"The government is sending out plans on CD-ROM, but people still need that piece of paper in front of them. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon." - Sharon Mitchell, Manager Green Bay Builders Exchange

Celebrating 50 Years

By Laura Gallagher

		Address: 1048 Glory Road, Suite G, Green Bay, WI 54304 Phone: 920-338-0921 Fax: 920-338-0928 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Region covered: Statewide and upper Michigan, space for 116 plans Services: Weekly construction bulletin, estimating area, fax services, reference materials, copiers and blueprint copying equipment Membership: Full membership, $300 annually; associate membership, $125 annually

Sharon Mitchell, manager of the Green Bay Builders Exchange, remembers a time last year when the room was filled beyond capacity.

"I had to get extra tables to set the plans on," she says. "And it looks like it's getting busy again."
The Green Bay Builders Exchange was established in 1950 as a member-owned association. That membership currently stands at 320 full and associate members.

In her eight years as manager, Mitchell has seen faces and companies come and go, but one thing stays the same about the membership, she says. "They all love to gripe about architects."
The room offers plans for projects statewide and in upper Michigan.

"We currently have between 65 and 75 plans," says Mitchell. "We've got a lot of road construction, hospital, school, and sidewalk projects." Some of the exchange's bigger projects included Miller Park. "And I'm sure we'll get Lambeau Field," Mitchell says. "There's also a new American Express building going up in Green Bay."

Despite the changing technology, plan rooms will always have a place, Mitchell believes.
"The government is sending out plans on CD-ROM, but people still need that piece of paper in front of them. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon."

And while the exchange does have Internet access to get information from architects with Web sites, there are no plans for a Green Bay Builders Exchange Web site in the near future.

Mitchell says approximately 75 to 100 people visit the plan room each week. Those visitors include employees of Martell Construction, who find the exchange "very useful," according to Martell's Mike Carny.

"There are a lot of big projects coming up so I'm sure we'll be visiting a lot," he said.
That is, if the company can find enough workers.

"There is more work than there are workers," says Carny. "We've got an aging work force and no one filling anyone's shoes."