December 2019 CAM Magazine

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DIRECTORS

Joshua Barney JJ Barney Construction

Jeffrey Chandler PUBLISHER EDITOR

Valenti Trobec Chandler, Inc./VTC Insurance Group

Kevin Koehler Diane Sawinski

Matthew D. Cramer

Mary Kremposky McArdle

Stephen Frantz

Joseph Coots

Michael Green

Dee Cramer

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Motor City Electric Co.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

John E. Green Company

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE

Roy Jones Cathy Jones

Frank Jonna Jonna Companies

Tricia S. Ruby

DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chairman

Ruby + Associates

Commercial Contracting Corp.

Vice Chairman

Kerlin Blaise Blaze Contracting

Vice Chairman

Erik Wordhouse Edwards Glass Co.

Treasurer

Samuel Ruegsegger III The Christman Co.

President

Paul Stachowiak

Kevin Foucher

Kevin Koehler

Integrated Design Solutions, LLC

CAM MAGAZINE EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Gary Boyajian Division 8 Solutions, Inc.

George Dobrowitsky Walbridge

Daniel Englehart Peter Basso and Associates, Inc.

Dennis King DMKING Consulting, LLC

CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward Ave., P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204 (248) 972-1000. $24.00 of annual membership dues is allocated to a subscription to CAM Magazine. Additional subscriptions $40.00 annually. Periodical postage paid at Bloomfield Hills, MI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: CAM MAGAZINE, 43636 WOODWARD AVE., BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302-3204.

For editorial comment or more information: sawinski@BuildwithCAM.com For reprints or to sell CAM Magazine: 248-972-1000

Sanford (Sandy) Sulkes International Building Products, Inc.

Amanda Tackett Consultant

James Vargo Capac Construction Company, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Construction Association of Michigan. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. CAM Magazine is a registered trademark of the Construction Association of Michigan.

4 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

12

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 12

Talent Shortage Threatens to Limit Construction Industry Growth

18 24

Recruiting Problems? Develop Your Employer Brand A New Construction Classroom: Early Spring Groundbreaking for New Regional Training Hub in West Detroit

MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK 2020 36

Recent Trends in the Non-Residential Construction Market

40

Project-ing Ahead: Michigan’s Construction Market

36

Continues to Flourish — But What Does the Development Landscape Look Like in 2020 and Beyond?

CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT 46

The Hamilton: Urban Living at Its Finest

DEPARTMENTS 7 10 53 55

Industry News Safety Tool Kit Product Showcase People in Construction/ Corporate News

57 57 58

Construction Calendar CAM Welcomes New Members Advertisers Index

46

ABOUT THE COVER Broder & Sachse Real Estate, along with the project team of Hamilton Anderson Associates and Sachse Construction, revitalized the former Milner Arms Apartments into a 97-unit multi-family development in the heart of Detroit’s Midtown. The building has been newly re-named after Rainy Hamilton Jr., the founder and owner of Hamilton Anderson Associates.

Photo Courtesy of John D’Angelo Photography

6 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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CAM Joins Forces with Home Builders Association to Present the Great Lakes Design and Construction EXPO 2020 Michigan’s largest construction industry event is coming to Novi in February 2020.

CAM and HBA of Southeastern Michigan presents the Great Lakes Design and Construction EXPO 2020. This two-day event will bring together residential and commercial contractors, designers, suppliers and service providers, offering networking opportunities and business building workshops designed to support the continued success of Michigan’s building industry.

The EXPO will be held on February 12th and 13th, 2020, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Over 1,000 industry professionals are expected to attend. They will have the opportunity to learn about innovations in technology, products, supplies and services from over 150 exhibitors.

Industry specific educational workshops and safety training will be offered, as well, to maximize their skills, competency and professionalism.

For more information on exhibiting or attending the EXPO, visit www.miconstructionexpo.com.

opportunity to meet, greet and participate in a panel discussion with elected members of the Michigan Legislature. The panel of legislators consisted of: State Senators Dan Lauwers (R) – District 25 and Mallory McMorrow (D) – District 13 and State House of Representatives Jason Sheppard (R) – District 56 and Mari Manoogian – District 40. CAM Lobbyist Jason Wadaga, Kindsvatter, Dalling & Associates, served as the event’s moderator. A total of 16 sponsors financially supported the event at either the Event Sponsor level or the Presenting Sponsor level.

In addition to the panelists discussing their top legislative initiatives for 2020, topics of interest covered during the breakfast included: workforce development and CAM’s proposed prompt pay legislation, titled the Michigan Construction Payment Act. When enacted, the Michigan Construction Payment Act will become the first prompt pay law for private sector, commercial construction projects in the state of Michigan.

For more information regarding the status of CAM’s prompt pay legislation, next year’s Legislative Breakfast, and other CAM Government Affairs-related initiatives and events, refer to future issues of CAM Magazine, email updates, and www.BuildwithCam.com.

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to count a portion of certain bonuses/commissions towards meeting the salary level. The new thresholds account for growth in employee earnings since the thresholds were last updated in 2004. In the final rule, the Department is: • raising the “standard salary level” from the currently enforced level of $455 per week to $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year for a full-year worker); • raising the total annual compensation requirement for “highly compensated employees” from the currently enforced level of $100,000 per year to $107,432 per year; • allowing employers to use nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) paid at least annually to satisfy up to 10% of the standard salary level, in recognition of evolving pay practices; and • revising the special salary levels for workers in U.S. territories and the motion picture industry.

The final rule is effective on January 1, 2020. For more information, visit www.dol.gov.

MEDC Receives Largest STEP Award in the Nation DOL Final Rule: Overtime Update Workforce Development and Prompt Pay Topics of Discussion at CAM’s Legislative Breakfast On Friday, October 18, 2019, CAM hosted its 4th annual Legislative Breakfast at the Michigan State Management Education Center in Troy. The event afforded approximately 70 attendees the Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The final rule updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, and allows employers

For the third consecutive year, Michigan has received the top award in the nation from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) for fiscal year 2020. In its ninth year of receiving STEP funds, Michigan received the maximum amount of $900,000, representing a $100,000 increase from the previous year.

The Michigan Strategic Fund is providing an additional $300,000 to support the Michigan STEP initiative (MI-STEP).

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MI-STEP is designed to spur job creation by empowering Michigan “eligible small business concerns,” or ESBCs, to export their products. The program has three primary objectives: increase the number of Michigan small businesses that export, increase the dollar value of Michigan exports, and increase the number of Michigan small businesses significant new trade exploring opportunities, including expansion of existing export markets.

“This year's STEP grant is once again the largest award in the nation, reflecting the Small Business Administration's strong confidence in Michigan's successful execution of export promotion to increase international sales,” said MEDC CEO Jeff Mason. Applications for fiscal year 2020 MI-STEP grants are now open to ESBCs. For complete details on how companies can apply for assistance, including eligibility requirements and the application process, visit www.michiganbusiness.org.

New Construction Survey Reveals a $177 Billion Industry Problem productivity software Construction company PlanGrid and the management consulting firm FMI Corporation recently interviewed over 600 construction leaders worldwide to find out where construction teams spend and lose time, what they need when it comes to technology, and why firms often struggle with adoption in the field. It has been found that particularly miscommunication and poor data are costing construction companies a lot of money.

A report was issued based on the findings. According to PlanGrid, “The report not only reveals key motivations for investment, but delves into the needs and influence of end-users, uncovers

considerable costs associated specifically with poor project data and miscommunication, and challenges with how technology is deployed to teams.” It looks into how construction professionals spend and lose time, the cost and causes of poor data and miscommunication, and how adoption suffers when end users are not involved in technology decisions.”

Visit https://www.plangrid.com/ebook/ construction-disconnected/ to view the full report.

Fall Protection Again Tops OSHA's 'Top 10' List For the ninth consecutive year, Fall Protection – General Requirements is OSHA's most frequently cited standard, the agency announced at the National Safety Council 2019 Congress & Expo.

The rest of the preliminary list of OSHA's Top 10 violations for fiscal year 2019 also remained largely unchanged from FY 2018, with only one minor adjustment.

Lockout/Tagout, which ranked fifth in FY 2018, climbed one spot to number 4, trading places with Respiratory Protection.

The full list: 1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,010 violations 2. Hazard Communication (1926.1200): 3,671 3. Scaffolding (1926.451): 2,813 4. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,606 5. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,450 6. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,345 7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,093 8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,773 9. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,743 10. Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,411

8 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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Leaders In The Demolition Industry Since 1994.

Located in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Pettibone Launches a New X-Series Service School Program Pettibone has launched a new X-Series Service School program to provide live, inperson machine training opportunities for members of the dealer network. Hosted by Pettibone dealers at various regional locations, the service school is specifically focused on Pettibone’s next gen X-Series Extendo and Traverse telehandlers. Recent training days were held at Pettibone headquarters in Baraga, Michigan, for the Midwest region, at Power Pro Equipment in New Holland, Pennsylvania, for the Northeast region, and at ARDCO Equipment in New Iberia, Louisiana, for the Southern region.

The X-Series Service School consists of one-day sessions that cover product information in a classroom-style setting, in addition to hands-on training with the machines. Topics include an overview of hydraulic system and components, and tutorials on servicing the booms for all X-Series telehandlers and the traversing carriage found only on Traverse models. Learn more at www.gopettibone.com.

The American Society of Concrete Contractors Awards Annual Scholarships The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) Education, Research and Development Foundation has awarded three scholarships to students in the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. Joshua Brinegar, Columbia, TN, attends Middle Tennessee State University, Murpheesboro, TN, and Elias Magana, Jr., Oxnard, CA and Tanner Olsen, Cotati, CA, attend California State University, Chico, CA. Each received $5,000. The ASCC Foundation was created in 1989 to fund education and research that advances the quality and productivity of concrete construction. To learn more, visit https://ascconline.org/.

Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

2019 NECA Showstopper Winners Announced The annual Showstopper Showcase at the NECA Convention and Trade Show highlights the newest products and services on the market. Open every day starting one hour before the Trade Show, the Showcase gave attendees a chance to explore and try the newest products available, while a panel of anonymous, expert judges determined the winners on a variety of factors.

The winners are listed in alphabetical order below and will be featured in the January 2020 issue of Electrical Contractor.

• 3M's DBI-SALA Strut Anchor • ABB's Steel City 8" recessed poke through floor box • ALL-TEST Pro, LLC's PRO 34 • Amprobe's underground utilities locator kit • Arlington Industries' T-Box • Bridgeport Fittings' Mighty Seal PVC jacketed MC cable fittings • Current Tools, Inc.'s Model 66 mobile cable puller • Eaton's Metalux RGB6 ribbon LED recessed slot luminaire • Empire Level's digital torpedo level • FLIR's TG267 thermal camera • Fluke Corporation's insulated hand tools • FSR, Inc. Smartway floor raceway • GlenGuard's FeatherWeight FR coverall • Hilti's Multiline green laser • Ideal Industries, Inc.'s Twister ProFLEX wire connector • iToolco's flex wire cart • Klein Tools, Inc.'s 2-in-1 insulated flipblade screwdriver • Kwiki Kwik Draw Holsters' metal tape holster with cap • L.H. Dottie Company's FlipToggle • Milspec Industries' pro lock extension cord • Milwaukee Tool's PACKOUT dolly and mounting plate • Patriot Industries' Nextdaynipples.com • Southwire's Romex wire stripper • SP Products' 4-way conduit and box support plate H&V • Underground Pipe Solutions' BulletMole

DKI International Inc. specializes in the selective demolition of architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical systems. Our work includes structural shoring, temporary support, concrete saw-cutting & removal, light machine work, and removal of all types of flooring.

