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Thursday, 18 June 2009 21:03
(September 15, 2008) Because of generous contributions and the participation of more than 134 business associates, employees and friends, the 2008 County Materials Charity Golf Outing will help United Way-funded programs improve the lives of many people.County Materials presented a check for $16,000 to United Way representatives following the company’s second charity event, held at the Wausau Country Club on September 6th.
County Materials distributed funds to local United Way chapters in communities where they have locations. In addition, the Wausau-based Judd S. Alexander Foundation committed to matching any donation, dollar-for-dollar, directed to the United Way-Marathon County chapter.
United Way chapters support programs that help people meet their basic needs and learn to become self-sufficient. In addition, the United Way is focused on community issues including early childhood learning, youth development, helping people in crisis and promoting health and wellness.
Thursday, 18 June 2009 21:03
AMHERST (June 26, 2008) –As energy prices rise and sustainability moves to the forefront of homeowners’ minds, the ideas behind the homebuilding of Gimme Shelter Construction are enjoying a revival. County Materials’ concrete lies at the heart of many of Gimme Shelter’s homes, most of which are designed with ready-mix flooring.“We mostly do walls and floors with concrete,” said Jim McKnight, who with Mark Klein founded Gimme Shelter in 1987. “And sometimes thin floors, to allow for radiant heat. Concrete makes heating more efficient, especially in the summer where you can really cut costs; heating, cooling, comfort, that’s our measuring stick.”
“The really unique thing they do is use ready-mix as a finished floor,” said Judah Haas of Alchemy Concrete in Stevens Point, who does most of Gimme Shelter’s concrete work. This includes decorative stamping and color staining to create stunning effects and lend a dramatic new appearance to any room.
Gimme Shelter builds masonry heaters in a number of homes, an age-old technology given new life by its nature of slow heating and slow radiation, which makes use of County Materials’ fire brick. Masonry heaters can then be covered by any number of County Materials’ veneer options – including concrete brick, natural or manufactured stone, or County Stone® masonry units – depending on the homeowner’s desired motif.
Sustainable-home ideas were displayed at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association energy fair held in Custer. Concrete building ideas were also on display at the Wausau Area Builders Association 2008 Parade of Homes, June 20-22. More information on concrete building ideas, including Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) is available from County Materials.
Thursday, 18 June 2009 21:00
AMHERST (June 26, 2008) –As energy prices rise and sustainability moves to the forefront of homeowners’ minds, the ideas behind the homebuilding of Gimme Shelter Construction are enjoying a revival. County Materials’ concrete lies at the heart of many of Gimme Shelter’s homes, most of which are designed with ready-mix flooring.“We mostly do walls and floors with concrete,” said Jim McKnight, who with Mark Klein founded Gimme Shelter in 1987. “And sometimes thin floors, to allow for radiant heat. Concrete makes heating more efficient, especially in the summer where you can really cut costs; heating, cooling, comfort, that’s our measuring stick.”
“The really unique thing they do is use ready-mix as a finished floor,” said Judah Haas of Alchemy Concrete in Stevens Point, who does most of Gimme Shelter’s concrete work. This includes decorative stamping and color staining to create stunning effects and lend a dramatic new appearance to any room.
Gimme Shelter builds masonry heaters in a number of homes, an age-old technology given new life by its nature of slow heating and slow radiation, which makes use of County Materials’ fire brick. Masonry heaters can then be covered by any number of County Materials’ veneer options – including concrete brick, natural or manufactured stone, or County Stone® masonry units – depending on the homeowner’s desired motif.
Sustainable-home ideas were displayed at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association energy fair held in Custer. Concrete building ideas were also on display at the Wausau Area Builders Association 2008 Parade of Homes, June 20-22. More information on concrete building ideas, including Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) is available from County Materials.
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:46
WAUSAU (May 19, 2008) – As the ceremonial ribbon fell, visitors toured the area’s newest home for stray and surrendered dogs and cats, the Humane Society of Marathon County at 7001 Packer Drive, during its grand-opening celebration in May 2008.Surrounding the animals are walls of Premier Prestige Series® Block from County Materials. The decorative concrete masonry units feature a glazed face that is stain- and moisture-resistant, withstands impact and is resistant to abrasion and many chemicals and bacteria. In addition to these 8,800 units, County Materials also supplied 9,000 splitface concrete masonry units, 25,000 structural CMUs and 389.5 cubic yards of ready-mix concrete.
