FOUNDATIONS OF THE FUTURE A Century of Building a Better Minnesota
Foundations of the Future: A Century of Building a Better Minnesota Major milestones in our nation’s history over the last 100 years serve as a backdrop for this compilation of construction progress, projects and people. The pages within offer a glimpse of the impact AGC of Minnesota and its members have had on the state of Minnesota. Dedicated and talented individuals have literally changed the landscape of our great state and their collective accomplishments are nothing short of miraculous.
CONTENTS 2 Acknowledgements 3 Message from Tim Worke, CEO 4 1919-1929 8 1930-1939 12 1940-1949 16 1950-1959 20 1960-1969 24 1970-1979 28 1980-1989 32 1990-1999 36 2000-2009 40 2010-2018
©️ 2018 Associated General Contractors of Minnesota All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS Platinum Cemstone Companies Ziegler CAT & Ziegler Rental
Gold
THANKS ARE IN ORDER Capturing the past 100 years of AGC of Minnesota and the state’s commercial construction industry was not a simple task. Like the construction projects featured within, it took a team of dedicated individuals to accomplish this momentous endeavor. This book was researched, written and designed by Mercury Creative Group, Minneapolis. Nicole Prelgo, the author, would like to thank AGC of Minnesota staff, the AGC of Minnesota Historical Committee and AGC member companies. They proved invaluable in the collection and organization of artifacts, information and photos. This book would not have been possible without their contributions. Historical Committee Members: Patricia Lynch, Karen McCrossan, Scott Weicht, Karen Worke A special thank you to the Minnesota Historical Society/History Center for providing a majority of the images used throughout this book.
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CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP Cobb Strecker Dunphy & Zimmermann, Inc. Road Machinery & Supplies Co.
Silver Brock White Company Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, P.A. Hayden-Murphy Equipment Company, Inc. Larkin Hoffman Lockton Companies, LLC Orion Search Group, Inc. Tiller Corporation
Bronze Adolfson & Peterson Construction Ames Construction, Inc. Blattner Energy, Inc. Carl Bolander & Sons Company George F. Cook Construction Company Diamond Surface Inc. Duininck, Inc. JE Dunn Construction Company Enebak Construction Company FPI Paving Contractors, Inc. Graham Construction Services, Inc. Grazzini Brothers & Company Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Lakehead Constructors, Inc. Lunda Construction Company The Mathiowetz Construction Company C.S. McCrossan, Inc. McGough Construction M.G. McGrath, Inc. Mortenson Construction Park Construction Company Rachel Contracting, Inc. Rice Lake Construction Group Ryan Companies US, Inc. Viant Crane, LLC
Skill, Responsibility, Integrity. One hundred years ago, these words forged a bond of honor and gave rise to an industry that has overcome countless challenges to accomplish unimaginable things. The legacy of AGC of Minnesota is deeply intertwined with our members’ histories and it is that collection of shared experiences and a mutual spirit of passion and perseverance that set us apart from our peers as the first statewide AGC chapter in the country. As we embark upon our centennial year in celebration of our organizational heritage, we focus the attention on you – the members. Our rich history was written by individuals who banded together to build something lasting and far beyond any achievements attainable by a single individual. Together, we have built families, companies, communities and the great state of Minnesota! In turn, these labors have spawned an industry built on the principles of hard work, integrity, and honest effort. The outward expressions of these ideals are visible everywhere in our modern landscape, as testaments to our industry’s legacy of pride and accomplishment. Engineering feats that awe and inspire. Who built these buildings, roads, bridges, dams, industrial facilities and utility networks so essential to modern life? Inside these pages you will discover those answers and perhaps identify your role in the shared history, and future success, of AGC of Minnesota. Tim Worke, CEO
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that’s what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi 3
1919-1929 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
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1919-1920
1924
1928
W.O. Winston
D.B. Fegles
C.A. Cheney
Winston Bros. Company Minneapolis
Fegles Construction Company, Inc. Minneapolis
McCullough & Cheney Minneapolis
1921
1925
1929
Charles Ffolliott
J.C. Baxter
E.P. Fulton
A. Guthrie & Company, Inc. St. Paul
A. Guthrie & Company, Inc. St. Paul
Peppard & Fulton Minneapolis
1922
1926
H.N. Leighton
Maurice Schumacher
H.N. Leighton Company Minneapolis
Maurice Schumacher Minneapolis
1923
1927
J.W. Ellison
N.F. Helmers
Winston-Dear Company Minneapolis
Siems, Helmers & Schnaffner St. Paul
MEMBERS JOINED 1924 Knutson Construction Services
Did You Know?
Knutson Construction Services is AGC of Minnesota’s longest standing member.
An Auspicious Start In December 1918, six general contractors gathered in St. Paul to form the first chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. The timing was ideal. At the start of the 20th century, construction accounted for approximately 10% of the U.S. gross national product and employed approximately 4.5 million people. The decade would remain strong and bring vigorous economic growth to Minnesota and the nation.
Workforce Deficit Drives Advancement Many projects of the early 1920s were heavily dependent upon the immigrant population. In 1917, the federal government began limiting immigration. The Immigration Act of 1921 increased these restrictions even further. An overall falling population, coupled with the sharp decline in immigration, lead to a marked increase in unskilled labor costs.
1919 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $0.875 Hod Carriers $0.60 Laborers $0.40 - $0.65 Carpenters $0.75 Cement Finishers $0.75 Stone Masons $0.875 Structural Iron Workers $0.875 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
Machinery, horses and crew 1925
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. That was certainly the case for the construction industry during the 1920s. The struggle to find adequate laborers led to the explosive mechanization of the nation’s factories. The construction industry was no exception. These game changers all appeared on the scene during this innovative decade: 1919 First self-propelled motor grader 1920 First front-end loader: tractor with a bucket mounted on front 1923 First self-propelled scraper
The Advent of the Automobile The mass production of the automobile also had a profound effect on our industry. By the end of the 1920s, 60% of American families owned an automobile. The rise of low-cost personal transportation contributed to the accelerated growth of the suburbs and the need for paved roadways to access them.
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1919
1922
1925
1928
First chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America formed as Northwestern Association of General Contractors.
Business and government leaders, including leaders from the Northwestern Association of General Contractors, meet in St. Paul to discuss the development of the city and define its borders as the Mississippi River to the south, the Summit neighborhood to the west, and Dayton’s Bluff to the east.
Members are first introduced to a Code of Ethics for the construction industry.
The legendary Foshay Building project gets underway in Minneapolis, led by AGC Northwest Branch member Maurice Schumacher.
1920 With the Northwestern Association of General Contractors’ support and endorsement, a Minnesota constitutional amendment allowing for the creation of a system of 70 trunk highways is passed.
Road crew 1920
Northwestern Association of General Contractors becomes Associated General Contractors of America Northwest Branch.
1923 Membership votes to change the membership classifications and four membership classifications are established. Dues are based on the volume of business done by a member during the preceding year.
1926 Construction begins on the state-ofthe-art Mayo Clinic building. When completed, it is the tallest building outside of Minneapolis at 17 floors. G. Schwartz & Co. of Rochester, an AGC Northwest Branch member, is the general contractor.
1927 The Minneapolis Auditorium, a 10,000-person capacity indoor arena that hosted the Minneapolis Lakers from 1947 to 1959, is completed. It was demolished in 1989 to make room for the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Construction of the Minneapolis Auditorium 1927
1921 The tagline “Skill, Integrity, Responsibility” is adopted by the association.
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1924 Associated General Contractors of America - Northwest Branch establishes an Apprenticeship Training Program.
Aitkin Courthouse construction 1928
1929 Stock market crashes. Members vote to establish affiliated bureau memberships of suppliers, equipment and materials.
