September 7th, 2010
Source: http://flickr.com/photos/9915690@N03/2761098191/sizes/o
The Times of Northwest Indiana recently ran an interesting story about how the littlest of creatures spawned a relatively big project: A $60,000 bridge to save the habitat of the Smooth Green Snake, an endangered species in Indiana. As the builder on the project, Berglund is mentioned in the article.
The bridge is part of a bike path that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is building in Munster, Ind. Because of the surrounding areas (a golf course and homes), the bike path was forced to travel directly through the snakes’ habitat. The bridge will route bikers over the habitat, and is being called the “Green Snake Bridge.”
Read the full article here.
Tags: Berglund projects, Bridge, Green
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August 30th, 2010
In a previous post, we told you about our work with Rush University Medical Center on its new hospital building. An important part of the quest for LEED Gold Certification involves creating an indoor air quality plan, and we were excited at the opportunity to develop and manage one specifically for Rush.
We designed the plan around four major areas: 1) Source control, meant to minimize pollutants and other hazardous particulates indoors; 2) Pathway interruption, which involves isolating work areas so as not to contaminate clean, finished spaces; 3) Housekeeping; and 4) Scheduling.
Here are some steps we and others involved in the project are taking to bring the new Rush building closer to LEED Gold:
- Protecting on-site or installed absorptive or porous materials such as batt insulation and drywall from exposure to moisture, and disposing of water-damaged materials
- Providing adequate ventilation of packaged dry products prior to installation
- Routing of material deliveries and construction waste removal around the exterior of the building, not through it
- Erecting temporary barriers to separate construction activities from finished areas of the building and sealing all transfer ducts, pipe chases and other openings that cross into sealed areas
- Using negative area pressurization to prevent the migration of contaminants from one space to another
- Minimizing accumulation of dust fumes, vapors, or gases in the building; suppressing dust with wetting agents or sweeping compounds; removing spills, water and moisture as soon as possible; and vacuuming using HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners
- Scheduling of application of interior finishes such as paints, adhesives, sealants, coatings, finishes, carpets and furnishings to ensure optimal air quality
- Monitoring ventilation and moisture levels
In addition to being an important aspect of LEED certification, good indoor air quality is also a crucial for medical facilities such as this one. For more information on LEED, click here.
Tags: Berglund projects, Lean and Green, LEED
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August 23rd, 2010
For Father James Wozniak, a new 14,200-square-foot Parish Center at his Crown Point, Ind., church will be heaven-sent. Berglund will work as the construction manager, alongside Linden Group Architects, to maintain the budget and accommodate the aggressive schedule. Wozniak unveiled the plans to his congregation at the groundbreaking ceremony July 11.
This new addition will feature classrooms, an administrative wing, a new chapel, a storage area and a kitchen for use during special events. Maintaining the architectural look and feel of the existing 1980s church, the new Parish Center will feature a metal core and shell with a brick façade.
“The people of St. Matthias have been waiting for this new Parish Center for nine years. We are a growing parish with over 200 families joining in the last three years. This parish center is an answer to many people’s prayers and work, and a blessing for continued growth of the parish,” says Wozniak.
Click here to read the full news release.
Tags: New projects
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August 16th, 2010
At Berglund, safety is a way of life. Thanks to hard work, a change in culture and a new safety program, we now have an experience modification rating (EMR) – the number insurance companies use to measure the cost of past injuries at a company and gauge future risk – of .82. The industry average is 1.0.
But we’re not resting on our laurels: We’ve hired Tony Baca as our new, full-time safety director. With more than 31 years of industry experience, 10- and 30-hour OSHA training certifications, first-aid certification, and 130- and 500-hour Chicagoland Safety Council certifications, there is no one better than Tony to uphold Berglund’s commitment to safety.
While we’re on the topic of safety, how about a ladder safety refresher course?
As Tony will tell you, it’s crucial to adhere to the “4-to-1 ratio” rule: For every 4 feet of height on your ladder, there should be 1 foot of space between the wall and the bottom of the ladder. For example, for a ladder that goes 16 feet high, the base of the ladder should sit 4 feet back from the surface upon which the ladder is propped.
Need a quick and easy way to ensure the angle of your ladder is safe? Stand with your toes touching the base of the ladder and extend your arms straight out in front of you. If the tips of your fingers go beyond the front of the ladder rungs, you need to pull the base of the ladder out further to establish the correct ratio. If your fingers don’t touch the ladder however, you may need to push the base of the ladder in slightly.
This angle, for example, could be an accident waiting to happen:
This one is much better:
Stay tuned for more safety tips and news on Brick by Brick: A Berglund Blog.
Tags: Ladders, Safety
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August 9th, 2010
Each month, we’re giving our readers a chance to show off their building brainpower. Can you guess which the Berglund-constructed/-restored building we’re talking about?
