December 2010 CAM Magazine

PLUS: UPSM A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN ADVANCED BUILDING SCIENCES
?
DECEMBER 2010 VOL. 31 NO. 11 $4. 00
IN THIS ISSUE:
DEMOLITION
Organized Demolition
in a Disaster Site
The Green Aspects
of Demolition
CONSTRUCTION
OUTLOOK 2011
Forecasting
the Michigan
Construction
Market
Examination of
Non-Residential
Construction Work
Working on
the BIM
Frontier
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
Large Scale Building
Information Modeling
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t
a
F
R
E
E
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io
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Nurturing The Relationship Between Affluence & Environmental Conscience
1175WestLongLakeRd., Suite200,Troy,MI48098
248-828-3377 Fax248-828-4290Bonding 248-828-3741Insurance
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Representing
4 CAM MAGAZI NE DECEMBER 2010 Voice Of The Construction Industry
FEATURES
ON THE JOBSITE
12 DMC Growing in Detroit
Groundbreaking at Childrens Hospital
DEMOLITION
14 Picking Up the Pieces
Tornado Devastates Lake School District
18 Greenprint for the Future
How Green is Demolition?
BIM IN CONSTRUCTION
21 Working on the BIM Frontier
Building Information Modeling Gets Constructive
MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION
OUTLOOK 2011
28 Projecting the Construction Future
of Michigan
32 Non-Residential Construction
Struggles
CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT
38 UPSM: A Successful Experiment in
Advanced Building Sciences
Detroit Science Center Inspires Inquiring Minds
DEPARTMENTS
8 Industry News
8 Safety Tool Kit
42 Product Showcase
46 People in Construction
50 CAM Welcomes New Members
50 Construction Calendar
50 Advertisers Index
ABOUT THE COVER: Photography by Steve Maylone
PUBLISHER Kevin N. Koehler
EDITOR Amanda M. Tackett
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mary E. Kremposky
David R. Miller
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. Austermann
GRAPHIC DESIGN Marci L. Christian
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Gregg A. Montowski
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy A. Jones
DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Chairman R. Andrew Martin,
FH Martin Constructors
Vice Chairman Brian D. Kiley,
Edgewood Electric, Inc.
Vice Chairman John ONeil, Sr.,
W.J. ONeil 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 & 2007
Diamond Award
2003, 2006 Honorable Mention
Gallery of Fine Printing
2002 Bronze Award
MARCOM International
Creative Awards
2005 Gold Award
The Communicator
International
Print Media Competition
Overall Association Magazine
Magazine Writing
CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward
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DeMaria Building Company Builds LEED Silver
Certified Building
The Consumers Energy Livingston County Service Center received
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver
certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Center,
located at 1000 Grand Oaks in Genoa Township, is DeMarias first
LEED Certified building.
The 21,000-square-foot building opened early this year and
includes office space, a maintenance garage, and a cold storage
building. DeMaria utilized regional materials as part of its effort to
achieve LEED Silver certification. Other sustainable design and
construction approaches included protecting the existing habitat
and limiting development space, providing a highly reflective
roofing system, limiting artificial interior lighting, increasing natural
daylight in the building, reducing water use, and increasing
mechanical comfort and electrical system efficiency.
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters Backs
Apprenticeship Program at Detroit Public
Schools
The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
(MRCC) has joined other local trade unions to create a unique
apprenticeship program for high school students in partnership
with Detroit Public Schools (DPS). Its an excellent program, said
Mark Carter, executive director for the DPS Bond Program. Its a
good way for kids to get some experience and get a leg up. Not
everyones meant to go to college and the trades are a good way to
make a living.
THERE ARE SEVERAL FACETS TO THE PROGRAM:
Apprenticeships: The MRCC has stepped up as the first union to
offer apprenticeships to eight recent graduates of Detroits
Randolph Career and Technical Center. They began Oct. 1, and are
working side-by-side with MRCC members on DPS bond projects,
getting paid scale wages. They were graduates from the district,
live in the district, and now theyre going through the appren-
ticeship program and working in the district, Mark Carter said.
Pre-Apprenticeships: While still in high school, students will get
specialized training in their chosen trade by union appren-
ticeship teachers. Upon graduation, if theyve completed
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
evident after 10 or more years of exposure to
low levels of crystalline silica. Accelerated
silicosis occurs after as little as five years of
exposure to higher levels. And acute silicosis
can happen within only weeks or months
from extremely high levels of exposure. Death
can occur rapidly with acute silicosis. There
may not be any early symptoms of this
silicosis; however, some symptoms that
indicate decreasing lung function may
include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue,
chest pain, or other respiratory problems.
(www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-108/)
Safety and health hazards are often
overlooked because of a companys rush to
get the job done without the necessary pre-
planning. Often, this means overlooking
prevention of hazards and exposures.
Controlling exposures can be done by using
a hierarchy of controls: elimination,
substitution, engineering, administrative,
and personal protective equipment.
(www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/engcontrols/)
While all may not
be feasible with demolition,
some options are not only feasible
but are extremely effective. Engineering
out hazards such as using the wet method,
or using administrative controls like training
and medical surveillance programs should
be used. Personal protective equipment,
such as respirators, should also be used if the
exposure cannot be controlled with other
methods.
Managing a demolition project requires
knowledge of the risks, the symptoms, and
the prevention of silicosis. A manager must
be meticulous about scheduling and pre-
planning. Hopefully, OSHA and contractors
alike will be proactive and acknowledge the
safety and health hazards of demolition
dust, rather than focusing on the financial
penalties or penny pinching practices. After
all, getting the employee home healthy and
safely at the end of the shift should be the
goal and IS the reward.
Debra Hinson
Demolition Dust
By Debra Hinson, HR & Safety Coordinator,
Posen Construction, Shelby Township
SAFETY TOOL KIT
D
emolition can create more than just
nuisance dust. It can create
respirable silica dust, when if inhaled
can be the source of pneumoconiosis, or
specifically silicosis. While many companies
are prepared to deal with this type of hazard,
some still have their head in the clouds
forgetting that silica is a dangerous source
of lung disease with irreversible damages,
up to and including death. (NIOSH
Publication No. 97-101)
Silicosis is a restrictive lung disease,
meaning that the bodys ability to effectively
take deep breaths and pass oxygen from the
lung to the bloodstream has been altered
due to scar tissue formed in the lungs. The
time and concentration of the crystalline
silica dust inhaled correlates with how
greatly this disease can affect a worker.
(Plog, Quinlin 2002)
There are three types of silicosis. The most
common type is chronic silicosis and can be
program requirements, theyll be
guaranteed a coveted spot in an appren-
ticeship program and a job. According
to Carter, 1,100 students applied for the
pre-apprenticeship program during a
recent job fair. Representatives for various
unions, including the MRCC, are sifting
through applicants.
Summer Internships: The MRCC also
helped set up a program where 75
students worked in the trades over the
summer. Students rotated through three
jobs for three weeks each, including a
stint in construction management
overseen by the MRCC. For their work,
students were paid $10 an hour with a
$900 bonus upon completion. Carter said
the DPS hopes to expand the program to
200 students next year.
According to MRCC President Rich Davis,
the program is a win-win situation for the
union and the kids. Training apprentices in
the Detroit schools was one of the demands
DPS Financial Manager Robert Bobb was
adamant about when it came to the bond
programs Project Labor Agreement. The
apprenticeship program helps the MRCC
meet the quota for Detroit residents on the
job, which demands that 65 percent of
journeymen and 75 percent of apprentices
live in Detroit. We have more than 700 laid
off apprentices and journeymen who live in
Detroit currently, said Davis. Were excited
about having the ability to put our
members back to work.
Davis also said the program would help
bring younger people into the union.
In the construction trades the average
worker is about 45 years old. This will help
us bring the average age down a little bit,
Davis said.
The Michigan Regional Council of
Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC)
represent over 18,000 journeypersons and
apprentice carpenters across the State of
Michigan. The MRCC offers ongoing training
and administers health care and pension
benefits to its membership. The MRCCs
leaders and members are known
throughout Michigan for their community
involvement, playing an active role in the
rebuilding of Michigan, and donating their
time, skills and financial support to
community and charity organizations.
GunnLevine Bankrupt,
Resendes Design Group
Emerges
GunnLevine Architects filed for Chapter 7
Bankruptcy on October 13, 2010 as a result
of uncollected account receivables.
Resendes Design Group, LLC (RDG) will
provide professional design services as the
next generation of GunnLevine Architects.
Emerging under new leadership, RDG will
take on new work and serve current
clients from the same location of 726
Lothrop, Detroit, MI, 48202.
GunnLevine Architects origin as a
healthcare firm has diversified into
education, commercial and historic preser-
vation. RDG was formed to reflect these
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
new sectors of work and regenerate a fresh image for the company.
Principals of the new entity include Edward D. Francis, FAIA; Mark
Kwiatkowski, AIA; and Francis Resendes. Other key individuals are
designers Donald Vanderworp and Chief Operating Officer DeAnna
Belger.
Education, historic preservation, and healthcare work continue to
grow as a result of our portfolio of successful projects for repeat
clientele. The architectural profession is expanding beyond the
traditional perceived role of an architect. While fewer projects are
being constructed due to the economy, RDGs role has expanded to
provide full design services from the beginning to end of each
project.
Klochko Equipment and Wacker Neuson Join
Forces in Southeast Michigan
Klochko Equipment Rental Company, Inc., held an Open House on
October 15th to introduce their new line of Wacker Neuson Compact
Equipment. Held for current and potential customers, the event
included equipment demonstrations, raffles and a barbecue. A great
time was had by all in attendance.
Klochkos new line-up of compact equipment includes Mini
Excavators, Loaders and an exciting new All-Wheel Dumper line.
Klochko is pleased to add these product lines to their existing fleet of
construction and industrial/aerial equipment. These new units, along
with Klochkos current fleet, are available for rental and sales. Klochko
can also supply parts and service for all of their equipment.
Klochko is pleased to have served southeast Michigan since 1951 in
the construction and industrial markets from the companys home
office in Melvindale. Wacker Neuson has been in business since 1848;
the companys U.S. headquarters is located in Milwaukee, WI. Please
view Klochkos new line-up of Wacker Neuson equipment at
www.klochko.com or www.wacker-neuson.com, or call Klochko
Equipment at (800) 783-RENT (7368).
Foundation for Windows Earns
Two Prestigious Accolades
Company Selected as Best Place to Work for 7th Time and
Given a Perfect Rating by CPA Technology Advisor for its
Construction Accounting Software Systems
Foundation Software, developer of FOUNDATION for Windows
construction accounting, project management and scheduling
software has for the seventh time earned the title as one of
Northeast Ohios best places to work. The firm was presented the
NorthCoast 99 award.
In addition to receiving this prestigious award, Foundation
Software was also individually acknowledged for their innovative
approaches to soliciting feedback and ideas from their most
valuable asset - their employees. Fred Ode, founder, chairman and
CEO of Foundation Software, said being recognized as a great
workplace is something he has always dreamed of accomplishing
as a businessperson.
After 25 years, I am beginning to transition our company into
the next phase of leadership, said Ode. Ive watched many of my
employees begin their careers with us fresh out of school, marry,
start families and build their lives around
the business. Their commitment to
Foundation is genuine and I take this very
seriously. If there were one item of advice I
could pass onto future leaders it would be
to take care of your employees. Treat them
with kindness and respect. Empower them
to take ownership. Forgive mistakes. And
provide them with the tools and encour-
agement they need to make things
happen.
Presented by the Employers Resource
Council (ERC), NorthCoast 99 has been
recognizing workplaces that excel in the
attraction, retention, and motivation of
top performing employees since 1999.
Foundation Software employees Denise
East and Terri Vidmar represented the
company during the annual award
banquet held in mid-September at LaCentre Conference Facility in
Westlake, OH.
Sharing CAM Magazine
Has Never Been Easier
CAMMagazineOnline.com has made sending and sharing articles
from CAM Magazine even easier! Simply click the Share icon ( )
when viewing the magazine online, and send a link directly to your
customers, employees and prospects! Articles can also be linked
directly onto your website.
Correction
In the CAM Magazine October 2010 Special
Issue, the photo credit for Hemlock
Semiconductor should have been:
"Photography by Gene Meadows."
CAM Magazine regrets this error.
888WestBigBeaver Road, Suite 1200, Troy,Michigan 48084
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Foundation Software also recently received a 5-star rating in The CPA Technology Advisors
2010 review of construction accounting programs. FOUNDATION was the only system to
receive the top ranking of 5-stars in every category reviewed.
About Foundation Software, Inc. Since 1985, Foundation Software has assisted thousands of
labor-intensive contractors with their accounting and job costing. Foundation for Windows is
a construction accounting software that uses Microsoft SQL and suits a wide range of
construction trades. For more information, visit Foundation online at www.foundationsoft.com
or call (800) 246-0800.
About The CPA Technology Advisor The CPA Technology Advisor is the definitive resource for
information to tax and accounting professionals in public practice across the United States. For
further information about the publication, please visit their website at http://www.cpatechnolo-
gyadvisor.com.
