Findorff team members play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. Join us in congratulating three of our team members who were recently promoted to Senior Project Manager.
Mike Luther: Mike brings 14 years of industry experience to his new role as Senior Project Manager. He began his career as an intern, joining Findorff after graduating from UW-Madison with a Civil Engineering degree. During his career at Findorff, Mike has been involved in the building and renovations of 30 ORs with various health systems including UW Health at The American Center and the American Family Children’s Hospital. He is currently working on the SSM Health South Madison Campus project. Mike lives in Stoughton with his wife, Jennifer, son, Brecken, and red lab, Arie.
Mike Stern: Mike started as an intern with Findorff while attending Marquette University and joined the Company as a Project Engineer after earning his degree in Civil Engineering. He has managed several prominent Milwaukee-area projects including The Moderne, the ProHealth Mukwonago Hospital expansion, The Commons at Marquette University, as well as Marquette’s new College of Business Administration—his alma mater. He has been on the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee (AGC-GM) Board of Directors since 2018 and currently serves as the AGC-GM’s president. Mike lives in Pewaukee with his wife, Kari, and three kids, Madison, Mackenzie, and Elliot.
Peter Saindon: Peter earned his degree in Civil Engineering from UW-Madison while serving in the U.S. Army as a crew chief/gunner on Blackhawk helicopters. While his focus for the last four years has been on the construction of K-12 education projects, Peter started in Findorff’s Special Projects Group and then held key roles on projects including Hub on Campus Madison and Genesis Medical Center in Iowa. He has also been a LEED professional with the U.S. Green Building Council since 2010. Peter lives in Marshall with his wife, Kasey, and four children, Sofie, Evelyn, Mila, and Jack. Outside of work and family, Peter is involved with local recovery groups that help guide men struggling with addiction.
Shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Kaleb Anderson set his sights on working at Findorff. His goal was to work in the Special Projects Group, even if it meant he had to wait. He worked for a local subcontractor for five years before a role in the Special Projects Group became available, and Kaleb stepped up. Since then, he has successfully helped the team manage hundreds of projects, each less than $2 million.
Nearly six years later, Kaleb has been promoted to lead Madison’s Special Projects Group. Whether it’s commercial tenant build-outs, remodeling corporate environments to meet ADA compliance, or helping to solve unique and complex client needs, Kaleb brings his architectural and construction experience and tenacious nature to serve clients.
When Kaleb isn’t head-down solving challenging issues, he is enjoying the outdoors spending time with family and friends. Please feel free to contact Kaleb and congratulate him as he begins his new role!
Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition over the years for quality craftsmanship. Most recently, AGC of Wisconsin and The Daily Reporter recognized five buildings we constructed. Plus, one project received special recognition from ENR Midwest.
Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field: This new multi-purpose stadium serves two Sun Prairie community high schools (Sun Prairie West will open in Fall 2022). The facility has seating for over 4,000 spectators and is ready for competitive football, soccer, lacrosse, the Sound of Sun Prairie (high school marching band), and other co-curricular activities. The stadium was designed and built with spectator and user experience in mind. The facility includes a mid-level plaza that’s fully accessible, increased parking, new locker rooms, and an artificial turf field.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, Excellence in Partnering Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award
Exact Sciences Discovery Campus: This Campus is comprised of several buildings including the former Rayovac Headquarters Office Building, which was converted into the Exact Sciences Customer Care Facility (159,000 square feet). Replacement of the exterior and MEP system of an occupied, 34-year-old Madison landmark on the South Beltline kicked off this large project. Upon significant renovation of the original facility, Findorff constructed a new clinical lab and warehouse (169,000 square feet) and a new production lab (75,000 square feet). The amenities building (112,500 square feet) was built to connect all the structures, including a cafeteria, conference rooms, and a work-out facility. Additionally, a parking structure with 950 stalls was constructed to support employee parking for the campus. The entire campus development was completed in 30 months, from concept to completion.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, New Construction & Renovation | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award
Forest Edge Elementary School: This new, 122,225 square-foot elementary school is situated next to a beautiful forest in Oregon, Wisconsin. The school has a large cafeteria, performance stage, and three courtyards with an outdoor classroom to encourage outdoor learning. The classroom areas have large group collaboration spaces and small group instruction rooms to promote collaboration as well as individual learning. Additionally, the building is the first Net Zero Energy school in Wisconsin which means it produces at least as much energy as it consumes annually. The school features several innovative and sustainable elements including solar panels, geothermal wells, electrochromic glass, a battery system, and no natural gas serving the building. Interactive stations that highlight the unique and sustainable features of the school are on display for student learning opportunities.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, Environmental Excellence Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award
Innovation One: Located within Madison’s University Research Park is Exact Sciences’ new corporate headquarters, named Innovation One. The new core and shell building unite team members and departments that were dispersed across multiple sites into a collaborative and flexible office environment spanning five stories. The new headquarters favors walkability and includes vibrant workspaces with ample natural light from the curved glass curtain wall on the exterior.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award | ENR Midwest honored Innovation One with an Award of Merit.