Post your answer in the comments section and we’ll randomly choose one winner of a $5 Starbucks card out of those who guessed correctly.
The answer to last month’s “Name that building”: Chase Tower. Congratulations to our winner, Rose Rivera! We’ll contact you soon about your prize.
Berglund restored this month’s building with limestone and terra cotta replacement, window perimeter sealant, tuck-pointing and chemical cleaning – and won Merit and Midwest Construction Review Illinois Showcase awards for its work. Here are your clues:
- Built in 1929, this building was the first Chicago skyscraper that was built far from the Loop
- Despite this building’s squeaky-clean name, it was home to Playboy headquarters for decades
- Considered to be a classic example of Art Deco architecture, this building once featured an impressive navigational beacon, which was removed when its high-rise neighbors complained about the light
- A rarity for buildings of this height, the office spaces were converted to residences in 2004
You have until Sept. 26 to leave your guess in the comments section. Be sure to come back to find out the answer when we reveal it on Sept. 27 in the next “Name that building” post. We will contact the winner via e-mail.
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July 21st, 2010
When applied correctly, building wraps such as Tyvek® CommercialWrap® offer protection from water and air damage while still allowing moisture to escape the wall cavity.
The wrap is useless, though, if improperly installed. Here are some tips for the most efficient application of building wrap:
- Always securely tape the tops of walls
- For the bottom of the wall, always tape on the horizontal plane
- Read instructions carefully for taping the interior of an opening, such as a window or door
- Tape all joints and ensure a 6-inch overlap between sheets
- Tape as soon as possible for maximum protection of drywall and insulation
Stay tuned for tips on sealing building wrap penetrations.
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July 12th, 2010
A rendering of the new Rush hospital building
As the construction manager responsible for the build-out of the new hospital building on Rush University Medical Center Campus – known simply as the Rush Transformation – we’re going for the gold: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, that is.
Berglund is working with Rush and its general contractor and other construction partners to ensure the construction of the new 14-story hospital building is environmentally conscious.
We’re tasked with:
- Submitting and processing all shop drawings and product data
- Submitting and tracking LEED requirements – both up front and during closeout – as they relate to each product installed on the project (wood backing, drywall, acoustical ceiling, flooring, etc.)
- Developing, submitting and implementing an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan specific to the interior build-out
- Verifying that all materials delivered to the jobsite comply with the information submitted – for example, verifying that at least 50 percent of all wood blocking is Forest Stewardship Council-certified and documenting this with photos of the “FSC” stamp visible on the materials
This tracking is a detailed and time-consuming process – so we’ve got a thorough, organized paperwork system to ensure that LEED certification is achieved. Our subcontractors involved in the project must fulfill these requirements also.
Stay tuned for more information on the project and a future “Lean and Green” post on Berglund’s Indoor Air Quality Management Plan.
Tags: Health care construction, Lean and Green
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July 5th, 2010
Thanks to restoration and preservation techniques and practices, many of the world’s most historic buildings get a new lease on life. Here are a few interesting facts about restoration that you probably didn’t know …
- Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh, N.Y., was the first property in the United States that was acquired and preserved for historic reasons.
- In 1948, the White House was in danger of collapsing. The solution: Three years of extensive reconstruction and restoration.
- Acid rain – a major cause of masonry deterioration – was first observed in the 19th century, when forests located downwind of large industrial areas showed signs of deterioration, but was not considered a serious environmental problem until the 1970s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Pigeons and ivy are two of the lesser-known destructive forces in the deterioration of older brick structures.
- The Historic Sites Act of 1935 declares that it is “a national policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States.”
- The Tax Reform Act of 1976 removed the incentive to demolish older buildings to encourage historic preservation.
Tags: Preservation, Restoration
Posted in Restoration and preservation | 1 Comment »
June 28th, 2010
Every six weeks, we’re giving our readers a chance to show off their building brainpower. Can you guess which Berglund-constructed/-restored building we’re talking about?
Post your answer in the comments section and we’ll randomly choose one winner of a $5 Starbucks card out of those who guessed correctly.
This month’s building got a full façade lift from Berglund, including replacement of sealant and granite repairs. Here are your clues:
- Not only is this building – built in 1969 – the tallest in the “Loop proper” (as defined by the elevated tracks which encircle the area), but it also sits smack-dab in the middle of the Loop
- Home to the retail operations of a large Chicago-based company, this building is, literally, right on the money
- This building’s plaza features a colorful mosaic by a famous Russian-French artist
- According to reports, President Obama met first lady, Michelle, in this very building, while both were working at the same law firm
You have until Aug. 6 to leave your guess in the comments section. Be sure to come back to find out the answer when we reveal it on Aug. 9 in the next “Name that building” post. We will contact the winner via e-mail.
Tags: Chicago landmarks, Name That Building
Posted in Name That Building | 5 Comments »
