

canopy was even done before paving of theroadways,” said Koslosky. “Once theycompleted the new roadways, utilities andfinished the canopy, we were able todemolish the temporary roadways andbegin construction of the south half of theparking deck.”The canopy was finished in the first year of

the project, but construction of the massiveparking deck consumed the entire twoyears. Christman Constructors, Inc., thecompany’s self-perform group, togetherwith team member Grand RiverConstruction, put in place more than 75,000cubic yards of concrete on this cast-in-place,post-tensioned structure. As part of itsequipment arsensal, Christman employedtwo tower cranes, placed in three differentlocations over the course of the deck’sconstruction. “The tower cranes enabled usto reach out farther across this large parkingstructure,” said LaMore. Christman brought the same level of

quality control to the parking deck’sconstruction. The structure’s wonderfullyvaried skin has sections of exposed concreteframed in terracotta masonry withaluminum trim. With sections of exposedconcrete employed as a finish material, “Ithink the most important challenge wasmaintaining quality control – both visuallyand structurally – over such a huge concretestructure,” said LaMore.Pouring the deck continued throughout

the winter until the season gave way to therains of spring and summer. Thecombination of rain and the site’s clay soilled to the need for fairly frequent

dewatering. “These conditions are fairlycommon on construction sites, but on thisproject each condition and its cost wasmagnified by the sheer size of the project,”said LaMore.Constructed through snow and rain, the

end result is a parking facility that offerscustomer service in style. Beyond theappealing weave of its exterior cladding, theparking structure has two light courts that

span almost the entire width of the deck andextend from the fourth to the first level.Kalwall was selected as the courts’ roofingmaterial, because “the systems provide amore gentle glow in lighting up the spacesbelow,” said Pramuk. The light courts or wells are an integral

part of the easily navigated trajectory fromparking deck to terminal. The primarypedestrian walkways follow the line of the

SPECIALIZING IN THE CONSULTING, DESIGN ANDINSTALLATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METALWORK; COPPER ROOFING; SLATE AND CLAY TILE

CASS SHEET METAL(313) 571- C.A.S.S.5641 CONNER • DETROIT, MI 48213

NEW CRANBROOK OBSERVATORYHENRY FORD ESTATE

WAYNE STATE BONSTELLE THEATER

STATE CAPITOL

SPECIALIZING IN THE CONSULTING, DESIGN ANDINSTALLATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METALWORK; COPPER ROOFING; SLATE AND CLAY TILE

CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD

WAYNE STATE BONSTELLE THEATER

CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD STATE CAPITOL

NEW CRANBROOK OBSERVATORYHENRY FORD ESTATE


http://casssheetmetal.com/


light wells through the garage in a direct alignment with theelevators within the deck and the sky bridges leading to theterminal. “The translucent roof panel system allows daylight into thelower levels of the structure and enhances the way finding functionof the pedestrian pathway,” said Pramuk. Added Ecklund, “Peopleparking in the surface lot to the north can enter the second level ofthe parking deck and follow the primary pathway through the deckto the terminal, as well.” Other elements enhance the visitor experience. “Prominent

elements of the parking garage include a well-lit interior with extraheight between parking levels to improve visibility, and superiorlighting and clarity of signage to aid vehicular circulation,” saidPramuk. In summary, the entire parking deck provides a perfectly

organized system designed to ease the strain of travel. As an overallcirculation plan, “half of the first floor of the garage is for short-termparking, while the other half houses the rent-a-car offices,” saidKoslosky. “The helix houses the ramps leading to long-term parkingon the second, third and fourth floors.”

TAKE OFF Constructing two sky bridges and remodeling the terminal

compose the last phase of this two-year transformation. The skybridges “float” below the glass canopy offering a beautiful vista ofthe streetscape below and the cloudscape above. The interior of thetwo bridges maintains a high level of finish, providing a fittingwelcome mat of terrazzo flooring inset with an undulating blue wavesymbolizing Lake Michigan. The blue tones and figured Maplewood accents link the finishes of

the sky bridges and the terminal interior. Christman’s work withinthe terminal includes new flooring, new carpeting, adding fourescalators, and creating new entrances. “The architect did a good jobof blending with the interior colors used in the remodeling of theterminal in 1999,” said Ecklund. The grand project officially opened in October 2009. Accolades

are already being showered on this captivating development with agreat sense of place. The airport improvement is even beingfavorably viewed in the blogosphere. “The architect’s on-siterepresentative, Charles McArdle, found a blog comment from ahappy traveler who said he just arrived at 10 p.m. and what apleasant surprise the airport was with its great canopy and welcomewall lit at night,” said Ecklund. The future is certainly looking up at this bustling airport. “The

design of the parking structure allows for another overheadpedestrian walkway, because the master plan calls for the terminal tobe expanded to the west,” said Ecklund. The project is also allowingChristman to expand its presence in the airport marketplace. At theend of July 2010, Christman was awarded the contract for a newcontrol tower for the Traverse City Airport. Whether you are flying Air Force One or taking a short business

flight, visitors to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport enjoy all theease and convenience of this wonderful facility in the heart of WestMichigan. Rolling out a beautiful welcome mat to the region, theKent County Department of Aeronautics, The Christman Company,and Gresham, Smith and Partners have gone above and beyond thecall of duty to bring the magic of flight to the new and improvedairport below. Gerald R. Ford International Airport has clearly arrivedas a destination in its own right.

Oakland MetalSales, Inc.

Distributor of:

COPPER• Cold Rolled Copper Sheet and Coil in 12oz-.125• Revere Evergreen Pre-Patinated 16 & 20oz• Freedom Gray Z-T Alloy Coated Copper, 16 & 20oz• Copper Bar

ALUMINUM• Mill Finish .025-.125• Anodized Aluminum .032-.125• Kynar 500 Painted Sheets .032-.063

STAINLESS STEEL• 10 ga-28ga Sheets 2B & #4 Finishes

KYNAR 500/HYLAR 5000 PRE-PAINTED STEEL SHEETS

• Roofing and Wall Systems in Many Profiles fromDifferent Manuafacturers

GALVANIZED, GALVALUME, BONDERIZED STEEL SHEETS

RHEINZINK SHEET & COIL

LEAD SHEETS

GUTTER SYSTEMS• Copper: American & European Styles• Rheinzink• Pre-Finished Steel & Aluminum

CUSTOM FABRICATED BREAK METAL

ANDEK ROOFING & WALL COATINGS

ADDITIONAL STOCK ITEMS• Snow Guards • Solder-Flux-Irons• Copper Roofing Nails • Copper & Stainless Steel Nails-Driven & Collated

Contact Us Today for All Your Metal Needs!!

www.OaklandMetalSales.comPhone (248) 377-8847Fax (248) 377-4196

[email protected] OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1984

Oakland MetalSales, Inc.

Distributor of:

COPPER• Cold Rolled Copper Sheet and Coil in 12oz-.125• Revere Evergreen Pre-Patinated 16 & 20oz• Freedom Gray Z-T Alloy Coated Copper, 16 & 20oz• Copper Bar

ALUMINUM• Mill Finish .025-.125• Anodized Aluminum .032-.125• Kynar 500 Painted Sheets .032-.063

STAINLESS STEEL• 10 ga-28ga Sheets 2B & #4 Finishes

KYNAR 500/HYLAR 5000 PRE-PAINTED STEEL SHEETS

• Roofing and Wall Systems in Many Profiles fromDifferent Manufacturers

GALVANIZED, GALVALUME, BONDERIZED STEEL SHEETS

RHEINZINK SHEET & COIL

LEAD SHEETS

GUTTER SYSTEMS• Copper: American & European Styles• Rheinzink• Pre-Finished Steel & Aluminum

CUSTOM FABRICATED BRAKE METAL

ANDEK ROOFING & WALL COATINGS

ADDITIONAL STOCK ITEMS• Snow Guards • Solder-Flux-Irons• Copper Roofing Nails • Copper & Stainless Steel Nails-Driven & Collated

Contact Us Today for All Your Metal Needs!!

www.OaklandMetalSales.comPhone (248) 377-8847Fax (248) 377-4196

[email protected] OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1984

http://www.OaklandMetalSales.com

http://www.OaklandMetalSales.com




earthmoving, LLcMASS GRADING • SITE UTILITIES

Earth Moving Site Development

Private Work • Commercial & Public WorkSand and Gravel Pits

Soil Erosion Controls • SeedingMDOT Prequalified

WE ARE A MULTI-STATE CONTRACTOR

5840 Sterling Drive, Suite 420 • Howell, MI 48843

ph: 517-552-4433 • fx: 517-552-4455d r e a r t h m o v i n g . c o m

Your Connection to an Integrated World.

Structured Voice/Data Cabling

VoIP andDigital Phone System

Authorized Dealer for Cisco and Panasonic

2516 Harte Drive

Brighton, MI 48114

ph: 248.596.1400

fx: 248.596.1440

www.unified-tech.us

http://www.unified-tech.us


http://www.drearthmoving.com

http://www.doeren.com

http://www.ftch.com


High-tech manufacturing foreverchanged the landscape in a portionof the San Francisco Bay Area, which

will now always be known as Silicon Valley,but much of the raw material that powersthe information age and the new energyeconomy comes from a location that ismuch closer to home. In fact, HemlockSemiconductor Corporation manufacturersover one quarter of the silicon usedworldwide for the solar and electronicsindustries. Hemlock SemiconductorCorporation, based just 10 miles west ofSaginaw, could lead the way as the SaginawValley’s prominence suddenly eclipsesCalifornia’s well-known technology hub.Hemlock Semiconductor was well suited

to meet the growing need for pure polycrys-talline silicon from a manufacturingstandpoint, but the company lacked a realfront door to its 400-acre site. The recentlycompleted 57,500-square-foot CorporateCenter addresses this need while combininga strong corporate identity with office andconference space. Team members thatcreated this multi-faceted structureincluded owner and construction managerHemlock Semiconductor; architecturaltrades contractor, Granger ConstructionCompany, Lansing; mechanical contractorJohn M. Jacobs Plumbing and Heating, BayCity; electrical contractor William F. NelsonElectric, Saginaw; and architect WigenTincknell Meyer & Associates, Saginaw.

CHANGING NEEDS Most of the buildings on the Hemlock

Semiconductor campus date back to the1960s. These “architectural hand-me-downs” were repurposed as necessary andHemlock Semiconductor simply made do,until a global resurgence in demand forsilicon mandated a fresh approach.“Their existing buildings did not function

as well as they should have mechanicallyand electrically,” said Thomas Reay, AIA, LEEDAP, Wigen Tincknell Meyer & Associates.“They wanted a new building that wouldrespond to their needs now and in thefuture.”Construction is a common occurrence at

Hemlock Semiconductor, where 800-1,200contractors are typically employed to meetthe complex facilities’ needs that relate tosilicon production. Still, the new adminis-tration represented a rare opportunity forthe company.“We were a bit architecturally naïve going

into this project,” admitted Tod Lange,expansion engineering for HemlockSemiconductor. “We don’t get manyopportunities like this. We do not have a

commercial campus here. Our repeatedopportunities are on the industrial side. Weare very particular about what our partnersdo on the industrial side, but we put a lot oftrust in this architectural team and in theirability to do the job well.”Hemlock Semiconductor typically runs

the show on construction projects thatoccur on its site, and the company stillplayed a very active role on this project, butcompany leaders also deferred to theexperience and expertise of the team. Eventhough Hemlock Semiconductor lacked athorough understanding of the architecturalnuances that govern non-industrial projects,the company leadership did possess thewisdom to assemble a capable team and toheed the guidance received from that team.“As a client, you were astute at knowing

what you wanted,” said Reay to Lange. “Youwould present something to me and I wouldrespond to it. That is a great way to workbecause it gave us the opportunity to dowhat we could for you. You had a vision, butyou were also open to exploring things.”The vision presented to Wigen Tincknell

Meyer & Associates contained few specifics,which gave the architect much greaterflexibility.“They [the Hemlock Semiconductor

project team] wanted to see what we coulddo,” explained Reay. “No one ever came upto us and said, ‘Don’t do this.’ The told uswhat they needed and waited for us to comeback to them. They gave us plenty ofdirection about their needs, but they alsoallowed us to try to satisfy those needs.”When asked if this approach resulted in a

better building for Hemlock Semiconductor,Reay’s one word answer spoke volumes.“Yeah,” he said without a moment’s pause.Reay went on to explain that design is a

creative process, but one that is also boundby practical realities. The freedom to explorenew ideas is effectively checked as designprofessionals investigate the ramificationsof these ideas.“If a concept is valid, things start falling

into place,” said Reay. “That is whathappened here. Instead of trying tomanipulate the concept into a way that itdidn’t want to go, we let it have its own life.Valid ideas usually work themselves out.”The corporate culture that has led

Hemlock Semiconductor to success in thesilicon arena also led the company to enablethe architect with the freedom to evaluatethe validity of ideas. When concepts weredemonstrated to have value, HemlockSemiconductor stood ready to accept thembecause the company’s top minds hadalready painstakingly developed the vision

that guided the design.

MEETING NEEDSThe new Administration Building fills a

variety of needs for HemlockSemiconductor, including serving as a frontdoor for the company’s campus. Like anyfront door, it needed to control access to thebuilding behind it, but this took on addedimportance at Hemlock Semiconductorbecause of the corporation’s proprietarytechnology used to manufacture polysilicon. Sophisticated access control

requirements include card-activatedturnstiles that will only admit a singleperson at a time. People can be grantedlimited access, or even prevented fromleaving the building, based on theinformation that is encoded onto their cards.Of course, doors are programmed to operateautomatically to meet egress needs in theevent of an emergency. Most doors that arecommercially available did not meet thesecurity requirements at HemlockSemiconductor, so extensive modificationand hardware replacement was oftenneeded to incorporate desired products intothe building. Hemlock Semiconductor also has its own

fire safety standard that exceeds coderequirements. Contractors were hired forthe installation, but HemlockSemiconductor provided the design andperformed internal reviews. Sophisticatedalarms and double firewalls were part of acomprehensive safety culture thatcontractors needed to adopt for themselvesif they wanted to work on the site.“They [Hemlock Semiconductor] have their

own safety department, so safetycompliance was a focus on the job,” saidChuck Barnes, project manager andestimator for Granger ConstructionCompany. “You needed to complete a safetyorientation just to get onsite.”In addition to completing site-specific

safety training, trades workers also neededto apply for work permits each morning.Since permit requests detailed what workwould be performed, how it would beperformed, and what the safety risks were,pre-task planning was a must. Safetyrequirements placed additional deadlinepressure on the project team because theiroptions for increasing manpower on the sitewere limited. Additional people could be,and sometimes were, assigned, but this allneeded to be planned in advance becauseof the safety training requirement andbackground checks that were mandatedwithout exception. In addition to a project team and a



finished facility that met HemlockSemiconductor’s complex security andsafety needs, the company also required abuilding that created an identity for thecompany. Rapid growth would inevitablyentail more contact with the public. Thecompany therefore needed a face withwhich to greet the public.As visitors approach the building, the

emphasis on technology is reinforced bystainless steel and glass that is softened withmasonry that blends in well with theexisting campus. Glass is also highlighted inthe building’s sun-drenched lobby. Asvisitors progress into the building, the cold,tech-heavy feel of the exterior graduallygives way to the warmth that only rich woodfinishes can provide. This cozy ambiance is

strongly supported by the 80 artworks thatwere commissioned for the building. Risinghead and shoulders above the neutrallandscapes found in many corporate offices,each individual work has a distinct identityand was chosen to appeal to the broad arrayof nationalities and cultures that wouldlikely visit the facility.Still, the most noteworthy artistic

expression inside the facility is arguably theornate and functional central staircase.Contractors spent countless hours adaptingthe gentle curves of the staircase to the rigiddimensions of wood paneling and trim, butthe end result is as worthy of display as anymuseum piece. Since the design was fast-tracked, contractors needed to work veryclosely with the architect to achieve thedesired look.“We had some good contractors on the

project,” said Paul Haselhuhn, AIA, LEED AP,associate for Wigen Tincknell Meyer &Associates. “We weren’t always able to drawthem an isometric view, but they were ableto figure things out.”Contractors who brought their skills to

the project came from all over SoutheasternMichigan. All converged on a rural site thatposed challenges for the entire team.

SITE SPECIFICA structure might look great on paper, but

for it to truly function, it must work with itssurroundings. Hemlock Semiconductor’snew Administration Building shares manycommon elements with similar corporatestructures, but the location was anythingbut typical.Lange admitted that the new building

does stand out a little against the ruralWestern Saginaw County background, butnot in a negative way. Despite the high-techlook, the structure was also designed inharmony with its environment. Theabundance of exterior glass also let theproject team maximize the value of thesurroundings by offering ample views of thenatural landscape along with abundantnatural light. The structure not only fits intothe rural fabric, it is structure is also suitablefor a global business leader.In addition to fitting the building on the

site, the project team also needed to operateon the site to construct the building. Most ofthe site was utilized by HemlockSemiconductor, which left very little roomfor other activities.“The site was a logistics challenge,” said

Barnes. “Laydown space was very limited.”In fact, less than one acre was shared by all

trades, so material deliveries werecoordinated on a strict “Just in Time” basis.

Glass is highlighted in the building’s sun-drenched lobby.


Another difficulty associated withbuilding on the site involved working on theperiphery of a secure area. All access toHemlock Semiconductor facilities onsitewould be controlled through theAdministration Building once it wascomplete, so the walls of the structure werebuilt right next to the security boundary.Internal traffic patterns and doors were alsoplaced to facilitate easy access onto thecampus. All of these factors limited optionsin creating a footprint for the building. “There were some issues with siting the

building,” said Reay. “We tried to anticipatethings that were difficult to foresee. We hadto think about how could we expanddifferent parts of the facility – not just thecorporate facility, but also the manufac-turing buildings.”A high level of teamwork was needed to

perform in this fast-moving environment.

WORKING TOGETHERNo project as complex at the Hemlock

Semiconductor Corporate Center couldsucceed without a cohesive team. This teambrought a strong combination of talent andexperience to the table, but individual teammembers performed their tasks within anorganizational structure that was unfamiliarto many of them. Instead of working with aconstruction management firm and anowner, everyone worked with HemlockSemiconductor, which wore both hats onthis project. Though this idea took somegetting used to, there were someadvantages to this approach.“Some things may happen during the

construction process that are contrary to thedesign,” said Haselhuhn. “My job is normallyto step in and have everyone take a look atit. In this case, Hemlock Semiconductoreither said, ‘You’re right, we’ll take care of it,’or, ‘This is acceptable,’ and we adjusted thedesign to go in that direction. It didn’t affecthow I approached my role, but it did makeHemlock Semiconductor the CM and thefinal decision maker.”Being the final decision maker also entails

taking a large share of responsibility for thesuccess or failure of the project. Extensiveexperience in guiding industrial projects onthe Hemlock site paid off for HemlockSemiconductor, as the firm ably saw theproject through to its completion. Barnes,who has first-hand knowledge in how aneffective construction manager can guide aproject through his years at GrangerConstruction, complimented HemlockSemiconductor on its “very knowledgeableconstruction staff.” Of course, noconstruction manager is skillful enough to

As visitors approach the building, the emphasis on technology is reinforced by stainlesssteel that is softened with masonry; it blends in well with the existing campus.

Chesaning Dam Removal and River Restoration

Trusted professionals delivering America’s infrastructure solutions

Engineering l Landscape ArchitectureOperations l Planning l Sciences l Surveying

800.482.2864 l www.wadetrim.com

Milford Kensington Trail

Allen Park SSO Tunnel

http://www.wadetrim.com



Rapid growth at Hemlock Semiconductor would inevitably entail more contact with the public.The company therefore needed a face with which to greet the public.


prevent every problem. It is how they reactto unforeseen circumstances that oftenelevates leaders above their peers. HemlockSemiconductor was aided in this area by anable group of subcontractors who were ableto make quick decisions in the field. This wasa vital skill on this design build projectwhere one change could have a dominoeffect impacting the entire schedule.“Our biggest challenge on this job was

probably dealing with changemanagement,” said Barnes. “There wereextensive changes.”Fortunately, the many talented minds on

the project team were able to work throughthese changes in an efficient manner. Thistype of thinking is common to Michigan’sconstruction community, but is also a fixtureat Hemlock Semiconductor. TheAdministration Building was designed andbuilt to facilitate the creative problemsolving for which Hemlock Semiconductor isknown.The mathematical precision of the

building is inescapable. Two, two-storywings radiate outward from the lobby andcentral stair area. The wings are nearlyidentical and both feature a 30-footstructural grid. Even the ceiling tilesincorporate a 30”x30” size instead of themore common 24”x24” to fit into the naturalorder that defines the space.“Those are the kinds of things that make a

building feel right,” said Haselhuhn. “Youmight not notice when things like that areoff, but you’ll know that something iswrong.”Both wings include a bank of conference

rooms along one wall, adjacent to openoffice space that is divided into cubicles thatare consistent with the building’s structuralgrid. Private offices line the opposite wall,with utility bulkheads placed to serve assound buffers between the more activecubicle space and quieter offices. Copyareas and staff kitchens are also groupednear the lobby in each wing. Kitchen areasfeature acoustical panels and higher glasswalls to absorb sound or reflect it away fromworking spaces, while return vents werearranged to contain food odors. The far end of each wing features a two-

story triangular space that is flooded withnatural light. Since the triangular areas areat the end of each wing, they tend to bequiet because there is no reason to just passthrough, making them ideal secondary workor meeting areas. The glass that transmitslight into the triangular spaces and otherportions of the building also offers manyviews of the 30kw solar garden wherepanels manufactured by six different

WIGEN

TINCKNELL

MEYER &ASSOCIATES

ARCHITECTS

. . . . . . .

100 S Jefferson Ave / Ste 601Saginaw, MI 48607 / 989-752-8107

www.wtmarchitects.com

http://www.wtmarchitects.com


http://www.grangerconstruction.com


http://www.dihydro.com


customers supply power that goes directlyinto the building grid. Both wings share a cafeteria, an amenity

that was lacking before the AdministrativeBuilding was completed. Lange said that thecafeteria has become very popular, oftenserving as a multi-purpose room formeetings or a convenient spot to discussideas over a meal. Hemlock Semiconductoremployees can also now invite their familiesin for lunch. Though the cafeteria is something new for

Hemlock Semiconductor, the project teamalso needed to be mindful of how thecompany operates now. The company’scollaborative nature mandated many

conference rooms, 13 in all, not including theinformal triangle spaces at the end of eachwing – all in an office building that is smallerthan 57,500 square feet.Like most other spaces inside the

building, the conference rooms are usuallybooked well in advance. All are typically fullat any given time, as the minds employed atHemlock Semiconductor map out the futureof what could become known as Michigan’sSilicon Valley. If new facilities are needed tobring these plans to fruition, rest assuredthat Michigan’s talented design andconstruction community is more than up tothis task.

• BONDS

•CONTRACTORSINSURANCE

• ENVIRONMENTAL INSURANCE

• LIFE & HEALTH(248) 355-4411www.zervosgroup.com

24724 Farmbrook Rd.Southfield 48034

Gus E. ZervosCEO

Steve M. ZervosPresident

Angelo G. Zervos, VPDave Lang

Dominic Nicita

Michael G. Zervos, VPJim GargaroDon Burden

EquipmentCostAnalysis

Rentals

TechServices

Service &Supplies

Wide-format printing

In your office!

248-288-5600www.dunnblue.com

Fulfill your plotting needs for onelow monthly “rent-to-own” price!

We Can Save You Money!

n

cifffforuoyyonInirptamrofo-ediW

wo-ot-tner“ylhtnomwolfsdeengnittolpruoyllifluF

!

!ecgnitn

ecirp”enorof

rv

rv

seilppuS&ecivreS

secivreShceT

slatneR

sisylanAtsoC

tnempiuqE

moc.eulbnnud.www 658242

oMuoYoevveaSnaCeWWe

006-88-84

!yeeyno

A card-activated turnstile only admits a single person beyond the lobby at a time. Securityrequirements also often mandated extensive modification and hardware replacement todoors that were commercially available.

http://www.dunnblue.com

http://www.zervosgroup.com


Members receive discounted credit card processing, no set-up fees and no account minimums.

Call Tina Allcorn at (248) 623-4430

Call William Jeffrey at (248) 723-6400

More than 13,000 copies of thiscomprehensive construction industrydirectory are distributed. Marketingopportunity through special classifiedsection. Offered online and in print.

ihtfoseipoc000,31nahteroMninoitcurtsnocevisneherpmockraM.detubirtsiderayrotceridalclaicepshguorhtytinutroppo

nidnaenilnodereffO.noitces

syrtsudn

gnitedeifissa

.tnirp

bmeMtidercaseef

detnuocsideviecersrepu-teson,gnissecorpdrac.smuminimtnuoccaondn



“Voice Of The Construction Industry”®

In Rochester Hills, the science of healing,the art of design, and the craft ofconstruction have joined forces in the

battle against an unsettling disease. The endresult is the new Karmanos-CrittentonCancer Center, a comforting refuge of stoneand wood that aims to heal the body andcalm the mind by offering exceptionalcancer care in a remarkable building. Analliance of the Barbara Ann KarmanosCancer Center and Crittenton HospitalMedical Center has brought the expertise ofKarmanos’ world-class cancer specialists tothe very doorstep of the Rochester Hillscommunity and beyond. As one of only 40National Cancer Institute-designatedcomprehensive cancer centers in the

The Healing LodgeWorld-Class Cancer Center Opens

in Rochester Hills

By Mary E. Kremposky,Associate Editor

Photos by Beth Singer

58 CAM MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010


country, Karmanos has access to over 300clinical trials and is one of the top Phase IClinical Trials programs in North America,having been the first to test numerousnewly formulated cancer drugs andtherapies.“Seven or eight of the latest cancer-

fighting drugs that are currently on themarket were first tested at the KarmanosCancer Center,” said Patricia A. Ellis,spokesperson for the Detroit-basedhealthcare institution that is the onlyhospital in Michigan focused exclusively oncancer research and care. “The research thatcomes out of Karmanos is research that willdevelop the next standard of cancer careused throughout the world,” she continued.

