Hot Spot

The Alexander Company wants to add residential density to Madison's downtown, and the Madison developer has struck upon a plan that should accomplish its goal. Alexander, working with contractors J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Madison, and Ruedebusch Development and Construction, Madison, will break ground in late July on Capitol West, a mixed-use development covering an entire city block two blocks from the Capitol on West Washington Avenue. The development, which was designed by Alexander Company, Miller Hull, Seattle; JJR, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Vetter Denk Architects, Milwaukee; and KEE Architecture Inc., Madison, will include 400 residential units as well as commercial space for office or retail. The residential and commercial space will go up in three phases, with the first phase slated for occupancy in winter 2006 or early 2007.

Wrapped up

Photo courtesy of Kahler Slater Architects Inc.

It's official. Northcentral Technical College in May formally dedicated its new Health Sciences Center on the school's Wausau campus. Kahler Slater Architects Inc., Milwaukee, and Miron Construction Co. Inc., Neenah, teamed up to design and build the $23 million, 126,000-square-foot, four-story center. The project, which kicked off in summer 2003 and reached completion in fall 2004, acts as a gateway to the campus and houses all of the college's health-occupation programs. The added space and programming will let the school bring in 725 more students each year.

Your honor

Town & Country Electric, Appleton, won the Wisconsin Corporate Safety Award from the Wisconsin Council of Safety and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for the company's low injury/incidence rate and its safety and health procedures, policies and accomplishments. AZCO Inc., Menasha, won an Outstanding Achievement in Safety Award from the WCS and the DWD for the company's record of workplace safety and health. … The Zimmerman Design Group, Milwaukee, won an Honor Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for the firm's site design of the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Madison. Zimmerman also won several awards from the American Society of Interior Designers-Wisconsin Chapter. The firm won a Gold Award for its work on the Coast Restaurant in Milwaukee. It won Silver Awards for its work on YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc, Regency Condominium in Milwaukee and the Mount Mary College Gerhardinger Center in Wauwatosa. Zimmerman won a Bronze Award for its work on the Lake Retreat Residence in Chenequa. … The American Institute of Architects Wisconsin recently honored 10 projects for excellence in architectural design at its 2005 Design Awards Program. The Honor Award winners were: Gastrau Fuerer & Associates, Milwaukee, and FG Architektur, Gossau, Switzerland, for their work on the Sculptor Atelier Merkurstrasse in Gossau; HGA Architects & Engineers, Milwaukee, and Continuum Architects and Planners SC, Milwaukee, for their work on the Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School in Milwaukee; La Dallman Architects Inc., Milwaukee, for its work on the Frederick J. Miller Employee Meeting Center in Milwaukee; and The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc., Cedarburg, for its work on The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus Aquatic Center in Verona.

The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus Aquatic Center Photo courtesy of AIA Wisconsin

The Merit Award winners were: Holabird & Root LLC, Chicago, and Integrated Architecture, Grand Rapids, Mich., for their work on the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center in Grand Rapids; Johnsen Schmaling Architects, Milwaukee, for its work on the Urban Infill 01 in Milwaukee; and La Dallman Architects Inc. for its work on the Brady Street Bus Shelter in Milwaukee. The Special Recognition Award winners were: Eppstein Uhen Architects Inc., Milwaukee, for its work on 318 North Water Street | Hanson Dodge in Milwaukee; Facility Engineering Inc., Madison, for its work on the St. Raphael Cathedral spire replacement in Madison; and The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc. for its work on the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Bayside. … The Bentley Company, Milwaukee, won the MCISC Safety Award for 2004 from the Milwaukee Construction Industry Safety Council and the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee for the company's low accident/injury rate on job sites in 2004. … Fred Reindl, owner of Reindl Plumbing & Heating Inc., St. Nazianz, won the Contractor of the Year Award from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Wisconsin Association. … Oscar C. Boldt, chairman of The Boldt Group Inc., Appleton, won the 2005 Walter A. Nashert, Sr. Constructor Award from the American Institute of Constructors for his contributions to the industry. Tom Miotke, chairman and CEO of The Jansen Group Inc., Milwaukee, won the Constructor of the Year Award from the AIC for his participation in the construction industry. … Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP, Milwaukee, won three design awards from the International Interior Design Association. The firm won a Best of Show Award for its work on the Hamilton Fine Arts Center/Hamilton School District in Sussex, a Design Excellence Award for its work on Gibraltar Town Homes in Fish Creek and a First Place Award for its work on the Waters at Park Place in Milwaukee. Strang Inc., Madison, won an Award of Excellence in Education/Institutional Design from the IIDA for the firm's work on the Lakefront on Langdon on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. … David Raysich, managing partner of Plunkett Raysich Architects, won a 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Alumni Association for his civic involvement and career achievements since he graduated.

