Case Studies Region: Midwest

Glass and concrete: Two seemingly diametrically opposed materials, one known for its fragility and the other for its strength. So, how could glass ever replace concrete? One Wisconsin company has discovered the secret to using post-consumer recycled glass as a one-for-one replacement for cement—and the leadership at Wausau Tile is working in partnership with it. […]

Joe Connelly knew he wanted to earn a spot in the family business since he was a 15-year-old helping Connelly Electric with its deliveries. Yet, when he graduated with his bachelor’s in business administration and management from the University of Iowa, he believed a skilled project manager should have field experience. Wanting to gain hands-on […]

You’ve taken the leap and made the investment to own and operate a franchise business. The franchising company sells great products that are always in demand and provides the demographic data to help you find the best location, the real estate savvy to negotiate a good lease and the construction connections to build your store. […]

Casinos are unique facilities, not because of all the lights and sounds—but because neither ever stops. Before stepping into the world of flashing lights, pinging slot machines and spinning roulette tables, Jim Arnold had already racked up nearly three decades in the construction and facilities management industry. In July 2022, he became the executive director […]

When John Jaffe briefly played football in college, he wanted a job that would keep him in shape during the off season. So, the Purdue University undergrad found the most labor intensive work he could—pouring concrete. He never expected his part-time job would lay the foundation for his career. “A lot of people in my […]

A rectangular brown and beige, two-story concrete structure that once housed the Star Press in Muncie, Indiana, the building really was yesterday’s news. It had stood vacant since 2000, save for break-ins. Years later when the newspaper’s owners donated it to Ivy Tech Community College, it was one very distressed property. “Just a rundown eyesore […]

At the center of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus sits a beige, two-story building known as Polk Library. While the tree-lined library looks serene from the outside, its infrastructure—which dates to the 1960s—has literally become an explosive issue for the university community. When it was constructed, Polk used what’s known as a two-pipe mechanical system, […]

Jake Basten could talk about The Highlands at Aero Park in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, for hours. The four story, 224-unit multifamily complex broke ground in the spring and has an indoor pool, club room and internet cafe. Its massage and spa area will feature a private masseuse and there’s a maker space—similar to an art […]

Sometimes, it’s about how to remove and store all the snow that falls in a Wisconsin winter because it can’t sit on sidewalks or block parking areas. Sometimes, it’s about how to arrange the ducts, vents, and controls for a building’s HVAC system so maintenance staff has easier access for repairs. In the past couple […]

John Lewis had been with Collins Community Credit Union as its IT Director for about four months when, in 2014, President and CEO Stefanie Rupert asked him to accept new responsibilities. That can happen in any role. Only, Rupert’s request was a bit different: she wanted to know if Lewis would be willing to take […]