DKI Demolition www.dkidemolition.com

Site foremen are 30-Hour OSHA approved and take the highest levels of care to ensure the safety of all involved.

DKI prides itself on the highest quality standards and takes all necessary measures to provide a safe and efficient work place.

248-538-9910 Email: estimating@dkidemolition.com 6775 Daly Road, Suite 101 West Bloomfield, MI 48322

• BONDS • CONTRACTORS INSURANCE • ENVIRONMENTAL INSURANCE • LIFE & HEALTH

(248) 355-4411 www.zervosgroup.com 24724 Farmbrook Rd. Southfield 48034 Gus E. Zervos

Steve M. Zervos

CEO

President

Angelo G. Zervos, VP

Michael G. Zervos, VP

Dave Lange Dominic Nicita

Don Burden

CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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Safety Tool Kit NOISE EXPOSURE MONITORING IN CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS

By Jason Griffin CAM DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND SAFETY SERVICES

n the November 2019 edition of CAM Magazine, we started the conversation on Hearing Conservation Programs for construction.

In that article, I directed readers to resources such as NIOSH, OSHA, MIOSHA, CPWR, and to a YouTube video that I produced discussing this hazard. To continue that discussion and further our understanding of the steps to be implemented in the occupational noise control process, we will begin with a discussion about sampling for noise.

Noise exposure monitoring can be difficult in construction as we have a highly mobile work force. Workers engage in a variety of activities and environments that all have an impact on their overall exposures during the course of a day. Tools like powder actuated fasteners, jack hammers, and other loud tools are obvious examples of when an employee should be wearing hearing protection equipment. Perhaps less obvious are the workers who are operating heavy equipment for many hours over the course of the day.

Many large pieces of equipment have noise levels that exceed 90 decibels in the operator’s compartment. In either case, it is the employer’s responsibility to identify those employees who are potentially overexposed to noise expressed in an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) greater than 90 decibels. With the various environments that construction workers find themselves in, area sampling is not an effective means to determine the workers’ overall exposure. Personal sampling is the method that we would need to use to determine an employee’s potential for exposure with the understanding that these levels are likely to change with the employees’ working environment.

MIOSHA’s Part 680: Occupational Noise Exposure for Construction states that when an employee’s noise exposure consists of multiple periods of noise exposure of different levels, the employer has to consider the combined effects rather that the individual exposures. An example of the formula is provided in the standard:

I

10 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

S A F E T Y

T O O L

K I T

If the value of the Fe exceeds unity (1) then the exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limit. An example of how the math would look can be seen below as taken from the standard.

If the monitoring indicates that the noise levels exceed the permissible exposures, we must evaluate the methods that we can use to control the levels of the noise utilizing the hierarchy of controls. The controls selected may include replacement of certain tools with quieter tools in accordance with the “Buy Quiet” initiative or the implementation of engineering controls such as mufflers, isolation, noise-reducing baffles or materials. It may also require administrative controls such as worker rotation. The last resort method should always be personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hearing protectors. The key to all of this is knowing what our potential exposures are for certain classes of work.

The purchase of a sound meter or dosimeter is a good investment for this process, and I would recommend getting one that has data logging capability. There are a variety of personal noise dosimeter models available that would allow an employer to clip a meter to an employee and have them wear it throughout their work day. The data logging features could then be used to determine the overall exposures of the employee and when they were exposed to the highest noise levels. This information can be used to gauge which activities in the day exposed the employee to noise exposures greater than 90 decibels and for how long. Some dosimeters also include the capability to compare against the various occupational noise standards. It is important to take the time to select a meter that is appropriate for your application.

In summary, the first step in developing your hearing loss prevention program is to understand where your potential for exposure lies, what your actual exposures are, and the identification of which employees need to be included in the program. In the next article, we will discuss the noise control process and resources that are available to employers to assist them with reducing overall noise levels prior to the selection of PPE. For more information on this topic, contact Jason Griffin at Safety@buildwithcam.com or visit OSHA’s occupational noise exposure page at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/index.html.

Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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Talent Shortage Threatens to Limit Construction Industry Growth Attracting and Retaining Employees Vital to Successful and Profitable Growth

By Mark Wolak, CPA, CGMA, CMA, Gordon Advisors, P.C ith the U.S. economic expansion in its 11th year and the unemployment rate hitting a new five-decade low, it should bring nothing but optimism to not only the country’s economic competitiveness and financial markets, but to the overall health of the nation. But – as the southeastern Michigan construction industry is keenly aware – positive macroeconomic conditions don’t always directly translate to improvements in the cyclical building industry.

The five-county Metro Detroit region experienced $5.2 billion in new building construction in 2018 as reported by Dodge Data and Analytics. While this number has decreased somewhat due to a number of circumstances, including an anticipated economic downturn, increasing material costs and – most importantly to the local construction industry – a shortage of skilled trades and laborers, there still is healthy backlog of work to keep most contactors and trades busy in the near-term.

W

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But what about long term? Experts fear that our region could see a hit to the industry due to another factor some businesses are not heavily weighting in their bottom line--- retaining talent. For construction, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract and retain new, qualified tradespeople, as there is a myriad of other career opportunities promising higher wages, better benefits, safer environments and less physically demanding work of a construction worker.

And don’t forget the hidden costs…labor shortages could delay project deadlines, potentially causing financial penalties for not meeting deadlines, or a loss of early completion bonuses for participating firms.

Demand for Talent Continues to Rise According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for construction laborers will grow 12% by 2026, compared with an average of 7% for all other U.S. occupations. The bureau has reported that there were 263,000 open construction jobs in June, and the unemployment rate for experienced construction workers over 16 years old is just 3.2%, down from 7.0% only five years ago.

With these lofty projections and historically low unemployment rates, the time is now to start planning ahead, making sure you are doing everything possible within your company’s resources to ensure you are retaining your highly productive employees and attracting the brightest young adults to choose a career in the trades.

Here are three steps that may help guide you in planning and preparing for successful employee recruiting and retaining your top-level talent:

D E V E L O P M E N T

“Recruiting takes an enormous amount of time, money and effort, no matter the size of your business – large or small. The best return on investment a company can make is to attract and retain its workforce, since it is far less expensive to keep employees once they are in the door.” unemployment claims, having consistent levels of high-quality, highly trained, loyal employees is paramount to the success of a well-run, profitable business.

Recruiting takes an enormous amount of time, money and effort, no matter the size of your business – large or small. The best return on investment a company can make is to attract and retain its workforce, since it is far less expensive to keep employees once they are in the door.

Finding and retaining the best, most qualified employees is vital in today’s ultra-competitive workplace. For smaller companies, finding ways to successfully compete against the larger, big-budgeted firms is always a challenge.

This is where carving out a unique, sometimes creative benefit package personalized to employee needs plays a large role in attracting and retaining the best and brightest. Hiring a Michiganbased construction CPA firm can help you understand your actual and projected recruiting costs, and help put you on track for a profitable talent program.

Developing talent is of the utmost importance in today’s increasingly competitive job markets, not to mention the time and cost savings of not having to replace those employees. While a lot of companies give lip service to training, the smart ones are emphasizing the skilled trades apprenticeship programs, which

1. Financial Ramifications on Recruiting and Training Costs High turnover is a budget killer.

Companies should be keenly aware of all of the financial ramifications of recruiting and constant training of new workers.

Recruiting costs vary, running anywhere from 10% to 30% of the starting salary, while training costs for entry-level positions vary from 15-20% of starting salary as well. In addition to the time/payroll tax savings and reduced Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

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have proven to increase the retention rate of its own workforce.

2. Apprenticeship Programs Help Retain Talent Apprenticeship programs save money in the long run. While it may not seem so in the short run, companies are finding that an apprenticeship program for its employees is a proven solution for retaining skilled talent. With occupation choices including laborers, electricians, plumbers, rough and finish carpenters, these work-based curriculums can be integrated into any company’s existing training programs.

With a two- to five-year time commitment depending on the trade, employees have a rare opportunity to learn both in the classroom (about 20%) and in the field. This combination of practical and academic experience increases their knowledge of their particular trade, while at the same time developing specialized skills. And while those starting out in local apprenticeship programs start out making $12-$15 an hour, they can expect to make $28-$36 an hour upon completion of their respective program, not including benefits.

These programs offer a viable career path for youth or low-skilled adult workers, offering an immediate job, steadily rising wages and providing for a road map to a sustainable, successful career. From a company’s perspective, apprenticeship programs greatly assist in developing highly skilled employees, and have been shown to not only increase workers’ earnings, but also raise sponsoring companies’ productivity levels as well. More than 90% of apprentices that complete a formal training program are still employed with the same company nine months later.

Employers are the lifeblood of any apprenticeship program and must play an active role in sponsoring, providing jobs to apprentices, overseeing training development, providing first-hand learning and technical expertise and, of course, contributing financially to the program.

Tax credits are available for companies that support job growth. Business owners can get a break for giving what many would call high-risk employees a chance 14 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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to earn a living. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program (WOTC) is for employers who will hire from “targeted groups of people that have experienced difficulty in securing employment in the past.” The WOTC allows a maximum federal tax credit of $4,800 to $9,800 for disabled veterans, $4,000 for recipients of temporary assistance to needy families, and $2,400 for other targeted groups.

The construction industry and labor organizations have developed what serves as the “standard” model for other industries in terms of recruiting, developing and retaining your most highly productive employees. Some of the major benefits to a company include: • reduced turnover and liability costs • lower investment in recruiting costs • higher productivity and higher profitability • greater diversity of its workforce • development of highly skilled employees

D E V E L O P M E N T

“Tax credits are available for companies that support job growth.

Business owners can get a break for giving what many would call high-risk employees a chance to earn a living.” rate, companies across all industries are coming up with creative ways to attract and retain not only recent college graduates but are finding themselves having to offer wages and benefits to long-time employees that would have been unheard of as recently as a decade ago. In the past, it was quite common for construction companies to employ

Such programs benefit both local and state workforce systems’ as well, providing a competitive, continual source of qualified, employable workers on an annual basis. For young adults, apprenticeships can create a promising, stable future, especially in today’s world of ever-rising college costs and escalating student debt. According to LendEDU, an online student loan marketplace, the average student loan debt at four-year Michigan colleges and universities averaged more than $30,000 in 2017.

Along with the apprentices receiving immediate pay and raises as they meet certain benchmarks, formal apprenticeship programs become more appealing by the day.

Some of the many benefits that will put participants on a structured, upward career trajectory, include: • wages earned while in school and training • career advancement • increased, in-demand skills • little or no debt incurred for program enrollment • national, portable credentials 3. Construction as a Viable Career Option With the historically low unemployment Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

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W O R K F O R C E

D E V E L O P M E N T

“The workforce is becoming much older without a backfill of younger adults to fill the talent pipeline, and that is an increasingly important problem within the industry.”

two or three generations of the same family members…not so much anymore.

Millennials, for a variety of reasons, are looking elsewhere, as construction is not the next Google, Tesla or whatever the new, trendy company-of-the-day is.

According to theundercoverrectuiter.com, of all of the 10 million people employed in the construction industry, only 9% are female, and most of those are primarily in administrative roles. The number in the field is even smaller, possibly due to a number of factors including sexual harassment, social perceptions and lack of adequate resources for women in a predominatly male-dominated industry.

Also, with so few women in leadership roles, mentoring is also a big issue. The

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young women that do choose the industry as a career, often are at a lost once in the workforce when searching for guidance, advice or camaraderie. Therein lies a challenge.

Today, companies are having to offer all levels of employees an array of fully paid benefit packages just to keep up with peer companies in the industry, whereas in the past, it was customary for firms to offer approximately 25% to 75% of the employee’s health care benefits. We are now seeing 100% health care coverage and other benefits that were not typically covered such as: • increased wages and benefits, some paying above union scale • 401K, healthcare, profit sharing, etc.

