INSPEC Hires Cliff Buhman, P.E. as Project Manager
Cliff Buhman, P.E., was recently hired as a Project Manager with INSPEC, a consulting engineering/architectural firm specializing in building envelope, roofing, paving and waterproofing design, construction administration, and maintenance management services. Cliff’s professional experience includes service as the Supervisor for Health, Safety and Deferred Maintenance Projects for North St. Paul Schools; and as the Supervisor of Building and Grounds for St. Louis Park Schools, where he oversaw over $70 million of facilities renovations and improvements.

Cliff graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Minnesota. He has served the Minnesota Association of School Maintenance Supervisors (MASMS) as State President and Chairperson for the Legislative Committee. INSPEC has offices in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis. For more information on INSPEC services, contact Fred King at 763-546-3434 or fking@inspec.com.

KKE Architects Elects COO Tom Gerster as Company President
(Minneapolis) - KKE Architects, Inc.'s Board of Directors has unanimously approved Tom Gerster, AIA, as the company's President, effective as of June 1, 2006. He takes over this role from KKE's Chief Executive Officer Greg Hollenkamp. Hollenkamp remains as CEO and will continue to concentrate on future growth and development for the company.

Gerster, who joined KKE in 1981 and was named principal in 1988, also will retain his current position as Chief Operating Officer. As President, Gerster will provide top-level company leadership and direction to the firm's 230 employees, as well as oversee day-to-day operations of the firm's four offices.

"Geographic growth brings great opportunities and great challenges," said Hollenkamp. "As COO, Tom has done an exemplary job in fostering a 'one office' philosophy between locations and across business units, while still managing the day-to-day operations of the company."

An experienced specialist in planning and designing retail centers, Gerster is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Minnesota Shopping Center Association, and the American Institute of Architects. A registered architect in Minnesota and in 15 other states, he is NCARB Certified and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Montana State University. Gerster is a resident of Andover, Minn.

KKE also announced the following promotions:
Board Secretary - Quin Scott
Director - Brian Arial
Associate Director - Mohammed Lawal
Shareholder - Mark Giles
Senior Associates - Bob Bingham and John DeLacy
Associates - Jeff Houle, Tom Johnston, Daniela Bogdan-Kennedy, Larry Kugler, Yihong Liu, Gene Naval and Jodi Perfetti

Sustainable School Selects SageGlass Products for Energy Conservation, Daylighting Control
(Faribault, Minn.) - Expected to open in 2007, Twin Lakes Elementary School in Elk River, Minn., will feature electronically tintable SageGlass® windows installed in the building's science center. At the push of a button, the glass will switch from a clear to highly tinted state, actively controlling daylight, heat gain and glare, while maintaining the view outdoors. These benefits along with other sustainable design strategies aid the school district's pursuit of U.S. Green Building Council's Gold Certification under the LEED Rating System®. In addition to contributing to its learning environment, the innovative window system will be become part of the curriculum for the school's 750 students.

The SageGlass product application will be the focus of a "learning lab" in which Twin Lakes' students will conduct energy- and temperature-related comparisons between their SageGlass-equipped science center and their classrooms with conventional windows and shading. "We look at this science lab as a 'pilot project' for the SageGlass product and we intend to incorporate it into the school district's elementary school science curriculum as a learning tool," notes Dr. Ron Bratlie, director of business and operations for Elk River Area School District ISD 728. "One of the main drivers of the design and construction of this $18 million project is energy conservation, and that is one of the things that spurred our choice of SageGlass units," says Bratlie. "This product's capacity for suppressing solar heat gain will result in significant cooling and heating savings for Twin Lakes."

Glare control is another SageGlass product feature that will be of special importance to the science center and its users, "because it will enable better utilization of PCs and other equipment for which glare minimization is necessary," Bratlie observes. The science center is on the south-facing side of the school and is located near the building's core. The window units are fabricated into window systems manufactured by Wausau Window and Wall Systems and installed by W.L Hall Company.

Wausau Announces New Terrace Doors
(Wausau, Wis.) - Wausau Window and Wall Systems® announce its new TD-4250i Series Terrace Doors. Ideally suited for residential towers and high-rise hotels, the doors are part of the Advantage by Wausau product line offering pre-engineered, competitively priced, quality window and doors on accelerated delivery schedules.

Engineered for high-performance durability, Wausau's new Terrace Doors function smoothly as either in-swing or out-swing operating units. Both models are available with transom lites, kickplates, and French door astragal rails for residents and hotel guests to enjoy the doors' full opening onto a balcony or terrace.

The company says the doors meet or exceed stringent testing for forced entry, air infiltration, water and condensation resistance and structural integrity. The doors are AAMA rated as ATD-AW60 for single leafs and ATD-AW50 for a double leaf door. All of Wausau's doors are backed with up to a 10-year limited warranty.

Product descriptions, architectural details, AutoCAD files, specifications and technical guides for the TD-4250i Series Terrace Doors - and for all of Wausau's windows, doors, specialty glazing and cladding products, and curtainwall systems - can be found online at WausauWindow.com.

KKE-Designed Yankton Sioux Tribe Community Center Breaks Ground
(Minneapolis) - KKE Architects, Inc. celebrates the July 25th groundbreaking of a new community center for the Yankton Sioux Tribe in Marty, S.D. The $1.5 million project is funded in part by the Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe, a long-time client of KKE and sister tribe of the Yankton Sioux.

Construction of the Yankton Sioux Tribe Community Center is expected to start in October 2006, with completion anticipated in the summer of 2007. The facility will be built in two phases: The first phase will be a gym and recreational space for teens and elders, plus the necessary service and support areas. A swimming pool, a cultural and language studies room, and a multi-use space will be built during the second phase. The center also will feature a library, an art studio, and both personal and group fitness facilities.

In the Center's main interior, a gallery of Star Blankets commemorating tribal members will be on display. An appropriate artistic showcase, the blankets serve to honor the community's leaders and to console those who use the gathering space for future funeral services.

KKE has worked with dozens of projects to help ensure healthy, safe and productive Native American communities. Understanding the unique needs of facilities serving tribal communities, KKE is regarded as architect-of-record by the Yankton Sioux. The community center project team includes Randy Lindemann, AIA, and Carey Ottman Everson, AIA, who also recently designed Yankton's nearby justice center and jail.