Burning Hills Amphitheatre Elevator Access Project Wins NDRM&CPA Gold Star Award

Taracon Precast, Wysan Precast Services, and Roers have been honored with the North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association (NDRM&CPA) Gold Star Award for their outstanding collaboration on the “Burning Hills Amphitheatre Elevator Access Project.” The project, recognized as the top project in the Commercial Category, was presented with the award at the NDRM&CPA 58th Annual Convention in Dickinson, ND on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

The Burning Hills Amphitheatre Elevator Access Project, situated at 3422 Chateau Road, Medora, ND 58654, is a pivotal element of the ongoing Access Medora initiative. This initiative, driven to enhance the Medora Musical experience, aims to improve accessibility for individuals of all ages and abilities. The centerpiece of this endeavor is the high-capacity elevator produced with precast concrete elements including: 9” solid walls, 12” solid walls, 6” solid slabs, and 42” double tees produced by Taracon Precast, erected by Wysan Precast Services, and overseen by the general contractor, Roers.

Unlike traditional methods that involve shuttling guests up and down winding walking paths, this innovative elevator offers a fast, safe, and efficient alternative for those requiring extra assistance. Completed by the Roers team in the spring of 2022, the Burning Hills Amphitheatre Elevator Access Project significantly contributes to providing an enhanced experience for guests at the Medora Amphitheatre.

The elevator, designed to accommodate hundreds of people each night, serves both convenience and safety, facilitating the swift movement of guests and aiding emergency responders. Aligned with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, the elevator project is a testament to the commitment of Access Medora to inclusivity and accessibility.

In response to the successful implementation of the Burning Hills Amphitheatre Elevator Access Project, Kinley Slauter, Director of Entertainment & Attractions at Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, expressed her appreciation, stating, “After the first two seasons of operation, our visitors and staff continue to express appreciation for this great new amenity at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre on a near nightly basis. Additionally, in this setting we wanted to add something that enhanced the Medora Musical experience with inspiring architecture and craftsmanship. We believe the project achieved that, beyond our expectations. We remain grateful for the sponsors who made it possible and to the teams at Roers, Winn Construction, and Dickinson Ready Mix for making it happen.”

If you want to see what opportunities you have to see this project for yourself, head to Medora website!

To read more about this project, head to the Project page HERE.

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Becoming Lowman Walton Hall

Another historic renovation is in the books!

On Monday, November 7th, 2022,  Dickinson State University had their ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Lowman Walton Hall, formerly known as Pulver Hall.  The ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted by DSU President Steven Easton and Director of the TR Center, Christopher O’Brien.  Roers was the general contractor overseeing the complete interior renovation of this six-story building. 

Originally built in 1967, Pulver Hall was used as a male only dormitory, and in later years was repurposed into an office building and has been used as that ever since.  The new Lowman Walton Hall is now housing the Theodore Roosevelt Center, which does digitizing of the 26th President of the United States.  On the upper two levels of the building, there are suites that have been re-converted into modern dorm rooms to house students. 

You can also check out our Pulver Hall project page HERE.

Introducing Our New Safety Manager!

How long have you been with Roers?
7 years

What positions have you held?
Carpenter, Lead carpenter, and Safety Manager, As well as being on the safety committee for 3 1/2 years straight.

Why are you passionate about safety in the workplace?
Safety is what keeps us happy and healthy, it lets us go home at the end of the day. It saves us money, and it proves that we are all in this together.

What opportunities do you see to maintain and better our safety stats?
I’d like to collect and analyze the data available to help pilot a proactive safety culture. When everyone understands and respects hazards and can speak up to and educate the ones less knowledgeable, we can cultivate a plan to remain efficient as well as safe.

How did you become involved in Safety at Roers?
had a minor jobsite incident that was less than serious, involving a forklift, but still required some action. I was placed on the safety committee at that point to help educate me on safety in the work place. Well, it worked! I really did pay attention and changed my attitude about safety, 3 years later I won the annual Safety Champion award. 8 months after that I was promoted to Safety Manager.

