Case Studies May 2017

During the 40 years Louis Sigman has worked in Colorado’s glazing construction industry, he has lived through the leanest of times. So he had a pretty good idea of what to expect when he took the reins of a glazing contracting company shortly before the economy took yet another nosedive. While working for his family’s […]

What’s in a name? Plenty, if it’s Michael Graves Architecture & Design in New York City and Princeton, New Jersey. For seven principals today, it means living up to the legacy of the late, great and often-times eccentric architect whose name graces the firm’s letterhead. It’s a daily reminder of what’s at stake as its […]

Spanning Venice’s Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge stands any test of time. Built by the 16th-century architect and engineer, Antonio da Ponte, its two stone ramps rise drawbridge-like from each bank, connecting to a central portico in the middle with arched windows looking out at the historic city. Critics’ predictions of structural collapse proved, to […]

Founded in 1981 by two people of faith, Regency Lighting has always had a higher calling. Headquartered in Chatsworth, California, Regency distributes brand-name products such as Philips Lighting, Osram Sylvania and many other best-in-class lighting manufacturers. It also provides commercial lighting maintenance, design, construction, retrofits, replacement products and recycling. But all the while, Regency Lighting […]

Rainy day people always seem to know when it’s time to call. So goes Gordon Lightfoot’s old song, the meaning of which may have hit home—literally—for the folks in Minot, North Dakota, in May 2011 when Mayer Electric Inc. lent its services following flood conditions. Normally a much cherished season in the upper plains, the […]

Making orange juice and running a manufacturing facility might seem completely unrelated, but to mass produce the orange juice consumers are used to seeing on their grocery store shelves, beverage companies need to run advanced manufacturing operations. Doing so ensures the morning drink of millions is just right, from the acidity to the packaging. To […]

When John W. “Jack” Somerville sold his architecture and engineering firm, Somerville Inc., he wanted to preserve the reputation his family had built over 50 years. He wanted to avoid selling to a large firm that might gut Somerville Inc. of its legacy or its longtime employees. Converting the firm to an ESOP, or employee […]

Robotics has revolutionized manufacturing, and companies say the trend will continue. For contractors serving those manufacturers, it’s a case of get on board or be left behind. Jeremy Abbott’s electrical contracting business has chosen the former approach. DECO has a long history of partnering with Boeing Commercial Airplanes and the companies that supply Boeing’s Washington-based […]

In his book “Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology,” David Abram explores the idea of human entanglement with nature—the idea that we are not, as we often seem to assume, separate from the world around us. “Many long-standing and lousy habits have enabled our callous treatment of surrounding nature, empowering us to clear-cut, dam up, mine, […]

In the heart of sunny Kissimmee, Florida, Lugano Apartments may represent the future of high-end living for those seeking a community full of indoor and outdoor amenities with all the privacy necessary for hosting friends and family. Lugano is made up of four, four-story buildings and one three-story building. Also part of the complex are […]