CAM Wins Two Honorable Mentions at
MSAE Diamond Awards
CAM achieved two honorable mention awards from
the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE)
at their ninth annual Diamond Awards ceremony. The
event took place at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham
on the evening of Wednesday, September 22nd.
Several Michigan Associations were in attendance.
CAM won two honors during the evening: Silver
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Magazine
Publishing (CAM Magazine) and a Gold Honorable
Mention for Excellence in E-Newsletters. CAM strives to
be the number one source in Michigan for all
commercial construction. Visit the CAM website at
www.cam-online.com.
N
ovember 1 marked the first groundbreaking for the Detroit
Medical Centers (DMC) $500 million building campaign.
Projects ranging from $3 million to $170 million in value,
representing the largest private investment in Detroits
history, will be funded out of a $1.5 billion commitment from
Vanguard Health Systems for the purchase of the DMC, but the
105,550-square-foot Childrens Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center
on the DMC campus is the first project to commence. By agreeing to
fund the first $1 million of the project on a 50/50 basis before the
closing date on the historic agreement between the entities,
Vanguard and DMC prevented significant delays that would have
occurred if work began after the onset of winter conditions. Key
project team members include construction manager L.S.
Brinker/Barton Malow, joint venture, Detroit, and architect Shepley
Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott, Boston, MA.
The groundbreaking is today, but we start moving dirt tomorrow,
said Larry Brinker, Sr., CEO of Brinker Group. This was not a ground-
breaking where we wont start building until spring after the weather
clears.
After the dust settles, the five-story structure will expand Michigans
A $500 Million Commitment for
New and Renovated Facilities
But the First Official Dig was Just for Them
By David R. Miller, Associate Editor Photos Courtesy of the Detroit Medical Center
first and only hospital dedicated exclusively
to the treatment of children all the way from
its current Beaubien Street location to I-75.
The Childrens Hospital of Michigan Specialty
Center will house a new general pediatrics
clinic, adolescent medicine, outpatient
rehabilitation, specialty clinics, and 200
physician office suites. Surface-level parking
is also planned for the site. The grand
opening of the facility is anticipated in
January 2012, but it is one of many projects
that will transform the face of the DMC.
Although the DMC provides state-of-the-art
medical care, facilities on the hospital groups
main Detroit campus have been largely
unchanged.
This is the first expansion of the Detroit
Medical Center in 30 years, said Mike
Duggan, DMC president and CEO.
Other major elements being planned for
DMC include a new patient tower at
Childrens Hospital, a cardiovascular institute
and outpatient specialty building at Harper
University Hospital, a new 1,700-car parking
deck at the corner of Mack and Beaubien, and
expansion of the emergency department at
Sinai-Grace Hospital, along with many smaller
renovation and new facility projects. Many
projects will occur simultaneously. Brinker
frankly admitted that his biggest challenges
might involve competing with other projects
for quality workers while meeting accelerated
schedules. Still, Brinker sees the influx of work
as a windfall for Michigan contractors who
have been hungry for opportunities, and he
believes that cooperation from unions and
the local labor force will allow for successful
completion of all projects for the DMC.
Everyone [speaking at the ground-
breaking] has said that it is a great day for
Detroit, and it truly is, said Brinker. I have
been employing people in the City of Detroit
for the past 21 years, and this is one of the
biggest infusions of private investment that I
have seen in the city at one time. All of this
will mean jobs and training programs for the
citizens of Detroit.
The new facility will expand Childrens
Hospital of Michigan all the way from its
current location to I-75.
Herman Gray, MD, president of Childrens Hospital of Michigan, spoke to guests at the
groundbreaking, including Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow.
Speakers and guests at the groundbreaking
included (left to right): John Levy, Vice
Chair, DMC Board of Trustees; Mike Duggan,
president & Chief Executive Officer,
DMC; Keith Pitts, Vice Chairman, Vanguard
Health Systems; Senator Debbie Stabenow;
Steve DArcy, Chair, DMC Board of Trustees;
David Page, Childrens Hospital of Michigan
Board Member; Trip Pilgrim, Chief
Development Officer and senior vice presi-
dent, Vanguard Health Systems;
Alan Schwartz, Member, DMC Board of
Trustees; and Wayne County Executive
Robert Ficano.
C
ontractors occasionally step in when others fail to complete
a job, but few inherit a mess as big as Rudolph/Libbe, Inc.,
Walbridge, OH, did when the firm accepted a contract to
complete demolition work at Lake High School in Millbury,
OH. Instead of stepping onto an orderly jobsite, Rudolph/Libbe
literally waded into a disaster area, as the demolition process was
not initiated by another contractor, but rather by a massive tornado
that roared through the area on June 5. The storm left a seven-mile
trail of destruction that tore through the campus shared by three
Lake School District buildings. The high school would ultimately be
deemed a total loss, while the attached middle school and nearby
elementary school both sustained significant damage.
Rudolph/Libbe was already working on another project on the
site, so construction professionals were available to lend their
DE MOL I T I ON
Picking uP the Pieces
BY DAVID R. MILLER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUDOLPH/LIBBE, INC.
expertise just hours after the disaster struck.
Initially their work consisted of securing a
safe environment on the campus and
assisting with damage assessment. After
these tasks were complete, Rudolph/Libbe
took charge of demolition at the high school
and helped to create a facilities plan from
which the district could begin to move
forward.
ASSESSING THE DAMAGE
Lake High School was built in 1953, with
significant additions that were built during
the 1970s and 80s. The structure of original
building with its cast-in-place concrete decks
and reinforced block walls was largely intact
after the storm, but the steel beam, joist and
deck construction of the additions sustained
heavy damage. The middle and elementary
schools were in better shape, but both would
require new roofs and rooftop mechanical
equipment before school could start.
Joe Vancena, special accounts field
operations manager, was one of the first
Rudolph/Libbe employees on site. His first
attempts to survey the damage came on the
evening the storms hit, but they were stymied
by darkness and his visit was cut short by a
ruptured gas line. Vancena returned at 3:30
the next morning to find that the gas had
been shut off and temporary lighting was in
place, but he was unable to fully grasp what
had happened until the sun came up.
Thats when I got my first real visual of
what the damage was, he said. You dont
see something like that very often. It was
amazing.
Although Vancena assisted with the
emergency response effort in Florida
following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, nothing
could have fully prepared him for what he
saw on the morning of June 6. Hundreds of
birds that had been effectively skinned by the
violent winds littered the site. A brick was
found lodged in one of the schools brick
walls. Vancena is not sure exactly where the
brick came from, but it does not match any
brick on the school campus and the nearest
building where it could have come from was
half-a-mile away. Vehicles, including school
busses, were overturned around the site and
some had blown up against surviving
portions of the building.
Media representatives soon swarmed the
site like ants according to Vancena, so
determining which areas of the site could be
deemed safe was an important early task.
After walking through the building with a
structural engineer from Poggemeyer Design
Group, Bowling Green, OH, the
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Commercial Industrial
Experienced Innovative Timely
13840 Intervale St. (313) 836-3366
Detroit, MI. 48227 (313) 836-3367 fax
www.detroitdismantling.com info@detroitdismantling.com
Building materials that
were once a part of Lake
High School were
scattered up to 400 feet
away from the building
(top). Vehicles, including
school busses, were
overturned (bottom).
Determining which areas
of the site could be
deemed safe was an
important early task.
Rudolph/Libbe team developed an access
plan for the building and a fencing contractor
was onsite within a few days to keep people
out of harms way.
Early forays into the high school yielded an
eerie mix of seemingly untouched items amid
the catastrophic destruction. Randy
Akenberger, foreman for Rudolph/Libbe,
made an amazing discovery when he went
looking for diplomas that were to be given
out at the graduation ceremony scheduled to
take place a mere 12 hours after the tornado
hit. He found the undisturbed diplomas
sitting neatly in a box inside a room that had
been devastated by the storm. The diploma
on the very top of the stack belonged to his
daughter, Riley.
Not everything left behind by the storm
was so neat and tidy. Once the site was
deemed safe, a massive clean-up operation
began.
GETTING THE JOB DONE
Clean-up is a part of any demolition effort,
but the debris is usually contained within a
small area. Building materials that were once
a part of Lake High School were scattered up
to 400 feet away from the building, and
Vancena estimates that crews collected
nearly 1,000 tons of material outside the
building footprint. Conditions were not
much better inside surviving portions of the
structure. Glass doors that served as the
schools main entry were shattered, creating a
debris path deep into the structure. Although
the high school only totaled 120,000 square
feet, the clean up effort involved almost one
million square feet.
Approximately 40 percent of the high
school structure was slated for immediate
demolition, while work on the remaining
portion was postponed pending decisions
about how much, if any, of the structure could
be saved. Engineers identified separation
points where Rudolph/Libbe crews could
make relief cuts to begin demolition while
preserving other portions of the building.
Expansion joints often served as pre-existing
break points for this purpose. Crews would
eventually tear down the entire structure, but
this selective demolition method provided
additional time in which to make the best
decisions regarding the structure.
Work at the high school kept crews busy,
but there was also plenty to do at the middle
and elementary schools. By moving swiftly,
Rudolph/Libbe was able to prevent
additional damage to these buildings.
When we met with the district officials
and we started to assess their needs, we
DE MOL I T I ON
quickly focused on getting the middle and elementary schools back
in order, said Vancena. You want to protect damaged roofs right
away to prevent any more water intrusion.
New roofs totaling approximately 110,000 square feet were needed
to protect both buildings from the elements. Some selective
demolition was necessary at both buildings, with substantial interior
damage to the elementary school requiring the removal of several
classroom ceilings and floors. In spite of this, both schools were ready
to greet incoming students on schedule as classes began in Fall 2010.
The storm also leveled a number of structures that served multiple
buildings on the site, including the stadium, cafeteria and a boiler
room. Replacements for all of these are either up and running or are
nearing completion.
Life is rapidly returning to normal for elementary and middle school
students in the Lake School District. High school students have been
relocated to a nearby community college, but demolition of the
remaining portions of the high school building began in September
and a new building could be completed as early as 2012.
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Many items, including the bookshelves seen here, were seemingly
untouched amid the destruction. Diplomas, for a scheduled
graduation ceremony, were also found sitting neatly inside a room
that had been devastated by the storm. Note the single brick, which
traveled at least half-a-mile before becoming lodged in the schools
brick wall.
G R E E N P R I N T
F O R T H E F U T U R E
HOW GREEN
IS DEMOLITION?
By Mi chael R. Tayl or, CAE
A
lthough the demolition industry has been environmentally
responsible for many years, only recently with the intense interest in
all things green, has attention focused on how demolition can
sustain the environment. If recycling is among the highest ideals of
the green movement, then demolition could be considered the
ultimate pursuit. After all, demolition professionals recycle our most precious
resource our land for re-use, whether for a new school, a housing
development, or a new public park.
In its strategic plan, the National Demolition Association, the leading trade
organization representing the global demolition industry, has identified
environmental stewardship as one of its top priorities. This encompasses
practices such as demolition debris recycling, environmental remediation, and
architectural salvaging. These activities have become an increasingly important
part of many demolition contractors businesses. For some Association
members, recycling represents 20 to 50 percent of their annual revenue. Not
only are they maximizing the use of re-useable and re-saleable materials, they
are reducing landfill usage and resultant waste disposal costs.
With increasingly stringent local, state, and federal regulations that require the
clean-up of facilities, soil, and groundwater before a demolition can be
completed, many companies have expanded their services to all aspects of
remediation, including the removal and disposal of asbestos, lead, mold, PCBs,
above-ground and underground tanks, etc. Many firms are now staffed with
technical managers, engineers, and an experienced HAZMAT labor force to
support the effort.
DE MOL I T I ON
Some contractors may perform demolition at no
cost, or even pay the property owner to claim the
rights to all recycleable materials.
increasing costs of landfill use, the benefit
of tax credits such as those for LEED
practices, new mobile recycling technology
that makes on-site recycling possible, and
heightened awareness about promoting a
green and sustainable environment.
AFTER-MARKETS DICTATE RECOVERY
Demolition contractors always factor
investment recovery into their calculations
of what a demolition project will cost. For
instance, manufacturing equipment that is
obsolete in the United States may be
valuable in less developed countries. The
after-market for steel and certain types of
lumber have also spurred re-use and
recycling. Materials at the top of the list of
recycled demolition debris are concrete,
asphalt pavement, metals, bricks/blocks,
and wood, nearly all of which is separated
diverting 95 percent of waste. Many
National Demolition Association members
routinely have recycling rates of 75
percent, while some recycle up to 100
percent of debris generated during a
recycling project. There are, of course,
economic realities that can affect how
much debris can be recycled. Site owners
must deal with tight timelines, stringent
financing schedules, and difficult security
issues. There is also the challenge of finding
a viable after-market for certain materials.
A number of factors are impacting how
and when landfills can be used for debris.
