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.
Findorff is excited to share our recent leadership changes. Earlier this month, Jim Yehle became Findorff’s President & CEO and Dave Beck-Engel became Vice Chairman. They will continue to lead Findorff alongside current Chairman Rich Lynch.
Jim started his Findorff career in 1999 as a Project Manager, and most recently served as Executive Vice President since 2016. Ever since, his passion for relationship building and helping the community has flourished. He led teams in construction of the first phase of the Overture Center for the Arts in 2004, American Family Children’s Hospital in 2007, and worked directly with several major health systems in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Jim has also been an active volunteer and supports Findorff’s long-term partnerships with companies in the arts, education, and healthcare.
In his most recent role, Dave served as Findorff’s President since 2012. His career began at Findorff in 1980 as a Field Engineer. He was instrumental in creating the Preconstruction department and establishing the crucial role that prejob planning has in our project success. Throughout his 40-year tenure, Dave has brought expertise, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to support the people of Findorff. As Vice Chairman, Dave will serve in an advisory role. He will continue his board involvement for organizations such as Agrace Hospice, United Way, River Food Pantry, and Future Wisconsin Housing.
“Both Jim and Dave are incredible and talented individuals. Each has been instrumental in Findorff’s long-standing, successful history,” said Findorff Chairman Rich Lynch. “Their leadership will continue to be a guiding force as we progress forward, both in our construction efforts and in the communities where we work, all while staying focused on our core values: the perpetuation of Findorff, our people, and a commitment to excellence.”
To learn more about Findorff’s latest happenings, make sure to check out our other announcements and sign up for our emails. We’d love to stay in touch and keep you informed!
Every year, in late October, it is our honor to recognize Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week. This time pays tribute to the roles that building and grounds staff, as well as facility managers and engineers have, in ensuring quality healthcare environments for all patients, residents, visitors, and staff.
As we proudly construct projects that support care and healing throughout the Midwest, Findorff sees firsthand how facility and engineering teams are integral in making a difference through the delivery of healthcare every day. Without such hardworking professionals, it would be impossible to manage and maintain clean and safe environments for those in need. Please join Findorff as we celebrate these people for their efforts not only during Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week, but also all year round.
By working side by side with healthcare facility teams, we are inspired every day to create quality healing environments, which led to our recent recognition as a top national healthcare contractor. To learn more and how we can support your healthcare facility needs, please contact Findorff’s Business Development and Healthcare Consultant Jeff Eckstein, AIA.
The Ronald McDonald House of Madison is a “home away from home” for families while their beloved children receive care at area hospitals. As the need for pediatric medical services continues to grow, so has the need to expand space for families committed to staying close to their little loved ones during treatment. Since craftsmanship is at the core of what we do, Findorff was honored to help fill this need with the recent addition to the Ronald McDonald House, built on a foundation of community and hope.
The addition nearly doubled the size of the facility. Findorff added 13 additional guest rooms, two of which accommodate larger families, and eight ADA compliant rooms. Expanded indoor and outdoor play areas, improved kitchen facilities, parking, enhanced security, and private spaces were also improvements. Findorff Superintendent Adam Budda played a key role in the project’s construction. “There were many days that the building was at capacity,” he said. “Our team worked hard to keep noise down while providing families complete access to the existing building.
”Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison Executive Director Kevin Huddleston is overjoyed with the addition and remodeled facility. “Many of our families enjoyed watching the workers during construction,” Huddleston said. “But it doesn’t even come close to how thankful we are to have a beautiful, comfortable, and homey space built with love.”
Pictured: Findorff Superintendent Adam Budda received some carpentry advice from former patient Mason and his brother Kyle on the steps of the new addition entrance.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Whether on or off a construction site, we understand that communities are built with more than tools and precision. They are also built by people who shape the places we call home. Our communities are the thread that connects us with one another. That is why supporting the well-being of communities, both near and far, continues to drive our core values.With our commitment to making a difference, Findorff avidly volunteers for The Hunger Task Force. Located in Milwaukee, this free and local food bank is Wisconsin’s leading anti-hunger organization. Since fall 2018, Findorff has helped assemble over 2,200 boxes to stock food. This translates into a month’s worth of healthy food free of charge for low-income seniors in Milwaukee.In the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and Findorff is proud to continuously partake in small acts of kindness that bring about monumental rewards.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1532027784860{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1532028074358{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”related-portfolio-posts-heading”]
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When you think about an active construction site, you may picture bulldozers, masons, cement mixers, and the like. While this is accurate, there are emerging trends that are reshaping the industry. Today, many parts of a building can be assembled miles away from a construction site. In Findorff’s case, we are proud to support such building efforts with our Prefabrication Shop.Spanning 19,000 square feet, our Prefabrication Shop hums along at a busy pace supporting projects throughout the Midwest. It is also instrumental in meeting project demands. “We understand that our clients need efficient, fast, and cost-effective building solutions,” says Findorff Prefabrication and Construction Process Manager Justin Mitten. “Through prefabrication, we are streamlining construction by assembling building components in a controlled environment offsite. In turn, Findorff is better equipped to create a ROI for our clients.”There are four key areas where we see such benefits.
