COVID Renaissance

Although many had hoped 2021 was the year to emerge from the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry continued to struggle with unprecedented challenges. Problems such as labor shortages, supply chain delays, rising costs, and financing hurdles have plagued the industry over the past twelve months. Just when one thinks we can see a light at the end of the tunnel, the light turns into another gut-wrenching variant in the form of Delta or Omicron. Deliveries are delayed, orders postponed, flights cancelled, etc. The list goes on and on.

After close to two years of having to deal with a myriad of external challenges, the construction industry is suffering from COVID fatigue. So it is during this period of staggering price increases and problematic construction delays that I present to you a story of hope and revitalization. During the past two years, Re-View Windows worked on a preservation project that serves as a great example of what is possible. I present to you the restoration of the Fannin County courthouse in Bonham, Texas.

The history of the Fannin County courthouse is not the glamorous one that you would expect for a National Landmark. Originally constructed in 1888, the building was one of many courthouses designed by Texas architect, Wesley Clark Dobson. The structure’s rough-cut limestone, distinctive mansard roof, and cherry-top clock tower gave it unique architectural appeal. In 1929 a fire destroyed the roof and the clock tower, and both were discarded in favor of a cost-saving flat roof. If abandoning its architectural trademark wasn’t bad enough, 36 years later the courthouse was modernized by replacing all windows and installing a flat stone cladding around the entire exterior to modernize the structure. Many have likened this brutalist conversion to a vintage Cold War-era Eastern European architectural style. The converted building became a mundane shadow of its original beauty.

A conversion in 1965 completely altered the courthouse design

In 2016 the voters of Fannin County were called to determine the fate of their beleaguered community centerpiece. It wasn’t an easy decision since the costs to restore the building to its original grandeur were more than constructing a new courthouse. A large grant from the Texas Historic Commission (THC) was a significant factor in making revitalization a feasible option.

There wasn't much left after removal of the 1965 conversion

When the exterior stone cladding added in the 1960s was removed, the damage to the original limestone rendered the structure’s appearance similar to a bombed structure in Dresden, Germany during WWII. The collective experience of the craftsmen involved in structural, masonry, millwork, and roofing was staggering. The masonry restoration work itself was absolutely epic. Re-View was brought in to manufacture replica mahogany windows to match what would have been in the courthouse from its early days. We even matched the weight and pulley balances that existed in the original windows back in the day. Meticulous attention to detail on thousands of features like this were attended to by the architectural team at Architexas.

Installation of Re-View's replica mahogany windows

The courthouse is scheduled to reopen in early 2022 and now stands as an example of what a community can accomplish given extreme conditions. Add a pandemic-tainted construction schedule to the mix and the restoration is truly remarkable. The resulting rebirth of the 1888 courthouse will not only alter the town square in Bonham, Texas, but will forever change the community’s future. This is obvious as you drive into Bonham and see the clock tower beaming in the distance from miles away.

Let the magnificence of the restored Fannin County courthouse serve as a beacon of hope for all of us as we move beyond the pandemic in 2022. Fannin County shows us that the path to grace and beauty is often littered with challenges. Happy New Year!

Protests Inspire Changes

The protests over the past year have been successful in inspiring at least one change: The commercial construction industry will be forced to enter a new era of building security. I say this because watching the events of last week in Washington, DC, made me reflect upon the numerous calls my company received to repair windows damaged during protests last summer at various state capitol buildings we have restored.. The events of the past year have made public building security a vital element in the design of new and conversion of existing civic buildings in the United States. The construction industry has always been driven by meeting customer’s functional needs and the events of this past year are abruptly thrusting the industry to reevaluate building security.

 I don’t think we can view the violent protests of the past year as a mere aberration or one-time response to political and social unrest fueled by an affliction of COVID frustration. Our country’s transgression into property damage isn’t going to be saved or medicated by a new political administration or a vaccine. We are now in an era where fringe groups on both poles of the political spectrum are being fueled by the power of social media. The social media framework provides a structure and voice to promulgate ideologies that inspire violent actions against community structures everywhere. I predict that the occurrence of property damage and security breaches will become increasingly more commonplace over the next five years.

