BUILDING PROFIT - Butler Manufacturing

FALL/WINTER 2007

BUILDING PROFIT®

A Facility to Better

Serve Patients

Auctioning Great Big ThingsSuccessful Small Buildings

A Roof That Stays in Shape

BY JUDY GEORGE

BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 20072

Each year, more than 100 milliontons of consumer goods pour intothe United States—more than

double the amount imported just 10years earlier.

This vibrant growth inimports has made industrialwarehouse and distributionspace especially attractive toinvestors. But in an unpredic-table and increasingly inter-dependent world economy,some experts question whatwill happen to the ware-house and distributionmarket in the next few years.

EVOLVING NEEDS OFDISTRIBUTION

Warehouse and distributionproperties represent about half ofall industrial space in North America—5billion of the 10.5 billion square feet ofindustrial real estate on the continent.

But warehouse and distribution space is amuch higher percentage of new projects underconstruction. Of a total of 309.2 million square feet ofindustrial space under construction last fall, 70 percent—or80 million square feet—were warehouse or distribution centers.

Not only is the number of warehouses and distribution centersgrowing, but their scope and size are changing, too.

Bob Bach, national director of market research at Grubb &Ellis in Oak Brook, Illinois, calls an emerging type of distributioncenter “modern logistics space.” These centers have higherceilings, a higher ratio of docks to floor space and bigger truckcourts than older distribution facilities. Truck drivers can park afull trailer, pick up an empty one, then quickly return to the road.

Large logistics projects often cluster near seaports, wherecompanies can unload shipping containers, sort goods and sendthem via truck or rail to stores or distribution centers. Centersalso are located near rail lines or airports, or at majorcrossroads of interstate highways.

DEPENDENCE ON GLOBAL MARKETSResearchers at the Kiplinger Business ResourceCenter in Washington, D.C., report that ware-

house construction remains strong, particularlyin port locations, as long as it’s fueled bybooming world trade.

Yet the world market, with all its oppor-tunities, also poses risks. A global

economy can be volatile, aswitnessed earlier this year

when the Shanghai CompositeIndex’s decline rippled through U.S.

markets.Slower global economic

growth could reduce importand export volumes in thefuture. This will affect industrial

leasing absorption rates, especially asnew warehouse and distribution space

continues to enter the market. Ifglobal trade volume narrows the

flow of shipping containers coming toU.S. ports, many warehouses and distributioncenters could become vacant.

STRATEGIC FUTURE GROWTHThe Kiplinger Business Resource Center expects warehouse

rents to rise throughout the year, climbing an average of 3.7percent across the country. They are likely to jump even morenear ports on the West Coast and the Gulf Coast.

Beyond next year, some cities might have too much distri-bution space, but strategic opportunities are likely to remain.

At year-end, Chicago’s warehouse and distribution vacancyrate was 8.3 percent. But the Inland Empire of California posteda different story: Despite a plethora of new warehouse and distri-bution buildings in recent years, the Inland Empire’s vacancy ratewas only 1.5 percent.

“This supply would be a problem in most markets,” says KippDubbs, president and chief executive officer of the Omni WestGroup in Laguna Hills, California. “But we’re seeing hugevolume of container traffic move into our ports and we expectthat economic growth to continue.” ▲

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Distribution Space Boom

Fueled by Imports

17SMALL BUILDING SUCCESS STORIES

Dependable, attractive andcompetitively priced, systemsconstruction was the right solution forthe owners of a Wisconsin Qdobafranchise, an Indiana medical groupand an Illinois strip mall.

BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 2007 3

THE MAGAZINE FOR DECISION MAKERSFALL/WINTER 2007 Vol. 27 No. 3

BUILDINGPROFIT

DID YOU KNOW? 16There’s a roof system

that can stay in great shape for more than 35 years.

VISIT OUR WEB SITE

FOR MORE TOPICS!

For a handy reference

to other interesting construction

projects, bookmark this address:

www.buildingprofit.com

4IMPROVING THEHEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE

Grace Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, was carefullydesigned to be an efficient, relaxing, one-stopfacility for its patients.CONTENTS

10HOW TO AUCTIONGREAT BIG THINGS

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers are internationalexperts at selling monstrous merchandise. Theyhave recently completed four new state-of-the-art auction facilities in North America usingsystems construction.

♥♥4 BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 2007

This bright, efficient building is designed to better serve patients

IMPROVING THE

HEALTH CAREEXPERIENCE

5BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 2007

Imagine visiting your doctor’s office, havinglab work done, picking up your prescriptionand walking out 45 minutes later.A dream? Not at Grace Clinic, a new 110,000-

square-foot facility in Lubbock, Texas, dedi-cated to improving the patient’s health careexperience.