“We are very happy to make theseinnovative treatments available in thisbeautiful facility through our partnershipwith Crittenton.” Quality care and a quality building go

hand-in-hand in this new 30,600-square-foot facility. Albert Kahn Associates, Detroit,has delivered a compelling translation of analpine lodge into high-tech geometric formsthat speak to the advanced radiationtherapies and innovative chemotherapyservices within. With its angular form andthe interplay of sloped roof planes, thepartnership’s vision of creating a high-techversion of a lodge has been wonderfullyrealized. The construction savvy of theBarton Malow Company, Southfield, made itall happen in the field, successfully tacklingthe sheer complexity of constructing thebuilding’s irregular geometry. Both Kahn and Barton Malow filled a very

tall “doctor’s order.” Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel,MD, then Karmanos president and CEO,articulated the Karmanos and Crittentonexecutive team’s design ideal duringdiscussions with Kahn in 2007. “He wantedthe building to have the look, the warmth,and the welcoming feel of a western skilodge,” said Monte Oberlee, Crittenton’sadministrator for the Environment of Care.“Then he threw in the twist. He wanted it tolook high-tech as well, because he doesn’twant patients to feel as if they are walkinginto old medicine. People undergoingcancer treatment want the latesttechnology, and that needs to be reflected inthe building.”

A RUSTIC, HIGH-TECH HYBRIDThe partnership and the project team

have successfully created a place of warmthand comfort, reassuring in its quality of care,its beautiful cloak of natural materials, andits contemporary form. Creating ahealthcare facility that truly broke the moldtook the work of skilled and dedicatedhands. Steeped in their craft, the masons ofR.C. Nowak & Co., Garden City, turned palletsof dolomite limestone units into an organicand beautifully patterned stone exterior andinterior, including a stone-clad fireplacefilling the lobby with a comforting sense ofhearth and home. Avoiding a rigid order, thelight-colored stone is randomly placed insize and tone, producing a job worthy of thisnatural material and true to the Center’smission of providing cutting-edge care in ahouse of healing enveloped in naturalfinishes. “Nowak did a beautiful job,” saidOberlee. “There were places where thestone mason would just say, ‘Tell me whatyou need, and I will deliver it.’ ”

Rustic stone blankets entire wall sectionsas well as a row of exterior and interior pierstraveling the length of the building’smedical “main street.” The natural stone,khaki-colored lapboard siding and a broadentrance canopy of open trusses present awelcoming image of a private retreat. Largeoverhangs, supported by visible end beams,add to the alpine look. But the building’sangular geometry gives a high-tech edge tothis bucolic image of a mountain chalet. The roughly L-shaped building bends

around the angular site, creating a series ofdramatically sloped roof planes rushingskyward at opposing angles. The buildingcontinues this duet of dynamic lines in theform of large dormers and two towerbeacons whose roofs jut out at counterangles to the main roof planes. Geometry leaves its own high-tech stamp

on the lobby. The lobby roof is an invertedtrapezoid flaring outward as it rises upwardabove the surrounding roof planes. “Theshape of the lobby as a whole starts tosuggest the building is moving beyond thelook of a residential ski lodge,” said MichaelGiovanni, RA, LEED AP, Kahn senior associateand project designer. “The lobby and its roofform is more of a modern notion ofgeometry that gives the building a high-tech look.” As part of its contemporary bent,“the building has a relatively thin raised roofplanes that float above clerestory windows,”he added.The building’s glass curtain walls in the

lobby and the beacon towers add a high-tech gloss to the building. Bringing it backto its lodge roots, the curtain walls aresubdivided by a grid of double metalmullions, evoking the wood windowpatterns of old-fashioned ski lodges in acontemporary form.

THE COMMUNITY CARE NETWORKThis inspired exterior moves into the

interior, offering a lobby with the warmth oflarge cherry-stained wood beams and a 10-foot-tall fireplace of natural stone ascomforting as having a national leader incancer research, education and care in yourown backyard. “Karmanos is very focused onmaking excellent cancer care as accessibleas possible to communities,” said Ellis. Karmanos and Crittenton have

maintained a partnership since 2003, butthis $14.7 million dollar structure is the firstactual building created by this strongalliance of a nationally prominent instituteand a community-based hospital. Thebroader community also left their own markon the new building in the fundraisingstages. Barton Malow supplied a series of



steel I beams that were taken to theAmerican Cancer Society’s Relay for Lifeevents. “We painted them a light violet colorand hauled these heavy beams from placeto place, taking them to Relays in RochesterHills, Auburn Hills, and other communities,”recalled Oberlee. Many Relay participantsdonated funds and signed the beams thatwere actually built into the new building’scolumns during construction. “What I thought was really unique was

some of the signatures on the beams from

people who are competitors of ours,” saidOberlee. “Ultimately, there is a great dealmore passion about the goal of beatingcancer than who competes with whom. Ourcompetitors would sign the beam and putmoney in our fundraising bucket. It isn’tabout competition, it’s about beating thisthing called cancer.” In lieu of a traditional groundbreaking, the

mayor of Rochester Hills and otherdignitaries signed the beams, along with theconstruction crew then on the jobsite. With

such deep community support, the beamsand the building reinforce the message:Those who battle cancer do not fight alone.“I actually lost both of my parents to cancer,”said Ellis. “For those of us who are co-survivors, it is therapeutic to know that weare all working together to support thecommunity in this fight.” In fact, the entire project began through

the efforts of a long-time supporter of theRochester community and of CrittentonHospital Medical Center, named StevenStolaruk. He donated the land for the newCenter in memory of his wife, Vivian VivioStolaruk.

SITE AND STEEL Karmanos-Crittenton officially launched

its own efforts in 2007, interviewing high-profile architects throughout SoutheastMichigan as part of its strong commitmentto use local firms. Ultimately, Crittentonturned to the tried and true team of Kahnand Barton Malow. With Kahn and BartonMalow having successfully completedCrittenton’s $86 million dollar facilityexpansion, “We felt that we could hit theground running on this project,” saidOberlee. Hitting the ground running actually

meant managing and navigating quite anobstacle course of site conditions in bothdesign and construction. The site is anirregular, roughly L-shaped parcel in themiddle of a technology park filled with a seaof low-rise commercial buildings, as well as achain hotel and restaurant. Kahn wanted todesign a building with a strong presence inthe technology park and with maximumvisibility from nearby roadways. The tower beacons with copper paint and

up lighting, the sloped roof planes, and theheight of the building all served thesedesign goals. “The elevations, thetopography and the height of the buildingwere important, because as the towers andthe building rose up out of this commercialenvironment, the building started todominate the area,” said Giovanni. “Iremember the first time I got off theexpressway heading east. I stopped at thelight, looked over, and I realized that thedesign really works. The tower beacons andthe rooflines just pop up out of thesurrounding park.” Barton Malow managed another set of

ground conditions, including thawing theground in January to melt 24 to 30 inches offrost as one of the first steps in launchingconstruction. Assembling the exterior frameof this irregularly shaped building withvaried roof planes accelerated the degree of

Wood, stone and light envelop patients and visitors with the comfort ofthe natural world and the warmth of home.


© ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We’re always building on our reputation.Equipment + Service + Safety + Location

Anyone can just rent you a crane. But does the buck stop there? At Jeffers, safety is one of the most valuable services we offer our customers, beginning with equipment that is properly maintained and operators who are trained

to the highest standards. Our complete Safety Management System includes lift planning, crane selection and inspection, personnel

training, and performance monitoring.

Get the package deal: equipment, safety, and service. Give us a call.

Detroit, Michigan248-207-6944 888-758-8041www.allcrane.com

A member of The ALL Family of Companies

Core Drill Motors & RigsCore Drill Motors & Rigs

sete

http://www.allcrane.com


http://www.acecutting.com


difficulty and made for some heavy-dutydetailing. “The greatest issue was thestructural steel framing,” said Rich Wimble,PE, Barton Malow project director. “There is agreat deal of moment connections in thesteel frame of the building. It took moredetailing and drawing to fabricate, becauseno two pieces are the same.” Added Larry Dziedzic, Barton Malow

project manager, “The elaborate framingtook a great deal of false work to make allthe angles fit.” With the building having

longer overhangs than a typical structure,“the detailing of them was also extensive,”continued Dziedzic. “All of the overhangs arebuilt out or streamlined using plywood. Wealso used a different roof system attachmentthat was more user friendly and moreforgivable.” As the roofing subcontractor,Lutz Roofing Co., Inc., Shelby Township,expertly crafted field details to deliver thesedemanding roofs designed with 6,000square feet of canopies and overhangs. The complexity of the building frame

drove the schedule. Barton Malow actuallyworked extensively on the interior clinicalspaces while methodically tackling theintricate details of the exterior buildingframe. The structure is almost a buildingnestled within another building. The portionwith the dramatic rooflines and beacontowers wraps around the main clinical coreand rises 12 to 14 feet above the flat roofsheltering the medical heart of the facility.“We worked our way around the projectwith the exterior walls, working out issuesand coordinating with Kahn,” said Dziedzic.Beyond the methodical and deliberate

piecing together of varied angles, planes,and overhangs, the budget remained theother core challenge, for all this beauty hasits price. With the skill of a plastic surgeon,Barton Malow and the project team nippedand tucked the original plan to bring out thebeauty of the building but contain the cost.“We tried to accomplish what Kahn wastrying to achieve but in a little less expensivemanner,” said Wimble. The original design called for more stone

on the building. The project team carefullyselected cost-saving areas in the interior, inone instance switching stone and aclerestory to drywall above the interiorvestibule wall. On the exterior, the naturalstone was replaced with split-face block onthe service side of the building, leaving theelegant stonework intact on the public side.

ENTERING THE COMFORT ZONEBarton Malow completed the building

after 18 months of detailed and intricatework. Driving down Crooks Road andturning onto Star-Batt Drive will lead you tothe doorstep of this phenomenal building.“Coming up Crooks and rounding Star-Batt,the building unfolds right in front of you,”said Giovanni. Stretching the buildingdiagonally across the site and placing it inthe crook of the L-shaped building madethis welcoming sight line possible. Approaching the building from the

parking lot, the beauty of its stone and theintricate details of the exterior come into fullview. “The building has different levels ofscale,” said Giovanni. “You can see thebeacon towers and sloped roofs from a halfa mile away, but as you walk up to thebuilding, the scale changes and breaks downinto details.” This level of detail is part ofestablishing “an architecture of healing”through the creation of a building on anintimate, personal and human scale, headded. The resulting building is reminiscent of

the richly detailed and handcrafted Arts andCrafts buildings of the late 19th and early

The circulation spine offers ease of navigation andthe comforting presence of natural materials.


20th centuries, but with each detailfollowing the modern tradition of being lessdecorative and more distilled in line andform. Virtually all the windows are arrangedin a decorative grid of double mullions. Theexterior stone columns have insets orrecessed areas in the center, and even theroof edges are broken down into subtle,small steps formed of end caps.Building this high level of detail, specif-

ically the double mullions, demanded anextra degree of craftsmanship. “Instead oftwo pieces of glass, each window requiredinstallation of about 15 separate pieces,”said Wimble. The experienced firm ofAmerican Glass & Metals Corp., Plymouth,installed the curtain wall and interior glass.The double mullion detail is carried into

the interior in the fireplace grill and even inthe wood of the reception desk, a beautifulassembly of stone, wood, art glass and fin-like columns that is basically the building inminiature. In the circulation spine, thedouble mullion pattern flows from the glasswindows to the gypsum wall above and theceiling overhead. The building is cohesive and coherent in

the details of design, creating a subtle senseof harmony and ease. “The whole buildingflows together and maintains continuityfrom the exterior into the interior – andwithin the interior, itself,” said Giovanni. “Thebuilding is drawn together, and I believe thatis comforting to a patient.”

A MEMORABLE LOBBYA more tangible source of comfort is the

building’s clear circulation routes and easeof navigation. A broad canopy of opentrusses and a tower beacon mark the mainentrance. The reception desk is immediatelyvisible through the vestibule’s glass curtainwall, and the circulation corridor - flowingdirectly from the lobby - serves as a type ofmedical Main Street with clearly marked sidestreets leading to the different labs, officesand clinics. “Part of making a healingenvironment is as basic as helping thepatient conveniently find the spaces withinthe building,” said Giovanni. Additionally, the offset entrances – the

exterior entry door is not in direct alignmentwith the interior vestibule door – offer amuch-needed shield from Michigan’s wintryweather. “The offset entrances keep the coldair from blasting into the interior,” saidWimble. With clarity of circulation and natural

materials, the interior offers patients a spacewith zero confusion and optimal serenity.The stone fireplace, wood plank ceiling andmassive cherry-stained Maple beams evoke

the sensibility of a lodge retreat but arelighter in color and more distilled in formthan the dark, ornate woodwork of historicand traditional lodge retreats. Glass is the other comforting element in

the building. The lobby’s glass curtain walland clerestory windows bathe the interior innatural light. “Especially in the morning andevening, the light entering the space createsbeautiful shadows and contrast,” said

Giovanni. “There is all this documentationabout natural light not only beingcomforting but actually helping to healpeople faster.” The lobby’s art glass sculpture is another

memorable element in this building thattranscends the conventional notion of ahealthcare facility. Designed by Kahn, thesculpture is conceptualized to embody thepatient journey, with glass rectangles linked

Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki and Berg, P.C.

Construction Law Specialists

Solving corporate and litigation problems for the construction industry

WWW.KOTZSANGSTER.COM

• LITIGATION• ARBITRATION

• CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

• EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR• CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS

• REPRESENTING- GENERAL CONTRACTORS

- SUBCONTRACTORS- DEVELOPERS

- OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES

Detroit400 Renaissance Center Suite 3400Detroit, Michigan 48243-1618Telephone: (313) 259-8300Facsimile: (313) 259-1451

Birmingham300 Park Street, Suite 265

Birmingham, Michigan 48009Telephone: (248) 646-1050Facsimile: (248) 646-1054

Western Michigan400 East Front Street, Suite GBuchanan, Michigan 49107Telephone: (269) 697-4863Facsimile: (269) 697-4867


http://www.kotzsangster.com


by light cables in an almost 8-foot-tallsculpture. The glass rectangles express theexperience of cancer as the patient movesfrom shock and turmoil to calmness andsome degree of acceptance. The bottompanels are dark blue with a heavy texture ofrandom curvilinear shapes. The lower glasspanels evolve into smoother textures andlighter colors of orange and yellow untilreaching a pure rectangle of almost clearglass at the very apex. Moving from chaos toclarity, the panel edges also transition fromwavy to straight. “Symbolically, the cables tietogether not only the individual patient’s‘plateaus’ and state of mind, but alsoestablish a common thread in the lives ofcancer patients and their families,” saidGiovanni. Oberlee interprets the sculpture, having

grappled with the disease shortly beforebeginning construction of this new facility.“When I was going through it, the doctorstalked about how the cells become morerandom and out of order in cancer,” saidOberlee. “Healing is bringing order back tothe cells. The glass pieces at the bottom arevery random, and as it moves to the top, thepanels become more orderly. But then again,I’ve had patients look at it and see a beautifulsunrise over water.” The glass holds a mirror to each person

who interprets the sculpture in his or her own

way. The art glass is even more remarkablegiven the fact that its budget had to be cut bya third. “What we experienced on this job –and I think happens on many jobs – is thatcost doesn’t necessarily mean you have toeliminate something like art glass,” saidOberlee. “You just have to view it differentlyand thrift it.” In this case, Kahn contactedanother fabricator called Echo Etching thatlightened up the sculpture and replacedheavy steel cables with lighter cabling.Clear art glass in the same pattern graces

the marble inset of the stone fireplace in thiswarm and welcoming lobby. Stolaruk, theindividual who donated the land in memoryof his wife, entered the lobby duringconstruction. He became visibly moved as hecaught sight of the fireplace, the wood ceilingand the art glass installation. “He was verytouched by it all,” said Oberlee. “Hesponsored the fireplace and the art glass onthe spot.”

A COLONNADE OF STONE AND WOODAnother warm and welcoming space is the

circulation spine. Wrapped in a harmony ofwood and stone, the circulation corridor is acolonnade of stone piers on one side andtowering wood columns on the other. Thewood columns rise and “bend” on the sameslant as the lobby beams to form an archwayof wood before connecting with the stone

piers. The granular, rough surface of the stone

adds a wonderful texture and tactility to thecorridor. The windows are recessed about afoot deep on both the interior and exterior,allowing sunlight and shadow to play on thestone piers and bring the texture and variedhues of the limestone to life. The stonebecomes a presence in the building; itsbeauty is calming, its association withstrength and stability may emotionallysupport the patient making his or her waydown the long corridor toward the infusionbay. “Using texture and warm materials are allways to comfort people through the design,”said Giovanni. “People comment that theywant to touch these piers all the time.”The corridor’s construction was

complicated by the sheer amount of high-end finish work compressed into thisseven-foot-wide circulation path.Innumerable lifts for installation of stone,glass, wood and drywall had to be crammedinto the congested corridor duringconstruction, said Wimble. In both lobby andcorridor, the humidification system had to beoperational before installation of theextensive woodwork fabricated byMcClelland Millwork, Vassar, and installed byBarton Malow Interiors. “Without humidifi-cation, the woodwork would shrink andwarp,” said Wimble.

The roughly L-shaped building bends around the angular site, creating aseries of dramatically sloped roof planes rushing skyward at opposing angles.


HEALING SPACESThe corridor leads to the infusion waiting area and the entrance to

the infusion clinic, a space in the form of a rounded arc built ofsegmented sections. A large painting of Ford Motor Company’s fieldof bright, yellow sunflowers greets patients entering the infusionbay. The bay itself overlooks a healing garden enclosed in asheltering rock wall and planted with evergreens and floweringplants. “We brought the windows of the infusion bay all the waydown to the floor practically, similar to a sliding glass patio door athome,” said Giovanni. Drawing on the peace of the natural world, the curtain fabric is

dotted with flowers and reeds; the furniture fabric in the lobby iscovered in a pattern of small leaves. Overall, the building offerscomfort and solace through the use of natural materials, thetouchable texture of stone, and by the personal, human scale of thebuilding details. With its harmony and calmness, the buildingbecomes a healing force in its own way.The actual clinical spaces are arranged in two separate wings by

the bend in the building: the infusion therapy travels to thesouthwest of the building’s pivot and the radiation services are inthe northeast wing. The radiation wing includes its own waitingroom and exam rooms, as well as the most current linear acceleratoravailable. “Treatments that used to take about 15 minutes now can

5848 Hubbard RoadGarden City, MI 48135

THOMAS J. NOWAK(734) 425-0770

(734) 425-4289 fax

Proud Participant of theKarmanos-Crittenton

Cancer Center Project

Brick � Block � Stone

Designed by Kahn, the lobby’s art glass sculpture is conceptualizedto embody the patient journey, using textures transitioning fromheavy to clear, lines moving from wavy to straight, and colors lighting from a dark blue to almost clear glass.

Ductwork and Exhaust System CleaningSince 1975

Commercial & IndustrialNADCA Certified • State Licensed

Cleaning & Sanitizing of Ductwork • Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning UnitsKitchen Exhaust Degreasing

Free Estimates!

5750 Enterprise Court, Warren, MI 48092-3462(586) 558-9200

100 Stevens Street, N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49507(616) 827-0910

www.sanivac.com

http://www.sanivac.com



be done in about 90 seconds using thismachine,” said Jeffrey A. Kapuscinski,Crittenton director, Marketing &Communications. “It is much morecomfortable for the patient and much moreexacting, meaning this machine can locatethe affected area much more accuratelywithout affecting the surrounding tissue.” The two, radiation vaults – one in current

use and one for future use - are formed ofthree- to six-foot-thick concrete walls. Anearby CAT scan room conducts simulations,in addition to diagnostic CAT scans, to planfor the actual radiation treatment, addedKimberly Isler, RN, MSN, the Center’s clinicalmanager.All the rooms reserved for exams,

procedures and family consultations haveupgraded finishes, including calming sage-colored fabric on the walls, wood cabinetry,and specialty flooring simulating wood. Anoncology clinic and on-site laboratory roundout the clinical areas with administrativeoffices located in the center of the building.An “off-stage” corridor threads along theback of the clinical spaces for the exclusiveuse of medical and administrative staff. This amazing building opened in February

2010 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony heldin April and attended by nearly 200 people.“The embrace from the community to thisfacility and this partnership says a greatdeal,” said Ellis. “We think this is a beautifulspace, and we are very pleased to offerworld-class cancer care in such a warm andhealing environment. Together, we aresaving lives.”With many project participants having

been personally touched by the disease, theproject became a work of passion andcommitment. Dziedzic’s own brother wasdiagnosed and became one of the very firstpatients to be treated at the new Center.Because of the efforts of the partnership andthe entire project team, the new Karmanos-Crittenton Cancer Center offers patients astrong shield against this disease. With itsresearch, clinical trials, and high level of care,the Center is a formidable foe againstcancer. Restoring health to the body andcalmness to the mind are tasks best left inthe skilled and caring hands of theKarmanos-Crittenton team and its newsignature facility near Crooks Road and M-59. Thanks to the dedication andprofessional talents of Kahn and BartonMalow, this amazing new facility is nowopen to serve Rochester Hills and thegreater community.

800-664-3697

www.nadc1.com

Serving Michigan Since 1984

http://www.nadc1.com

http://www.g2consultinggroup.com


CALL NOW!!! Ask for Sales Manager, Pete Cunningham

SAVE TIME & MONEY with a cost effective alternative to traditional dig methods of pipe repair and replacement. Cure In Place Piping (CIPP) offers the structural strength of new pipe but is less invasive and more environmentally friendlythan traditional “dig and replace” pipe repair methods.

Commercial & Industrial work including

Hydrojetting Spot Repairs

Pipe Cleaning

CALL NOW ABOUT PIPE LINING

Plumbing Professors Specializes in:

Sewer Cleaning

Pipe Lining

for hospitals, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, apartment buildings, plants & malls/shopping centers

Pipe Locating

Color DVD Camera Inspection

PIPE RELINING

e e unn ngha

"Serving the Construction Industry for Over 20 Years"

Financial StatementsBanking, Bonding & Equipment

Tax Planning & PreparationOffers in Compromise, Payment Plans

& Audit Representation

ValuationsBookkeeping

QuickBooks Training

www.AounCPA.com(734) 261-980029701 Six Mile Rd. • Suite 120

Livonia, MI [email protected]

AOUN & CO., P.C.CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

WORKERS’COMPENSATION

PLANA group self-insured Workers’

Compensation planproviding participants with

programs and servicessuperior to those availablethrough the traditionalinsurance approach.

COMPARE THEDIFFERENCE!

For further information andcomparative cost proposal —Call Dee Macy at CAM-COMP

(586) 790-7810Fax (586) 790-7929

Toll Free (888) 867-476418645 Canal Road, Suite 4Clinton Twp., MI 48038

Real Value 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

SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

SMRCA Roofing Contractors are Union trained professionals that deliver real value on every project. Value is not based on price alone.

It is the combination of service, quality and knowledge we bring to every project.

It is the M.U.S.T. Safety Training and Drug Testing SMRCA crews complete.

It is our expertise in various roof systems to fit architectural requirements and owner’s needs.

It is our Michigan roofing contractor 2 year standard workmanship warranty.

SMRCA Contractors are established companies with years of experience in providing responsive service, superior workmanship and exceptional value. Call us today at 586.759.2140 to receive our free “Roofing Facts” brochure or contact one of the SMRCA Contractors below for a no-cost estimate on your next roofing project or visit us at www.smrca.org.

SMRCA

http://www.AounCPA.com


http://www.smrca.org


http://www.plumbingprofessors.com

http://www.camcomp.net/


The wheels on the bus go round andround, at least according to a familiarchildren’s song, but tires are not the

only things moving the Motor City forward.Like any major metropolitan area, Detroit is a

By David R. Miller, Associate EditorPhotography by Curt Clayton, Clayton Studio

Wheels on the Bus


work that is constantly in progress. Thebuilding that reshapes the city now isguided by new concepts. Neighborhoodsand business districts are being redesignedwith sustainability in mind. The realization

that efficient mass transit is a necessity iseven taking hold in the birthplace of theautomobile. Still, the city is not forgettingthe spirit and determination that madeDetroit the world’s car capital. Respect forthe city’s past and the path towards agreener tomorrow converge in one amazingstructure – the Rosa Parks Transit Center.The Rosa Parks Transit Center transformed

a small, underutilized parcel of land into amodel for outstanding customer service,unexpected amenities and efficientoperation, all while potentially spurringdevelopment by essentially extendingDetroit’s central business district. Busridership should increase, as the experienceis now more pleasant and convenient.Another important aspect of the facility isthe homage paid to Rosa Parks. While shewas not from Detroit, she adopted the city asher own and embodied a struggle sheshared with many Detroiters. Key membersof the project team that created an iconicstructure that celebrates the bravery of awoman and the ingenuity of a city includeDeMaria Building Company, Detroit, andUSA Shade & Fabric Structures, Inc., CostaMesa, CA, general contractors for theterminal and the canopy structure respec-tively; the Economic DevelopmentCorporation of the City of Detroit (EDC),which provided contract procurement andconstruction management services as anowner’s representative for DDOT; andarchitect Parsons Brinkerhoff, Detroit.