On the horizon

Ayres Associates Inc., Eau Claire, will design repairs to the Eau Claire River Dam and a related trail bridge at the Dells of the Eau Claire Park in Plover. … MSA Professional Services Inc., Baraboo, is working with the village of Clyman on an improvement plan for the village's wastewater-treatment plant. MSA is also working on an estimated $1.9 million water-system upgrade project at Ethan Allen School in Wales. … Crossroads Community Church, New Berlin, is planning to build an estimated $2.5 million church on Moorland Road and West Heatherly Drive in New Berlin. … Kahler Slater Architects, in association with WTW Architects, Milwaukee, is providing consultant services for an estimated $18.8 million student union expansion and admissions center at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha. Kahler Slater is also working with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on plans for an estimated $30.9 million College of Business and Economics building. … Raasch Associates Inc., Green Bay, is working as a consultant on an estimated $15.1 million plan to develop particulate-emissions collection systems at five state-owned central heating plants in various locations. … Lien & Peterson Architects Inc., Eau Claire, signed on to provide architectural and engineering services for an estimated $1.7 million HVAC, exterior door, louver and window replacement project at Sutherland Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. … JDR Engineering Inc., Madison, is working on an estimated $1.2 million chiller plant project at the University of Wisconsin Great Lakes Research Facility in Milwaukee. … Potter Lawson Inc., in association with Cannon Design, Madison, gained state approval for its work on the estimated $21 million student recreation and wellness center at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. … The city of Fort Atkinson is working on an estimated $6 million expansion plan for the Dwight Foster Public Library. … Rettler Corp., Stevens Point, is helping the Lake Mills Area School District develop an estimated $1 million athletic complex for Lake Mills High School. … Mayo Corp., Madison, is providing architectural services for an estimated $2.9 million Horicon Marsh International Education Center in Horicon. … Engineer Smithgroup JJR Inc., Madison, is working with Concordia University on an estimated $8 million bluff-stabilization project on the university's Mequon campus.

Dotted line

Boys & Girls Club Allied Drive Family Center Rendering courtesy of Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP

McGann Construction Inc., Madison, signed on to join Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP, Milwaukee, in the construction of the Boys & Girls Club Allied Drive Family Center in Madison. … MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, was selected for the design and construction of a 20,000-square-foot OfficeMax retail store in New Berlin. MSI also won the design, engineering and construction contract for a 1,540-square-foot classroom addition at the Waukesha Community Seventh Day Adventist Church in New Berlin. MSI also won a contract to design and construct a 1,200-square-foot tanning salon in Oconomowoc. MSI also was selected to design and build a 2,980-square-foot addition and remodel for the U.S. Cellular facility in Greenfield. … Vinton Construction Co., Manitowoc, won a $1.2 million contract for a pavement project in Green Bay. … Northeast Asphalt Inc., Greenville, landed a $1.2 million contract for an asphalt resurfacing project in Green Bay. … J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Brookfield, will replace the Lakeland Nursing Home in Elkhorn with a new building after winning an $8.6 million contract for the job. Cullen also won a $59.9 million contract to construct a historic restoration of Milwaukee's City Hall. Cullen also won a $10.1 million contract for addition and renovation work at La Escuela Fratney in Milwaukee. … Ronet Construction Corp., Green Bay, secured a $1.6 million contract to construct the second phase of a water-main and sanitary-sewer project in Algoma. Advance Construction Inc., Green Bay, landed a $1.9 million contract for water-main work on the same project. Advance also won a $1.5 million contract to construct sewers and water mains in Appleton. …