 The issue of security is not new to the construction industry. The Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks had a profound effect on the architectural design community. After those events, the industry responded with blast-resistant windows and doors to be installed at military and other high-risk facilities across the country. Re-View Windows was asked to design and manufacture historic ballistic-rated windows for historic structures, and an entire niche industry blossomed. Unfortunately, I believe we are now at another turning point in the construction industry where the security of public buildings will become a top priority.

 The breach of security at the nation’s capital last week inspires the notion of a whole new level of security in the design of new public buildings and the renovation of existing historic structures. Architects and engineers will be looking at windows and doors with a new set of priorities. Existing security products such as security films, shutters, specialty glazing, and security screens will become more commonplace. Designers might also work with manufacturers to solve custom challenges such as how to secure a historic structure without compromising the architectural detailing. Re-View Windows works closely with the design community to provide security windows for historic applications, maintaining the original architectural integrity and design of the structure while upgrading the building to meet today’s increased security needs.

 I predict that window and door manufacturers will step up to the plate to design new products that meet various security standards. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) uses testing protocols devised by ASTM International as a guide to manufacturing windows and doors that meet desired security performance metrics. Progressive manufacturers will be coming out with new designs that upgrade the forced-entry resistance to their window and door products to meet the new demands of security threats. These changes will be manifested in entirely new product lines as well as enhancements to existing systems that improve security performance. The future will also bring changes in window frame, sash, and hardware design in addition to the use of increased levels of security glazing.

 General contractors will also have to adapt to learn how these systems are integrated into the construction or renovation of the structure. Many of these products will involve other changes to the building envelope, structural changes to the walls, and installation challenges. Specialty subcontractors who understand the design and installation of these new systems will become increasingly more influential in the building process.

 The past year has certainly been challenging for the entire world. Unfortunately, the challenges of building security that have availed themselves through protests in the United States will be with us for the long haul.

 

More about Re-View: Re-View Windows manufactures security and ballistic windows for historic landmarks. We solve the challenge of meeting both historic preservation standards and security performance requirements.

A Sign of the Times

When you work on the preservation of historic properties, it is always exciting to discover some hidden artifact preserved for decades. Recently while I was removing wallpaper from a wall in the hallway of my home, I discovered a hidden signature on the plaster that said, “This wall finished papering by WM Pelletier, July 21^st, 1910”. William Pelletier was so proud of his work back in 1910 he was compelled to sign his name. As I reflected upon this discovery, I realized that it captures a major shift in people’s attitudes from then to now. The era of taking pride in a job well done is being threatened.

Thirty-plus years ago, the net worth of an individual was measured by the competence of his/her work. No matter what vocation you were in, whether it be doctor, politician, professional athlete, or tradesman, the skills deployed in your work were a direct reflection of who you were. In the construction trades, this meant you attended to the details of your job even when nobody noticed. It meant you went the extra mile because you saw your work as being a reflection of your values. You put your best effort into everything you did, not because someone was watching, but because that is who you were.

Over the past fifteen years, there has been a shift in this ethos. Work no longer defines our character. Our vocation has morphed into a means to support the activities we truly enjoy. Work is work, not an activity that fulfills our purpose. This attitude fuels a work ethic based upon doing the bare minimum to just get the job done. The goal of work is now to make as much money as you can rather than do the best job possible. You see this behavior in retail workers, flight attendants, and the health industry. It has become so pervasive that it can be rare to find someone who truly enjoys their work.

In the construction industry, the minimalist state of mind has produced an industry of checks and balances put into place to assure that work is done to satisfactory levels. Instead of relying on the pride of the workforce, we depend upon detailed specifications defining all work processes. Excellence is achieved by a system of quality control measures where workers are monitored by management, video surveillance, and QC checks. Re-View, for example, uses a litany of tests to assure quality control on all of our work. The days are gone where all you had to do is tell someone how to perform a task. Now you have to check their work to ensure all of the details are satisfied.

I don’t know how we got here. Maybe it is a result of us Baby Boomers spoiling our kids and burning ourselves out in the pursuit of a desired status of living. Maybe it is an outgrowth of the Great Recession where careers were displaced and employers began to treat the staff like disposable assets. It could be a product of social media, where people are more concerned with how they are perceived in a virtual reality rather than in the real world. It could also be a result of the pursuit of the almighty buck at the expense of everything else. Or perhaps it is some combination of these and other factors that have shifted our perspective.