DRIVING CUSTOMERS Before construction of the Rosa Park

Transit Center, Detroit bus routes werecentered on a facility located in CadillacSquare. Downtown development forced atemporary relocation to Capitol Park.Neither location had enclosed shelters orbathrooms, which resulted in an earlyproject goal.“The facility was designed with our

customers fully in mind, said LovevettWilliams, director of the Detroit Departmentof Transportation (DDOT). “In addition, theenclosed structure provides protection fromthe inclement weather and contributes tocustomer convenience, such as retail, food, asundry store, restroom areas and fare cardpurchases.”The Rosa Parks Transit Center acts as an

intermodal transfer point between DDOTroutes, SMART, Transit Windsor and thePeople Mover. The facility is a stop along 21bus routes and is visited by 140-150 busseseach day. Since the 15,000 riders who usethe facility each day often utilize more thanone form of transportation on their

journeys, any facilities offered at the RosaParks Transit Center would have been awelcome addition, but what was put in placefar exceeds most expectations. More thanmere restrooms near a bus shelter, the RosaParks Transit Center includes a climate-controlled lobby that provides true shelteragainst the elements.“Our customers have expressed their

appreciation for the building, especially inthe winter months,” said Williams. Amenities at the Rosa Park Transit Center

rise even further above expectations whenvisitors explore the second level. Thisspacious gathering area will eventuallyhouse a variety of casual dining and retailoptions. Ample windows also provide clearviews of bus arrival areas and two nearbyPeople Mover stops, so customers who arewaiting for their own departures or who aremeeting arriving friends will know exactlywhen their awaited transport arrives. Theycan also know well in advance thanks to GPStechnology called the Automatic VehicleLocation System that tracks arrivals anddepartures. This information is displayed onLED-lit panels placed on the outdoor busway and on two 55-inch monitors inside.Another subtler aspect of the facility that

is sure to be appreciated by visitors is theattractive finishes used throughout. Theproject team stuck a careful balancebetween form and function in selectingstriking materials that would successfullyweather the daily grind in high traffic areas.Prefinished hardwood veneer panels ofBaltic birch that are stained light yellow onthe main floors and brown on the lower leveldazzle the eye, but many more commonmaterials used in unexpected ways alsocreate visual drama.Steel surfaces were originally to be

powder-coated offsite prior to erection, butthe project team realized significant savingsby painting the metal with a heavy-dutyindustrial epoxy coating after installation.This approach also eliminated the possibilityof scratching the coating during the instal-lation process. Steel columns were likewisepainted instead of being clad with drywall orother material. Although the initial reasonfor these decisions was closely linked to atight budget, the finished result features asimple elegance that fits the facility well.“I honestly think that some of the

compromises that were made resulted in abetter building,” said Trey Neubauer, projectmanager, commercial and industrial groups,for DeMaria Building Company.Concrete block walls were used through

much of the interior, but the project teamwas able to upgrade to a more attractive



After accommodating bus trafficon the site, only a small trianglewas left for the building.


burnished block by eliminating stud walls,drywall and paint in most locations. Blockwalls will also require less maintenance overtime. At first glance, visitors walking into thefacility might mistake the shiny floors forterrazzo, but the budget hawks on theproject team used a much more cost-effective alternative.“We have beautiful hard floors that are

made of color-impregnated concrete,” saidTushar Advani, AIA, supervising architect forParsons Brinkerhoff. “Concrete is a very hardsurface, but it is significantly cheaper thanterrazzo. You often see terrazzo in transitfacilities, but we saved a good amount ofmoney by using concrete.”Although affordable concrete floors

solved many problems for the project team,the site directly underneath the concreteposed unique challenges of its own.

SITE CONSTRAINTS Finding a suitable site for the Rosa Parks

Transit Center emerged as an early projectchallenge. Obviously, the facility needed tobe built close to the destinations that riderswould need transpiration to, but very fewparcels were available near Detroit’s CentralBusiness District. The desire for an enclosedfacility further limited options. Finally, atriangular piece of land that was home tothree vacant buildings and a small park wasdiscovered, but no one was sure how muchthis site would hold.An untrained observer might assume that

the enclosure was designed first, with thebus routes planned around the structure,but this does not define the design processas it relates to the Rosa Parks Transit Center.Busses are large and they need lots of roomto maneuver. People boarding busses alsoneed an environment that is easy tonavigate and never places them in danger ofbeing struck by vehicular traffic. Most of thesite was needed to accommodate busses, sovehicular traffic was the first issueundertaken by the design team.“With a transit facility, if the busses don’t

work, then the facility doesn’t work,”explained Advani. “The functioning of thebusses has to come first.”Having the busses come first meant

building concrete islands that were easilyaccessible for busses and passengers alike.“I started working with multiple islands,”

said Advani. “We got a lot of busses onto thesite that way, but transferring from a bus onone island to a bus on another would haverequired crossing one, two, or even three busways. Then, I cleared everything off my deskand made the biggest part of the site intoone big island. Passengers wouldn’t even

need to come into the building, they couldtransfer right on the island.”This solution worked well for passengers

and bus drivers, but wasn’t ideal for thebuilding.“There was a tiny triangle left over to put

the building on,” said Advani. “It wasn’t evena symmetrical triangle, but everything hadto come together in a little triangularbuilding.”Program elements would not fit perfectly

on the tiny remainder of the site. Athorough understanding of project goalswas required to make the location work.“DDOT understood the value of the single

island,” said Advani. “They were willing tomake the compromises that needed to bemade to be on this site. We accepted thechallenge of fitting the building onto thesite in order to maintain how well the bussesworked on the central island.”DDOT was willing to forgo plans for a bus

garage onsite and many vital buildingcomponents could be placed in thestructure’s lower level. Unfortunately, thepresence of underground ductbanksthreatened this possibility. The locations oftwo documented ductbanks inside thebuilding perimeter were already known andthe size of the lower level was halved toaccommodate them, but an unanticipatedthird ductback ran right through theremaining portion of the footprint that wasallocated for the lower level of the structure.AT&T worked around the clock for 10 to 12weeks to bypass the old clay crock-encasedpipe by splicing the 10,000 communicationlines inside, but the project schedule wouldnot allow for the team to sit idly by while thiswas taking place.“We had meetings with AT&T and they

ended up supporting their ductbank so wecould build around it,” said Neubauer. “Theywere relocating the ductbank while wecontinued to pour foundations and movethe project forward.”Since space was at a premium inside the

facility, the project team made the most outof what was available on the lower level,which houses a secure transit-police office,plus a lunch area, locker rooms andrestrooms for drivers. High windows letnatural light spill into the lower level. Thesewindows are positioned to benefit from theshading that is provided by the outdoorcanopy structures. The lower level alsoincludes a computer security room, whichserves as the facility’s brain, but the nervesthat communicate with this brain needed torun through solid concrete.“There is a lot of conduit in these concrete

walls,” said Neubauer. “It took a lot of coordi-

nation with the electrician to make it work.”The canopy structure outside also

required a high degree of coordination.

CANOPY STRUCTURE The exterior of the Rosa Parks Transit

Center is defined by a unique canopystructure that towers above the busboarding area. Like most aspects of thefacility, fitting this structure onto the siteemerged as a significant challenge.“We had two separate structures to build,

the building and the canopy structure,”explained Timothy Miles, project managerfor the Economic Development Corporationof the City of Detroit. “There were twoseparate general contractors working on asmall site. That made for an interesting mixand we didn’t know how it would work out.”The Economic Development Corporation

of the City of Detroit selected both generalcontractors in accordance with FTA FederalProcurement Procedures and also carefullyscrutinized previous projects that wereundertaken by both for clues about theirsuitability for the task at hand. Both selectedfirms would need to adapt to a tightschedule and a tight site. DeMaria BuildingCompany and USA Shade & FabricStructures had excellent track records, butUSA Shade & Fabric Structures tended towork as a subcontractor and therefore wasperceived as having limited generalcontracting experience. In spite of this, USAShade & Fabric Structures was a solidaddition to the project team as the firm fine-tuned the conceptual design developed byParsons Brinkerhoff.“Their expertise changed the form,” said

Advani. “We were thinking more of conven-tional tent structures, but they pushed andpulled to change that idea into exactly whatwe wanted, but better.”The canopy is a tensile structure with

fabric that is held in tension by brackets,trusses and cables. Unlike a traditionalfoundation, which is designed to keep astructure from sinking into the ground, thefoundation for the A-frame that supportsthe canopy primarily exists to keep thelightweight structure from blowing away.Uplift is also minimized by keeping thefabric taut, so air flows around the structureinstead of catching it like a sail or parachute.The canopy is configured into seven pairs

of cones and funnels. Structurally, the twodifferent forms balance against each other,which tends to cancel out the forces thatwork against the individual shapes. Funnelsalso collect diesel fumes from the busses, sothey can float out the top of the structure,while cones quickly transfer rainwater and



snow down into one of seven rain gardens.“Water doesn’t just set up there creating a

load on the structure,” said Advani. “Water isa structure’s greatest enemy. The faster youcan get water off of a structure, the better.”Long before water could accumulate atop

the structure, DeMaria Building Companyand USA Shade & Fabric Structures neededto find a way to build two complex projectsconcurrently on a small site. This would onlybe possible if both firms worked together.“We talked with them about the

schedule,” said Neubauer. “The schedulewas staggered so we put in the road for thebusses and they immediately had a hardsurface to work off of.”As USA Shade & Fabric Structures went to

work on this concrete surface, DeMariaBuilding Company worked in close concertto install light rings inside each cone andfunnel, along with landscaping and brickcatch basins under the rain gathering cones.DeMaria Building Company even groutedbase plates for steel used by USA Shade &Fabric Structures. The end result of theircollaborative work makes for an eye-catching display, but it is only one of manyaspects of the Rosa Parks Transit Center thatis worthy of notice.

GETTING NOTICEDIn spite of the many design challenges

involved in creating a functional transitcenter on a tiny, irregular site, Advanibelieves that the highest hurdle was todevelop an iconic design. The Rosa ParksTransit Center project brought Advani toDetroit for the first time in his life. Heexperienced the city’s vibe firsthand, but hewasn’t sure how he could replicate theenergy of the tall buildings nearby withoutbuilding a skyscraper of his own.“We were building a two-story building

amongst giants,” said Advani. “We couldn’treasonably replicate what was here, so wehad to go in the opposite direction.”At 73 feet in height, the spectacular

canopy is a giant in its own right, but it is stilldwarfed by nearby buildings. The structuresuccessfully relies on its brilliant white hueand complex geometry to draw the eye. Theterminal building likewise uses unexpectedshapes and angles to stand out.A radius mezzanine, a canted glass wall

and angled ceilings combine to create avibrant interior that is complemented by thecomplex ceiling framing system andaluminum tiles. The building’s roof has a1:12 slope that rises at a slight angle fromeast to west before it “takes off” at a sharper

angle just beyond the mezzanine. Instead ofbeing set perpendicular to the floor, manywalls are angled outward to add visualappeal. None of these distinctive designelements made construction any easier.“Nothing in this structure was square or

standard,” said Neubauer.The decision to honor Rosa Parks was

made shortly after her passing in October2005. Norman White, who was director ofDDOT at the time, ultimately approved thefitting memorial of adding the Rosa Parksname to the transit center. “When we started on this project, the

entire team recognized that we werebuilding the Rosa Parks Transit Center tohonor a civil rights activist who adoptedDetroit as her home,” said Miles. “Everyonewanted to honor her and her legacy bycoming together to build the best facilitythat they could. It showed in theworkmanship, detail and effort that wentinto the project. That’s how you honorsomeone, through effort.”Much like the wheels of the bus, the

wheels of progress continue to propel theCity of Detroit. As long as people continueto be inspired by the bravery of Rosa Parksand exhibit the ingenuity of the Rosa ParksTransit Center project team, they always will.

The canopy is configured into seven pairs of cones and funnels. Funnels collect diesel fumes from the buses, while cones quickly shed rainwaterand snow.


DETROIT AREAMelvindale, MI313-386-7220

EAST MICHIGANFair Haven, MI586-725-4860

WEST MICHIGANGrand Rapids, MI800-783-7368

Klochko employees are dedicated to fanatical client service. Continuous effort is put forth as we strive for 100% client satisfaction.

We provide our clients with:

989-233-4171

TRI CITIES AREA

Announcing our new branch...

Saginaw, MI

0% client satisf Continuous service.

ees are dedicated to fyo emploKlochk

100% client satisfaction. forth as we strivput is fort efContinuous

ees are dedicated to for e fforth as we striv

anatical client ees are dedicated to f

provide our clients with: We provide our clients with:

86-725-4860en, MIvair Ha

MICHIGAN

w bring our nennouncA

800-783-7368, MIapidsand RGr

WEST MICHIGAN

, MIwinaagS

nch...aw br

TRI CITIES AREA

989-233-4171

313-386-7220, MIelvindaleM

DETROIT AREA

989-233-4171

800-910-1123Local 517-468-7677Fax 517-468-4836

Celebrating our 10thAnniversary!

CLEAN TOILETSDEPENDABLE SERVICE

We feature anti-bacterial handcleaners in all of our units

Buckhoist Units • RooftopsConstruction • Residential Sinks • Handicaps Availablewww.ricksportables.com

SERVICING LIVINGSTON,OAKLAND, WAYNE, WASHTENAW

AND INGHAM COUNTIES

http://www.ricksportables.com


http://www.kemtecsurvey.com


Bui ld ing a Bes t Se l l e rBy Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor Photos by Marci Christian


The Dailey Company wrote the book onhow to build a successful library.Thanks to this Lake Orion construction

management firm, the story of Novi’s newpublic library has a happy ending: a 55,000-square-foot building, doubling the size ofthe existing library, delivered under budget

and on schedule. The impressive facility ispart information hub and part gatheringspace for this thriving city in southwesternOakland County. With an outdoor readingterrace, a sweeping glass curtain walloverlooking a park, and an eatery namedRead-a-Latte Cafe, this inviting and light-filled new library is already a best seller withthe entire community.

Novi’s library board and buildingauthority enlisted the services of Diamondand Schmitt Architects, Inc., Toronto asdesign architect, and Detroit's BEIAssociates, Inc., as architect of record.Together the design team created a two-story facility only 30 feet from the existinglibrary but world's apart in availablecollection space, library technology, andinviting enclaves for every age group in thecommunity.

The Dailey Company’s team of tradecontractors was instrumental in openingthis new chapter in Novi Public Library's 50-year history. B & B Ceramic Tile & Marble, FairHaven, installed over 1,600 handcrafted tilesthroughout the building interior. KehrigSteel, Inc., Ira Township, erected a radiuscurtain wall designed with two differentradius points, and Leidal & Hart MasonContractors, a Livonia firm respected fortheir expertise and efficiency in brick andblock, helped deliver a project on acompressed schedule.

"There really was a wonderful relationshipbetween the architect, contractor, crew andowner,” said Julie E. Farkas, director of theNovi Public Library. “The Dailey Company dida great job of delivering a wonderfulbuilding on time. Dailey, BEI and Diamondand Schmitt have all been amazing.”

THE BOOK NOOKNovi Public Library recently celebrated

the half-century mark with the grandopening of a new facility in June 2010. Witha fireside reading room and an advancedmaterial handling system possessed by justa couple other libraries in Oakland County,this respected Novi institution has certainlyimproved with age. What the Friends of theLibrary began in 1960 as a modest collectionof 150 donated books, stacked in thecramped interior of a former bank, hasblossomed into an impressive collectionnow housed in an equally impressivebuilding.

The newly constructed library took theplace of a 1976 structure that once includedboth the library and City Hall. Even the exitof the City Hall to its own building and asmall expansion in 1988 failed to providesufficient breathing room for the library's

rapidly expanding collection. "Although ourcity's population increased over 500 percentover nearly 30 years, the size of the publiclibrary remained unchanged basically since1976," said Farkas.

With approximately 145,000 books andmedia in a mere 24,495 square feet of space,little room remained for computer stationsor even sufficient table space. Students fromthe nearby Novi High School, flooding thelibrary after school, were packed in as tightlyas a crammed bookshelf. The old library wasa book nook without room for growth oreven existing services. The 100-personcommunity meeting room doubled as astorytime area for children and as theFriends of the Library bookstore on differentdays. The number of rooms reserved fortutoring or private study reached the grandtotal of one. In staff areas, one restroomserved a staff of 53 people. Groups of fouremployees were cramped into an office areathe size of a single, conventional cubiclewith about two feet of working surface peremployee. Overall, the entire employee areawas a windowless labyrinth of congestedspaces.

Fortunately, the library could still count onthe continued support of its friends. Charlesand Myrtle Walker, Novi residents for over 30years, donated $1 million dollars to launchthe Library Building Fund in 2004, along withmatching contributions reaching an upwardlimit of another $1 million dollars. TheWalker's generous donation and voter bondapproval in November 2007 funded a newlibrary that doubled the overall space,ultimately creating a 200-person communityroom, nine tutoring and study spaces, plus adoubling of computer stations and a triplingof the size of the Youth ServicesDepartment. “We also added just under20,000 new items to the library’s collectionwhen the new facility opened,” said Farkas. Sadly, Charles Walker passed away, but notbefore leaving this wonderful legacy to theNovi community. "His love of ideasgenerated numerous products and patents,"said Farkas. "Fittingly, his gift to the NoviPublic Library will help current and futuregenerations to access knowledge and tospark their own creative ideas."

A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK CLUB The architectural team sat down at the

drawing board in 2007. Whether to buildnew or to renovate was actually the firstquestion. A cascade of concerns led to thedecision to build an entirely new facility."The existing library had no optionstructurally for a second-floor addition," saidAlvin F. Blair, AIA, BEI vice president and


director of design. "Without a second-floor addition, the footprint ofan expanded library would be too large and would reduce parkingcapacity below code requirements." In addition, a new buildingwould also ease the task of keeping the existing library in fulloperation throughout construction.

The library board and building authority opted to create a newhome for a library founded and long supported by dedicatedpatrons in the community. Fittingly, the new library is designed aspart of a neighborhood "block club" of masonry buildings in theNovi Civic Center located at Ten Mile and Taft Roads. "The brick wasselected to complement the bricks of the adjacent civic buildings,"said Sydney Browne, associate, OAA, LEED AP, Diamond and Schmitt.“The main entrance on the east is easily accessed from Ten Mile Roadand also directly faces the heart of the civic center.”

This civic-minded building offers a window into the history of Novithrough the design of a great western wall of curved glass rising twostories and drawing in panoramic views of the historic Fuerst Parkinto the interior. "The main public reading and collection spaces inthe library are all located at the west side of the building to takeadvantage of the views of the Fuerst Farm parkland," said Browne.The eight-acre park was once part of the family farmstead of twosisters named Ruby and Ida Fuerst. Recently revitalized, the park nowhosts the original Novi Township Hall, dating from 1876, a contem-porary amphitheater, newly planted apple trees, and severalpathways now connecting with the library’s own walkways. Thetrees are a nod to Novi’s history as a center of fruit production insoutheastern Michigan in the 19th and early 20th Centuries,according to a Michigan historical marker.

The glass curtain wall draws this peaceful natural vista, dottedwith apple trees, into the interior. On the exterior, the radius wall isthe backdrop for a 2,000-square-foot outdoor terrace or patio ofdecorative stamped concrete with a sitting wall for 125 people. “Thereading patio directly faces the park and will host both civic andlibrary events," said Blair. Whether inside or out, the patio is a breathof fresh air, offering people a novel reading experience on the newlibrary's communal back porch.

SIDESTEPPING THE GREAT RECESSIONThe Dailey Company came on board to build the Novi Public

Library's new home in 2008. Good timing in a bad economy helpedthe library virtually sidestep the Great Recession in the financing ofits new home. Essentially, the bonds were evaluated before theeconomic meltdown and the project was bid after the downturn."We received great rates when our bonds were evaluated in June


This sweeping glass curtain wall overlooking a park is designedwith two different radius points, adding an element of complexityto construction but offering library patrons a beautiful outdoorreading terrace.


2008 just before everything went crazy," saidFarkas. Released for bids in August 2008, thebids reflected the competitive environment,coming in well below the anticipatedbudget.

Beyond broader economic forces, TheDailey Company's own good sense of timingformulated a game plan able to bring thebuilding out of the ground and open forservice slightly ahead of schedule. Daileylaunched the project in late February 2009rather than November 2008. "We didn'twant to stop excavation because of frostlaws and then resume the job," said Paul A.Danko, Dailey project manager. "We decidedto begin a bit later and then compress theschedule." The compression was successfulwith the library taking temporaryoccupancy two weeks ahead of schedule inmid-March 2010.

Dailey also altered the original projectphasing by installing a deep sanitary sewertap before rather than after construction ofthe building. "If it was a five-foot-deepsewer, it would not have been a big deal,"said Vince Washington, Dailey superin-tendent. "But this tap was 26 feet deep. If wewould have waited, we would have run intoall sorts of problems."

Keeping the library operational duringconstruction – and all those book lovershappily lost in a sea of print – required thererouting of sewers and the creation oftemporary roads. Dailey preserved parkingspaces by relocating sewer lines to aperimeter greenbelt 20 feet north of theexisting library parking lot. The flow oflibrary materials was maintained throughconstruction of a dedicated temporaryroadway that gave the library access to itsexisting loading dock. "There was nointerruption of library service to the publicwhatsoever during construction," saidFarkas. "This has been a great process. Weonly closed the existing library in April andMay 2010 for the purpose of making ourown move to the new building."

JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVERBringing the actual building out of the

ground is a how to book written in steel,glass and resin panels. After trench footinginstallation, Dailey tackled the corechallenge of the project: erecting thestructural steel radius curtain wall andassembling the glass and phenolic panelglazing. “The first 770 feet of the curvedcurtain wall had a different center point forits radius arc than the last 249 feet of thecurtain wall,” said Washington. The reasonfor the shift was to create more space for theTeen Room and other areas by jutting the

w w w . d a i l e y c o . c o m

For over 70 years Dailey has been the name for quality, integrity and professionalism in construction.


http://www.daileyco.com

http://www.jjcurran.com/?utm_source=CAM&utm_medium=DigitalAd&utm_content=Oct10&utm_campaign=60years


building forward at a sharper angle. “Thesharper radius gives the building moresquare footage for certain functions on thenorth side of the building,” said Blair.

The average person may not notice thedifference, but the trade contractors in thefield certainly had to be aware of the angleshift during construction. It took almost aweek “to do the math” in preparation forerecting the steel frame with precision, saidWashington. Working with two differentradius points rippled through the detailingof the curtain wall. For example, filler pieceshad to be installed to accommodate theautomated window shades – a straightelement on a curved wall. “The filler piecesvaried in width, becoming wider at the

sharper radius,” said Blair.Turning a great idea into an actual

structure takes the classic formula of 10percent inspiration and 90 percent perspi-ration or sheer hard work. The constructionteam grappled with the dual radius points ofthe curved wall, while the architectural teamanalyzed the optimal type of glass to blockheat gain and protect energy efficiency.

The devil was in the details, and thedetails involved argon gas, low E coatings,and a variety of shade strategies. “Protectionfrom the sun was accomplished by a largeoverhanging roof and by cantileveredhorizontal louvers at the lower level,” saidBlair. “Further protection was afforded bythe usage of insulated green-tinted

reflective glass with a low E coating on theinner glass pane and usage of argon gas inthe sealed space between glass panes. Thisglass has a great shading co-efficient, whichreduces solar heat gain and operating costs.Automatic shades with 10 percent opennessfurther reduce sun glare into the library, asneeded.”

The glass selection ultimately will save thelibrary $200,000 in operating costs over thenext 30 years, said Blair. The low-E coatingon the inner pane blocks summer heat fromentering the building and prevents thebuilding’s heat from escaping in the coldermonths. “In this way, the building ownerreduces heating bills in the winter andreduces air conditioning in the summer,”said Blair. “The reflective glass helps lowerthe shading co-efficient, which tremen-dously impacts operating costs and is animportant factor in reducing the cost of themechanical system.”

Beyond glass, the remainder of thelibrary’s “book jacket” is a series of randomlyplaced, sized and colored phenolic panelsthat accent the curtain wall and theremainder of the building’s windows, as wellas the cladding for the building’s mainentrance canopy. “The phenolic or resinpanels simulate wood but retain thedurability and low maintenance of a plasticlaminate,” said Danko. Aesthetically, thepanels add a contemporary flair and thewarmth of wood to the building exterior.

The 1/8-inch-thick phenolic veneer wasmanufactured in the Netherlands, laminatedon an insulated panel by an East Coastcompany, and delivered to the jobsite cut tothe specified size, said Danko. With a leadtime of 16 weeks, the panels were the lastpiece of the exterior skin set in place,requiring the openings in the building skinto be covered in plywood until the panelsarrived on site.Beneath the exterior skin, Dailey installedenergy-efficient wall insulation that greatlyexceeds code requirements. Likewise, thewhite roof and the mechanical system aredesigned to boost energy efficiency. Themechanical system includes: a variable airvolume distribution system, an economizercooling system, a high-efficiency air-cooledchiller, hot water heating reset controls ableto vary the temperature of supply waterbased on outside air temperature, and adirect digital building automation system tocontrol and monitor all building mechanicalcomponents.

