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The construction industry in the Milwaukee area is stronger than it has been in several decades. On the challenge side, that means everyone is busier, so it is harder to find a workforce. The subcontractor community is tight, which can make it a challenge to pull together project teams. On the opportunity side, there are a lot of good projects out there. The economy is good, so it is easier to get money and developers are more willing to spend.

Findorff has a long history building educational facilities. We also have a genuine interest in creating a foundation to help build careers. As such, we have worked closely with several school districts and the Dane County School Consortium. Because of these relationships, opportunities are available through youth apprenticeships for local students to explore careers in construction.

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Back in 2014, Findorff started working with the DeForest Area School District on its latest facilities referendum. This served as the catalyst to support our youth apprenticeships. In turn, students have been given first-hand experience on what the construction industry has to offer for jobs, ranging from virtual construction to project management.

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Most recently, Findorff worked with youth apprentices from the School District of Belleville and Sun Prairie Area School District. They are Julia McNamar and Eric Blumer. Check out their experiences below and what they have learned: ‍

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Julia McNamar, School District of Belleville: Julia has been working on the District’s Intermediate School addition since January 2018. A typical day involves working with Findorff project managers, engineers, and superintendents. Her responsibilities include responding to requests for information (RFIs), reviewing mechanical plans, and preparing two-week look-ahead schedules for subcontractors. From this experience, she has developed various useful skills. “The most valuable thing I have learned is that communication is the gateway to success,” she says. “With so many workers assigned to different areas of the project, communication is key to keep people informed and stay efficient.” After her youth apprenticeship with Findorff, Julia will continue working in the industry with NAMI for the summer and into the following school year. After high school, Julia would like to study mechanical engineering as she enjoys being hands on with each new project.

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‍Eric Blumer, Sun Prairie Area School District: Since September 2017, Eric has been a youth apprentice for the District’s Meadow View Elementary School. He has worked closely with carpenters on the project, learning skills of the trade and the importance of quality craftsmanship. From this experience, he also understands the “value of hard work and attention to detail,” Eric says. “As my apprenticeship started when construction started, it has been really cool to see the School be built from the ground up and be part of something that will impact my community.” Eric is graduating high school this year and will be attending UW-Platteville. For a future career, he would like to be a project manager or engineer.

Findorff is excited to announce our award-winning work. Most recently, In Business, Milwaukee Business Journal, and The Daily Reporter recognized several of our newly constructed projects for their notable architecture and quality craftsmanship. They include:

Congratulations to all the project teams for your hard work and success!

Blog written by Findorff’s Safety Director Nick Femal, CHST

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‍Safety is at the core of Findorff’s work. We are committed to creating environments, both on and off the construction site, where safety is a top priority. As such, we proudly participate in National Safety Stand-Down this week. This voluntary event is led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It encourages construction companies to raise fall-protection awareness.

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatalities caused by falls from elevation accounted for 370 of the 991 construction fatalities in 2016. It should also be noted that falls do not only happen to people. In 2012, 241 workers lost their lives from falling objects. The deaths in both situations are preventable, and events like National Safety Stand-Down Week help people refocus on fall protection and fall hazards.

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For the fourth consecutive year, Findorff is participating in National Safety Stand-Down Week. We are performing training demonstrations on new equipment to make our staff safer and more productive.

As the well-being of our people is a key driver in our safety efforts, participating in National Safety Stand-Down Week helps Findorff become a better builder. We are very grateful to those that help make Findorff’s sites safer, especially our field staff that withstands all seasons to build our communities.

Findorff makes a point to celebrate National Hospital Week every May. It is an opportunity to recognize the hospitals, healthcare systems, and caregivers that contribute to the well-being of our communities. All play significant roles in making hospitals a place of compassion and confidence. We recognize this and how caring is the most important calling in healthcare. This outlook inspires the work we do every day.

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Our experience is decades long and represents some of the most state-of-the-art hospitals throughout the Midwest. We track trends such as the shift to outpatient care, Hybrid ORs, and integrated-project-delivery methods so hospitals can best serve their patients and staff. Several of our latest accomplishments include Genesis Medical Center and UW Health at The American Center. We have also done notable work for ProHealth Care, SSM Health, plus many others.

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Such work spans from minor renovations at 400 square feet to newly constructed facilities over 400,000 square feet. Findorff’s 30-plus ASHE and/or WHEA certified employees, ranging from project engineers to superintendents, make this possible. Our leading craftsmanship and qualified staff even earned Findorff notable recognition on a national level. Earlier this year, Findorff was recognized by Modern Healthcare as the only Wisconsin company to rank in the top 15 general contractors.

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Findorff thanks all the physicians, nurses, therapists, engineers, food-service staff, maintenance technicians, volunteers, administrators, and many others for creating a sense of pride in the healthcare profession. Your continued efforts keep our communities healthy and safe.To learn more about Findorff’s hospital work, check out our Healthcare Experience. For information to work with Findorff on healthcare opportunities, please reach out to Jeff Eckstein, AIA.

We have groundbreaking news! Construction is officially underway in the Verona Area School District for its new High School. District administrators, board members, staff, students, and project consultants were all in attendance to celebrate this major milestone.

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In April 2017, the District underwent the second-largest facilities referendum in state history. As part of this effort, Findorff was selected for preconstruction, referendum, and construction services. The new High School represents a major part of this undertaking. Located along highway 18/151 on a 150-acre site, the building will be 585,000 square feet and represent the latest in 21st century learning. Its design has been a collaborative process among staff, students, and project-team members. School safety and specific guiding principles have been major drivers in the project’s development. Attention has been given to progressive security features as well as making the building welcoming, sustainable, and modern.

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Completion of the new Verona Area High School is scheduled for fall 2020. The project’s architect is Eppstein Uhen Architects.If you are interested in learning about similar Findorff projects, check out our K-12 Education Experience. Feel free to also contact our Director of Education Market & Communication Services Christin Mlsna.