“They use a lot of high-pressure washers here,” said Wally Binder of Ghidorzi Construction, who designed the facility. “Regular paint would peel off. And we don’t have to worry about urine or anything. There’s always something very caustic in this environment.”
At nearly 13,000 square feet, the facility is about four times the size of its cramped predecessor on Kent Street, plus it now has the option of significantly expanding to the south and to the east. The structural CMUs are exposed in the “people” portions of the facility, painted to establish a variety of tones and styles. In some common areas, such as the meeting room that will be available to community groups, a single course of splitface CMUs runs near the top of the wall. Flipping those units around allowed for a smooth-face band on the exterior of these single-wythe walls; the band will sport a terra cotta hue to set it off against earth tones.
“It’s very rewarding,” Binder said, noting that the facility had been nearly 10 years in the making. “My wife and I got our dog from the humane society.”
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:39
County Materials supplies award-winning construction projects
(May 13, 2009) County Materials supplied masonry and concrete construction materials for several award-winning projects recognized by Wisconsin Builder magazine’s tenth annual 2008 Top Projects. More than 500 people attended the awards dinner held April 28 at Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.Every year, Wisconsin Builder magazine honors commercial construction’s best with its Top Projects issue and event. The May edition recognizes architects, builders, engineers and project owners for jobs that benefit the community, have overcome challenges and help advance the construction industry. Thirty projects were recognized out of nearly 130 projects that were submitted to the awards program.
County Materials supplied one dozen of the 30 projects that were recognized at this year’s event:
Arrowhead-Weston Line (Wausau to Duluth, Minn.)
· 11,000 yards of ready-mix concrete used to form caissons for power line poles running from the Weston Power Plant to Abbotsford, Wis.
· Concrete was poured from September 2005 to May 2006
· General Contractor was Minnesota Power Co.
Fond du Lac Wastewater Treatment Facility
· 192,000 pieces of Bowerston Shale clay brick
· 50,000 units of concrete block
· General contractor was C.D. Smith Construction Services; Architect was Strand Associates, Inc.
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center (Milwaukee)
· Nearly 33,000 concrete masonry units
· Construction manager was Mortenson Construction
Lakeland School of Walworth County (Elkhorn)
· 187,000 concrete masonry units
· General contractor was J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc.; Architect was Plunkett Raysich Architects
Landmark Square (Sheboygan)
· Approximately 3,000 concrete masonry units
· Design builder was Jos. Schmitt & Sons Construction; Architect was Abacus Architects Inc.
Marquette University High School Renovation & Addition (Milwaukee)
· 40,000 standard concrete masonry units
· General contractor was CG Schmidt Inc.; Architect was Eppstein Uhen Architects
Milwaukee City Hall Restoration
· 1500 standard concrete masonry units
· Mason contractor was William Sackerson Construction; General contractor was JP Cullen; Architect was Engberg Anderson
Neuroscience of NE Wisconsin (Neenah)
· 35,000 pieces of Endicott clay brick
· 13,000 pieces of Hebron clay brick
· General contractor was Miron Construction; Architect was Plunkett Raysich Architects
Oshkosh Sports Complex
· 20,000 units of decorative fullface split masonry
· Mason contractor was Schelfhout & DeCleene Masonry; Architect was Martin Ganther Group
Potowatomi Casino Expansion (Milwaukee)
· 190,000 units of fullface split block
· 51,000 pieces of Acme/Ochs clay brick
· 30,800 units of standard concrete block
· Architect was Engberg Anderson Inc.
University Square (Madison), UW Madison campus
· 96,000 pieces of Endicott utility clay brick
· 398,000 pieces of thin clay brick used in precast panels
· General contractor was J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
Vorhees Hall on Carroll University (Waukesha)
· 24,270 fullface split and standard concrete masonry units
· General Contractor was Triad Construction Inc.; Architect was Welman Architects Inc.
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:35
Oshkosh Sports Complex Earns Honors in 2008 Top Projects Banquet
(May 7, 2009) County Materials shared in the honors as the Oshkosh Sports Complex was recognized by Wisconsin Builder magazine’s tenth annual Top Projects awards dinner, held April 28 at Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee. The project was one of 30 selected by Wisconsin Builder to recognize jobs that benefit their community, have overcome challenges and help advance the construction industry.
The renovated facility features nearly 20,000 units of fullface split masonry manufactured by County Materials. The project broke ground in the fall of 2007 and was completed in the spring of 2008. Mason contractor for the project was Schelfhout and DeCleene Masonry; General contractor/architect was Ganther Construction Group.