R.T. Fox Contractors Inc., Edgerton, won a $1.6 million contract for sewer and water work in Janesville. … Lunda Construction Co., Black River Falls, will reconstruct a water main and dam on Madison Street in Cambria after winning a $1.1 million contract for the job. … J&F Construction & Home Improvement, Eau Claire, took home a $1.2 million contract to design/build a pre-engineered manufacturing building for Chippewa River Industries in Chippewa Falls. … MZ Construction, Linden, will renovate Pioneer Stadium on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus after winning a $1 million contract for the job. … Miron Construction Co. Inc., Neenah, won a $3.8 million contract to construct a new medical office and ambulatory surgery center in Sheboygan. Miron also won a $1.1 million contract to construct the Wausau Area Transit Center. … A.C.E. Building Services Inc., Manitowoc, will construct an office addition at Investors Community Bank in Manitowoc after winning a $1.1 million contract for the project. … Hamann Construction Co., Manitowoc, landed a $1.4 million contract to build an electrical-distribution support facility for Manitowoc Public Utilities. … Wilkomm Excavating & Grading Inc., Union Grove, won a $1.1 million contract to reconstruct utilities and streets in the Plank Road area in Mukwonago. … C.D. Smith Construction Co., Fond du Lac, secured a $4.5 million contract for general, concrete, precast and masonry work on a new judicial building in West Bend. Circle Electric Inc., Menomonee Falls, won a $1.2 million electrical contract for the West Bend job. … R.G. Huston Co. Inc., Cottage Grove, will construct grading, street and utility work at the Cottage Grove Commerce Park after winning a $1.2 million contract for the job. … J.F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac, won a $1.1 million contract to install an underground steam-distribution piping system from the Menasha Power Plant to Certain Paper Mills in Menasha. … Riley Construction Co. Inc., Kenosha, will construct a 300,000-square-foot distribution and manufacturing building for WISPARK LLC and CenterPoint Properties Trust in Pleasant Prairie after winning a contract for the job. Riley also won a contract to build a 249,000-square-foot warehouse addition to the corporate headquarters of IRIS, USA in Pleasant Prairie. … Seater Construction Co. Inc., Racine, landed a $1.8 million contract for work on the central treatment facility and Wellhouse No. 4 in Waterford. … Jos. Schmitt & Sons Construction Co. Inc., Sheboygan, won a $1.3 million contract to construct a classroom addition and remodeling work at the public safety building for Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland. … Payne & Dolan Inc., Waukesha, will construct the 2005 road improvements in Mequon after winning a $1 million contract for the work. Payne & Dolan also won a $1.1 million contract for the 2005 paving program in Mount Pleasant. … Jossart Bros. Construction, De Pere, landed a $1.7 million contract for utilities, grading and detention pond work in De Pere. … Parisi Construction Co. Inc., Verona, won a $1 million contract for site improvements at the U.S. Highway 151-County Highway A Business Park in Beaver Dam. … Musson Brothers Inc., Brookfield, will reconstruct a portion of Cold Spring Road in New Berlin after winning a $2.2 million contract for the job. … Earth Inc., Arpin, won a $2 million contract to build a wastewater-treatment facility in Pittsville. … C.W. Purpero Inc., Milwaukee, landed a $2.2 million contract for phase one of the Mukwonago Shores paving and utilities project.

By design

The Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Delafield wants a unified congregation. With traditional mass celebrated in the church's sanctuary and contemporary mass in the gym, the church noticed a divide in its congregation that it wanted to close. So it turned to MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, for an answer. MSI responded with a design/build plan for a 37,000-square-foot sanctuary addition that includes a narthex, fellowship area, prayer chapel and music room. The new sanctuary will seat 1,200 people and feature a state-of-the-art sound, video and lighting system. If it earns the necessary municipal approvals, MSI plans to release sub bids by late July, start construction by September and reach completion by winter 2006.

Milestones

La Macchia Group LLC, a design/build firm in Milwaukee, celebrated its third anniversary on June 1. La Macchia Group was co-founded in 2002 by Ralph and Mary Lou La Macchia. In the past three years, the company has completed 26 design/build projects, totaling more than $20 million in construction, and increased its staff to 25 people.

Name change

Voss Jorgensen Schueler Co. Inc., a general contracting, construction management and design/build firm, changed its name to VJS Construction Services. The name change coincides with the company's relocation of its corporate headquarters to W233 N2847 Roundy's Circle West, Pewaukee.

Peer Review

A new challenge

Ebert takes charge at PSC

“It’s good to have ideas and opinions, but if you can’t see those translated into results, it’s kind of a weakness.” Daniel Ebert

Daniel Ebert once found the spirit of democracy standing at a train station in the Ukraine.

It was right there, waiting on the same train that would take Ebert into a country he had never seen before.

"My translator was my age and, in many respects, had the same experiences growing up," he said. "I'm the only Westerner within 50 miles. Here we are, standing there, and 10 years earlier, we were sworn enemies.

"Now, he was my lifeline. It was powerful."

It was around 1994, and it was a powerful time to be in the Ukraine. The country had just completed its parliamentary elections, and Ebert was just about to take over as director of the National Democratic Institute in Kiev.

"It worked in any country going through a change from an authoritarian government to a democracy,"
he said. "Our approach was to show the world's experience, to be a resource to governments."

Ebert stayed in the Ukraine for two years helping the NDI act as a tool for the people who were working to make a difference. When he left, the country's leaders were still debating their constitution.

Geographically speaking, Ebert's trip to the Ukraine took him a long way from his previous work in Washington, D.C., and his roots in Watertown. Psychologically, he was right at home.

In memoriam Richard C. Dess, Elm Grove, died May 7 of undisclosed causes. Dess, 88, worked for the city of Wauwatosa for 36 years and retired as the city's engineering administrator in 1982.