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1928
AGC Northwest Branch member Maurice Schumacher is the general contractor on the legendary Foshay Building project in Minneapolis. Wilbur Foshay spares no expense when creating this local landmark. FOSHAY FEATURES: • Construction costs are $3.75 million • Tower rises just over 447 feet (plus a 160 foot antenna mast) • The Art Deco design is based on the Washington Monument • Exterior is faced with Indiana limestone • Internally, the building uses steel and reinforced concrete and features African mahogany, Italian marble, terrazzo, gold-plated doorknobs, and a silver and gold plated ceiling • Ornamental bronze entrances and work throughout the building by Crown Iron Works Company of Minneapolis • 25,000 are invited to celebrate the opening, a three-day extravaganza costing $126,894 • John Philip Sousa writes the “Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March,” which his band performs several times during the festivities Famed sculptor Harriet Frishmuth casts a bronze statue for the building’s courtyard. The 27th and 28th floors are Foshay’s lavish private offices and apartment. The 11-story Hotel Lowry is the only multi-story building built in downtown St. Paul from 1919 to 1929. AGC of America estimates that over $8,000,000,000 in construction is put into place, almost doubling the total from 1914.
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1930-1939 PAST BOARD CHAIRS 1930
1935-1936
Amos A. McCree
Edward J. Dunnigan
McCree and Company St. Paul
Dunnigan Construction Company St. Paul
1931
1937-1938
Edward Bjorklund
John H. Mullen
Edward Bjorklund St. Paul
Nelson, Mullen & Webster Minneapolis
1932
1939
D.A. Daly
Paul Steenberg, Sr.
Foley Brothers, Inc. St. Paul
Steenberg Construction Company St. Paul
1933-1934 Clive T. Naugle Naugle-Leck, Inc. Minneapolis
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MEMBERS JOINED 1935 Carl Bolander & Sons Company
1930 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $1.25 - $1.375 Hod Carriers $0.85 - $0.95 Laborers $0. 55 - $0.65 Carpenters $1.00 Cement Finishers $1.25 Stone Masons $1.25 - $1.375 Structural Iron Workers $1.25 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
Beltline Highway construction 1936
A Dark and Troubled Time The country was in the grip of the Great Depression as we entered the 1930s. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office in 1933, he made aggressive moves to stabilize the economy and get America working again. The next eight years brought a series of New Deal projects and programs developed to restore prosperity: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Work Progress Administration (WPA), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are just a few examples of such efforts. The implementation of Roosevelt’s New Deal had a profound and lasting effect on the role the federal government would play in the lives of United States citizens.
Roosevelt Supports Union Growth It seemed unlikely labor unions would survive this decade. In 1923, there were 5 million registered labor union members. That number dropped to just 3 million by 1933. Membership was primarily in skilled craft unions that affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
Brainerd Armory construction 1936
The election of Roosevelt would prove to be of significant importance to the labor union movement. The pro-union position of Roosevelt’s administration led to the passage of the first pro-labor laws. Two of the most significant were: Norris-La Guardia Act - made yellow-dog contracts unenforceable and limited the power of federal courts to stop strikes and other job actions. National Labor Relations Act of 1935 - gave workers the right to join unions and bargain collectively through union representatives and established the National Labor Relations Board to punish unfair labor practices.
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1930
1932
1935
1938
First ever construction census is taken. Early in the year, signs of an economic depression outweigh optimism in AGC newsletters.
AGC reacts to Roosevelt’s New Deal by discussing policy and whether to combat the New Deal and keep out government, utilize the New Deal to seek more regulation and supervision, or show support of the New Deal by directing channels of supervision for “constructive adjustment.”
The AGC of Minnesota Annual Convention focuses on the Public Works Administration (PWA), National Recovery Administration (NRA) and Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and their impact on contractors.
At the AGC of Minnesota Annual Convention, Winston Bros. Company is presented with a trophy from AGC of America for winning the National Accident Prevention Award for the Heavy Engineering Division.
1936
Sewer construction in St. Paul 1938
Riverside Station is constructed 1930
1933 Due to the effects of the Depression on the construction industry, the typical AGC of Minnesota three-day convention is shortened to one day.
1931 Association name changes from Associated General Contractors of America - Northwest Branch to Associated General Contractors of Minnesota. Concurrently, the association is divided into three divisions: General Engineering, which includes diversified contractors Building Division Contractors for commercial and industrial building Highway Division for contractors in highway construction
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1934 Roosevelt signs an executive order to protect employees who provide evidence of Code violations. Violations result in a fine of $500 or six years in prison for the employer.
The first indications of workforce shortages during reconstruction era.
1937 The shortage of skilled workforce continues to grow and apprenticeship and training programs are developed.
C.F. Haglin & Sons begins additions to Dayton’s store 1937
1939 The country is preparing for WWII, with expectations the industry will have government project funding diverted to war expenditures. Contractors start to experience delays and difficulties procuring materials. Inflation is anticipated, bringing higher wages and costs. However, the War Department will require new construction.
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1931
Stillwater Lift Bridge opens to replace a swing bridge built in 1910. It was the last bridge of its type built in the area. BRIDGE DETAILS: • Seven fixed steel trusses spanning a total of 1,050 feet (320 m) • A vertically lifting Waddell & Harrington-type span of 140 feet (43 m) • The bridge is 23 feet (7.0 m) wide, allowing one lane of traffic in each direction • Minnesota and Wisconsin evenly split the $460,174 cost 1st National Bank Building is completed and becomes the tallest building in St. Paul. What is believed to be the world’s first modern skyway is constructed, connecting two towers – the building’s 17th floor with the adjacent 16-story Merchants Bank Building. Acquiring materials for the project is a struggle due to the simultaneous construction of the Empire State Building. BUILDING DETAILS: • Tallest skyway in the Twin Cities • 32-stories tall • Total cost of the building is $3,340,185
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1940-1949 PAST BOARD CHAIRS 1940
1947-1948
Paul Steenberg, Sr.
J. Russell Sweitzer
Steenberg Construction Company St. Paul
J.S. Sweitzer & Son, Inc. St. Paul
1949
Oscar W. Swanson
George Heller
O.W. Swanson Construction Company St. Paul
Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc. Minneapolis
Walter M. Cederstrand August Cederstrand Company Minneapolis
1940 George F. Cook Construction Company 1941 T.C. Field & Company 1944 Cobb Strecker Dunphy & Zimmermann, Inc.
1941-1942
1943-1944
MEMBERS JOINED
1944 Ruffridge-Johnson Equipment Co., Inc. 1944 Ziegler CAT & Ziegler Rental 1945 Park Construction Co. 1945 Twin City Tile & Marble Co. 1946 Watson-Forsberg Co. 1946 Wheeler Lumber, LLC 1947 Grazzini Brothers & Company 1948 Alvin E. Benike Construction, Inc. 1948 D.H. Blattner & Sons, Inc. 1948 L.H. Bolduc Co., Inc.
1945-1946 Frank B. Winston Winston Bros. Company Minneapolis
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1949 Nodland Construction Co., Inc.
Duluth grain elevators 1941
The War Years The 1940s were dominated by World War II. Resources, including a labor force, were scarce. Construction was halted and all energies were directed toward defense efforts. To keep defense production running smoothly, labor unions made the promise not to strike during wartime.
Wave of Union Strikes Sweeps the Country The end of the war led to massive union strikes. Unions nationwide began demanding new contracts. Congress, fearing the power and influence of the unions, passed the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. This much-debated legislation greatly reduced the power of unions, resulting in a considerable reduction in the number of strikes.
The Suburbs are Born For millions of Americans, the end of the war meant a time of opportunity and prosperity. With the 1944 authorization of the Veterans Administration (VA) home loan, the need for housing escalated and the mass exodus to the suburbs began. These new suburbanites were mostly construction, manufacturing and trade workers with young families.