• compensated time off • job sharing/shifting of duties to ensure consistent full work weeks These are only a few of the high-level benefit packages that are the norm today.

Unheard of in the past, yes, but in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, you need to stay ahead of the game or risk losing your brightest and best employees. While employers can expect to add an additional 10%-20% of salaries/wages paid to both salaried and hourly workers, it is now just the cost of doing business.

Even more importantly for the industry as a whole is the need to start marketing itself as an industry career of choice. It is crucial the industry take an earlier, proactive position in publicizing the construction trades as a viable career option that can be quite lucrative and rewarding. Gone are the days where people turned to construction when they couldn’t get into college or worked as a laborer because they didn’t know what to do until they found a “better” job.

Construction provides the potential for a job with high demand, high earnings potential and an opportunity for selfemployment. Exposing high school students to the industry must be a top priority, not only for companies collectively, but for the industry as a whole. The workforce is becoming much older without a backfill of younger adults to fill the talent pipeline, and that is an increasingly important problem within the industry. There is a widespread unawareness of the wide-ranging benefits of pursuing a building trades career, and a lingering stigma attached to working in the construction industry.

Chief amongst the obstacles of attracting young adults to consider a construction career track include: • high schools reducing or eliminating vocational classes altogether • perception, often from parents, who have engrained into their kids that obtaining a college degree is necessary to have a “successful” career • other viable career choices that require little or no strenuous physical activity • overall negative stereotypes of the “old school” construction worker “The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

• social interaction amongst peer groups • a general lack of promotion or financial support from the industry to publicize the benefits of a construction career.

These are only a few hurdles that employers face in attracting the next generation to the construction industry. While the challenge seems great, employers must start to work more collaboratively to promote the industry as an attractive, vibrant and innovative place to work, especially amongst the younger generation.

Unfortunately, construction still operates mostly in a traditional, staid environment compared to other forward-thinking industries, and that is a major obstacle in attracting new, talented employees to the workforce. That mindset must change to just remain competitive with today’s ever-changing workplace. There are many employment options out there…the construction industry needs to take heed.

So, while it may seem like there are a lot of obstacles and mounting pressure for the industry to compete with the “glamour” industries to recruit and retain the next workforce generation, all is not lost. Working together, we must demonstrate that the industry can once again prove to be an exciting, viable option for young adults to pave a pathway to a prosperous and rewarding career. It is our job as an industry to ensure we do everything possible to make that happen.

About the Author

Mark Wolak, CPA, CGMA, CMA is a Shareholder with Gordon Advisors, P.C., a CAM member company, and one of southeast Michigan’s leading public accounting and business consulting firms based in Troy. Wolak and the team at Gordon Advisors have broad experience with a variety of industries and represents the firm’s construction accounting, auditing and tax services practice.

Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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Recruiting Problems?

Develop Your Employer Brand

By Donna Campbell, Content Strategist, The Whole Brain Group

hile there have been many positive trends for the construction industry this year–advances in technology, better safety equipment, and lots of continued market growth, there has been one negative trend that will continue to haunt us into 2020.

Companies will continue to experience a labor shortage and face stiff competition for skilled workers to fill the nearly quarter of a million available construction jobs across the United States.

Nearly 95% of contractors report having some level of difficulty finding qualified workers. This leaves many asking: how will we fill these vacancies? And what should we be doing to attract the best job candidates?

Organizations will continue to look for new ways to attract and retain new workers. Unfortunately, many companies are timeand resource-strapped and don't know which recruiting tactics

W

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to use. But before you consider tactics, you have to have a strategy. Your recruiting strategy should include developing a strong employer brand, supported by a consistent digital presence.

I work for a digital marketing agency that focuses on helping industrial companies like manufacturers and contractors. We spend a lot of time talking to business owners about their brand.

But very few of them think about their employer brand. This leaves a big opportunity for those willing to do the work needed to position themselves ahead of the pack.

What We Learned at the CAM Tradeshow Last February at CAM's Michigan Construction & Design Tradeshow, we spent the day conducting free website audits for construction companies. We met a lot of great people and looked “The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

W O R K F O R C E

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at dozens of websites. Over the course of the day, one thing became clear: very few companies are focusing on recruiting and employer branding. This was interesting to us, because we kept hearing that it was one of their biggest pain points.

One of the first places candidates evaluate potential employers is online. If you're not actively promoting your company as a great place to work, showcasing your company culture, and highlighting your employee benefits, you're not going to attract top talent – or any at all for that matter.

What Is Your Employer Brand?

You're probably already familiar with the idea of a company brand. Brands are used to evoke emotions at a visceral level, build trust and motivate people to engage with your company. Similarly, your employer brand communicates what it's like to work for your company, and what you value as an organization.

According to the Society for Human Management (SHRM): Resource "Employer brand affects recruitment of new employees, retention and engagement of current employees, and the overall perception of the organization in the market."

And while most companies understand the importance of marketing themselves to their ideal clients, many are missing the opportunity to use marketing strategies and tactics to attract their ideal recruits.

Let's dig in on how to define your brand, set your company apart from the competition, and then promote your brand online. But first, let's back up and talk about company culture.

Company Culture and Employer Branding One of the easiest ways to get to the core of your employer brand is by first understanding your company culture.

There's a lot of buzz around company culture in the B2B world, but what does that look like in the construction industry?

If you're evaluating this question at all, you're already ahead of the pack. Many construction companies don't even think about company culture. There are some that do, but many of them are not actively promoting it outside of the company.

Why care about company culture?

Good culture attracts the best people.

Bad culture creates problems with employee retention, recruiting, and reputation. Bad culture can even affect customer relationships.

Candidates have the upper hand right now, and will be looking into your online reputation (Glassdoor reviews, etc.) as well as visiting your website and social media channels. If you do have a strong company culture, you can use that to your advantage to attract the best people. So how do you get started defining your company culture? Ask these 10 questions:

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hire more newly graduated accountants. One of the biggest pain points for the graduates is worrying about how to juggle a new job and pass the CPA exam.

Our clients proactively address this in their recruiting materials by mentioning how they support new hires with flexible work hours and study support. This eases the fears of incoming candidates that they won't be put through a 'meat grinder' right out of school. They'll have time to study and get support from their co-workers so they can pass the exam.

Using Digital Spaces to Recruit To be clear, there are many things you can do in the physical world (job fairs, open houses, tradeshows and special events) to promote your employer brand, but here we'll focus on what you

The answers to these questions will start to paint a picture of your company from the inside. Take those answers and consider what's worth promoting to the outside world. For example, we have a client that owns a paving company who is extremely proud of their philanthropy work in the local community. It's a big part of their identity and they want to hire more people who care about giving back. They do a great job of showcasing their giving projects on their social media channels.

It's also a great window into their company culture. More on social media later...

Marketing to Your Ideal Candidates Just like marketing to prospects and customers, employer branding works best when targeted at a specific audience. By focusing in on the goals, motivations, pain points, and questions of your ideal candidates, you can connect with them and meet them where they are.

For example, we work with an accounting firm that is actively trying to

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can do digitally. Here are four things you can do right now to improve your digital presence and attract more applicants.

1. Update Your Website Homepage Even if your website has not been updated in a while, there are a few quick fixes you can make if you haven't already: • Include a simple recruiting message or call-to-action on your homepage • Include a "Careers" button in your main navigation • Link your open positions to your Careers page 2. Develop Your Careers Page A dedicated Careers page on your website makes it easier for candidates to get their questions answered on their own terms, such as when they're Googling companies to work for or checking out your website after a job fair. Our team recommends using real photos of your team/employees. Use video. Spell out your benefits, any awards you've won in the industry, your clients or project types.

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“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

3. Use Social Media Your candidates are on social media – often. Having active channels for them to follow lets them get a peek into your company culture. Use pictures and video of office parties, special occasions, holidays, and new hires. LinkedIn will be especially important for recruiting at the executive level.

4. Shoot More Video Video is a quick, easy way to communicate complex ideas or concepts (like your company culture). Use it on your social media channels and your Careers page to show off your people, your projects, your clients or simply your office/workspace.

Let Them Get to Know You We had a ton of fun last year meeting all the construction industry professionals at CAM's tradeshow, and we're already looking forward to the next show. We heard so many great stories – from how companies were founded, to how they're giving back to their communities. The trick is to get those stories out of the tradeshow booth and onto your website and social media channels. When you connect with ideal candidates online, you provide them with a reason to engage with you in the real world – and fill out an application for that next great job with your company.

About the Author

Donna Campbell is a Content Strategist for The Whole Brain Group, a digital marketing agency located in Ann Arbor.

She uses her nearly 20 years of experience in marketing to help growing companies become thought leaders online.

Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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A New Construction Classroom

Early Spring Groundbreaking for New Regional Training Hub in West Detroit

By

Mary Kremposky McArdle

Associate Editor

24 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

conversation with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a vacant lot on Elmhurst Street, and a simple pencil sketch were the beginnings of an innovative new training center for apprentice carpenters and millwrights.

Slated to open in fall 2021, this new facility in the heart of a west Detroit neighborhood will offer Detroit residents better access to careers in the construction industry. As a regional hub, the state-of-the-art training center will draw the next generation of carpenters and millwrights from Detroit and across southeastern Michigan.

As owners, the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund (Apprenticeship Fund) will offer classes in a 141,000-square-foot building with almost double the amount of training space than its existing southeastern Michigan facilities. The new building will consolidate the carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (JATC) in Ferndale and the millwright’s JATC in Warren into a single powerhouse of a training center.

The new facility will have 27-foot-tall high-bay manipulation areas for hands-on training in scaffold erection, home construction, and building mockups of various structures. Each of the 12, 24person classrooms will be wired with infrastructure supporting Vivitek multitouch interactive screens and other technologies. “These technologies can bring what is happening on the jobsite back to the classroom, whether it’s concrete formwork, bridges, flooring, interior trim or doors and hardware,” said Michigan Regional Carpenters Council (MRCC) Statewide Director and Apprenticeship Fund Trustee Kevin Klingler. “Students can see people working at the trade and get a good idea of what is happening on the jobsite before they enter the workforce.”

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The Mission Klingler was tasked with slaying a threeheaded dragon so to speak. His mission was to develop three new innovative, regional, and technology-driven training centers across Michigan for carpenters, millwrights, and floor layers. As owner’s representative, Klingler has been Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

(734)

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crisscrossing the state of Michigan and traveling over the Mackinac Bridge for several years in search of suitable properties or existing buildings in good condition. The result: A regional West Michigan training facility in Wayland opened in January 2019, and an Upper Peninsula regional training facility in Negaunee, just west of Marquette, was nearing occupancy in October 2019.

The Conversation The Detroit training center traces its roots to a contractor symposium featuring Mayor Duggan as the keynote speaker. “I introduced myself to the mayor and his staff person and told them I was searching for property in southeastern Michigan to build a new school,” recalled Klingler. “Mayor Duggan said, ‘You’re going to build in the City of Detroit. That is where we need it.’”

Mayoral staff gave Klingler a tour of former Detroit Public School (DPS) properties available as a result of the consolidation of a number of DPS schools. “After looking for probably six months, I located the Elmhurst property and it fit our criteria,” said Klingler. Just north of Grand River and Livernois Avenues and bordering the Jeffries Freeway service drive, the location could service a large geographic area drawing apprentices from Detroit and the surrounding six- or seven-county area. Easy access to and visibility from the Jeffries Freeway were two other assets of the seven-acre site, along with the parcel being of sufficient size to support the envisioned training center.

