Wood Framing in Commercial Construction

Curious about wood framing in commercial construction?

Wood Lumber Framing in Commercial Construction article by APPRO Photo Source: Wikepedia, 2013.

Occasionally, changes in wood supply cause a downgrade in the structural properties of wood. You can see an example of this type of activity in the article at this link for the information put forth by Carolinalive.com at: http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=674670.

The angle this particular news story takes is to focus on the economic impact that may occur to the industry in the area or state. The steel framing industry association presents this info in a different light entirely by promoting the properties that steel framing members include.

I believe it will cause a trickle-down effect to consumers who will have to, in some instances, be required to use larger wood framing members than in the past to get the same job done. This affects us all when it comes to residential or commercial building when wood is the chosen material.

Interestingly enough the wood groups aren’t necessarily arguing the downgrade itself, only how quickly it is being proposed to be put into effect.

Both steel and wood association groups tout the sustainable properties of their products. It will remain to be seen how each product continues to be affected and the impact on residential or commercial construction.

If you’re not sure which material is right for you on your next project, contact our team at APPRO. We have been helping our clients make these types of decisions for more than 25 years, and we would be happy to help you, too!

 

FIREHOUSE GRILLE to open Tuesday, April 23rd in Elko New Market!

 

Remodel Project at Firehouse Grille Beforeby APPRO Figure 1: Before photo of main dining area

APPRO remodel in south metro restaurant Figure 2: After photo of main dining area.

APPRO Development and our client – the Owners of Firehouse Grille – are extremely proud to present the Grand Opening of their new restaurant tomorrow, April 23rd. The ribbon will be cut and doors open for business starting at 11:00 a.m. So come on down to Elko New Market’s newest culinary hotspot and try some Wildfire Nachos or Firehouse Bites before chowing on one of their Stuffed Burgers, Specialty sandwiches or Entrees such as Walleye or a New York Strip Steak. Enjoy the Firehouse atmosphere and friendly staff for a truly memorable dining experience!

Construction for the interior remodel project on the Firehouse Grille restaurant began in fall of 2012 and was completed this spring. The restaurant is located on Old Town Road off of Highway 2 just west of downtown Elko New Market in the South Metro area.

APPRO & CERRON have been providing property solutions and architectural services to meet the unique needs of each of our clients for more than 25 years in the South Metro area of Minnesota and across North Dakota and Montana. Give us a call today if you’d like to discuss your unique business needs – it would be our honor to help you find the perfect solution for you and make your business and building dreams come true. Feel free to contact us at any time.

Reducing Your Renovation Costs by Thinking Green

 

Save money during renovation and constructionReducing Your Renovation Costs by Thinking Green – Economical, Green Solutions for Renovations & Commercial Building Projects in South Metro Minnesota and North Dakota is offered by APPRO Development, Inc. & CERRON Commercial Properties.

Being “thrifty”, “cost conscious” and “green” is something we’ve hopefully all learned to do over the past few years of economic change. The positive impacts of implementing good business practices, is good for both your bottom line and the environment, a double bonus! Instead of hastily throwing something away, find a way to re-purpose the item to save you money and help prevent our landfills from over flowing, something we all benefit from.

 

During renovations or commercial building project, there are potentially ways to donate or sell items that you no longer need. Countertops, office equipment and other items could become a tax write off* or benefit someone else. If you have customized or industrial equipment you no longer use, it could be listed for sale, potentially offering you more cash for your project!

 

If you’ve decided to build or remodel a space that you own, lease, or are new property you are searching for, we are happy to help you find an economical solution by possibly re-using items and finding cost conscious options. For example, let’s say you want to open a restaurant; there may be options for purchasing used kitchen equipment vs. buying everything new. In remodeling, you may be able to reuse countertops. Take a moment to look at what you have as a way of saving $ during your project! Additional financial information for your project is available on our website for cost segregation, 1031 tax deferred exchange and finance resources.