Airport runway construction 1940
1941 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $1.375 - $1.50 Hod Carriers $0.85 Laborers $0.90 Carpenters $1.25 Cement Finishers $1.25 Stone Masons $1.50 Structural Iron Workers $1.50 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
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1940
1942
1944
1948
AGC of Minnesota’s General Assembly passes resolutions to be sent to Washington approving current methods of handling Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds to take care of unemployment in Minnesota.
Minnesota construction volume:
The Federal Aid Highway Act authorizes funding for postwar programs to improve secondary rural and urban roads. Minnesota receives a federal appropriation of $12,210,000 a year for three years.
After almost four years at a standstill, AGC of Minnesota’s Highway Division is given a report on plans for new construction and the repair of roads neglected during the war.
Bridge is constructed at Excelsior 1940
1941 Japanese surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor brings U.S. into World War II. First tax on taconite, a black magnetic iron-bearing ore, in effect in Minnesota.
$21,623,000 National construction volume:
$9,305,829,000
Caterpillar machinery 1948
1943
1945
24th Annual Convention is billed as a “War Construction Conference” and features an armed services honor roll listing some 30 executives and sons of principals or executives who entered the armed services.
The AGC of America Market Development Committee reports the War Production Board estimates the United States construction volume will be $4,300,000,000 should the war in Europe terminate early enough.
Caterpillar machinery 1943
1946
1949
Surveyors begin laying out stakes for Reserve Mining Company’s taconite processing plant at Silver Bay in northern Minnesota.
A potential long-term relationship begins as some 20 architects from AIA join the Building Contractors for a joint session on mutual problems under a Contractors and Architects Cooperative Program.
1947 Much of the Annual Convention centers on apprenticeship, with reports throughout on the progress of the Apprenticeship Training Program.
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Hubert Humphrey (front row left)
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1945
World War II ends with 6,255 American servicemen from Minnesota giving their lives for their country. The Annual Convention focuses on “Minnesota’s Place in Post-War Construction.” The Highway Department creates the State Aid Division to work with Minnesota’s cities and counties. Congress passes an Airport Bill authorizing $375,000,000 for the next five years. Hubert Humphrey is elected mayor of Minneapolis, and one of his first actions is to propose an ordinance making racial discrimination by employers subject to a fine. This ordinance is adopted in 1947, and although few fines are issued, the city’s banks and department stores realize public relations would improve by hiring minorities in increasing numbers.
Minneapolis 1945
The Minnesota state song, “Hail! Minnesota,” is adopted by the Minnesota Legislature.
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1950-1959 PAST BOARD CHAIRS 1950
1954
1958
George Heller
Arthur H. Baumeister, Sr.
Joseph Veranth
Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc. Minneapolis
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Fowler-Veranth Construction Company Duluth
William Baumeister Construction Corporation St. Paul
1951
1955
1959
John Dieseth
Ray V. Johnson
Charles W. Herbison
John Dieseth Company Fergus Falls
Winston Bros. Company Minneapolis
Herbison Bridge Company Minneapolis
1952
1956
George F. Cook
Lyell C. Halverson
George F. Cook Construction Company Minneapolis
Lyell C. Halverson Company Minneapolis
1953
1957
Julian D. Meland
Robert O. Ashbach
Jay W. Craig Company Cambridge
Ashbach Construction Company St. Paul
1950 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $2.40 Hod Carriers $1.520 Laborers $1.520 Carpenters $2.120 Cement Finishers $2.070 Stone Masons $2.40 Structural Iron Workers $2.275 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
MEMBERS JOINED 1950 Standard Iron 1953 A.J. Lysne Contracting Corp. 1954 Brock White Company 1954 Molin Concrete Products Company
A Prosperous Time for Americans The United States experienced an unprecedented growth in consumerism during the 1950s. As other countries struggled to rebuild after the devastation of World War II, the U.S. economy began its meteoric rise - realizing a 37% increase by the end of the decade. During this time, the population of the United States made up just 6% of the world’s population, but consumed one-third of all goods and services.
1955 Forterra Pipe & Precast 1955 M.A. Mortenson Company
Corruption and Regulation Plague Labor Unions
1956 Sheehy Construction Company, Inc.
In what many believed was a thinly veiled attempt to eliminate the labor movement completely, the government targeted unions with the Senate’s McClellan Commission, holding numerous hearings into corrupt practices. While corruption did exist in some unions, the Teamsters among them, it was not a pervasive issue.
1957 Abbott, Arne, Schwindt, Inc. 1957 Adolfson & Peterson Construction 1957 McGough Construction Company, Inc. 1957 Road Machinery & Supplies Co. and RMS Rentals 1957 Swanson & Youngdale, Inc. 1958 Hasslen Construction Company, Inc. 1959 Interstate PowerSystems 1959 Kraemer North America, LLC 1959 C.S. McCrossan, Inc.
In an attempt to prevent further labor-curbing legislation, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) joined forces, got serious about cleaning up their image, and kicked out the nearly two million Teamsters along with their fraudulent president, Dave Beck. In 1955, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution to amend the controversial TaftHartley Act of 1947.
1959 James Steele Construction Company
Taft-Hartley was never amended. As a matter of fact, it was strengthened by the 1959 passage of the Landrum-Griffin Act. Highlights included:
1959 Wells Concrete
•
Prohibition of anyone with a police record from holding a leadership position.
•
Full rights of the federal government to supervise union elections and investigate all union internal affairs.
•
Responsibility of internationals to ensure local member compliance with contracts signed with employers.
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1950
1952
1955
1957
AGC of Minnesota wins the National Cashman Member Award after increasing membership by almost 63% over the past five-year period.
The first tractor-mounted loader/ backhoe is introduced.
Caterpillar Tractor Company to produce the safety film, “The Last Mile.” It will cover public and employee safety on highways carrying traffic while under construction and have its premiere at the AGC of Minnesota Annual Convention in January of 1956.
AGC of Minnesota reports safest year in history on jobsites, with 29.6 reported accidents and 2,826 days lost for every million manhours worked.
AGC of Minnesota Manager R. J. Hendershott speaks for the Minnesota Construction Committee, testifying to the benefits of a proposed State Building Code at a hearing in October.
Ford Hall at University of Minnesota 1950
1953 Association member J. Russell Sweitzer is named King Boreas Rex XVII of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. He pays a surprise visit to the 700 guests at the AGC of Minnesota Annual Convention and is introduced by Minnesota’s Governor C. Elmer Anderson.
1954 AGC of Minnesota creates a new division within the Highway Division to be known as the Metropolitan Area Excavating Contractors Division.
1956 Association membership nears 200. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 makes a new highway a reality for Minnesota, with the federal government paying 90% of the costs associated with construction, leaving the state to contribute only 10%.
AGC of Minnesota member Industrial Construction Company of Minneapolis wins bid for construction of the new South St. Paul bridge over the Mississippi River. The $4.5 million four-lane bridge will serve as the central unit of the new Twin Cities freeway system.
1958 AGC of Minnesota Annual Convention registration hits all-time high with 571 registered.
Road construction form setting 1956
1951 AGC of Minnesota adds a new staff member to analyze and interpret all new regulations and determine the effect they will have on the industry as well as be available for immediate consultation with individual members concerning their particular problems brought about by the controls.
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Bituminous paving on University Ave. 1954
AGC of Minnesota members are awarded 90% of highway work in the state from January - March.
1959 713 people attend the concluding event of the Annual Convention shattering all records!