What is your favorite part of working for Roers in general and in your role?
Roers really does feel like a family, but I have to say the field and the office are more like cousins rather than siblings. I get to work with the entire family and would like to bridge the gap better to bring us closer together than ever before.

Mack Buck

Safety Manager
safety@roers.com

We are all excited to welcome Mack into his new role with Roers and can’t wait to see where he takes safety with the company!

ROERS POV: Missouri Slope From The Ground Up

Taking on Missouri Slope

“Every project comes with its own challenges, and Missouri Slope was the largest project I have taken on.  With the new opportunity, I was excited to start long before the project officially began.

Missouri Slope has an updated, unique design that centers around a “core” of the building for staff to serve the resident wings. In my mind I viewed it as five separate buildings, and would explain it as such to all subcontractors coming on-site, so they were not overwhelmed by the sheer size of this project.

We came in aggressive and self-performed the foundations for the first wing, this proved to be the most difficult wing on the project. It is the deepest area of the project, and there we discovered a vein of water that flows from that corner diagonally across the footprint of the building. During this portion, we were constantly working in the water.

After a month of excavation and forming, we had a snow event that drifted in over 6-feet of snow. I was hands on from the start, providing layout, tying rebar, building temporary access roads for ready mix trucks, and pouring. Whatever was needed to continue work was done.

The foundations are my favorite part of any project, and I’m thankful that we were able to make it past the various hurdles sent our way.

Once we were past the first wing, our foundation subcontractor came in with a small army of 18 men. As they progressed further into it, another dozen came in to start setting the steel and precast. It was great feeling to see a sizable crew join us and get after the project. Roers is a very hands on company, we self-perform from ground up. At first, it was difficult to let these guys run with it without comparing how we would typically approach tasks.

The plumber was the first individual on the job. He came on the project very early to start doing plan reviews and prefab in the basement of the existing building, where we had a great office space set up. Had he not been on-site I would’ve been the Lone Ranger for quite a while before more crews started showing up.”
Roers Mask Donation
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Hitting the Pandemic

“I don’t like to go down the pandemic road, but how can you not address it. It was difficult, to say the least. Times were uncertain long before it reached the states. The state health department tried to close down the project site.  I had a feeling of pride that Roers was able to keep the project moving, keeping people at work. We were one of the few companies lucky enough to not go through a shut down, but others didn’t share the same view. People in the field wanted direction. They wanted answers, as did I, but no one had them at that time. We were all in tune with the hourly news with concerns of them closing state borders or interstate travel. It all seems so long ago, and ridiculous now, but the fear was real . The Covid task force Roers came up with was amazing and was able to calm everyone in such a short time. Knowing it’s being addressed at our top level of management eased the strain on everyone. I could go on with multiple stories of conversations, conflicts and incidents, but overall, Missouri Slope has been such a positive project and I don’t like to dwell on that era of the project.  However, it still had a tremendous impact on myself and the project overall.

I do have to mention one comical memory: While driving on the interstates, the rest areas were closed, but still they placed portable toilets out for travelers to use. It’s an example of how unprepared we all were for such a catastrophe.”

Coming to an End

“Looking back it seems every month brought a milestone, deadline, a new trade on-site, or unforeseen challenges, most often it was the weather.

I have worked with multiple subcontractors over the years, everyone involved in the field can attest to some of the difficulties some trades may bring with them .

At the end of Slope, I look back and can honestly say I have not worked with a better group of trades. 

I feel as though I’m making a large leap to the end here, but to sum it all up this has been one of the most gratifying projects I’ve been tasked with. Not just the project itself, but working alongside the team of individuals Roers put together to make it happen.”

-Philip Keller, Superintendent

You can read more on Missouri Slope by visiting our project page here or heading to their website!

United Way of Cass-Clay & Roers: Building the Future of Our Community

It’s times like these that we all look toward something to believe in, see the positive, and seek moments where we see the power of people working together for the common good.  

Each and every day, United Way of Cass-Clay in Fargo is harnessing the power of community to create a better tomorrow for everyone. Their invitation and mission to LIVE UNITED resonates with the Roers core values of opportunity, partnership and community, and Roers is proud to partner with them on building a new home that will serve our community for decades to come.

