Mechanical and Fire Protection Contractors and Engineers Summer/Fall 1999

The Grunau Missionby Paul Grunau

President

In recent issues we have had the opportunity toshare with you elements of our business philosophyfocusing on our customers, work strategy, and thebasis under which we operate as a TEAM. In this issueof the GrunauGram I would like to go further with thenext two elements of our Mission Statement.

• Operate by plan in all aspects of our business.

As an avid reader, I enjoy reading about successfulbusinesses. While there are many reasons whybusinesses are successful, one common threadthat I see over and over again in successful busi-nesses is strength in the details. The constructionbusiness is absolutely a business of details. Surveyafter survey of customers in the constructionindustry reinforce that the successful contractorsare those that are strong when it comes to takingcare of the details. The first 80 or 90 percent of aproject can go beautifully, but it’s the last 10 per-cent where most of the details need to bewrapped up, and if not handled properly, that’swhat the customer remembers.

While it is our objective to constantly look for newand varied ways to provide services to our cus-tomers, we strive at the same time to be very rig-orous in how we execute our projects, and serveour customers. We start with our final objectivesin mind; exceptional customer service in allaspects of our business. We arrive there by rigor-ous attention to detail, which is borne out of acommitment to execute each and every projectaccording to a very specific plan.

• Invest in education and training at all levels to con-tinually build our TEAM capabilities.

In recent years we have seen explosive growth inthe requirements placed on contractors in theconstruction business. There was a time years agowhen companies like ours derived the majority oftheir revenue from installation of mechanical sys-tems. In today’s marketplace, sophisticated cus-tomers are looking to contractors for much morethan merely an installation. We are being calledupon as a resource, as a member of a projectteam, to provide complete design and installationservices, and most importantly, as an advocateand partner of our customers. These requirementsmandate continuous investment in our TEAM toelevate our capabilities to deliver the services thatare demanded by our customers in the market-place. In recent years we have invested heavily innew technology as well as qualitative communica-tion and leadership training for employees at alllevels of our organization. Our objective in ourtraining programs is to build an organization ofpeople who are continually challenging them-selves to grow and expand their capabilities. Webelieve that in order for us to be successful todayand in the future, that we must do everything wepossibly can to be a leader in the area of employ-ee development. When customers look to us forservices, they are trusting that we will be capableof providing our services as part of a larger TEAM.Investment in training and education is central toour business philosophy, and we believe it is cen-tral to our ability to provide the advice, technicalexpertise, and installation capabilities that our cus-tomers demand and deserve.

EXCELLENCE SINCE 1920

Aurora Health Care is Wisconsin’s largest not-for-profit health care system, and largest pri-vate employer at its more than 200 locations.In February 1999, Aurora opened its doors to

the 98,000 square foot expansion of the AuroraMedical Center, located at 10400 75th Street inKenosha, Wisconsin. The addition includes 43 inpatientrooms, and a 24-hour emergency department. This hos-pital is the first new hospital ever constructed byAurora, and it demonstrates their commitment to pro-viding convenient, affordable, high-quality medical carein Kenosha County. The hospital emphasizes a patient-centered and family-focused design which includes:

• Private rooms with space for family members tostay overnight.

• Kitchenettes for patient and family member use.

• A library and family lounge on each floor.

• Lots of windows for natural light.

• Nurses’ stations centrally located to encourageinteraction between patients and staff.

The major challenge of the design and constructionon this project was to convert an existing outpatientfacility with medical offices to a certified hospital.Grunau was selected to perform the HVAC on this pro-ject based on budget pricing, project knowledge, fee,and the ability to provide a team to complete construc-tion of the facility on a very aggressive schedule.

Before construction began, key design and deliveryissues were identified and discussed with the engineerand construction team to make sure all schedules couldbe maintained. Key issues in this “design assist”process included designing the building hot water pip-ing system to reduce installation time, as well as coordi-nation between the air handling unit supplier and tem-perature control contractor to ensure factory-mountingof control components and the corresponding reduc-tion in field installation time.

Aurora Medical CenterKenosha, Wisconsin

The main system components consist of a new air-cooled chiller, two hot water boilers, one steam boiler,five roof mounted air handling units, and distributionpiping and ductwork for the new emergency depart-ments, dining areas, labs, x-ray, nursery/c-section, andpatient rooms.

During construction of the new facility our team alsoremodeled the existing clinic in order to obtain certifica-tion for hospital usage. This included modifications tothe sterilization area, pharmacy, surgery air flow, andconnection of new steam and hot water boilers to exist-ing systems to provide complete system redundancy.

Teamwork on construction and decision-making wasthe key to the success of this project. Requirements forhospital usage by the state and department leadersrequired redesign of certain areas during constructionwithout extending the schedule.

