Precast Construction at Lighthouse Lofts
“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
The next step in the construction at Lighthouse Lofts Luxury Apartments has begun! Materials arrived on site at the end of August to begin placement of precast columns, beams and planks. Once precast is complete, metal framing will begin at street level and wood panel construction will be installed on levels two through five.
Thank you to Molin Concrete Products for their hard work on the precast products.
Check out the construction progress everyday at http://www.lighthouseloftsmn.com.
Gaughan Contributes in the East Suburban Development Summit
Contributing panelist Dan Hebert, Senior VP at Gaughan Companies, participated in the East Suburban Development Summit, hosted by the Minnesota Real Estate Journal at the University of St. Thomas. Dan and the other panelists, Dwight Picha, Brian Zeller, Aaron Parrish, and Moderator Chris Eng, discussed development opportunities and activity in the eastern suburbs for the Washington County Development Update session.
Gaughan Companies has developed and built over fifty projects in the eastern suburbs over the last 48 years, including apartments, townhomes, condominiums, retail and office. Dan shared a variety of developments in the planning stage at Gaughan Companies and around the eastern suburbs.
In 2018, Gaughan Companies will be developing a property that was recently purchased in St. Paul. At the intersection of I-94 and Snelling Avenue, this property is part of a rezoning and redevelopment of the area. We are excited to be able to redevelop this site and add additional value to the community.
It was encouraging to see so many people come out to the conference who are interested in real estate development in the Twin Cities. Gaughan Companies will continue to provide expert services to clients and communities, and we hope these other businesses will join us in this endeavor.
Snelling Ave. at I-94 Will See New Development in 2018
St. Paul, MN – July 21, 2017 – Gaughan Companies, Commercial Real Estate Developer and General Contractor, closed on the purchase of 304-308 Snelling Avenue in St. Paul on July 12, 2017. The final decision for the purpose of the new development is still being considered. Gaughan Companies is eager to develop in the city of St. Paul again.
Just off of I-94, the property is within walking distance of the Minnesota United FC Stadium and the Snelling Avenue Metro Transit Green Line. In addition to a new Whole Foods, this ideal neighborhood is also conveniently located near several major universities, including Concordia University, Hamline University, Macalester College, University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University. Over 42,000 vehicles pass by this corner every day.
The current building was constructed in 1913, and the property has been owned by the same person for nearly 40 years. Gaughan Companies is looking forward to the opportunity to redevelop this site and build a new facility for the community.
For more information, visit www.gaughancompanies.com.
Art and Science Academy Ground Breaking Ceremony
We are honored to be chosen as the General Contractor for the Art and Science Academy’s new middle school in Isanti. It was our pleasure to host a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of this incredible project.
School Director Carlo Galeazzi, Isanti Mayor George Wimmer, the school Board of Directors, including Chairwoman of the Board Susan Mackert, Economic Development Director Sean Sullivan, teachers, staff, and many others gathered at the construction site to celebrate. We are thankful for the opportunity to build this facility and work with all of these great people.
For more information, visit the Gaughan Construction Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/gaughanconstruction/videos/781124825427689/
Prepare the Construction Site for Severe Weather
In Minnesota, summer is a coveted season, and in the construction industry, it is the busiest season. There aren’t too many months out of the year when building can be done outside. In order to maximize the benefits of this season, general contractors need to prepare their construction sites for the chance of severe weather because while the weather can be perfect for construction, it can also be dangerous.
Late spring and summer severe weather in Minnesota includes torrential rains, flooding, hail, wind storms and tornados. These can all slow down construction and drastically increase the cost of a project if major damage and delays happen.
For wind storms and tornados, discuss with the project engineer where structure bracing can be done. Confirm that all loose materials and tools are properly secured or stored away. Airborne machinery can cause damage to more than just a construction site.
For rain and flooding, install temporary or permanent drainage systems where necessary. If a storm is approaching, check that these systems are free of debris. To also prepare for hail, temporary roofing or material coverings should be put into place until the permanent roof and building openings are all secured.
As every good general contractor knows, always check for severe weather alerts and have emergency plans put into place before the project begins.
-Jeff Bock
Robust Economy Ripe for Development
While many people are hesitant when faced with a change, real estate developers welcome change and are always up for a challenge; it comes with the territory. At a development site, people can generally only see that a building is worn down and beyond use, but they don’t want to let go of what once was.