Southdale Center construction
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1956
Southdale Center is the first indoor mall in the nation and inspires thousands of mall designs across the country. PROJECT DETAILS + MALL FEATURES: • 800 workers and $20 million to build • 5,200 parking places • 500-acre mall stretches three floors • Atrium includes a fish pond, large faux trees and a 21-foot cage filled with birds • 75,000 people attend the opening gala The 30,000-seat Metropolitan Stadium is built in less than one year for a total cost of $8.5 million (at no expense to taxpayers). The unique cantilevered construction offers fans a clear view of the field from every seat.
Metropolitan Stadium construction
Congress enacts laws to set up funding for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Minnesota voters approve a constitutional amendment to distribute state road user funds. Established percentages are: 62% state, 29% county and 9% municipal. AGC of Minnesota informs members that a barge shipment of Portland Cement is due to reach the Twin Cities. Prices are: $1.63 per 94 lb. bag in lots of 1,000 bags and up, or $1.68 in truck lots. To address the bricklayer shortage, AGC of Minnesota staff, with the cooperation of Roy Howard and the Duluth and Iron Range Construction Association, develops a series of three bricklayer apprenticeship programs.
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1960-1969 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
20
1960
1964
1968
John E. Ganley
Charles P. McGough
James A. Sweitzer
Ernest M. Ganley Company, Inc. Minneapolis
McGough Construction Company, Inc. St. Paul
James A. Sweitzer & Son, Inc. St. Paul
1961
1965
1969
Warren B. Woodrich
B.K. Soby
William R. Parmeter
Woodrich Construction Company Hopkins
John Dieseth Company Fergus Falls
Woodrich Construction Company Hopkins
1962
1966
Robert F. Nystrom
Cyrus E. Field
Naugle-Leck, Inc. Minneapolis
C.O. Field Company Minneapolis
1963
1967
Donald G. McCree
Henry E. Berghuis
McCree and Company St. Paul
Berghuis Construction Company Alexandria
1960 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $3.875 Hod Carriers $2.950 Laborers $2.850 Carpenters $3.500 Cement Finishers $3.550 Stone Masons $3.875 Structural Iron Workers $3.620 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
MEMBERS JOINED 1960 Rauenhorst Corporation 1961 Carlson-LaVine, Inc. 1961 Hoover Construction Company 1961 Travelers 1962 Swingen Construction Company 1963 Bladholm Brothers 1963 Hayden-Murphy Equipment Company, Inc. 1963 Sowles Co./Northwest Tower Cranes 1964 Satellite Shelters, Inc. 1964 Sellin Brothers, Inc. 1965 Cemstone Products Co. 1965 Hancock Concrete Products, LLC 1965 Robert R. Schroeder Construction, Inc. 1966 Bituminous Roadways, Inc. 1966 McGladrey & Pullen, LLP 1966 TEMP-AIR, Inc.
A Time of Radical Change The 1960s began in much the same way as the 50s – prosperous, calm and optimistic. This rosy outlook wouldn’t last long. As a matter of fact, the decade will be remembered as one of the most tumultuous and divisive in America’s history. Dominated by the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 1960s ended on a surprisingly high note with the landing of the first man on the moon.
An Unstable Economy + A Devastating Loss At the start of Kennedy’s presidency, the economy was slow-growing and unemployment rates hovered near 7%. By the spring of 1962, the stock market was falling and the president decided to take action. He proposed sweeping tax cuts that would benefit all taxpayers. By 1966, 5.5 million more Americans were employed and corporate profits grew more than 70%. In one of the most shocking events of the 20th century, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. That same day, Lyndon B. Johnson became President of the United States. He went on to sign momentous legislation, including the Civil Rights Act, and launch programs such as Medicare and “The Great Society,” which cut the number of Americans living in poverty in half by 1970. Unfortunately, Johnson’s presidency was plagued by the controversial Vietnam War.
1967 Ames Construction, Inc. 1967 Ceco Concrete Construction, LLC
St. Mary’s Hospital (Minneapolis) construction 1960s
1968 Atlas Foundation Co., LLC 1968 Shaw/Stewart Lumber Co. 1969 D.J. Kranz Co., Inc. 1969 US Bank, N.A.
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1960
1962
1965
1968
Minnesota has 78.8 miles of interstate open to traffic with 73 miles under construction and 240 miles accounted for in engineering or right-of-way.
AGC of Minnesota holds its first Federal Contracts Conference to address the growing complexity of federal construction contracts.
AGC of America founds the AGC Education and Research Foundation to boost interest in the construction field by providing opportunities for education through scholarships.
I-694 and Victoria Avenue 1960
1963
AGC of Minnesota member Hoover Construction Company is instrumental in expanding Highway 61 along the north shore of Lake Superior, applying their drilling and blasting specialty for mass rock and structure excavation for footings and foundations.
Martin Luther King delivers his “I have a dream...” speech.
The Guthrie Theatre 1963
1961 Three AGC of Minnesota general contractors are included on Engineering News-Record’s list of the 88 largest construction firms in the country based on dollar volume: • S. J. Groves & Sons, Inc. (21st) • Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc. (26th) • Winston Bros. Company (49th)
1964 As the running-mate of President Lyndon Johnson, Minnesota’s U.S. Senator, Hubert Humphrey, is elected Vice President of the United States. The Civil Rights Act is passed.
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1966
Richard Nixon wins the presidency.
Saint Paul skyline 1968
Under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, Minneapolis is selected as one of 63 cities nationwide to participate in the federally sponsored Demonstration Cities (Model Cities) Program, designed to improve the quality of urban life.
1967 During the 1967 legislative session, AGC of Minnesota fights for a bill requiring competitive bids be taken on contracts over a certain value based on engineering estimates. Due primarily to their vigilance, the bill passes.
1969 Warren Burger, a native of St. Paul, is named to the Supreme Court of the United States. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to land on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission.
World Series at Met Stadium
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1965
The Interstate Highway System is the most ambitious public works project in our nation’s history, changing the landscape of Minnesota and the entire country. PROJECT DETAILS: • Estimated to consist of 430 interchanges, 319 highway separations, 128 railway separations, and 155 other bridges and tunnels. • Total miles of interstate routes allocated to Minnesota is 898.1. • Cost: $80 million • Project length: 10+ years
Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag, President Lyndon Johnson and Senator Walter Mondale pause in the midst of floodwaters during the 1965 Minnesota flood disaster.
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1970-1979 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
24
1970
1974
1978
Preston C. Haglin
Walter A. Benike
Nicholas G. Simmons
Preston Haglin Company Minneapolis
Alvin E. Benike, Inc. Rochester
Rauenhorst Corporation Minneapolis
1971
1975
1979
Russell H. Swanson
Charles S. McCrossan
John C. Ellison
Ashbach Construction Company St. Paul
C.S. McCrossan, Inc. Osseo
NCI of Minnesota Minneapolis
1972
1976
Frederick O. Watson
Herbert C. Klippen
Watson Construction Company Minneapolis
United General Contractors Duluth
1973
1977
Richard H. Sorensen
John A. Woodhall, Jr.
Sorensen Brothers, Inc. Albert Lea
Central-Allied Enterprises, Inc. Willmar
1970 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $6.775 Hod Carriers $5.400 Laborers $5.300 Carpenters $6.730 Cement Finishers $6.700 Stone Masons $6.775 Structural Iron Workers $6.950 Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
MEMBERS JOINED 1970 C.W. Houle, Inc. 1970 J.R. Jensen Construction Company 1970 Landwehr Construction, Inc. 1970 Lunda Construction Company 1970 Neenah Foundry Co. 1970 Ryan Companies US, Inc. 1971
Julian M. Johnson Construction Corp.
1971
The Mathiowetz Construction Company
1971
Prior Lake Aggregates, Inc.
1971
Veit & Company, Inc.
1971
Viking Industrial Center
1972
Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
1972
Cy-Con, Inc.
1972
Gray Companies, Inc.
1972
Meisinger Construction Company, Inc.