Verona Area High School: The new 590,000-square-foot high school covers four levels and has 670 rooms over a seven-acre footprint. The academic core of the building is three stories high and surrounds a large atrium with seating for 1,000. The school also includes a field house, an aquatic center with two pools, a performing arts center, a greenhouse, and specialty classrooms and labs. The overall campus is 161 acres and contains a geothermal field, seven athletic fields including a competition stadium, a cross country running course through a 50-acre forest, and the Military Ridge State Trail.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award
AGC of Wisconsin also recognized Bell Labs: with a BUILD Wisconsin award. The new headquarters features a reception lobby that offers transparent views of the executive board room and the beautiful forest surround. Many design elements feature natural wood and clean refined stainless details, bridging nature and innovation. The facility houses a research lab, office spaces, and amenities such as workout rooms, café, outdoor terraces, and walking paths for the 100 staff and daily visitors.
Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award
Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work!
Findorff really is different when it comes to the extra value we bring to our client relationships, projects, and communities. That may include providing new insights derived from drone footage, helping strategize a company’s sustainability goals, or moving a 115-year-old tavern across the county and rebuilding it.You read that right! Dubbed the “world’s slowest pub crawl,” Findorff recently dismantled a historic tavern and relocated it 27 miles north to Old World Wisconsin. The tavern, located in the Dodge County community of Old Ashippun since 1906, was operated by two generations of the Wittnebel family and will become part of a new brewing experience exhibit for the Wisconsin Historical Society.
For over a year, Findorff worked with a trusted team of subcontractors, the Town of Ashippun, Ashippun Fire Department, WE Energies, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin State Patrol to plan every aspect of the well-orchestrated move. Led by our experienced Special Projects Group, the historic building was divided into three large sections including – first floor, second floor, and roof. The sections were then loaded onto trailers with an 80-ton crane and later made the journey down Highway 67. Traveling at speeds from 10 to 35 miles per hour, Findorff crews and a caravan of semi-trailers, courtesy of Heritage Movers, took 95 minutes to complete the trip from Old Ashippun to Eagle, Wis.
How does a historic building like this get disassembled, moved down a major highway, and reassembled – in a way that preserves all the important elements? The answer involves careful precision. To see a time-lapse of the dismantling, relocation, and reconstruction, click here.”We could not be more excited to see the tavern arrive on-site. We look forward to honoring the legacy of the tavern as we tell the story of brewing in Wisconsin,” said Old World Wisconsin site director Dan Freas. The historic tavern is the first historic structure moved to Old World Wisconsin in more than 25 years. Cheers to that!
Findorff really is different when it comes to the extra value we provide to our clients and our community – whether that is managing a school referendum, bringing sector experience to a project, or working shoulder to shoulder with others in the community to build a home for a family in need.
Our new slogan “Building & Beyond” is the promise to bring additional benefits to client relationships, projects, and the community. Recently, we collaborated with Exact Sciences and Habitat for Humanity of Dane County to help construct a home for a local family with limited resources.During the day-long event at the Exact Sciences’s headquarters on Madison’s west side, temperatures and energy levels soared. Nearly 150 Findorff and Exact Sciences employees helped frame walls later used to construct a home located on the City’s north side. Tara M. Rai, his wife Guarani and their two children will move in to their new home in a few short weeks. Tara says, “We are thankful and fortunate to be chosen to receive a Habitat home. I want my family to be safe and secure. I look forward to learning new skills by working with the Habitat volunteers.”Building is our craft, but going beyond is our privilege. We recognize that team building and community support are in our DNA!
Coming soon, find out more about how Findorff worked with the Wisconsin Historical Society on moving a century-old building.
Throughout Milwaukee and its surrounding communities, momentum is building – literally. With major developments underway and others about to start, Findorff is honored to have a hand in the City’s latest building booms.For over 46 years, Findorff has had a strong presence in Southeastern Wisconsin and has consistently ranked as one of the Top Milwaukee-area construction firms as referenced by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Findorff’s new slogan, Building & Beyond, is an indication of how our experience, focus on innovation, and client solutions, represent the company going forward. Going beyond what is expected is where the true value and industry commitment can be found. Here are a few projects around town that demonstrate these company values.