Besides being incentivized by the sting of
fines for not recycling an adequate amount
of demolition debris and the need to
comply with local ordinances, professionals
have other reasons for avoiding landfills
whenever possible. These include the
While the most well-known green
building rating system known as LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) has no direct rating system for the
demolition process, it does address the
issue of brownfield redevelopment, which
is a growing area for many demolition
professionals. The intent is to rehabitate
damaged sites where development is
complicated by environmental
contamination. By re-using this land, it
reduces the pressure to build on
undeveloped land.
The LEED system also addresses the issue
of construction and demolition waste
management. Under LEED Credit MR2,
projects can earn one point for diverting 50
percent of waste, two points for diverting
75 percent of waste, and an additional
point under Innovation in Design for
Under LEED Credit MR2, projects can earn one point for diverting 50 percent of waste, two points for diverting 75 percent of waste, and an additional
point under Innovation in Design for diverting 95 percent of waste.
important architectural artifacts,
woodwork, lighting, and plumbing fixtures
are either removed for re-sale or preserved
in a building when its interior is gutted and
renovated to incorporate modern
conveniences and energy-efficient
equipment.
With approximately 1,000 member
companies, the National Demolition
Association is broadening its scope to
include all professionals involved in the
demolition process, including general
contractors, civil engineering firms, and
recycling, landfill, and salvage operations.
The Association has dedicated itself to
keeping members and regulators well
informed about environmental issues so
that the industry can continue to work in
an environmentally responsible manner,
while contributing to the health and
growth of the economy. The Association is
doing this not only because it is there is a
financial incentive to its members, but also
for a more simple reason its the right
thing to do.
out for transport or processed at the job
site. Some projects promise to yield such a
high amount of valuable recyclables, such
as those with steel construction, that
contractors may perform the demolition at
no cost or many even pay the property
owner to claim the rights to all recyclable
materials.
On the other hand, some materials may
present more challenges to a demolition
professional contemplating their recycling.
Drywall, for instance, can be recycled, but a
number of issues involving things such as
the age of the drywall (it may contain
asbestos) and whether it was painted (it
may have been painted with lead paint)
negatively impacts its use. However, new
recycling technology is always being
developed and refined to handle the
materials that are landfilled at this time.
In addition, the salvage industry has
grown right along with the demolition
industry. Usually, contractors are
instrumental in achieving the goals of
preservationists. The faade and many
DE MOL I T I ON
Blue Star, Inc.
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Warren, MI 48089
Ph: (586) 427-9933
Fx: (586) 427-9934
Estimating@bluestardemo.com
www.bluestardemo.com
Michael R. Taylor, CAE, is executive
director of the National Demolition
Association. For more information, go to
www.demolitionassociation.com or call
800-541-2412.
the design documents phase. In the design
of Troy Beaumont, there was no stale data,
said Timothy B. Reamer, PE, HED electrical
engineer. Today, this BIM approach,
originally created for the Troy Beaumont
expansion designed in 2006, has been
embraced and is being used by about 40
percent of full-service architectural firms,
said Shaun I. Rihacek, LEED AP, HED
associate, project architect.
The design disciplines worked in their
own separate files or model, but the use of a
common network and the same Revit
software platform enabled the entire design
team to work in real time. Because the
technology doesnt yet exist to apply the
same approach to highly detailed
installation drawings used for actual
construction, Barton Malow/Skanska
downloaded separate files of each MEP
contractor to Navisworks, a software capable
of reading all files and creating a composite
for clash detection between different
building systems. Weekly updates would be
issued to coordinate and resolve issues but
work in real time was not possible. The way
technology is you cant get everybody into
one platform at the fabrication level at this
point in time, said Rihacek.
Despite this particular technology lag, BIM
is rapidly becoming an efficient instrument
in a contractors cyber tool belt. The
Beaumont project wasnt finished that long
ago (fall 2009) and already the industry is
advancing very rapidly, said Crispin. In
other projects, we have used BIM for
scheduling, procurement, and Field BIM in
which we track materials and even use it for
commissioning and owner maintenance of
facilities.
DESIGNING IN REAL TIME
For the Troy Beaumont project, BIM in
action was shown in all its glory at a typical
bullpen coordination session in HEDs main
conference room. All the design disciplines
were in the room with their own computer
and one main screen, said James Corsiglia,
PE, HED structural engineer. We changed
items instantaneously at our different work
stations but discussed and worked together
to coordinate different aspects of the design
and clash detect on the main screen. It was
all live, and when we walked out at the end
of the day, it was done. It wasnt the
traditional way of coordinating by marking
up drawings and giving them to someone
else to input and redo. It was done at once
and we moved forward to the next quadrant
of the building.
the model in real time across all design
disciplines even on large projects such as
the Troy Beaumont expansion. In a
technology-enabled group mind meld,
design changes register almost instantly on
the files of the entire design team. The key
is they reference each other in real time,
said Sharon Crispin, PE, LEED AP, project
manager, Barton Malow Company, the
Southfield-based firm that joint ventured
with Skanska USA Building Inc., also of
Southfield, on the project. For example,
architectural didnt just get an update only
once a week or every other week. If the
electrical engineer is making a change, other
disciplines can see it immediately.
Real time capability is ideal for design, a
fluid process with a wealth of alterations as
the building takes shape in the conceptual
and schematic stages and ultimately gels in
S
traddling the border of Troy and Sterling
Heights, Beaumont Hospitals recent $270
million dollar expansion offers the Detroit
metropolitan area 780,000 square feet of
healthcare space. A bridge arcs over
Dequindre Road, seamlessly linking
Beaumonts Troy campus and its medical
center in Sterling Heights. Another type of
bridge aided the design and construction
of this cluster of facilities. This cyber bridge
joined all members of Harley Ellis
Devereauxs design team into a level of
Building Information Modeling (BIM) that
comes very close to the design industrys
Holy Grail of working in a single model on a
large commercial project.
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield, is a
national pioneer in BIM, working in-house
and with software developers to customize
software and to create the ability to work in
B I M I N CONST R UCT I ON
BIM was a vital tool in the design and construction of the East Ambulatory Care Center and of all
the buildings in the recent expansion of Troy Beaumont Hospital.
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Working on the
BIM Frontier
By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor
Everything else was just static 3D objects.
Now we have new tools and we have a full
BIM environment for all parties.
At Beaumont, the entire structural steel
package from design development to
installation drawings that show every weld
and bolt is a wonderful example of
integrated project delivery, accomplished
seamlessly and with a click of a mouse at
virtually every successive stage. On this
project, there is no paper trail, for the steel
fabricator creates an installation model
directly from the design document model.
Corsiglia explains the overall process: We
interviewed the steel fabricators in the area
that could share a model back and forth,
essentially doing everything paperless.
Douglas Steel, Lansing, was ultimately
selected for the project. We built our Revit
model to talk back and forth with our 3D
analytical model, which are our software
programs we use to actually design the
steel. The two communicated instantly with
the push of a computer key.
We then gave our Revit model to Douglas
Steel to start their fabrication model. It is a
complete integrated project delivery
approach structurally. We do all of our work
model to model. In turn, the fabricator gives
us their model back for electronic review.
We click on every beam, clicking either
approved or not approved. (Because the
BIM model has embedded intelligence,
clicking on a steel beam will reveal
information about the load and
connections.) At the time, BIM technology
could not convert electrical and mechanical
design from design development into
fabrication drawings. This ability recently
became available.
recommended to work in one model, said
Rihacek. As the project progressed, we
determined the one-model approach was
not appropriate at that time. Flexible, open-
minded, and undeterred, Harley Ellis
Devereaux then devised a new approach to
working in real time. We reassessed, making
everyone their own individual models and
referencing back and forth in real time by
using the same software platform, said
Reamer.
Harley Ellis Devereaux blazed a new trail
for the design industry in other ways. The
MEP software package was actually the
youngest of all the software packages, said
Brett C. Gatti, Harley Ellis Devereauxs BIM
coordinator/manager for corporate office.
Those packages came in three to five years
behind the other packages, such as
architectural and structural.
As a remedy, Harley Ellis worked with
Avatech, an Autodesk reseller, in
customizing and tweaking the mechanical
and electrical software packages for the Troy
Beaumont project. At the time, there were
certain capabilities that didnt exist in the
mechanical and electrical suites, said
Corsiglia. We had to tweak certain things so
that we could make the system work. We
created different processes that Autodesk
uses today going forward.
FABRICATING STEEL WITH A MOUSE
The structural steel discipline has always
been in the forefront of BIM technology as
shown on the Troy Beaumont campus, itself.
Our first structural BIM project was on this
same campus 10 years ago, said Corsiglia.
At that time, structural was the only
discipline capable of technology transfer.
Crispin describes the benefit of this mode
of operation. By making a change
instantaneously in a group you can follow
the results and repercussions of that change
down river or throughout other facets of
the building. You can see what other
systems and aspects of the building you may
have affected that might warrant further
discussion.
Reamer summarizes how this group
brainstorm is accomplished. Each discipline
was working in separate files that were
linked to each others file for coordination.
In order for revisions to be seen by each
other, the revised file would need to be
saved and the other person would need to
re-open their file or reload links if they were
in their active file. Overall, this process would
take only a few seconds. There was no need
to export to a new format or upload to a FTP
or similar site, which can take hours.
Outside the conference room, HED
implemented an instant messaging
communication package to allow the team
to communicate. This worked quite well to
alert others of relevant updates, said
Reamer.
HED is one of the first design teams to use
this approach on such a large-scale project.
While it is not working in one model a feat
no one has accomplished this approach
comes closest to the ideal of pure BIM. At
that time, there was nobody else that came
that close to a full discipline BIM, said
Rihacek.
CYBER WIZARDRY
In blazing a new trail, keeping an open
mind and taking a calculated risk comes
with the territory. Initially, it was
As a byproduct of 3D BIM, life-like renderings offer numerous advantages, including reducing change orders by offering owners an easily grasped
visual image. On the left is a rendering of the second floor of the West Atrium; on the right is a photo of the first level of the actual West Atrium.
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For example, a contractor can do a rough
take of how many electrical outlets are in
the model. Applying cost to that, the
contractor can do quick estimate checks
against the model.
In Field BIM, Barton Malow can track
materials via the use of tablet PCs equipped
with bar code scanners. After the model is
Beaumont, but on some other projects
weve done 4D and 5D BIM, said Crispin.
In 4D BIM Scheduling, the model is linked
to the schedule. When an adjustment is
made to the schedule or a change in the
model, it changes your schedule throughout
the job, said Crispin. We are starting to see
applications of 5D BIM Estimating.
BEYOND CLASH DETECTION
Back in the construction trailer, Barton
Malow/Skanska used the steel fabrication
model as the basis for MEP coordination
drawings. Because the steel was already
detailed, we coordinated the mechanical
and electrical packages around steel, said
Crispin. The individual contractors still
worked in their own individual software
platforms. They would then export into a
common DWG file and we would then put
all their individual models into Navisworks.
Navisworks would start layering all the
information together, so we could obtain a
composite and then we would run a clash
report. We would see how many clashes
there are between the systems, and then we
would sit in weekly coordination meetings
with electrical, plumbing, HVAC and fire
protection contractors to resolve the
clashes.
Beyond the Beaumont project, more
trades are coming under the BIM umbrella
to provide an even more coordinated
project. In my opinion, MEP is now standard,
but we are now doing projects where we are
coordinating with exterior skin, roofing, and
millwork trades in some cases, said Crispin.
More trades on board create a more
complete process. That is clear, because at
Troy Beaumont, the area where we did have
some conflict involved a trade that was not
coordinated in BIM.
BIM currently allows modeling of future
maintenance issues for the owner. The
modeler can insert what is termed a space
claim. The space claim doesnt represent a
physical object but rather a programmed
block of space to ensure the owner has clear
access to an area or piece of equipment for
maintenance. The space claim is not a
physical object, but the model recognizes it
as a physical object and will flag it as a clash,
ensuring access to the equipment, said
Crispin. So now we are using the model to
some degree to start addressing owner
issues and concerns that they might have
after turnover.
This innovative BIM capacity definitely
saves costs. Sometimes, money would have
to be spent rerouting items to offer the
owner access to a piece of equipment, but
now we can plan ahead for this access, said
John F. Pesavento, AIA, HED associate,
construction administration, field
representative.
Barton Malow has been continually
sharpening its cyber tools as BIM infiltrates
more deeply into the construction arena.
We did 3D BIM coordination at Troy
commissioned, green might mean the box
has gone through the commissioning
process but open issues remain, and blue
might mean the VAV boxes have been
completely commissioned and accepted.
This is only one example of how to use the
model differently and innovatively.
Vela software packages have a module
that works with different maintenance
programs typically used by owners. Called
Asset Tagging, the user can go into the
model, click on an air handling unit, for
example, and be able to retrieve data, said
Crispin. The tablet is given to the owner at
the end of the project with the full
complement of information ranging from
when the unit was last serviced to what size
and type of filters work with the unit.
Alfred Naami, Skanska project manager,
said Skanska USA Building Inc. uses BIM for
intelligent 3D modeling, marketing
visualizations, clash detection, 4D
Scheduling, quantity take-off and costing,
life cycle cost and life cycle assessment
analyses, supply chain management,
procurement, safety planning, facilities
management, and various energy
simulations.
