SHINE Medical Technologies announced the company has broken ground on a new Janesville facility that will house its corporate headquarters. The 54,000-square-foot project will also be home to a large-scale production facility for the Therapeutics division, according to a news release.
Findorff is excited to share some recent industry news surrounding sustainability. Being sustainable protects our surrounding communities now and in the future. As an industry leader, we are privileged to have completed 36 LEED-certified facilities. And, of those facilities, we’d like to congratulate and highlight recent acknowledgments from the Dane County Climate Champions and the U.S. Green Building Council West North Central (USGBC WNC) Region 2020 Regional Leadership Award. They include:Dane County Climate Champions:
- Exact Sciences – Discovery Campus (2-Star/Water): Due to Exact Sciences’ unprecedented growth, the Discovery Campus includes a new 300,000-gallon underground rainwater storage tank that is used for flush fixtures and irrigation. Although an important piece to Exact Sciences’ commitment to sustainability, Exact Sciences’ initiatives go far beyond just rainwater storage, as their new facility, Innovation One – Exact Sciences’ Headquarters at University Research Park, has most recently received a LEED® Silver certification.
- Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District – Pope Farm Elementary School (2-Star/Water): Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District was recognized as a Climate Champion due to the District’s efforts to reduce salt use and increase water conservation at the new Pope Farm Elementary School. The new facility was constructed near the crest of a glacial moraine adjacent to the 102-acre Pope Farm Conservancy. The conservancy has panoramic views, restored prairies and interpretive trails that have inspired the school’s interior design. Each grade will have its own identity, all organized around unifying themes: pollinators. Grade-level graphics will help students find their way around and reinforce the school’s connection to the nearby conservancy.
- Oregon School District – Forest Edge Elementary School (3-Star/Other): Projected to be the first net-zero school constructed in Wisconsin, Forest Edge Elementary could receive a 4-Star Energy award in 2021 once building performance data is confirmed after one full year of operation. As a potential net-zero energy building, Forest Edge will use a combination of building energy efficiency and on-site energy generation to produce at least as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. Reflecting this progressive commitment of the Oregon School District, Forest Edge will be an innovative, sustainable building while maintaining a clear focus on creating exceptional learning spaces.
- Sun Prairie Area School District – Meadow View Elementary School (3-Star/Energy Use) & Token Springs Elementary School (3-Star/Energy Use): Utilizing 75% less energy than a typical elementary school, both Meadow View and Token Springs Elementary Schools feature energy-efficient building design, such as geothermal heating and cooling systems, rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, drought-resistant landscaping, and outdoor learning spaces. Also, Meadow View and Token Springs feature classroom areas that open to large collaboration spaces, green rooms, makerspaces, and exposed geothermal rooms to provide teaching opportunities for students about sustainability. By utilizing Focus on Energy’s Design Assistance (DA) program when building Meadow View and Token Springs, the District was able to receive an incentive payment of more than $350,000 from Focus on Energy and Sun Prairie Utilities!
- UW Health at The American Center (Emerging/Energy Use): As the first LEED® for Healthcare Gold certified hospital in the State of Wisconsin, The American Center strategically developed a one-of-a-kind health and wellness center committed to a completely patient-focused care model. This certification also ranks The American Center as one of 17 in the world and one of ten in the United States for Gold level certification in the healthcare category!
USGBC WNC Region 2020 Regional Leadership Awards:
- American Family Insurance East Regional Building (ERB), 2020 Award of Merit – Innovative Project, Interiors: Reducing energy costs by 32% was no small feat for the ERB renovation. Nearly 200,000 square feet of interior office space was renovated to update HVAC and lighting systems and add an efficient envelope system. This work played a significant role in the facility’s LEED® certification. In addition, a complete overhaul of the building automation system and direct digital control was included in the project to modernize energy-saving strategies through high-performance sequences of operation. And, over 75% of on-site generated construction waste was diverted from landfills while over 33% of total building-material content manufactured used recycled materials. In the end, the ERB surpassed a LEED® Silver certification and obtained LEED® Gold certification.
- The Commons at Marquette University, 2020 Certificate of Leadership – Innovative Design, New Construction: The Commons is Marquette University’s new, state-of-the-art, 292,000 square foot, nine- and 12-story conjoined co-ed residence hall facility. Prior to the start of construction, a focus was placed on sustainability and LEED® practices for The Commons. Throughout construction, emphasis was placed on proper erosion control, in addition, over 3,350 tons of materials were diverted from landfills, which was nearly 90% of the total construction debris. Furthermore, the project’s sustainable features include: a stormwater collection tank buried below the central courtyard, a green roof system that goes above and beyond the minimum stormwater collection requirements, low-emitting materials and products utilized throughout construction, as well as low-flow water fixtures and LED lighting installed throughout the building. Such building features allowed The Commons to achieve LEED® Silver certification.
Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work and sustainable efforts!
– Donnie Bogle-Boesiger, Virtual Construction
Findorff’s virtual construction team specializes in an array of technology-based applications designed to revolutionize construction processes. One of the most valuable techniques they employ is the use of digital twins before construction even starts.
For about two decades, digital twins have been widely used in industries outside of construction. Affectionally known as “twinning,” a digital twin is a virtual model of a process, product, or service. When pairing the virtual and physical worlds together, these models allow for the analysis of data and monitoring of systems thus, creating a process that is used to alleviate problems before they even occur, prevent downtime, develop new opportunities, and incorporate simulations for future planning.Although this is not a common service in the construction industry, Findorff often utilizes digital twin technology to improve our client’s experience. By better understanding needs and enhancements to existing buildings, operations, and services, Findorff can provide a cost-effective solution to help clients understand not only what can happen in the real world, but what is happening in real-time.
Most recently, Findorff’s virtual construction team used laser scanning (reality capture technology) to provide a local historic building owner accurate as-built documentation. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our clients found themselves in a challenging situation where a historic 300,000 square foot building would need to undergo extensive renovations. Due to incomplete and inaccurate as-built documentation and 100 years of renovations and upgrades, the project team faced costly challenges.
Trusting as-built documentation is critical when planning for any changes to an existing building, Findorff’s virtual construction team utilized laser scanning technology to alleviate construction risk and provide a greater return on investment for our client. Laser scanning takes millions of measurements that are then translated to data points. These data points are converted into an accurate 3D model called a point cloud. This point cloud is then used to map architectural, structural, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEPFP) elements to create a building information model (BIM). Known as scan-to-model or creating a digital twin, this process allowed Findorff to assist our client in a variety of ways, such as:
- Early collaboration with the design team to work through code-required upgrades in spaces
- Identify existing shaft locations and sizes
- Capture any renovations not recorded throughout the building’s life
By creating the model prior to the start of construction, Findorff provided the client with a high degree of confidence for more accurate budgets, fewer change orders, and fewer schedule impacts. Likewise, once the digital twin was built, the model-integrated data, like demolition/installation status, submittal documentation, and Request for Information (RFI’s) associated with specific elements of the renovation, provided the project with the below benefits:
- Expanded team communication and transparency
- Enhanced our client’s understanding of the project in real-time reporting and easy to understand visualizations
- Seamless quantification of work and understanding of productivities
- Provided clear progress of the project
Findorff’s virtual construction team is pushing the envelope on what digital twin and BIM technology can do for construction. Trying out hypothetical scenarios before putting money or resources into a new construction project proves digital twin technology and BIM-enabled workflows are much more than just visualizations – They’re a tool and resource to help our clients receive the greatest return on investment.
Spurred on by the push to end the COVID-19 pandemic, Catalent Biologics is rapidly expanding its Madison facilities and staff to account for increased production of substances used by various pharmaceutical companies around the world.
As we celebrate Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week and reflect on the 2020 theme “Heroes of Health Care Facilities,” the effects of COVID-19 in our communities is at the forefront.
When the pandemic hit with full force last spring, it was clear that facilities teams would have a huge role in keeping patients (and the people who care for them) safe. Pretty quickly responsibilities increased from “the usual” to include pandemic-specific requirements. Many of you sprang into action adjusting pressure differentials that created negative pressure rooms or units, readying patients’ room or wings that were long-vacant, and securing additional N95 masks and other needed PPE. You were ready to meet the challenges each day – just like the frontline workers directly caring for patients.Your facilities teams also made sure emergency power, medical gases, and other critical utilities were ready during these crucial times. And because the pandemic threw capital and expense budgets off course, you addressed financial and staffing issues with hospital leadership as to not sacrifice care.
Providing for the proper environment of care is tough under normal operating conditions. Most of 2020 has been far from that and yet you and your teams, Heroes of Health Care Facilities, rose to ever-changing challenges in the face of COVID-19. After eight months you are still fighting this horrible virus every day. We know you wear masks daily, but this year you also deserve capes.
We are happy to announce that a few Findorff team members have received The Daily Reporter’s 2020 Newsmakers of the Year recognition. This designation honors professionals from across the construction industry who exceed in their roles. Congratulations Kenn, Aaron, and John on your dedication to your work!
