Chicago, IL (February 2021) Joshua Freedland has joined Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration (BAMR), the nation’s leading terra cotta and façade restoration contractor, as Director of Historic Preservation. During his 20+ year career, Joshua’s expertise has benefited hundreds of historically significant buildings and sites throughout the country including Prudential Plaza in Chicago, IL, Farnsworth House, in Plano, IL, Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Joshua brings an exceptional depth of knowledge in investigation, analysis and recommendations that BAMR will leverage on assignments across the country.

Joshua is a professional associate of the American Institute of Conservation (AIC) and past chair of the AIC’s Architectural Specialty Group. He is also an associate editor of the Journal of the American Institute of Conservation and is the preservation issues committee chair for Landmarks Illinois. Joshua earned a Master of Arts degree in Comparative History from Brandeis University and a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from University of Pennsylvania. His penchant for preservation has extended his professional contributions to include teaching, lecturing and publishing extensively in both academic and professional circles.

Ceres has left the building. Fortunately, the move is only temporary.

After 94 years, Ceres, the iconic statue perched on top of the Missouri State Capitol dome, has been removed. She was dismantled on November 15 to undergo repairs.

Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration (BAMR) safely secured and resourcefully removed the 10’-4” sculpture of Ceres, the Roman Goddess of Agriculture. The team, led by senior project manager Jeremy Johnson, procured a 550-ton crane which allowed skilled tradesman to access and remove the statue while hundreds watched and waited to see the historic figure up close. Ceres was then transported to the Conservation of Sculpture and Objects in Forest Park, Illinois.  She’ll be there for the next year for refurbishment.

BAMR is currently conducting material analysis testing to understand the composition of the bronze and metal that make up the well-recognized statue. The team is also creating cleaning samples and color mock-ups to establish an appropriate restoration program that will be reviewed for approval by the State of Missouri. Once finalized, the restoration program will describe in detail the necessary repairs, laser cleaning, patina applications and sealing needed to maintain Ceres for the next century.

In conjunction with coordinating Ceres’ conservation, BAMR is also completing the façade repairs that encompass the entire capitol building, totaling 500,000 sq. ft.. The restored capitol building is expected to be completed in 2020, in time for the next gubernatorial inauguration.

 

 

There is no greater pride felt for what we do, than when applying our skills and services to positively impact someone in need.  That pride is amplified when that person is one of our own. When Bulley & Andrews’ superintendent Dave Schaver was diagnosed with brain cancer, colleagues and industry friends quickly stepped up to lend a helping hand.

In April, B&A foreman Steve Magnant and Superintendent Phil Romanowski organized a group of volunteers to help the Schaver family with various home renovations. Truly a labor of love, the improvements were targeted in an effort to help Dave and his wife, Linda, host their daughter’s wedding at their home this summer.

Lifting hammers to lift up another, more than 75 volunteers transformed the Schaver’s home (kept secret from Dave) while he and Linda were out of town. In a matter of days, volunteers, working shifts around the clock for eight days straight (and in some cases through the night), provided the time, talent and materials to successfully complete several projects. The scope of the renovations included landscaping, exterior and interior painting, two completely renovated bathrooms, kitchen improvements, new laundry room, new sliding back door to replace the single door, replaced pool deck to include new railing system, repaired pergola, and a new grill area.

Many of the volunteers on the project lined the driveway the day the Schavers returned to their newly renovated home.  “This is unbelievable,” said Dave at the home reveal. “I’ve never had something like this done for me my entire life. I can’t thank you all enough.”

B&A would like to recognize the skill and selflessness of those who volunteered on this meaningful project.  It is of no surprise that their involvement, enthusiasm and dedication took the scope of work to a whole new level. Jake Allsop,  Misael Arguelles, Kenny Burris, Juan Cervantes, John Cronin, Spencer Douglas, Laythen Fiege, Jody Gaunt,Dave Gorski Rob Gemo, Miguel Gutierrez, Francisco Ibarra, Julio Jimenez Sr, Julio Jimenez Jr, Mark Johnson, Dave Jungles, Don Kolkebeck, Joe Koppers, Tony Loffredo, Everardo Lopez, Herman Lopez, Humberto Lopez, Pat Niesen, Matt Niesen, Leslie Osborn, Robert Parchman, Joe Piecuch, Dave Price, Bill Pulaski, Jose Rodriguez, Joel Sanchez, Ryan Stetler, and Chad Stoner.

