Commercial

| Casework | Stairs | Mouldings | Mantels | Commercial | Links |

Tri-North and Brunsell Lumber: Partners in Quality Commercial Construction

For more than 16 years, Tri-North Builders, Inc., has been recognized for its high-end finished carpentry. And for more than 60 years, Brunsell has been synonymous with quality building materials, supplies, lumber, and handcrafted millwork. It was no surprise, then, that when the two companies collaborated on the renovation of the Michael Best & Friedrich offices, the results were stunning.

The 33,000-square-foot remodeling project, completed in June 1998, consolidated five different downtown offices into the Firstar Bank building on Capitol Square. After seeing impressive work at many of its projects, Plunkett Raysich Architects, the Milwaukee firm which created a unified design between the law firm's branches in Madison and Milwaukee, chose Tri-North and Brunsell to implement the local plan.

“Their goal was to have the most impressive law offices in the state,” explains Joseph Donnino, president, Tri-North Builders, whose project manager, Shawn Wardall, hired subcontractors and coordinated the entire project. With it came unique construction challenges that both companies tackled successfully. “We actually had to cut holes in the floors of the Firstar Bank building to create an interior atrium that spanned from the seventh to the ninth floors.”

"The project called for an outstanding amount of custom millwork—more than four miles of a unique moulding extends throughout the office," adds Shop Manager Peter Wolf from Brunsell Lumber, one of the millwork contractors on the project. "Brunsell provided more than 100 doors and architectural millwork, such as the interior sash walls."

The project also called for custom-made chairs, desks, and other furniture. Brunsell also handcrafted the stairway, a dramatic focal point of the office. All of the wood used for the project was of the highest quality—select cherry, with exact specifications down to the sanding, finishing, and the putty to fill the nail holes.

"We also did a lot of specialty radius work for custom moldings the architects designed, and can handle most any request," adds Wolf.

The entire project was completed and ready for move-in within an amazing nine-month timeline. Success like this has been built over years of collaboration together, including restaurants, offices, retail stores, and banks. Both companies also have a long-standing history of accommodating their clients' needs as they grow.

"They are excellent craftsmen," says Bill White, managing partner of the Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich, who worked with Tri-North and Brunsell on their previous facility. "They work well with their customers, and their subcontractors share that same customer-friendly philosophy. They worked within our deadlines and fully implemented the architect's plan."

"We look at every project as a team approach with the owner, architect, and subcontractors, and can facilitate progress by coordinating and scheduling the entire process," says Donnino, whose company works throughout the Midwest and has a branch office in Milwaukee. "Together, we can complete a project within budget and on schedule, and consistently uphold a high level of quality."