An artistic, visionary developer can see beyond what may currently be there. They recognize the potential in a worn down building, if it can be repurposed instead of demolished. But sometimes, a building is just beyond repair. It is a developer’s job to discover a greater purpose for the site that far exceeds the community benefits of what was once there.
Developers face many challenges and are frequently stereotyped, but they are willing to take high risks to promote community growth and reward. The right developer will select a site design that is not only right on the inside but focuses attention to the exterior. Opposition to developers are often concerned about what the appearance of the building will be. Most developers don’t understand this, but this is the approach that Gaughan Companies takes.
A recent article in the Star Tribune looks into the increase in development in the Twin Cities. Contact one of our development or brokerage experts at Gaughan Companies, and let them put their proven skills and expertise to work for you on your next project.
-Patrick Gaughan
Artist’s Dream Comes True in Uptown
In November of 2016, Gaughan Construction began work on a new glass blowing studio in Minneapolis for Legacy Glassworks. A few short months later, in January, the studio was ready for a grand opening.
Josh Wilken-Simon, owner of Legacy Glassworks, chose Gaughan Construction to build the new studio because our project manager was the only contractor out of the ones that bid on the project who understood the complexity of the studio’s HVAC needs. Without knowing that Gaughan would win the bid, he drove up to Duluth to examine the system in the first studio.
Wilken-Simon began his studio in Duluth originally because of the artistic community. He spent six years there to confirm that only selling glass from the studio or from artists he knew personally would be fruitful. Wilken-Simon became interested in glass blowing in high school and hopes to be able to teach young artists this craft. Minneapolis was chosen as the location for the second studio in an effort to expand their clientele and share the art of local glass blowers with a greater audience.
Gaughan Construction Time Lapse: Family Pathways
As General Contractor for Family Pathways, Gaughan Construction delivered their new building ahead of schedule and under budget. We love working with the Family Pathways organization!
Demolition Begins for Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s New Home
On Saturday, December 3, a group of volunteers from Gaughan Companies, the Forest Lake community and area youth gathered together to begin demolition at the site of the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s new space. LAYSB is moving from their current building to the Town Center building in the heart of downtown Forest Lake. The plans for the new space include an education center, group rooms, counseling room, office spaces, reception and staff areas. Gaughan Companies is excited to help LAYSB be able to continue their mission to help the youth in our area.
LAYSB began in 1976 by local law enforcement, teachers and concerned citizens in the Forest Lake, Minnesota community in an effort to help young first time offenders from violating the law again. Since its creation, “the programs have evolved to include Youth Enrichment & leadership, Jobs Plus Programs, Mentoring and Family Support in addition to early intervention for youth, ages 9 to 18 years.” The bureau serves the Forest Lake School District and all of Chisago County.
The Commercial Construction Process – Part Three
This concludes the series on the commercial construction process. When we left off a few weeks ago, the HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, drywall and doors had all been completed. (You can read part one here and part two here.) Now let’s turn our attention to finishing up and moving in.
After the building’s main systems have been installed, it’s time for the cosmetic details to be applied. Flooring, painting, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, door hardware, electrical device covers, trim and cabinets are installed as the last step of the building process.
Landscaping and final site improvements are completed. HVAC, electric and water systems are turned on. All required inspections are completed to assure that construction has been performed in accordance with the plans and specifications and that the building is safe to occupy. Once all inspections have been satisfactorily completed, a Certificate of Occupancy is granted deeming the building safe to begin business.
As the building was being built, it was inspected by professionals at every step of the process. After the final inspections, most general contractors will call a meeting with their team to discuss how the project went. This provides them a chance to discuss any problems that may have occurred along the way and develop a plan for their next project. It’s also a good time to review the budget and verify that everything has been completed as budgeted.
As the contractors walk through the building, they create a punch list of any items that need immediate repair. These normally relate to defects in finishes and typically include repairing nicks in walls, repairing a crack in the floor, or changing light fixtures.
If a formal closing has not already been established by the lender, the building owner will need to complete this step before anything else can be done.
Lastly, if not already on site, curtains, blinds, cabinets, furniture, office equipment, desks, chairs, phone lines and appliances (such as microwaves and refrigerators for breakrooms) will be installed.
Depending on the size and planned use of the new building, the business owner may arrange for the press to come out for a grand opening. Often, a ribbon cutting ceremony is accompanied by a festival-like atmosphere as employees and members of the community are brought in to tour the building. A start date for operations is determined and staff are given a report date. Generally, within a few days or weeks of taking occupancy of the building, the business is ready to open its doors, and the process is complete.
-Dan Hebert