Prefabrication Benefits:
- Maximize scope: Prefabrication makes it possible to assemble building parts while other construction activities are underway. As this can lead to a reduction in schedule, the time saved can be used to expand the project scope while still meeting a targeted end date.
- Support speed-to-market goals: Our clients hire Findorff to construct buildings that support their organizational goals. School districts may need to address growth, while science-and-technology companies may need more innovative offices or production capacity. Regardless of the reason, we understand the need for their projects to be completed on time. The earlier a building can open its doors, the faster our clients can conduct business, support staff, generate sales, and more!
- Enhance jobsite safety: Prefabrication eliminates exposure to jobsite hazards. By assembling building components offsite, we have seen significant reductions in injuries. For example, over 30,000 hours have been worked at Findorff’s Prefabrication Shop without a single lost-time or OSHA recordable incident in the last two years.
- Create cost savings through manufacturing principles: A controlled environment like our Prefabrication Shop offers the opportunity for automation and lean manufacturing principles during construction. In turn, we can perform both repetitive and complex tasks, that are typically time consuming, more quickly with greater quality. This then translates into cost savings for our clients.
“These benefits make prefabrication a viable cost- and time-saving resource,” explains Mitten. “We are also experiencing a surge in the prefabrication of more than just individual building components. For example, rather than assembling separate walls or building systems, there is a focus on prefabricating entire rooms and buildings before a shovel even hits the ground.” Such construction is representative of modular building, which is quickly becoming a preferred delivery method for owners in the hospitality, housing, and healthcare markets. This is because of the enhanced quality and reduced schedules modular construction offers. For example, Findorff is currently working on two security buildings for Fort McCoy that are being built entirely at Findorff’s Prefabrication Shop, then will be shipped to the jobsite.If you are considering prefabrication for your next project, there are several factors to consider for successful results.
Creating Successful Results Through Prefabrication:
- Early involvement is key: Findorff finds the most success by engaging with the design team and key stakeholders early on. Collaborating on the design of a project with the buy-in of those who will execute design is critical to avoid costly redesign and value-engineering efforts.
- Follow an integrated project approach: An integrated team encourages collaboration from all. This is important as it leads to an overall understanding of project goals. It also helps identify opportunities where both prefabrication and modular construction can benefit a project.
Findorff’s prefabrication efforts can certainly be a valuable resource for your next project. Regardless of the scope, our end goal is to be a trusted partner that supports your needs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1532027784860{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1532028074358{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”related-portfolio-posts-heading”]
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Each summer, Findorff takes the opportunity to reflect on our core values. This month, we recognize the value of character and how it plays a role in our company. Specifically, it is in our nature to think green every day. Findorff has a long history of honoring the natural environment along with the people who depend on it. We understand the importance of taking a holistic approach to sustainability not only during construction, but also for the many generations after. Looking at construction through this lens is one way we are helping make a lasting impact.
For example, we are helping build Wisconsin’s first net-zero school. A net-zero building uses a combination of energy-efficient systems and on-site-energy generation to create at least as much energy as it consumes. This sustainable approach will be used by the Oregon School District for its new elementary school, which will open in 2020.While this project is currently under construction, Findorff has been actively reducing our environmental footprint for decades. We look to minimize waste, reuse and recycle materials, manage air quality and erosion control, and use responsibly sourced materials. We also utilize thermal imaging technology paired with our drones. This validates energy-efficient buildings as well as ensures high indoor-air quality and positive occupant-health outcomes.
Through such efforts, we roll up our sleeves to take care of our community, make a difference, and focus on the next generation. That’s what our character is all about.
Stay tuned next month as we highlight another one of our core values, community.
Pictured above: Gabrielle, soon to attend kindergarten, plants a tree near the construction site of Oregon School District’s new elementary school.
Findorff is fortunate to have several projects receive recognition from year to year for their quality craftsmanship. Most recently, In Business, The Daily Reporter, and Milwaukee Business Journal recognized several buildings we proudly constructed. They include:
- American Family Insurance’s The Spark: The Spark is a nine-story, 158,000-square-foot building developed by American Family Insurance. It features creative and collaborative office spaces, plus is home to StartingBlock Madison. The Spark is pursuing LEED® Certification and was developed around standards set by the International WELL Being Institute. Eppstein Uhen Architects and Potter Lawson were the project’s architects. In Business named this building the Most Innovative Green Solution. The Spark also received a Top Projects Award from The Daily Reporter.