Together the project team created anenergy-efficient, “green” buildingoverlooking the green space of Fuerst Park.The site, itself, employs Earth-friendly

This grand monumental stair leads from the research and quiet study areas on the secondfloor to the café, youth area and large community meeting room on the first floor. Skylightsabove the monumental stair and a wealth of windows throughout the building draw naturallight into both floors of this wonderful new library.


strategies, designed for both “green” andpurely practical purposes. As part ofstormwater management, “a series ofbioswales on the west and south sides of theproperty were designed for parking lot andpatio drainage,” said Blair. “Furthermore, anirrigation system, using well water and citywater, if necessary, was installed with specialfilters due to the water’s high iron content.Both spray-type sprinklers and a water dripsystem are utilized to keep water stains offconcrete walkways and the building.” Thegroundwater irrigation well with 40 percentsubsurface dripper lines are part of anunderground automated irrigation systemresponsible for keeping both the librarygrounds and Fuerst Park well-watered andgreen.

A LIBRARY FOR MIND AND BODY The library interior is an open, light-

filled space filled with the warmth ofspecialty tile and light-colored woodcertified by the Forest StewardshipCouncil. Natural light pours into theinterior through the glass curtain walland through a succession of skylightsabove the monumental stair leadingto the second level. The spaciouspublic reading and collection areasare punctuated on both levels with alarge circular enclosure clad inhandcrafted tiles and wood. The firstlevel enclosure houses a newspaperand magazine reading room with adual-facing fireplace; the second-levelwood-clad circle contains a quietstudy area. “We aimed to establish keygathering spaces within the library,such as the circular fireplace reading lounge,which would support both quiet readingand special community events, while at thesame time creating a building that would beflexible and open to allow for the growthand change that is bound to be requiredover the coming years,” said Browne. “Thelayout offers generous sight lines for easywayfinding, security, and ready access forpatrons to staff service points.”

Virtually every age group has a room inthe library’s new home with separatechildren, teen and adult collections. TheFriends of the Library have their ownbookstore, the library staff has morespacious and light-filled work areas, andeven cell phone users can take a call to adesignated area furnished with seating andacoustical panels. In a tale of two libraries,the former facility pales in comparison tothe new library’s amazing array of specialtyrooms, interior finishes, new services andcutting-edge technologies. Overall,

collection space, meeting rooms, andcomputer stations are all doubled in size.Meeting space includes a 20-personboardroom and a 10-person meeting room,as well as five tutoring rooms on the firstfloor and four on the second level. “Thelibrary now has its first official computer labwith its own bank of 24 computers forcommunity computer classes,” said Farkas.“We now have over 107 computers forpublic use, whereas before we had 42.”

The interior reflects the consideredplacement of a long list of diverse spaces.“The first floor is the more active level withthe youth area, large community meetingrooms, and the main checkout,” said Farkas.“The second floor is the research and quietstudy area containing the reference desk,computer lab, and the adult and teencollections.”

The library entrance and lobby is asthoughtfully subdivided into sections as thebook genres on the library’s shelves. Thelibrary’s main entrance has two sets ofdoors, the first leading to a vestibule linedwith wood-clad lockers. “People can reservebooks and remove their selections from thelocker after-hours, gaining locker access viaa special code,” said Farkas. The second setof doors opens to reveal an expansive lobbywith the main checkout desk to the left andthe Read a Latte Café in a highly visiblelocation to the right. Sandwiches, salads,baked goods and cappuccino fill thischarming enclave clad in white and red tileand cleverly named in a community-widecontest. The lobby and community meetingroom, just north of the café, work as a unit.“The lobby is configured to allow use of thelarge community meeting room duringevening and weekend hours, withoutrequiring access to the main library spaces,”said Browne.

CHECKING OUT THE NEW LIBRARYThe lobby contains several owner-driven

changes inserted at the 11th hour. TheDailey Company’s nimble response to thesealterations kept the schedule on pace whileimproving the appearance and function ofthe new facility. “The Dailey Company wasvery open and amenable to making anychanges," said Farkas. “This reflects Dailey’sflexibility, because they were open tochanges even in the last few weeks of thejob.” As one example, a wood-slotted ashceiling added warmth to the lobby. In asecond change, a brown marble and glasswainscot tiling turned a sterile restroom wall– the entrance is visible from the lobby –into an attractive expanse.

Because of extra dollars, substantial spacewas added over the community meetingroom in the middle of the project. Originally

slated to be a single-story space, thenewly created second story nowhouses more meeting rooms,additional storage space and a newlyrelocated administrative area, saidDanko. As to the main source of the extrafunds, “one of the fortunate challengesthat came out of the project was theresult of its very competitive bidpricing,” said Browne. “As the buildingcame in well below the anticipatedbudget cost, the consultant teamworked with the building authorityafter the project was bid to provide aseries of additional program features,including additional second floorpublic meeting space, special artwork,furniture for outdoor library spaces,

and interior features for the children's areaand fireplace reading lounge." In total, “thelibrary returned about $800,000 dollars tothe community in the form of debt serviceon the bond,” said Farkas. “Then the cityauthorized some extra amenities for thelibrary.” Dailey also saved the library over$100,000 in value engineering, addedDanko.

As another alteration, The DaileyCompany installed a metal canopy over thelibrary’s dual drive-through servicewindows, one leading to an automated five-bin material handling system able toefficiently process the more than 600,000materials checked out annually at this busyinformation hub. The material handler scansand automatically deposits the materialsinto bins slated for different areas of thelibrary, thereby reducing the processingtime required to return a book to its shelf.This system will become even moreimportant as Farkas expects the number of

PHOT

O CO

URTE

SY O

F BE

I AS

SOCI

ATES

The building’s “book jacket,” or exterior cladding, isa pleasing combination of glass, brick and randomlyplaced sized and colored phenolic veneer panels.


T

B


checked-out materials to reach the millionmark at the end of the library's first year inoperation. A manual book return is in placein case of power outages.

The second window permits people topick up materials, ordered online or on thephone, without ever leaving their car. “I canthink of only two libraries in Michigan thathave that service,” said Farkas. Self-checkoutstations within add to the library’sunparalleled level of convenience andservice. In turn, The Dailey Companyprovided the library with unprecedentedservice throughout the project, fieldingevery alteration and keeping the scheduleon track. “Paul was right on targetthroughout the job, and Vince was attentiveto every detail,” said Farkas. “They both wereimmensely dedicated to the project.”

A JIGSAW PUZZLE IN CLAYToday every patron at the new Novi

Public Library can enjoy efficient service andthe craftsmanship of a wonderful building.Imported from Italy, the lobby flooring is astriking gray porcelain ceramic tile withrandom white streaks. Plus, over 1,600handcrafted tiles throughout the buildinginterior add to a long list of amazing interiorfeatures. Connie Lunski, a former highschool teacher and artist, created thehandcrafted tiles over the course of six yearsand donated her work to the library. Aptlynamed, Life Tiles, the pieces tell the story ofthe entire known cosmos and depict therainbow of human cultures. The lobby tilesdepict the origin of the universe and move

through the geological periods of Earthhistory, telling the story of life’s emergencein clay.

Each tile group focuses on a differenttheme and is mounted on the walls ofcompatible sections of the library. “Tilegroups in the Youth Service Departmentfeature everything from storybookcharacters to different dinosaurs with onetile containing an actual dinosaur bone,”said Farkas. Culture tiles in the adult andteen collections illustrate civilizations fromAsia to Egypt. Over 400 tiles in the adminis-trative area embody the Americanexperience with individual tiles depictingMt. Rushmore, the polio vaccine, and evenStar Wars. Fittingly, Lunski's final piece is alibrary tile dedicated to the new Novi PublicLibrary.

Recreating the history of the cosmos inclay was Lunski's self-appointed mission.Assembling and mounting this jigsawpuzzle of the known universe was the task ofDailey's subcontractor, B & B Tile. Each tilewas placed in a precise sequence and in aparticular group as detailed on the artist’sown set of plans. "Each tile was numberedon the back,” said Washington. “We spenthours getting the right number in the rightspot before the actual mounting." AddedDanko, “the slight difference in size betweeneach of the individually fired tiles addedanother element of challenge to the task.”

The Dailey Company assisted withanother specialty item, namely the transportof the Novi Special through the front doorsof the building and onto a viewing platform

in the youth area. Once driven by BobbyUnser, the Novi Special is a powerful engineinstalled in a series of different racing carsthat competed at the Indianapolis 500.Because Novi industrialist Lew Welch fundedthis tiger of an engine with its trademarkroar, Novi’s Economic DevelopmentCorporation purchased the car in 1983.Farkas encouraged its release from storageand its placement in the new library’s youtharea as a nod to the region’s rich automotivehistory and as a spark to excite children’scuriosity.

Dailey rolled in the Novi Special early toavoid damaging other interior finishes;Kehrig Steel then rigged the car into placeon the newly built viewing platform. “Theplatform simulates a finish line,” said Blair.“Theme games for youth are fastened to thesides of the platform.” Basically, “playing car”prevents an excited child from damagingthe actual car.

The sizeable youth area also includes acolorful story-time room with access to theoutdoor terrace. "We hope to do a lot ofprogramming on the patio in the summer,"said Farkas. For security purposes, theterrace or patio is gated on both ends toprotect young children and secure librarymaterials. Completing this massivedepartment, the youth area also hosts a 36-person activity room for Snack Tales, LegoClub and Kiddie Crafts.

THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTIONCHRONICLES

As the final chapter in the library’sconstruction chronicle, The Dailey Companydemolished the old library, developed a newparking lot in its place, and installed stormsewers for the new lot to prepare for thegrand June opening of this new facility, saidDanko.

More than a mere doubling of collectionspace, the new Novi Public Library is awonderful place, linking park, patio andpeople into an inspired reading experienceand civic destination. Over 800 people a dayvisited the former library, but even more areexpected to use the services of the newfacility, whether to check out the new blu-raycollection, read a magazine around thefireplace, or grab a mocha and read a goodbook. Together the City of Novi’s libraryboard and building authority, The DaileyCompany, BEI Associates, and Diamond andSchmitt have created a remarkable new townsquare and gathering place created to informand to inspire an entire community. At thenew Novi Public Library, the Information Agehas never looked so good.

PHOT

O CO

URTE

SY O

F BE

I AS

SOCI

ATES

With its colorful murals and a car called the Novi Special, a love of reading will come naturallyto children who visit the Novi Public Library’s youth area.


You’ve Asked For It.We’ve Listened.

COMING SOON!

-ONLINE.COMHOSTED BY

CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN43636 WOODWARD AVE • BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302

248-972-1115 • CAM-ONLINE.COM

ou’ve A YYou’ve Asked Fe’ve ListenedW

NIMOC

or Itou’ve Asked Fe’ve Listened

OOG SN

.or It.e’ve Listened

N!ONIMOC

ENLINO-YD BESTOH

OOG SN

MO.C

N!O

CTURSTNOCRAWWADO43636 WO

248-9

ENLINOF MN OOITAATICOSSN AOICT

LD HEIFMOOLE • BVD A AVRENLINO-MA5 • C112-17

MO.CNAGIHCIF MI 48302LLS, MILD H

MO.CE




Young students can drift away from alesson while at their desks, but usuallynot while standing at a chalkboard in

front of their peers. Through years oftraining and experience, teachers learnwhen pupils should work on their own andwhen they should be nudged into focusing alittle more thoroughly in front of the class.When students are really thinking abouttheir work with helpful encouragement fromthe rest of the class, they can makesignificant breakthroughs.

The College of Education and HumanServices (EHS) Building at Central MichiganUniversity (CMU) celebrates this collabo-rative learning process with monumentalslate exterior walls that resemble a massive

chalkboard. Although the project team wasmore likely to have shown their work on acomputer screen, they also benefited fromgroup input as they worked to deliver astructure uniquely fitted to the diverseprograms that would be housed inside. Thesuccess of this effort, led by architect SHWGroup, Berkley, and general contractor,Walsh Construction, Detroit, is evident in thecompleted building.

BUILDING FOR TEACHERSFor many years, the majority of programswithin the College of Education and HumanServices were housed in Ronan Hall on thenorthwest side of CMU’s campus. Thebuilding was originally a library with few

interior partitions. In some locations,individual spaces were cordoned off withtemporary walls that stopped 12 inchesfrom the ceiling. Light gauge wire meshconnected the tops of these walls to theceiling to allow for airflow, but this situationwas obviously not ideal. The building alsolacked sufficient space to meet programrequirements.

“Program components were scatteredthroughout the campus,” said Linda Slater,director of plant engineering and planningfor Central Michigan University. “This newbuilding gave us a great opportunity tobring everything together with technologyto support teaching.”

In addition to incorporating technology,


the building needed to meet the complexneeds of many diverse university programs.Developing an understanding of theserequirements emerged as an early projectchallenge.

“We had visioning sessions with all theusers of the building,” said Nathanial Walsh,AIA, LEED AP, project architect for SHWGroup. “We put together a list of guidingprinciples for the building. The buildingneeded to fit into the campus fabric, soentrances are on major traffic hubs from theresidential side of campus to the academicside. We also wanted to have a signatureidentity for the building because of thesignature programs inside.”

EHS maintains a strong presence onCMU’s campus. Visibility of the slate used onthe exterior was maximized by selecting thismaterial for the tallest portion of thebuilding. The building’s terra cotta rainscreen provides a strong contrast, makingMount Pleasant’s largest chalkboard evenmore striking. Tinted glass panels betweenclassrooms and corridor spaces alsoreinforce the structure’s educational missionby acting as see-through chalkboards.

Visitors can experience the classroomenvironment by seeing what is beingwritten while also enjoying the natural lightthat is transmitted by the panels. Clear glassalso provides a tantalizing look inside manyeducational laboratories throughout thebuilding; including reading laboratorieswhere clinics for elementary school studentsare held, a computer laboratory, and aspecialized laboratory that was built to suitthe unique needs of science educators.Natural light flows into all of these areasfrom an outdoor patio that is set betweenthe reading and computer labs to provide anoutdoor learning space.

Large lectures can easily beaccommodated in the 200-seat FrenchAuditorium, which is outfitted withattractive bamboo panels accented with richslate. The elliptical shape of the auditoriumcomplicated the acoustical design becausesound had a natural tendency to bounceback and forth, but perforated bamboopanels with acoustical backing were placedin key positions to mitigate this effect. Theshape of the auditorium and the bamboopanels overhead contribute to a warm andcozy feel that makes any acousticaldifficulties well worth the effort.

Every space at EHS involved specificchallenges set by the departments thatwould use them. Their needs influencedevery aspect of the design.

“We worked with every user group todetermine what their needs were,” said Tod

Stevens, AIA, LEED AP, principle for SHWgroup. “Certain groups needed to be nearother groups. Children wanted to be outsidein the sun, so we purposely put those spaceson the lower levels so the children couldplay.”

In addition to a list of needs for eachdepartment, there were global needs thatwere addressed throughout the entirestructure.

BUILDING FOR THE PRESENT Buildings, like other works of art, are

usually appreciated shortly after they arecreated. Truly great expressions possess atimeless quality that doesn’t diminish withage. Not all buildings have this rare quality,and only time will tell if it can be found atEHS, but the project team went to greatlengths to preserve their vision for years tocome. Longevity and ease of maintenance

Tinted glass panels between classrooms and corridor spaces reinforce the building’s educationalmission by acting as see-through chalkboards.



were key project considerations.Terra cotta rain screen cladding used on a

significant portion of the exterior was a majorcomponent in the overall strategy to create adurable building. Most exterior systems aredesigned to keep moisture out. Failure canoccur anywhere in the system, but is mostcommon along the joints that are needed toallow for movement. When they are detectedearly enough, leaks can be fixed beforeunderlying building elements are damaged,but this requires diligent checkingthroughout the life of the structure.Unintended leaks are greatly reduced with arain screen system, because the walls aredesigned to transmit moisture by eliminatingmortar to let water flow in and out freely.

“The easiest way to explain this is to thinkof drinking from a straw,” said Stevens. “Youaren’t sucking the water in, you are creatinglower pressure inside the straw. Pressurepushes it into your mouth. By opening up thejoints, we created a wall that no longer pulls

water in…In essence cutting a hole in thestraw.”

Stevens pointed out that masonry veneerbuildings often display “supersaturation” onrainy days, where pressure differentials keepthe top corners of the walls wet long afterthe rest of the walls are dry. This providesvisual evidence that water is being drawninto the wall system. Even without havingpressure differentials to contend with, theEHS project team placed insulation and avapor barrier behind the rain screen as partof a “belt and suspenders” approach tokeeping water out. The track system that therain screens are attached to also allowed fora large cavity in which Stony Creek Services,Inc., Westland, installed a thick layer of sprayfoam insulation to meet thermalperformance goals. Finding an areacontractor who could understand thenuances of the terra cotta system was criticalfor success.

“Terra cotta was a new façade for the

construction crews to work with and weneeded to find contractors who werequalified to work with the system,” said PaulYambor, project manager for WalshConstruction. “Our biggest concern was thatthe terra cotta was supported off thestructural steel. Normally tolerances arearound an inch. On this job, they had 1/8”tolerance.”

In addition to installing a system to keepbuilding components dry, the project teamalso took several steps to preserve theappearance of the structure over time. Flat,horizontal surfaces were avoided to preventdust buildup on stair rails and otherarchitectural features. Gypsum board, whichcan be damaged in high traffic areas, wasreplaced with porcelain tile and bamboothat are much more durable. The tile thatwas used in the corridors also fits in wellwith sustainability goals, being made fromscraps that were left over after the tiles werecut. Once these scraps were fingered

Terra cotta rain screens eliminate mortar to let water flow in and out freely.


together, they created an attractive patternthat was made even more so by the amountof waste that was diverted from landfills.Building for the present also meant

meeting the current needs of the University.In other words, the EHS had to be finished ontime. The terra cotta and slate used on theexterior were both long lead-time items, butthe 2008 Summer Olympics and a massiveearthquake severely impacted slatedeliveries from China. Edgar BoettcherMasonry, Bay City, compensated for theuneven flow of materials by altering crewsizes, working a skeleton crew whenmaterials were not available and “manningup” when they arrived, but late deliveriesmandated significant changes to a carefullydeveloped project schedule. BoettcherMasonry needed to work very closely withWalsh Construction to prevent thesechanges from altering the final completiondate.“There had to be an element of trust

between the contractor and us,” said EdBoettcher, president of Boettcher Masonry.“They needed to work with us and weneeded to work with them.”Trust was a common theme throughout

the project. Perhaps the most sacred trustwas the commitment to build a sustainablefacility that would meet future needs.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTUREIn addition to attractive slate gray and

reddish terra cotta, there is also plenty ofgreen at EHS. Sustainable building elementsthat contribute to the anticipated Gold-Level Certification under the USGBC’s LEEDrating system for the EHS come in all colors,but the first one that will be noticed bymany EHS visitors happens to be green. Thebuilding’s green roof encompasses a total of27,705 square feet on a total of four separateroof surfaces, some of which are easilyvisible from the upper floors of thebuilding’s tallest section.The vegetated matt system placed atop

the roof was supplemented with a thin layerof growth medium to make sure the sedumtook root, but the overall weight was stillonly about 19 pounds per-square-inch, farless than the four-inch tray systems thattypically weigh about 30 pounds per-square-inch. The lighter weight matt systemgreatly reduced structural costs, but one keyadvantage of tray systems is the fact thattrays can be moved to check for roof leaks.SHW compensated for this by putting a four-ply built-up roof underneath the matt,where a single ply would be more typical.The anticipated life of this robust roof is 20years.

Sunlight is the most colorful sustainablefeature found at EHS, as it floods in fromevery direction and scatters to showcaseevery color of the visible spectrum. Theproject team made a great effort to bringnatural light into almost every corner of the

building. The team created a solar diagram,charting out the sun’s position in the skythroughout the year. This drawing was anessential tool in positioning the buildingand in designing eyebrow-like protrusionsabove windows that block harsh summer

The project team made a great effort to bring natural light intoalmost every corner of the building.



rays during the summer to minimize thermalgain while gaining the maximum warmingbenefit of the sun during the winter.

Windows also feature light shelves toreflect natural light farther into the building.Operable windows were installed in officesand other spaces where responsibility foropening and closing them can be assignedto a single person, but classrooms windowsare fixed to keep them from being left openaccidentally. Classrooms were grouped onthe north side of the building to allow thesedensely occupied areas to gain the bestbenefit of the sun, while individual officeswere placed on the south side of thebuilding.

Many other green design elements arefound throughout the building. Plants forexterior landscaping include droughtresistant and indigenous varieties. Floorfinishes include carpet tile that is high inrecycled content and sheet linoleum. Low-VOC paints and stains were used throughoutthe project.

The ultimate success of these sustain-ability efforts depended on how wellcontractors understood and complied withthem. Subcontractors brought variouslevels of green experience with them, butWalsh Construction developed astandardized spreadsheet format thathelped veterans and novices alike as theysubmitted documentation to USGBC asrequired by LEED.

“The subcontractors appreciated thespreadsheets because it was one less thingfor them to do,” said Yambor. “They didn’tneed to create their own documents.”

No matter what their experience levelwith LEED projects, subcontractors

benefited from this thoughtful extra steptaken by Walsh Construction. The projectteam worked even harder to meet the needsof the youngest visitors to the EHS, whohave had hardly any experience at all.

BUILDING FOR KIDS Children who visit the EHS each day may

not know as much as the adults whoeducate and care for them, but their eageryoung minds will catch up very quickly. TheChild Development Learning Lab wasdesigned using the Reggio Emilia Approach,which stresses an ability to learn throughtouching, moving, listening, seeing andhearing that is unique to the young. Thephysical environment is considered a“teacher” under this approach, so the designteam was tasked with developing spacesthat would captivate the senses.

Children enter the building through theirown door, which facilitates easy access froma circular drive with short-term parkingspaces for parents and also minimizescontact with CMU’s general studentpopulation. Once inside, children quicklyrealize that the entrance is not the onlyfeature built with them in mind. Flooring inthe entry features an intricate floor withmesquite wood that is filled in with grout,combining the natural beauty of wood withthe tactile sensation of walking on atextured surface. Even the restroom walls inthis section of the EHS are textured, turningthe most basic functions into learningopportunities. A climbing wall andnumerous nooks and crannies to exploreadd to the many educational opportunitiesat hand.

The eyes are also engaged within the

space. Colorful objects are strategicallyplaced throughout the facility to let lightshine through. As children see vibrantshapes moving and interacting with othercolors on the floors and walls, all in sync withthe daily rhythm of the sun, they begin tounderstand this process. Every observedactivity is an opportunity for a child to learn;so the inside movement area even includesclear views into the kitchen, letting childrendevelop an appreciation of the work that isdone to prepare their food each day.

Of course, children are not the only oneswho learn by what they can see and hear atEHS. Soundproofed observation rooms letentire classes of CMU students watch aschildren interact with teachers or each otherfrom behind mirrored glass. Observers caneven activate specific microphones to listenin on conversations anywhere in the room.

Though they have no way of staying outof sight, students would also do well toobserve children in the outdoor learninggarden. This area also features a variety oftextures to keep developing brains busy, aswell as soft surfaces to cushion falls.Another outdoor highlight is the storytellingpavilion. Far from a prefabricated playstructure, this custom-built space isdesigned to serve as a puppet theater,reading spot or stage, but imaginativechildren can probably discover thousands ofother uses during the course of a day.

Building a facility that allows young mindsto develop is an investment in the future, butthe project team did not neglect the olderbrains of students who come to EHS to learnto shape the future as teachers.Displacement ventilation used in thestructure enhances energy efficiency whileimproving indoor air quality by bringing lowvelocity air in near floor level. Occupants actas “chimneys” by drawing cool air towardstheir bodies, where it is warmed enough tonaturally rise up to exhaust vents near thetop of the room, thereby creating acomfortable learning environment. Stairsare also prominently featured to keepstudents in good physical shape bydiscouraging elevator use and somecomputer workstations even includetreadmills that can be used to maximize thiseffect.

The EHS site represents a very publicchalkboard at the heart of the CMU campus,upon which the project team was called onto build a quality facility that met diverseneeds. With their combined expertise, theyharbored little anxiety showing their work,even in front of Michigan’s talented designand construction class.

The storytelling pavilion is designed to serve as a puppet theater, reading spot or stage, butimaginative children can probably discover thousands of other uses throughout the courseof a day.


��

" �� " �� !�� #& %�� $�

�� " ��

��

SE Michigan 734-326-2222 Outstate 800-846-6789 stonycreekservices.comServing the Great Lakes states and beyond for over 30 years as specialists in the application of spray applied building materials

��

��

" �� " �� " �� " � ��

Covering Michigan Since 1987

Full-Service Commerical Floor Covering

� Carpet � Hardwood � Vinyl � Specialty Floors

Sales � Service � Installation

Ph: 248.651.1157Fx: 248.651.2218

Ideal Floor Covering, Inc.