A New Home for United Way of Cass-Clay Working at the Intersection of our Community

United Way works at the intersection of businesses, nonprofit partners, public organizations, and volunteers and individuals who have the desire to give back. “When it came time to select a location for the new home of United Way, being at the intersection of our community, was key,” said Kristi Huber, United Way of Cass-Clay President & CEO.

Back in March of 2020, United Way announced the location of their future home during their LIVE UNITED Awards and Annual Meeting via this video shot at the build site. It truly is at an intersection – near where interstate 94 meets 45th Street at 4351 23rd Ave. S., Fargo.

A Building Design to Reach Out to the Community

“Reaching Out” was selected as the name to reflect how United Way is always reaching out to the north, south, east and west – across Cass and Clay counties.

“Reaching out is a name and a philosophy our United Way team and partners embrace every single day,” said Huber.  

United Way of Cass-Clay reaches out:

– to those in need

– for new solutions

– to make connections

– for support

– to LIVE UNITED

In 2020, United Way is reaching out to the community and shining a light on homelessness. Here in our local community, each night, more than 1,022 people are homeless. In addition, it is estimated that of the people who are homeless in our community, 23% are children. This powerful video shows the true struggles faced by so many families in our community, and the opportunity we have to help them at their point of need, changing their path and future forever.

United Way’s goal is to prevent 90% of children and families from becoming homeless by 2020. An investment of $720 could prevent one family from becoming homeless. We invite you to learn more and give at unitedwaycassclay.org.

A New Hub to Bring the Community Together

To continue their important work to help those in need, the United Way team is set to move in before the end of 2020, and will begin utilizing this thoughtfully planned space as a hub for bringing our community together. This space will support the needs of our growing community, and maximize the positive change United Way is able to create. Every aspect of the building was intentionally designed by JLG Architects and built by Roers, and will efficiently meet the needs of the United Way team, volunteers and community for decades to come.

“We are so grateful to the entire Roers team, and the expertise and knowledge they provide. Roers has been tremendous partners for us during the design and planning of this project. We are so excited to have Roers build our new home,” said Huber.

Generosity from the Community Makes it Possible

United Way could not have achieved this goal without the support of generous partners and donors.

A lead gift from Border States Electric, and members of their leadership team will create an amazing Welcome Experience for volunteers and inspiration in our Team Innovation Center. A generous investment from First International Bank and Trust, will allow United Way to maximize their trainings and on-site events in the new Volunteer Activation Center.

The Future of LIVE UNITED is Taking Shape 

In October, the building continued to take shape, and is now visible from interstate 94. “We look forward to keeping our community included on the progress of this project, as we want you to feel that this is your new home as well. We are excited for the work that will be done together – with you – in this new space,” said Huber.

Reaching out and remaining connected is what will make a better tomorrow for everyone across our community. On behalf of the thousands of individuals and families who are helped by United Way, we are thankful for all that our company and our communities do to LIVE UNITED. When we work together, we are unstoppable.

Nome Schoolhouse: Renovation Brings More Than Learning Back to the School

The Nome Schoolhouse in Nome, North Dakota is currently being renovated by two local business owners with a dream.  They saw the schoolhouse as the perfect opportunity to combine their businesses, educate others on their business lines and provide a building for the community to use for education, events and socializing.

Who is Behind the Renovation

Chris Ambrust and Teresa Perleberg are North Dakota business owners in a unique industry. Their story is interesting on how together their businesses could build great things.

Chris is the owner, Dakota Fiber Mill, the only full-service fiber processing mill in the Dakotas. Dakota Fiber Mill processes raw fiber (wool, alpaca, bison, goat etc) into yarn and roving. Teresa Perleberg is the owner of Bear Creek Felting. Teresa is a master in the art of needle felting. She has an online academy which offers members access to online tutorial courses instructing how to needle felt various pieces of art. She also raises a large herd of sheep for the wool to use in her kits and supplies which she sells online as well. 