Satisfied with the selected site, the Apprenticeship Fund began negotiations with the City of Detroit, moved forward with due diligence, and conducted an American Land Title Association Survey (ALTA) and soil tests to determine the site’s suitability. Once the property was deemed suitable, “we moved forward and signed a lease agreement with the Detroit City Council,” said Klingler.

The Vacant Lot Currently, the large parcel is only a vacant expanse of grass, but one deeply rooted in educating Detroit youth. Over the last century, the site has hosted a series of schools, originally supporting a small schoolhouse and more recently hosting the now demolished Tappan School. “It’s kind of ironic and rather cool,” said Klingler. “There will now be another school in the same location.”

The city-owned property borders Elmhurst Street, American Street, and the Jeffries Freeway service drive. Given its location, the new training center will help spark interest in the skilled trades and will assist in boosting career opportunities for Detroit residents. These factors were “part of the decision regarding what we are doing, why we are doing it, and where we are doing it,” said Klingler.

The new training center will both build careers and rebuild a Detroit neighborhood in existence since the 1800s. “I think in the long run we are going to be the anchor that revitalizes that whole neighborhood,” said Klingler. In line with its mission, the Apprenticeship Fund announced the construction of this community-friendly development in a local neighborhood church located near the site.

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The Pencil Sketch During the planning phase, this blank canvas of grass at 7515 Elmhurst Street became an actual field of dreams. Klingler met with training fund instructors and other training professionals to obtain their wish list for the building. “More than anything, they wanted more space,” said Klingler.

The existing Warren facility is approximately 8,000 square feet, and the existing Ferndale building, while larger at 70,000 square feet, is subdivided into numerous rooms. “It’s all cut up into smaller rooms, although it has some highbay and some additional warehouse space,” said Klingler. “The classrooms are scattered all over the place. Overall, it is not a very efficient use of space.”

Klingler translated the wish list for more space and efficiency into a simple pencil sketch, and handed the basic drawing over to the selected architectural and engineering firm of SSOE. According to Klingler, the selection process itself

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included a Request for Qualifications, followed by a Request for Proposals, and finally an interview with each firm’s project team.

After selecting SSOE, the Apprenticeship Fund used this same process to search for a general contractor.

The search began in August 2019, interviews were conducted in September, and The Christman Company was ultimately selected as general contractor in early October 2019.

The Design SSOE’s design fulfills the Apprenticeship Fund’s wish list for a spacious, efficient and innovative 21st Century training center. Overall, “the new building will have 130,000 square feet of designated training space, and the balance of that square footage will be for staff offices,” Klingler said.

“We are utilizing the space very efficiently for all of the parts and pieces of our training,” Klingler continued. “The

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training space will feature two separate, large and open high-bay areas – one for the millwrights and one for the carpenters – on either end of the building with shared classroom space in the middle. The building will house an open multi-purpose room, providing about 6,500 square feet of space for career fairs, contractor symposiums, and other events.”

The building is designed to support an influx of visitors and potential apprentices from the community and area-wide high schools. The building entrance itself will face the service drive of the Jeffries Freeway to more easily accommodate buses. “It is part of setting up the building for high-school tours and career fairs,” Klingler said.

The building exterior will be a combination of masonry brick, metal insulated panels, and storefront glass curtain wall, along with some exposed glulam beams and stonework from the Great Lakes region. The building interior will celebrate the carpenter’s, millwright’s

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craft, and the floor layer’s craft – the three trades under the Apprenticeship Fund.

“We are looking at showcasing the skills of our members,” said Klingler. “The interior finishes will showcase what our members do every day in the field. The finishes will include rough wood, finished wood, specialty flooring, and polished concrete, along with carpet and vinyl.”

Classroom and Jobsite Technologies The new facility’s technology infrastructure will train apprentices to work efficiently and effectively on today’s jobsites. “When I worked in the field, technology was a tape measure, a plumb bob, and a string,” said Klingler.

At this 21st Century training center, 28 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

apprentices will learn how to use robotic total stations as “layout devices to increase efficiency, speed and productivity on the job,” said Klingler. “We work with those vendors, talk to the contractors regarding what equipment they are using, and then we train on those devices.”

Apprentices will learn how to read both conventional plans and specifications, as well as how to handle digital transmission of plan changes communicated to the field in real-time on hand-held devices.

Although both approaches are taught, “apprentices have to understand that when they get to the jobsite, the work turns digital because contractors can be more efficient electronically than with

paper,” said Klingler. “Today, there is one set of prints in the job trailer, and all the foremen have access to the prints on their iPads through the general contractor’s software program, such as Procore. If a situation arises, the architect, the general contractor, and the subcontractors’ foremen are all communicating in realtime on hand-held devices. We are teaching this to our apprentices, because essentially we are teaching the next generation of journeymen carpenters who will become foremen.”

According to Klingler, the new fully WiFi-accessible building itself is helping to facilitate the technological shift in apprenticeship training and in curriculum delivery, simply because it is much easier “The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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W O R K F O R C E

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to install conduit, control boxes, and wireless access points in a new building versus an existing structure. Thanks to this new regional training center in Detroit, the Apprenticeship Fund will be able to deliver training in a building that makes full use of 21st Century jobsite equipment and communication technologies.

According to Klingler, the Apprenticeship Fund expects the bid documents to be ready toward the end of January 2020, bids to be solicited for all trade contractors in mid-winter 2020, and an early spring groundbreaking in 2020. The scheduled completion date is late summer 2021 with occupancy by fall 2021. Once in operation, this new regional center will not only help to revitalize a Detroit neighborhood, but will offer the opportunity for a life-long career in construction for Detroit residents and for all of the apprentices undergoing training in this state-of-the-art facility.

Building Career Pathways The MRCC and its Apprenticeship Fund partner with workforce development teams in the City of Detroit and other community partners.

MRCC and Apprenticeship Fund staff, sometimes in concert with its contractor partners, conducts direct outreach to high schools and intermediate school districts (ISD) as well. Specific initiatives include: • Summer Camps – For high school students, MRCC’s Apprenticeship Fund works with community partners to host a summer camp at its own facilities to cultivate the next generation of workers. The initiative exposes high school juniors and seniors, as well as freshmen, to the carpenter’s craft and the millwright’s trade. “We let younger students begin with small, hands-on building projects,” said Klingler.

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development initiative, called Career Connections, provides high schoollevel curriculum to intermediate school districts (ISD), vocational technology programs, and career centers to prepare students for successful apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades, according to Klingler.

In Michigan, the Apprenticeship Fund’s number of education partners has increased rapidly in the last few years.

In fact, MRCC’s Apprenticeship Fund leads the nation in the number of education partnerships it has formed as part of this dynamic program, according to Klingler.

As part of the initial establishment of Career Connections in Michigan, the Apprenticeship Fund identified career services in every ISD, vocational technology program, and career center across Michigan.

“There is almost one in every county,”

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said Klingler. “In some of the less populated areas, there might be one serving three counties.”

Apprenticeship Fund staff continues to meet with superintendents, school boards, and other education decision-makers in Detroit and across Michigan, along with attending statewide education conferences, for the purpose of presenting the Career Connections curriculum to education leaders.

Having long ago eliminated traditional shop classes, the majority of high schools and other career centers have been very receptive to the Career Connections curriculum. “The biggest hurdle for schools that want to get back into training in the skilled trades is the lack of curriculum,” said Klingler.

An ISD can opt for three different levels of participation and a one- or a two-year Career Connections course for its students. “The farther they take

Simply exposing high school students to the skilled trades as a career option can be a revelation – and a debt-free one at that. “Part of our marketing strategy is to talk to these young people and let them know that there is another career option out there,” said Klingler. “Our apprenticeship program is free to them, and they will be earning a paycheck the entire time. It’s called earn while you learn. They will begin at a decent wage and receive benefits immediately, all without incurring debt.”

• Career Connections – A workforce Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

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it, the more advanced and the more prepared graduates are to enter the workforce,” said Klingler. “We do a really good job of preparing the person ahead of time for the first day on the job and beyond.”

For participating students, the Apprenticeship Fund has established a pathway from Career Connections directly into its apprenticeship program. “If a high school student successfully completes and graduates from the Career Connections program, they have an automatic entry into our four-year apprenticeship program, along with receiving credit for a couple of semesters,” said Klingler. “It’s a good opportunity and a good partnership.”

Career Connections began about six years ago, “but in the last two years, it has really caught on,” said Klingler.

“Because of our commitment, Michigan leads the nation in partners with Career Connections in high schools and career centers.”

• Annual Spring Career Fair: For students on the brink of entering the workforce, the actual connection between aspiring tradesperson and contractor can take place at the Apprenticeship Fund’s annual career fair held each spring at its existing training facilities in Ferndale and Warren.

About 50 contractors take part in this annual career fair, according to Klingler. Because carpentry is a diverse trade, participating companies are both general contractors and trade contractors specializing in work ranging from metal stud drywall and acoustical ceilings to concrete formwork, scaffolding and bridge work, along with casework installation, countertops, trim, and doors and hardware.

“First, we notify employers of the date, and then we bring in high school students by the busloads,” said Klingler. “We have 600 to 1,000 students in a single day. We give the students a tour of our facility and brief them on how to fill out a resume and how to approach a contractor.

Students can visit the contractors’ 34 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

booths and talk to them. As a result, people get hired and sponsored in the apprenticeship program.”

Once in the apprenticeship program, the apprentices benefit from a well-crafted curriculum. “We write our own curriculum, which is taught at every training center in the United States and Canada,” said Klingler.

“We are the sixth largest producer of curriculum in the country.”

• Community-Minded Initiatives: MRCC’s Apprenticeship Fund is active in several community-minded initiatives, including Helmets to Hardhats. According to the Helmets to Hardhats’ website, the initiative is “a national, nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry.”

• The City of Detroit’s Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) is an agreement between the local unions and the City of Detroit. MRCC and other local unions have entered into Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) Agreements with the City of Detroit to recruit and retain qualified Detroiters for work within all sectors of the construction workforce. According to the City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department (CRIO) website, STEP agreements include the Carpenters Local 687, 1234 and 1045 Agreement, Detroit Plumbers Local 98 & MCA Agreement, Laborers Union Local 1191, and the Electrical Workers Contract Agreement. More information is forthcoming on the MRCC agreement in a future issue of CAM Magazine.

Given its new training center in the making and a host of workforce development initiatives, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund are clearly dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Detroit residents and in the skills training of its apprentices across Michigan.

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

Printreading for Residential & Light Commercial Construction Students will learn a series of related steps leading to an understanding of shop prints, with emphasis placed on the interpretation of prints, performing mathematical computations, basic print terminology and sketching various views of pictorial and orthographic drawings. Plot plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and details of all elements that make up a print will be presented.

This course provides experience in exploring residential and light commercial documents, as well as large construction project documents. Class discussion and review are followed by assignments on the specific project with follow-up clarifications.

February 17, 2020 Monday’s & Thursday’s through April 6, 2020

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. $950/Member $1,100/Nonmember Questions? Call 248-972-1133 Register online at WWW.BUILDWITHCAM.COM/CAMTEC-CLASSES/

OSHA 30-Hour for Construction This course is recommended for employees with a responsibility for site safety.

It covers OSHA policies, procedures and standards, as well as construction safety and health principles. Topics include the scope and application of the OSHA construction standards including inspections, citations and appeals, as well as employee & employer rights under the Act. Additional topics include Pre-Task Planning, Focus-Four Hazards, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and construction specific health issues, among others. Upon completion of the course, students receive an OSHA construction safety and health 30-Hour course completion card.