- The Couture: Over nine years in the making, The Couture is ready to hit the ground running. Spanning a two-acre site, Milwaukee’s newest lakefront high-rise is a 44-story skyscraper designed as a key thoroughfare connecting Milwaukee’s lakefront and cultural amenities with downtown. “Findorff continues to partner with its clients to help change Milwaukee’s skyline, no matter the challenge,” said Kyle Loest, Findorff’s Director of Project Management.
- The Trade Milwaukee: Findorff is proud to announce they have been selected to construct the new Trade Milwaukee Hotel, which is the latest development in the 30-acre Deer District in downtown Milwaukee. The independently owned luxury hotel will be constructed directly north of Fiserv Forum on Juneau and Vel R. Phillips Avenues. The project is expected to break ground Fall 2021. “We are thrilled to partner with the North Central Group on their exciting development,” says Eric Wynn, Findorff’s General Manager Southeast Wisconsin and Director of Project Management for the company’s Milwaukee office.” This project is located just blocks away from our office and is projected to create several hundred trade-related jobs during construction. Our team is extremely excited about working on the continued redevelopment of this sports and entertainment district.”
- Marquette University College of Business & Administration: Marquette’s newest academic facility will house Marquette Business and Innovation Leadership Programs at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, the former site of McCormick Hall. The four-story, 100,000 square-foot facility will be the largest fully donor-funded construction project in the University’s history. Findorff is proud to once again team with Marquette University after the successful completion of The Commons.
- Associated Bank River Center: Formerly known as the Milwaukee Center, the Associated Bank River Center is currently being redeveloped and modernized into a Class-A office tower that will serve as the Bank’s primary office space in Milwaukee. The project is being coordinated in multiple phases, which allows the building to function as normal for the tenants. Once complete, the redevelopment will feature an abundance of modern amenities, a new connection to the Riverwalk, and transform office tenant and public space to better engage the adjacent streetscape and Milwaukee River.
– Tim Prince, MHA, FACHE – Senior Advisor
At Findorff we often reflect on how our work is always in service to others. The spaces we create are not the end in themselves. Rather, these spaces enable our clients to research, serve, produce, and create. This is reflected through our extensive healthcare projects.Inherent in our character is a drive to build these spaces as if they were where we or our loved ones might receive care; in fact, they often are. We relish the chance to apply our craftsmanship to spaces that nurture and support care providers and patients. We welcome the opportunity to bring our creativity and innovation to spaces that inspire such incredible work. Whether we are building an MRI suite, remodeling inpatient spaces, building clinic exam rooms, or finishing the engineering infrastructure for a NICU, we treat these spaces with the same dignity and respect you apply to each moment of care you have with a patient.
So, during National Hospital Week, we would like to show our respect for our healthcare clients and the tremendous work you do every day. Please also know that your daily dedication inspires us in our efforts to deliver spaces that can support you in your efforts to help and to heal. Thank you for making a profound and lasting impact on all of us.
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.
Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition from year to year for quality craftsmanship. Most recently these four projects we proudly constructed received accolades:
- Verona Area High School: Findorff partnered with the Verona Area School District to build a modern and adaptable educational facility that students, staff, and community members will benefit from for generations. The new 590,000-square-foot high school covers seven acres with four levels and 670 rooms. The academic core of the building is three stories high and features a large atrium and cafeteria with seating for 1,000. The facility also includes two pools, a Performing Arts Center, technical education spaces such as woods, metals, and small engines, and both indoor and outdoor athletic areas. The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America recognized this project as a winner of a 2021 Construction Risk Partners Build America Merit Award in the Building New or Renovation ($126 million or more) category.
- Exact Sciences Discovery Campus: To meet the Company’s growing responsibility as a global leader in early cancer detection, Exact Sciences sought a trusted partner to help transform an existing corporate building into the state-of-the-art Discovery Campus that encompasses a Customer Care Facility, Clinical Lab and Warehouse, Production Lab, and Amenities Building. In addition, a parking structure with 950 stalls was constructed to support employee parking for the entire campus. We are proud to have partnered with Potter Lawson on this project which resulted in being awarded the Commercial Design Awards Project of the Year as well as Best Renovation-Office from In Business.
