Better than ever

Our first Top Projects issue eight years ago set a standard for The Daily Reporter Publishing Co.

It's when we realized that Top Projects isn't about Wisconsin's construction industry coming up with enough jobs worthy of recognition. It's about Wisconsin Builder figuring out how to honor so many instances of greatness.

When we did that first Top Projects issue, we didn't know what to expect. When we finished, we knew that we'd have to get better every year to keep pace with the projects you submit.

This year, you pushed us further than ever. We received 126 entries, and it was clear from the start that we had to do more.

So, as you'll see in this thickest-ever Wisconsin Builder, we bumped it up to 30 Top Projects and included an Honor Roll that gives every entry the spotlight it deserves.

But still, it wasn't enough. There were three projects - the Tri-North Builders Corporate Headquarters, the Hunzinger Construction Company Headquarters LEED-CI Renovation and the J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. Milwaukee headquarters - that demanded something more.

Those three projects demonstrated that construction isn't just about getting hired and doing good work for your clients; it's about giving your employees a good place to work, holding yourself to the same sustainable standards you promote and finding a way to improve your community.

With those characteristics in mind, The Daily Reporter Publishing Co. named each of those projects a winner of our first Home Base Award.

Findorff's Milwaukee headquarters project transformed a 1960s warehouse on Milwaukee's North Sixth Street to meet the contractor's growth needs while improving the surrounding community. Findorff went beyond the basics to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee and Gold Meier School to use the new headquarters as a place to train kids for careers in construction.

The project earned a Heart of the Community Award from the Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women. It also earned Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

Sustainable design and construction were also a priority for Hunzinger when it embarked on a 5,300-square-foot renovation of its headquarters. The remodel helped the contractor reduce office water use by 34.4 percent and office lighting power density by 18 percent.

But the project wasn't just about making Hunzinger's headquarters more sustainable; it was about educating the company's staff about the importance of environmental concepts. Hunzinger set a goal of getting its entire professional staff LEED-accredited, and by the time the project was entered into Top Projects, more than 65 percent of the staff had reached that goal.

Tri-North Builders Inc. had similar environmental concerns for its new headquarters in Fitchburg. The project, with 76 percent of all construction waste recycled, incorporates daylighting, a green roof, energy-efficient systems and rapidly renewable materials inside and out.

Tri-North's focus on green construction was matched only by its commitment to its employees. The new building includes private offices, team break-out space, training rooms, a day care center and a fitness area.

Tri-North, Hunzinger and Findorff pushed themselves to stay true to their convictions even when no client was watching. For that, they earned a Home Base Award.

The construction industry pushed us to provide a publication worthy of your achievements. For that, we present the Top Projects of 2006.