Chris has been processing the wool for Teresa for over 10 years. Over that time, they became friends and two years ago collaborated on a wool needle felting cushion. The demand was extremely high and in the spring of 2018 a lightbulb went off for the business partners. Chris had an extra acreage not being used and her mill was busting at the seams. She knew she needed to expand her current building or build new. At that point Teresa’s daughter had just returned from college seeking to become a chef and open a catering business. That is when the lightbulb turned on! The idea was to build a facility that would house not only the mill but guest rooms, classrooms and event space as well as food and beverage. Teresa was on board and Hence Shepard Industries was born.

Renovation Inspiration

The idea of building new was tossed around but both Chris and Teresa love old buildings which brought them to the idea of renovating one of the forgotten and deteriorating schoolhouses in the area. They “schoolshopped” and fell in love with the Nome Schoolhouse! It was decommissioned fully in 1970, purchased and used mainly for storage. For the past 10 years however, it has been sitting empty.

The business partners prayed for guidance and support. They found out the budget they had originally planned on was much lower than what it was going to take to make their dream a reality. “We became very anxious on the cost, as we were trying to demo all the debris and rotted areas and coordinating engineers ourselves, not having a clue on all the engineering it was going to take before rebuilding started. So many people told us we were crazy and will never be able to finish the project and that we were in way over our heads. All these comments just fueled our fire of determination,” Chris stated.

In the Spring of 2019, the decision to continue or back out had to be made. “We ‘threw out our fleece’, so to say, in the form of a kick starter campaign which is similar to a Go Fund Me campaign but for start-up businesses. You come up with an amount you are going for and if you meet that goal you get the funds, if you don’t meet the goal you do not,” Chris explained. The campaign earned more than they had anticipated. In addition, a successful Nome Alumni helped cosign the loan. The project was moving forward!

Renovation on Phase 1

As they quickly discovered, Chris and Teresa needed help coordinating the renovations. They hired Roers as the Construction Management company for the project. “We have been so pleased with everyone at Roers!  It was such a relief to have them take over everything. A big relief as well was how the superintendent on site is handling the actual demo and rebuild. We are saving as much of everything in the school as we can and the crew has been amazing at going out of their way to save wood, doors, molding, etc.  We believe they have grown to love the school as much as we do. We couldn’t imagine having a better team onboard with us,” Chris remarked.

Phase one, the gymnasium is now complete. Wood salvaged from an area of the school that had collapsed and needed to be demoed is being used for a bar, shelving and covering support beams. The fire escape steps are being used to access a mezzanine added above the bar, catering kitchen and restroom area which were built.

Phase 2 Making Progress

Phase 2 of the renovation will include the rebuild of the back area of the school. The area will be expanded and include renovations of the existing classrooms and the addition of the guest rooms.

The Roers crew completed the footings of the addition, with walls to follow. The goal of Phase 2 is for the front of the school to mimic the original front of the building. As you enter the school from the front and walk up the stairs, holding the gorgeous wood railing that so many students have done so before, and step into the main hall, it will look exactly like it did in 1916 with classrooms to the left and right. You will not see the large addition behind the school to the east. “We cannot wait to hear the memories that will flood the minds of those past students,” commented Chris. 

What the Future Entails

The gym currently houses fiber arts classes as well as the offices for Hence Shepard Industries. Small events are being held and regular open hours for food and beverage to be enjoyed. 

The completed schoolhouse will house several entities. The schoolhouse itself is a 501c3 non-profit. Hence Shepard Industries will rent space from the school. The old barn, just steps from the back of the school, will house an education herd of fiber animals. A variety of sheep, alpacas, llamas, camel, goats, rabbits and more will be onsite for groups to be able to view and be educated on where natural fibers come from.  Visitors will be able to view the fiber from the goats which create cashmere sweaters. The sweaters can be purchased at Macy’s. The bottom floor of the addition houses the processing mill and packaging area for the products made onsite. 

The facilities will offer a variety of classes on fiber arts and crafts, as well as all-inclusive retreats, scrapbooking and wellness events, among others.  The event center will be used for conferences, weddings, reunions and so much more. Each of the 13 guest rooms will have a unique décor with private bath. The guests will be treated to amazing food utilizing local produce, farm fresh eggs and grass-fed beef from the Perleberg Ranch, fresh roasted coffee from Valley City and other local delicacies! An onsite retail store will be open daily with tours provided. 