Kenn Kosowicz: Educator of the YearFor Kenn, Learning and Development Manager, leading the Company’s training initiatives has been his sole focus for nearly a decade. Throughout that time, he has discovered that construction is first and foremost a communication industry. He tells his students that construction leadership interestingly has a lot in common with Air Traffic Control. Controllers usually manage multiple aircrafts at the same time and must make quick decisions to ensure their safety. Kenn develops the Findorff curriculum for field and office. That means, he juggles over 100 classes annually. We’re glad Kenn is manning our “aircraft” and we are grateful for his commitment to our Company and to the employees.
Aaron Zutz: Senior Project Manager of the YearLike a circus performer, Findorff’s Senior Project Manager, Aaron Zutz, can spin many plates at once. His true talent is the ability to compartmentalize large amounts of information from many sources and effectively communicate intricate details in simple terms.With over 10 years of experience in construction management, Aaron has much to be proud of. His biggest accomplishment to date has been serving as the Senior Project Manager for the construction of the new Verona Area High School and major renovations at three Verona Area School District buildings. This exceptional facility is ready and waiting for staff, students, and the community to enjoy the hard work he and his team put in over the last few years. Findorff is fortunate to have such a dedicated and detail-oriented Senior PM on our team!
John Tucker: Preconstruction Manager of the YearJohn says when people ask him what a Senior Preconstruction Manager does, he tells them that his background as an estimator and a project manager allows him to see things that aren’t there yet. We believe John’s “super vision” provides our clients with an expertise in successfully negotiating projects from inception to contract and guiding them through the design and budgeting phases.Since he began with Findorff in 2011, one of John’s favorite aspects of his role is collaborating with multiple contractors and vendors on bids as well as working to maximize the construction dollars to meet design goals. Everyone here at Findorff appreciates his construction industry dedication and extensive knowledge of cost.
Findorff: Green Builder of the YearSustainability is essential in our industry and drives everything we do. As an expert in sustainable construction, Findorff takes a holistic approach in our work to serve our project partners with their building goals. We also advance our culture and practice through the lens of sustainability to support the natural environment and local communities.
Findorff has been constructing sustainable buildings for decades, resulting in over $1.12 billion of LEED work. Findorff currently has 35 active and completed LEED projects. Led by Ben Austin, Findorff Sustainability Lead, we are excited to be positioned as the 2020 Top Wisconsin Contractor on ENR’s Top 100 Green Design Firms and Contractor list.
In an effort to evolve and continue learning, Findorff has added subject matter experts in a variety of fields to the team over the last decade. Two of these experts are Laura Blood Velotta, MEP Group Lead, and Ben Austin, Sustainability Lead.
We take a holistic approach in our work to serve our project partners with their building goals. Regarding sustainability, we advance our own culture and practice through this lens to support the natural environment and local communities. Over the last year and a half, Ben and Laura have taken an intentional look inward at the energy use in Findorff office buildings. The effort to benchmark, track, and implement improvements in our Madison office has resulted in savings of $50,000 in just over one year and receiving EnergyStar Certification for 2019. This article will provide an overview of our energy-saving process which can be implemented anywhere.
Step 1: Benchmark. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. The first step is to benchmark your energy use. This starts by identifying your utility company and compiling your energy bills (we would recommend looking back at least two years). With your energy bills in hand, head to energystar.gov and login to “Portfolio Manager.”EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is a no-cost, interactive energy management tool that allows you to securely track and assess energy, water, and waste metrics across your building portfolio. With your energy use benchmarked, you will be able to see your ENERGY STAR score. If you have a score of 50, you are more energy-efficient than 50% of buildings of your size and type. A score of 75 and above makes a building eligible for ENERGY STAR Certification. After we benchmarked our buildings in late 2018, we had a baseline score of 48.
- For a walk-through on getting your building benchmarked in ENERGY STAR, see this link.
Step 2: Take stock of where you are.Now that you have benchmarked your building and know your ENERGY STAR score and annual spend, it is time to ask some questions:Are you in the top half or bottom half of the building of your size and type? How new are your building systems? Do you have LED lighting systems? Who manages your setpoints and schedule for heating and cooling equipment?In our case, since we had a baseline score of 48, we knew that there were ample opportunities available to improve our energy efficiency. Our building was originally built in 2001 and expanded in 2015 leading to a mixture of systems and efficiencies.Step 3: Assess Energy Efficiency Opportunities.When assessing what areas may be targets for improvement, consider how a “typical” commercial building uses its energy.End uses that should be prioritized (highest users to lowest users):
- Space heating / Cooling (including ventilation)
- Lighting
- Plug loads
- Water heating
Because it is the largest component of our energy use and costs, we began by looking at retro-commissioning of our HVAC system and updating our control systems. If your HVAC systems are newer or have been recently retro-commissioned, then the next steps would be to look at lesser uses (lighting and plug load reduction strategies).