Each of these BIM applications
contributes to information management in
its own way, said Naami. BIM is not just one
tool, but rather a way of thinking that
contributes to easier, faster and more
transparent information management
throughout the whole construction process.
BIM utilization brings benefits to all project
participants from developer and designer to
construction workers on site, as well as to
end users of construction.
Beyond the huge possibilities for
developing greater productivity and work
efficiency both in design and production,
Naami said, BIM contributes to Skanskas
aims, such as zero accidents and zero
defects, by promoting good quality and
illustrative design. Additionally, it offers
tools for managing environmental
information and supports Skanskas green
construction goals.
A NEW POINT OF VIEW
Harley Ellis Devereaux is also continuing
to push the envelope with BIM and
sustainable design. At Wayne State
Universitys chemistry building expansion,
the firm is linking the Revit model with
LEED. The data in the model produces
verification and compliance for LEED, said
Reamer. Plus, we are pursuing energy
consumption predictions through the
This system can be an invaluable
commissioning aid. We can also use the
model as a visual tool to see where we are at
in different stages of commissioning,
continued Crispin. For example, we tag VAV
boxes, pull up the model and color code the
VAV boxes in three different colors. Yellow
might mean the boxes are not
used for installation, we will actually start
tracking equipment, pieces of precast, and
other materials tagged with bar codes, said
Crispin. Our superintendents walk up to the
equipment with their tablet, scan the bar
code, and information pops up such as when
the equipment was received, who received
it, and other information.
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BIM at Troy Beaumont
T
he joint venture of Barton Malow/Skanska employed BIM in
several ways at the recent Troy Beaumont Hospital expansion.
Alfred Naami, Skanska project manager, Skanska USA
Building Inc., Southfield, details how BIM was used in the various
stages of the project.
Overall Design and Construction: The 3D view of the design
provided project participants a fast and easy way to become familiar
with the project, whereas combined models, including the design
solutions of different disciplines, helped to plan the work and
installation sequence.
Construction Project Management: Simulations of the installation
schedule of building parts at macro and micro levels facilitated
better project management. Automated property listing of desired
building parts reduced the need to manually check quantities,
dimensions or other properties from drawings.
In the Field: Utilization of BIM on site enhanced communication
between different parties. Plans were viewed by construction
workers in weekly meetings or used when new workers were given a
site orientation. Also, work planned for execution during the coming
week was presented in 3D for the workers.
Working with MEP Contractors: The MEP contractors also updated
current status of the project in the web model. This was available for
all the project participants, including clients and developers.
Additionally, fabrication and shipping status of the prefabricated
building parts shown in a 3D model was compared with the
installation schedule. Plus, clashes or problems between different
schedules were highlighted automatically.
When modeling was utilized, information was transferred in
electronic format into prefabricators systems, said Naami.
Electronic information transfer remarkably reduced the need for
manual labor and decreased the risk of erroneous information due to
human error in information transfer from drawings into actual
systems. Prefabrication utilized model information, for example, in
machine tooling of steel parts, assembly of concrete element
framework and optimization of shipping and storing.
model, and we are setting up our standards so that ASHRAE 90.1
calculations are a derivative of our model.
An emerging technology is on the brink of assisting expansion
and renovation projects. We are looking at 3D scanning of existing
objects to create what is called point clouds that are easily
transferred into model information, said Rihacek. This is a way to
rapidly move the real environment into the virtual environment. You
are going to see renovation work start happening in this way. Adds
Crispin, We also are looking into how to capture existing spaces with
point clouds, which basically set up an image of the space and
translate that into workable 3D information.
3D scanning can reveal inaccuracies in an existing space, such as
an uneven floor, that cannot even be field verified unless you are a
surveyor. The remedy for a new addition, placed next to an existing
structure off by two inches from one end of the building to the other,
can be costly, said Pesavento. 3D scanning would have accurately
pinpointed this anomaly early in the process.
BIM BENEFITS
BIM is not merely amazing tricks of software wizardry. Todays BIM
capacities save time and money in design studios and construction
sites across the country. For example, owners can easily grasp the
visual images produced as a byproduct of 3D BIM. This capacity
translates into fewer change orders. If it is a small enough project,
you can actually makes changes to the model in front of the owner
immediately, get the results they are looking for, and move on with
the project, said Rihacek.
As another owner benefit, the owner now has an incredible set of
as-built drawings, said Pesavento. For the contractor in the field,
there are less clashes, less field issues and less rework. Ultimately,
the end result for the owner is less change orders and less cost, said
Crispin.
Installation is swifter and of higher quality. For example, a piping
contractor can look at the model and see they have 20 clear feet
before they need to jog to the left, said Crispin. What we are seeing
in the field is runs of pipe coming out in longer lengths that are
prefabricated with elbows and Ts already welded to the pipe. We are
literally seeing ductwork come out to the field and basically being
hung right up in the air. Installation is faster and of better quality,
because it is being produced in the shop.
The BIM process also significantly reduces the number of RFIs and
eases the entire construction process. For example, light fixtures
could not fit below the catwalk in Troy Beaumonts east ambulatory
care center. Because of working in the 3D BIM model, the need for
smaller fixtures was identified very early in the project. This was a
change from the owner during construction, said Rihacek. Due to
the digital communication process, it was possible to accommodate
it rapidly. Added Crispin, We were able to order new light fixtures
without even having ordered the original fixtures. We didnt have to
pay any restocking fees. Because it was discovered early, we could
wait the 12 weeks for the new fixtures without having any impact
whatsoever to the schedule.
Clearly, building a virtual building is an invaluable problem-
solving tool for common design and construction dilemmas. This
pioneering approach promises to infiltrate more deeply and alter the
industry more dramatically both now and in the years to come.
BIM capabilities aided in the design and construction of the entire
expansion, including this dining facility for the hospitals Sterling
Pizza Caf.
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Media Release
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I
f clarity is the goal for any forecaster,
uncertainty is the bane of his or her
existence. The more numerous the
sources of uncertainty and the greater the
magnitude of the potential range of
outcomes the more challenging it
becomes to provide a high degree of
confidence in any forecast.
So it is today in terms of the overall
outlook for the U.S. economy. While the
economy has rapidly decelerated from its
blistering pace of growth in the final quarter
of 2009, one vexing question remains
unanswered today. Is the U.S. at the
precipice of a double-dip recession or
merely in a soft patch that will become
apparent as the pace of growth stabilizes?
The answer to that question should become
more apparent in the months ahead. It will
also undoubtedly be a critical consideration
when evaluating the direction of the
economy in the State of Michigan broadly,
and more specifically its construction
industry, in the quarters ahead.
As Ben Bernanke noted in an oft-quoted
excerpt from a speech to the Senate Banking
Committee on July 21, the current outlook
for the economy remains unusually
uncertain. It has become increasingly clear
that the economy has slowed in recent
months to a degree greater than many
economists and even the Federal Reserve
had anticipated. From a broader
perspective, current consensus forecasts for
growth are also lower than was the case
early this year. Moreover, a growing number
of credible economists in recent months
have assigned a probability to a double-dip
recession that is uncomfortably high. As I
2 0 1 1 M I C H I G A N C O N S T R U C T I O N O U T L O O K
Michigans 2011
Construction
Outlook
By Jim Baird, Plante & Moran, PLLC
write this, most still put the odds at less than
50 percent, although these estimates are
clearly subject to revision and could still
change meaningfully as a result of
additional incoming data or policy decisions
from the federal government or the nations
central bank. Regardless, the risk of further
slippage in the pace of growth should not
be ignored.
At this point, we believe it is still
premature to conclude on whether a
double-dip recession will be avoided,
although recent data have again turned
more positive and support glimmers of
comparative optimism. From a historical
perspective, the economy remains weak.
The nations unemployment rate remains
stubbornly elevated, and is likely to move
higher still in the months ahead as
discouraged workers re-enter the workforce
at a pace faster than jobs are being created.
Consumer spending remains contained, as
the lingering effects of the Great Recession
have crimped the availability of credit,
pushed asset prices lower, and created a
renewed need for households to reduce
debt and increase savings. While improved
from historical lows during the depths of the
crisis, consumer confidence remains shaky.
Most measures of the economy in the
State of Michigan remain weak, but are
gradually improving. The states jobless rate
remains well above the national average at
13.1 percent, but has improved from the
14.5 percent cyclical peak last December.
Aggregate personal income for the state
improved nominally over prior year during
the first half of 2010, but remains below its
2008 level. In short, both at the state and
national level, the economy appears to be
gradually healing, but the lingering effects
of the Great Recession particularly on
employment will be felt for years.
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
Businesses have felt the impact of this sea
change in consumer habits to a variety of
degrees. The construction industry has
generally been hit hard during cyclical
downturns, but has been particularly
impacted by the most recent contraction.
Although the broad economy is slowly
growing, a double-dip in housing may
already be underway. While sales of existing
and new homes may be in a bottoming
process nationally, another downward leg in
prices is possible, as foreclosure rates are still
rising and the shadow inventory of
foreclosed homes not yet listed for sale
gradually comes to the market.
The bursting of the housing bubble
continues to weigh heavily on the
residential real estate market, but many
indicators suggest that the bottoming
process may be well underway. The federal
Home Buyer Tax Credit likely helped at the
margins, although a large number of benefi-
ciaries under the credit undoubtedly would
have made a purchase even without the tax
break. The sharp decline in transactions
after June 30 suggests that buyers
understandably accelerated their decision-
making to take advantage of the credit.
While sales recovered somewhat in August,
on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, sales
volume was still over 15 percent lower than
its poor showing in 2008. Housing afford-
ability is attractive and mortgage interest
rates remain very low, although tighter
credit terms will be an impediment for many
potential buyers. Subdued consumer
confidence and renewed household
austerity are significant headwinds to
demand.
Finally, we anticipate that unemployment
will remain high and consumer confidence
and spending will remain constrained for an
extended period. Even if future indicators
ultimately confirm a near-term bottom in
the housing market, we anticipate that the
ongoing macroeconomic concerns
associated with a low-growth recovery will
result in a lackluster pace of new home
construction into 2011.
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
From a cyclical perspective, commercial
real estate tends to be slow to recover and
generally comes after the pace of job
creation gathers momentum. That
relationship alone is troubling given the
lofty rate of joblessness in Michigan, the
excess capacity that already exists, and the
pervasive skepticism about the durability of
the economic recovery. Federal stimulus
funds did drive increased activity in the
public sector, but the impact of that
spending is now winding down. Moreover,
the mid-term elections have the potential to
shift the balance of power in Washington.
What that means for a continuation or
expansion of the recent pace of government
spending for public projects remains to be
seen; with bubbling voter angst over the
bloated deficit, the potential for passage of
another round of stimulus is far from a slam
dunk.
While the construction sector was
amongst the hardest hit as a result of the
recession and bursting of the housing
bubble, the outlook is in many ways similar
to that for the broad economy. The
potential for the slowdown to result in
further deterioration in growth certainly
exists, even if the probability is under 50
percent. We cannot be certain that the
absolute bottom has been reached, and the
potential for a continued downturn in the
economy would likely have a dispropor-
tionately adverse effect on the construction
industry. Should that feared double-dip be
avoided, we would expect that slow growth
will be the watchword in the coming year.
Jim Baird is a partner and the Chief
Investment Strategist with Plante Moran
Financial Advisors, and serves as a member of
the firms Research and Investment
Committees. He provides commentary to the
press on a regular basis related to investment
consulting, the U.S. economy, capital markets
and issues relevant to wealth management.
He is also a Certified Investment
Management Analyst by the Investment
Management Consultants Association, which
involved coursework and an examination
taken at the Wharton School of Business at
the University of Pennsylvania. Jim is one of
only approximately 6,200 individuals to hold
this prestigious designation. In 2008, Jim was
recognized as one of ten Emerging Thought
Leaders in West Michigan by West Michigan
Business Review.
T
he two major non-financial determinants of non-residential
space for which general contractors and their specialty trades
sub-contractors are hired to provide, are: 1) The number of
employees and/or the volume of business for which space is
required to conduct operations; and 2) The availability of existing
space to accommodate such activity. As the size of an organizations
or an industrys employment or volume changes, or a need is
identified to operate more efficiently in order to compete and
survive, a requirement usually arises to construct new building space
or make renovations to existing space. While there is no publicly
available data on the level of occupancy in various types of buildings
across the state, the trend of occupancy in southeastern Michigans
major type of buildings, where over seventy percent of statewide
non-residential property investment is centered, is illustrated in
Chart #1, entitled Southeastern Michigan Non-Residential
Building Occupancy. And Chart #2, entitled Southeastern
Michigan Employment by Sector, outlines the level of employment
Chart #1
in six major building types: industrial, office, retail, institutional,
healthcare and hotel/motel.