- Marquette University’s The Commons: The Commons is a new, state-of-the-art, co-ed residence hall. Spanning 292,000 square feet, the facility includes 9-story and 12-story towers made up of single and double rooms. A 650-seat dining and community space joins the two towers as an inviting area for students to eat and socialize. The project’s architects were Workshop Architects and Design Collective. This Commons was recognized as the Best New Development in Education by In Business, Best New Development in Education by the Milwaukee Business Journal, and received a Top Projects Award from The Daily Reporter.
- Summit Credit Union – Monona: Summit Credit Union’s new branch in Monona is a 4,000-square-foot steel structure with a 1,000-square-foot drive up canopy. This project was designed by Strang and includes interesting architectural features that are common throughout many updated Summit Credit Union locations. In Business awarded this project the Best New Development in Retail.
- Sun Prairie Area School District’s Token Springs and Meadow View Elementary Schools: In 2016, the District passed a referendum for two new schools to support its growing community. These buildings are Token Springs and Meadow View Elementary Schools. Combined, they span over 240,000 square feet. Both have themed spaces for each grade level and were designed with sustainable building features. Eppstein Uhen Architects served as the project’s architect. The schools received a Top Projects Award from The Daily Reporter.
Findorff’s talented people play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. We are proud to announce several promotions of four new Senior Project Managers:
- Dave Chmielewski: Dave brings over a decade of experience to his new role as a Senior Project Manager. He has been involved with several notable projects in the Madison area. They include multiple buildings for Epic Systems Corporation, plus UW-Madison‘s Chazen Art Museum addition and Gordon Commons Dining & Events Center. Dave is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. During his free time, Dave enjoys attending Badger football games and other UW-Madison athletic events to support his alma mater. He also has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Hammer with a Heart. Dave lives in Madison with his wife Jaime, and children Malorie and Audrey.
- Steve Gay: As part of Steve’s 20-year career, he has been greatly involved with Findorff’s educational projects. He has managed construction efforts for various school districts, including those for DeForest, Juda, McFarland, and Oregon. Steve was also part of the team to rebuild the University of Iowa’s School of Music after serious flooding destroyed the original facility. Steve additionally serves as an AGC Leadership Representative, plus coaches his boys’ baseball and soccer teams. Outside of work, he enjoys having fun outdoors with his family. He currently resides in DeForest with his wife Brooke, and children Jack and Luke.
- Matt Stadelman: Having worked in construction for nearly 10 years, Matt’s career is comprised of several major projects. These include the School of Nursing at UW-Madison, Edgewater Hotel, and Oregon School District. He has even crossed the border into gopher territory to help manage the construction of Hub on Campus – Minneapolis, a 26-story residence hall near the University of Minnesota. Matt is also a registered LEED® Green Associate. He enjoys spending time outdoors, working on home projects, and serving as a Rosenberry Ambassador for the United Way. Matt currently resides in Cottage Grove with his wife Nikky.
- Aaron Zutz: With 9 years of experience working in construction management, Aaron is a LEED® Accredited Professional and has been involved with a variety of projects. Most recently, he has had a growing role in managing the construction of educational facilities. They include several buildings for the DeForest Area and Middleton-Cross Plains Area School Districts, plus the upcoming new Verona Area High School. Aaron resides in Madison and enjoys running, camping, and woodworking.
Congratulations Dave, Steve, Matt, and Aaron on your well-deserved promotions!
This spring marked the completion of two notable facilities built by Findorff. The Claims Building for Sentry Insurance and Headquarters for Summit Credit Union officially opened their doors for business. We are grateful to have been part of such notable work and valuable partnerships.
Findorff’s relationship with Sentry Insurance started almost five decades ago. Nearly 100 guests attended, including Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, as Sentry celebrated its new building, which is adjacent to its main office. Spanning seven stories and 285,000 square feet, the Claims Building reflects the company’s progressive attitude toward the nature of its work and the character of the workplace. The office will also support its growing staff and become a landmark in Central Wisconsin.
The new Headquarters for Summit Credit Union is one of several projects Findorff completed for this member-owned financial cooperative. There was a good deal of celebration with several hundred people in attendance taking in the new building. It features 160,000 square feet of office space and 30,000 square feet of underground parking. It has an open design, fitness areas with outdoor walking paths and a sports court, in-house cafeteria, as well as a celebration room, auditorium, full-scale branch with theming, and drive-through tellers. This state-of-the art building is also pursing LEED® Silver Certification.
Make sure to check out Findorff’s corporate experience if you’re interested in learning more about our work.