1973
Enebak Construction Company
1973
Gridor Constr., Inc.
1973
Lehigh Cement Company
1974
Boulay, Heutmaker, Zibell & Co.
1974
Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc.
1974
Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP
1977
LeJeune Bolt Company
1978
Fabcon, Inc.
1978
Frana Companies, Inc.
1978
Grant Thornton, LLP
1978
PCL Construction Services, Inc.
Disenchantment Leads to Action A wide range of issues and events plagued the 1970s. The shock of the Watergate scandal, the tragedy of the Vietnam War, and the floundering economy led many Americans to develop a newfound skepticism for government. Not surprisingly, the fight for equality that sparked in the 1960s continued to burn brightly throughout the 1970s. Citizen activism soared as the women’s movement grew, the fight for civil rights continued, and the crusade to protect the environment began. Some Americans, particularly middle class and working-class whites, responded to the turbulence of the 1960s by embracing a new kind of conservative populism. Sick of government involvement and social programs that used taxpayers’ money to support others, they became known as the “silent majority.” This group was largely responsible for President Richard Nixon’s election in 1968. Almost immediately, Nixon began to dismantle many of the programs and systems that had fostered such anger and resentment.
Minnesota Hits the National Stage During the 1970s, the eyes of the nation turned with interest to Minnesota. Instead of the frozen tundra of their imaginations, they saw rapidly changing city skylines and a state of presidential candidates, civic engagement, grassroots activism, environmental awareness and, of course, Mary Tyler Moore. Governor Wendell Anderson was even pictured on the August 1973 cover of TIME magazine, which proclaimed “The Good Life in Minnesota.”
1979 AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC
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1970
Rochester Square groundbreaking 1971
The Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 passes to assure general conformance of any increase in any wage or salary in the construction industry to the provisions of an order.
1971 AGC of Minnesota opens a satellite office in Duluth to more efficiently serve members throughout the state. Weis Builders, Inc. breaks ground on Rochester Square, an affordable housing development in Rochester.
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1977
The unemployment rate in the U.S. reaches 9.2% and a recession is recognized by President Ford.
AGC of America initiates National Associate Membership, opening the association to distributors, suppliers, and other members of the industry.
1976
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is established for federal or interstate construction.
OPUS fabrication construction 1970
1975
1972 Knutson Construction Services is the first contractor member to enroll in and use Operation Identification, to augment their company equipment marking program to prevent theft.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is created and assumes the activities of the Departments of Aeronautics and Highways, plus transportation-related sections of the State Planning Agency and the Public Service Department.
1973
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is built at a cost of $55 million. The tenacre, air-supported dome roof takes four months to build and collapses four times in the first six weeks after its completion.
AGC of Minnesota aids in the development of Mankato State’s B.A. in Construction Management.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 1976
1974 Fred Hsiao and Lyle Lundquist found Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc., becoming one of the most well-known minority-owned firms in the region.
1978 AGC of America creates the AGC Political Action Committee, making the construction industry just as politically influential as other major economic sectors, like healthcare and energy.
1979 AGC of Minnesota holds the first multimedia first aid course in order to help meet OSHA requirements. AGC of Minnesota establishes a scholarship program for students in Minnesota construction management programs.
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1972
The IDS Building is completed, becoming the tallest building in Minneapolis. PROJECT DETAILS: • The entire complex consists of five parts that are joined by the 7-story Crystal Court. • 57-story IDS Tower at 8th Street & Nicollet Mall • 8-story annex building along Marquette Avenue • 19-story Marquette Hotel at 7th Street & Marquette Avenue • 2-story retail building originally dominated by Woolworth’s • Rises to 910 feet - including communications spires on the roof • A lobby and shopping area at the bottom of the tower is known as the Crystal Court and provides skyway connections between the tower and four adjacent blocks. • Occupies a much larger footprint than the obelisk-like Foshay. • Fun fact: The opening montage of The Mary Tyler Moore Show features main character, Mary Richards, window shopping at an IDS shop on Nicollet Mall.
27
1980-1989 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
28
1980
1984
1988
Mark J. Dougall
Chris F. Woods
Peter J. Johnson
Naugle-Leck, Inc. Minneapolis
Al Johnson Construction Company Minneapolis
Hoover Construction Company Virginia
1981
1985
1989
Earl K. Benson
Michael S. McGray
J.A.E. Richard
Roy Benson & Son, Inc. Stephen
Progressive Contractors, Inc. St. Michael
Bor-Son Construction, Inc. Bloomington
1982
1986
1989
George J. Orfei
Joseph C. Weis
Richard H. Harvey
Orfei & Sons, Inc. St. Paul
Weis Builders, Inc. Rochester
H.G. Harvey Constructors, Inc. Eveleth
1983
1987
Lawrence J. McGough
Gerald M. Lametti
McGough Construction Company, Inc. St. Paul
Lametti & Sons, Inc. Hugo
MEMBERS JOINED
1980 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul
1980 Intex Corporation
1982 Rainbow Inc.
OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $11.16 Hod Carriers $9.50 Laborers $9.35 Carpenters $11.06 Cement Finishers $11.63 Stone Masons $11.16 Structural Iron Workers $12.20
1983 H & R Construction Co.
Source: fraser.stlouisfed.org
1981
Ulland Brothers, Inc.
1982 Amerect, Inc. 1982 Fabyanske and Svoboda 1982 Great American Insurance Company 1982 Industrial Builders, Inc.
1984 Oscar J. Boldt Construction 1984 Chubb Surety 1984 Harris Companies 1984 Northern Dewatering, Inc. 1987
Commercial Fabricators, Inc.
1987
Maertens-Brenny Construction Co.
1987
Northland Constructors of Duluth, LLC
1987
Tiller Corporation
1987
Willis of MN, Inc.
1988 CNA Surety
Sluggish Economy Soars Minnesota’s economy was in a critical place at the start of the 1980s. Businesses were closing, farms were struggling, small towns were dying, large corporations were leaving and unemployment was high. By 1982, the entire country was battling a depression the likes of which had not been seen since the Great Depression. As a result of President Reagan remaining steadfast to his “Reaganomics” policies, and plummeting oil and gas prices resulting from the Saudi-driven oil price wars, the economy experienced a vast recovery. This economic boom set the stage for 18 straight years of growth.
1988 Egan Company 1988 Elder-Jones, Inc. 1988 KGM Contractors, Inc. 1988 Leonard, Street & Deinard 1989 Dorsey & Whitney, LLP 1989 Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co. 1989 Lenci Enterprises, Inc. 1989 Midwest Contracting, LLC 1989 Northern States Power Company
Minnesota Grows Up The extremely favorable business conditions created by President Reagan’s “supply side” economic policies led to an explosion in commercial development. The measures taken by the government to increase business investment led to the construction of over 30% of the tallest buildings in Minnesota - with AGC of Minnesota members playing a major role in changing the skylines of the Twin Cities.
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1980
1982
1985
1988
Bituminous Roadways, Inc. erects a plant in Inver Grove Heights - a 300ton per hour Cedar Rapids Drum Plant.
President Reagan signs the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. AGC of America successfully lobbies to include a five-cent per gallon gas tax increase, which provides an additional $5 billion for infrastructure projects.
AGC of Minnesota member contractors construct the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival ice palace in 40 years at Lake Phalen.
The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 imposes new requirements on contractors who bid on contracts of $25,000 or more with a federal agency.
The Multiemployer Plan Amendments Act of 1980 becomes law, providing that if an employer withdraws from a multi-employer pension plan, the employer must pay his share of unfunded liability.
Surface Transportation Act signing 1982
Bituminous Roadways, Inc. 1980
1986 The first two “logo signs” to appear on Minnesota highways are installed on I-94 near Alexandria and Fergus Falls. Logo signs are located near exits and advertise nearby gas stations, restaurants, lodging and camping facilities.