The healthcare market appears to currently be the strongest
segment of southeastern Michigans non-residential construction
industry. According to an article in Crains Detroit Business (August 9,
2010), In the last nine months, southeastern Michigans seven major
healthcare systems have announced, or have begun, about $2.4
billion in hospital construction projects. The activities of service
providers in hospitals, out-patient ambulatory centers, nursing and
residential care facilities, and social assistance agencies, as measured
by the Healthcare Services Activity Index, are compared with the
volume of construction work in healthcare facilities, as tracked by the
Healthcare Construction Projects Index, and displayed in Chart # 3,
entitled Southeastern Michigan Healthcare Market
Activity/Construction Projects. The Services Index of 119.6
(2000=100) in 2008 is advanced by two years and compared with the
Construction Projects Index reading of 622 (2000=100) in 2010. This
is necessary because about two years typically pass between the
realizations of the need for additional space or to renovate existing
space, and a change in the volume of business activity or determi-
nation of a requirement to deliver services more efficiently that
initiates the complex planning, design, financing and performance of
the work installing space. After 2008, the Services Activity Index,
declined to 117.2 in 2009 and an estimated 115 in 2010. About 84
percent of the healthcare space segment of the commercial building
market was occupied in 2010, while hospital bed utilization was
about 61 percent in 2009 per the latest reports filed with the
Michigan Department of Community Health.
The operations of manufacturing, mining, wholesaling,
construction, trucking, railroading and utilities are the principal
occupants of industrial facilities in southeastern Michigan, with
manufacturing being the dominant economic sector and motor
vehicles and parts production the primary industry. Chart # 4,
entitled Southeastern Michigan Industrial Market
Activity/Construction Projects, compares the volume both new
and renovated industrial construction with overall manufacturing
and motor vehicle production activity (advanced two years) as their
operations were restructured with the spread of more globalization
in the region and in the auto industry. Since the regions manufac-
turing activity last peaked out in 2006, the Detroit automakers North
American market share has declined nearly 10 percent, reducing car
and truck output by 58 percent and shrinking manufacturing activity
28 percent through 2009, before turning upward by about 16
percent in 2010. Accompanying the restructuring and downsizing in
manufacturing and its effects on factory channels of supply and
other industrial sectors, the level of industrial construction project
activity plunged to 14.5 in 2010 (2000=100) from 41.8 in 2006.
Besides the effect of the downsizing of operations in many industries
on the volume of industrial project work, occupancy of these types
of buildings fell to 86 percent in 2009 from 88 percent in 2006, and
then dropped to about 84 percent in 2010.
Employment levels at years end in office buildings (primarily
comprised of banking, credit unions, insurance, real estate,
accounting, architecture, engineering, advertising, legal, computer,
scientific, personnel, corporate and administrative functions -
advanced two years), is compared with current year office
construction activity, as measured by the Office Construction
Projects Index in Chart # 5, entitled Southeastern Michigan Office
Market Employment/Construction Projects. The Index had moved
to a level of 63.9 in 2005 (2000=100) when employment last reached
a peak of 732,900 jobs. Since then, the Index has continued to
decline primarily with the impact that the housing bust and the
subsequent credit crunch has had on loss of jobs in the bank credit
union, insurance, real estate and legal sectors, and the secondary
effect the lower volume of business has had in other labor markets.
The Construction Projects Index dropped to a level of 19.2
(2000=100) in 2009, and then fell to an estimated level of 11 in 2010.
Declining office sector occupancy, at 76 percent in 2009, down from
Chart #2
Chart #3
Chart #4
80 percent in 2005 and at an estimated 75 percent in 2010, was
another factor suppressing building activity in the office market.
Retail sales, measured on an index basis, are compared with
construction of retail outlet space in Chart # 6, entitled
Southeastern Michigan Retail Sales/Construction Activity. Retail
revenues of durable and non-durable goods outlets (adjusted for
inflation and advanced one year), measured on a basis of year-to-
year change, were in close correlation with construction activity from
1997 through 2004 when retail sales reached their last peak. With
retail sales in decline since then and an upturn in construction
activity in 2005 to 2007 (with 21 percent of construction volume
generated by space renovation) building work, as tracked by the
Retail Construction Projects Index, has been in decline. The Index
dropped to a level of 39.9 in 2009 (2000=100) from 101.4 in 2007, and
the fell again to an estimate level of 30 in 2010. Retail facility
occupancy was at 87 percent in 2009, down slightly from 87.5
percent in 2007, and is estimated to have remained at about 87
percent in 2010 further dampening propensities to undertake retail
construction projects. Retail sales, a significant portion of which are
generated by products for the home, decelerated in 2005 following
the peak in southeastern Michigan home sales and new housing
starts in 2004. Another factor contributing to the downturn in sales
was the decline in home prices which reduced homeowners equity,
a source of funds many households used to buttress their purchasing
power from 1997 through 2007.
Employment in institutional buildings is primarily concerned with
the implementation of the administrative, legislative and judicial
functions of federal, state and local government, school districts,
colleges and universities and membership affiliated groups such as
religious and fraternal organizations. Chart # 7, entitled
Southeastern Michigan Institutional Market
Employment/Construction Activity, compares year-end
employment in the above listed sectors with construction of new
institutional building space and renovation of existing structures as
measured by the Institutional Construction Projects Index. Since
work rolls in institutional facilities peaked in 2003, work rolls have
been shrinking due to the need to bring employment more in line
with declining enrollment, especially in K-12 schools, and in public
administration through the retirements and lay-offs necessary to
bring costs more in line with declining tax and fee revenues. In
response to waning enrollment and employment the volume of
institutional project work dropped to a level of 91.2 in 2009
(2000=100), down its previous high 116.2 in 2007 and then fell again
to an estimated 83 in 2010. No data is publicly available which
reflects the rate of the occupancy levels in institutional buildings.
Chart # 8, entitled Southeastern Michigan Hotel/Motel Market
Activity/Construction Projects compares an index of lodging
industry occupancy with construction activity in the hotel/motel
market segment of southeastern Michigans construction industry.
Room occupancy during recent years, as portrayed by the
Hotel/Motel Occupancy Index, weakened in recent years with a
slackening in business association meetings planned for the region,
high fuel prices, a tightening in the budgets of travel managers, and
increased use of the technology that facilitates meetings through
video conferencing. The Occupancy Index is advanced two years for
comparison the construction activity in a specific year, as tracked by
the Hotel/Motel Construction Projects Index, as two years are
typically required to plan and implement such complex building
projects. The Construction Projects Index moved to a level of 41.5 in
2007 (2000=100) at the last peak of the Occupancy Index, then fell to
14.5 in 2009 before recovering to an estimated level of 26 in 2010. An
estimated 55 percent of hotel and motel rooms were occupied in
2010.
Chart #9, entitled Southeastern Michigan Employment & Non-
Residential Spending Plans/Construction Projects, presents a
review and outlook for all southeastern Michigan non-residential
construction projects comprised of specific market segments
addressed in Charts # 3 - 8, plus other miscellaneous types, compared
with a composite indicator of the level of need for such space in
terms overall year end employment advanced two years. Based on
previously previewed indicators of industry activities in specific
markets during 2009 and 2010 and value of building investment
Chart #5
Chart #6
Chart #7
plans authorized, it is expected non-residential construction work, as
tracked by the Non-residential Construction Projects Index, will
decline to level of 30 in 2011 (2000=100) and 27 in 2012 from 35 in
2010. In 2009, the projects index was forecast to decline to a level of
36.9 in 2010 using the year 2000 as an index base equal to 100.
Besides the decline in employment and investment plans during
the two preceding two years, there are other factors that indicate
activity in southeastern Michigans non-residential building industry
will likely remain subdued during 2011 and 2012. Declining
occupancy rates in all major building sectors means there is
excessive vacant space for lease. As a result, credit markets are very
reluctant to lend to landlords. As local non-residential building
occupancies keep rising and rental income keeps falling, credit
standards for development and construction financing and for
commercial mortgages remain tight, much of it due to high default
rates. According to call reports of banks and other lenders with loans
secured by Michigan income-producing real estate, delinquency
rates were about 16 percent for commercial mortgage backed
securities in the Detroit metropolitan area at mid-year 2010, and 15
percent for those types of commercial mortgages statewide,
according to Realpoint, LLC, a Horsham, PA-based real estate research
firm.
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The wariness of the business sector is
another factor. The Real Estate Roundtable
reported in early August that its quarterly
survey of more than 110 commercial real
estate executives - encompassing office
buildings, shopping malls, warehouses,
hotels, and apartment buildings - found
uncertainty reigns. Whether it is job
creation, unstable capital markets, or a
volatile mix of current policy and the mid-
term elections, investors and businesses are
skittish, causing the nations commercial real
estate outlook to be flat. The good news is
that the second quarters view that
commercial real estate markets (across the
nation) have stopped falling has been
confirmed in this quarter, and values for high
quality assets show strength. But the overall
sentiment is that the industry is in for a long
slow recovery characterized by extreme
caution said Roundtable President and CEO,
Jeffrey DeBoer.
Don Wilson is a consulting economist based
in Hartland, Michigan. He has specialized in
working for trade associations, banks,
chambers of commerce and municipalities
since 1982.
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A
t the University Preparatory Science &
Math School (UPSM), the line blurs
between classroom, science center and
construction site. This amazing new middle
school and new Detroit Science Center (DSC)
lobby is directly linked to the existing DSC, an
interactive facility that brings the pages of a
textbook to life in the form of a stroll through a
12-foot-tall replica of a human heart or a
stunning IMAX movie on Hubbles space
voyage. DeMaria Building Company, Detroit,
constructed this $12.6 million dollar building
that brings the wonders of science and
technology to the very doorstep of this
innovative urban schoolhouse. Students of this
new public charter school even had a glimpse
of the challenges of construction. At one point,
windows in a temporary wall essentially turned
the jobsite into an exhibit by allowing UPSM
students and Science Center visitors a view of
construction in progress.
The completed building itself is a teaching
tool in perfect sync with the schools mission to
excite students about science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. The building
interior is supposed to be visually educational
in the sense that the technology of the
building is expressed through its exposed
systems and steel, said Francis Resendes,
principal of Resendes Design Group, LLC, the
next generation of GunnLevine Associates, Inc.,
whose quality design and construction is a
perfect fit with the existing DSC and with all of
the Cultural Centers remarkable buildings.
A PERFECT SOLUTION
Technology is all about problem solving, and
this new hub dedicated to all things scientific,
technical and mathematical offered creative
solutions to the core problems of two
institutions. UPSM was looking for a
permanent home after launching its first year
of classes in the Compuware Building in
downtown Detroit. The DSC needed a much
larger lobby or receiving area to house the
ticket counter and queuing areas for the
growing numbers of school children and
members of the general public visiting this
C O N S T R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T
UPSM: A Successful
Experiment in Advanced
Building Sciences
By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor
Photography by Curt Clayton, Clayton Studio
popular attraction. Building this expansive
new reception zone, plus a dining area on the
lower level, created more room for exhibit
space in the existing Center.
The two institutions are a perfect match.
The Science Centers mission is to excite and
energize students about science and math, and
our mission, of course, is to educate students in
those areas, said Margaret Trimer-Hartley,
UPSM superintendent. It really is a match
made in heaven.
The two institutions inhabit independent
spaces but share a common entry with Science
Center visitors entering the new lobby, or
welcoming area, through a set of doors to the
right; another set of doors lead to the schools
central stairway, controlled access elevators,
and a glass-enclosed main office.
SOLVING A STORY PROBLEM
In designing this cutting-edge facility,
Resendes Design Group (then GunnLevine)
solved a difficult problem of its own: How to
place a 77,000-square-foot building on less
than half-an-acre of land? This half- acre was
once the Science Center parking lot, meaning
Resendes was tasked with preserving as many
parking spaces as possible and maintaining a
drop-off zone.
The design solution turned mission
impossible into a phenomenal building.
According to Resendes, the design
shoehorned the three-story building with a
lower level into this tight site by suspending
the upper two floors from the roof trusses and
cantilevering the floors a full 24 to 26 feet. The
cantilevered second and third floors house all
the classroom space, while the lower level
contains the gymnasium.
Dominating the buildings west and north
sides, these great cantilevers are divided into
three boxes with their faces clad in metal
composite panels but their edges and divisions
composed of tinted glass. By skewing or
rotating the cantilevered boxes 16 degrees to
the northwest, the metal panels block the glare
of the western sun while the glass draws in
sunlight from the south.
The angle, the cantilevers, and the glass
create wonderful sightlines through the school
interior and of Detroits Cultural Center. This is
no ordinary schoolhouse. The divisions
between the boxes become locker alcoves or
cul de sacs with grand views lining up with the
grid of city streets below. One alcove turns the
gaze straight down Farnsworth Avenue with
the Detroit Institute of Arts on one side and the
Rackham Building on the other.
The cantilevered boxes each composed of
three suites containing two classrooms and a
lab bring other beautiful vistas into this
amazing schoolhouse, including the elegant
masonry of the Scarab Club and the DIAs
marble walls and tile roof. Sight lines also
penetrate from one angled classroom, across
the gap between boxes, and into the classroom
beyond. A third-floor classroom offers a sight
line through the entire upper level.