375 E. Second StreetRochester, MI 48307

[email protected]



http://www.stoneycreekservices.com


Every Saturday, a part of Detroitbecomes the land of milk and honey.Jars filled with the sweet gold of

orange clover, loosestrife and wildflowerhoney line one of the many vendor stalls inEastern Market’s newly renovated Shed 3.Originally constructed in 1922, Shed 3 is agrand hall of produce bursting withtomatoes, potted herbs, blueberries andbroccoli crowns, all displayed in a historic

building with 40-foot-high ceilings andabundant windows once blocked by sheetsof opaque, corrugated Plexiglas. The Eastern Market Corporation (EMC), in

cooperation with the City of DetroitRecreation Department, forged a masterplan, called Eastern Market 360, for theredevelopment of all five sheds in EasternMarket and for the renewal of the Market asa whole. Thanks to this visionary plan and

the dedication of Detroit-based KraemerDesign Group, PLC, and a joint venture ofKeo & Associates, Inc. and the Michiganoffice of Turner Construction Company, Shed3 is now flooded with natural light andprimed for a geothermal system. Letting in the sunshine and drawing on

the good Earth are all part of “growing themarket.” An added bonus is the rentalrevenue generated from the use of Shed 3 as

By Mary E. Kremposky, Photography by Curt Clayton,Associate Editor Clayton Studio

Seed MoneyEastern Market’s Shed 3 Renovation Primes District for Growth


a venue for special events. Unveiling itsarchitectural beauty and inserting newbuilding systems has created an excitingnew venue in the Detroit metropolitan area.The Market is already enjoying the fruits ofits labor. In January 2010, General Motorsunveiled its 2011 line of cars and trucks tothe media at historic Shed 3 as a parallelevent with the North American InternationalAuto Show.

The flexible planning of EMC, a 501(3) (c)nonprofit organization operating under anagreement to manage and promote EasternMarket for the City of Detroit, steered theproject and the newly revised master plan inthe proper direction. Shed 3 was originallyslated to be a market hall complete withteaching kitchens and nutrition education –a slot now reserved for a future Shed 4.“Because any food preparation requires awashable ceiling, inserting lower roofswould compromise the amazingarchitecture of the building,” said RandallFogelman, EMC vice president of businessdevelopment. Plus, the 30,000-square-footbuilding was too large to make it as a viablemarket hall. “It would have been the largestmarket hall in the country,” addedFogelman. “Due to its size and architecture,we decided to renovate Shed 3 and return itto its former glory.” Shed 3 is a cruciform, or cross-shaped,

building with an octagon core rising to aheight of about 40 feet, said Brian Rebain,Kraemer project architect. The buildingarms radiate from the octagon and stepdown in two separate tiers – one an uppertier of clerestory windows and the lower onea series of 20-foot-high roofs and overheaddoors. Each of the four arms has animposing brick entrance graced by gabledroofs, cornice dentils, decorative medallionsand massive arched windows. Before renovation, all window openings

were wrapped in a cocoon of opaquePlexiglas, including the octagon. With thePlexiglas “shutters” removed, the play of lightand the soaring, nave-like ceilings turn asimple “shed’ into a grand, light-washedspace with an almost cathedral-like feel.Kraemer’s contemporary renovation evencalled for the installation of new entry andoverhead doors with windows, drawingeven more natural light into the interior andshowcasing the market activities within tothe community outside.Renovation of this 88-year-old shed called

for juggling a busy construction site with abustling market. Keo/Turner had tocompletely vacate the jobsite every Friday at3 pm to clear the way for the popularSaturday Market. Keo/Turner also managedthe meticulous work of replacing rustedsteel angles and repairing spalled concretethroughout the entire building. “In abuilding of this age, nothing is square,plumb or level, so in addition to everythingelse, we would have to construct a lot oflittle infills to make things fit and work,” saidBob Bowen, Turner senior project manager.Added Kojo Dom, Keo vice presidentoperations, “Every one of the overhead

doors are custom made, because the slopeof the floor is slightly different.”Given the amazing results, the entire

project team – and people throughout theregion – can enjoy the bounty of thislandmark enclave due east of downtownDetroit. “Eastern Market is such a historicand vibrant part of the city,” said Bowen. “Itis great to be a part of bringing it back givenwhat it means to the Market, the city, and theregion to have a district like Eastern Market.”

GROWING A CITYAt Eastern Market – the largest historic

public market district in the United States -it’s hard not to eat your vegetables. At peak,the retail or public market attracts 40,000people every Saturday to this hub of fruits,vegetables, restaurants and unique specialtyshops adrift with the aroma of spices andstocked with cheeses. The incomparableShed 3 serves not only as a special eventsvenue, but also as part of the publicSaturday Market and as part of thewholesale market that operates midnight to6 a.m. every weekday from April throughNovember. The wholesale market transfersproduce from growers to distributors andbuyers in restaurants and independentsupermarket chains. “We are probably one ofthe few that still has a retail and a wholesalemarket all in the same campus,” saidFogelman.The 44-acre district has a fascinating past,

present and future. Once a ribbon farm andthen a cemetery (the graves were removedaround 1890), the district once housed aprison at it northern end, said Fogelman. The present Market is in the middle of a

welcome renovation, for Shed 3 is only oneof many seeds of economic growth beingplanted by EMC. Part of the Eastern Market360 master plan will turn the Market into aliving classroom and an agent for economicgrowth. According to EMC’s website, therenovated Shed 2 already hosts live cookingdemonstrations, the future Shed 4, expectedto be an L-shaped, two-story building, willhouse a teaching kitchen as part of a MarketHall/Education Center, and a Shed 5expansion and renovation will serve ascommunity kitchen, business incubator, andanother special events venue. Shed 6’scanopy will be expanded, as well. “TheSheds are part of a strategic plan to developthe entire market to a national standardsuch as you would see in Philadelphia andother cities,” said Vincent Anwunah, AICP,general manager, planning design andconstruction management of the City ofDetroit Recreation Department. The goal is to have our Saturday Market, a



weekday market in the evening, andultimately to open Eastern Market to thepublic seven days a week. “Eastern Market isan integral part of the overall economicdevelopment of the city, because the entirearea will benefit from a busy market,” saidAnwunah. “We want to link this area toactivities going on downtown, at ComericaPark and at Ford Field.” Anotherdevelopment is linking Eastern Market tothe nearby Dequindre Cut, a pathwayfollowing a former freight rail line from the

Detroit riverfront to just south of Gratiot.“The next phase will take it all the way toMack Avenue, and it will have specific exitsto bring people right to the Market, and afuture loop will connect all the way toMidtown,” said Fogelman.

PREPARING THE SOIL The revitalization of Shed 3 and the

Market as a whole have been years in themaking, for tilling the troubled economy ofDetroit is not work for the faint-hearted.

Dating back to 1996, groups have coalescedaround a series of task forces, action plans,and advisory panels, including the EasternMarket Reinvestment Strategy thataddressed each of the sheds and the overallpotential of the Market in 2003. As a furthereffort, The University of Michigan conducteda design charette in 2005. The City of Detroit forged the agreement

in August 2006 with EMC to manage theMarket for the city. EMC built on past effortsto “prepare the soil” for the 2007 renovation

Shed 3 and the entire Eastern Market – the largest historic public market district in the United States – attracts about 40,000 people on primeSaturdays. Keo/Turner had to vacate the jobsite every Friday at 3 p.m. to clear the way for the popular Saturday Market.

PHOT

OS B

Y M

ARCI

CHR

ISTI

AN, C

AM M

AGAZ

INE


of Shed 2, an open-air structure built in 1891.But in 2008, “we re-evaluated the entireMarket plan, because the world hadchanged a great deal since the original re-investment strategy was done,” saidFogelman. EMC and the Recreation Department

worked in cooperation on the EasternMarket 360 master plan, including therenovation plan for Shed 3. “Part of themoney was also from the City, so we workedout how best we can fuse private money andCity money together to achieve theanticipated result for Shed 3,” said Anwunah. After selection of Kraemer Design Group,

EMC bid the project in collaboration withthe City, ultimately selecting the Keo/Turnerjoint venture. “We work very closely with theRecreation Department, which is our officialliaison with the City,” said Fogelman. Kraemer Design Group began translating

ideas into a design for the regeneration ofShed 3. Kraemer used the magic of glass –clear, insulated and low E – and the power ofthe paintbrush to “create a more invitingatmosphere on both the interior andexterior of the building,” said Rebain.Kraemer Design “warmed the color palette,”transforming the sterile white interior intoricher hues of color. Warm orange coats theconcrete, dark brown covers the steelcolumns, and a subtle grayish greenblankets the high ceilings. The same color palette transforms the

exterior, once a sea of blue-paintedoverhead doors. Shed 3 now complementsits next-door neighbor, Shed 2. “The colorswere chosen to tie the two buildingstogether,” said Fogelman. “Shed 2 is redbrick with brown accents and Shed 3 isbrown brick with reddish-orange accents.” Kraemer unsealed the window openings

(only the transom windows above theoverhead doors were sealed to conceal theworkings of the new power doors) andopened the floor plan, first removing thecentral concession stand and then the rowsof concrete curbs once used as productplatforms. Shed 3 is now an open andinviting “empty slate” ready for rental by for awide variety of community and corporateevents. Designing creature comforts andrestoring the integrity of the concretemasonry rounded out the design mission.

APRIL SHOWERS AND MAY FLOWERSHaving a design 100 percent complete at

bid time was a blessing to the budget.“Because of the fully complete design, wewere able to obtain fully complete bids as faras scope of work,” said Bowen. “We wereable to formulate some very detailed bid

packages, making allowances for a few itemswe knew might have some gray areas tothem.” The competitive biddingenvironment in 2008 also aided the project’sbottom line, helping Keo/Turner controlcosts and deliver a $6.2 million dollarrenovation.Schedule-wise, vendors were moved into

Shed 5 from January through the end ofMarch, giving Keo/Turner free rein to work

within the interior during the first phase. OnJan. 2, the clock began counting down to thefirst major deadline: being ready for FlowerDay 2009, a grand event turning the marketinto a sea of over a million geraniums,petunias and other plants, and a tidal waveof over 150,000 people from across theregion. “A major milestone was to achievetemporary occupancy and to make thebuilding functional for Flower Day always

Heavy String Reinforced Clear Poly20´ x 100´ • 32´ x 100´ • 40´ x 100´Windclips for Tubular Scaffolding

Electric BlanketsInsul-Blankets

Winter Mortar Admixtures

Your Complete Winter Protection Source!

CALL 1-800-659-473143300 SEVEN MILE ROAD • NORTHVILLE, MICHIGAN 48167



held a week after Mother’s Day in mid-May,”said Bowen. Having the new floor pouredby April – the start of EMC’s lease year andthe wholesale market – was an interimcheckpoint on the way to Flower Day 2009,added Fogelman. The first step was to carefully peel away

layers of old paint. “In January, we enclosedthe building in a sealed work environmentand our demolition and abatementcontractor came in and removed all thelead-based paint,” said Bowen. Demolishing the existing concrete floor

was the next step in revitalizing the 88-year-old building. At this juncture, Keo/Turnerencountered the first of several unforeseenconditions. “When we took out the old floorand dropped the elevations, we found thatthe bottom of some of the columns hadrusted out a bit over the years,” said Bowen.Kraemer designed a two-and-a-half-foot tallencasement at the base of the rustedcolumns, reinforcing the columns inconcrete and adding some new plates totransfer the load downward.Both revamped column bases and the

newly installed radiant heat floor offer theMarket welcome amenities. All of thecolumn bases have convenient electricaloutlets and direct water service strategicallyplaced throughout the shed; the pipinginstalled within the newly poured radiant

heat floor will soon be part of a geothermalsystem slated for future installation.Ultimately, the geothermal or geo-exchangesystem will heat both Shed 3 and its futurenext-door neighbor, Shed 4. Having successfully met the first

scheduling hurdle, the core difficulty inmeeting the Flower Day deadline was instal-lation of new exterior concrete curbs andsidewalks and a new asphalt parking lot. Theculprit was the weather. In this case, Aprilshowers did not easily bring the market’sMay flowers. “It was a very wet spring,” saidBowen. “It rained almost all of April, whichcreated some serious difficulties in trying toprepare the sub-base and accomplishasphalt paving.”Whenever Mother Nature turned off the

spigot, Keo/Turner’s subcontractors set towork, sometimes laboring on weekends andnights to deliver the job. “The sub-base,where a couple of the parking lots were tobe poured, was inundated with water,” saidBowen. “Our subcontractor basically re-graded everything, pushing the stone fromone side to the other to bring air andsunlight to help dry it out sufficiently toallow us to compact and pave it.” Thanks toKeo/Turner and its cooperative subcon-tractors, Shed 3 opened for business,unrolling a carpet of colorful blooms inplenty of time for Eastern Market’s 43rd

annual Flower Day in May 2009. Shed 3 then opened for the public market

every Saturday from May throughNovember, creating another logistical hurdlefor the construction team. Keo/Turnerturned the Shed over to EMC every Fridayafternoon in preparation for Saturday’spublic market and then resumed control ofthe space on Monday morning. Having the design 100 percent complete

at time of bids was again pivotal in smoothlyaccomplishing this schedule pressure point.“EMC and the City put together therequirements for that whole schedulephasing, so we actually purchased it thatway with the subcontractors,” said Bowen.“They understood that as of this date thebuilding is turned over to the Market everyFriday at 3 p.m.”An adjacent parking lot offered the

perfect staging area for equipment andmaterial storage. “Every Friday you wouldsee a small parade of lifts moving at two orthree miles an hour to the staging area 200feet away,” said Bowen. “On Mondaymorning, the same parade would move backinto the building.”

LET THE SUNSHINE INWhile pouring the floor, Keo/Turner began

the “grand opening” of the building by

New lighting fills Shed 3 with a beautiful glow and highlightsits historical façade. Shed 3 serves as part of a wholesalemarket that operates from midnight to 6 am every weekdayfrom April through November.


unsealing the windows. The grapples ofhydraulic excavators plucked eight-footwooden carrots, clusters of ruby red-paintedapples, and other fruit murals from thewindow openings of the four brick entryfacades. A local architect created the well-known fruit graphics in the ‘70s as a lessexpensive way to draw more attention tothe Market. Because the murals were not ingood enough shape to save, EMC craftedsmaller versions and installed the mini-murals on the exterior walls of their ownoffice, cutting holes in the fruit tableau forpeople to place their faces and have theirphotograph taken. “Being part of ourhistory, the murals were something that wewanted to recognize and wanted toincorporate in the feel of the Market,” saidFogelman.

Next, the opaque Plexiglas sheets wereremoved from the octagon, clerestory, andentry portals, slowly flooding the Shedinterior with unobstructed light andrestoring dramatic sight lines as surely asremoval of a cataract sharpens vision. Butsimply glazing in new windows and calling ita day was just not possible in this old

building. Moisture had seeped along theedges of the Plexiglas sheets rusting the 88-year-old steel angles needed to hold thewindows in place.

“The original idea was to reuse the angles,but when we took the windows and theflashings out we could see how far they haddeteriorated,” said Bowen. “If left in place, wewould be back in three or four yearsreplacing them, because the windows wouldstart to sag. The decision was made to ripout the old and install new angles.”

The extent of the corrosion made itdifficult to achieve a proper fit between theold openings and the new windows. “One ofthe biggest issues was actually fitting in newwindows to the old openings, which had justcorroded over the years,” said Rebain. “Agreat deal of restoration work had to bedone to get those openings square andready for new glazing. These conditionsexisted pretty much around the entirebuilding.”

The poor fit “prevented us from orderingthe high octagon windows for a couple ofmonths,” said Bowen. “Corroded framedopenings had to be evaluated and repaired

Single Ply, BUR, Slate, Shingles, Green and Vegetative Roof Systems, Architectural Metals, Air Barriers, Roof Audits, Complete Roof Service

and Roof Guardian Maintenance Programs

www.ceigroupllc.com

Services provided in the United States

and internationally.

2140 INDUSTRIAL STREETHOWELL, MI 48843517-548-0039 (P)517-548-0182 (F)

• Firestone and GAF Master Contractor• Johns Manville Peak Advantage Contractor• Union Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor• Government Cleared Work Crews for Secured Sites

Built on integrity…

growing through Service and reliaBility

CEI

Blue Star, Inc.

Industrial • CommericalResidential

Specializing in Selective & Machine Demolition and

Concrete RemovalBy Hand or Machine

23894 AmberWarren, MI 48089

Ph: (586) 427-9933Fx: (586) 427-9934

[email protected]

http://www.ceigroupllc.com


http://www.bluestardemo.com



before new measurements could be takenand materials ordered.” Hard work and the meticulous probing of

the layers of the masonry wall resolved eachissue until all openings were glazed withclear glass. Standing in the interior, theoctagon of clear glass becomes a canvas ofclouds, a living Weather Channel of sun, rainor snow. The new windows evencomplement the historical brick façade. “Weselected windows that were obviouslymodern in efficiencies, but worked well withthe historical character of the building,” saidRebain.

COSMETIC CONCRETE SURGERYFrom spring through September 2009, the

project team worked on repairing thehistorical façade, replacing only about 10percent of the brick and thoroughlycleaning “the dull and discolored masonry,”said Jessica Knight, architect with theRecreation Department. As part of therenovation, the grand arched portals of thefour historical entrances were given moreclass and dignity. Gone are the battered oldrubber gasket doors. New doors withwindows, signage, and an entrance canopynow greet visitors. The canopy does doubleduty as a platform for exterior lighting thatilluminates the towering entrances and thebeautiful details of the historical façade atnight. Thanks to a fresh coat of natural tone

paint, the details of the decorative precastconcrete medallions – one of the seal of theCity of Detroit and the other the seal of theState of Michigan – stand out in sharperrelief, along with the central keystone archdepicting a bundle of wheat. Generations of Detroiters have passed

under the same portals on their waythrough the Saturday Market, for the vastmajority of the brick and precast of theentrance portals are original to the building,minus a few pieces of replaced cornice, newmetal coping, and the large precast headersover the expansive side windows. Other concrete components in the

interior and exterior did not fare as well.“During design and construction, thebiggest challenge was the concretecladding,” said Rebain. “The columns, beams,and window headers are steel encased inconcrete, but the concrete itself had beenfailing. With all that spalling, we had to chipaway and basically figure out the extent of it,and determine how much work we reallyhad to do to make it clean again.” The overhead doors ringing the building

offered another glimpse into the extent ofthe failed concrete encasement. Each of thecolumns between the doors had a metalbanding or steel channel wrapped aroundthree sides of the column. “The idea was toleave those channels in place and use themto mount the hardware and tracks for thenew powered versus the old chain-operatedoverhead doors,” said Bowen. As we wereexamining some of the columns, we couldalmost see all the way through the concretebehind the channel. It had just deteriorated,fallen out, and turned to dust.”The steel channels on all of the columns

were ultimately removed, and then RAMConstruction Services, Livonia, “formed andpatched all the columns to provide astructurally sound and level surface for theattachments of the new overhead doors,”said Bowen. Few visiting the Market would ever realize

the hard work poured into Shed 3. “It lookslike it should be simple,” said Bowen. “If wewere to build it new in the field, it would beeasy, but because of its age and all theunforeseen conditions, it increased the levelof challenge.” None of these conditions affected the

basic integrity of this rock-solid andstructurally sound building. The structuralsteel frame was sound, and “the concretefoundations are so deep they couldprobably support a 20-story building,” saidBowen. After bracing a few concrete panelson the sloped roof, Keo/Turner installed amembrane roofing system on the lower tier,

Converting Shed 3 into a more appealingmarketplace and a venue for specialevents meant removal of Plexiglass shutters and an introduction of newbuilding systems.

Specializing In:Overhead Sectional DoorsOverhead Coiling Doors

High Speed DoorsCommercial Operators

Steel Entry DoorsArchitectural HardwareLoading Dock EquipmentConstruction Services

Access ControlAutomatic Glass Doors

24387 Sorrentino Court, Clinton Township, MI 48035

T 586/790-4540 F 586/790-4542E [email protected]



and a new standing seam metal roof on theupper tiers to blend with the roof system ofShed 2.

KEEPING IT COOLToday, Shed 3 is the jewel of Eastern

Market with its clear glass and warm colorpalette. The years of planning and monthsof design and construction have broughtout the original character of this early 20thcentury building. Welcome amenities to thisold Shed include a new electrical system,restrooms and other creature comforts suchas a series of massive circulation fansinstalled in the high ceilings “to move airdown when the heat rises in the winter andto draw air up and keep it moving in thesummer,” said Rebain. The immense fanswith bent yellow tips have the cool factorboth in function and in appearance. “I havestarted seeing them in the last five years inprojects all over the country,” added Rebain.“They are being used in large loft-typespaces or industry-type spaces with highceilings. Architects love them because theylook so cool, and engineers like thembecause the fans function so well.”Low E windows block heat gain, keeping it

cool in the summer, as well as a series ofmechanically operable vents in some of theclerestory windows. The vents alternate oneither side of each arm of the cruciformbuilding. “Air is not just moving betweenopposite sides of the same arm, but theplacement of the vents circulates the airbetter and helps to eliminate hot spots,” saidRebain.For winter’s chill, air curtains blow heat

over each entry to temper the rush of coldair into the Shed. The geothermal system willsoon feed into the radiant heat tubingalready installed in the new concrete floor. Inthe future, another geothermal field willserve the anticipated renovation andexpansion of Shed 5 and Shed 6. “The planfor Shed 5 – originally built in 1981 – will beto bring it out to Russell Street by building afront addition,” said Fogelman. Something good is always growing at

Eastern Market. Virtually all the sheds arealigned in a main avenue, turning the walkbetween and through them into anunfolding carpet of blooms and edibles.Shed 2 and Shed 3 offer locally grown andMichigan produce, some of it from vendorswho are part of the urban farms beginningto sprout across Detroit. Lettuce, herbs andgreens are softening Detroit’s rough edgeson vacant plots of remediated landthroughout the city. EMC supports Greeningof Detroit, a group that will beginestablishing a 2.5-acre garden near the heart

of the Eastern Market District this summer,said Fogelman. Some of that produce will probably be

sold in Shed 3 as the Market deepens it rootsas part of the local food network. Thanks tothe concerted efforts of a broad network ofcommitted people and design andconstruction professionals, the renovation ofShed 3 has returned this workhorse ofbuilding to its original brightness and then

some, giving Old Farmer MacDonald aquality venue and Eastern Market a redevel-opment boost. Like a tray of celosia plants,with blooms the shape of candle flames andcolors ranging from deep maroon to astartling gold, Eastern Market is aregenerative force with roots poised tospread new shoots of growth into thesurrounding city.


http://www.plunkettcooney.com/results


One-liners about never being able tofind a doctor when needed arenearly as old as the medical

profession itself. They became familiarclichés because there has always been agrain of truth to them. Even those who canafford to employ their own personalphysicians will not have immediate access tospecialists or the sophisticated diagnosticand treatment equipment usually foundonly in hospital settings, but this benefit canbe realized by anyone living near the CantonCenter for Advanced Medicine and Surgery.The St. Joseph Mercy Canton Health

Center has provided primary care servicesfor the community since it opened in 1998,but a recently completed 60,000-square-

foot addition adds sophisticated cancer careand surgery into the equation, greatlyincreasing the likelihood that people canreceive necessary treatment withouttraveling over great distances. Constructionmanager George W. Auch Company, Pontiac,and architect HKS Architects, PC, Northville,in partnership with the Saint Joseph MercyHealth System, led the project team thatmade this a reality.

COMMUNITY NEEDSCanton is a growing community, and

medical needs have been growing rightalong with it.

“The existing building opened in 1998and we always envisioned a second phase

on this campus,” said Kathleen Kasperek,director of oncology services and projectdirector for Saint Joseph Mercy HealthSystem. “We realized that we created strongaccess to primary care with the St. JosephMercy Canton Health Center, but wethought that we needed to move towardsspecialty care.”

What followed this decision was adetailed analysis of the community todetermine what specialties would best serveits expanding needs. People aged 55 orolder were expected to account for thelargest percentage of population growth, soplanning for the new facility revolvedaround their medical care. Oncology andsurgery were identified as the greatest

The Doctor is in…Canton

By David R. Miller, Associate Editor Photos by Gene Meadows


needs, but this type of advanced care oftenentails specialized equipment.The linear accelerator quickly emerged as

the most challenging piece of equipmentfrom a facilities standpoint. Linearaccelerators let physicians treat tumorsinside the human body with a focused beamof energy. The facility’s Varian RapidArc®linear accelerator, only the second to beinstalled in Michigan, allows for a moreprecisely shaped beam than earlier models,which reduces treatment time whileminimizing damage to healthy tissue. Ofcourse, none of this would be possiblewithout radiation. Numerous safeguardswere incorporated to contain this radiationand prevent unintended incursions into the

space while the equipment was operating.A strobe light activated by a beam sensor

positioned near the entry of the linearaccelerator serves as a warning. The lightwould deter most people from going in, butthey face no danger from radiation exposureat this point, even though there is no heavyvault door in front of them. The number ofpeople treated each day multiplied by thetime needed to open and close thesemassive doors can translate into a significantloss of treatment time, so the entry corridor,called the “Maze Entry” by the project team,was designed to absorb and reflectradioactive energy to keep it containedwithin the space. Although a second beamdetector deactivates the equipment if it is

crossed or if the door is left open, a personcould safely stand inside this doorway, oreven move further inside, without beingexposed to hazardous levels of radiation.The vault in which the linear accelerator ishoused is surrounded by up to 60 inches ofconcrete along with up to eight inches ofsteel.