Working together to serve the Kenosha communityon this project were:

Aurora Health Care, Owner

Hammes Company, DeveloperSteve Kroening, Project Executive

M.A. Mortenson, General ContractorMike Baenen, Project Manager

Albert Kahn ArchitectsRay Williams, Project Engineer

Grunau CompanyRon Kwiatkowski, Vice President/Project ManagerMark Berger, Sheet Metal ForemanGerry Gelhaar, Pipe Fitter ForemanBob Niedzweicki, Air Balancer ForemanTom Owen, Electrical ManagerDale Poweleit, Temperature Controls Foreman

Aurora Medical Center, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Alverno College recently added a newTeaching, Learning, and Technical Center(TLT Center). Alverno is a four-year liberalarts college for women located on a 46-

acre park-like campus in a residential neighborhoodon the southwest edge of Milwaukee. The schooloffers 64 programs of study in seven academic divi-sions: Integrated Arts and Humanities; BehavioralSciences; Business and Management; Education,Information and Computer Studies; Natural Sciencesand Technology; Fine Arts; and Nursing. The collegeoffers weekday and weekend college with enroll-ment totaling over 2,000 women of all ages.

Grunau Company was responsible for the HVAC,above ground plumbing, and fabrication and installa-tion of stairs and handrails for this new 73,000 sq. ft.,two-story building.

Plumbing: The plumbing for the new laboratoriesand research areas is extensive. A vacuum systemand compressed air system is piped to all lab work-stations along with natural gas and domestic water.The chemical waste generated in the labs is disposedof through an acid resistant waste piping system anddiluted prior to entering the sanitary sewer system.Emergency showers and eye washes are standardequipment in all labs.

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MISCELLANEOUS METALS DIVISION FABRICATES WIND TUNNELALVERNO COLLEGETEACHING, LEARNING, AND TECHNICAL CENTER

Lab Fume Hoods

HVAC: Two equipment rooms house the mechani-cal equipment for the new TLT Center. A total ofthree air handling units supply conditioned air to thespaces. Pneumatically controlled VAV boxes withreheat coils and perimeter radiation serve the generalareas and classrooms. The hot water is producedwith four 1,000,000 BTU sealed combustion boilers.The chilled water is via a roof mounted, 270-ton air-cooled chiller with a remote evaporator located inthe north mechanical room.

In the laboratory facilities temperature control andventilation is maintained via digital control integratedwith a Phoenix Laboratory Control System to precise-ly regulate air flows and maintain safe working envi-ronments. The laboratory fume hood ventilation sys-tem uses a glycol heat reclaim system to captureheat that would otherwise be exhausted to theatmosphere.

Metal Fabrication: Grunau Metals was responsi-ble for the fabrication and installation of stairs andhandrails. The focal point of the job is the 360°Sister Joel Read rotunda. The second floor railingsystem is made of plate steel posts, rolled bar stock,and stainless steel spheres topped with a wood cap.

Thanks to the team members who contributed tothe success of this project.

Alverno College, Owner

Sister Joel Read, President

Grunau Project Development, Construction Manager

David Waldhuetter, Project ManagerDave Petrie, SuperintendentAntonio Estevez, Project Engineer

Eppstein Uhen Architects, Architect

Bob Cooper, Project DirectorGary Woodward, Project Manager

Engineering Concepts, Engineer

Vince Gorichan, Project EngineerSteve Skattebo, Project Engineer

Insulation Industries, Insulator

Roger Peot, President

Johnson Controls, Controls

Jason Gorak, Project ManagerTom Krier, Account Executive

Grunau Company

Tom Gorak, Project ManagerTom Owen, Electrical Project ManagerJay Schwanke, Metal Fab Project ManagerMike Reynders, Steamfitter SuperintendentTom Greiner, Sheet Metal SuperintendentAl Bachman, Plumbing SuperintendentMike Sommers, Bob Stich, Chris Marks,

Sheet Metal ForemenMarge Mosey, Electrical ForemanGeorge Bachman, Plumbing ForemanCraig Niermann, Steamfitter ForemanDick Wirt, Paul Latus, Balancing and CommissioningGary Lando, Metal Fab Shop ManagerBob Antczak, Metal Fab Foreman

Alverno College

Mechanical RoomRotunda Railing

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THE NEW DOWNTOWN YMCA

Keeping in shape with the revitalization ofdowntown Milwaukee, the YMCA hasexpanded their facility to better serve theyouth and families of the Milwaukee com-

munity. With its grand opening on January 1st of thisyear, the YMCA opened a state-of-the-art 40,000square foot fitness center. Located on the 4th floorof the John Plankinton Building, above the GrandAvenue Mall, the building can be accessed from anyof the city’s sidewalks, or the Grand Avenue parkingstructure. While the first downtown YMCA originat-ed 140 years ago, their philosophy from then to nowis the same: to help people grow in spirit, mind, andbody.

Demolition, retrofit, remodel, change use, coordi-nate, relocate; these terms became very familiarwhen converting office space in an old building intoa health club, complete with a running track,whirlpool, and steam rooms.