“We’re running around 45 minutes right nowand we want to improve on that,” says RandyHickle, MD, president and CEO. “Our goal is 30minutes.” He emphasizes that the efficiencies

are all on the part of the clinic—patients mayspend all the time they want with theirphysician.

A practicing anesthesiologist and inventor,Hickle also heads Scott Laboratories, aleading-edge medical research and develop-ment firm in Lubbock. Scott Laboratoriesdeveloped Grace Clinic to address delivery ofquality care while improving the patient’sexperience and decreasing the rise in healthcare costs.

BY MEV WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY D. ALTMAN FLEISCHER

Grace Clinic providesits primary carepatients with efficient,one-stop doctor visits inan attractive, relaxingenvironment. And itsinnovative designdemonstrates the archi-tectural flexibility thatis possible with Butler

®

building systems.

“We understood that Butler’s forte issystems that can go above and beyondwhat you can order out of the book”KELBY SUE, AIA


IMPROVING THEHEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE

Hickle knew an innovative approach tohealth care would need a new building fromthe outset. He tapped Jim McComb, ofMcComb Construction Co. Inc., a ButlerBuilder® in Austin, Texas, for help. Since theclinic would be in Lubbock, some 400 milesaway, McComb agreed to act as owner’s repfor the project, assembling a constructionteam and overseeing the job.

Parkhill, Smith and Cooper Inc., in Lubbock,was chosen as the architect and engineer ofrecord, based on the firm’s extensive ex-perience with health care facilities. Lee LewisConstruction, Inc., a leading Lubbock builderalso quite experienced in health care con-struction, was chosen as constructionmanager at risk.

Hickle chose a 10-acre site off Marsha SharpFreeway, close to Texas Tech University andother major medical facilities, for the $25million project. The first floor provides clinicspace for up to 25 physicians, along with animaging center, laboratory facility and

pharmacy. The second floor houses same-daysurgery and clinical procedure suites.

Designed for patientsScott Laboratories staff conducted exten-

sive research prior to the start of construc-tion. They studied Mayo Clinic, ClevelandClinic and other leading medical institutions.More than 200 doctors, nurses and patientsparticipated in focus groups and walk-throughs of full-scale mockups, providingvaluable feedback on everything from work-flow patterns to furniture and fabrics.

Patient research showed that peoplepreferred getting all of their health care at onefacility, which led to Grace Clinic’s integrationof medical offices, lab, imaging center andoutpatient surgery. “Our focus is primarycare,” Hickle explains. “We see our highestmission as being the prevention of heartattacks, strokes and cancer. Those threefactors alone count for half of the deaths inthe United States.”

Patients also revealed that they “don’t enjoy

Patients are greeted atthe door in thespacious two-storyentrance lobby andescorted to the appro-priate area within thebuilding. The clinic’slayout ensures thatpatients never have towalk through thephysicians’ workenvironments.

and-coming, innovativehealth care deliverysystem,” he says.

The two-story, glassentry on the northeastcorner softens the largestructure and provides abeacon for the facility.“Drivers traveling eitherdirection on the adjacenthighway see it,” says Sue.“Inside, you experience theentire two-story spatialvolume, with the second-floor balcony looking downinto the lobby.”

Patients are greeted atthe door and escorted to the appropriatearea. Warm colors, comfortable furniture andsmart acoustics create a calming atmospherein private waiting areas. Exam rooms come offa central spine that houses the clinical workareas.

“The light makes a huge difference in theenvironment—people respond well to theinfusion of natural light”KELBY SUE, AIA


the sights, sounds andsmells of a clinic orhospital,” Hickle adds.“They don’t walk throughthe physician’s workenvironment here. Theymeet their doctors in theexam rooms. The examrooms and all of the areasthe patients see aredesigned more like a hotelthan a hospital or clinic.”

That feeling of hospitalitystarts on the outside,where the goal was to beapproachable and attrac-tive, according to Kelby T.Sue, AIA, principal at Parkhill, Smith andCooper. Much of the patient feedback camefrom women age 35-plus, the primarydecision makers for family health care. “Wewanted something tasteful and attractive towomen, while projecting the image of an up-

Butler Builders®: Owner’srepresentative: Jim McComb; McCombConstruction Co. Inc.; Austin, TexasErection: Schwob Building Co., Ltd.;Dallas, Texas

Architect: Kelby T. Sue, AIA; Parkhill,Smith and Cooper Inc.; Lubbock, TexasConstruction Manager at Risk: LeeLewis Construction, Inc.; Lubbock, Texas

Size: 110,000 square feet Butler® Systems:Multi-Story structural system Koreteck® panelized building system ThermaLiner™ insulation systemMR-24™ standing seam roof system

GRACE CLINIC/ SCOTT LABORATORIES

A glass-lined corridorleads to the patientexam rooms. Thearchitect’s dramaticuse of windows andnatural light is part ofthe clinic’s carefullyplanned, pleasantenvironment.


