Partnering on Milwaukee City Hall Honored

The restoration of Milwaukee City Hall is the recipient of a partnering award from the Associated General Contractors of America.

The intent of the Marvin W. Black Excellence in Partnering Award is to honor strong working ties among contractors, owner groups and state and local agencies during construction. Janesville, Wis.-based J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. was the contractor on the city hall project.

The $70-million project sought to rehabilitate the 256,300-sq-ft structure that originally opened in 1896. The renovation was needed because the building was deteriorating. Netting had been put on the structure, and canopies were placed over adjacent sidewalks for protection because pieces were coming off.

Work involved the replacement of 15,000 bricks and 13,000 terra-cotta pieces cladding the building, copper dressing one of the towers and 2,000 windows. The 13-story building in the German Renaissance Revival style is noteworthy in part because it is listed on the National Register of Historic.

There were eight other recipients of the Black partnering honor outside the Midwest.

‘Plan of Chicago’Celebration Planned

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is leading the city-wide celebration of the centennial of Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett’s 1909 Plan of Chicago.

Plans include two free exhibitions, a symposium, new Burnham-specific tours as well as CAF’s traditional tours, programming for adults and youth, publications and retail products.

The Centennial-inspired projects are designed to encourage people to think about the future of Chicago and the rapidly urbanizing planet, the CAF says.

The former Railway Exchange Building, 224 S. Michigan Avenue, served as Burnham’s headquarters for the creation of the 1909 Plan of Chicago—is also the headquarters for CAF, making the location an ideal site for centennial activities. Specific dates, times and locations are on www.architecture.org.

Fox AGC Gets Has New Faces

Two directors were recently appointed to the Board of Directors in west-suburban St. Charles of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Associated General Contractors, Mark Baum and Gary Gallaugher.

Baum is business development manager of Aurora-based R.C. Wegman Construction Co., and Gallaugher is senior project manager of South Elgin-based Hargrave Builders. They join the existing members of the board.

Klobucar to Lead Wisconsin Contractors

Jerry Klobucar, an estimator and project manager with Beloit-based Klobucar Construction Co. Inc., has been named the president of Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin. He

The other offices include Vice President Rich Lynch of Milwaukee-based J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.; National Director Peter Vogel of Madison-based Vogel Bros. Building Co.; and National Life Director Carl Carlson of Stevens Point-based Ellis Stone Construction Co. Inc.

The past presidents comprise Tom Thayer of Fitchburg-based Tri-North Builders Inc., and Pat Smith of Fond du Lac-based C.D. Smith Construction Inc.

They are joined by 12 on the board of directors.