1987
1981 TCF Tower, 100 Washington Square, and US Bank Plaza are built in downtown Minneapolis.
1983
The City of St. Paul celebrates the opening of the $20 million High Bridge. The general contractor is Lunda Construction Company.
AGC of Minnesota hosts a presentation on the use of micro computers on jobsites and projects.
High Bridge commemorative button 1987
1984 Shafer Contracting Co., Inc. signs the largest highway contract and bond ever from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, for over $31.2 million.
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Minnesota construction contract awards reach $4.85 million and employ 78,000 workers.
1989
Mortenson Construction builds the Target Center in Minneapolis. AGC of Minnesota graduates the chapter’s first class through the Supervisory Training Program (STP).
Target Center Minneapolis
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1987
The tallest building in downtown St. Paul, the Minnesota World Trade Center (now Wells Fargo Place), is completed by PCL Construction Services, Inc.’s Minneapolis office - a month early and under budget. PROJECT DETAILS: • 471 feet tall • 37 floors • 634,888 square feet • Cost: $100+ billion • Concrete and steel structure • Facade of brown-colored granite from Finland and glass
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1990-1999 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
32
1990
1994
1998
John T. Stodola
Craig R. Johnson
Dan C. Hasslen
Lunda Construction Company Rosemount
Madsen-Johnson Corporation Hudson, Wisconsin
Hasslen Construction Company, Inc. Ortonville
1991
1995
1999
Palmer G. Peterson
James W. Benike
Thomas C. McCrossan
Bituminous Roadways, Inc. Minneapolis
Alvin E. Benike, Inc. Rochester
C.S. McCrossan, Inc. Maple Grove
1992
1996
Keith H. Jensen
Harold C. Theisen
J.R. Jensen & Son, Inc. Superior, Wisconsin
Gridor Constr., Inc. Plymouth
1993
1997
Robert H. Enebak
Scott A. Weicht
Enebak Construction Company Northfield
Adolfson & Peterson Construction St. Louis Park
1990 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $22.76 Laborers $19.30 Carpenters $22.58 Cement Masons $21.50 Iron Workers $24.19 Source: AGC of Minnesota
Peace + Prosperity
MEMBERS JOINED 1990
R.J. Ahmann Company
1995
Magney Construction, Inc.
1990
Faegre & Benson
1995
Palmer-Soderberg, Inc.
1990
Global Specialty Contractors, Inc.
1995
Right-Way Caulking, Inc.
1990
Max Gray Construction, Inc.
1996
Jorgenson Construction, Inc.
1990
Marcy Construction Company
1996
Safety Signs
1990
McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered
1996
Shaw Construction, Inc.
1990
Rice Lake Construction Group
1996
Simplex
1990
Ray Riihiluoma, Inc.
1996
Zurich
1990
Shafer Contracting Co., Inc.
1997
Tioga, Inc.
1991
Johnson-Wilson Constructors, Inc.
1998
Flint Hills Resources, LP
1991
Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co., P.A.
1998
Frontier Construction Co., Inc.
1998
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
1992
C.R. Fischer & Sons, Inc.
1998
Sharrow Lifting Products
1992
Maguire Agency
1998
Max Steininger, Inc.
1992
RDO Equipment Co.
1992
Seaton, Beck & Peters, P.A.
1999
Anderson Insurance & Investment Agency, Inc.
1993
Blake Drilling Co., Inc.
1999
Bauerly Companies
1993
Braun Intertec Corporation
1999
Design Electric, Inc.
1993
Erin Contracting, Inc.
1999
Four Star Construction, Inc.
1993
Liberty Mutual Surety
1999
Reichel Painting Company, Inc.
1994
JE Dunn Construction Company
1999
3M Company, Personal Safety Division
1994
Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
1999
S.R. Weidema, Inc.
1994
Olson Construction Law, P.C.
1994
Parsons Electric
1994
Union Bank & Trust Company
1995
American Agency, Inc.
1995
Donlar Construction Company
1995
Finance & Commerce
Most Americans flourished during the 1990s. The median household income rose by 10%, an average of 1.7 million jobs were added to the American workforce each year, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4% by the end of the decade. Even poverty reached a post-war low of 11%. The fall of the Soviet Union and end to the Cold War were exhilarating and unexpected developments that influenced the happy and carefree feel of the 1990s. When the floodgates of the World Wide Web opened to the public in 1991, the internet began to permeate our lives in a real way, forever changing how we live, communicate, and do business - locally and globally. Minnesotans remember this decade for the American League Pennant and World Series wins by the Minnesota Twins. They also recall the pain of losing the state’s National Hockey League team and the joy of seeing the Mall of America, the world’s largest shopping center, open in Bloomington. The favorable economic conditions of the rest of the nation were reflected in Minnesota as the median household income grew by an incredible 49.5% during the 1990s and unemployment plummeted to less than 3%.
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1990
1992
1995
1998
The Americans with Disabilities Act is signed into law. AGC of America and AGC of Minnesota take the lead in determining how to implement its provisions on construction sites.
The Mall of America opens.
Led by an AGC of Minnesota initiative, the Minnesota Legislature approves a new workers’ compensation statute which allows employers and unions to jointly manage workers’ compensation programs. This develops into an alternative dispute resolution process for injured workers that dramatically reduces the time required to resolve claims.
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is signed into law, authorizing $175 billion for highways, $41 billion for mass transit, and $217 billion over six years for safety improvements - creating over 500,000 new jobs.
AGC of America and AGC of Minnesota are leaders in the creation of training programs under new OSHA rules for excavation and trenching, a leading cause of construction fatalities.
1991 PCL Construction Services, Inc. begins construction on the Mall of America.
Mall of America construction 1991
A national privatization program to manage public services and/or own public assets is implemented, with toll highways, bridges and tunnels becoming more common.
1993 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues rules on lead exposure. Organized labor joins forces with a broad-based coalition to successfully advocate for the passage of an amendment to the state’s Human Rights Act, guaranteeing fair treatment of workers regardless of sexual orientation.
1994 Fred Hsiao of Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc. is honored by Governor Arne Carlson.
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1996 The Children’s Grand Prix Race to benefit the Children’s Cancer Fund occurs on July 6 and 7. The race takes place on the streets of downtown Minneapolis and Bituminous Roadways, Inc. has the privilege of assisting in reconstructing parts of the course. They even design a special mix to withstand the unusual stresses on the pavement by vehicles traveling at speeds of more than 200 mph.
1997 AGC of Minnesota introduces its first website at the Annual Convention. One of the sessions at the Convention is titled “The Value of Websites to the Construction Industry.”
Bituminous Roadways, Inc. repairs the Metrodome’s flooring.
1999 In a joint venture between Mortenson Construction and Thor Construction Company, construction of the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul begins.