February 18-21, 2020 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. $450/Member $500/Nonmember Questions? Call 248-972-1133 Register online at WWW.BUILDWITHCAM.COM/CAMTEC-CLASSES/

Recent Trends in the

Non-Residential Construction Market

By Diane Sawinski, Managing Editor, CAM Magazine

he U.S. economy is currently in the longest expansion period since the Great Depression. Over the last decade, salaries are up, interest rates have wavered slightly but have stayed low, housing starts have continued to rise, unemployment has continued to trend down, and our country’s residential and nonresidential construction spending is strong (see Chart 1). So how long can this expansion period last? As of this writing in late 2019, the U.S. economy has experienced sustained growth, but most economists expect it to slow in the very near future.

T

Per the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during July 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,288.8 billion, 2.7 percent below the July 2018 estimate of $1,324.8 billion. According to the Bureau’s “Monthly Construction Spending” report, during the first seven months of 2019, construction spending amounted to $733.8 billion, 2.1 percent below the $749.9 billion for the same period in 2018.

Of course there are marked differences between commercial and residential design and construction. Kevin Koehler, President of the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM), explains, “Yes, we know there are differences, and at the same time, we are all subject to changes in the economy and the factors that influence the economy. Right now, some of those factors are labor shortages, material price increases, the costs of excessive regulation, and uncertainty on issues like tariffs and their impact on our industry.”

In the last year, some types of nonresidential construction saw significant increases. Nationally, sewage and waste water construction projects were up 19.2 percent from June 2018 to July 2019. Other types of construction projects dropped markedly. Public safety construction projects dropped 18.4 percent, and health care construction projects dipped 16.5 percent.

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C O N S T R U C T I O N

O U T L O O K

The State in Our State The state of Michigan has outperformed the national numbers as well as the general Great Lakes region. According to Eric Bussis, the Michigan Chief Economist and the Director of the Office of Revenue and Tax Analysis at the Michigan Department of Treasury, since 2009, Michigan ranked #1 among Great Lakes states in state GDP, per capita personal income, and manufacturing job growth.

Over this same 10-year period, Michigan employment growth has also exceeded national numbers (see Chart 2), only dipping a bit and matching national levels earlier this year. Chart 3 looks more specifically at construction employment numbers, which have been increasing steadily since 2010. The Treasury Forecast beyond 2019 shows optimistic employment numbers through 2021.

Unemployment numbers in the state are also good: as of September 2019, Michigan’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent – compare that with the dismal 15.3 percent the state saw just 10 years ago.

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Chart 4 compares total private sector versus construction sector average hourly earnings. Although there are minor dips over the years, construction industry workers are consistently making several dollars more per hour than the total private sector.

Nonresidential Development in Southeast Michigan Looking more specifically at nonresidential development in Southeast Michigan, the seven-county region finished 2018 with just under 16 million square feet of completed nonresidential floorspace and 12.2 million square feet under construction. The data is drawn from a survey of the municipal building engineering and inspection departments of the political entities within the southeast by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

Warehouse/distribution projects had the largest percentage (29 percent) of total development space in the region, followed

by Industrial/Research/Hi-tech projects at 26 percent.

Construction/project value for all reported projects in the Southeast Michigan region totaled $3.5 billion.

Projects completed in 2018 accounted for $1.7 billion in value, and under construction projects $1.8 billion.

Industrial projects held the largest share 38 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

in total value at $953 million. The retail development sector accounted for the largest share of projects with 175 total projects. Industrial projects numbered 108, followed by warehouse/distribution with 65 projects reported.

Major renovation projects supplied 5.2 million square feet of renewed floorspace to the region at 2.2 million square feet completed and 3 million under construction, with $846 million in reported project value. A total of 95 renovation projects were either completed or under construction in 2018. Renovated office space accounted for 60 percent of total floorspace in this category.

Completed nonresidential development floorspace increased by 37 percent in 2018.

The region averaged a 29 percent increase in completed floorspace since 2012.

According to SEMCOG, the 2018 uptick was due to several large projects such as the Amazon Distribution Centers in Romulus and Shelby Township, the Flex-n-Gate facility in Detroit, and a new Menards store in Taylor.

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C O N S T R U C T I O N

Preliminary 2019 nonresidential development data coming out June 2019 indicated a potential of 234 projects totaling 12.8 million square feet of floorspace to come, in addition to the 12.2 million square feet already under construction, per SEMCOG. Of the seven counties in Southeast Michigan, Wayne County contributed the most development in the region with 10 million square feet of nonresidential floorspace. Thanks to the new Amazon Distribution Center, the city of Romulus led the county with 3.2 million square of total floorspace, followed by the city of Detroit.

Oakland County reported 8.4 million square feet of development completed and under construction in 2018. The largest project in the county is a 650,000 square foot at the Tri-County Commerce Center in Hazel Park. The city of Auburn Hills registered the most development in the county at 1.9 million square feet.

Macomb County recorded 5.8 million square feet of nonresidential development floorspace, with its new Amazon Distribution Center in Shelby Township.

Sterling Heights saw 1.7 million square feet of completed and under-construction square footage.

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Project-ing Ahead

Michigan’s construction market continues to flourish—but what does the development landscape look like in 2020 and beyond?

By

John Line, Executive Vice President, and

Scott Spencer, Project Manager, Huntington Construction

ith the holidays here and time running out in 2019, it feels like the right time to take stock—and look ahead to 2020. For commercial construction and development professionals in Michigan, there are plenty of reasons for optimism—and also more than a few caveats and concerns worth noting. A closer look at the current state of the Michigan construction market reveals some of the driving forces that have shaped the current marketplace, as well as the factors that will play an influential role in determining the course of its future in the months and years ahead. As we examine the opportunities, challenges and trends at play in Michigan, we can begin to make some educated guesses about what comes next.

W

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Garden Court Apartments’ historic rehabilitation from a former pharmaceutical industrial building into 50 luxury condominium units and an indoor parking garage in Detroit.

Photos Courtesy of huntington ConstruCtion

Then and Now The last five to ten years have been a rewarding rebound for a state and an industry that was facing significant challenges in the wake of the recessionary cycle of the late 2000s—the capstone of years of economic sluggishness, a lack of investment activity, and a corresponding scarcity of new development.

Today, however, things look very different. Michigan in general—and Detroit specifically—are enjoying a renaissance: a civic and commercial resurgence that has fueled an economic revival, and a construction and development boom.

Brands and businesses are moving to Michigan, and redevelopment opportunities in and around downtown Detroit have been particularly exciting.

New and renovated retail, office, mixeduse and multifamily projects in and around the city have been hugely influential in Detroit’s reemergence on both the national and global stage.

Currently, the construction market in Michigan remains very active. In cities across the state, it feels like there are more cranes in the air and more construction underway today than at any other time in recent history. Construction companies with a track record of success in the state are seeing new opportunities emerge virtually every day.

market is still active, the frenetic pace and easy approvals of a few years ago have shifted. There is still a high volume of build-to-suit and ground-up construction, but shifting value equation means that there is less spec work being done. In other words, while construction activity is still robust, there is generally less willingness to take risks.

While the cost of materials and the cost of tenant improvements continue to rise, the well-documented shortage of skilled labor, the “Skilled Trades Gap,” has also taken its toll. This is a genuinely national phenomenon, but has been clearly felt here in Michigan. There are plumbers, electricians and other skilled laborers now juggling three of four jobs at once. The tight skilled labor market has impacted schedules and budgets, and, in some

cases, led to unavoidable construction delays. While those stress points have been felt across the state, there are some that have pointed to a potential silver lining in the dark cloud of the skilled trades gap. Everyone involved in the construction and development ecosystem, including developers, construction companies, investors and skilled trades workers, is now being more selective. While, in most cases, that selectivity might have been spurred by larger market forces, it could ultimately be a good thing: a kind of natural Darwinian influence on the Michigan development landscape. The result will likely be more quality projects being funded and built, and fewer questionable projects getting off the ground.

An Evolving Market At the same time, the higher cost of construction (which, by some estimates, has increased by as much as 20 percent or more in the last few years) has prompted some slowdowns or cancellations for certain projects.

Multifamily projects in the City of Detroit are a good example of a category of construction where there has been a noticeable slowdown. There is no question that there are projects still in the development pipeline—or that never even made it off the proverbial drawing board— that would have already been brick-and-mortar reality not too long ago.

In other words, while the construction Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

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What’s Next?

Will that selectivity pay off? What will the Michigan construction landscape look like in 2020 and beyond, and where will the quality opportunities in the future come from?

Part of the answer is that we can expect to see recent trends continue or accelerate. A little of everything in and around Detroit, for example, with both headline projects and smaller opportunities continuing to drive the market forward.

While multifamily construction in downtown Detroit will likely stay on the slow side, we can reasonably expect other construction sectors that have maintained a brisk pace to continue to pick up the slack. Retail and restaurant development in and

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around the city is hot right now, and select redevelopment opportunities downtown will continue to present themselves. Detroit’s combination of historic structures and a decades-long slowdown in urban construction has created a kind of perfect storm of for adaptive opportunities redevelopment of historic spaces. The rehabilitation of existing buildings has been enormously successful, with both multifamily, office and hotel projects— often with first-floor retail.

The retail momentum downtown has been expanding out into the suburbs, and that is where we could see a surge of activity in 2020. Neighborhood retail centers—both the redevelopment and revitalization of existing assets, and new construction—will likely be more active.

Mixed-use projects with experiential elements, healthcare, and other service offerings, will continue to be in demand as well. One product type we are likely going to be seeing a lot more of in the years ahead is senior living facilities and communities. While the senior living category is already an active one in Michigan, we can expect to see more community-style projects with elaborate and high-end amenities—including retail elements, cinema features, dining options, abundant green spaces, and fitness and recreational facilities.

One noteworthy trend to watch for not only in 2020, but potentially for years to come, is a push across the state and the nation for funding and legislative support for new and expanded trade schools.

Messaging and public sentiment surrounding trade schools has started to evolve in recent years, as the skyrocketing cost of college, growing understanding of the lucrative job opportunities in the skilled trades, and market pressures continue to prompt a societal shift. Many current trade schools are already close to capacity, and there will be an urgent need for more facilities in the coming years. The question becomes how much of an impact new trade schools and renewed enthusiasm for careers in the skilled trades will have on the workforce dynamics in the construction industry—and how quickly that impact will be felt.

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Oakland Commons office rehabilitation in Southfield.

Tech-Heavy Future It is impossible to talk about the future of construction—in Michigan or anywhere else—without acknowledging the importance of new technologies in the design, development, and construction of new buildings. While the construction business has historically and somewhat notoriously been slow to embrace and adopt new technology, attitudes have begun to shift in important ways. We are seeing construction professionals much more open to experimenting and embracing new technologies—both in the design studio and on the job site.

Surprisingly, given the media attention surrounding green and sustainable materials, systems and designs, there is not a lot of momentum inside the industry for green technology. To be clear, sustainable strategies and materials are being adopted, but they are being deployed gradually, as market forces dictate, and the value equation supports Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

their use. The fact that many of the principles and priorities originally outlined in LEED construction standards have become standard practice and are simply thought of as smart business is a reason to celebrate.

Many of the most popular new processes and products introduce new efficiencies that are less explicitly about sustainability, and more focused on saving some “green” on the bottom line.

Using PEX piping instead of copper, for example, means that installers do not have to have quite the same specialized skill level to complete the task. In a tight skilled labor market, that can be a difference-maker.

Shark-bite-style connectors for PVC waste lines, new wiring connectors for electricians, and advances like self-healing concrete, all offer ways to save time on the front end, and maintenance and repair costs on the back end.

The IMI team of architects, engineers and construction experts offer: • Project-Specific technical consultations • Project trouble shooting for designers and contractors • Pre-Construction Conferences for masonry review of best practices and code review • Jobsite visits, observation and troubleshooting • Review of Plans and Specifications • Technical Guides and Details • New Product and Constructability Research • Building Codes and standards development • Contractor College for Union Contractors, providing technical and business management strategies.