Given the tremendous benefits of thelinear accelerator that was installed at thefacility, the selection of the model wouldseem to have been an obvious choice. Still,such a massive investment couldn’t berushed, even though the project teamneeded to know every detail of not just thelinear accelerator, but also every other pieceof equipment that they would be buildingaround.

“One challenge was in getting the ownerto select the equipment as soon aspossible,” said William Filip, AIA, vicepresident and director of constructionservices for HKS Architects, PC. “Equipmentselection is required early in the designprocess to establish the design criteria forthe space.”

Without having these design criteria,there can be no design – and no directionfor the contractors involved.

“The construction documents’ completionwas in limbo until the medical equipmentmanufacturer and type was confirmed,” saidDavid Williams, LEED AP, vice president andproject director for the George W. AuchCompany. “However, as a team, we were stillcharged with completing the project onschedule; so we needed to develop work-arounds to make that happen.”

One such work-around involved releasingbid packages before purchasing decisionshad been finalized. This let the team get theinformation out early enough to getcompetitive bids, but the approach couldbackfire if extensive design bulletins wereneeded after bidding was complete.Fortunately, the project team was able touse the recently completed St. Joseph MercyWoodlands Cancer Center in Brighton as aguide. Equipment purchased for the Cantonfacility would likely be very similar to theBrighton facility, so the project teamreleased the specifications and drawingsfrom the Brighton linear accelerator and CTsimulator on this project as a bid clarifi-cation. Contractors who were interested inbidding the work had enough informationto provide quantity-based estimates, whilethe George W. Auch Company also hadsufficient time to sequence the work onschedule. This methodology assured thatprices would not be influenced by bulletinsthat were issued after bidding.



“Bulletin work is historically moreexpensive than work that is bid competi-tively,” said Eric Shumaker, project managerfor the George W. Auch Company. Although many steps were taken to controlcosts at the Canton Center for AdvancedMedicine and Surgery, the project team wasstill able to create a soothing environmentfor patient care.

A HEALING ENVIRONMENTLike any major facility project, the Canton

Center for Advanced Medicine and Surgery

was guided by literally thousands ofseparate decisions. All of these choices weremade with a singular objective in mind.“Our goal, with the design we created,

each individual design element – thefinishes, the type of furniture and fabricsthat we chose – was for every patient tohave a remarkable experience,” Kasperek. “Itdoesn’t make the treatment any easier, butthe environment is very warm andwelcoming.”

The element that plays the most dramaticrole in creating this environment is free and

abundant in the natural world. The projectteam simply needed to find a way to bringnatural light into spaces that are often onlyseen under the harsh glare of fluorescentbulbs. Bringing the sun into any roominvolves design challenges, but functionalrequirements and privacy concernscompound these issues in medical spaces. Pre- and post-operative beds are placed

beneath a bank of windows that letglimmering waves of light wash overpatients before gently falling on the nurse’sstation at the other side of the room, but thewindows are placed high enough on thewall to prevent any direct views from theoutside. Operating rooms are similarlyoutfitted with high windows, but electricallyoperated shades are controlled by a wallswitch, letting doctors control the lightcoming in to suit the procedures being doneas well as their own preferences.Cancer care areas were also designed with

the patient experience in mind. Infusiontreatments can last several hours, so infusionbays were designed to let patients dowhatever makes them the mostcomfortable. They can watch flat screentelevisions that are equipped with pillowspeakers or gaze out into the healinggarden, all while seated in a comfortablechair in a room that more resembles adwelling than a medical space. Woodlaminates outfitted with end and cornerguards combine institutional durability witha homey feel. Other treatment areasincluding the linear accelerator also featurewood finishes and illuminated nature scenesare placed on the ceiling above so patientshave something to look at as they areundergoing procedures.

Cancer patients will likely spend themajority of their visit in the infusion bays, sothe relaxed atmosphere that permeates alltreatment areas is most pronounced in thisspace. Patients may need daily treatmentsover a period of months and the staff hasnoticed a strong tendency for these patientsto form bonds with the staff and with eachother. Infusion bays are designed toaccommodate groups who want to receivetreatments in groups, as well as those whoprefer privacy. Frosted art glass panels letnurses unobtrusively monitor patents ininfusion bays and other areas. The infusionarea also includes more private rooms thatare completely walled in to accommodatepatients who may not feel well enough tosocialize with others.

No matter how they feel, the emphasis atCanton Center for Advanced Medicine andSurgery is in creating a soothingenvironment in which patients can heal. The

Infusion treatments can last several hours, so infusion bayswere designed for patient comfort.

LLIEDENTILATION

E



building facilitates efficient delivery ofhealthcare services towards this end. Efficient Delivery

Some people bristle at the concept ofconsidering efficiency in healthcare design,fearing an assembly line where the focus issimply to move on to the next patient asquickly as possible, but patients clearlybenefit from an orderly progression througha healthcare facility. The Canton Center forAdvanced Medicine and Surgery wasdesigned with this concept in mind.Surgery patients traverse a simple loop

pattern that starts in a pre-operative bedwhere they are made comfortable whilethey are evaluated and prepared for surgery.After this process is complete, they arebrought into the rooms where surgical

procedures are performed. Thoseundergoing minor procedures withoutanesthetic will be brought to one of threeprocedure rooms. One of these rooms issignificantly larger and located within thesterile corridor to facilitate conversion to afully functional operating room in thefuture. All surgical equipment is alsosterilized within the sterile corridor,eliminating the inefficiencies that can occurwhen this is done off site. Each of the three operating rooms inside

the sterile corridor measures 450 square feetand is outfitted with ceiling mounted boomsthat hold lights, monitors and otherequipment safely out of the way. Structuralsupports for ceiling mounted booms werealso included in the large procedure room to

simplify future conversions. Customstainless steel furnishings, offering anoptimal configuration for the environmentand continuous hinges for durability,enhance the functionality of each operatingroom.

Once their procedures are complete,patients are routed back into the oppositeend of the room from which they started, viaa corridor that is parallel to the one leadinginto the surgical spaces. A privacy wallseparates individual beds in this space andall head walls are equipped for pre- andpost-operative care. Individual beds caneasily be designated as the situationwarrants.

Offices, locker rooms and other supportspaces are neatly tucked into a cross-

The vault housing this linear accelerator is surrounded with protective layers of concrete and steel, but no heavy vault door isneeded because of a maze entry that is designed to absorb andreflect radioactive energy to keep it contained within the space.


corridor that runs parallel to the sterilecorridor, between the pre- and post-operative corridors. Visitors in waiting areascan track patients on digital display boardsthroughout the entire process. This efficientdesign was clearly the product of a projectteam that was well versed in healthcarework, but the contributions from anotherhighly experienced group cannot beoverstated.

“The actual caregivers were brought tothe table when we began designdevelopment,” said Kasperek. “It is always agood idea to incorporate lessons learnedinto new projects.”

One lesson learned involved storageneeds associated with the linear accelerator.Patients undergoing these types ofprocedures must remain motionless forextended periods of time; so bulky immobi-lization devices that are custom fitted foreach patient are always required. Locatingand retrieving these items takes time awayfrom treatment, so radiation therapistspushed hard to create numerous hangingracks inside the treatment room. Finding theright device now usually takes only a few

seconds.In addition to functioning well for

patients, the facility also had to function wellwith the attached health center. The healthcenter is essentially an office space, whilethe Canton Center for Advanced Medicineand Surgery is considered a hospital forcode purposes. Combining two verydifferent code requirements under the sameroof required some creative thinking. Forexample, a newly created vestibule that wasbuilt to provide a two-hour fire ratingbetween the two structures, therebyexceeding code requirements whilemeeting egress needs for both. A teameffort was needed to develop creativesolutions like this.

A HEALTHY DOSE OF TEAMWORKAny time that a structure with the size and

complexity of the Canton Center forAdvanced Medicine and Surgery is created,there are bound to be at least a few thingsthat do not go exactly as planned. Projectteams can usually make adjustments toprevent these issues from having an adverseimpact, but occasionally larger issues

requiring a greater effort emerge. Such wasthe case when the brick needed to completethe Canton Center was not available.Unfortunately, this was not merely a case ofa lost shipment or an incorrect order.Instead, a reduction in demand linked toeconomic conditions caused themanufacturer to delay production. Noamount of creative rescheduling couldaccount for a material that simply did notexist.

“That was a very trying time because ourschedule was predicated on promiseddelivery dates and the schedule was injeopardy,” admitted Williams.

The brick did eventually arrive and theproject team was able to complete theenclosure as scheduled, but the solutionrequired contributions from the entire team,including the owner. HKS immediatelyreleased a new detail that allowed stone andwindows to be installed before the brick,instead of after. Changing the detail mid-stream required a high degree of flexibility,particularly from the masonry and steelcontractors.

Not every contractor can perform in such

Protect yourbusinessinvestment.

Use trained, experienced, licensed union electrical contractors for reliable,quality maintenance, service, design andinstallation at competitive rates.

(734)424-0978A complete list of contractors is available at:

www.ibewneca252.orgLook for the Free 5-yearNew Homeowners ElectricalProtection Plan

residential developmentmalls

officesstores

commercial propertiesrestaurants

data networksvideo networks

telecommunications

The Union Contractors and Electricians of IBEW Local 252

Commercial / IndustrialPainting & Wallcovering

Outstanding Quality ServiceFamily Owned For 20 Years

23433 Hoover RoadWarren, MI 48089Ph: (586) 755-0055Fax: (586) 755-6870

www.detroitspectrum.com

http://www.ibewneca252.org

http://www.detroitspectrum.com



Surgical patients traverse a simple loop that begins in a pre-operative bed (left). After being treated in one of three operating rooms (right) orthree procedure rooms, they are routed back into the opposite end of the room from which they started, via a corridor that is parallel to the oneleading into the surgical spaces.

http://www.miconcrete.org


a demanding environment. Even with thisselect group of pre-qualified contractors, afew “stumbled” at the finish line according toWilliams.

“However, other contractors stepped upto help us,” said Williams. “If they hadn’tpartnered with us, we wouldn’t have had thesuccessful project that we had. We hit theschedule, we were under budget and wehad a satisfied customer with their help.”In addition to having highly skilled

subcontractors, the project also benefitedfrom skilled leadership and direction at thetop, starting with the Saint Joseph MercyHealth System Planning and Design andConstruction Departments, who madesignificant contributions to the project’ssuccess. HKS draws on experience fromdesigning specialized healthcare facilitiesacross the globe, while Auch Construction’sconsiderable healthcare expertise can bestbe demonstrated locally. The firm’sHealthcare Group serves only SoutheastMichigan customers including primaryhealthcare providers with main hospitalsand satellite campuses, along withphysicians groups, skilled nursing andassisted living clients.

The combined experience of the teampaid off in very tangible ways for SaintJoseph Mercy Health System. In addition todelivering superior craftsmanship that isevident throughout the facility, the projectteam was also able to expand the projectsignificantly with savings that were realizedduring the bidding process. An extensivelobby redesign, including the addition of anew coffee bar, helps to blend the existingSt. Joseph Mercy Canton Health Centerseamlessly with the new structure, but thisimprovement was not originally included inthe scope of work. Expanded imagingcapabilities were added to the existingstructure, including the relocation of anexisting MRI from the Ann Arbor Campus,upgraded radiology equipment and adocking station for a portable PET/CTscanner that can serve a number oflocations.

With the addition of the St. Joseph MercyCanton Center for Advanced Medicine andSurgery, there are few medical proceduresthat cannot be performed in Canton. Thedoctor has been in for nearby residents sincethe St. Joseph Mercy Canton Health Centeropened, but now the doctor’s capabilitieshave been expanded to include nearly everyconceivable type of care.

Tile • Terrazzo • Marble9864 E. Grand River Avenue, Ste. 110-132 • Brighton, MI 48116

ph: 810.220.2370 • fx: 810.220.3762

Mercy Memorial Hospital

St. Joseph Mercy HospitalCritical Care Tower

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Chapel


http://artisantileinc.com/


By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor

Building the Missing Link

PHOT

O BY

MAR

Y E.

KRE

MPO

SKY


Life is returning to Detroit’s EastRiverfront in the form of an amazingnetwork of urban recreational

pathways that are transforming this historicarea. Along the RiverWalk, bubblingfountains, blooming flowers, a handcraftedcarousel, and expanses of manicured greenhave replaced cement silos and a rag-tagassembly of parking lots. North of the river,the weed-choked tangle of an old railroadline has been cleared and converted into theDequindre Cut Greenway, a pedestrian-bikepath from Woodbridge to Gratiot that willultimately reach Eastern Market, Midtownand beyond. Only 800 feet - roughly two short blocks -

stood between the southern terminus of theDequindre Cut Greenway at Woodbridgeand the William G. Milliken State Park andHarbor and the RiverWalk at Atwater. WCI

Contractors, Inc., a Detroit-headquarteredbusiness for over 20 years, has constructedthe missing link connecting these twolifelines created for recreation and the re-creation of this 309-year-old city namedafter the beautiful blue strait flowing by itsfront door. Designed by The Mannik & Smith Group,

Inc., with offices in Detroit and Canton, theDequindre Trail Extension re-inventsanother piece of Detroit. The actual trail is acurving ribbon of pavement winding its wayfrom Woodbridge to Atwater through amosaic of colored concrete. Charcoal graybanding slices through terra-cotta plantersand plaza areas at arbitrary, playful andwhimsical angles. Part concrete pathway,part plaza, this non-motorized routethrough a slice of the Motor City is dottedwith 24 park benches and bike racks, and isfilled with 36 planter beds, brimming withthe blossoms of more than a thousandperennials. “Good things are happening in Detroit,

and this is one of them,” declared DetroitMayor Dave Bing at the Dequindre TrailExtension’s ribbon-cutting ceremony inearly June 2010. In an earlier press release,Bing touted the Trail as “a great example of

the fresh start and fresh ideas that aretransforming the City of Detroit. We arecreating public spaces that will attractvisitors, residents and new investment.”This ADA-accessible Trail actually enjoyed

two ribbon-cutting events: the snipping of ablue ribbon for the connection to theshimmering harbor and picnic areas of the31-acre Milliken State Park, and theceremonial cutting of a green ribbon at theWoodbridge link to the Dequindre CutGreenway. More than a part of a recreationalnetwork, the Dequindre Trail Extension is thepivotal link connecting two once separatepathways into miles of easy riding andwalking. Matthew P. Cullen, chair, DetroitRiverFront Conservancy, Board of Directors,called the Trail “the key link in tyinggreenways to waterways, and creating agreat environment for all of us.”

UNITY – BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS On a warm June day, Mayor Bing and the

assembled crowd began walking the Trail,passing the historic Globe Building on thewest and walking by a parcel on the eastslated to become part of the William G.Milliken State Park and Harbor under theMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment (MDNRE). The inauguralstroll continued past a privately ownedpiece of property near Franklin Street andtwo parcels awaiting development throughthe Economic Development Corporation(EDC) of the City of Detroit. Even beforereaching Woodbridge – the northernterminus of the Dequindre Trail Extension –the economic stimulus of the Trail and theRiverWalk have already given rise to arecently renovated brick warehouse calledthe Detroit Elevator Building, a historicmaroon-painted low-rise infusing color andactivity into the East Riverfront. The crowd was filled with the people and

organizations that made it all happen,including George W. Jackson, Jr., presidentand CEO of the Detroit Economic GrowthCorporation (DEGC), the nonprofit organi-zation that worked with the EDC in

managing Trail construction. Othersincluded Rebecca Humphries, MDNREdirector, and Alicia Minter, acting director ofthe City of Detroit Department ofRecreation, the municipal departmentholding title to the property that will beturned over for maintenance to the MDNRE. The crowd was also filled with the people

who put it all together, including Wendy C.Fry, ASLA, CLARB, LEED AP, director ofsustainability and landscape architecture,Mannik & Smith, and the WCI team of BradGable, field superintendent, Thomas A.Maliszewski III, office superintendent, andGary Novak, project foreman. WCI PresidentThomas A. Maliszewski was also pivotal inproducing a successful project. “Our designgoal was to create something that is playful,unique, and a catalyst for economicdevelopment,” said Fry. As general

contractors, WCI turned design into realitythrough the astute management of anobstacle course of undergroundobstructions. “It wasn’t just scrape the siteand pave it over,” said Novak. “It doesn’t looklike it, but the job required a great deal ofearth work.” At the project’s end, Mannik & Smith and

WCI earned the praise of the DEGC for thedesign and skilled placement of thisconcrete mosaic. “I think the design and thework is of a very high quality,” said ScottVeldhuis, DEGC project manager.“Placement of the colored concrete sectionswas done very neatly and very carefully.”Albanelli Cement Contractors, Livonia, wasthe concrete subcontractor on the project. As the finishing touch, students from the

College for Creative Studies joined forceswith children from Friends School andseveral Detroit Public Schools – ChryslerElementary, Detroit Edison Public SchoolAcademy, and the Detroit Academy of Artsand Sciences – to create colorful art banners.Funded by a grant from the CommunityFoundation of Southeast Michigan, thewords Inspire, Grow, Play, Create and Unityare emblazoned in bold colors along thisexciting new Dequindre Trail Extension and



Dequindre Cut Greenway. Unity is an apt banner, for project funding

and development called upon a lengthy listof organizations and both local and stategovernment. Casino bonds funded a portionof the project. “When the casinos didn’tlocate on the East Riverfront, monies weremade available for these types ofimprovements,” said Veldhuis. Otherfunding sources for the $1 million dollarproject included the EDC, the MDNRE, andthe City of Detroit.At the grand opening, Rebecca

Humphries, MDNRE director, praised thepartnerships that made this wonderfulgathering place possible. “It truly is a greatexample of how we can work together at thestate level, the local level and with privatepartners to make something truly special,”said Humphries.

CONCRETE FOSSILSThe Dequindre Trail Extension took two-

and-a-half years to plan, design, andconstruct, said Denise L. Colona, DEGCproject manager. The first step in carvingthis unique pathway through the heart ofDetroit’s warehouse district proved the mosttaxing. Installing new sewer, drainage and

irrigation systems, plus foundations forplanters, light poles and security camerasand call boxes, revealed an undergroundobstacle course of footings from oldbuildings, miscellaneous pits, and threedifferent layers of railroad tracks on andbelow this former rail yard. “A variety ofdifferent solutions were utilized by the teamto address each obstruction,” said Fry. “Ineach case, the team selected the bestmethod based on two criteria: costeffectiveness and the ability to meet thefinished needs of the project.”Said Maliszewski, “Foundations of all sorts

and sizes played havoc in trying to installunderground utilities and planterfoundations. We had to break the oldconcrete slabs if we found that they wereinterfering with the new systems.” WCI onlyremoved the footing to the depth necessaryfor installation of new infrastructure. “Wedidn’t even get to the bottom of many ofthem,” added Novak. “We went as deep aswe had to go to install the drainage andother systems, which was at least five to sixfeet.” Mannik & Smith researched existing

documentation, but “no matter what level ofhomework you do, what is underground has

sometimes not been recorded,” said Fry.“You plan as much as possible, but there arealways surprises. It is a matter of plotting themost effective way to deal with them.” Of the seven to ten massive footings,

some were pegged for removal and otherscould be left in place, including a massiveslab almost reaching the edge of the newplanter foundations. This huge footingextends for 75 to 80 feet along the length ofthe Trail near Franklin Street and projectsalmost 18 feet into the 60-foot-wide Trail,said Gable. Maliszewski speculates that “thefooting might have been part of some typeof system for unloading product andmaterials from the trains.” Brian Geer, PE, senior vice president,

Mannik & Smith, explained the solution: “Asurvey was done to determine the locationof the foundation. A series of decisions weremade to remove portions of the foundationor adjust the grades to allow the oldfoundation to remain in place. Where theold foundation remained, a solution wasneeded to counter the potential effects ofdifferential settlement around it. Toaccomplish this, WCI placed geo-grid fabricover the top of the footing and extended it 8to 10 inches below the planter foundation.” A thin sand cushion was then placed on

top of the geo-grid and the old footing. In aconventional scenario, the footing wouldhave to be removed to make room forbackfill and a sub-base of sufficient depth toprotect the new concrete pavement fromcracking and buckling. “Because the geo-grid provides structural integrity, the thinsand cushion could perform the same job,”said Gable. “By using the geo-grid, we couldleave the footing in place even with areduced amount of backfill.As a bonus, some of the light pole bases

are even connected to the massive footing.“The footing is right in the center of some ofthe pole bases, so we were able to dowelinto it and utilize the footing, because it is sofortified and substantial,” said Maliszewski.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROADThe site contained vestiges of this former

railroad yard that once transferred goodsfrom rail to ship in the late 19th and early20th Centuries. Three sets of feeder tracksfrom the main line pulled in directly east ofthe Globe Building, while the main linecurved across the property due north of thisformer maritime and manufacturing hub,said Maliszewski III. The Globe’s set of feeder tracks extended

three sets across and three layers deep, saidNovak. “There were still existing rails on thesurface of the ground that had to be

PHOT

O BY

MAR

Y E.

KRE

MPO

SKY

Mayor Dave Bing cuts one of two ceremonial ribbons at the grand opening of theDequindre Trail Extension, as a crowd peppered with local dignitaries and Detroit children looks on. From left to right, ribbon cutters include: George W. Jackson, Jr., president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation; Alicia Minter, actingdirector of the City of Detroit Department of Recreation; and Rebecca Humphries,MDNRE director.


removed, as well,” he added. WCI uncoveredrusty and deteriorated steel rails and ties, aswell as hundreds of old railroad spikes, someover 100 years old. As another artifact of this “underground

railroad,” the sidetracks to the GlobeBuilding ended in a turntable that onceserved as a weigh station for cargo and ameans of turning the trains back toward thenorth. “The turntable had a massive ironframe that had to be removed,” saidMaliszewski.After a series of big digs on the Dequindre

Trail Extension, WCI backfilled andcompacted the site to create asolid sub-base for the newconcrete pavement. “We alsoinstalled a great deal of stone inthe upper layers to re-stabilize theground,” said Novak.

THE HISTORY DETECTIVESMannik & Smith’s and WCI’s

extensive experience in workingin urban post-industrial sitesworked to the project’sadvantage. “I think ourbackground in Brownfields – I wasthe landscape architect in chargeof the entire project at the FordRouge complex - gives us a goodidea of how to handle industrialredevelopment areas,” said Fry.“Every time you put a shovel inthe ground it’s a surprise. Youhave to be creative and be able toreact and make decisions,sometimes on the fly. You alsohave to balance maintaining thedesign with providing areasonable, economical engineeringsolution underground.” Mannik & Smith has performed a great

deal of contract administration in the EastRiverfront. Currently, the firm is adminis-tering the construction of one-mile of citystreets in the East Riverfront neighborhood,including Atwater, Riopelle, Orleans, Franklinand Woodbridge. Mannik & Smith iscurrently designing and engineering therehabilitation of Michigan Avenue west ofCampus Martius, as well.WCI has constructed the new Cadillac

Square Park, and a string of riverfront parksfrom the Ambassador Bridge to the Belle IsleBridge, including Mt. Elliot Park, Chene Park(under Maliszewski’s previous partners atWarren Contractors), portions of MillikenState Park, and a riverside park by theAmbassador Bridge. Part contractor and part de facto

archeologist, WCI has unearthed artifacts

from ribbon farms and Detroit’s earliestindustries, including an old wooden sea walland hundreds of cubic yards of buriedsawdust, possibly from an old mill on the siteof Chene Park. “We also discovered a woodfloor three feet in the ground during workacross from Chene Park,” recalledMaliszewski. The floor may have been partof the house or barn of Chene, the son-in-law of Joseph Campau, he added.

SAVVY STAGING WCI launched construction in the

beginning of August 2009. With the

minefield of underground obstacles andinstallation of underground utilities andsewers, “we weren’t able to start the finalsidewalk paving until the end ofSeptember,” said Gable. The site was dividedinto a north and south block with thesouthern portion further subdivided intotwo sections. First, WCI began removingunderground obstructions at the northernend. “When we began surface work in thenorth block, we moved our demolition andunderground crews to a portion of the southblock,” said Gable. “Progress was alwaysbeing made, because we had deadlines tomeet. In a sense, we treated the site likethree separate jobs.” By October, WCI began the pouring of the

colored concrete pieces, working sequentially in each of the three sections.“We first poured the terra cotta plantercurbs, followed by the charcoal gray accentbands and then the actual bike path, said

Maliszewski III. The final pour was placingthe rest of the terra cotta-colored sidewalkand plaza areas. “Basically, pouring the colorsequence involved four differentoperations,” he added. “We were careful notto allow any color contamination betweenthe different colored sections.” Overall, WCI and its subcontracting team

placed “27,300 square feet of fiber-reinforced colored concrete plazas andcolored concrete pathways, utilizing threeseparate colors and installing 2,085 linearfeet of colored curb,” said Maliszewki III.Beyond the playful appeal of this concretemosaic, the separate colors of the non-motorized pathway help to distinguishthe actual pathway from the plaza areas,added Veldhuis. Form and function blend in other ways.“The curvilinear path is a traffic-calmingstrategy to slow down bikers and rollerbladers,” said Fry. “We also choseconcrete for its durability and lowmaintenance as compared to specialtypavers.”