The construction industry is at a turning point. A generation of people dedicated to their trade is about to retire, and there are too few self-motivated people in the system ready to take the lead. If the next generation of leaders is more interested in making it to Friday than making a difference, we are all in trouble.

This Trend is Sustainable

Sometimes trends in the construction industry are reflected in the strangest of places. I read an article about how the H&M clothing store is struggling. For those of you who don’t have teenage daughters who are always looking for cheap and stylish clothing, H&M is renowned for selling low-priced, trendy clothing that might last for one season. They have mastered the trade of selling disposable clothing. The fact that their sales are down reflects a consumer trend that is moving towards quality and sustainability rather than fashion. Consumers are being drawn towards classic designs that will last for decades. Recently, I have seen this same trend towards quality and away from throwaway building materials gaining momentum in the construction industry.

For the past thirty plus years, the construction industry has concentrated on how to deliver a structure for the lowest possible price. This obsession with lowering cost has driven manufacturers to pursue cheaper materials and designs, and owners to squeeze every penny from the bidding process. This “price is king” mentality consistently drove down quality of design, materials, and labor to a point where class action lawsuits became the resulting profitable industry. Just like the cheap blouse at H&M, windows, hardware, appliances, plumbing fixtures, lighting, etc. are designed to reside in the landfill after satisfying a ten-year warranty. But a growing dissatisfaction with cheap construction practices has given birth to a refreshing trend towards sustainability.

I first saw this movement towards quality reflected in my business. Re-View Windows restores historic windows and manufactures historic replica windows that are designed to perform for centuries. Our business model is based upon quality, not price, and over the past 25 years, we have seen a consistent demand for business. Our products are also designed to be easily maintained to extend the life over several generations. One doesn’t have to look far for other examples of the drive towards quality and sustainable design: 

1. The Green Building Movement which has previously focused on energy efficiency has expanded to concentrate on sustainability and recyclability. The life cycle of a building is a critical factor in this program.
2. The use of recyclable materials is expanding in all areas of the construction industry with materials such as aluminum, glass, and wood gaining acceptance at the expense of petroleum-based products like vinyl.
3. The glass industry is shifting its priorities from energy efficiency to quality. “We became myopic about energy efficiency…now we are starting to think in terms of life cycle,” said Mic Patterson of Schuco USA.
4. The need for increased strength has long driven the concrete industry for years. Now, due to the escalation in repair and replacement costs, manufactures are paying more attention to durability than strength.
5. Commercial project bidding practices are evolving as evidenced by the increasing popularity of the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method. Rather than basing the reward of a project on lowest price, this method connects the owner, design team, and key subcontractors to work together from design through implementation.
6. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has adopted a “circular construction” model where materials stay in play for longer, getting reused or recycled whenever possible. Buildings are being viewed as “material banks” and the bill of materials captured by BIM facilitates reuse.
7. The use of independent quality control of construction processes is more widely used than ever before. At Re-View, for example, we have glazing, finishes, sealants, and other elements tested by independent agencies on a regular basis.

I’m greatly heartened to see this trend toward better-quality and more sustainable construction

practices gain a foothold. It’s been missing for far too long, resulting in added job expense in the form of rework, missed deadlines, and shoddy workmanship. When construction quality suffers, the

industry as a whole suffers. I’m hopeful that as we move into 2019, we’ll see a greater emphasis on

quality control and personal ownership of all aspects of the end product. For now, since my daughters

are both grown, I’m just glad my days of purchasing sub-standard clothing at H&M are over.

Statehouse Work

Re-View is one of the few companies that excels at the disciplines of wood window restoration, steel window restoration, and manufacturing wood window replicas  for large National Register Landmarks. This is best exemplified by our current State Capitol restoration work. At the moment, Re-View is working on five capitol buildings. We are restoring the existing steel windows on the Oklahoma and Nebraska Capitol buildings. Our craftsmen are also restoring the wood windows at the Colorado Capitol. The Michigan Capitol will soon be graced with our wood window replicas to match the original design. And finally, we are finishing up work on the Wyoming Capitol where we are performing a combination of wood window restoration and fabricating replicas.