For more information please contact:

International Masonry Institute Maria Alvaro | AIA, LEED AP BD+C Director of Industry Development & Technical Services malvaro@imiweb.org

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Huntington Bank’s complete office buildout on Woodward Ave. in Detroit from raw space.

From a procedural standpoint, technology is already making it easier to bid on, plan and sell projects. 3D building information modeling (BIM) tools, and new predictive technology software, makes designing and deploying systems and structures more streamlined and efficient.

We can expect to see new tools and platforms that facilitate communication between construction teams, and more widespread adoption of simple job-site technology like cameras for remote monitoring. As budgets continue to tighten, we will likely see more use of barcode technology for parts and materials, and other tech solutions aimed at organizing work sites and reducing waste.

Finally, we may even begin to see more use of futuristic concepts like augmented and virtual reality, and robotic-assisted construction for tasks like laying cinder blocks. While those technologies are not yet in widespread use, it’s reasonable to think that we will start seeing them pop up on job sites in the not-too-distant future.

Ultimately, whether you are tracking market forces in 2020, or tech advances further down the road, it is easy to argue 44 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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that there has never been a more active or interesting time for Michigan construction professionals.

Line

Spencer

About the Authors John Line and Scott Spencer serve as Executive Vice President and Project Manager of Southfield-based Huntington Construction, a leading general contracting firm that has completed thousands of high-end, yet costeffective projects for government, commercial, retail and healthcare entities for over 40 years.

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Urban Living at Its Finest

Photos courtesy of John D’Angelo PhotogrAPhy

Hamilton: The

As part of the building’s blend of two different eras, a sweeping staircase flows from an upper level to the first-floor foyer brightened by the glow of contemporary lighting fixtures.

he Hamilton is part of a civic renaissance currently underway in Detroit’s Midtown. Broder & Sachse Real Estate and its project team blended the classical and contemporary to create a multi-family development within the confines of this 106-year-old building. Modern fixtures and furnishings deftly mix with the vintage refinement of the building’s ornamental plaster ceilings, its decorative cornices and columns, and a sweeping staircase flowing from an upper level to the first-floor foyer near the common spaces of the community lounge.

Wrapped in a graceful series of arched windows, the “common” space is uncommonly beautiful. For the residents of this eight-story building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, daily life takes place within a dwelling as compelling as a painting but with the contemporary energy and amenities embodying the best of the urban experience. Residents of this coveted address enjoy weekly yoga classes, a pet grooming center, a health and fitness center, a resident community kitchen and lounge area, a secure bike storage facility, concierge service, and secure package pickup.

Broder & Sachse Real Estate has even employed a lifestyle curator to plan events for residents of the 76,300-square-foot building. Lifestyle events include exploring healthy eating through a smoothie tasting workshop, multiple “sip and shops” around downtown and Midtown Detroit to visit new retail stores, and tours of historic buildings in Detroit, such as the Siren Hotel.

T

Overview: Revitalizing a Coveted Address Broder & Sachse Real Estate purchased the vintage building in 2016 with the intent to provide a new Midtown housing option offering a blend of historic and modern Detroit. The project team of Hamilton Anderson Associates as architects, interior designers, and landscape architects, and Sachse Construction as the construction manager ably delivered this balanced vision of two different eras.

Hamilton Anderson Associates’ design marries classic architecture with modern trends as part of the revitalization of this impressive Neo-Georgian building’s interior and exterior. The exterior of this elegant interior is a simple masonry expression offset by rich terra-cotta detailing on the ground floor and upper cornices.

Sachse Construction’s work involved restoration and upgrades to the building’s façade and exterior components, along with the interior gut and refinish of all spaces, including the first-floor common areas, corridors, and residential units. A complete upgrade to the building’s major systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety, was part of the project as well.

Together, the team revived the building’s storied history as a hospitality and multi-family community in Detroit. At its first opening in 1913, the building was originally named the Stevenson Hotel before becoming the Milner Arms Apartments. Today, the 97-unit building has been newly re-named after Rainy Hamilton Jr., the founder and owner of Hamilton Anderson Associates.

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Completed in October 2018, The Hamilton offers studio and one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 224 square feet to 810 square feet, along with first-floor community space, a host of amenities, and a prime central location with direct access to Detroit’s best neighborhoods, including the downtown area, Midtown, and Eastern Market. The Hamilton’s location between Woodward and Cass Avenues on 40 Davenport Street near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard places it only a block from the M-1 rail line and just minutes away from an array of Detroit’s most appealing dining, entertainment, and cultural offerings.

The Hamilton is within walking distance of sports and entertainment venues, ranging from Detroit Tigers major league baseball games at Comerica Park to evenings with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Most noteworthy, Little Caesars Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team and Detroit Pistons basketball team and host to year-round entertainment events, is just a short walk from The Hamilton. Essentially, residents have their pick of a selection of walkable destinations, including stadiums, theaters, restaurants, and shopping, including the retailers and restaurants opening on the ground level of The Scott at Brush Park located nearby.

Virtually in the middle of everything, The Hamilton is conveniently located near civic institutions, such as Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, and Henry Ford Health System – and residents can walk to nearby Whole Foods Market and Eastern Market to secure healthy groceries.

While there is quite a bit of buzz around the new Midtown hub known simply as “The District,” The Hamilton is representative of the continued commitment to bringing revitalized housing options to the area. More than just an option, The Hamilton provides a unique lifestyle experience in the City of Detroit. The project’s compelling story of integrating historic and modern amenities to create a one-of-a-kind Midtown community – all in the heart of a vibrant urban neighborhood – make it a dynamic new Detroit landmark.

Historic Renovation: Exploratory Demolition The Hamilton was a hallmark historic renovation complete with exploratory demolition, discovery of unforeseen conditions, and adjustments to the design and construction approach. The demolition phase of the project was fast-paced and required creative sequencing and proactive management in working in spaces as the areas became available. For example, before Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

construction drawings had been issued, Sachse Construction was able to perform environmental testing, begin selective demolition and abatement, and review constructability of schematic design plans in portions of the building. These pull-ahead efforts were critical in successfully delivering the project on an accelerated schedule.

Sachse Construction was able to identify numerous issues and challenges with the historic structure before design work was completed and before full construction activities were scheduled to begin. Working in conjunction with Hamilton Anderson, Sachse Construction was able to address this list of challenges in the bid set of construction documents.

However, this type of constructability analysis was not entirely possible in all areas, and once the full building was released for demolition, it was discovered that many of the walls and ceilings designed to remain in place per the construction documents were in very poor condition. The result: a larger amount of demolition and reconstruction was required than was originally planned. Fortunately, exposure hold allowances had been budgeted to account for such challenges, which protected Broder & Sachse Real Estate from unexpected change orders.

The solution to resolving these concerns included Sachse Construction making immediate proactive recommendations to Broder & Sachse Real Estate as soon as issues were identified. The team worked to coordinate exploratory activities, demolition, and new framing to ensure the schedule was maintained throughout this process.

H I G H L I G H T

Similar challenges were addressed on every single floor of the building, and in each case, the team refused to let issues in specific areas delay the project as a whole. The schedule milestones listed below show the major scope milestones achieved by the project team during construction:

• • • • • • •

New Roof Installation Complete December 20, 2017 New Wall Framing Begins January 8, 2018 Floor-by-Floor Demolition Complete March 26, 2018 Model Unit Buildout Complete June 22, 2018 New Electrical Service Upgrades Complete July 16, 2018 New Water Utility Upgrades Complete September 6, 2018 Substantial Completion October 1, 2018

MEP/Finishes Coordination Installing brand new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression systems in a historic building not designed to accommodate

The Art of Schedule Sequencing The Hamilton’s original schedule was intended to follow a traditional multi-family, top-down renovation approach. However, as the project team uncovered and addressed issues, such as those previously described, the team adopted a mentality of “do what you can when you can.”

For example, the ceiling on the eighth (top) floor failed in some areas, and uncovered issues in the historic construction of the assembly. The ceiling-to-roof assembly, which had initially been designed to remain intact, had to be redesigned and rebuilt in areas. This effort involved a lengthy design and code approval process. In order to prevent this specific delay from impacting the critical path project schedule, Sachse Construction adjusted the project’s sequencing to move lower-floor construction ahead of the eighth floor.

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modern MEP systems presented a number of challenges. For example, The Hamilton’s first floor was beautifully restored including the ornate, decorative plaster walls and ceilings in the common space, the games and recreational area, the large foyer, and other first-floor areas.

Though aesthetically pleasing, these walls and ceilings presented a number of challenges in achieving the installation of new light fixtures, along with routing plumbing and ensuring fire safety.

Running plumbing stacks from second-floor bathrooms and kitchens to the basement and out of the building was a challenge, because instead of cavity space, only solid concrete separated the second-floor structure and the ornate ceilings below. The team recommended creative solutions to route all of the plumbing to select, architecturally acceptable locations, along with suggesting tools, such as hiding plumbing stacks in false architectural pillars, to preserve building function and aesthetics.

The team also worked with the architect to creatively route electrical through the secondfloor and basement walls in order to completely eliminate exposed wire mold and conduit from

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The classic and the contemporary meet in The Hamilton’s community lounge. Hiding plumbing stacks in false architectural pillars boosts function while preserving the aesthetics of this 106-year-old building.

possible, a buck hoist was not installed, and cranes were only used on site selectively and strategically. This approach allowed multiple trades to take advantage of designated “lift” days. While these efforts were logistically challenging, they were successfully executed by the project team.

Touching Up a Timeless Exterior For the building exterior, the client was adamant that the façade retain its iconic original look. The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation

high-profile areas, while limiting costs associated with creating trenches for recessed electrical runs. Using these intrepid approaches, modern MEP systems were installed without disturbing the ornate walls and ceilings. The beauty of the ornate walls and ceilings was restored through creating molds of the existing plaster patterns as well as making some repairs by hand.

Elevators As a common historic renovation challenge, The Hamilton’s renovation involved a classic long lead item: installing a new elevator into an existing shaft. Sachse Construction began tracking the elevator design, production, delivery, and installation before the demolition or construction of the project began. Keys to a successful elevator installation included timely demolition of the existing elevator, beginning improvements in the shaft as soon as possible, and leveraging key relationships within the elevator company to ensure that schedules were met as best as possible.

Given that the existing elevator was not usable for construction activities, materials and equipment had to be creatively moved into and throughout the building through a variety of other methods, including the usage of cranes.

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Officers were involved to impose and monitor architectural requirements that the project had to meet.

To ensure that the necessary standards were met, Sachse Construction diligently reviewed approved plans and embarked on an exterior restoration effort that included brick replacement, decorative stone repairs, stone lintel replacement, and selective window replacement.

Innovative Meets Historic Design As Broder & Sachse Real Estate desired to utilize federal historic tax credits toward the cost of the $18.8 million renovation, Hamilton Anderson was able to work within the constraints of the Department of Interior’s Standards of Design for a historic renovation project to achieve a modern functional space while still meeting program requirements. With an approach specific to catering to

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the amenity needs of its tenants, the original ground-floor maintenance shop and underutilized basement areas were newly activated to provide resources such as fitness and wellness areas, a mail and parcel center, toilet rooms, a lounge for doing laundry, areas for bike storage and repair, a study room, and a pet wash. The former tenant laundry on the first floor was transformed into the leasing/manager’s office and concierge.

Most importantly, on the main level, the original ornate dining room had been previously altered and divided for a manager’s apartment.

Elaborate plaster detailing was hidden by a dropped ceiling and stud walls, which were removed. Original terrazzo and marble floors and the damaged plaster detailing on the walls and ceilings were restored and heightened to their full potential.