A LOVELY OASISWith its colored concrete and a host ofamenities, the Dequindre Trail Extensionis more of a streetscape and plaza than amere pathway. “It’s a pretty intenseproject in terms of the amenities,” saidVeldhuis. “We basically have a milliondollars worth of improvements in a 60-foot-wide area.” The Trail has powder-coat finish steelbenches and waste receptacles etchedwith abstract lines suggesting reeds,flowers and grasses. Overall, the Trail has22 light poles, two security cameras and

call boxes, and 42 traffic control bollards,plus new bike racks, said Maliszewski III. Foradded safety, the Trail’s street intersectionsare marked by rows of bollards and LEDflashing stop signs. With its level of amenities, the Dequindre

Trail Extension is more in character with the3.5-mile RiverWalk than the Dequindre CutGreenway, a 20-foot-wide asphalt bike andpedestrian trail that runs as a below-gradecorridor. In addition, compatible dripirrigation efficiently waters plant beds andbright, energy-efficient LED lights illuminateboth the Dequindre Trail Extension andMilliken Park. Plus, a compatible securitysystem serves the entire network of EastRiverfront pathways and parks. The project team has created another

lovely oasis in the East Riverfront. Along theTrail, perennials “paint” the city with color,beginning with the purple globes ofornamental onions in the Spring, followed

PHOT

O BY

WEN

DY F

RY, T

HE M

ANNI

K &

SMIT

H GR

OUP,

INC

.

Students from theCollege for CreativeStudies, Friends School,and several DetroitPublic Schools, joinedforces to create colorfulart banners for thisurban pathway.

Students from theCollege for CreativeStudies, Friends School,and several DetroitPublic Schools, joinedforces to create colorfulart banners for thisurban pathway.



by day lilies and a native plant calledRattlesnake Master. Once mature, Gingko,Red Maple, and Kentucky Coffee trees willoffer a leafy oasis for bikers, walkers, androller bladers or people who prefer just tohave a seat and soak up the sunshine.Mannik & Smith even inserted a turf area inthe middle of this sliver of a plaza. “Wethought it would be pleasant to have an areafor people to have a picnic or watch thefireworks,” said Fry.But the design of this inviting pathway

had to remain flexible, because, in a sense,Mannik & Smith had to design a sidewalkwithout a neighborhood. “One of thebiggest challenges was to developsomething that was complete withoutknowing what was going to rise on theperimeter,” said Fry. “We were designing toaccommodate the Globe Building, but yetthe documents for the Globe Building aren’tcomplete. The rest of the spaces areundefined.” The Trail had to be stitched into the

existing fabric of streets, adjacent propertiesand future developments, specifically in itsapproach to stormwater management.Mannik & Smith’s design had to collect andcontrol stormwater on site without anyimpact on future developments. The project’s new stormwater system

straddled the uncertainties of the future andthe past. “We had to collect our ownstormwater and tie into the city’s system,”said Fry. “But the storm lines described onhistoric drawings weren’t necessarily in thesame location in the field.” Despite

uncertainties, WCI successfully linked sewertaps and new infrastructure to the existingutility and sewer grid. “Especially on FranklinStreet, there is everything from gas,electrical and water lines to a 14-footdiameter sewer interceptor,” saidMaliszewski. “But the records for the exactlocation of these major underground rightsof ways were not always accurate.”

A STROLL INTO THE FUTUREDespite all obstacles below and at grade,

this experienced project team has created awonderful public venue that gives the city aplace to play and a space for economicgrowth. The Trail moves through and near alandscape of possibility and promise withthe natural beauty of the Detroit Riverviewed as an asset for recreation andredevelopment. The nearby Milliken StatePark will soon open the Lowlands, a newarea that will be planted with “nativewetland and scrub species that were soimportant to the Detroit Rivershed,” saidHumphries, MDNRE director. The City of Detroit is linking the natural

world and the built environment in an effortto transform the riverfront “from what wasonce an industrial zone to a human zonewith residential, recreational, retail and lightcommercial development,” said Jackson,DEGC president. Even a casual visit to the Trail sparks an

encounter with an interested entrepreneur.On an overcast day in the D, Stephen McGee,Detroit, pedals along the new DequindreTrail Extension, bringing his visionary eye as

a photographer and filmmaker to this transi-tional landscape in the East Riverfront.Pointing to the Detroit Elevator Building, hedescribes his plan to create a gallery and astudio with an editing bay, called SharedWorks. “The only reason why I would want tostart my business in the Elevator Building isbecause of the RiverWalk and what it couldbe,” said McGee, a former Detroit Free Pressphotographer and a contributing photog-rapher to the New York Times and Wall StreetJournal. Of the Trail and Cut, itself, McGee iseager to use it to bike right into EasternMarket once a connector route is built offthe Dequindre Cut Greenway. Along the Trail, many are eager to witness

the redevelopment of the historic GlobeBuilding, a complex of structuresconstructed from 1892 to the late 1910s. Thecomplex housed the engine-building plantof the Dry Dock Engine Works, laterabsorbed by the Detroit ShipbuildingCompany. The complex played a significantrole in the maritime history of the GreatLakes, plus is an example of the evolution ofAmerican construction methods of the latenineteenth and early twentieth century,according to the Detroit Dry Dock EngineWorks Recording Project. The project is partof the National Park Service’s HistoricAmerican Engineering Record program. Fry shares her own vision of the Globe

Building and the Trail. “My vision is to seethe Globe Building redeveloped verysuccessfully with condominiums, shops andoffices,” said Fry. “The hope is to spur othermixed-use developments of shops,

PHOT

O BY

WEN

DY F

RY, T

HE M

ANNI

K &

SMIT

H GR

OUP,

INC

.

PHOT

O BY

MAR

Y E.

KRE

MPO

SKY

Bike riding and dog walking are only two of the many activities to be enjoyed along the Dequindre Trail Extension, the pivotal connectionlinking several branches of Detroit’s amazing network of urban recreational pathways.


restaurants and condominiums or even rowhouses. When bikers and walkers come outof the Dequindre Cut Greenway, we want theTrail to be a thriving place that is just fun todiscover.” Mannik & Smith and the DEGC are already

hard at work planning a series of linear parksin the East Riverfront, the next one in linebeing along Riopelle. “We have developed aseries of linear parks that will be a front doorto future residential development,” said Fry. Veldhuis expands on the DEGC’s overall

vision for the area. “We are looking at theJefferson Avenue corridor and trying to findways to connect to the waterfront,” saidVeldhuis. “Because we view the riverfront asa great asset, we are trying to find ways ofmaking that connection for pedestrians,bikers and others to use the waterfront.”A series of road improvements is

underway to realize the vision of a CityBeautiful. “We are not just stopping with theTrail,” said Jackson, speaking at the ribboncutting. “We are going to undertakeinfrastructure improvements very soon withsome already underway, including Atwater.The improvements will upgrade theinfrastructure of some of the surroundingstreets and add to the beautification of thisdistrict.” According to a media fact sheet,

improvements call for the reconstruction ofRiopelle, Orleans, Woodbridge and FranklinStreets. Other improvements will provideon-street parking to access Milliken StatePark and a dedicated bike lane to connectthe state park’s Lowland parcel to theDequindre Trail Extension and DequindreCut Greenway. After decades of planning, change is

beginning to take hold in the EastRiverfront. The talents of Detroit design andconstruction veterans, such as Mannik &Smith and WCI Contractors, Inc., arerebuilding the Riverfront, making habitableone of the first areas colonized by the Frenchhabitants in the 1700s. In capitalizing on thepresence of the Detroit River, the web ofeconomic growth organizations andgovernment offices has found one of themissing ingredients in revitalizing Detroit. Inbuilding the Dequindre Trail Extension – themissing link in a phenomenal network ofpathways – the city and the region arebeginning to put into action the wordsemblazoned on the Trail’s banners: Unite,Inspire, Grow, Create, and Play. In fact,Minter, Detroit Recreation Department,encourages everyone “to put on theirwalking shoes and jump on their bikes andenjoy” these wonderful new pathways eastof downtown Detroit.


http://www.ngsg1.com





Capital Building Program Bloomfield HillsCM: George W. Auch Co.Architect: CDPA Architects, Inc.

Courtyards Housing Campus, U of MAnn ArborCM/GC: T.H. Marsh Construction Co.Architect: Neumann/Smith Associates

Dortch & Dortch Corporate OfficesGrand BlancCM/GC: DCC Construction, Inc.Architect: Creekwood Architecture

2 0 1 0 S P E C I A L I S S U E H O N O R A B L E M E N T I O N S

MADONNA UNIVERSITY – FRANCISCAN CENTER FORSCIENCE AND MEDIA Owner – Madonna University, LivoniaConstruction Manager – Clark Construction Co., LansingArchitect and Engineer – SmithGroup Incorporated, DetroitOwner’s Representative – Charles R. Basel, Focus Facility

Consulting Services, Inc., West BloomfieldAccess Flooring – Data Supplies Company, PlymouthCarpentry, Casework, Fumehoods Metal Studs, Drywall, EIFS and

General Trades – Nelson Mill Company, SouthfieldControlled Environmental Room – Detroit Technical

Equipment Co., TroyConcrete (Site and Building Flatwork) – Contek, Inc., Ann ArborElectrical – LaBelle Electric, Macomb TownshipElevators – Schindler Elevator Corp., Livonia

Fire Protection – Interstate Fire Protection, MilfordFloor Covering and Wall Tile – Artistic Installation, Inc., WarrenFoundations – E.L.S. Construction, Inc., Orion TownshipGlass, Glazing and Aluminum – Harmon, Inc., LivoniaLandscaping – KLM Landscape, RomeoMasonry – Baro Contracting, Clinton TownshipMechanical (HVAC and Plumbing) – John E. Green Company,

Highland ParkMetal Wall Panels – Universal Wall Systems, Grand RapidsPainting – Niles Construction Services, FlintPainting, Striping and Exterior Signage – Nagle Paving

Company, NoviRoofing – J.D. Candler Roofing, LivoniaSitework and Underground Utilities – W.P.M., Inc., Grand BlancSoils Testing – Soil and Material Engineers, Inc., (SME), PlymouthStructural Steel – Kirby Steel, Inc., BurtonWaterproofing & Joint Sealants – Western Waterproofing Co.,

Livonia

ALFRED TAUBMAN CENTER FOR DESIGN EDUCATIONOwner – Argonaut Campus Developer, LLC, DetroitGeneral Contractor – Walbridge, DetroitArchitect/Engineer – Albert Kahn Associates, Inc., DetroitOwner–Selected Interior Design Consultant: Luce Et Studio,

San Diego, CASubcontractorsMechanical Demolition – Western Mechanical,

Clinton TownshipExisting Building HVAC Disconnect – Heights Mechanical,

Auburn HillsGlycol Recovery – Inland Waters, Detroit

Jobsite Security – Prudential Protective Services, LLC,Southfield

Demolition – Adamo Demolition Company, DetroitSite Work – Angelo Iafrate Construction Company, WarrenLandscaping – WH Canon Company, RomulusTank Removal – Oscar W. Larson Company, ClarkstonConcrete – Amalio Corp., Sterling HeightsInterior Building Restoration – RAM Construction Services,

Livonia Floor Polishing – Hoover Wells, Toledo, OHMasonry – Dixon, Inc., DetroitExterior Building Restoration – Chezcore, Inc., DetroitSteel (Core and Shell) – Casadei Steel, Inc., Sterling HeightsSteel (Gym Structural Steel) – Service Iron Works, Inc.,

South Lyon

Guardian Building DetroitCM/GC: Tooles/Sachse, LLCArchitect: SmithGroup

Hindu Temple of CantonCantonCM/GC: Rand Construction Engineering, Inc.Architect: Lindhout Associates

Mercy Memorial Hospital Master Facilities Plan ExpansionMonroeCM/GC: Contracting ResourcesArchitect: Hobbs + Black

School of Medicine Education Commons, Wayne State University, DetroitCM/GC: WalbridgeArchitect: SHW Group

16th District Court LivoniaCM/GC: The Dailey CompanyArchitect: Neumann/Smith Associates

University Preparatory Science & Math Middle SchoolDetroitCM/GC: DeMaria Building Co.Architect: GunnLevine Architects

2 0 1 0 S P E C I A L I S S U E S U B C O N T R A C T O R L I S TSubcontractors and professional consultants listed are identified by the general contractor, architect or owner.


Finish Carpentry – Kulbacki, Inc., Clinton TownshipRoofing – Christen Detroit, DetroitMetal Siding – C.L. Rieckhoff, Inc., TaylorSupply Doors and Hardware – Century Architectural

Hardware, Inc., WixomOverhead Doors – KVM Door System, Clinton TownshipWindow Replacement – Modern Mirror & Glass Company,

InksterInterior Glass & Glazing – Peterson Glass Company, FerndaleDrywall & Rough Carpentry – Brinker Team Construction Co.,

DetroitPainting – Madias Brothers, Inc., DetroitFlooring – Turner Brooks, Inc., Madison HeightsHard Tile – Artisan Tile, Inc., BrightonOperable Partitions – Gardiner C. Vose, Inc., Bloomfield HillsToilet Partitions – Rayhaven Group, SouthfieldMarker Boards – Architectural Building Components, Inc., Oak

ParkWindow Coverings – The Sheer Shop, Shelby TownshipFood Service Equipment – Great Lakes Hotel Supply Co.,

DetroitGym Equipment – Dew–El Corporation, HollandExterior Signage – Spectrum Neon Co., DetroitFume Hoods – Farnell Equipment Co., TroyFire Suppression and Protection – Simplex Grinnell,

Farmington HillsElevators – Otis Elevator, Farmington Hills; Detroit Elevator

Company, FerndalePlumbing/HVAC/Integrated Automation – Limbach Company,

PontiacElectrical (Core & Shell and Tenant Work) – Motor City Electric,

DetroitElectrical (Auditorium Buildout) – Edgewood Electric, Inc.,

Madison HeightsData/Voice Wiring – Wiltec Technologies, Ann Arbor

GREEKTOWN CASINO–HOTELOwner – Greektown Casino, LLC, DetroitConstruction Manager – Jenkins/Skanska Venture, DetroitArchitect – Master Architect Hnedak Bobo Group, Memphis, TNLocal Architect – Rich and Associates, SouthfieldHotel Architect of Record – Rossetti Architects, SouthfieldAssociate Local Architect – SDG Design, DetroitCivil Engineer – ABE Associates, Inc. DetroitElectrical Engineer (Casino) – RHR, Las Vegas, NVMechanical and Plumbing Engineer (Casino) – FEA, Las

Vegas, NVMEP Engineer (Hotel) – BEI Associates, Detroit, MIStructural Engineer – Desai/Nasr Consulting Engineers, Inc.,

West Bloomfield Acoustics, Noise and Vibration Consultant – Kolano & Saha

Engineers, Inc., WaterfordADA Consultant – Independence First, Milwaukee, WIAsphalt Paving – Nagle Paving, NoviAV/Media Engineering – Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon &

Williams, San Antonio, TXBarricades – State Barricades, Inc., WarrenBathroom Finishes – Impex Development, Seattle, WABeverage Storage Gates – Rayhaven Group, SouthfieldCaissons and Drilled Piers – Rohrscheib Sons Caissons, Inc.,

New HudsonCanopy Fabrication – J.C. Goss Company, DetroitCarpentry – Master Craft Carpet Service, Inc., RedfordCarpentry, Drywall and Ceilings – Turner–Brooks, Inc.,

Madison HeightsCarpeting – Ulster Carpets, Tappan, NYCeramic Tile (Casino) – Michigan Tile & Marble, Detroit Ceramic Tile and Stone (Hotel) – Architectural Southwest

Stone Co., LivoniaConcrete Flatwork – Amalio Corporation, Sterling Heights

Concrete Inserts – Unistrut Detroit Services Company, WayneCurtain Wall, Glass and Glazing and Interior Glass –

Universal/American Glass and Metals, LLC, PlymouthDecorative Light Fixtures – Steven Frank Studios, Clinton

TownshipDemolition (Casino) – Jenkins Construction, Inc., DetroitDemolition (Parking) – Bierlein, MidlandDemolition and Restoration – Chezcore, Inc., DetroitDesign Services – SDG Architects and Planners, DetroitDoors, Frames and Hardware – LaForce, Inc., TroyEarthwork and Site Utilities – Blaze Contracting, Inc., DetroitEIFS and Cold Formed Metal Framing – Pontiac Ceiling &

Partition, LLC, PontiacElectrical (Casino) – Bayview Electric Company, LLC, DetroitElectrical (Casino, Hotel, St. Mary’s and Parking) – LaBelle

Electrical, MacombElectrical (Casino and Hotel) – Motor City Electric Co., DetroitElectrical Consultant – Lombard Associates, Inc., Grosse IleElevators and Escalators – Otis Elevator, Farmington HillsEngineering and Architectural Surveying – Metco, WarrenEquipment Rental – United Rentals, TaylorExterior Signage – Harmon Sign, Inc. d/b/a Planet Neon, NoviFence and Barricade Maintenance – Reliable Fence, Clinton

TownshipField Toilets – Jay’s Portable Toilets, LapeerFire Protection – Lawrence–Green Fire Protection, Inc., DetroitFire Suppression Sprinklers – Simplex–Grinnell, LP,

Farmington HillsFireplace – American Fireplace & Barbeque Dist., FerndaleFolding Fire Doors – Won–Door Corporation, Salt Lake City, UTFood Service Design – FSA Design, Los Angeles, CAFood Service Equipment – Great Lakes Hotel Supply Co.,

DetroitFoundation – E.L.S. Construction, Inc., Orion TownshipFoundation and Grade Beams – J.J. Barney Construction, Inc.,

Rochester HillsGarage Landscaping – B & L Landscaping, Inc., Oak ParkGeotechnical Survey – Soil and Material Engineers, Inc., (SME),

PlymouthGraphic Design – Lorenc Yoo Design, Roswell, GAHardware – Ingersoll Rand, Franklin, TNHollow Metal Doors, Frames and Hardware – Century

Architectural Hardware, Inc., WixomHotel Connector Finishes – J.O.A. Construction Co., Inc., DetroitInterior Garage Signage – Toledo Sign Company, Toledo, OHLandscape Architect – Merz & Associates, DetroitLighting Design – John Levy Lighting Productions, Los

Angeles, CALinen Chute – Kasl Enterprises, Inc., BellevilleLoading Dock Equipment – American Material Handling, Inc.,

PontiacLow Voltage Wiring – Wiltec Technologies, Ann ArborMan and Material Hoists – Elevator Technology, Inc., DetroitMasonry (Casino) – Brazen & Greer, Inc., LivoniaMasonry (Hotel and Parking) – Leidal & Hart Mason

Contractor, Inc., Livonia Mechanical (Casino and St. Mary’s) – Limbach Company, LLC,

PontiacMechanical (Hotel and Casino) – John E. Green Company,

Highland ParkMechanical (Parking) – Goyette Mechanical Co., FlintMessage Boards – Michigan Barricading Equipment, Inc.,

FarmingtonMeeting Room Interiors – Rhonda A. Roman Interiors, Detroit,

and Urbanwerks, DetroitMetal Wall Panels – C.L. Rieckhoff Co., Inc., TaylorMetal Wall System Framing, Sheathing and Waterproofing –

Brinker Team Construction Co., DetroitMillwork – Trend Millwork, Lincoln ParkMiscellaneous Steel – Titus Welding Company, FarmingtonOperable Partitions – Gardiner C. Vose, Inc., Bloomfield HillsOrnamental and Miscellaneous Metals – Courturier Iron Craft,

Inc., Comstock ParkOverhead Doors – Detroit Door & Hardware Company,

Madison HeightsOverhead Roll Up Doors – Crawford Door Sales, Inc., DetroitPainting and Wall Covering (Hotel, Casino and Parking) –

Eugenio Painting Company, Grosse Pointe WoodsPainting and Wall Covering (Hotel) – Midwest Pro Painting,

Inc., LivoniaParking Control Equipment – Traffic & Safety Control Systems,

Inc., WixomPavement Marking and Striping – Motor City Marking

Pavement, DetroitPlumbing – Guideline Mechanical, Inc., Clinton Township

2 0 1 0 S P E C I A L I S S U E S U B C O N T R A C T O R L I S T

Porcelain Tile – Michielutti Bros., Inc., EastpointePrecast – National Precast, Inc., Roseville Precast Bollards and Wheel Stops – American Eagle Precast,

DetroitReprographics – Hernandez Blueprinting Services, LLC, DetroitResilient Base and Tile, Flooring, Carpet and Padding –

Precision Food Distribution, LLC, Detroit Resilient Tile and Carpet – Contract Design Group, Inc., Royal

OakRoofing (Parking) – Christen Detroit Roofing & Sheet Metal,

DetroitRoofing (Hotel and Casino)– Royal Roofing Company, Inc.,

OrionRough and Finish Carpentry – Denn–Co. Construction, Inc.,

DetroitSafety and Traffic Control Products – Carrier & Gable, Inc.,

Farmington HillsScaffolding – ThyssenKrupp Safway, Inc., DetroitScaffolding and Temporary Stairs – Scaffolding, Inc., DetroitSecurity Engineering – Security by Design, DetroitSecurity Gate – American Fence & Supply Co., WarrenSelective Demolition and Lead Removal – Davis Iron Works,

Walled LakeShades – Marygrove Awning Company, LivoniaSheet Metal – Partlan–Labadie Sheet Metal Co., Oak ParkSignage – MLS Signs, Inc., ChesterfieldSite Fence – Future Fence Company, WarrenSpray on Fireproofing – W.E. Harnish Acoustical, Inc., RedfordStone Flooring – PMP Marble & Granite, TroyStreet Sweeping – Armadillo Services, Inc., BirminghamStructural Concrete and Foundations – Colasanti Specialty

Services, Inc., DetroitStructural Steel – Ross Structural Steel, Inc., DetroitTelecommunications – Con–Tech Consultants, Dublin, CATemporary Heat – Mobile Air, Inc., Madison HeightsTesting – NTH Consultants, Ltd, Northville Toilet Accessories and Partitions (Hotel and Parking) –

International Building Products, Inc., LivoniaToilet Accessories and Partitions (Casino) – R.E. Leggette

Company, DearbornTraffic Consulting – Midwestern Consulting, Ann ArborWindow Treatments – The Sheer Shop, Shelby TownshipWindow Washing – DLS Services, Inc., YpsilantiWindow Washing Support Equipment – Pro–Bel, Ajax,

ON, Canada

GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTTERMINAL AREA AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTPROGRAMOwner – Kent County Department of Aeronautics, Grand

RapidsGeneral Contractor – The Christman Company, Grand

RapidsArchitect – Gresham, Smith and Partners, Nashville, TN Consultants – Testing Agency, Testing Services – Soils &

Materials Engineers, Grand RapidsTesting Services – Patent Construction Systems, TaylorSurveyor – Prein & Newhoff, Grand RapidsIrrigation Design – Graber & Associates, WashingtonLandscape Architect – JJR, Ann ArborDesign Consultant – Robert Darvis, Ann ArborCoordination Drawings – Century A & E, Grand RapidsTrade Contractors –CCI–Labor – Christman Constructors, Inc., LansingLabor/Carpentry – The Christman Company, Grand RapidsSelective Demolition – X–Treme Demolition, Grand RapidsEarthwork/Site Utilities – Velting Contractors, Inc., Grand

RapidsSolder Pile & Lagging – The King Company, HollandSite Concrete, Curb & Paving – Martin J. Concrete Construction



Co., CoopersvilleCaulking (work category 19a) –– Custom Caulking, Inc.

& Waterproofing, MarneBituminous Paving – Michigan Paving & Materials Company,

Grand RapidsPavement Striping – PK Striping, KalamazooStriping – Parking Lot Maintenance, CaledoniaFencing – DeWitt Fence Company, LansingLandscape – Preferred Landscape, Cedar SpringsLandscape Furniture – Landscapeforms, KalamazooPrecast Concrete – Stress–Con, Shelby TownshipPrecast Barriers – Kerkstra Pre–Cast, JenisonStructural Concrete – Christman Constructors, Inc., Lansing;

Grand River Construction, Hudsonville; Bee Steel, Grand Rapids

Masonry – Burggrabe Masonry, BeldingStructural Steel Canopy – Steel Con, KalamazooMisc. Structural Steel Fab/Erect – Steel Supply & Engineering,

Grand RapidsWaterproofing/Sealants – RAM Construction Services, Inc.,

LivoniaRoofing & Sheet Metal – J & L Roofing, Grand RapidsGlass & Metal Panels – Architectural Glass & Metals, Inc.,

Byron CenterTerra Cotta Panels – Davenport Masonry, HoltCanopy Skylights – Naturalite, Terrell, TXCaulking (work category 19) – Premier Caulking, Grand RapidsGeneral Trades Carpentry – Proline Custom Construction, Inc.