Step 4: Implement Energy Improvement Projects. With a general project identified, now it is time to engage a partner to provide costs, expected energy savings, and return information.
We knew we could make improvements to our facility to increase efficiency and decrease our bills. We focused on the Building Automation System (BAS) that runs our facility to look for improvements. Our original building was finished in 2001, therefore the system was nearly 20 years old. Looking at the sequences and outdated graphics, we were able to find inefficiencies, such as our building occupancy schedule and space temperatures. Our first step was to contact Trane, our BAS provider, to provide a quote to upgrade our graphics and make important changes to our sequences.
Working with Trane was very valuable. We were able to walk through the building and original graphics, noting inefficiencies and possible solutions. We had the graphics and system upgraded in December 2018, and spent time combing through every sequence of operation to ensure it met our standards. Some key changes included:
- Revising building schedules – Before our updates, the system started “occupied” mode at 3 AM, and going “unoccupied” at 9 PM. We revised the occupancy times to 5 AM-6 PM, including a revised early start sequence to ensure the building can meet temperature before occupants arrive.
- Adding a discharge air reset sequence – Before our updates, we had our discharge air temperature set at a constant 55 degrees, sometimes lower. With our new sequence, we let the discharge air temperature from our (3) AHUs rise based on what the zones are requesting. This has been a large energy savings and saves on equipment runtime.
- Locking in Zone temperatures – Before our updates, our thermostats were released and did not provide good control of the spaces. With the updates, we developed a consistent heating and cooling temperature setpoint in 90% of spaces, which has made the office temperature more consistent. We released the thermostats for executive offices based on individual preferences, and large conference rooms based on change of use.
There were many other tweaks within the system, but these are the largest. During the same timeframe, we engaged with Edison Energy to review the existing system and possible upgrades to increase our system efficiency through a normal retro-commissioning process. They reviewed our existing system and made recommendations that we were able to implement as well. They provided a valuable review of our system and help us connect directly to local utility incentives (see Step 5).Our “new addition” (built in 2015) utilizes a Variable Refrigerant Flow System (VRF) that is standalone. These Trane changes were focused on the original building, but we did review all VRF zones to ensure they were working properly and that all zones were in “Auto” allowing them to heat and cool, as necessary.
Step 5: Take Advantage of Local Incentive Programs.Assess what local incentives may be available for energy efficiency upgrades. Focus on Energy is a statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program eligible to Wisconsin businesses. Every project that incorporates these types of upgrades, whether they be new construction or retrofits, should utilize this program.Edison Energy worked with our team to tap into the specific retrocomissioning incentive that totaled $9,350.
- For more information on Focus on Energy’s full list of incentives, see this link.
Step 6: Continue to Track Energy Use After Improvements.Once you have implemented any efficiency upgrades, you’re not done! You should continue tracking your projects in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This will give you a monthly snapshot of how the building is performing and will engage your team in asking questions and making adjustments as needed.
You had information on the front-end about expected savings and payback, what does the now realtime data tell you? Are you overperforming/underperforming? Why? Continue post-implementation to be intentional about thinking through these questions.
Step 7: Celebrate Your Success.Never forget to celebrate when you have success!We started our journey in late 2018 by benchmarking our building at a score of 48 and just over a year later (March 2020) we were able to realize a score of 82 and almost $50,000 in energy savings. With the costs of the from Edison Energy and Trane, in conjunction with the incentive savings from Focus on Energy, our simple payback was 8 months on the initial investment.
If you’re looking for additional guidance on where to start, feel free to reach out to our team to help you get going. Remember to have fun with it. Good luck!
Forest Edge Elementary School — named for its location and designed to embrace its natural setting — walks the talk. The fourth elementary in the Oregon School District, and its newest school, Forest Edge is believed to be the first net-zero school in the state.
So far, building projects tied to the 2019 $125 million DeForest Area School District referendum are sticking to the budget and the timeline for completion.
McFarland opened an amazing 841 seat state-of-the-art performing arts center. And incredibly, the adjacent middle & high school campus had enough rehearsal space to accommodate the entire WYSO program with room to grow—all of the student musicians, all of the orchestras, and all rehearsing at one time.