The custom millwork in the space was designed with contemporary lines and rich materials to accommodate a kitchenette, bar and TV/fireplace lounge area, and was intended to complement, but not overpower, the original detailing in the space. Once restored, this historic space was rededicated to providing a community room to foster the connectivity of its tenants. The space was envisioned to cater to the needs of large gatherings and events, as well as intimate reflection for smaller group gatherings.

One of the challenges the design team faced in bringing the historic building up to code was that the original structure was not built for wheelchair accessibility. The design team made accessibility part of the renovation design by including an exterior ramp and replacement of the original freight elevator cab in order to accommodate wheelchairs. Several units were designed to be barrier-free to meet ADA requirements.

The exterior also received a face-lift, including the installation of select new windows. The new windows were a nod to The Hamilton’s original historic character while increasing energy efficiency. The original wood historic windows on the ground floor were restored where possible. Because many were missing and boarded up, or had been replaced with ill-fitting and historically non-conforming aluminum, these windows were either restored where possible or replaced with new aluminum-clad insulated windows much closer in configuration and style to the original.

Having darkened over time, the exterior masonry was cleaned and restored. Given the building’s long history, the design team looked for ways to restore the exterior while also “The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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integrating original elements of the building’s appearance in previous eras. The team used historic photos of the facade and entry to select these features. For example, the canvas awning was removed and a metal entry canopy installed that was previously part of the building’s character as shown in discovered photos.

Full upgrades were designed for the units, including but not limited to, new HVAC systems, kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, fixtures and finishes. Hamilton Anderson’s scope of work included not only interior, landscape, and architectural design and documentation services for the building’s interior and exterior, but also coordination with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing consultants, and development and submission of the Historic Preservation Certification Application documents.

The Hamilton Community As a remarkable residential resource in the heart of a historic neighborhood and at the forefront of a civic renaissance, The Hamilton provides an appealing destination for everyone from college students to empty nesters who are seeking to connect with people living in the community.

The amenities were carefully planned and selected based on the input of members from the entire project team, including development, construction, and design. The Hamilton represents another addition to Detroit’s vibrant Midtown area.

Content courtesy of Broder & Sachse Real Estate, Sachse Construction, and Hamilton Anderson Associates, along with CAM Magazine editorial staff The following companies lent their talents and skills to the renovation of The Hamilton: Owner/Developer: Broder & Sachse Real Estate, Detroit Architect of Record: Hamilton Anderson Associates, Detroit Construction Manager: Sachse Construction, Detroit Civil Engineer: Nowak & Fraus Engineers, Pontiac Mechanical Engineer: JRED Engineering, Livonia • Appliances – GE Appliances, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; OSQ Construction, Chesterfield • Asbestos Abatement – BDS Environmental, Warren Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

The interior is a type of “living museum” offering both vintage refinement and contemporary comfort.

• Asbestos Surveying – EKS Services Inc., Detroit • Casework – Ryan Cabinetry, Inc., Clawson; Williams Distributing, Grand Rapids • Ceramic and Resilient Flooring – Wilkins Floorcovering, Inc., Livonia • Ceramic Tile – Empire Tile & Marble, Eastpointe • Concrete Polishing – Rotunda Marble & Stone Restora, Romulus • Concrete/Utilities – Culver Development, Sterling Heights • Countertops – Hard Rock Stone Works, Inc., Sterling Heights • Curb/Gutter – True North Asphalt Service, Inc., Rochester Hills • Demolition – Fryz Services, Inc., Redford Charter Township; Sloan Environmental Services, Taylor • Designer Glass – Intereum, Plymouth • Doors/Frames/Hardware – Century Architectural Hardware, South Lyon; N.A. Mans Lumber & Millwork, Trenton • Drywall – Legacy Contractors, Inc., Waterford • Drywall/Metal Studs – Livingston Ceiling & Partition, Brighton • Electrical – GSI Electrical Service, Inc., Sterling Heights; Rich Osterman Electric Co., Clinton Township

• Electrical Fixtures – Caniff Electric Supply, Hamtramck • Elevator – Thyssen Krupp Elevator Co., Frisco; Toledo Elevator & Machine Co., Livonia • Entrances & Storefront – Roseville Glass Co., LLC, Warren • Equipment Rental – Rayne Construction LLC, Southfield • Exterior Restoration – RAM Construction Services, Livonia • Fencing – American Fence & Supply Co., Inc., Warren; Future Fence Co., Warren • Final Clean-Up – U. S. Servico, Inc., Wixom • Final Cleaning – Mayday Cleaning Services LLC, Armada • Finish Carpentry – Manic Contracting, Inc., Clinton Township; Turner-Brooks, Inc., Madison Heights • Finish Carpentry – Labor – Morrey’s Contracting LLC, Detroit • Fire Protection – TSFP Holdings, Inc., Plymouth • Fireplace Specialties – American Fireplace Distributor, Ferndale • Gypsum Cement Underlayment – Kent Companies, Redford • HVAC – The Air King Heating & Cooling, Redford • Joint Sealants – Pasky and Sons, Inc., West Bloomfield

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• Landscaping – Teddy’s Lawn & Landscape, Livonia • Lockers, Postal Specialties, Ramp – Global Industrial, Chicago • Masonry – A.L.E.C. Masonry, Inc., Taylor • Miscellaneous Metals – Dearborn Contracting Co., Southgate • Painting – J & B Painting, Livonia; MPM Painting LLC, Shelby Township • Painting/Wallcovering – Gold Star Commercial, Inc., Troy • Plaster Fabrications – Russell Plastering Co., Ferndale • Plumbing – Jermor Plumbing & Heating, Inc., Detroit • Resilient Flooring – Construction Specialties, Inc., Muncie, Indiana • Roofing – Quality Roofing, Inc., Whitmore Lake • Shower Doors – Martinez Supply, San Diego, California • Shower Install and Vanity Mirrors – Henderson Glass, Inc., Rochester Hills • Signage – Intercity Neon, Inc., Center Line • Site Security – Prudential Security, Inc., Taylor

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The exterior of this impressive NeoGeorgian building is a simple masonry expression offset by rich detailing on the ground floor and upper cornices.

• Specialty Casework – Sobania Inc., Detroit • Temp Heat System – Mobile Air, LLC, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio • Trash Chute – Safway Services, LLC PA, Clinton Township • Window Restoration – Harold’s Glass Service, Inc., Gibraltar • Window Treatments – Drapery Service by Ernest LLC, Inkster • Wood Windows – Kelly Window & Door MFG, Detroit

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squares room layout with three chalk lines in 360° laser planes, one horizontal and two vertical. With Bosch’s built-in VisiMax technology, the GLL3-330CG monitors power consumption to maximize line visibility and extend overall battery life of the line laser.

The GLL3-330CG offers a green laser which is up to four times brighter than standard red beams, and the leveling laser has a working range of up to 200 Ft. diameter. Additionally, the product offers pulse mode to extend the working range up to 330 Ft. diameter and/or in bright lighting, using an optional LR8 or LR6 receiver. This laser features visi-max technology to drive maximum line visibility, cal guard for calibration assurance and robust over-molded construction to withstand rainy or dusty jobsite conditions. For more information, visit www.boschtools.com.

The Bosch GLL3-330CG Three-Plane Leveling and Alignment-Line Laser is both a complete level as well as an alignment laser. The GLL3-300 quickly arranges and Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

and the blade can be locked in place with the wide lock button protected by overmold rails.

Ergonomic, lightweight and compact, Control Series tapes are ideal for everyday use, and the 360-degree end hook is designed to grip material from all sides.

The integrated tether point allows for easy tethering when working from taller heights. If it does fall, Control Series tapes are tough, surviving more than 50 onestory drops during real-life testing. For more information, visit www.crescenttool.com.

DeWalt’s Atomic 20V Max* Brushless 4-1/2 In. Compact Circular Saw Packs a Punch New Control Series Tape Measures from Crescent Lufkin® Merge Quality with Innovation

Visibility Delivered: The Bosch GLL3-330CG Green 12V MAX Plane Laser

S H O W C A S E

Crescent Lufkin® has launched the Control Series of tape measures, the next generation of tapes that combine a professional feel and finish with the innovations that tradespeople need. The new features are designed to help tackle issues that other tape measures can’t, helping users get the job done more efficiently. The 1-3/16” wide tape with extra-large print has 12 feet of standout, while the matte finish reduces glare and protects the blade, ensuring that it holds up through heavy use. The finger brake beneath the tape’s feed allows the user to control the blade without risk of pinching,

DeWalt’s Atomic 20V Max* Brushless and Cordless 4-1/2 In. Circular Saw comes with one blade, rip fence, and dust port adaptor. The DCS571 features a bevel gear design allowing users to cut 2x material at 90 degrees and 1x material at 45 degrees. With convenient on-board blade key storage, users can change blades with minimal hassle. An electronic blade brake stops blade quickly for safety and productivity, and an elongated handle optimizes reach for rip cutting OSB and plywood. Using a DCB205 battery, users can cut up to 369 linear feet of 3/4 in. A 1-1/2 in. finger trigger allows users to choke-up on tool if necessary for their application. There is an on-board dust port for dust control. Battery and charger sold separately. For more information, visit www.dewalt.com.

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designed to give contractors visibility into who has their assets. Smartphone scanning and active Bluetooth tags help track items moved between warehouses and jobsites. It also enables contractors to proactively manage repairs and inspections, set reminders for maintenance and verify proper training and certifications before assigning certain assets. Learn more at www.hilti.com.

Hilti Announces Software Collaboration with Procore The Hilti Group is now collaborating with Procore, a leading provider of construction management software, to help strengthen digital workflows and

drive productivity on jobsites. As part of the joint effort, the Hilti ON!Track asset management system will become compatible for Procore platform users.

The announcement was made during Procore’s Groundbreak 2019, one of the largest construction conferences in the country. Hilti ON!Track is specifically

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1 (800) 572-8100 www.�aramiecrane.com 54 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

3M Offers a Full Line of Hearing Protection Devices, Including Its Earmuff X Series 3M has many options to protect workers from noise-induced hearing loss. The company’s 3M™ PELTOR™ Earmuffs X Series feature the latest advancement in hearing conservation. New technologies in comfort, design and protection all come together in this groundbreaking earmuff line. The X5B earmuffs offer the highest NRR (31 dB) for an earmuff on the market which makes them ideal for very high noise situations. The high attenuation delivered by X5B earmuffs is possible as a result of a combination of advanced technologies including: newly designed spacers, specially formulated earcup liners and innovative foam contained in the cushions. A wire headband offers consistent pressure over prolonged wearing periods Earcup pivot points tilt for optimum comfort and efficiency. The ear muffs come with replaceable ear cushions and foam liners. For more information, visit www.3m.com.

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

P E O P L E / C O R P O R AT E Taylor Lin was recently hired as a data entry specialist for the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM). Lin is a certified energy renewable Lin specialist and is currently studying Construction Management at Wayne State University, expected to graduate in May 2021. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and riding horses. Her career aspirations include working on the west coast designing and managing the construction of equine facilities.

The Construction Association of Michigan has also recently hired Jared Goestenkors as a Construction News Reporter. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Goestenkors Economics from the University of Detroit Mercy. Before joining CAM, Goestenkors spent four years as a Civil Engineering Intern working on prints for projects such as the M1 rail project in Detroit and the River Rouge Bridge reconstruction project. He also spent five years in the communication field working for local Detroit independent radio stations and small independent film directors.

Steve Hunt, BIM / Estimating Support Manager of Dee Cramer Inc., Holly, has recently been promoted to Vice President of Preconstruction.