IMPROVING THEHEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE

A glass-lined north corridor directspatients to the exam rooms. “The light makesa huge difference in the environment. Peoplerespond well to the infusion of natural light,”Sue adds.

Designed to fast-trackMcComb recognized immediately that

Butler® building systems would work perfectlyfor the two-story clinic and the contemporarydesign. “It is a large building—a two-storystructure with some very critical steel designcriteria for the second floor, plus require-ments for very high R values in the roof andwalls. All those factors fit well with Butlersystems,” he says.

Plus, time was a factor. Ground wasbroken in late October, and the first-floorclinic and imaging areas opened Novemberthe following year. The second floor surgeryunit was completed around five monthslater. “That we were able to pre-purchasethe Butler steel and have it ready whenneeded was critical. Dr. Hickle had workedon this for several years and, when he finallypulled the trigger, he wanted it donequickly,” recalls McComb.

“The schedule was particularly grueling,”adds Chad Henthorn, project manager for LeeLewis. “To open a 110,000-square-foot clinic ina year or so is a pretty daunting task.”

The architects worked extensively withButler engineers during the design process,even visiting Butler’s regional office in SanMarcos, Texas, early in the process to workout details. “It was a really beneficial experi-ence,” says Sue. “We had many nuancesoutside the norm for systems construction. Ofcourse, we understood that Butler’s forte issystems that can go above and beyond whatyou can order out of the book. Their engineerswere very helpful in pulling off the design.”

The preliminary designs specified anexterior treatment with some panels set inand others set out from the wall. “They calledfor deep metal studs with lots of insulationand EIFS (exterior insulated finish system),”says McComb. “The Koreteck® panelizedbuilding system was very cost competitive. Irecommended it to the client and he loved it.”

The Koreteck system’s fully insulated, steel-core panels virtually eliminate areas for waterto collect and mold to grow—an essential

“We have expensive equipment that can’tget wet—and the risk of mold in patientcare settings isn’t an option”RANDY HICKLE, MD

Dr. Randy Hickle knewthat an innovativeapproach to healthcare demanded adifferent kind ofbuilding. Every aspectof the clinic, includingcolors, furnishings andexamination rooms, isdesigned to provide anatmosphere morereminiscent of a finehotel than a hospital.


consideration for the clinic and a real advan-tage over standard EIFS. The Koreteck systemcould also deliver an insulation value of R-24.8.

“In north Texas, high R values for the roofand walls are very important,” McComb adds.“We also gave them an R-30 rating and a niceclean liner panel in the roof with the MR-24™

standing seam roof system and ThermaLiner™

insulation system.”McComb arranged for Schwob Building Co.,

Ltd., a Dallas Butler Builder, to handle the roofinstallation and steel erection. “It is importantto have the right erector and one with a greatdeal of experience, which Schwob has,” heexplains.

The MR-24 roof system’s weathertightperformance and Koreteck wall system’s moldresistance were ideal for a medical facility,explains Hickle. “We have expensiveequipment that can’t get wet. And the risk ofmold in patient care settings isn’t an option.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge was locatingthe operating rooms on the second floor.“Typically, operating rooms are located on theground floor because eliminating vibration iscritical with all the instrumentation,”Henthorn says. “We were able to work withthe Butler engineers to ensure the vibrationloads did not exceed project requirements.That they had the expertise to make that workhelped tremendously.”

Designed with a visionGrace Clinic is more than a one-stop shop

for family health care. For Scott Laboratories,it is also a progressive learning center wheremedical processes and systems will be refin-ed. “Our celebrations will be those silentvictories when prevention triumphs becauseone more patient doesn’t require expensiveheroic measures,” Hickle says.

It is also an approach Hickle plans to dupli-cate in other locations.

“We’re delighted with the building. Ourpatients are very satisfied with it. It’s abeautiful facility inside and out,” Hickle con-cludes. “It’s meeting our key objectives offacilitating high-quality health care in a settingthat improves the patient’s experience andalso provides more efficient—and thereforemore cost-effective —service.” ■

“It’s meeting our key objectives of facilitating high-quality health care in a setting that improves thepatient’s experience”RANDY HICKLE, MD

10 BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 2007

The heart of each new facility is its largeauditorium (above, in Nashville, Tennessee, and atright in Denver, Colorado). Wheeled equipmentmoves onto a ramp past this covered seating areafor bidders. Stationary equipment is sold in theauction yard with the help of a mobile sound truck.Ritchie Bros. also provides all catering, securityand shuttle services for its customers.

11BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 2007

What would you like to buy: a street sweeper, a bus, a tractor, apiece of farmland, a telescopic forklift, a snowplow? These—and hundreds of thousands of other items—are sold each

year by a company that specializes in selling great big things. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated is the world’s largest auction-

eer of industrial equipment, operating at over 110 locations in morethan 25 countries around the world. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in2008, the firm conducts over 175 unreserved industrial auctions andmore than 140 unreserved agricultural auctions every year, all acrossthe globe. Built by stressing customer loyalty and satisfaction, thecompany is respected worldwide by customers and competitors alike.

The company’s biggest auction to date was held in Orlando, Florida,in February 2007. The five-day, unreserved auction drew more than5,800 registered bidders from 63 countries and every U.S. state andCanadian province and territory, and it generated more than $172million (US) in gross auction sales.

Ritchie Bros. recently completed four state-of-the-art, full-serviceauction facilities using Butler® building systems. These are located indiverse areas of North America: Denver, Colorado; Nashville,Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio; and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.The far-flung locations of the projects reflect the widespread networkof Butler Builders® available to serve Ritchie Bros.’ needs.

“One reason we use Butler is for the convenience,” says RobertThompson, senior manager of properties for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.“The quality of Butler’s general contractors in the regions we serviceallows us to quickly develop relationships with them.”

Auctioning giant-sized

MerchandiseRitchie Bros. Auctioneers has

developed an efficient system forselling enormous items

BY LINDA MASTAGLIOPHOTOGRAPHY BY PADDOCK PRODUCTIONS

AND TOM GATLIN PHOTOGRAPHY


AUCTIONINGMONSTROUS MERCHANDISE

Butler®

buildingsystems have theflexibility to replicatethe facilities’ basiclayouts in differentsizes, wherever theyare needed—and theWidespan™ structuralsystem provides thenecessary clear spansto make them work.These photos show themain entrance forcustomer check-in (top)and the auction side(right) of the Denverfacility. The large glassdoors (middle of build-ing, right) can be leftclosed or rolled upduring an auction,depending on theweather.


Butler has proved to be a good fit for RitchieBros. for other reasons. Each Ritchie Bros.facility consists of two main buildings: anauction building and an adjacent facility forrefurbishing equipment and other items. Thebuilding layouts are flexibleto accommodate variedfacility space and siteconstraints and fine-tunedto meet individual marketneeds.

“Systems constructionanswers our need for largeopen spans,” explainsThompson. “The economyof using metal buildingsystems provides efficien-cies and the one-stop-shopconcept saves on cost. With pre-designedbuilding components, we can count ondelivery that meets the schedule. We find thata single-source supplier such as Butler alsooffers a better level of consistency.”

Designed to serve customersRitchie Bros. auction buildings offer

spacious and open interiors with uninterrupt-ed sight lines and theater seating to accommo-date as many as 1,500 onsite bidders. During

inclement weather, thebidders stay warm andcomfortable as they face aglass overhead doorthrough which they viewloaders and dozers andother heavy equipmentand industrial assets thatare paraded past thewindow as each item is upfor bid. When the weatheris nice, the overhead doorsstay open while the

equipment is brought over the ramp duringthe auction.

The recent auction buildings also include amezzanine to house a VIP lounge completewith a glass curtain wall overlooking the

“Butler® buildings are very straightforward. . .they’re crisp, clean,well-detailed. The quality assurance from the factory is good and theshop drawing process provides a complete package”ROBERT THOMPSON

THE START OF SOMETHING BIGIn 1958, Dave Ritchie and his two brothers, Ken and John, ran a smallfurniture store in Kelowna, British Columbia. One day, they needed $2,000to pay the bank. They decided to hold an auction and sell their excessinventory. This raised the needed capital, and they realized that auctionscould be a smart business venture. In 1963, the Ritchie brothers held theirfirst industrial auction, selling all the equipment used to build a newhighway in eastern British Columbia. This sale generated gross sales inexcess of $600,000—more money in one day than they made in an entireyear in the furniture business.

The brothers sold the store and immersed themselves in the world ofindustrial equipment auctions. They started expanding eastwards into otherCanadian provinces, and in 1970, they held their first U.S. auction inBeaverton, Oregon—achieving US $110,000 in gross sales. Through the1980s and 1990s, the firm expanded into Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexicoand the Middle East. Sales offices were established in the Netherlands,Sweden, England, Germany, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Australiaand in the United Arab Emirates. Ritchie Bros. then expanded into SouthAmerica and Asia, opening offices in Panama and Singapore. Since 2000,the firm has added, among others, sales offices in Spain, Italy, SouthAfrica, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Indonesia, China, Iran, Belgium,Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Ireland, Finland, Romania, Russia, Portugal,India and Turkey.

