At or around 1969, Warren Buffet started calling the “market” a “casino” because to him after they invented things like day trading, mutual funds and derivatives of all sorts, he felt the notion of buying stock to actually invest in a company and create capital became a joke and people poo-pooed his … [Read more...]
EXTERIOR WALL CONSTRUCTION IN MINNESOTA
A major issue in Minnesota construction has been the material used in exterior wall construction. The use OSB as the vertical wall sheathing with #15 felts as the weather and wind barrier over the OSB has been recently observed at a project here in Minnesota. I disagreed with this solution for … [Read more...]
CLOVER FIELD FINAL TURN OVER
The Clover Field Apartments in Chaska were closed out today, meaning the building construction process is finished and the last building has been turned over to the owner for occupancy. The first building was opened on September 1, 2008; about 25 units of the 117 total have occupants in them. There … [Read more...]
TECHNOLOGHY AND THE FUTURE
BIM, 3D BIM, 4D BIM, Integrated Project Delivery, buildingSMART alliance, technology based CAD. Technology is here and its here to stay. It all boils down to the fact that the work of the built environment is done by human beings. We must cooperate more, our very future depends upon it. Project … [Read more...]
SOLAR POWER
These are images of the solar panels on top of the Wellstone with the Minneapolis skyline in the background. These solar panels are heating the building's water and will provide 50 to 75 percent of the power required on an annual basis. The system is amassing simple and should be the norm on … [Read more...]
LEED ACCREDITATION
Miles & Associates is pleased to announce that James Miles has become a LEED Accredited Professional. Passing the exam is not about the exam, its about our commitment to the future of our planet and the role the building process plays in this. We fully expect to support and work on sustainable … [Read more...]
END DAMS
This is a picture of the damage caused to a house from water intrusion. The deck ledger board was not properly flashed. We discovered this damage, as we were residing the house, removed the decks, re -flashed, repaired rotten wall studs and sheathing. That was last fall. This week I got a call that … [Read more...]
MILES & ASSOCIATES ANNOUNCES NEW CLIENT
Miles & Associates is please to have a new client!! Schafer Richardson has retained Miles & Associates to do construction management work on “The Phoenix”, an eighteen story condominium project on the Mississippi River next to the historic Pillsbury A mill. This project is a for sale condo … [Read more...]
CUSTOM HOME
This custom house is an infill and was built in South Minneapolis, near Lake Calhoun. It was completed in August of 2007 and I recently went back to visit our work. Notice all the glass, this house has an airy and light feeling inside. We used Marvin “Integrity” windows and patio doors. It looks … [Read more...]
SOLAR POWER
Field trip to Hammond Wisconsin to see a hot water solar panel installation. The system visited is very similar to the solar system that will be installed at The Wellstone project, latter this year. The power of the sun is awesome, this solar panel system produces more than 70% of the hot water … [Read more...]