"I'm incredibly results-oriented," said Ebert, who took over as chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on April 11. "It's good to have ideas and opinions, but if you can't see those translated into results, it's kind of a weakness."

Ebert has made a career out of avoiding that weakness. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1987 with a double major in political science and economics, Ebert took off for Washington, D.C., to work with a public affairs shop.

"For someone fresh out of school and full of energy, working on Capitol Hill exposes you not only to politics and policy, but how things get done," he said. "I think it's probably the same thing that has drawn everybody else to it. You care about what's happening around you, you're motivated to make a difference, and you want to put yourself in a position to make a difference."

After a year spent working for a Seattle political consulting firm during the 1988 elections, Ebert returned to D.C., took a short-term legislative correspondent job with Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl and then shifted to Washington Sen. Brock Adams' office, where he stayed until Adams retired in 1992.

Best of the web Kilbourn Tower is one of the newest members of Milwaukee's skyline. Situated at the corner of Prospect and Kilbourn avenues, the tower, when completed, will feature 33 stories of luxury condominiums, with condo prices starting at $730,000. The Kilbourn Tower Web site at www.kilbourntower.com features in-progress photos of the tower's construction as well as photos of model condominiums.

But Ebert's work in D.C. continued with a stint for Washington Rep. Maria Cantwell, and, after Ebert returned from the Ukraine, a role as executive director of Net Coalition.com, the first Internet trade association.

Ebert rejoined Cantwell after she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2000. He stayed with her for two years working as a legislative director.

Then it was time to go home. He returned to Wisconsin for his parents' 40th anniversary, talked to a friend who had worked on Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign about the newly elected governor's transition into his new position and then went back to D.C. to sell his house and plan a vacation to Portugal.

"Three days later, I got a call to help with the transition," Ebert said. "That's roughly equivalent to taking an $11 billion corporation and hiring the top 200 managers in three months. I still have not been to Spain and Portugal."

But he has found himself as a member of Doyle's Cabinet and as the leader of a 180-person state agency. The tradeoff isn't too bad.

"These are very serious and important issues, and one reason I was excited about the opportunity is because I believe that, in a very fundamental way, the issues we deal with are critical to the future of the state," he said.

Whether it's the Power the Future power plants in Oak Creek or the Arrowhead-Weston transmission line, Ebert is expecting results.

"I am confident I can do this job, and we'll see if history bears that out," he said.

— Chris Thompson

Off the clock

A cut above

Len Barbieri (sitting) joins AG Architecture's staff along with family and friends in feeling a little light-headed after the Cut for Cancer on April 29. Photos courtesy of AG Architecture Inc.

Len Barbieri isn't alone.

And if his battle with prostate cancer ever makes him feel other-wise, all he has to do is look around the AG Architecture Inc. offices in Wauwatosa to find a little reassurance in a bald head. They're not hard to find.

Fourteen of Barbieri's co-workers, including Gene Guszkowski, AG's president, shaved their heads for AG's Cut for Cancer on April 29 to help Barbieri, a member of the firm's administrative team since 1996, fund his fight with cancer. Several of Barbieri's friends and family members, including his brother, who shaved his head in Phoenix, joined the AG staff for the big shave, which raised $7,747.

"I was totally shocked," said Barbieri, 59. "When my wife and I stood up in front of everybody, and they said what they had raised, it was just an unbelievable shock to see the support from people in the office."

Barbieri was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999. After several years of fighting the cancer only to have it fight back, he found out in March that it had reached his lymph nodes. He also found out that his best option was chemotherapy, which he started on March 31.

"I was kind of bummed out," he said. "I mentioned it to Gene and a couple of others here. In a two-week period, they developed Cut for Cancer."

The buzz around the office started long before any shaving began as AG's staff contacted friends and family to raise money. Barbieri even ended up with two checks from people in Georgia.

Len Barbieri takes a little off the top for Mike Brenic, a structural draftsman for AG. Photos courtesy of AG Architecture Inc.

And when the event started, the giving continued. Guszkowski's wife baked an Italian cream cake, which sold for $2 a slice, and someone else brought in cookies for $1 apiece.

"We had from professional to semi-professional to occasional hair buzzers cutting hair," Guszkowski said.

"There was a little wine and beer and a special bottle of Jack Daniels. I think we knocked off most of that.

"I was getting kind of tired of the way my head was looking. I'm staying short."

Barbieri has good reason to stay positive. He's approaching his last chemo session on July 14, and, as of early May, the treatment was working.

"The blood-count numbers were starting to go down," he said. "So, I'm heading in the right direction."

And it helps knowing that he isn't going there alone.

"I'm not a great man with words, but the feeling you get is unreal," he said. "I felt like I mean a lot to these people. It's overwhelming."