 

Remodeling or building, in an office space, bank, hotel, restaurant, warehouse, industrial, or other commercial buildings, whatever your needs are, we work with our vendors and subcontractors to ensure that we are providing our clients with the best pricing available, while providing green alternatives. Here is an example;

 

Recently, we had a project that we tested lighting in and opted to remove as it didn’t serve the needed purpose. Instead of being frustrated with the failed test and throwing out the lights, we stopped and asked, “Is there someone who could benefit from these materials instead of throwing them away?” A short internet search led us to the MN Association of Community Theatres, where we found four theaters in the south metro, who are now the elated recipients of new lighting. It has brought us joy knowing that we have been able to provide our community theater, Lakeville Area Arts Center, along with the Northfield Arts Guild, Mankato Mosaic Theatre Company and New Ulm Actors Community Theatre with much needed lighting.

 

The next time you are considering a remodel, expansion / addition or new building, know that there are options out there to be as economical & green as possible! We’re here to assist you in using your dollars as best as possible to ensure the success of YOUR business. Please contact us to discuss your options at 952-469-2171 (APPRO Development, Inc.) or 952-469-9444 (CERRON Commercial Properties).

 

 

*As with all financial matters, please consult your tax and/or financial advisor for advice/impacts regarding your specific situation.

Design Ideas and Architectural Innovation

Do you ever come across a new idea and find yourself amazed at the creativity of another? I think we have all found ourselves. For us at APPRO, it is what keeps each of us striving for excellence.

At APPRO, we are constantly looking for new ideas to make the buildings we design better for our clients in the Midwest region of Minnesota and North Dakota. In the process, we come across a lot of information and very often we find ourselves marveling at the creative work of others in our field of architectural design and commercial construction. This week, we came across some pretty cool ideas in architecture and design we would like to share, in the hope that you too, might be a little amazed.

The first idea is a simple design for a 45 degree catch hinge. It is just a simple piece of hardware, right? But, if you have ever had your arm caught on a hinge that extends beyond the door, you know why this is such a great design! Click on the picture or the link below to review the full article.

http://dornob.com/45-degree-catch-hinge-simple-genius-safety-innovation/

The next innovative architectural idea is a staircase that is both fascinating to look at and inspiring in its origin. With an understanding and appreciation for the architecture of a whale’s spine, the designer of this staircase found inspiration and brought it into the design of this staircase. How cool!

http://dornob.com/spinal-staircase-bare-bones-steps-inspired-by-vertebrae/

The final item we wanted to share is a new feat for architectural design and construction. “In what will be a world first, Dutch architecture firm Universe Architecture is planning to construct an entire house using a 3D printer” according to a recent article by Angela Fedele, for Architecture Source, 2013. The technology and innovation is awe inspiring and quite a visual marvel. While the commercial construction industry is quite a ways from regularly utilizing this type of technology, the innovation is indeed inspiring. To read the entire article, click on the picture or the following link: http://designbuildsource.com.au/dutch-architecture-studio-to-build-3d-printed-home.

Inspiration for a new idea can come from anywhere –like changing a piece of metal 45 degrees to further improve an existing product, to marveling at nature’s design and incorporating it into the construction of a building, or being the first to design and build a structure utilizing ground breaking technology. Do you have an innovative design idea you would like to share? Our architectural design team would love to chat with you to find out what inspires you!

APPRO Development, Inc. is a full service design build company with an in house architecture and design team that is ready to create a property solution for you…with you! Contact us today for more information on design ideas for your next commercial building project

Proposed New Industrial Facility in Mankato, MN

APPRO Development, Inc. is fortunate to be working with Imperial Plastics on a project proposing to eventually bring more than 100 new jobs to Mankato, Minnesota.

Watch the latest City of Mankato Council Meeting regarding this newly proposed industrial facility project by APPRO Development, Inc. (Source: Gustafson, Ryan, “Company Looking for Help from City Council to Build”, Posted: Jan 14, 2013 9:19 PM CST, Updated: Jan 14, 2013 9:57 PM CST, KEYC, Mankato, MN)

KEYC – Mankato News, Weather, Sports –

Please click on the image below if you would like more specific information on this project.