Hunt joined Dee Cramer Hunt almost 31 years ago as a Sheet Metal Apprentice. Since then, he worked in the Shop, Field, CAD, Estimating, BIM and has led the company’s transition to the Autodesk Fabrication platform for Estimating, CAD and Fabrication. In his new role, Hunt will continue to head up the Estimating Support Group as well as having the CAD/BIM department under him.

A former Deputy Commissioner for the city of Detroit Fire Department, senior attorney Sydney R. Puricelli, is now putting out fires on behalf of the labor and Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

employment clients of Plunkett Cooney. A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Puricelli has more than 15 years of experience in the areas of labor and Puricelli employment law with particular expertise in labor dispute contract negotiations, resolution, grievance resolution and related arbitration proceedings.

Rockford Construction is pleased to announce the addition of Kent Jackson to its leadership team as Vice President.

As a lifelong Detroit resident with 25 years of Jackson construction management experience, Jackson will focus on business development, pre-construction and project management. Throughout his career in metro Detroit, he’s held a variety of positions such as project manager, estimator, director of pre-construction and vice president, and has worked on many high profile projects including Greektown Casino, The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Detroit Medical Center Cardiovascular Institute, and the Gateway Marketplace.

Ehrlich Crain, director of business development and diversity officer at Roncelli, Inc., Sterling Heights, has been recognized by Corp!

Magazine as one of its Crain Diverse Business Leader honorees for 2019. For more than a decade, the publication has sponsored the Michigan Salute to Diversity awards program to honor companies and individuals who promote diversity initiatives and achievements within their organizations or communities. As one of 33 individuals being recognized as part of the 2019 class of honorees, Crain is being honored for his efforts to build and cultivate diversity at Roncelli, while also making important strides in the community to improve the health and well-being of people and organizations across the Metro Detroit region.

N E W S

Ariana Jeske, PE, PTOE joins Spalding DeDecker, Rochester Hills, as Project Transportation Manager in the company’s Grand Rapids Office.

Jeske will be responsible Jeske for managing Spalding DeDecker’s transportation group projects.

She has more than 14 years of experience in key areas of roadway design and traffic engineering. Her expertise in traffic safety engineering adds vital non-motorized and preventive traffic engineering elements to Spalding DeDecker’s transportation projects.

Jeremy Schrot, PE has joined the Spalding DeDecker team as Director of Public Engineering. Schrot will be responsible for building client relationships and Schrot driving the growth of our Municipal and Transportation markets.

With more than 12 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, Schrot brings a unique perspective to designing locally and federally funded projects.

Tubelite Inc. has named John Giusti as logistics manager in Walker.

Giusti’s main focus will be on freight operations and material planning and logistics. Giusti comes Giusti with an extensive background in supply chain and logistics, most recently serving as the North American director of supply chain at Gordon Food Service. Previously, Giusti was the director of global logistics sourcing and supply processes at HARMAN International, an automotive technology manufacturer in Farmington Hills before being promoted to the director of global supply chain.

Corporate News

Aristeo Construction recently achieved Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Certification for its Pollinator CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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Garden at its main office in Livonia. This certification comes after Aristeo became a WHC Corporate Member in 2017. The Aristeo Pollinator Garden is a plot of land near the company’s headquarters that features 22 native Michigan plant species that provide food sources and shelter across multiple seasons, benefiting more than 70 pollinator species throughout their lifecycles. Dozens of Aristeo employees have spent hundreds of hours maintaining and monitoring the garden in preparation for certification.

“The Aristeo Pollinator Garden is recognized as meeting the strict requirements of WHC Conservation Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, President, WHC. “Companies achieving WHC Conservation Certification, like Aristeo, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”

“We are excited to receive the WHC Conservation Certification for the Aristeo Pollinator Garden,” said President Michelle Aristeo Barton. “Inspired by many of our customers who are also WHC corporate members, this garden represents nearly two years of hard work

by Aristeo employees and we’re proud of all they’ve accomplished.”

Doeren Mayhew, with locations in Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Switzerland and London, has been named on INSIDE Public Accounting’s Best of the Best CPA Firms list.

Compiled based on more than 550 firms’ survey responses, the annual list honors 50 CPA firms throughout the United States based on more than 70 IPA criteria, including metrics that measure growth, income, productivity, effective governance, staff turnover and time management, among others. “It is an honor to once 56 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

N E W S again be recognized amongst the highestperforming CPA firms in the nation,” said Chad Anschuetz, Doeren Mayhew’s managing shareholder and chairman. “Our clients expect, and deserve, a CPA firm that understands the entrepreneurship it takes to operate a successful business.

Holding this distinction shows that Doeren Mayhew can manage a high-performing business, but more importantly, provide the distinctive level of guidance needed by our clients to thrive in an evolving landscape.” Doeren Mayhew was also ranked the 64th largest CPA firm based on its annual revenue by IPA in August of this year.

Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED), Southfield, is partnering with Michigan Technological University (MTU) to create a new H-STEM Engineering & Health Technologies Complex, which will house MTU’s integrated educational programs that apply engineering and science to issues related to human health. The complex will co-locate multiple departments including Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Kinesiology/Integrated Physiology to work together in shared collaborative space to advance learning, develop new technologies and prepare a technologically skilled future workforce.

The H-STEM Complex will be designed to support the University’s mission - to create solutions for society’s challenges by delivering action-based undergraduate and graduate education, discovering new knowledge through research, and launching new technologies through innovation. The project is targeting completion by fall 2023.

In October, nonprofit organizations LINC Up and Dwelling Place, along with general contractor Orion Construction Co. Inc., Shelby Township, broke ground on the second phase of an affordable housing development in Grand Rapids’ Garfield Park neighborhood. The $6.5 million West Garfield Park development

includes 26 affordable housing units that will rent for $550-$800 per month. The project is across from Garfield Park Lofts, the first phase of the affordable housing project, which has already been completed. Orion is responsible for the construction of the West Garfield Park project, which was designed by architecture firm Isaac V. Norris & Associates PC of Grand Rapids. LINC Up estimates pre-leasing for West Garfield Park will open in spring 2020. All of the 34 apartments at neighboring Garfield Park Lofts are leased--that building was the first new commercial construction in the neighborhood in nearly three decades.

Spalding DeDecker (SD), headquartered in Rochester, recently opened an office in downtown Grand Rapids. With the addition of Grand Rapids Office Manager Dan VanderHeide, PE and Traffic Engineer Ariana Jeske, PE, PTOE, the new location will help expand Spalding DeDecker’s services in western Michigan. “As the second largest city in Michigan, with its diverse array of businesses and industries, Grand Rapids has been on our radar for some time,” said Steve Benedettini, president of Spalding DeDecker. “The missing piece was finding a great team that could provide outstanding customer service, while fostering the employee culture that has made Spalding DeDecker great for 65 years. We are blessed to have that team in place and are ecstatic to be opening an office in Grand Rapids.”

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

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Please submit all calendar items no less than six weeks prior to the event to: Diane Sawinski, Editor: sawinski@buildwithcam.com December 6, 2019 CAM/ASSP Safety Leadership Conference Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills Features workshops, a lively panel discussion with safety leaders representing all industries, a networking reception, and more. For more information, visit www.buildwithcam.com.

December 16-18, 2019 Construction SuperConference Terranea Resort, Las Vegas Conference developed for mid- to senior-level professionals who work in any of the legal and commercial construction markets. The event features educational and networking events. For more information, visit http://www.constructionsuperconference.com.

February 12-13, 2020 Great Lakes Design and Construction EXPO Suburban Showplace Collection, Novi This two-day expo brings together residential and commercial contractors, designers, suppliers and service providers, offering networking opportunities and business building workshops designed to support the continued success of Michigan's building industry.

For more information, visit www.miconstructionexpo.com.

February 20-22, 2020 Construction Institute Summit The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Los Angeles Join contractors, owners, designers, and other construction industry stakeholders to meet and share new developments and innovative practices in the construction industry. For more information, visit https://www.cisummit.org.

Upcoming CAMTEC Classes Please register at least one week prior to class.

February 4 February 5 Mondays & Thursdays starting February 17 February 18 February 18-21 February 26

Project Documentation and Closeout SHMS Basics Printreading for Residential and Light Commercial Contracting Mitigating Contract Risk OSHA 30-Hour for Construction Supervisors Role in Safety & Health – MTI Elective

WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS ABX Design Llc Northville

Dsg Construction Llc Macomb

Knapp Brothers Pool Service Troy

Metrie Taylor

Bath Fitter Livonia

Gfl Environmental Usa Inc Southfield

Lake To Lake Installation Llc Otisville

Nelson Stud Welding Madison Heights

Brenner Electric Marine City

Great Lakes Safety Systems Of Michigan Llc Ortonville

Lakeshore Contracting Novi

Pennala Drywall Finishing Howell

Lockwood Construction Llc Southfield

Seven Brothers Inc Shelby Township

Meadowbrook Insurance Agency Southfield

Shaw Construction & Management Co. Livonia

Mechanical Heating & Cooling Inc. Dearborn Heights

Vesta Housing Solutions, Llc Dba Vesta Modular

C-Cam Energy Management Clarkston Cohen & Co Detroit Davenport Brothers Construction Belleville

J & J Construction Company Brighton Jonna Luxury Homes Llc Troy JRED Engineering Inc Livonia

Dewalt Madison Heights Visit us online at www.BuildwithCAM.com

CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

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Ace Cutting Equipment & Supply .................33 Alta Equipment Co........................................15 Aluminum Supply Co./Marshall Sales Co.....17 Aoun & Company, P.C...................................25 Bath Fitter ...............................................30, 31 Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union Local 2................................................19 C.F.C.U............................................................3 CAM Comp ...................................................42 CAM Labor Relations....................................29 CAM Magazine Advertising ..........................50 CAM Newsroom............................................52 CAMTEC .......................................................35 Connelly Crane Rental Corp. ........................37 D.K.I. International ..........................................9 Detroit Dismantling .......................................48 Doeren Mayhew ............................................14 Ferndale Electric .........................................IFC G2 Consulting Group ....................................58 Gordon Advisors ...........................................13 Great Lakes Design and Construction Expo...IBC International Masonry Institute .....................43 Jackson Associates, Inc. ..............................47 J. D. Candler Roofing Co..............................26 Kem-Tec........................................................23 Laramie Enterprises, Inc. ..............................54 Lee Industrial Contracting...............................4 MasonPro......................................................44 McDonald Modular Solutions .......................16 Michigan LECET ...........................................41 Midland Tool ................................................BC North American Dismantling .........................58 Novara, Tesija & Catenacci, PLLC ................21 Nuggett Leasing, Inc.....................................25 Oakland Insurance ........................................22 Oakland Metal Sales .....................................45 Performance Line Tool Center ......................21 Plante Moran, PLLC......................................49 Ruby + Associates ..........................................8 Scaffolding Inc. .............................................39 Spartan Specialties.......................................34 Talent Investment Agency.............................27 Testing Engineers & Consultants ..................23 VTC Insurance Group .....................................5 The Whole Brain Group ................................20 Zervos Group ..................................................9 58 CAM MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

“The Voice of The Construction Industry®”

GREAT LAKES DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

EXPO

2 DAYS! FEBRUARY 12 & 13, 2020

Building the Future of Michigan This 2-day construction industry extravaganza for owners, contractors, architects, suppliers and more, is the best place to learn about new construction products and network with those who are building Michigan’s future.

Call now!

Limited booth space available.

Events Include: • 134TH CAM ANNUAL MEETING

• FREE WORKSHOPS

• CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE AWARDS

• 2019 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Show Hours: February 12 - 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

February 13, - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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Come to learn, stay to network!

Call 248-972-1000 today and reserve your space for this exciting two-day industry event, or visit us online at www.miconstructionexpo.com

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BUILDING MATERIALS

46100 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48374