Additionally, B&A would like to acknowledge the generosity of the subcontractor community that stepped up to wholeheartedly support the effort.  Their spirit and camaraderie to make the project so robust is awe inspiring.  We offer special thanks to: ABT Appliance, American Custom Millwork, Bourban Tile and Marble, Construction Cleaning Corp, Eiserman Landscaping, Glass Solutions, Hammerwell Metals, Heritage Flooring, Hester Painting and Decorating, Jamerson and Bauwens Electric, Kerrigan Plumbing, Masonry by Fernando, and Totem Lumber and Supply.

Below is a video of the project’s reveal to Dave and his family.

Meet Malik McMillon, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Missouri-Columbia and three-time summer intern with Bulley & Andrews (B&A). Find out what he learned and how working with B&A has provided opportunities to turn his dreams into reality.

As a child I loved seeing how buildings went from a drawing on a piece of paper to becoming a real-life structure. I would use Legos to make my own designs come to life. For the past three summers, my internship experience at B&A has allowed me to turn my childhood building dreams into reality. 

In 2016, the alumni coordinator from my high school, The University of Chicago Charter School Woodlawn Campus, reached out to me about a summer internship opportunity with B&A. I was excited to start building my experience in the construction industry and applied for the position.

An Opportunity to Give Back

As an intern, my first learning opportunity was the new building for my alma mater. It was an awesome opportunity because it gave me a chance to not only get hands-on experience but also allowed me to give back to the community where I grew up. Making an impact by helping to construct my high school’s new building was a dream come true.  

I was taught how to handle submittals, RFIs, and become familiar with specifications on projects which are key elements to successful project management. B&A’s internship program places significant emphasis on mentorship.  Having a mentor who worked with me closely helped me understand what to expect when building my career in this industry.  

After my positive experience in 2016, I knew that I wanted to serve as an intern again in 2017 and was invited to return. This was when B&A was constructing their new office building and it was a unique opportunity to be a part of that process and their future.

Leveraging Tools and Sharpening Skills

2018 has been my third summer working as an intern at B&A.  I was thrilled be assigned to support the Robert Crown Community Center, Ice Complex and Library project. Since the project is in the preconstruction phase, it gave me an opportunity to learn more in depth about estimating and budgeting, including performing take-offs. This year I was also tasked to assist with gathering and handling closeout documents and LEED documents, something I had not done before.  

Each year interning at B&A has offered me a new experience to leverage tools and sharpen skills valuable in the construction industry. I have loved working with the people at B&A and building my knowledge of the construction industry. B&A has done an extraordinary job of ensuring interns are challenged but also closely mentored to gain the most from their internship experience.  

Gaining Real-World Experience

All those I’ve interacted with at B&A are always willing to help, and everyone has a passion for what they do. This atmosphere has expanded my love and knowledge of the construction industry. I am grateful to Bulley & Andrews for the opportunity to work toward my dream of being a civil engineer and gain the kind of real-world experience that I know will serve me well in the future.

Reinforcing the importance of learning, it was fitting that Bulley & Andrews held its 2018 Safety Stand Down at two projects under construction for new educational facilities – the Richards High School Performing Arts Center and Hinsdale Middle School.

Each year in partnership with Chicagoland Associated General Contractors, B&A selects two jobsites to host a Safety Stand Down where work is halted for special safety talks designed to provide extra emphasis on training, precautions and hazard awareness. This year’s focus was on cultivating a safety conscious culture.

B&A’s Safety Director, Greg Marquez, who led the event, said that a key to a strong safety program is a culture of shared responsibility on site and in the office.

“We need to watch out for each other,” Marquez said. “We’re a team and our number one priority is that every single person goes home to their family at the end of the day. It takes everyone’s participation to sustain a successful safety program.”

What made the Safety Stand Down at Richards High School particularly unique was the attendees. Workers were joined by students who got to see first hand what it’s like to work on a construction site.

In addition to learning about workplace safety, the students were given a jobsite tour by the project’s superintendent, John Wilkes. B&A leveraged this opportunity to continue our commitment to spark students’ interest in construction and careers in the trades. Using the construction site as a remote classroom, this Safety Stand Down provided multiple lessons for all involved.

 

 

Opening the door to hope on Tuesday, March 6th, The Salvation Army, in partnership with the City of Chicago, celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Shield of Hope. This is the nation’s first rapid-response emergency homeless assessment and response center. The new facility will address the needs of families in crisis, providing services that further the Army’s goal of “serving those in need, while ensuring they maintain their personal dignity.”