Butler Builders®: Design SystemsBuilders, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee;Mishler Corporation, Frederick,Colorado; Renier Corporation,Columbus, Ohio; Wright Construction,Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Typical Butler® Systems:Widespan™ structural systemShadowall™ wall systemButlerib® II liner panels MR-24™ standing seam roof system

RECENT RICHIE BROS.FACILITIES


AUDITIONINGMONSTROUS MERCHANDISE

auction theater below. The mezzanine canalso be used to house offices, hospitalityareas, and conference space.

Ritchie Bros. auctions are fast-paced andchoreographed to move merchandise quickly.Typically, 60 to 100 items sell every hour.Thompson feels that Butler systems are wellsuited to Ritchie’s purpose and allow him totake a similar efficient approach to construc-tion and design.

“Butler® buildings are very straight-forward,” he says. “They’re crisp, clean,well-detailed. The quality assurance from thefactory is good and the shop drawing processprovides a complete package. This makes iteasy to make selections, such as components

and warranties. Cost is always a concern andreasonable pricing is important.” For thelatest Ritchie Bros. buildings, Butler systemsinclude the Shadowall™ or Butlerib® II wallsystem, Widespan™ structural system andmetal liner panels to neatly finish the interiorwalls. The buildings are topped with theweathertight MR-24™ roof system.

“One thing that is important to us is theeffectiveness of the roof system,” saysThompson. “We are comfortable that the MR-24 system is a premium roof system thatis well engineered. It provides good service.”

Each facility’s separate, environmentallycertified refurbishing building is designed toprovide one-stop services to make vehicles

The efficient design ofthe latest Ritchie Bros.auction facilities alsoincludes a second-floorVIP lounge with a glasscurtain wall at theback of the auctionauditorium, allowingclients to watch theauction action below.

“Butler‘s good reputation is a big plus, and their Butler Builder®

contractor base is a big benefit”ROBERT THOMPSON


McGregor in a recent company news release. “Half the population of the United States is

within a 500-mile radius of Columbus, makingit a convenient place for both buyers totravel to and consignors to send their equip-ment. Our site is right on the interstate, in ahigh-visibility location.” In recounting arecent auction, McGregor added, “We hadinterested buyers from 25 countries and 49U.S. states, with 77 percent of sales leavingOhio. A good number of new registrants werefamiliar with our one-off auction sales butthey’ve never been to one of our full-servicefacilities—and they loved it. They didn’trealize how we have modernized the auctionbusiness for them.”

For a company with a worldwide reach anda focus on customer satisfaction, being able toreplicate such efficient and effective facilitieswherever there is a need for them is a priority.And Butler has been able to help Ritchie attainthis goal.

Global players“We’re international,” says Thompson, “and

Butler has a good position internationally,especially with BlueScope Steel behind them.Butler’s good reputation is a big plus and theirButler Builder contractor base is a big benefit.I hear and see the Butler name more than thatof any other metal building manufacturer.” ■

and equipment auction-ready. The column-free space provided by the Widespanstructural system ensures an openenvironment for painting and sandblastingheavy equipment. Other activities includecleaning, welding, priming and glassreplacement.

Case in pointRitchie Bros.’ Columbus, Ohio, site is an

example of the efficiency of their practicalplanning and building design. “As with all ourfacilities that we build around the world, wemade a concerted effort to find the perfectlocation when choosing this Columbus site,”said Ritchie Bros. Area Manager Scott

WHAT AND HOW THE AUCTIONS SELLRitchie Bros. Auctioneers sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broadrange of used and unused industrial assets, including equipment, trucksand other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, materialhandling, mining, forestry, petroleum, marine, real estate and agricultureindustries.

What is an unreserved auction? Because there are no reserves, nominimum bids, and no owner buy-backs at Ritchie Bros. auctions, biddersknow that they are bidding only against other legitimate bidders and theauction is fair and transparent. Buyers can trust that they’ll pay fair marketprice when every item is sold to the highest bidder. And by attractingbidders from around the world, Ritchie Bros. is able to transcend localmarket conditions and deliver a world market price. Find out more atwww.rbauction.com.


DID YOU KNOW ?

There’s a straightforward difference. Otherstanding seam roof systems may have panels thatmove with expansion and contraction—but howwell and for how long before they start to bindand bend? Here’s why the MR-24™ system canstay weathertight for more than 35 years:

PERFECTLY ALIGNED FOR UNOBSTRUCTED MOVEMENT Factory-punched panels and roof structurals mean precisealignment for the sliding clips. This aids installation, and thepanel seams stay straight as an arrow.

DESIGNED TO BE STRONG, STAY WEATHERTIGHT The MR-24 panels have interlocking, staggered endlaps for extrastrength—and the panels are then locked together in anexclusive, 180-degree, field-formed Pittsburgh double-lockedseam. (That’s the same seam used for metal storage barrels.)

MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF PROVEN PERFORMANCEThe MR-24 standing seam metal roof system has passed the 35-year landmark for proven performance, and some industrystudies project a life expectancy beyond that—provided that theroof system is properly maintained.*

* Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Roofing Technology, “The RelativeDurability of Low-Slope Roofing,” Carl G. Cash, 1996. The Metal Initiative. “Low Slope RoofingLife Cycle Cost Analysis,” Ducker Research Company, May 2005.

CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES

STRAIGHT SEAMS EVERY TIMEButler® factory-punched panels and roof structurals mean straightseams, free movement and high performance. Butler also backsits installations with an available 25-year weathertight warranty.

THE STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND ALL TYPES OF WEATHERThe MR-24 system’s exclusive double-locked seams have beentested under 6 inches of water and even have withstood batteringfrom baseball-sized hailstones without leaking.

PROVEN PERFORMANCE YEAR AFTER YEARWith more than 35 years of history and almost 2 billion squarefeet installed worldwide, the MR-24 roof system has proven itselfmany times over. Your Butler Builder® will be glad to show youinstallations in your neighborhood.

A SYSTEM GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTSEach part of the MR-24 standing seam roof system has beenengineered and fine-tuned to work with the others. The MR-24system is not a hodgepodge of pieces, but a single, high-performance metal membrane. Why settle for less?

BUTLERMR-24™ STANDING SEAM ROOF SYSTEM

The MR-24™ Roof SystemWon’t Get Bent Out of Shape

NON-BUTLERANOTHER STANDING SEAM ROOF SYSTEM

17

Small Building Success Stories

QDOBAPLAZAButler Builder:

Anderson-Ashton,Inc., New Berlin,Wisconsin

Size: 14,900 squarefeet

Butler® Systems:Landmark™ 2000

structural framingsystem

MR-24™ standing seamroof system

Koreteck® panelizedbuilding system

Qdoba Mexican Grill

“It really takes advantage of that cornerand emphasizes it”

BY BEN JONES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PADDOCK PRODUCTIONS

Butler Systems construction offers smaller enterprises great flexibility.

Mike Pranke knows a good businessopportunity when he sees one. Pranke,president and CEO of Roaring Fork RestaurantGroup, has developed and now operates 25Qdoba Mexican Grills in Wisconsin.

Pranke owned a prime, but undeveloped,retail corner in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin—anupscale community on the western shore ofLake Michigan.

He hired Anderson-Ashton Inc., a ButlerBuilder® in New Berlin, Wisconsin, to demolishthe existing buildings, which included a gasstation, and put in an attractive shoppingcenter anchored by a Qdoba Mexican Grill.

Anderson-Ashton encountered manyobstacles, including asbestos abatement,unstable soil and strict storm water manage-ment requirements. Once site work wascomplete, however, the firm was able to startthe foundation in March and complete the$1.6 million project in June.

Pranke had never used systems

construction before, but agreed to give it atry. “Anderson-Ashton does many Butler®

buildings, and they took that application to aretail setting,” he says. “The solution worked.”

Anderson-Ashton chose the Koreteck®

panelized building system for the walls of thehigh-profile, L-shaped center, which isdistinguished by its distinct storefronts andan extensive use of glass.

The unique Koreteck system consists ofwall panels with a steel core surrounded byexpanded polystyrene insulation. Thisdeadens outside sound and greatly increasesenergy efficiency. Because they replace metalstuds, insulation and exterior sheathing, thepanels go up quickly. They also come ready tobe finished—in this case with masonry, whichcomplied with the village’s strict designstandards. Inside the eye-catching Qdobarestaurant, exposed vinyl-faced blanketinsulation in the building’s low-maintenanceMR-24™ roof system further lessened interiornoise and energy loss.

The Landmark™ 2000 structural system wasideal for dividing the mall into open retailspace for the rest of the tenants. They includeCaribou Coffee, Coldstone Creamery, AfterHours Formal Wear, Subway, Verizon and aneye-care business.

Pranke is pleased with the results. “It’s oneof our more attractive buildings, and it’scompetitive price-wise,” he says. “It reallytakes advantage of that corner and empha-sizes it. It has a nice presence.”

BUILDING PROFITFALL/WINTER 2007



Associated Family MedicalConsultants

ASSOCIATEDFAMILYMEDICALCONSULTANTSButler Builder:

Felderman Design-Build, Fort Wayne,Indiana

Size: 10,256 square feet Butler® Systems:Widespan™ structural

system MR-24™ standing seam

roof system

“The design-build process made it really easy”

Three years ago, family practitionersDennis Uhrhammer and Andreana Hodginiwere in such cramped quarters that theirpractice’s three doctors had to work atdifferent times—there weren’t enough examrooms for them all.

“We desperately needed space,”Uhrhammer says.

