The board unanimously voted to approve hiring J.H. Findorff and Son of Milwaukee as the general contractor for the new aquatic center adjacent to J.I. Case High School. The 42,000-square-foot indoor aquatic center is set to be constructed just west of the school, 7543 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant, in what is now a soybean field.
Findorff is pleased to introduce John Ferguson as the latest addition to the Milwaukee-area team. As Business Development Director – Southeast Wisconsin, John will focus on serving the Company’s south-eastern and south-central market.
John is an accomplished business development leader with nearly 15 years of marketing and business development experience. He is passionate about client relations, community building, and driving strategies to enhance project and client outcomes. John shares Findorff’s commitment to community as an active member of The Rotary Club of Milwaukee, NAIOP Wisconsin, Commercial Association of Realtors (CARW), Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).“We are very excited to have John join our team. His deep industry knowledge and enthusiasm for building strong relationships with our clients, building partners and the community adds to our momentum,” said Jeff Tubbs, Vice President of Business Development.
It’s the time of year that we at Findorff highlight stories around our core values of Character, Community, and Craftsmanship. As we recognize our character this month, Findorff is celebrating the power of positivity. In the past 130 years, Findorff has experienced many remarkable milestones and has lived through some historical challenges. As a company built upon the character of our employees, we believe through struggle comes tremendous strength. This is never truer than today. However, throughout these past few months, we have found heartwarming ways our employees have helped each other, and their communities stay positive. Let us introduce you to D-Nelly.
Darnell Reynolds is a character with character. He began writing poetry in middle school and later made the transition into music. Eventually the persona D-Nelly was born. Today, Darnell raps about life, lessons, love, and all things positive. He says his career as an ironworker brings him great joy and his passion for music allows him to share those positive messages with whomever will listen, including those on the job site.
Darnell takes his leadership role on construction sites seriously as well. As an ironworker foreman, Darnell mentors apprentices on the job and enjoys sharing his knowledge of the industry with those new to the trades. Darnell exemplifies quality of character through his positive outlook and his love for family and community.
We at Findorff are proud to work with individuals who share our values so deeply.Stay tuned as we highlight another one of our core values, community, in the next installment of our 3 C’s series.
SSM Health announced Tuesday that they have started work on their South Madison Campus project to prepare the area for the start of construction later this month.
One of the final touches to the outside of the new elementary school in Poynette was completed on May 20. The date stone was placed within an exterior wall within the main entrance to the building.
Due to COVID-19 and the inability to host an in-person event, the Sun Prairie Area School District (SPASD) held an intimate, socially distanced groundbreaking on May 13. The construction of West High School will be completed in time for the 2022-23 school year.
Tony Sullivan, Project Executive – Healthcare
This week we are honoring our healthcare heroes during National Hospital Week. On behalf of all us at Findorff, I would like to express sincere gratitude to those healthcare workers who go above and beyond to care for our communities during such a challenging time. Our appreciation for these workers extends far beyond just this week of recognition. As Findorff’s healthcare division leader, I see every day how our business works together with the frontline hospital staff toward a common goal of providing the best patient care possible.To support these healthcare workers, Findorff is working on several projects specifically designed for keeping staff safe during this pandemic. We are working on setting up a remote testing facility for the staff of a local healthcare site as well as adjustments to multiple clinics to make the work environment safer for the essential workers.
Most of our work with healthcare is in occupied settings where patient care is still going on. In the past two years over 85% of our healthcare projects have been completed in these occupied spaces. Because of these conditions, Findorff must coordinate closely with frontline staff (i.e. doctors, nurses, administrators etc.) to ensure that we are allowing them the space to continue providing excellent patient care while we work on improving their facilities. We are proud to work alongside such dedicated professionals.
Healthcare is not only a part of my professional life but also a part of my personal life as my mother, sister, and wife are all nurses. I feel honored to work in an industry that is dedicated to making improvements in medical facilities to ensure healthcare workers can do their jobs successfully.
Thank you to the wide range of healthcare workers; your hard work and dedication to public health and safety is what makes you heroes now more than ever.
Most of the work done so far in relation to the 2019 DeForest Area School District $122 million referendum has involved planning and design. That’s about to change, as the projects transition to the construction phase. The large mound of dirt at the site of the new intermediate school, now named Harvest Intermediate School, is a sign of the switch.
Ashley Field improvements were part of the $169 million referendum that passed in April 2019 and is right on schedule. Originally built in 1953 for football and baseball, Ashley Field was also used for two other Sun Prairie High School athletics, lacrosse and soccer. The new reconfiguration eliminated the baseball field used by the Home Talent League amateur baseball team Sun Prairie Red Birds, and was turned 180 degrees with its end zones now facing north and south rather than east and west.
Blog written by Findorff’s Sustainability Lead Ben Austin, LEED® AP BD+C, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador
Today is Earth Day! Wisconsin’s very own Senator Gaylord Nelson was the founder of Earth Day and this year marks its 50th anniversary. As we celebrate this environmental movement, Findorff is proud of the holistic approach we take in our sustainable efforts. From assessing human factors in the built environment to developing ecological building solutions, we are committed to making a difference in our communities. Considering this and today’s unprecedented times, where many of us are at home more, I wanted to share some ideas that can help you save energy around the house. In turn, you may even save money on your utility bills. Sounds like a win-win situation, right?!
Try these energy-saving tips:
- Check your air filters: Air filters improve the air quality in your home. How often you should change them can depend on your HVAC unit and the type of air filter itself. For example, some fiberglass filters need to be changed every month, while pleated filters can last up to six months. By replacing your air filters when necessary, your heating system will operate more efficiently.
- Wash your clothes in cold water: For every load of laundry, 90 percent of the energy used by the washer is to heat the water. Washing your clothes in cold water can help reduce your energy use and save you money.
- Set back your thermostat at night: You can save much energy by lowering the temperature of your thermostat by five to ten degrees before you go to bed each night. If making this adjustment seems daunting, consider a smart thermostat. It can automatically adjust the temperature of your home at a preset time.
- Lower the temperature of your water heater: Oftentimes, the default temperature of water heaters is 140°F. Try lowering this setpoint to 120°F to save money on your energy bills. To learn how you can make this change, check out the instructional video on the Department of Energy’s website.
- Seek out free offerings available in your local community: In Wisconsin, Focus on Energy is the state’s utility incentive program. It offers a range of incentives to Wisconsin homeowners. A great example of this is Focus on Energy’s Free Packs, which offer one of six energy-savings options to select from. They can include a variety of LED light bulbs, smart power strips, high-efficiency shower heads, pipe insulation, or faucet aerators to meet your needs. To get a Free Pack today, click here. Other residential incentives are also available. They can even include smart thermostats mentioned in the third tip. If you live outside of Wisconsin, check your local utility incentive program for options.
From firsthand experience, I can tell you that these energy-saving tips work. For example, when I started adjusting my thermostat to a lower temperature each night before bed, my energy bills were $25 less per month. In turn, not only am I reducing my environmental footprint, but I’m also saving a few bucks. Hopefully you find these tips useful, especially while we are all adjusting to a new normal.
If you are curious to learn more about how Findorff is making a positive impact in the built environment, make sure to check out our sustainability page.