A gymnasium in the lower level is another
unconventional placement driven by space
constraints. Typically, a gymnasium is a big-box
structure attached to the main school. At
UPSM, inspired architectural and structural
steel design drew this gym with a lower-level
gym with a clear span able to bear the point
loads of the columns above.
CLEARING THE FIELD
Of course, problem solving did not stop at
the design phase. DeMaria had to solve two
technical issues of its own before launching
actual construction. The main power feed for
the Science Center and the emergency exit and
stair were both located within the new
buildings footprint, said Darren Murray,
DeMaria vice president, Commercial &
Industrial Groups. Relocating and re-tapping
the duct bank the original one ran directly
across the site was one of the first tasks of this
demanding job. Part of the effort involved
working a 12-hour shift at night to finish the
relocation and reconnection while temporarily
shutting down service to the Science Center,
said Ken Kersanty, DeMaria senior project
superintendent.
Building a new emergency exit and stair and
demolishing the old all had to be
accomplished before the buildings intricate
steel frame could rise from the 12-foot-high
concrete foundation walls. The complexity of
the steel is worthy of being showcased as a
museum exhibit itself. There was nothing
cookie-cutter about the steel fabrication,
installation, detailing or site logistics.
A STEEL JIGSAW PUZZLE
Casadei Steels work was a tour de force,
having fabricated 1,173 steel members all of
which are basically custom pieces. There was
no repetition, said Bruno Casadei, president of
Casadei Steel, Inc., Sterling Heights. Almost
every piece was different in one way, shape or
form. The detailing was a challenge, because
there were very few connections that were at a
right angle. This created the necessity of
coming up with a lot of creative details to make
the connections work with the sizes of the
steel.
Even the columns were atypical, being one-
piece columns of about 65-feet in length. That
was a real feat in and of itself, because most of
the time two columns are spliced together as
the building rises, but these are single
columns, said Resendes.
Despite the complexity of the steel, the work
was delivered on schedule. Casadei bought
the steel from seven different mills to get it
here on time, said Kersanty.
Steel installation was equally rigorous.
Beyond installing temporary shoring to
accommodate the cantilevers, the steel pieces
had to be assembled in a very specific
sequence because of the intricacy of the frame
with its tapered cantilevers, floors suspended
from the roof trusses, and the general angle of
the building. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, said
Casadei. We also had to make sure we were
shipping the right sequences at the right time
because it was such a tight site.
Commented Resendes, For a complicated
The new Detroit Science Center lobby has ample space to accommodate the growing numbers
of people visiting this popular Cultural Center attraction.
structural system, it was amazingly seamless.
Casadei and SDI, the structural engineer, did an
amazing job. I believe they shared digital files
and used the latest and greatest in shop
drawing creation and reviews. The steel
teams modeling program also aided in coordi-
nating the ductwork and other exposed
building systems, added Kersanty.
DELIVERING THE GOODS
With limited area for material lay down or
even a place to station a large crane in a single
spot, DeMaria had to carefully coordinate site
logistics during steel installation and
throughout the project. Safety was also
paramount, because the Science Center was
operational throughout construction. We had
to time deliveries for early in the morning and
make sure the appropriate areas were
secured, said Murray.
Despite the buildings complexity and the
bustling construction site and its surroundings,
DeMaria delivered the job in time for the
school doors to open in September 2009. We
had to adopt a no Plan B mentality, said
Kersanty. We had to get it done, no matter
what the winter was like. DeMaria poured the
concrete decks in 13-degree weather and
brought in snow blowers to clear the floors
while the crew framed the exterior walls.
The north end of the building was left open
temporarily in order to feed the job, said
Murray. Added Kersanty, We pulled up on
boom trucks to the second floor and boomed
all of our drywall inside the building before we
built the curtain wall system.
DeMaria also carved a large opening
between the new lobby, or welcoming and
ticket area, and the existing Science Center. It
involved some creative construction, said
Kersanty. DeMaria temporarily shored up the
opening, removed a column, and installed a
massive beam to create a seamless transition
between the old and new buildings. A two-
hour firewall was also installed between the
new lobby and the existing Science Center,
along with a second firewall separating the
school and lobby.
Now finished, a grand stair links the two-
level lobby with a dining area on the lower
level whose large shutters open to create a
grand space for the Science Centers annual
fundraising gala. The Science Center now
enjoys an expansive queuing area whose glass
curtain wall reveals the African American
Museum and other surrounding buildings.
Before the queuing area was only a quarter of
the size of the new space, said Resendes.
A PLAYFUL MIX
The completed building is a playful mix of
geometry and color that expands on the
vocabulary of the original Science Center and
articulates the spaces within the new
building, said Resendes. Cavity wall glazed
masonry units in a rich, cobalt blue mark the
location of the gymnasium; a composite rain
screen metal panel system on the west faade
represents the classroom cubes. The silver
panels, glazed masonry and the green-tinted
glass of the new Science Center lobby unify the
two buildings into a cohesive whole.
The new building is a perfect neighbor to
the surrounding Cultural Center. The building
is embedded within this vital part of Detroit
with the African American Museum to the east,
the DIA on the West, and the Scarab Club and
College of Creative Studies due north. There is
no back to the building, said Resendes. I think
the best feedback that we have gotten on the
project is that we respected the neighboring
buildings. At the end of the day, people think
the building has always been here.
The school interior has three main stairways,
each painted in a bold primary color. Vibrant
color, exposed building systems, and white-
painted structural steel dominate the interior.
DeMaria did an amazing job of coordinating
an interior of all exposed construction, said
Resendes. A ton of coordination was needed
to place all the data and technology in a way
that has both aesthetic value and educational
value for the students.
If a UPSM student ever wonders how a
building is put together, he or she only needs
to look at the exposed steel trusses on the third
floor each weighing 18,985 pounds - or the
pieces of steel converging at all angles in the
corridors and classrooms of this unique
perched school.
In lieu of a traditional corridor, the schools
contemporary core has exterior studio spaces
for group activities and several freestanding
modular offices called lanterns. The core is
the junction where the angled cantilevered
cubes of the west and north meet the conven-
tional rectangle of the schools east side. The
east side has more discreet, isolated
classrooms, said Resendes, as opposed to the
C O N S T R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T
With classrooms housed in cantilevered
cubes set on an angle and edged in
glass, students enjoy views of the
surrounding Cultural Center and even
glimpses of the adjacent rooms.
Three cantilevered cubes offer the
perfect design solution for a tight site
and create a stunning building in Detroit.
classroom and lab suites. The eastsides more
traditional corridor wall is broken up by a
playful pattern of lit vertical bars that expresses
the schools high-tech bent.
A BALANCED EQUATION
Funded by the Thompson Educational
Foundation, student selection is based on a
lottery system and not financial ability. The
whole goal is to encourage attendance from
every socio-economic group, said Resendes.
Students obtain free membership to the
Detroit Science Center and even function as
junior docents who gain an in-depth
knowledge of the exhibits. The Science Center
has great exhibits that tie right into the middle
school curriculum, said Trimer-Hartley. The
students receive a great deal of exposure to the
exhibits, attending with chaperones or
supervisors.
The DSC staff engineers and volunteers even
judge the schools science fair projects to
tweak and improve the submissions for
competition in larger venues. In turn, the
Science Center uses our classrooms for
summer camp and the gymnasium for some
evening events, said Hartley.
This wonderful school in the heart of
Detroits Cultural Center is sure to inspire
students to embrace rewarding careers in
science, engineering, technology and math
all disciplines that built this high-tech
schoolhouse at John R and Farnsworth
Avenues. Add DeMarias management skills,
the craftsmanship of trade contractors, and
Resendes inspired design to the equation and
the end result is one of the most striking and
exciting schools in Detroit.
UPSM SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
Architectural Photographer
Clayton Studio, Detroit
G Mechanical Macomb Mechanical, Inc.,
Sterling Heights
G Misc. Metals Taft Steel, New Hudson
G Electrical Conti Electric, Inc.,
Sterling Heights
G Structural Steel Casadei Steel, Inc.,
Sterling Heights
G Manufactured Wall panels Exterior
Metals, Inc., Burton
G Wet/CO2 Fire Protection Lincoln
Fire Protection, South Rockwood
G Surveying & Layout Kem-Tec &
Associates, Eastpointe
G Pour Footing/Foundation DSP
Constructors, Novi
G Pour Int. SOG Broadcast Design,
Mt. Clemens
G Wood Lagging JC Holly
Contracting, Inc., Romulus
G Selective Demolition Precision
Demolition Services, Inc., Brighton
G Temporary Fencing Keystone Fence
& Supply Co., Redford
G Elevators Kone, Inc., Livonia
G Resilient Flooring Master Craft
Carpet Service, Redford
G Precast Concrete Leidal & Hart
Mason Contractors, Livonia
G Painting L & R Painting, Inc., Highland
G Food Service Equipment Stafford-
Smith, Inc., Chicago
G Finish Carpentry Horizon Millwork,
Wayne
G Roof Rough Carpentry Turner-Brooks,
Inc., Madison Heights
G Entrances & Storefronts
Chamberlain Glass & Metal, Detroit
G Metal Doors & Frames - R.K. Hoppe
Corporation, New Hudson
G Lockers Steel Equipment Company,
Pontiac
G Precast Concrete Day Precast
Concrete Products, Toledo, OH
G Window Treatment Sheer Shop,
Shelby Township
G Signage Harmon, Inc., Toledo, OH
G Acoustical Wall Treatment
Integrated Interiors, Inc., Warren
G Gymnasium Equipment Bareman &
Associates, Inc., Jenison
G Partitions American Furniture
Contractors, Grand Rapids
G Furniture & Accessories BEC
International, East Lansing
G Membrane Roofing Royal Roofing, Inc.,
Orion
G Expansion Joint Cover Assembly
Royal Restoration & Waterproof,
Livonia
G Toilet Compartments Great Lakes
Specialties, Flint
G Markerboards Cig Jan Products,
Caledonia
G Coiling Doors & Grills KVM Door
Systems, Clinton Township
G Landscaping Margolis Nursery, Inc.,
Ypsilanti
G Paving & Surfacing Nagle Paving
Company, Novi
G Louvers Nystrom Building Products,
Minneapolis, MN
G Exterior Benches Landscape Forms,
Detroit
G Fireproofing Spray-On Fireproofing,
Inc., Dimondale
G Fire Protection Fire Extinguisher Sales
& Service, Fraser
G Ceramic Tile B & B Tile & Marble Co., Inc.,
Fair Haven
G Final Clean Up Total Building
Maintenance, Waterford
Subcontractors and professional consultants
listed in this feature are identified by the
general contractor, architect or owner.
General Equipment Releases New TCT Series
Augers for Tough Drilling Projects
General Equipment Company has introduced its line of TCT Series
augers for heavy duty drilling projects. These new augers work with
General Equipments full line of DIG-R-TACH hydraulic earth auger
attachments as well as competitive models. When given adequate
torque and down force, they excel in tough ground.
Engineered to withstand high stress, the TCT Series is well suited
for drilling in soft sandstone or limestone formations, caliche,
hardpan and other tough materials. To penetrate rock and
compacted soil, the augers feature boring heads cast from alloy
steel, and the bits are manufactured of conical tungsten carbide.
Furthermore, they incorporate high-strength sectional flighting
designed to minimize material fallback.
The TCT Series comes in 36-, 48- and 60-inch digging depths and
6- to 36-inch diameters. For maximum compatibility all models are
available with 2-inch-round, 2 9/16-inch-round, and 2-inch-
hexagonal auger drive connections. This allows them to attach to
popular models of skid loaders, mini excavators and
tractor/loader/backhoes.
For more information, contact General Equipment Co., 620
Alexander Drive S.W., Owatonna, MN 55060; call 507-451-5510 or
800-533-0524; fax 507-451-5511 or 877-344-4375(DIGGER5); or visit
the website at www.generalequip.com.
IK-WB16A-W is Toshiba's First Wireless 2MP IP
Video Surveillance Camera
Toshiba Surveillance & IP Video has unveiled its first wireless two-
megapixel IP camera, the IK-WB16A-W.
Equipped with IEEE 802.11n wireless connectivity and a versatile
Pan, Tilt, and digital Zoom, the camera gives installers freedom to
mount wherever detailed video surveillance is required, including
areas not wired with coaxial or CAT cabling. Once installed, the
camera's live video can be viewed and camera movements
controlled by either a network linked PC, notebook or viewed via
Internet-ready cell phone.
The IK-WB16A-W supports simultaneous quad streaming of MPEG-
4 and MJPEG video in a variety of resolutions to provide both higher
quality and optimal bandwidth efficient compression formats. A
maximum of ten clients can simultaneously access live video plus
record video directly onto a PC hard-drive or NVR. Additionally, the
camera features a Micro SD card slot for local storage in the event of
connection failure or tampering.
Toshiba also offers a non-wireless version of the IK-WB16A-W
equipped with PoE to allow it to be mounted in locations not
adjacent to a power outlet. Its product number is IK-WB16A.