The businesses partners have been humbled to have alumni return and tell their memories and stories of their years at the school. The Nome school was influential with teaching students in the past. Now all who visit the renovated school will have the opportunity to learn something new. The future is bright for the Nome Schoolhouse!

Follow the story of this historic building at https://nomeschoolhouse.com/. More construction updates continue to be updated on roers.com.

Construction is Officially Underway at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, to commemorate the launch of the construction of the Missouri Slope North Campus. Local city officials including Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken, Brian Ritter, President of Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC, Pastor Larry Giese, Missouri Slope’s Board of Directors, proud residents and care givers of Missouri Slope, Roers and Pope Architects team members, along with numerous community members were all in attendance for the event.

Roers Construction and Development teams will work collaboratively with Pope Architects for Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center on the initial phase of the project which will feature the Skilled Nursing Facility and Town Center. “The Roers team is looking forward to starting work on this project for Missouri Slope, the largest and only locally owned and operated non-profit long term care organization in the Bismarck/Mandan community,” commented Larry Nygard, President of Roers Development Inc. Missouri Slope’s current facility which has served the community for 52 years, is imperative to help fill the unmet needs of senior living options in the area.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, our journey to build the most advanced long term care facility in the region begins with the first shovel” says Reier Thompson, President/CEO of Missouri Slope.  Phase I is anticipated to be completed by October 1, 2021. Phase 2 will consist of Base Care including 130 basic nursing beds and Phase 3 will add 60 apartments for Independent Living options.

Roers Named to Best Cafe Contractors in the US List

Roers has recently been named to the Best Cafe Contractors in the United States list by the General Contractors (GC) Magazine. Roers has experience creating warm atmospheres for cafes which visitors make part of their daily routine. Roers has created partnerships with many firms to build these popular locations and is looking forward to building many more in the future. The selection for the list identifies top builders which build these stunning and successful cafes but also have received top honors for safety awards.

The GC Magazine article recognizes one contractor from each state. Roers is proud to represent North Dakota as a leading builder. Visit Roers on details on restaurant projects recently constructed.

 

 

https://www.generalcontractors.org/the-best-cafe-contractors-in-the-u-s/

Roers Named To Best Restaurant Contractors in US List

Roers has been named to the Best Restaurant Contractors in the United States list by the General Contractors (GC) Magazine. Roers has extensive experience creating unique atmospheres for franchises or locally owned restaurants. With fierce competition in the restaurant industry, Roers works closely with the owner to create the building which will stand apart from competition, create a welcoming atmosphere for customers and a functioning kitchen for the chefs to create their specialty dishes. Read the article that explains why Roers has made the Best Restaurant Contractors list with distinguished builders across the US. Visit Roers on details on restaurant projects recently constructed.

Safety is Not an 8 to 5 Job

Safety. At Roers this is more than just a six letter word that is discussed at the beginning of a job. It is a focus for each employee every day at Roers whether in the field or in the office. Andrew St. John, Safety  Manager at Roers, ensures that safety is on the top of every employees mind.

“Safety is not an 8 to 5 job. Safety is 24/7, because your family wants you to be safe too,” is a motto that St. John refers to often. In order to keep safety a key part of each role, there are many steps taken in the company’s customized safety program. Roers participates in the ABC Step Program, partners with Bismarck State College’s OSHA Consult Team, holds CPR and First Aid Training along with various other training sessions for employees throughout the year. Subcontractors are included in many training programs as well. In fact, over the past years, Roers and subcontractors have participated in the OSHA consultation and training program over 30 times. St. John visits job sites frequently and the Safety Committee performs monthly site audits. Roers holds many in-house training sessions which allows the training to be customized and specific for our projects. The investment in a safety program ensures each site is equipped with safety equipment, safety measures are followed and employees understand safety precautions.

At Roers we take safety very serious, 24/7. We work to build success and when everyone focuses on safety, our employees can be productive, effective and successful each day

Learn more about Bismarck State Colleges safety program here. 

Read about how Roers prioritizes safety here.