- Bell Laboratories: The new 40,000 square-foot world headquarters in Windsor, WI includes a cafeteria, laboratory, open workspaces, enclosed offices, and meeting rooms and recently captured first place in the category of In Business’ Best New Development-Office in the Commercial Design Awards. Findorff constructed this headquarters building which provides additional capacity to Bell Labs’ research facility. The office departments were consolidated from multiple locations into one building. The headquarters features a seamlessly integrated exterior with access to an outdoor patio, boardwalk, and wildlife preserve.
- Jules Verne at Epic: The most recent addition to Epic’s fifth campus, called Storybook, is Jules Verne. The building is 90,000 square feet and houses 360 offices. The project recently netted two AGC of Wisconsin awards for its exemplary masonry work. Recognition includes the Best of Clay Masonry category and the Dennis Wilichowski Craftsmanship award. On the exterior of this themed corporate office, Findorff masons installed approximately 50,000 units of block, 145,000 units of brick, and 5,000 pieces of cast stone on the building.
Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work!
Findorff’s talented people play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. We are happy to welcome our new Controller and Director of Accounting and recognize team members who were recently promoted. Join us in sending congratulations!
Donnie Bogle-Boesiger: Donnie brings a creative eye to Findorff’s projects in the Milwaukee market. As Senior Virtual Construction Specialist, he is passionate about exploring new ways to use technology that help inform project teams on potential solutions. Donnie, a registered LEED® Accredited Professional, enjoys roasting coffee for family and friends and spending time outdoors fly fishing and camping.
Derek Burdick: As a Madison native, Derek has enjoyed leading a wide range of projects throughout the area for clients including Epic Systems, Dane County Public Works, University Research Park, Exact Sciences, and Sentry Insurance. In his new role as Senior Project Manager, Derek looks forward to lending his industry experience on a couple of large-scale projects scheduled to break ground in the next several months. In Derek’s spare time he enjoys cheering on Wisconsin sports teams alongside his partner, Katie, son, Mason, and daughter, Kensley.
Bob Dillis: Bob began his career at Findorff in 2008 as a Project Engineer in the preconstruction department. Throughout the years, Bob has been an integral team member for many high-profile projects, including Epic Systems, UW Credit Union, and UW-Madison Biochemistry. In Bob’s new role as Senior Estimator, he will lead Findorff’s bidding efforts and collaborate with project teams on architectural design, value engineering, and constructability analyses. Currently living near Verona with his wife Becky, Bob enjoys running, outdoor activities, and lending a helping hand through Meals on Wheels.
Karen Gill: Since joining Findorff in 2012, Karen has displayed a passion for working with technology which aligns well to her new role as Director of Business Technology. In her role, Karen will bring her leadership experience to the Company’s Business Solutions and Information Technology teams. Karen lives in Oregon with her husband, Bryan, three children, Rebecca, Wyatt, Madeline, and their dog, Tula. In her spare time, Karen enjoys volunteering as a lacrosse coach and serving on her local lacrosse board.
John Kaltenberg III, P.E.: John brings over 15 years of industry experience to his new role as a Senior Project Manager. He has been a licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin since 2008 and a member of the Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association (WHEA) since 2016. John has completed several healthcare projects at (Advocate) Aurora, Wheaton Franciscan, and ProHealth Care, in addition to newer endeavors in downtown Milwaukee including the Block 7 Parking Structure and Bader Rutter’s new corporate headquarters. John has spent the past ten years mentoring Milwaukee’s inner-city youth through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. John enjoys spending time at home with his wife, Lisa, and their two young sons, John IV and Elijah. He is a huge Badger football and basketball fan.Eric Sadler: With over 14 years of experience, Eric has led many iconic and skyline-changing construction projects within the City of Milwaukee. As Senior Project Manager, Eric oversees construction efforts for multi-million-dollar projects and dedicates his time to mentoring the industry’s future tradespeople. Eric, a Milwaukee native, helps guide youth apprenticeships, educates high school students on career options in the construction industry, and helps provide on-the-job experience to college interns and co-ops. Eric currently lives in Franklin with his wife, Rachel, and their two children Declan and Estelle.
Tiffany Scheller: Recently hired as Findorff’s new Controller and Director of Accounting, Tiffany is a graduate from Georgia State University where she earned her Accounting degree. Prior to joining Findorff, Tiffany worked as the Chief Financial Officer for a commercial real estate firm. In her new role at Findorff, she will lead the financial and accounting operations and is responsible for financial reporting and corporate compliance. Tiffany lives in Madison with her husband, Steve, their three children, and two dogs. In Tiffany’s spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, playing soccer, biking, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Congratulations Donnie, Derek, Bob, Karen, John, and Eric on your well-deserved promotions, and welcome to the team, Tiffany!
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!