Formerly known as Titan Stadium, the Oshkosh Sports Complex was transformed into a $9.7 million complex that is an exceptional venue for football, soccer, track and field, baseball, softball and intramural competition for UW Oshkosh, the Oshkosh Area School District and the Unified Catholic Schools of Oshkosh. With it’s 10,000 seating capacity, it also attracts more regional and national sporting and cultural events to the area. In addition, it’s the largest of its kind, between Lambeau Field and Camp Randall Stadium, and is expected to be used more than 190 times per year.
The original building was gutted, rebuilt with new amenities, and completed in approximately 7 months. The structure features a new plaza entrance, locker rooms for approximately 300 student athletes, coaching offices and classrooms and restrooms. Outside the stadium, everything was redesigned for greater functionality, including expanded concessions, ticket booths, restroom facilities and pre and post function spaces.
The upgraded stadium came to fruition because of community fund raising that resulted in $4.4 million in donations. With the new complex, the University has already received national attention by hosting the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s track championships. In addition, the facility is used for the Badger State Games, the state’s High School All-Star Football game, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:34
(May 18, 2009) In Business magazine announced the winners of its second annual Greater Madison Commercial Design Awards at a ceremony held May 6 in Madison. The competition, which awards honors in 13 categories, recognizes the best in new construction or renovation in commercial design and architecture. Winning projects are featured in the publication’s May 2009 issue.County Materials, with two locations in Madison, supplied concrete and masonry products for 14 of the award winning projects:
University Square
· 2009 Project of the Year and Best in Mixed Use category
· Utilized Full Brick, Thin Brick Panels and gray concrete block
· General Contractor was J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
Capitol West: Washington Rowhouses, Capitol Court Townhomes
· Best in Residential Multi-unit category
· Features colored and gray concrete masonry units
· General contractor was J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was The Alexander Co.
Farm and Fleet of Verona
· Best in Retail category
· Constructed with decorative and standard concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Design Structures, LLC; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
Goodman Community Center
· Best in Education category
· Constructed with gray concrete block
· General contractor was Vogel Bros. Building Co.; Architect was Eppstein Uhen Architects
National Conference of Bar Examiners
· Best in the Office category
· Features gray concrete block
· General contractor was J. H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
PIKE Technologies
· Best in Industrial category
· Features a blend of three clay brick colors, and concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Tri-North Builders; Architect was Eppstein Uhen Architects
Wisconsin Heart & Vascular Institute
· Best in Health Care category
· Built with gray concrete block, and Cultured Stone on interior fireplace
· General contractor was Ideal Builders; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
All Saints Assisted Living
· Merit Award in Health Care category
· Utilized standard concrete block
· General contractor Horizon Development Group, Inc.; Architect was Architecture 2000, LLC.
Century 21 Affiliated
· Merit Award in Office Renovation category
· Constructed with Premier Ultra Burnished masonry units and clay brick
· General contractor was W. Squared, LLC; Architect was Brink, Kolberg & Assoc
Hampton Inn and Suites
· Merit Award in Hotel category
· Features clay brick, decorative concrete masonry units and standard concrete block
· General contractor was Kraemer Bros, LLC; Architect was Gary Brink & Associates, Inc.
Monona State Bank
· Merit Award in Office New Development category
· Features clay brick and standard concrete block
· General contractor was Bauer & Raether Builders, Inc.; Architect was Strang, Inc.
Paul J. Olson Elementary School
· Merit Award for Green-built project
· Constructed with clay brick and concrete block
· General contractor was Miron Construction Co.; Architect was Zimmerman Architectural Studios
Sequoya Commons Phase 1
· Merit Award in Mixed Use category
· Constructed with standard concrete block
· General contractor was Krupp General Contractors; Architect was Bruce Simonson, with SGN+A
UW-Madison Grainger Hall Addition
· Merit Award in Education
· Features clay brick, glass block and standard concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Miron Construction Co.; Architect was Zimmerman Architectural Studios
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:32
Masonry plays role in Greater Madison Commercial Design Awards
(May 18, 2009) In Business magazine announced the winners of its second annual Greater Madison Commercial Design Awards at a ceremony held May 6 in Madison. The competition, which awards honors in 13 categories, recognizes the best in new construction or renovation in commercial design and architecture. Winning projects are featured in the publication’s May 2009 issue.