The Grunau Company was part of a Design/BuildTeam to relocate and expand the Downtown YMCA.The plumbing and HVAC design were performedand coordinated during design stages by Grunauengineers, and by foremen during construction tomaintain all schedules on this fast-track job.

The plumbing system provides for new locker,shower, and toilet facilities by extending and reusingexisting services within the building. A new domesticwater heating system was designed for the highusage associated with this type of facility.

The new HVAC system consists of a new 170-tonair-cooled chiller, a new metered hot water heatingsystem, four fan systems for space cooling and venti-lation, a specialized air handler to control humidityand temperature in the whirlpool, and severalexhaust systems for the driers, lockers, toilet rooms,and specialized areas.

Since approximately 50% of the facility had noceilings, construction coordination eliminated con-flicts between lights, exercise equipment, piping,duct, and existing services. The facility includesspace for exercise classes, rock climbing, a pool, andrunning track. Proper air distribution is critical, and itwas a real challenge to coordinate everything.

We wish to thank the YMCA of MetropolitanMilwaukee and Trammell Crow for allowing us to bepart of this exciting project.

YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, OwnerBob Yamachika, Senior Vice President

Trammell Crow, Contracting AgentJoe Weirick, Executive Vice President

C.G. Schmidt, Inc., General ContractorDan Davis, Sr. Project ManagerKim Fields, Project Manager

Zimmerman Design Group, ArchitectLarry Schmidt, Project Architect

Grunau CompanyRon Kwiatkowski, Vice President/Project ManagerKen Dottai, HVAC Design EngineerAaron Block, Plumbing EngineerJim Minesal, Plumbing ForemanPaul Lentz, Piping ForemanMike Sommers, Sheet Metal ForemanDale Poweleit, Temperature Controls ForemanDick Wirt, Air Balancing and Commissioning

AHU Pipe/Duct ConnectionMechanical Services at Track

GRUNAU PARTICIPATES IN “CAREERS ON WHEELS” DAY

The School District of Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Oak Creek, St. Francis, SouthMilwaukee, and Whitnall, in conjunction with MATC South Campus, recently conducted aninteractive day for third grade students with area companies. The goal was to expose chil-dren to various career opportunities through interaction with individuals who drive specific

occupational vehicles.

Russ Ferris and our John Deere 410E Tractor Loader/Backhoe represented the Grunau Company.Students were given a description and demonstration of the vehicles, followed by a question andanswer period. Important points being stressed were:

• The importance of perfect attendance is just as important at work as it is at school.

• Classroom skills are needed for successful employment. For example:

— How do math skills relate to the workplace?— Where are writing skills used?— Are speaking/communication skills important?— Are following directions important to your job?— Why is teamwork important?

Approximately 1300 children participated along with 57 types of vehicles, including a semi cargo loader, hearse, wood chipper/shredder, ambulance, Wisconsin Electricvan, Midwest Express plane deicer, and many more. This was the 4th year for “Careers on Wheels,” and it is something that students look forward to participating in eachyear. We commend these school districts as they “Put Children First!”

Grunau Company, Inc.P.O. Box 479Milwaukee, WI 53201

Return Service Requested

Bulk RateU.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 2502Milwaukee, WI

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PUBLISHED BY:Grunau Company, Inc. (414) 216-69001100 W. Anderson Court FAX (414) 768-7950Oak Creek, WI 53154 www.grunau.com

EDITOR: Christine Owens

TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Ron KwiatkowskiTom Gorak

EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTEDAt the annual Grunau Company Family Picnic service awards are presented each year to recognize

individuals for their continuous service to the Grunau TEAM and our customers. Congratulations!

30YEAR

25YEAR

20YEAR

15YEAR

(l to r) Karen Dix, Ray Braun, Dave Machajewski, Steve Yapp with Gary andPaul Grunau. (Not pictured) Stan Fetzer, Jim Flook, Robert Schmitz(Pittsburgh), Tom Leaming (Orlando).

(l to r) Chuck Neumeyer, Ed Witzke, Dennis Bart, Chris Miller, JohnSchneider, Don Resch, Sr. with Gary and Paul Grunau.

Dennis Laney with Paul and Gary Grunau.

(l to r) Gerry Gelhaar, Don Mateicka, Jr., Dan Bolan, with Gary and PaulGrunau.

10YEAR

( l to r) Jeff Kuhnke, Sue Wegner, MikeStefaniak, Ingo Luther, Kevin Fredrick withGary and Paul Grunau. (Not pictured) LisaVanHoose (Youngstown), Vinnie Viglione(Pittsburgh), Rudolph Robinson (Orlando).

10/15/25/Y/E/A/R/

(l to r) Joe Piskur (15), Howie Laumer (25),Rick Lipka (10), Brian Wang (10) with Pauland Gary Grunau.