Serving as construction manager, Bulley & Andrews (B&A) was honored to construct this vital community resource, located in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood across from the recently completed Freedom Center. Due to rising need, there was a short time frame to meet aggressive deadlines for construction, which B&A bested finishing the project six weeks ahead of the original schedule.

“Dedication, collaboration and trust are core values at our firm,” said B&A president, Tim Puntillo. “Our clients depend on us to complete projects on time, with the highest quality craftsmanship.”

Designed by Antunovich Associates, the 22,000 square foot, two-story facility provides families facing homelessness personalized service and support to find permanent living arrangements. The Shield of Hope center can provide housing for 75 individuals and includes:

• 20 bedrooms with private bathrooms
• Laundry room
• Cafeteria
• Counseling, support services and life skills training
• Assistance obtaining permanent housing

 

For more on the project, see the Shield of Hope in the news:

• NBC5: The Salvation Army Opens New Family Center
• 27th Ward Newsletter: Salvation Army Opens Shield of Hope Family Center
• City’s First Rapid-Response Homeless Shelter Opens on West Side

Introducing a new trend in theatrical architecture, The Yard combines adaptive reuse with innovation in flexible design. Bulley & Andrews (B&A) constructed the new theater, working alongside CST and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), to bring this impressive new performance space to life.

“The Yard is forward-thinking and responsive–and a fitting expression of the theater that Chicago Shakespeare has become,” said Criss Henderson, CST’s Executive Director. “The versatility of the space means that it is perfectly suited to the widest range of our work: from large-scale musicals and new commissioned works, to international imports and programs for young audiences, and, of course, bold imaginings of Shakespeare’s plays and the classics.”

Complex Construction

To create the revolutionary new space, elements of the underutilized former Skyline Stage on Navy Pier were repurposed, transforming it into a fully enclosed, indoor theater. The new, 33,000 square-foot expansion connects through a spectacular, two-level glass lobby to CST’s existing building. Significantly reducing energy costs for the Theater, the two-story lobby curtain wall was fabricated with 3,200 square feet of electrochromic SageGlass®, which adjusts the windows’ level of opacity depending upon the level of sunlight (akin to transition lenses used in eyeglasses). When the glass is at its most opaque, the Theater’s curved façade is virtually mirror-like — reflecting the stunning views of the Chicago skyline and lakefront.

Construction of The Yard began in March 2016 and was completed by B&A in a whirlwind 18 months. More than 200 architects, engineers and designers, and 400 construction workers contributed to the complex build, which incorporated 2,500 tons of concrete, 375 tons of steel and 15 miles of electrical conduit. Eighteen 95-foot-long micropiles were driven into the lake’s bedrock below Navy Pier to support the additional weight of the new structure. The fully enclosed, year-round theater chamber was constructed below the iconic white tent with exacting engineering specifications, resulting in less than six inches of clearance at the narrowest point between the steel beams and tent canopy.

The construction timelapse video below showcases the complex nature and expert coordination The Yard project required.

Dynamic Design

The Yard features a first in flexible design: nine audience seating towers — each the size of a London double-decker bus, stood upright — which can be rearranged in a wide array of configurations, with audience capacities ranging from 150 to 850. Between productions, compressed air skid technology (commonly utilized in industrial and aeronautical settings) lifts each of the 35,000-pound towers 3/8 of an inch off of the ground on a bed of air, allowing them to be moved and repositioned by a three-person team.

“Nothing is more thrilling to theater-makers than flexibility,” noted Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. “The adaptable platform of The Yard gives artists a theatrical ‘blank slate’ in which to shape their work without the physical constraints of a fixed footprint–and gives audiences an exciting, new perspective from their seats for each production.”

The Yard’s towers were pioneered especially for this design under the direction of CST’s Criss Henderson and Charcoalblue’s Andy Hayles, and fabricated by Montreal-based ShowCanada (best known for its work with Cirque du Soleil and on large-scale theatrical events like the Olympic Opening Ceremonies). These complex structures (each measuring 12′ deep x 18′ wide x 37′ tall) house extensive theatrical technology, and connect into a network of HVAC components and sprinkler systems to provide maximum audience comfort and safety. Additional modular main-floor seating risers and custom-built stage decking complete each configuration.

This dynamic design makes The Yard the most flexible theater in the world.

“The Yard, an innovative, immersive theater, will create electrifying performances and inspire all who walk through its doors,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am thrilled that Chicago Shakespeare now houses three world-renowned venues that will attract audiences from our city and cities around the world.”