Key to both camera's image clarity is an advanced 1/3.2" CMOS
progressive scan sensor that delivers flicker-free, ultra-sharp color
video up to 30 frames-per-second without picture blur. User-
selectable resolutions range from megapixel 1600 x 1200 to
cell-phone size 176 x 144 pixels. There is also a 4X digital zoom to
take advantage of higher resolution settings.
Both the IK-WB16A-W and IK-WB16A ship fully assembled ready to
install and are backed by a three-year warranty. Optional mounts and
housings allow the cameras to be safely installed outdoors.
For more information, visit www.toshibasecurity.com. Or call
1-877-855-1349.
Lincoln Electric Enhances Two Wires in its
Metalshield Line with H4 Diffusible Hydrogen
Levels
Lincoln Electric has updated its Metalshield line of metal-cored
wires with H4 diffusible hydrogen MC-6 and MC-706. The products
now feature less than 4mL of diffusible hydrogen per 100g of weld
P R O D U C T S H O W C A S E
metal to reduce the risk of porosity and
hydrogen-induced cracking in weld
deposits. In addition, Metalshield MC-706
has been tested and approved for American
Welding Society (AWS) D1.8 seismic welding
applications. Both are designed for arc
welding applications and offer low spatter
levels, deoxidizing arc action and high travel
speeds.
Metalshield MC-6 (E70C-6M H4) is a mild
steel, metal-cored wire for all position
welding that provides optimal performance
in fast-follow, high travel speed applications.
The wire tolerates moderate amounts of
surface contaminants and features optimal
wetting action, even at low voltages. MC-6s
low spatter levels minimize post-weld
cleaning, especially when used with Rapid-
Arc Waveform Control Technology found
in Power Wave equipment.
Metalshield MC-706 (E70C-6M H4) is a
mild steel, metal-cored wire for all position
welding that is designed for high
deposition, high travel speed applications.
Metalshield MC-706 offers enhanced silicon
island management to minimize slag and
cleanup time. The wire tolerates higher
amounts of surface contaminants and
produces welds with Charpy V-notch
toughness down to -40 degrees F (-40 C).
Another added feature of Metalshield MC-
706 is AWS D1.8 seismic welding approval.
Two diameters are tested to meet lot waiver
requirements and test results are available
online. To view of download the AWS D1.8
Certificate of Conformance, visit
www.lincolnelectric.com/D1.8.
These products are available to purchase
in three different diameters and have several
packaging options to choose from. Contact
your local distributor or Lincoln Electric sales
representative. For more information on
these new Metalshield wires, visit
www.lincolnelectric.com to obtain Bulletin
C3.11.1 and C3.11.2.
New Leica PowerDigger Lite
Guidance System Increases
Machine Productivity for
Backhoes and Mini
Excavators
Leica Geosystems releases Leica
PowerDigger Lite, its new entry-level
single- slope guidance system for all
types of excavators. PowerDigger Lite is
easy to use, economical, and answers the
needs of contractors looking for an entry-
level machine control system.
Designed with single slope applications in
mind, PowerDigger Lite is well suited for
mini excavators and backhoes. It increases
machine productivity by eliminating stakes
over-excavations.
PowerDigger Lite offers the flexibility to
work from different references including the
existing surface, hub, stringline, or laser
reference, and the reference surface can be
offset.
The system, based on the PowerDigger
hardware platform, is targeted at single
slope applications such as trenching,
grading and pipe-laying, and can be
mounted on any excavator. The
PowerDigger Lite is 100% waterproof, so no
special sensors or cables are needed for
underwater use.
Quickly installed, PowerDigger Lites heart
is the rugged control panel with a full-color
3.5-inch graphical display, enabling accurate
single slope and depth control. The simple
menu structure provides an intuitive user
interface for quick learning and increased
productivity.
All functions are logically placed for
straight forward operation. To start work,
operators simply choose a height reference
and enter the desired slope; both are
presented on the graphical display. Final
grade and the offset from the bucket edge
are also displayed onscreen.
Leica PowerDigger Lite offers basic
functions for single slope standard
applications. It can be used for foundations,
embankments, pipe trenches, grading, and
even for underwater work, as the user can
always see the bucket position relative to
target grade on your display. By eliminating
over-excavation and working faster,
contractors will save time,
money, fuel
and
materials
costs.
Leica
PowerDigger
Lite also
removes the
need for grade
checking
increasing safety
on busy
construction sites.
Additionally, when
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working in potentially dangerous areas such as under bridges and
power lines or inside buildings, the operator can preset a maximum
working height or depth and be warned when the excavator arm or
bucket reaches the critical height. Leica PowerDigger Lite also
features the unique integrated buried service detection warning. An
EZiDIG cable detection sensor can be interfaced directly to the
PowerDigger CAN connection. The operator will be alerted of buried
services while digging by an audio alarm and a multi-level bar on the
PowerDigger Lite display.
Leica PowerDigger Lite is available now through all authorized
Leica Geosystems Machine Control Dealers. For more information,
go to www.leica-geosystems.us/machinecontrol.
Metabo's New Angle Grinder Features Non-
Locking Paddle Switch for Added Safety
Metabo Corporation has introduced the new WP8-115 Quick 4-
1/2" angle grinder with a non-locking paddle switch for added
safety.
Metabo's new angle grinder is well suited for the most rugged
applications including cutting and grinding metal or concrete. The
WP8-115 Quick features a long lasting 8.0 A motor with 800 watts of
power, 19.5 inch-lbs. of torque and a no-load speed of 10,000 rpm.
The WP8-115 Quick has an effective dust protection system that
includes an encapsulated on/off switch and auto-stop carbon
brushes, double-lipped labyrinth sealed bearings, Metabo's unique
dust-deflecting winding protection grid and epoxy coated field coil
windings.
Weighing just 5.3 lbs., this new lightweight, ergonomic grinder
features a secure 'racket' grip and dual grip zones for comfortable
handling. The tool's anti-vibration side handle absorbs up to 60% of
the vibration, allowing the operator to hold the tool longer and
resulting in less user fatigue.
The WP8-115 Quick's toolless wheel change system saves time and
energy when replacing wheels, making the operator more efficient.
Other tool safety features consist of a toolless locking wheel guard
with seven positions, spindle lock and the Metabo "S-Automatic"
safety slip clutch to help protect the operator from kickback by
absorbing the torque created should the wheel bind or snag.
Optional equipment for the WP8-115 Quick includes a Type 1 Cut-
off Wheel Guard and Metabo's Dust Director Tuck Pointing Guard as
well as a wide variety of abrasives, sanding discs and wire wheels.
For more information, please visit our website
http://www.metabo.us/NEW-Paddle-Switch-Grinders.31989.0.html
or contact Terry Tuerk, Metabo Corporation, 1231 Wilson Drive, West
Chester, PA 19380; 800-638-2264; fax: 800-638-2261; e-mail:
ttuerk@metabousa.com; or visit www.metabousa.com.
Henry Companys BES Sealant is Now
Available in Sausages
In addition to 10.3-fluid ounce cartridges, Henry Company HE925
BES Sealant for Building Envelope Systems is now
available packaged in 20-fluid ounce sausages,
providing installers with greater economy and
convenience.
Developed as a fully compatible sealant for other
Building Envelope Systems components, HE925 BES
Sealant is used as a termination sealant for Blueskin
barrier membranes; as an external joint sealant for
Henry/Bakor air barrier, waterproofing and roofing
systems; and as an alternative to silicone and
moisture-cure urethanes in the aforementioned
construction applications that include aluminum,
galvanized metal, glass, wood, stone, concrete and
masonry, stucco, exterior gypsum board, and exterior
insulation finishing systems (EIFS). It also seals wall
and window penetrations.
Henry Company HE925 BES Sealant is a premium,
moisture-cure, medium-modulus sealant for
construction joints up to one inch (25mm) wide that
are subject to dynamic joint movement. Made with
silyl-terminated polyether (STPe) polymer, it is
flexible, resistant to weathering, free of solvents and
environmentally sustainable, and offers low odor and
very low volatile organic compounds (VOC), as well
as being compliant with ASTM C 719, plus/minus 25
percent.
Available in black, grey, white and limestone, Henry
Company HE925 BES Sealant cures to a non-
yellowing seal that can be painted with latex-based
paints. There are 12 sausages to each case.
For additional information regarding Henry
products or services, please contact Henry Customer
Service at 1-800-486-1278.
Lamar Lighting Now Offers Occu-smart
Motion Sensor Controlled Bi-Level Lighting
With Green Light Savers
Lamar Lighting now offers its Occu-smart series of motion sensor
controlled bi-level lighting with Green Light Savers self-illuminating
phosphorescent device factory installed.
Occu-smart is suitable for use in stairwells and other seldom
occupied areas to provide energy savings with improved safety
during occupied periods. With the addition of these engineered
glow-in-the-dark modules, made with strontium oxide, Occu-smart
P R O D U C T S H O W C A S E
luminaires can provide up to several hours
of supplemental egress guidance in the
event of a power outage. Although not
intended to replace emergency lighting
which is also available in most Occu-smart
models, these modules can aid in occupants
finding their way to safety.
Visit www.occusmart.com for more
information on the complete line of motion
sensor controlled lighting or contact the
Sales Department at Lamar Lighting Co. Inc.,
485 Smith Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735,
USA. Phone: 800-724-7743 (631-777-7700
within NY and Internationally); fax: 631-777-
7705; E-mail: sales@lamarlighting.com.
Robert L. OBoyle, FASLA, founder of the
Kalamazoo-based landscape architecture
firm OBoyle, Cowell,
Blalock & Associates, Inc.
(OCBA) was recognized by
the Michigan Chapter of the
American Society of
Landscape Architects for his
professional contributions
in over more than 50 years
of practice as a landscape
architect. Several distinguished architects
and landscape architects spoke about their
interactions with OBoyle over the course of
his career, from which he retired at the end
of 2009. OBoyle was instrumental in the
development of many well-known projects
throughout Michigan.
The Mason Contractors Association
(MCA) recently honored Ray Baker, founder
of Baker Construction Company Inc.,
Whitmore Lake, with its Lifetime
Achievement Award. It is only the third
Lifetime Achievement Award the MCA has
given out in the past 100 years. Ray Baker
started Baker Construction Company in
1952; it has now grown into a third
generation company.
Plunkett Cooney, a law firm
headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, recently
announced that seven of its attorneys have
been named as Rising Stars in the 2010
issue of Michigan Super Lawyers magazine.
They include: Paul J. Dwaihy; Gary W.
Francis; Jeffrey S. Hengeveld; Chiara
Mattieson; Megan P. McKnight; George A.
Netschke, IV; and Nicole E. Wilinski.
TowerPinkster, an
architecture and
engineering firm with
offices in Kalamazoo and
Grand Rapids, recently
announced the
appointment of Jason
Novotny, AIA, LEED AP as
director of design.
Sachse Construction, Birmingham,
recently announced that Ben Ealy, project
superintendent, and Noah Wolfson, director
of business development, have earned
credentials as LEED Green Associates. The
designations were awarded by the U.S.
Green Building Council.
Clark Construction, a construction
management firm headquartered in
Lansing, recently announced that their vice
president of operations, Gerald Boerner,
was named chairman of the Research &
Development Committee
for the Lean Construction
Institute (LCI), Michigan
Chapter. The Lean
Construction Institute (LCI),
a non-profit research
organization, develops and
disseminates new
knowledge regarding the
management of work in design, engineering
and construction for capital facilities.
Boerner has 25 years of experience in
commercial, retail, and institutional projects.
Michigan Super Lawyers magazine recently
named 34 associates at the law firm
Plunkett Cooney, headquartered in
Bloomfield Hills, as Super Lawyers. The
designation is based on statewide balloting
by Michigan attorneys, research conducted
by Thomson Reuters, which publishes
Michigan Super Lawyers magazine, and a
peer review process that encompasses 60
different practice areas. The Plunkett Cooney
attorneys receiving this designation are:
Michael P. Ashcraft, Jr.; Douglas C.
Bernstein; William D. Booth; Charles W.
Browning; Henry B. Cooney; Dennis G.
Cowan; Jerome A. Galante; Jeffrey C.
Gerish; Michael J. Hagerty; Robert G.
Kamenec; Theresa Smith Lloyd; Stanley C.
Moore, III; Scott H. Sirich; Leslie J. Stein; D.
Jerry Watters; Michael D. Weaver; Loretta
M. Ames; Ernest R. Bazzana; James R.
Geroux; Kenneth C. Newa; Christine D.
Oldani; Stanley A. Prokop; Mary Catherine
Rentz; Mary Massaron Ross; James C.
Thomas; Anita B. Folino; David K. Otis;
Audrey J. Forbush; H. William Reising;
Mark H. Verwys; Michael S. Bogren; D.
Jennifer Andreou; Lawrence R.
Donaldson; and Steven L. Barney.
Stephen T. Welly, president of RLWest
Properties, a regional real
estate development and
property management firm
located in Toledo, OH,
recently announced the
appointment of two senior
managers. Timothy
Grohnke has been
appointed chief operating
officer, and Barry K. Rigby has been
appointed executive vice
president. Welly and Rigby
will focus on expanding
RLWest Properties office in
Charlotte, NC and Grohnke
will oversee day-to-day
operations at RLWest
Properties in OH.