So the two formed HUG Realty and boughtland on Lutheran Hospital’s campus in FortWayne, Indiana. They had very definite ideasabout the layout and look of their new offices,and although they had never built a buildingbefore, they chose the design-build processand Felderman Design-Build, a Fort WayneButler Builder®.

The doctors met with Ryan Harris, theproject manager, Greg DeWeese, the designmanager, and owner Russ Felderman totranslate their ideas into drawings. Theresulting design—a 9,628-square-footstructure built with Butler® building systemsplus some conventionally built bump-outs—totaled 10,256 square feet.

“We came up with a layout that suited ourneeds and met all the space compliances ofthe Patient Privacy Act. The design-buildprocess made it really easy,” Uhrhammersays.

The doctors had already sold their oldbuilding and had to be out quickly, and thedesign-build process cut almost 30 percent off the construction time. The offices of

Associated Family Medical Consultants wereready for occupancy on schedule.

Uhrhammer, Hodgini, family practitionerJoe Mattox and their staffs occupy nearly7,000 square feet of the building. IndianaPhysical Therapy, which also collaboratedwith Felderman on the design of its space,and Pathologists Associated, a laboratory,lease the rest.

The building satisfied Lutheran Hospital’sstrict appearance requirements for itscampus, “even though our building lookstotally different from all the others,”Uhrhammer says.

His early concerns vanished as he walkedthrough the building during construction. Thealmost daily walk-throughs gave him a senseof the flow of the building and prompted himto move a few walls around to better fit thepractice’s needs—no problem with theflexibility provided by the Widespan™

structural system.Uhrhammer notes that having column-free

interior space resolved questions such as, “Is this a weight-bearing wall?” The MR-24™

standing seam roof system also helpedensure the building would be a low-maintenance, high-performance facility.

“I was extremely pleased with the project,”Uhrhammer says. “I can’t imagine it going anymore smoothly than it actually went. Both theinternal and the external parts of the buildinglook absolutely wonderful.”

18

19

Editorial Director: Leslie ClarkEditor: Judy Findsen Editorial Assistant:

Catherine Cooper Art Director: Frank Satogata

Building Profit® is published onbehalf of the Butler Builder®

organization by Page Two Publications, Ltd., in cooperationwith Butler Manufacturing Company.

Editorial Office: Building Profit Magazine, Page Two Publications, Ltd., P.O. Box 8067, Cincinnati, OH 45208, Phone: (513) 321-7780.

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BUILDING PROFIT®

FALL/WINTER 2007 Vol. 27 No. 3

19


PROGRESSVILLAGEButler Builder:

Phalen SteelConstruction Company,Mendota, Illinois

Size: 14,720 square feet Butler® Systems:Landmark™ 2000

structural system Shadowall™ wall system MR-24™ standing seam

roof system

Progress Village

“The appearance drawspeople to it”

Dick Welte wanted to build a strip mall in Peru, Illinois, but hisproperty was off the beaten path—it missed the main highway by oneblock.

Welte’s solution? He asked Phalen Steel Construction Co., a ButlerBuilder® in nearby Mendota, to construct a building so different thatpassersby, catching a glimpse of it, would actually turn off the highwayto see it.

“I have just the idea for you,” Mike Phalen told him, dusting off a setof plans he’d wanted to build for years.

Welte took photographs of historic buildings in neighboring com-munities. And in a design-build collaboration, Phalen Steel created theperiod look that they were after—very unlike the cookie-cutter big-boxstores that loom nearby. The result was a huge success.

“The appearance draws people to it,” Welte says. “If they’re drivingdown Route 251 and they see the building, they come over just to get acloser look. It’s just like a block of an old-style downtown.”

Phalen’s father had built municipal projects for Welte 20 years agowhen Welte was mayor of another nearby town—Princeton, Illinois.Now Mike and his four brothers run Phalen Steel as equal partners.With them, as with their father, Welte knew he would get the samedependable performance and Butler quality he’d come to expect.

Progress Village is also a family enterprise. Welte’s daughter ownsthe Old Glory store, which sells home furnishings, and his son ownsBike Works, which mimics a 1950s filling station. Another tenant is thePhoenix Group, an insurance agency, and Welte has interested partiesfor the other three units in the 14,720-square-foot building.

In fact, he’s already poured the foundation for five more units to beadded to the north end, doubling his building size—an expansion madesimple by the flexibility of the mall’s Landmark™ 2000 structural fram-ing system and Shadowall™ wall system. The building also features along-lasting, low-maintenance MR-24™ standing seam roof system.

Welte adds that the entire mall is a low-maintenance facility. “It’s avery efficient building,” he says. “It’s easy to heat and cool. It came outreally nice.”