County Materials, with two locations in Madison, supplied concrete and masonry products for 14 of the award winning projects:
University Square
· 2009 Project of the Year and Best in Mixed Use category
· Utilized Full Brick, Thin Brick Panels and gray concrete block
· General Contractor was J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
Capitol West: Washington Rowhouses, Capitol Court Townhomes
· Best in Residential Multi-unit category
· Features colored and gray concrete masonry units
· General contractor was J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was The Alexander Co.
Farm and Fleet of Verona
· Best in Retail category
· Constructed with decorative and standard concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Design Structures, LLC; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
Goodman Community Center
· Best in Education category
· Constructed with gray concrete block
· General contractor was Vogel Bros. Building Co.; Architect was Eppstein Uhen Architects
National Conference of Bar Examiners
· Best in the Office category
· Features gray concrete block
· General contractor was J. H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
PIKE Technologies
· Best in Industrial category
· Features a blend of three clay brick colors, and concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Tri-North Builders; Architect was Eppstein Uhen Architects
Wisconsin Heart & Vascular Institute
· Best in Health Care category
· Built with gray concrete block, and Cultured Stone on interior fireplace
· General contractor was Ideal Builders; Architect was Potter Lawson, Inc.
All Saints Assisted Living
· Merit Award in Health Care category
· Utilized standard concrete block
· General contractor Horizon Development Group, Inc.; Architect was Architecture 2000, LLC.
Century 21 Affiliated
· Merit Award in Office Renovation category
· Constructed with Premier Ultra Burnished masonry units and clay brick
· General contractor was W. Squared, LLC; Architect was Brink, Kolberg & Assoc
Hampton Inn and Suites
· Merit Award in Hotel category
· Features clay brick, decorative concrete masonry units and standard concrete block
· General contractor was Kraemer Bros, LLC; Architect was Gary Brink & Associates, Inc.
Monona State Bank
· Merit Award in Office New Development category
· Features clay brick and standard concrete block
· General contractor was Bauer & Raether Builders, Inc.; Architect was Strang, Inc.
Paul J. Olson Elementary School
· Merit Award for Green-built project
· Constructed with clay brick and concrete block
· General contractor was Miron Construction Co.; Architect was Zimmerman Architectural Studios
Sequoya Commons Phase 1
· Merit Award in Mixed Use category
· Constructed with standard concrete block
· General contractor was Krupp General Contractors; Architect was Bruce Simonson, with SGN+A
UW-Madison Grainger Hall Addition
· Merit Award in Education
· Features clay brick, glass block and standard concrete masonry units
· General contractor was Miron Construction Co.; Architect was Zimmerman Architectural Studios
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:26
(April 16, 2008) The American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin (ACEC) honored the University of Wisconsin-River Falls student union as a Best of State winner in its annual Engineering Excellence Awards. County Materials supplied the ready-mix (poured) concrete, as well as the brick and structural masonry for the facility.
The center, designed to merge natural elements from nearby wetlands and the Kinnickinnic River, employs elements from eco-conscious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building guidelines.
“It’s because of sustainability that we chose concrete,” said architect Jan Van Den Kieboom of Workshop Architects in Milwaukee. “Plus, we were able to use local materials, and concrete is easier to remodel and renovate over time. (And) you don’t have the fire-code concerns of steel.”
Thursday, 18 June 2009 20:25
(March 31, 2009) County Materials’ hardscape products were recognized during the 2009 Excellence in Landscaping and Hardscaping Awards Banquet held Saturday, March 14 at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. The banquet, which was presented by the Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Association and Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association, awarded landscape professionals who successfully and creatively used concrete hardscaping in their projects.Silver award – Residential category for Hardscape Costs $10,000-$20,000: Kelly Lake Road residence, (Suring, Wis.)
JM Landscaping & Nursery of Green Bay chose County Block® units for engineered retaining walls and Lexington Stone® Pavers to create multi-tiered patios that offer the homeowner more eye appeal and a functional setting for entertaining. Judges were impressed by the site challenges and results of extensive planning and installation. They called this a stunning visual project that shouts good workmanship and engineering.
The City of Beloit embarked on a renovation project for the Horace White Park, which was founded in 1836. Designers and installers created a showcase for an existing monument to Dr. Horace White by using County Block® Retaining Walls for functional seat walls and tumbled Lexington Stone® Pavers for the walkways. Original landscaping was recreated from historic photographs.
Judges noted the excellent workmanship and visual appeal that draws attention to the monument.
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