C O R P O R A T E N E W S
CAM Member, Capital Letters, an Ann
Arbor-based marketing company, has
developed and implemented a new website
for the W.J. ONeil Company (WJO), Livonia.
Strategic partner, Creativibe, added the
design expertise and the website follows the
direction set by the strategic marketing road
map that Capital Letters developed for WJO.
The road map includes press releases,
tradeshow materials, and brochures for each
division (currently in development).
Capital Letters was selected as the
marketing agency shortly after WJO won
contracts to build a new automotive plant
for Volkswagen of America in Chattanooga,
TN. The mechanical contractor has installed
piping and HVAC systems in auto plants
throughout Michigan. They also completed
large installations at Comerica Park and Ford
Field. Their new website can be found at
www.WJO.com. Features include a
password-protected planroom for clients
and subcontractors, as well photos and
details of featured projects and case studies.
Clark Construction Company, Lansing,
has been named as construction manager
for Ingham Countys new 911 emergency
dispatch center. The new 911 center will
combine the Lansing and East Lansing
centers into one facility. The Ingham County
911 center will meet all of the new
homeland security requirements and will be
occupied 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
365 days a year. Scheduled to start in
March/April of 2011, the anticipated
completion is early fall 2011. Clark
Construction Company also announced that
it has been selected as the construction
manager for the North Central Michigan
College Health Education and Science
Center Building in Petoskey. The project
includes construction of a brand new
28,000-square-foot Science Center Building
in addition to a 16,400-square-foot
renovation of two existing Science
Buildings. Construction is expected to begin
in April 2011.
P E O P L E I N C O N S T R U C T I O N
OBoyle
Novotny
Boerner
Rigby
Grohnke
G2 Consulting Group of Troy recently
completed geotechnical investigations of a
site adjacent to Kalamazoo Colleges campus
for a proposed athletic complex that will
include a new field house, press
box/concessions building, restroom building
and outdoor synthetic turf athletic fields for
baseball, football, soccer and softball.
Kirco/Manix of Troy is the projects
construction manager. Construction began
in fall 2010. Also, G2 is providing
geotechnical engineering and design
services for two Michigan interstate
highway construction projects in Warren
and Lansing. In Warren, G2 is providing
geotechnical engineering and foundation
design services for the widening of the two
existing turn-around bridges located east
and west of the Hoover Road bridge over I-
696. Construction began in fall 2010. In
Lansing, G2 is providing geotechnical
recommendations for design and
construction of roadways, bridge widening,
ramps, retaining walls, signs and signals
related to the rehabilitation of seven miles
of I-96 and intersecting roads from south of
Saginaw Highway to west of Wacousta Road.
D.J. McQuestion & Sons Company of LeRoy is
the prime contractor for the design/build
team, and Alfred Benesch & Company of
Lansing is the prime engineering firm on the
team.
The Christman Company, headquartered
in Lansing, has announced the following: the
company recently broke ground for the
construction of a new Hazardous Material
(HAZMAT) Response Facility on the
Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, VA. They
will be working with design partner, Lord,
Aeck & Sargent on the $13.1 million project
for the U.S. Department of Defense. The
28,000-square-foot two-story facility will
house emergency response equipment and
staff for various biological threat events,
relocating these operations from their
current leased warehouse facility. It will
include Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory
space along with support offices and space
to house emergency response equipment.
Also, The Christman Company is
constructing the new 160,000-square-foot,
five-story Human Health Building at
Oakland University in Rochester. The new
building, designed to be a showcase for
innovative green building technologies, is
designed by SmithGroup, Detroit, and will
integrate the School of Nursing and the
School of Health Sciences for Oakland
University under one roof.
RLWest Properties, Toledo, OH, a regional
real estate development and property
management company, recently announced
the creation of RLW Appraisal and
Consulting, a commercial appraisal and
consulting company. The firm serves real
estate brokers, lenders, bankers, real estate
attorneys and the real estate investment
community.
Are You Connected?
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CAM Magazine and
the Constuction
Association of
Michigan by following
us on these popular
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better serve the membership.
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with that are not listed in the Construction Buyers Guide.
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Sign these firms up for membership in CAM and you will receive
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OR
one of the following, a $50 HOME DEPOT Gift Card or a $50 SPEEDWAY Gas Card
for each member firm you sign up!
Call the CAM Membership Dept. today
(248) 972-1000 or (989) 754-4872
Also visit us at www.cam-online.com
Annual dues to CAM are $295 with a first time $90 initiation fee.
Its easy...
GEM Inc., a specialty contractor headquartered near Toledo, OH,
has earned an Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. GEM Inc. has
reduced its electric energy consumption by more than 23 percent,
reducing its carbon footprint by more than 88 metric tons of
emissions per year.
Synergy Group, Inc., Bloomfield Hills, announced today that it has
been contracted to construct a soft business landing center
expansion at Automation Alleys Troy headquarters. Automation
Alley is Michigans largest technology business association with
more than 1,000 members. Synergy was selected to build the office
building expansion on a design-build basis. Construction will take
place during the winter months and the project is scheduled for
completion in spring 2011. Synergy Group specializes in fast-track
build outs to bring projects to completion faster at less cost to
owners.
Hobbs+Black Associates, Inc., an architectural firm
headquartered in Ann Arbor, has been commissioned by Cosma
International, manufacturer of body and chassis systems, to design a
new plant in the Sao Paulo area of Brazil. The 390,000-square-foot
new facility will produce stamped and welded assemblies for global
automakers. The launch of the plant is scheduled for early 2011. This
is Cosma Internationals first development in Brazil, and is expected
to be the model facility for all of South America.
P E O P L E I N C O N S T R U C T I O N
Oakland Metal
Sales, 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 from
Different 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.com
Phone (248) 377-8847
Fax (248) 377-4196
info@oaklandmetalsales.com
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1984
Oakland Metal
Sales, 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 from
Different 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.com
Phone (248) 377-8847
Fax (248) 377-4196
info@oaklandmetalsales.com
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1984
SPEAK UP!
The Editors of CAM Magazine invite
comments from our readers.
E-mail us at editor@cam-online.com
Or send your remarks to:
CAM Magazine
43636 Woodward Ave.
P.O. Box 3204
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204
www.cammagazineonline.com
Voice Of The
Construction Industry
January/February
G CAM Tradeshow Issue
G Construction Safety
G Tools
G Concrete
C O M I N G U P I N
Demolition
Land Remediation
Dismantling
Decontamination
Asbestos Removal
Asset Recovery
Industrial Cleaning
Interior/Selective Demolition
Plant Decomissioning
www.homrichinc.com
jeffr@homrichinc.com
734.654.9800
PLUS: UNIVERSAL MALL - Revitalized Mall Enhances Twelve Mile & Dequindre
NOVEMBER 2010 VOL. 31 NO. 10 $4. 00

IN THIS ISSUE:
ELECTRICAL
Henry Ford Museum
Upgrades Electrical System
Bringing a New
Battery Plant to Livonia
The R
ig
ht C
hem
istry
METALS/STEEL
Greektown Casino is
Made of the Right Metal
Building Expansion
Underway at WSU
We offer custom reprints of
articles that appear in CAM
Magazine! Reprints make
excellent promotional pieces
that showcase YOUR
companys projects.
We are your #1 source for
CAM Reprints!
Call us at 248-972-1107 for
more information.
Get Winning
Results with
Reprints!
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Results with
Reprints!
A-1 Specialty Services, Hazel Park
Automated Electric, Oakland
Billy White Roofing, LLC, Jackson
Capital Letters, Ann Arbor
Capital Wallcoverings, LLC, Williamston
Carlo Construction, Inc., Clinton Twp.
Corrosion Fluid Products Corp.,
Farmington Hills
CSM Group, Kalamazoo
Fortis Payment Systems, Inc., Novi
Hamilton Outdoor Services, Brighton
Horger Flooring Corp., Oakland
Insulex Panel Systems, Inc., Cadillac
J & E Crane & Rigging, LLC, Livonia
J & J Repairs, Lanse
Lead Renovator Training, LLC, White Lake
LPL Financial, Okemos
McCrosky Marketing Communications,
Kalamazoo
MEC Electric Co., Inc., Westland
Medical Laboratories of Marquette, P.C.,
Marquette
Midwest Geothermal, LLC, Grand Rapids
Mont Granite, Inc., Wixom
Newell Agency, Inc., Decatur
Parkline Great Lakes, Inc., Clarkston
Performance Plumbing
and Mechanical, Inc., Allen Park
Precision Vinyl Corporation, New Hudson
Rainbow Hi Tech Signs, Detroit
Schiller Electric, Inc., Hart
Sealant Sales WBE, Livonia
Sensible Business Career and
Training Institute, Westland
Servpro of Berrien County, Benton Harbor
Stanley Steemer Great Lakes, Inc.,
Byron Center
Three Phase Electric & Technologies, LLC,
Commerce Twp.
Tillman Electrical Services, Inc., Plymouth
Voice Data Systems, LLC, Farmington Hills

N E W M E M B E R S C O N S T R U C T I O N C A L E N D A R A D V E R T I S E R S I N D E X
Aluminum Supply Company
/Marshall Sales............................................................6
Aoun & Company, P.C.....................................................7
Blue Star, Inc. ..................................................................20
CAM Affinity..................................................................IBC
CAM Membership ........................................................47
CAM Online Planroom................................................30
CAMTEC ..........................................................................49
CAM Tradeshow............................................................31
CAM Workers Comp. ..................................................35
C.F.C.U. ......................................................................26, 27
Connelly Crane Rental Corp. ....................................17
D & R Earthmoving ......................................................36
Deppmann, R.L.................................................................7
Detroit Dismantling ....................................................15
Detroit Terrazzo Contractors Association ..............7
Doeren Mayhew............................................................45
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. ................36
G2 Consulting Group ..................................................35
Hartland Insurance Group, Inc. ..................................9
Homrich ..........................................................................49
KVM Door ........................................................................37
Kem-Tec ..........................................................................41
Liquid Calcium Chloride Sales, Inc. ........................45
MasonPro, Inc. ................................................................24
Navigant Consulting....................................................20
Next Generation Services Group ............................16
Nicholson Construction Company..........................45
North American Dismantling Corp.........................BC
Oakland Companies ....................................................11
Oakland Metal Sales, Inc.............................................48
Operating Engineers Local 324- JATF ......................5
Plante & Moran, PLLC ..................................................29
Plunkett Cooney ..........................................................23
SMRCA..............................................................................37
Spartan Specialties, Inc. ..............................................43
TEMP-AIR ........................................................................37
Trend Group..................................................................IFC
Valenti Trobec Chandler Inc.........................................3
Zervos Group ................................................................17
CONSTRUCTION
CALENDAR
D
e
c
Please submit all calendar items no less than six weeks prior to the event to:
Calendar Editor, CAM Magazine, P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204.
Industry Events
Dec. 8 Educational Webinar The
National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) has
announced an educational webinar focusing
on the requirements and components of
recently published ASME A17.6 Standard for
Elevator Suspension, Compensation and
Governing systems.
For more information, visit www.neii.org.
Dec. 15-16 - NeoCon East The eighth
annual NeoCon East will be held at the
Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore,
MD. This design exhibition for commercial
interiors will focus on the federal
government and will attract industry
professionals who are responsible for the
repair, retrofit and green building
modernization of city, state and federal
buildings.
For more information about NeoCon East,
visit www.neoconeast.com or call 800-677-
6278 (MART).
Jan. 31 34th Annual SOURCE Awards
Entries Due Entries for SOURCE Awards
must be postmarked on or before January
31, 2010. The competition is open to all
lighting designers, architects, engineers,
professional designers, and consultants who
use Cooper Lighting fixtures in an interior or
exterior design project. Winners will be
announced in May 2011.
To download a complete list of rules, visit
the company website at
www.cooperlighting.com or e-mail
TalkToUs@CooperIndustries.com.
Feb. 2 Michigan Construction & Design
Trade Show CAM is pleased to announce
that their tradeshow this year will be held at
Motor City Casino-Hotel in Detroit. Along
with numerous exhibits for construction
products and services, the one-day event
will include CAMTEC educational programs;
the CAM Magazine Special Issue / Green
Building of the Year Awards; the 125th CAM
Annual Meeting; and much more!
Visit www.cam-online.com for more
information, or call (248) 972-1000.
&
W E L C O M E
NEW MEMBERS
Members receive discounted
credit card processing, no set-up
fees and no account minimums.

$ISCOUNT#REDIT#ARD
0ROCESSING3ERVICE
Call Tina Allcorn at (248) 623-4430
Call William Jeffrey at (248) 723-6400
More than 13,000 copies of this
comprehensive construction industry
directory are distributed. Marketing
opportunity through special classified
section. Offered online and in print.
Call (800) 954-0423 for more information
Member Services?

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PLUS: UPSM A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN ADVANCED BUILDING SCIENCES

NOVEMBER 2010 VOL. 31 NO. 10 $4. 00

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