HudsonvilleDoors, Frames & Hardware, Architectural Specialties,

Electric Strike – S.A. Morman, Grand RapidsOverhead Doors – Bareman and Associates, JenisonMillwork – Grand Valley Wood Products, Grand RapidsTemporary Canopy Work – Versa Tube Building Systems,

Collierville, TNWood Material – West Michigan Forest Products, Byron CenterDrywall – Ritsema Associates, GrandvilleHard Tile – The Bouma Corporation, Grand RapidsTerrazzo – Fabris Pearce, FlintPaint – Valley Painting, Inc., Flint; Niles Industrial, FentonSignage – Poblocki Sign Company, West Allis, WISign Installers, Outdoor LED Signs – City Sign Erectors,

Grand RapidsLockers – Brainard Enterprises, RockfordParking Control Equipment – Light & Breuning, Inc., Fort

Wayne, INPrefabricated Booths – Traffic & Safety Control Systems, Inc.,

WixomBird Control – Action Pest Control, Evansville, INFire Protection – Brigade Fire Protection, BelmontMechanical Systems – Rite–Way Plumbing & Heating, Inc.,

Grand RapidsControls – Grand Valley Automation, GrandvilleElectrical Systems – Windemuller Electric, WaylandElevators/Escalators – Schindler Elevator, KentwoodPhotographic Documentation – Green Frog Photography,

Grand RapidsOffice Cleaning – J & D Commercial Cleaning, AllendaleSite Surveying – Summit Surveying, AllendaleSnow Removal – Wildwood Snowplowing, AltoTime and Material Items (Labor) – Grand River Construction,

HudsonvilleRoad Clean–Up – SaniSweep, Grand RapidsSafety – NES/RoadSafe Traffic Systems, WyomingGutters – Blake Seamless Aluminum Gutters, Grand RapidsConcrete Cutting – K & H Concrete Cutting, MolineScheduling – Administrative Controls Management, Inc.,

Ann ArborVideo Production – Visual Edj Productions, Grand RapidsManpower for Temp. Curbside – The Bouma Corporation,

Grand RapidsBarricades – Kerkstra Precast, Grandville; VersaTube,

Collierville, TNTelevision Services – Plummer’s Environmental Services,

Byron CenterTraffic Control Equipment – Give ‘Em a Brake, GrandvilleLead Abatement – National Environmental, DetroitTrench Work – DeWitt Trenching, GrandvilleClean Up Services – Grand Rapids Building Services,

Grand RapidsSoil Testing – A & L Great Lakes Laboratories, Fort Wayne, INCrane Rental – Star Excavating, HollandStructure Consulting – Comprehensive Structural Services,

Keego Harbor

Concrete Forms – Form Tech Concrete Forms, Inc., Grand Rapids; Construction Specialties, Boston, MA

Snowplow Service – DJ’s lawn Service, Inc., Grand RapidsGround Frost Equipment – Dan Winter Poured Walls, Inc.,

West BranchSite Cleaning – United Commercial Services, Inc., Grand Rapids

HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION – NEW CORPORATE CENTEROwner and Construction Manager – Hemlock

Semiconductor Corporation, Thomas TownshipArchitect – Wigen Tincknell Meyer & Associates, SaginawArchitectural Trades Contractor – Granger Construction

Company, LansingElectrical Contractor – William F. Nelson Electric, SaginawMechanical Contractor – John M. Jacobs Plumbing &

Heating, Bay CityAcoustical Design – Simoni Systems, SaginawAudio–Visual – Acoustics by Design, Grand RapidsAudio–Visual – SPL Integrated Solutions, FrankenmuthCarpets – Standard Tile, SaginawConcrete – Pumford Construction, SaginawCurtainwall – Lansing Glass, LansingDisplacement Diffusers – J.E. Johnson, MidlandDoors and Frames – LaForce Manufacturing Co., TroyFloors – Standard Tile/Wolverine Stone Co., SaginawGeotechnical Engineer – Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.

(SME), PlymouthHardware Consultant – Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies,

LivoniaI.T. and Security Systems – SSOE Incorporated, MidlandLandscape Architect – Wade–Trim, Bay CityMechanical and Electrical Engineer – Ambitech Engineering

Corporation, Downers Grove, ILMechanical and Electrical Engineer – KJWW, Chicago, ILMillwork/Casework – Three Rivers Casework, MidlandPainting – Valley Painting, FlintRoofing – Brandle Roofing, MidlandSiding – Stephenson Corporation, FlintStone – Boettcher Masonry/Cold Stone Granite, Bay CityStructural Engineer – MacMillian Associates, Inc., Bay CityWalls – TriCity Acoustical, SaginawWindow Coverings – Creative Windows, Ann Arbor

KARMANOS–CRITTENTON CANCER CENTEROwner – Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center

& Crittenton Hospital Medical CenterGeneral Contractor – Barton Malow Company, SouthfieldArchitect – Albert Kahn Associates, DetroitSUBCONTRACTORSCurtainwall, Aluminum Doors & Interior Glass – American

Glass & Metals Corporation, PlymouthBuilding & Site Concrete – Barton Malow Concrete, Oak ParkPartitions, Ceilings & Carpentry – Barton Malow Interiors,

Oak Park

Flooring – Barton Malow Flooring, Oak ParkPainting – Duross Painting Co., WarrenDoors & Hardware – FBH Architectural Security, Inc.,

Auburn HillsMechanical – John E. Green, Highland ParkRoofing – Lutz Roofing, Shelby TownshipArchitectural Wood Casework and Countertops – McClelland

Millwork, VassarElectrical – Moote Electrical, Inc., PontiacLockers & Toilet Partitions – Rayhaven Equipment Co.,

SouthfieldMasonry – RC Nowak & Co., Inc., Garden CityTesting – Soil & Materials Engineers, Inc., Shelby TownshipTile – Southeastern Tile Co., Mt. ClemensCivil Engineering – Sujak Engineering PLC, TroySteel – Vertex Steel, Inc., MilfordLandscaping – WH Canon Co., Romulus

ROSA PARKS TRANSIT CENTEROwner – Detroit Department of Transportation, DetroitConstruction Manager – Economic Development

Corporation of the City of Detroit, DetroitGeneral Contractor (Building) – DeMaria Building

Company, DetroitArchitect – Parsons Brinkerhoff, DetroitGeneral Contractor (Canopy) – USA Shade & Fabric

Structures, Inc., Costa Mesa, CACarpeting – Tri–State Industrial Floors, Toledo, OHCoiling Doors and Grills – Detroit Door & Hardware,

Chicago, ILConcrete Flatwork – Broadcast Design, Mt. ClemensDetailed Canopy Design – FTL Design Studio, New York, NYElectrical – Alpha Electric, Sterling HeightsElevators – ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp., Cincinnati, OHEnvironmental Assessment (Phase I) – Madison and Madison

International of Michigan, Detroit Environmental Assessment (Phase II) – Enviro Matrix, Detroit Excavation – Blaze Contracting, Inc., DetroitExterior Wall Assembly – C.L. Rieckhoff Co., Inc., TaylorFootings, Foundations, Poured Walls – DSP Constructors,

DetroitForm Suppliers – USA Form, Inc., West Chicago, IL; Patent

Construction Systems, Detroit; and FormTech Concrete Forms, Inc., Wixom

Furniture and Accessories – Architectural BuildingComponents, Oak Park

Geotechnical Engineers – SOMAT Engineering, Inc., Detroit Glazing – Chamberlain Glass & Metal, DetroitGypsum Board Assembly – Turner–Brooks, Inc.,

Madison HeightsHVAC – Great Lakes Mechanical, DearbornInspection and Administration Support – Community

Development Solutions, Detroit Landscape Architects and Construction Drawing Support –

Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc., Detroit Louvers – Construction Specialties, TaylorMechanical Electrical and Plumbing Engineers – Scales and

Assoc., Detroit Membrane Roofing – Roofcon, Inc., BrightonMetal Doors & Frames – R.K. Hoppe Corporation, New HudsonPiles – Toledo Caisson Corporation, Ottawa LakePlumbing – D & M Plumbing, Inc., Farmington HillsSignage – ASI Sign Systems (ASI Modulex), TroySpecial Systems – Edwards Service/Carter Brother,

New HudsonStructural Steel – Taft Steel, New HudsonSurveying & Layout – Kem–Tec & Associates, EastpointeSurveyors (Construction Phase) – Metco Services, Detroit



Surveyors (Design Phase) – ABE Associates, Inc., Detroit Temporary Fencing – Keystone Fence & Supply Co., RedfordTemporary Site Signage – State Barricades, Inc., WarrenTesting and Quality Control – ATC Associated, Inc., NoviTrees, Plants and Ground Cover – Reliable Landscaping, Inc.,

CantonUnit Masonry – Dixon, Incorporated, DetroitVoice & Data Systems – Telecom Technicians, Inc.,

Sterling HeightsWaterproofing – Michigan Restoration Group, LivoniaWet/CO2 Fire Protection – Tri Star Fire Protection, Plymouth

NOVI PUBLIC LIBRARY, NOVIOwner – City of NoviArchitectural Team – Design Architect – Diamond and

Schmitt Architects, Inc., Toronto; Architect–of–Record – BEIAssociates, Inc., Detroit

Contractor – The Dailey Company, Lake OrionSubcontractorsPainting – Accurate Painting Company, WarrenTel/Com – Advanced Communications Cabling, Inc.,

Spring ArborFireplace – American Fireplace & Barbeque Dist., FerndaleFire Extinguisher/Cabs – Architectural Building Components,

Oak ParkHard Tile – B & B Tile & Marble Co., Inc., FairhavenToilet Partitions – Building Accessories Corporation,

West BloomfieldElectrical – CEI Electric Co., Commerce TownshipRoofing – CEI Roofing, HowellRain Screen – Conquest, Inc., LivoniaTesting – CTI and Associates, Inc., BrightonOH Doors – Detroit Door & Hardware Company,

Madison HeightsMillwork – Doors and Drawers, Inc., DexterWindow Treatments – Drapery Service by Ernest LLC, MBE,

InksterFire Protection – Dynamic Fire Protection, Inc., NewportFencing – Future Fence Company, WarrenLandscaping – Great Oaks Landscape, NoviSignage – Harmon Sign/Planet Neon, NoviConcrete – Ideal Contracting, DetroitAcoustic Ceilings – Innovative Ceilings and Walls, Inc., RedfordOperable Partitions/Acoustic Panels – Integrated Interior, Inc.,

WarrenFlagpoles – J.C. Goss Company, DetroitSteel – Kehrig Steel, Inc., Ira TownshipDoors/Frames/Hardware – LaForce, Inc., TroyMasonry – Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors, Inc., LivoniaHVAC – Long Mechanical, NorthvilleLayout – Mason L. Brown & Associates, Inc., Auburn HillsFloor Covering – Master Craft Carpet Services, Inc., RedfordAsphalt Paving – Nagle Paving, NoviBook Returns – Progressive Plumbing Supply, WarrenWaterproofing – RAM Construction Services, LivoniaToilet Accessories – R.E. Leggette Company, DearbornGlass and Glazing – Rochester Hills Contract Glazing,

Rochester HillsElevators – Schindler Elevator Corp., LivoniaLockers – Shelving, Inc., Auburn HillsGlass Railing – Sun Architectural Products, LLC, Cumming, GAEarthwork/Utilities – Sunset Excavating, LivoniaPlumbing – USA Plumbing & Sewer Service, Inc.,

Ray TownshipAccess Control/Video/Alarm – Vidcom SolutionsCurtain Wall – Whitson Insulation Company, Royal OakFoot Grilles/Construction Specialties – William H. Scarlet &

Associates, Southfield

Consulting Engineer, City of Novi – Stantec ConsultingMichigan, Inc., Ann Arbor

THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICESAT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITYOwner – Central Michigan University, Mount PleasantArchitect – SHW Group, BerkleyGeneral Contractor – Walsh Construction, DetroitAccess Flooring – Data Supplies Co., PlymouthArchitectural Handrail – HDI, Lancaster, PAAsphalt Paving – Pyramid Paving & Contracting Company,

EssexvilleAuditorium Tables – American Seating, Grand RapidsBanner Drops – Britten Services, Traverse CityCarpet and VCT – Ideal Floor Covering, Rochester Caulking and Waterproofing – Helms Caulking & Mercury

Building Restorations, Inc., JennisonCeilings and Drywall – William C. Reichenbach Co., LansingCivil Engineering Consultant – Wilcox Civil, Farmington HillsCurtainwalls and Glazing – Lansing Glass Company, LansingDoor and Hardware Supplier – A&C Builders Hardware, Inc.,

West Branch Ductwork – Dee Cramer, Inc., HollyElectrical – Circuit Electric, Inc., Byron CenterElevator – KONE, Inc., Wayne Exterior and Interior Masonry, Slate Façade – Boettcher Mason

Contractor, Inc., Bay CityExterior Timbers – Timber Systems, LapeerFencing – Riteway Fence Co., Sterling HeightsFire Protection – Total Fire Protection, Inc., Grand RapidsGeneral Trades – Signature Sealants & Waterproofing, BerkleyHard Tile – American Southwest Stone Company, LLC, LivoniaIrrigation – Marc Dutton Irrigation, Inc., WaterfordInsulation – Ticon, Inc., MidlandLaboratory Cabinets – Farnell Contracting, Inc., LindenLandscaping – Landmark Landscaping Services, Inc., MilfordLibrary Storage – The Casper Corporation, OkemosMarker Boards – Claridge Products, West BloomfieldMetal Stairs – General Steel Erectors, Inc., Sterling HeightsMillwork – Horizon Millwork Manufacturing, WayneMiscellaneous Metals – Van Dam Iron Works, Inc., Grand RapidsOverhead Doors and Fire Doors – Detroit Door & Hardware Co.,

Madison HeightsOwners Representative – Kennedy Construction, SaginawPainting – Niles Construction Services, Inc., FlintPlayground Equipment Installation – Vela Construction, DetroitPlayground Equipment Supplier – DP & Hoffman Play Works,

Inc., BrightonPlayground Surface – NO FAULT Sport Group, LLC,

Baton Rouge, LAPlumbing – Mid–State Plumbing & Heating, Inc.,

Mount PleasantProjection Screens – City Animation Co., LansingRe–Steel – Quality Re–Steel Inc., BrightonResinous Flooring – VanGuard Concrete Coating, Grand RapidsRoofing and Green Roof – Schreiber Corporation, DetroitSitework – Carrigan Development, Inc., Port HuronSlate Shingles – Stephenson Corporation, FlintSlate Supplier – Booms Stone Co., RedfordSpray Foam Insulation – Stony Creek Services, Inc., WestlandStructural Concrete and Sitework – Fessler Bowman, Inc.,

Concrete Construction, FlushingStructural Steel Erection – Wolverine Steel Erectors, Inc.,

DexterStructural Steel and Miscellaneous Metals – Builder’s Iron, Inc.,

SpartaSurveying – ROWE Incorporated, Mount Pleasant

Terra Cotta and Composite Panel Installation – Universal WallSystems, Inc., Grand Rapids

Terra Cotta Supplier – NBK Ceramic, Marblehead, MATesting Agency – Materials Testing Consultants, Inc.,

Grand RapidsToilet Partitions and Accessories – Contract Specialties, Inc.,

KentwoodWindow Shades – Creative Windows, Ann Arbor

SHED 3 RENOVATION AND RESTORATIONOwner – City of Detroit, Eastern Market CorporationArchitect – Kraemer Design Group, PLC, DetroitContractor – Joint Venture of the Michigan Office of Turner

Construction Company, Detroit, and Keo & Associates, Inc.,Detroit

SubcontractorsGeneral Trades – JC Beal Construction, Inc., Ann ArborDemolition – Blue Star, Inc., WarrenSteel Canopies – The Boomer Company, DetroitRoofing and Metal Panels – CEI Group, LLC, HowellPaint – Detroit Spectrum, WarrenConcrete – E.L.S., Orion TownshipElectrical – Electrical Technology Systems, DetroitOverhead Doors – K.V.M., Clinton TownshipDoors and Glazing – Modern Mirror & Glass Co., Inc., RosevilleAsphalt – Nagle Paving Company, NoviBrick Restoration – RAM Construction Services of Michigan,

LivoniaEarthwork – Simone Contracting Corp., Sterling HeightsMechanical – Systemp Corp., Rochester HillsLandscaping – WCI Contractor, Inc., Detroit

CANTON CENTER FOR ADVANCED MEDICINE AND SURGERYOwner – Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann ArborArchitect – HKS Architects, PC, NorthvilleConstruction Manager – George W. Auch Company, PontiacAccess Flooring – Gardiner C. Vose, Inc., Bloomfield HillsAsphalt Paving – Nagle Paving Co., NoviBalancing – Barmatic Inspecting Corp., Lincoln ParkCarpet and Vinyl (Phase II) – Quality Floor Covering Co.,

Oak ParkCarpet and Vinyl (Phases IV and V) – Master Craft Carpet

Service, Inc., RedfordCeramic Tile – Artisan Tile, Inc., BrightonConcrete Flatwork (Phase I) – Albanelli Cement Contractors,

LivoniaConcrete Flatwork (Phase III) – B&B Concrete Placement, Inc.,

RomulusConcrete Foundations (Phase II) – RRD Construction Co.,

RochesterConcrete Foundations and Flatwork (Phase II) – Gemelli

Concrete, LLC, RomeoControls – Johnson Controls, Inc., Ann Arbor



Demolition – Blue Star, Inc., WarrenElectrical (Phase I) – Mutual Electric Co., BrightonElectrical (Phases II and V) – Gillis Electric, Inc., LivoniaElectrical (Phases III and IV) – Fitzgerald Electric, LivoniaElevator – Otis Elevator Co., Farmington HillsExterior and Interior Glass – Madison Heights Glass Co., Inc.,

FerndaleFinish Carpentry and Millwork (Phases II, III and V) – Nelson

Mill Co., Southfield Finish Carpentry and Millwork (Phases III and IV) – Brunt

Associates, Inc., WixomFire Suppression – Professional Sprinkler, Inc., Wixom Frames, Doors and Hardware (Phase I) – Arch. Details, Inc.,

WarrenFrames, Doors and Hardware (Phase II) – Gamalski Building

Specialties, Auburn HillsFrames, Doors and Hardware (Phase III) – Rayhaven

Equipment Co., Inc., SouthfieldHeadwall Units – Modular Service Company,

Oklahoma City, OKHVAC and Plumbing (Phases II and V) – Macomb Mechanical,

Inc. Sterling HeightsHVAC (Phases III and IV) – Bumler Heating, Inc.,

Sterling HeightsInterior Glass – Modern Mirror and Glass, RosevilleLandscaping – WH Canon Company, RomulusMasonry (Phase I) – Robovitsky, Inc., SouthfieldMasonry (Phase II) – Brend Contracting Co., Inc.,

Shelby TownshipMetal Roofing – Lutz Roofing, Inc., Shelby Township

Nurse Call – Sound Engineering – LivoniaOverhead Coiling Doors – Applied Handling, Inc., DearbornPainting (Phases I, II, III and IV) – Detroit Spectrum Painters,

Inc., WarrenPainting (Phase IV) – Cavalier Painting Co., Sterling HeightsPartition Carpentry and Ceilings (Phases I and II) – ANM

Construction Co., Inc., New HudsonPartition Carpentry and Ceilings (Phases I and IV) – Denn–Co

Construction, DetroitPartition Carpentry and Ceilings (Phase III) – Great Lakes

Ceiling & Carpentry, Ann ArborPlumbing and HVAC (Phase I) – Boone & Darr, Inc., Ann ArborPlumbing (Phase IV) – DeCal, Inc., WarrenRoofing (Phase I) – Bloom Roofing Systems, Inc., BrightonRoofing (Phase II) – Port Huron Roofing and Sheet Metal,

Clyde TownshipSheet Metal – Allied Vetnalation, WarrenSitework – Service Construction, LLC, SouthfieldSteel (Phase I) – Davis Iron Works, Inc., Walled LakeSteel (Phase II) – Rohmann Iron Works, Inc., FlintTech Cabling – Wiltec Technologies, Inc., Ann Arbor Tile and Terrazzo – Michielutti Brothers, Eastpointe Vinyl – Conventional Carpet, Inc., Sterling Heights


A D V E R T I S E R I N D E X

Ace Cutting Equipment ..................................................................61

Allied Ventilation ................................................................................99

Aluminum Supply Company/Marshall Sales............................10

Amalio Corporation ..........................................................................39

Aoun & Company, P.C. ......................................................................67

ArchItectural Building Components ..........................................27

Artisan Tile, Inc. ................................................................................103

Blue Star, Inc. ........................................................................................93

Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union, Local #1 ............43

CAM Administrative Services ..........................................................3

CAM - Affinity ....................................................................................57

CAM ECPN ..........................................................................................IBC

CAM Marketplace ..............................................................................81

CAM Tradeshow ................................................................................31

CAM Workers’ Comp. ........................................................................67

C.A.S.S. Sheet Metal ..........................................................................47

CEI ..........................................................................................................93

C.F.C.U. ....................................................................................................11

Century Architectural Hardware, Inc. ..........................................27

Clark Construction Company ........................................................19

Connelly Crane Rental Corp. ..........................................................37

Curran Crane, J J..................................................................................77

D & R Earthmoving ............................................................................49

Dailey Company, The ........................................................................77

Detroit Carpentry JATC ....................................................................15

Detroit Spectrum Painters............................................................101

Detroit Terrazzo Contractors Association..................................45

DiHydro Services ................................................................................55

Doeren Mayhew ................................................................................49

Dunn Blue Reprographics ..............................................................56

Energy Shield, Inc. ..............................................................................27

Facca Richter & Pregler, P.C. ............................................................17

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. ....................................49

G2 Consulting Group........................................................................66

George W. Auch Company ..............................................................23

Glazing Contractors Association ....................................................4

Granger Construction Co. ..............................................................55

Hartland Insurance Group, Inc. ........................................................9

Hilti ..........................................................................................................45

Hoover Wells, Inc.................................................................................29

IBEW Local 252..................................................................................101

Ideal Floor Covering ..........................................................................87

Jeffers......................................................................................................61

KVM Door Systems, Inc. ....................................................................94

Kem-Tec ................................................................................................73

Klochko Equipment Rental Company ........................................73

Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki and Berg, P.C. ........................................63

Kulbacki, Inc. ........................................................................................23

Lawrence Technological University ............................................28

MasonPro, Inc.......................................................................................91

McCoig Materials................................................................................19

Michigan Concrete Association..................................................102

Motor City Electric ............................................................................38

Navigant Consulting ........................................................................87

Next Generation Services Group ..............................................109

Nicholson Construction Company ............................................103

North American Dismantling Corp. ............................................66

Nowak & Co. Masonry ......................................................................65

Oakland Companies..........................................................................39

Oakland Metal Sales, Inc. ................................................................48

Operating Engineers Local 324- JATF............................................7

PMP Marble & Granite ......................................................................35

Partlan Labadie Sheet Metal Company......................................35

Plante & Moran, PLLC........................................................................30

Plumbing Professors ........................................................................67

Plunkett Cooney ................................................................................95

R.S. Dale ................................................................................................IFC

Rick's Portables Sanitation, LLC ....................................................73

SANI-VAC Services, Inc. ....................................................................65

SMRCA....................................................................................................67

Service Iron Works..............................................................................28

Stony Creek Services, Inc. ................................................................87

Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C. ..............................................37

TEMP-AIR ..............................................................................................45

Trend Group ........................................................................................BC

Unified Technologies ........................................................................49

Valenti Trobec Chandler, Inc. ............................................................5

Wade Trim ............................................................................................53

Wigen, Tincknell Meyer & Assoc. ..................................................55

Woods Construction, Inc. ................................................................17

Zervos Group ......................................................................................56

DEQUINDRE TRAIL EXTENSION Owner – City of Detroit Recreation Department, Economic

Development Corporation of the City of DetroitLandscape Architect/Engineer/Construction

Administration – The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., Detroit,Canton

General Contractor – WCI Contractors, Inc., DetroitSubcontractorsDemolition, Earthwork, Site Utilities – Moss Construction, Inc.,

DetroitConcrete – Albanelli Cement Contractors, Inc., LivoniaPavement Marking – PK Contracting, Inc., TroyIrrigation – American Sprinkler, LivoniaElectrical – Alpha Electric, Inc., Sterling HeightsLandscaping – WCI Contractor, Inc., DetroitSite Amenities, Materials – Landscape Forms, Inc., Kalamazoo

Get Your Free ElectronicSubscription Now

only at www.cammagazineonline.com


GREENCork Counter

GREENFlooring

Environmentally Responsible Construction Spells Cost Savings In The Long Run.Benign Materials, Salvaged Materials, Recycled Materials, Certified Wood.

When Your Project Demands Green, Think Orange.Trend Group - Nurturing The Relationship Between Affluence & Environmental Conscience.

GREENCork Counter

GREENFlooring

S.T. Dana Building Renovation –University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment (2003)

1st LEED-Certified Project at the University of Michigan1st LEED-Certified Project in Ann Arbor

4th Gold LEED-Certified & 10th LEED-Certified Project in Michigan1 of 2 Gold LEED-Rated Major Renovation Projects at a University in the U.S.

The Trend Towards LEED Rapidly Becoming The LeadingStandard For Measuring A Building’s Environmental

Performance Has Arrived In Michigan. Wood Is A Carbon-Negative & By Using More

Custom Architectural Wood Products Your Project Can AcquireWood Credits To Be Used Towards LEED Certification.

Environmentally Responsible Construction Spells Cost Savings In The Long Run.Benign Materials, Salvaged Materials, Recycled Materials, Certified Wood.

When Your Project Demands Green, Think Orange.Trend Group - Nurturing The Relationship Between Affluence & Environmental Conscience.

S.T. Dana Building Renovation –University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment (2003)

1st LEED-Certified Project at the University of Michigan1st LEED-Certified Project in Ann Arbor

4th Gold LEED-Certified & 10th LEED-Certified Project in Michigan1 of 2 Gold LEED-Rated Major Renovation Projects at a University in the U.S.

Recent Trend Group USGBC LEED Gold Certified Projects Include:Haworth Headquarters, Holland, MI (2009)Rayconnect Inc., Rochester Hills, MI (2010)

http://www.trengroup-na.com

special issue 2010 cam magazine

Documents

n d u s t r y

hess glass

special thanks

years special issue

special issueawards

thisedition of special

cam members

insurance grouprepresenting