BUILDING PROFITFALL/WINTER 2007

FALL/WINTER 2007

CANADABUILDING PROFIT®

A Facility to BetterServe Patients

Auctioning Great Big Things

SuccessfulSmall Buildings

Post Packaging'sEfficient, Expandable

New Facility

Post Packaging'sEfficient, Expandable

New Facility

2 BUILDING PROFIT FALL/WINTER 20072

As a tier-2 just-in-time supplier for the automotive industry, PostPackaging of Windsor provides specialized packaging for tier-1automotive parts suppliers to General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota andothers.

Its warehousing activities include manufacturing “dunnage”—the customized partitions that fit inside thecorrugated cartons that it supplies for its cus-tomers. It also makes dunnage for the plasticbins, or “returnables,” that some of its clientsuse to deliver factory-ready parts to assemblyplants.

“We design and supply any kind of pack-aging our customers need—from partitions tofoams to die-cut pads,” explains Larry Howe,president of Post Packaging.

The company was operating from two lo-cations in Windsor, Ontario. They owned an18,000-square-foot facility that had run out of room, and rentedroughly 20,000 square feet of warehousing space elsewhere.

“Supplying just-in-time means that we ship to our clients everyday so that they don’t have to store any inventory,” says Howe.With his company working at full capacity, it was time to build abrand-new facility under one roof.

CANADA

Picking the right proposalPost Packaging purchased a new site and asked several builders

to submit design/build proposals. They chose Rosati Group, aButler Builder® in Windsor. “I liked the design of their building, andI liked their proposal and the way that they presented it,” Howe

says. “They have a very good reputation inour city.”

Rosati’s proposal called for a 41,428-square-foot facility combining conventionallybuilt front offices and a systems-builtwarehouse with three loading docks. Thedesign was not only ideal for the company’sneeds and present volume, but also plannedto handle its future needs. The offices couldexpand upstairs onto a 1,964-square-footmezzanine and even be built out to the east,if necessary; the warehouse could easily

expand an additional 10,000 square feet. Howe also felt using systems construction would speed the

building process. Post Packaging had put their existing building upfor sale. When it sold promptly, they needed to vacate by a certaindate. “We were kind of under the gun,” Howe says. “Obviously,

(continued on back cover)

Butler Builder: Rosati Group, Windsor,Ontario

Size: 41,428 square feet Butler® Systems:Widespan™ structural system Shadowall™ wall system MR-24™ standing seam roof system

POST PACKAGINGOF WINDSOR

A Timely Project for a

Just-In-Time SupplierPost Packaging needed an efficient, expandable new facility

BY JUDY FINDSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRED FROMHOLZ

we had to get the construction material we needed quickly, and theButler people were very good at turning that around for us.” Timely, attractive and functional

“Knowing our record for fast-tracking projects, Post Packagingapproached us with an extremely aggressive schedule. UsingButler® building systems for the warehouse allowed us to meet theirrequirements. The turn-key project was built in approximately 20weeks,” recalls Rosati Group’s Denis Gauthier.

In addition to the tight schedule, the weather was less than ideal.“They had snow to contend with, but we moved into our shop righton time, on January 1,” Howe says.

Howe had never been involved in the construction processbefore, and he was pleased with the way Rosati Group kept himapprised of the project’sprogress. “We were meet-ing every week, and wehad the opportunity tomake changes—such asmoving the officesaround,”he adds.

He also was pleased towatch the project takingshape: The new buildingis both functional andattractive. The front officeportion incorporates ar-chitectural block, stuccosystems and a distinctivecanopy with pillars thathighlight the building’sentrance. The warehousehas matching architectural

(continued from inside front cover)

A TIMELY PROJECT FOR AJUST-IN-TIME SUPPLIER

CANADA

block walls up to a height of 7 feet 4 inches, with the Shadowall™wall system above. Inside, Rosati Group used the Widespan™

structural system to provide plenty of flexible space for storage andassembly.

Howe was further pleased that a feature he enjoyed in his oldfacility—the weathertight MR-24™ standing seam roof system—would be installed on his new warehouse. “When we purchasedour former building, I wasn’t aware that it also was a Butlerbuilding,” he says. “But the entire time we occupied it, we neveronce had to go up on the roof. We never had any problems withthat roof system.” Efficient and comfortable

Post Packaging’s new all-in-one facility has made serving itsjust-in-time clients easier. And the company’s 30 to 35 employeesare now working in greater year-round comfort. “Our summers can

get very humid, so wedecided to air-conditionthe entire building—warehouse and offices,”Howe says.

Howe is proud of andpleased with the newfacility, and he enjoyedtaking part in thedesign/build process tohelp create it.

“I had never built abuilding before,” headmits. Rosati Group wasvery good. They didn’tleave me hanging out todry—they were there allthe time. For a rookie likeme, it worked out reallywell.” ■

“I had never built a buildingbefore—for a rookie like me, itworked out really well”LARRY HOWE

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