Xcel Energy Center construction 1999
YEAR OF FOCUS:
1990
The Minnesota History Center project starts with the joint venture of Bor-Son Construction, Inc. and Knutson Construction Services. PROJECT DETAILS: • Cost: $67.5 million • 430,000 square feet facility • 40,000 square feet of exhibit space • 300-seat auditorium • Three underground levels, many of which are sensitive to moisture and ultraviolet rays and require special temperature and humidity controls • Ames Construction, Inc. excavates 150,000 cubic yards of earth, making room for 34,600 cubic yards of concrete • Knutson’s crafts people win their second national award — the 1993 Best Stone Project — for this project • Over 200 workers complete the project with no major accidents
35
2000-2009 PAST BOARD CHAIRS
36
2000
2004
2008
Bruce D. Bolander
Todd Goderstad
Steven K. Hall
Carl Bolander & Sons Company St. Paul
Ames Construction, Inc. Burnsville
Hardrives, Inc. Rogers
2001
2005
2009
Jon G. Carlstrom
Don Rachel
Kenneth A. Styrlund
Robert W. Carlstrom Company, Inc. Mankato
Veit Companies Rogers
JE Dunn Construction Company Eden Prairie
2002
2006
James C. Mortenson
Bruce Engelsma
PCL Construction Services, Inc. Burnsville
Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Minneapolis
2003
2007
Tony Phillippi
George W. Mattson
Truck Crane Service Company, Inc. Eagan
Shafer Contracting Co., Inc. Shafer
2000 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $33.64 Laborers $29.64 Carpenters $32.84 Cement Masons $32.95 Iron Workers $37.09 Source: AGC of Minnesota
MEMBERS JOINED 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006
American Building Contractors, Inc. Construction Results Corporation County Materials Corporation Hardrives, Inc. Alltech Engineering Corp. Best & Flanagan, LLP Corval Group, Inc. Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc. Graham Construction Services, Inc. Littler Mendelson, P.C. Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart, P.C. Olympic Companies, Inc. Rauenhorst Recruiting Company Rochon Corporation Triple L Transportation, Inc. WSB & Associates, Inc. Aggregate Industries American Engineering Testing, Inc. Hollenback & Nelson, Inc. Lubrication Technologies, Inc. Q3 Contracting, Inc. Total Tool Supply, Inc. Construction Materials, Inc. Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, P.A. M&I Bank Martin Marietta Aggregates R & G Construction Co. Valley Paving, Inc. Alliant Engineering, Inc. American Masonry Restoration Corporation B&D Associates, Inc. Bassford Remele, P.A. Belair Excavating Minnesota Petroleum Service Orion Search Group, Inc. Advanced Masonry Restoration, Inc.
2006 Construction Equipment Guide-Midwest 2006 Doboszenski and Sons, Inc. 2006 Enterprise Fleet Management 2006 Hoffman Construction Company 2006 Hunt Electric Corporation 2006 Janish Wood Products, Inc. 2006 Rachel Contracting, LLC 2006 Ramsey Companies, Inc. 2006 Redpath and Company 2006 SRF Consulting Group, Inc. 2006 Westwood Professional Services 2007 Gary Carlson Equipment Co. 2007 Duininck, Inc. 2007 Engelsma Construction, Inc. 2007 Hovland, Inc. 2007 J & R Larson Grounds Maintenance, LLC 2007 Northern Industrial Erectors, Inc. 2007 Northland Concrete & Masonry Company, LLP 2007 On Site Sanitation, Inc. 2007 Redstone Construction, LLC 2007 T.E.A.M./Total Employee Assistance Management 2007 Woody’s Rebar Co., Inc. 2008 Blaney & Ledin 2008 Boyum & Barensheer, PLLP 2008 Danny’s Construction Company, Inc. 2008 Franz Reprographics 2008 Gagnon, Inc. 2008 M.G. McGrath, Inc. 2008 Minnesota Limited, LLC 2008 Pioneer Engineering, P.A. 2008 Rochester Sand & Gravel/Mathy Construction 2009 Amcon Construction Company 2009 Corporate Connection, Inc. 2009 Dowell Stute & Associates 2009 Energy Economics, Inc. 2009 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009
Immel Construction MN Best, Inc. NorthStar Safety, Inc. Nuss Truck & Equipment PCi Roads Plaisted Companies, Inc. Wagner Construction, Inc.
A Bleak Start to the New Millennium The 2000s were tough on Americans. The contested 2000 presidential election, the unspeakable tragedy of 9/11, the Iraq War, and the severe downturn of the U.S. stock market and resultant recession combined to make this a decade of struggle, loss and deepening political partisanship. Minnesotans faced a serious recession, high unemployment rates and an unstable housing market during this tumultuous period. The undeniable power of the internet to connect people from around the world had far-reaching effects for the 2000s. It hastened globalization and put immeasurable amounts of information at the fingertips of the masses. Google became the search engine of choice, with nearly two-thirds of internet users relying on it for their search needs.
37
Staggering Economic Losses Swept the Country With two major financial catastrophes occurring within ten short years - the bursting of the tech bubble in 2000 and the housing, banking, and subprime mortgage crises of 2008 - America faced a long and slow recovery. During this crippling recession, the total average household net worth dropped more than $10 trillion as wages fell drastically and unemployment soared into the double-digits for the first time since 1983. This stands as the largest loss of wealth since the government began keeping records of wealth accumulation.
Minnesota Was No Exception The first decade of the 21st century was no easier on Minnesota than the rest of the nation. Along with terrorism and economic instability, Minnesotans faced the shocking collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge. It was a day filled with devastating losses and heroic actions. In the wake of the destruction, AGC of Minnesota members took active roles in the massive demolition, cleanup and rebuilding efforts. The Twin Cities suffered the loss of over 65,000 jobs from 2000 to 2010. The sluggish housing market and low commercial building activity led to over 24,500 construction jobs being lost - a staggering 38% of total jobs lost in Minnesota.
Union Membership Rose For The First Time In 25 Years According to Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, union membership rose when measured as a percentage of the workforce. Membership hit 12.1% nationally and 16.3% in Minnesota.
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2000
2003
Carl Bolander & Sons Company demolishes some high profile property on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota behind Coffman Memorial Union to make way for an $80 million project, including a 225-room dormitory to be known as Riverbend Commons and a six-level underground parking facility with 1,700 spaces.
The AGC of Minnesota office relocates to 525 Park Street – within walking distance of the State Capitol.
2001 On September 11th, Islamic fundamentalist terrorists hijack four U.S. airliners and crash them into the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York City, and a field in Pennsylvania, causing nearly 3,000 deaths. AGC of America donates $500,000 to the children of construction-related workers who perished.
2002 AGC of Minnesota joins ABC, MAPA and MTA in a joint construction truck safety campaign.
2004 Mortenson Construction begins construction on the Minneapolis Central Library.
Minneapolis Central Library construction 2004
2005 Governor Tim Pawlenty signs a bill authorizing the Commissioner of Administration to use three new methods of contracting for state construction: Design-Build Construction Manager At-Risk Job Order Contracting
2006
2008
The long-awaited Crosstown Project is scheduled for a May letting, but the project financing contains some serious financial and risk complications for the industry.
The new I-35W Mississippi River Bridge is completed.
AGC of America joins the U.S. Department of Labor’s Drug-Free Workplace Alliance.
Mortenson Construction is the general contractor on TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota.
TCF Bank Stadium construction 2008
2007 The I-35W Mississippi River Bridge falls during rush hour on August 1st. Carl Bolander & Sons Company works on demolition and clean-up.
I-35W Mississippi River Bridge clean-up 2007
2009
YEAR OF FOCUS:
2006
The new Guthrie Theater brings national and international attention and acclaim to Minneapolis. PROJECT DETAILS: • Cost: $125 million • Size: 285,000 square feet • Boasts three theaters: • 1,100-seat Wurtele Thrust Stage • 700-seat McGuire Proscenium Stage • 199-seat Dowling Studio • The twilight-blue metal façade of the building blends with the evening sky, highlighting eight large-scale images from past Guthrie productions screen-printed directly onto the façade. • Three vertical LED signs on the building’s roof reflect the industrial signage of the area. • Features a 178-foot cantilevered Endless Bridge to the Mississippi River. • The cantilevered amber glass lobby at the building’s tallest point provides expansive views of the Mississippi River.
AGC of America releases its Construction Industry Recovery Plan, identifying measures federal, state and local officials should take to improve demand for construction and help the economy. Cemstone works on the $545 million Target Field project.