Reflections on 2016

I think that almost everyone would agree with me that 2016 was a crazy year on many counts. We were bombarded with bizarre events in sports, industry, human relations, and entertainment. This past year will be remembered for some time to come. In the wake of all of this tumult, the construction industry has trudged along under the radar. Both commercial and residential construction have grown to levels not seen for eight years. Construction-related employment has correspondingly advanced at almost twice the rate of conventional job growth. One thing I don’t like about the consistent and plodding growth we have experienced is that it tends to numb your motivation. So in an effort to keep myself alert, I looked at some key events from the past year that might provide inspirational lessons on how to make the most of 2017.

Your Strengths Can Cover UP Weakness

I am not a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), but I am a student of success, and have found Ronda Rousey’s story to be an interesting example for any business. Rousey went from working three jobs to support herself to putting a women’s sport on the map. She was dominant in the ring, eliminating many opponents in less than 30 seconds. Unfortunately, her dominance became her Achilles heel because it was based upon doing only one thing very well. As her opponents became stronger in other methods of fighting, Rousey ignored this trend and continued to do what she did best. This strategy eventually led to a first loss in 2015 and an embarrassing defeat last Friday.

Most successful businesses achieve greatness by doing a few things very well. Amazon has done it in logistics, Apple in technical design, and Costco in retailing to serve as a few examples. Rousey shows us that it is time to look at whether our strengths are clouding our judgement. Are your competitors making strategic changes that threaten your business? Are companies from other industries entering your marketplace for the first time? Are there subtle shifts in your marketplace that are not visible because you are too busy with your nose to your grindstone? The time is right for a little strategic introspection before someone punches you in the face.

Never Give Up

The Chicago Cubs are the best example this past year of an outfit that struggled for the past century to meet their goals and finally came through with a World Series victory 108 years later. This unprecedented Series drought is the longest recorded by any major American sports team. Although the Cubs made it to the Series seven times during this period of famine, they always came up short. People were beginning to believe that a curse levied by the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in 1945 was real. In 2016 the Cubs were able to shake the curse and ascend to the top of Major League Baseball.

Every business has its challenges whether they are minor or critical to survival. I think most people spend their efforts pursuing their dreams rather than basking in the glory of their achievements. And as is typical, our dreams are confronted, derailed, or undermined on a regular basis. At times one can wonder if attainment of a desired goal is even possible. At these times of despair, it is good to remember stories like the Cubs scripted in 2016. Anything is possible if you never give up.

    

It’s Never Too Late

I remember reading about the problems facing the Rio Olympics during the nine months preceding the games. When you combine delays in construction, construction defects, safety concerns, water & air pollution, failed infrastructure, and the Zika virus, it is amazing that the games weren’t cancelled. Given insurmountable odds of having their country ready to host, Rio came through in the end with a lot of hard work and some good ole fashioned luck.

Businesses often find themselves in overwhelming circumstances where the task at hand is daunting. Whether you have challenges in fueling unprecedented growth, developing a new product line or service, opening a new office, or struggling to stay afloat, achieving one’s goals can often appear impossible. If you ever find yourself wondering how you will make it to the finish line, remember Rio. The Olympics show us that anything is possible no matter how frightening the challenge.

I’m sure there are many other lessons to be learned from 2016, but these are a few that stood out to me. Since success in business can be fleeting, it helps to reflect upon lessons learned from external events so our strategies have a chance to continue to serve us well. May 2017 be your best year ever!

Capitol Improvements

One of Re-View’s strengths is its ability to work on historic windows for very large and complex National Register landmarks. Currently, we are working on four State Capitols at the same time. Each one has a unique set of challenges that makes our business fascinating. We are doing the following scope of work on these projects:

• Minnesota State Capitol: Re-View is finishing up its work on this project. We restored the historic exterior doors applying faux finishes on the interior. We removed existing aluminum replacement windows, restored the original wood window frames and fabricated and installed replica wood window sash into each opening. This brought the Capitol back to its original look.

• Colorado State Capitol: Re-View is performing wood window restoration on the existing window openings. We are removing the sash and bringing them back for a complete overhaul and restoring the frames in the field. When we are done with this work, the windows will be ready to perform for another 100+ years.

• Wyoming State Capitol: Re-View is removing existing aluminum replacement windows and restoring the original wood frames. We are then going to fabricate historically accurate wood window sash to match the originals. To top it off, we are applying custom extruded aluminum on the exterior to match the profiles of the frames, brickmould, and sash.

• Oklahoma State Capitol: Re-View is restoring the 472 original steel windows and installing  aluminum storm windows on the interior to upgrade the efficiency of the window system.