2009 Jobsite Tour Gallery

Johnson Controls

General Contractor: Hunzinger

On October 9 we visited the Johnson Controls corporate headquarters job site and were immediately wowed. The site was efficient, organized, and every one of the 240 workers was giving 110 percent, which was even more evident when Building Advantage treated them to lunch later in the day! It was quite obvious that Hunzinger valued the character and work ethic of union trades people, as the job site was equally as welcoming as it was impressive. The building is seeking LEED Platinum rating for green building and development practices.

We'd like to extend our thanks to Project Manager Jon Sheahan, Senior Project Manager Daniel W. Davies, and all of the skilled and hungry workers from Hunzinger for allowing us to come visit this incredible project. It was wonderful getting a chance to speak with the workers at the site. Keep up the great work! Some pictures from the site are below.

If you're interested in Building Advantage coming to your job site, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.

M&I University

General Contractor: J.H. Findorff & Son

Visiting the M&I University site on September 25 was a real treat. Not only did Building Advantage get to bring T-shirts and lunch to 70 hard workers, but we got a chance to sit down and talk with union trades people of all experience levels. Veterans shared stories of the past, and apprentices talked about their excitement of being part of such a great project. Findorff showed great care for their project by hiring union trades people, as the unions commitment to furthering their own knowledge will certainly benefit M&I's commitment to learning, once the university is completed.

We would like to thank all of the workers for their time, as well as Findorff superintendent Jim Gonzalez, and carpenter foreman Adam Budda for allowing Building Advantage to make this job site visit a reality. Some pictures from the site are below.

If you're interested in Building Advantage coming to your job site, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.

Newcastle Place

General Contractor: CG Schmidt

Last year we visited a CG Schmidt job site and were so impressed we felt it was important to stop by another project this summer. On August 14, Building Advantage brought lunch and t-shirts to the Newcastle Place job site in Mequon. It is the first residential project the tour has visited, and we couldn't have been more impressed.

Not only does CG Schmidt see the value in hiring union contractors and trades people by supporting the Building Advantage efforts, but they showed it in a big way by having Mike Abuls, Executive Vice President, Tim Just, Vice President of Field Operations, Will Kulling, Project Manager, Phil Lloyd, Superintendent, and Joe Yanasak, Senior Superintendent from CG Schmidt on hand to talk with Ken Kraemer about the benefits Building Advantage brings to their company.

It was a pleasure meeting some of the workers who are making the project possible. Some pictures from the site are below. If you're interested in Building Advantage coming to your job site, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.

Brown Deer YMCA

General Contractor: J.P. Cullen & Sons

On August 7, we visited the Brown Deer YMCA job site and fed about 45 Building Advantage members from electricians to ironworkers to painters. Taking the opportunity to thank the workers for their efforts is something Building Advantage has become very proud of doing. Recognizing the work our union contractors and trades people deliver consistently is a testament to the training and dedication our members have to getting the jobs done right the first time.

We met with Chris Patti, J.P. Cullen Superintendent, who was a very gracious host, and it was clear to us that he and Cullen understand the benefits union labor brings to the job site.

A few pictures of the lunch are below and more will be forthcoming. As usual if you're interested in Building Advantage coming to your job site, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.

Park Lafayette Condominiums

General Contractor: Hunzinger Construction

We are two jobsites into the summer tour, and we are pleased with how the lunches and the Building Advantage messages have been received. It is always a pleasure to go onto a full site and thank the men and women for their hard work especially during some of the hottest days in the season.

On July 17, we visited the Park Lafayette Condominiums near downtown Milwaukee overlooking Lake Michigan. Ken Kraemer, Building Advantage executive director, had the opportunity to speak and give his thanks for the trades workers dedication to making union construction the best in the industry.

Mike Christensen, Hunzinger Senior Project Manager, also spoke and he thanked the workers for making union construction the best in the industry. Another big thanks to Doug Bruening from Hunzinger for giving us the opportunity to be a part of their jobsite, and for giving Ken a tour to see the quality of work Hunzinger and their workers deliver.

Check out some pictures from the event where we handed out over 170 Panera-boxed lunches, Building Advantage literature and T-shirts. Yes, clean, safety-colored T-shirts, and we have more to hand out. If you're interested in Building Advantage coming to your jobsite, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.

Oak Creek Middle School

General Contractor: VJS Construction Services

The jobsite tour is off and running, and our first stop this year was at the Oak Creek Middle School project on July 9. This is the latest we have visited a jobsite, and it was nice to see the painters and finish carpenters working hard to meet the deadline. We fed over 80 workers, and feel the 30-minute lunch break was very well put together.

Working with Adam Lewis, VJS project manager, was a great experience, and the $29 million building really turned out to be a beautiful project – thanks to Adam and VJS for using Building Advantage members and for a job well done.

All the trades workers who helped build this school really should be proud of the work they did to create a place that fosters learning and encourages students to think bigger. After all, what a way to show potential union workers the quality of work they can achieve than by building a facility where they first start to dream?

Images from this jobsite are below – look for yourself or someone you know. And check back regularly as we'll be updating the site after each event. As always, if you're interested in learning more about Building Advantage or would like us to stop at your jobsite, please contact Ken Kraemer at (262) 229-5959.