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2010-2019 PAST BOARD CHAIRS 2010
2014
2018
Dave Lenss
Chris Duininck
Aaron Benike
Graham Construction Services, Inc. Eagan
Duininck, Inc. Prinsburg
Benike Construction Rochester
2011
2015
2019
Michael Welch
Jim Dockstader
Kent Peterson
Ulland Brothers, Inc. Cloquet
Enebak Construction Company Northfield
Bituminous Roadways, Inc. Mendota Heights
2012
2016
Brian Maki
Kendall Griffith
Lakehead Constructors, Inc. Superior, Wisconsin
Mortenson Construction Minneapolis
2013
2017
Alissa Schneider
Peter G. (Chipper) Johnson
Danny’s Construction Company, Inc. Shakopee
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Hoover Construction Company Virginia
2010 Union Scale of Wages in Minneapolis/St. Paul OCCUPATION HOURLY RATES Bricklayers $49.29 Laborers $44.09 Carpenters $47.94 Cement Finishers $47.74 Stone Masons $48.55 Structural Iron Workers $49.33 Source: AGC of Minnesota
MEMBERS JOINED 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014
LS Black Construction, Inc. S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. Infinity Access, Inc. Medina Electric, LLC Ti-Zack Concrete, Inc. Vic’s Crane & Heavy Haul, Inc. Wipfli, LLP Associated Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Central Specialties, Inc. ECSI, LLC FPI Paving Contractors, Inc. Hammerlund Construction, Inc. Leading Edge Contracting, LLC New Look Contracting, Inc. O’Malley Construction, Inc. Ballenthin, Funk & Johnson, LLP BirdDog Dunwoody College of Technology Fehn Companies, Inc. Foley & Mansfield, PLLP Gray Plant Mooty John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, Ltd. Purple Wave Auction Resource Professionals Alliance Titan Machinery CIBC Hanover Insurance Company ICON Constructors, LLC Larson King, LLP Lockton Companies, LLC MDP Enterprises, LLC Welle Law, P.C. Anderson Brothers Construction Company Associated Bank General Equipment & Supplies, Inc. KLJ North Valley, Inc. RJM Construction, LLC
2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
Rybak Companies Summit Companies Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. Warning Lites of Minnesota, Inc. AECOM Anchor Bank, a division of Old National Bank Ancom Communications, Inc./ Midwest Radio Rentals C70 Builders, Inc. Hilpipre Auction Company Hilti, Inc. Kiewit Infrastructure Company Lametti & Sons, Inc. McNamara Contracting, Inc. Midwest Fence & Manufacturing Company Minnesota Occupational Health Moss & Barnett Northdale Construction Co., Inc. Southern Minnesota Construction PlanGrid Red Cedar Steel Erectors, Inc. Thoresen Diaby Helle Condon and Dodge, Inc. Viant Crane Service, LLC Amerisure Insurance Company Castrejon Inc. (CI Utilities) DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore Eureka Construction, Inc. Fowler & Hammer, Inc. Green Light Architectural Sheet Metal, Inc. Meyer Contracting, Inc. Minger Construction Co., Inc. Moriarty Scheduling Services, LLC NAC Mechanical & Electrical Services Newton Bonding Northern Technologies, LLC Pioneer Asphalt Technologies, LLC S&R Reinforcing, Inc. T.A. Schifsky & Sons, Inc. Structural Specialties, Inc.
2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018
WENRICH PD Construction, LLC Zenith Tech, Inc. ACI, Asphalt & Concrete, Inc. Advanced Design Contracting Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental, Inc. Diamond Surface Inc. Donovan Enterprises, Inc. Ingevity Michels Corporation OMG Midwest, Inc. dba Chard Peterson, Whitaker & Bjork, LLC PetroChoice RB Scott Company, Inc. Rochester City Lines SitesForBuilders.com Spec 7 Group, LLC Stonebrook Fence, Inc. Sturgeon Electric Titan Tool Camacho Contractors, Inc. E&I Global Energy Services, Inc. Integrity Grading and Excavating JLG Architects Makee Company, LLC Midwest Asphalt Services, LLC Progressive Consulting Engineers, LLC PromoAdvantage Marketing Group, LLC Skold Specialty Contracting Stevens Construction Corp. Terracon Consultants, Inc. Thomas and Sons Construction, Inc. USI Insurance Services YTS Utility Group, LLC
41
North Star State Shines Bright For Minnesotans, the 2010s blew in like a warm spring breeze after a long, cold, dark winter. The decade began with the election of the first Democratic governor in over two decades, Mark Dayton, shaking things up with a massive $2.1 billion tax increase that primarily targeted smokers and the wealthy. Conversely, one year later, he approved a middle class tax cut of $508 million. Dayton’s actions were just some of the many factors that contributed to Minnesota’s slow and steady recovery from the recession of the early 2000s. Numerous indicators tell the story of Minnesota’s economy in the 2010s: •
Median household income grew 7.2% from 2010 to 2016. When isolating the construction industry, that percentage skyrockets to 38.6%.
•
Minnesota tied Alaska for the fifth lowest poverty rate at 9.9%.
•
A home ownership rate of 73.1% placed Minnesota third in the nation.
•
The June 2018 unemployment rate dropped to 3.1% down from 9.6% in 2011.
2010
2012
Adolfson & Peterson Construction reaches four million consecutive hours without a lost time accident. They are also one of only 12 companies nationwide named to the list of America’s Safest Companies by EHS Today magazine.
PCL Construction Services, Inc. receives AGC of America’s highest safety honor - Grand Award for Construction Safety Excellence.
Target Field opens, marking the return to outdoor baseball for the Minnesota Twins.
2011 Since 1986, AGC of Minnesota has awarded 157 scholarships to outstanding students pursuing careers in construction.
Minnesota’s economy drew national attention and accolades: •
CNBC named Minnesota Top State for Business in 2015
•
In 2018, USA Today ranked Minnesota 7th best on a list of the best and worst economies in the nation.
Metrodome demolition 2014
Light Rail Transit (LRT) project construction 2012
PCL Construction Services, Inc. renovations to Mall of America 2011
2013 Grazzini Brothers & Company receives the 2012 Grande Pinnacle Award from The Marble Institute of America for interior work on the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum.
Vikings Stadium construction 2016
2014 Egan Company is one of only 18 companies across the country named by EHS Today magazine to America’s Safest Companies Class of 2014.
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2015
2017
AGC of Minnesota teams up with Urban Ventures, a nonprofit organization in south Minneapolis committed to reducing urban poverty, to build their second on-site greenhouse.
Minnesota leads the region in size of workforce - accounting for 29% of the six-state region workforce total and 53% of regional construction job growth.
2016 The $1.1 billion U.S. Bank Stadium project began with the demolition of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 2014. This state-of-the-art facility in downtown Minneapolis opened its doors in July 2016. Several AGC of Minnesota members were involved in this awardwinning, jaw-dropping project.
U.S. Bank Stadium construction 2016
C.S. McCrossan, Inc. is recognized at the AGC of America national convention with a 2017 Alliant Build America Award for its work on the Elm Creek Dam. Hoyt Hsiao, Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc., is named one of the Twin Cities’ Most Admired CEOs by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
2018
YEAR OF FOCUS:
2016
The I-90 Mississippi River Bridge consists of a pair of bridges that traverse the Mississippi River connecting the La Crosse, Wisconsin area to rural Winona County, Minnesota. It provides access to the Dresbach Rest Area/Minnesota Welcome Center and boat launches from westbound I-90. Ames Construction, Inc. was the contractor on this $187.5 million project that opened in 2016. PROJECT DETAILS: • 100-year design life • Design: Concrete Box Girder • Length: 2,593 feet • Width: varies between 45 and 66 feet • Two 12-foot lanes each direction • Eastbound acceleration lane • 12-foot outside shoulders • 6-foot inside shoulders
Corval Group achieves an impressive feat of 8,000,000 hours worked without a lost time injury.
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