Imperial Plastics - Mankato Exterior Elevation

If you would like more information on commercial construction in Minnesota or North Dakota, please contact APPRO Development, Inc. at (952) 469-2171 or contact us online.

Commercial Building Remodeling in South Metro MN

APPRO Development, Inc. is well known in the South Metro / South of the River area of Minnesota, as a reputable commercial general contractor with a focus on land development and constructing commercial buildings. We have found over the years, people are sometimes unaware APPRO also is an excellent resource for remodeling existing buildings. Our design and architecture team partnering with our project management team, apply the same expertise on a project from the ground up as we do on a remodel or renovation project.

For many different reasons, an owner decides to stay in the same building, verses than making a move. APPRO can walk an owner through the process to determine available options and to navigate the sometimes daunting process of city approvals, or financing options. We take the same care to provide expert advice on a remodel or renovation project as we do on a new building project when we competitively bid out the project, and provide a detailed proposal to the building owner.

We have been working with Imperial Plastics in the Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville, which just happens to be around the corner from our home office. This office remodel project has resulted in a state of the art space with striking finishes, creating an inviting space to both visit and work.

Remodel Project by APPRO Development - Imperial Plastics Project

If you are considering making some changes to your building, I invite you to take a look at some more of our current projects to see what we are currently working on in both Minnesota and North Dakota. You may also want to check out our past projects to spark some ideas. Or, maybe you need a new, but existing space to move your business – please consider our sister company, CERRON Commercial Properties, who specializes in existing property sales and leasing.

Finally, if you are still looking for more ideas, feel free to contact our office – we can be reached at 952-469-2171 or by email at office@APPRODEVELOPMENT.com. We would consider it an honor to help you with your next project.

Happy New Year!

Investment Opportunities

At a time of the year when we would normally be a little slower, we are thrilled to find ourselves very busy as we anticipate an amazing 2013!

Right now, we have two very exciting investment opportunities:

The first is a manufacturing facility in Southern Minnesota.

Southern Minnesota Manufacturing Building - Investment Opportunity

The second is an Apartment Complex in North Dakota.

North Dakota Aprtment Complex Investment Opportunity

If you would like more information on either of these opportunities, please contact Jack Matasosky in our office right away at JackM@Approdevelopment.com or at 952-469-2171.

The New Year is full of promise and all of us at APPRO Development, Inc. and CERRON Commercial Properties, LLC are looking forward to “Creating Property Solutions For You and With You” in the days and months to come!

Anna’s Bananas Daycare Coming Soon to Northfield!

APPRO Development, Inc. is proud to be partnered with Anna of Anna’s Bananas Daycare to introduce her top-of-the-line childcare facility to the city of Northfield. Located at 516 5th Street West, the building was originally constructed as a Montessori School. Its doors closed in 1997 and the building sat vacant for years until recently when Anna purchased this building as the location for her fourth daycare. The building was modified slightly for the interim use of a few offices prior to Anna’s purchase. As such, the layout proved inefficient for use as a daycare and walls were removed and relocated to provide a more comforting and upgraded atmosphere for its future children and employees. Higher quality interior finishes have been selected to elicit feelings of being in a lodge or a more home-like environment. Lots of wood detailing, decorative lighting, and a heavy timber entrance feature carry this image throughout the building. Construction is ongoing, but is anticipated to be complete for an opening in Spring of 2013.

Visit www.annasbananas.com for more information on her four locations, including facility rates, contact info, applications for hiring and an overview of her childcare philosophy. Browse her photo gallery for a peek into her other three locations, and check back to see photos of the new Northfield project. Construction progress photos can also be found on APPRO’s website.

Stay tuned for interior construction progress photos!

If you are looking to remodel, expand or build a new commercial, retail or industrial facility, APPRO Development would be more than happy to assist you. Contact us to discuss your needs for designing and building the perfect solution for you and your business.

Sound the Alarms – Firehouse Grille Coming Soon!

APPRO Development & CERRON Commercial Properties are very excited to be working on a new project which will bring innovative ownership and fresh ideas to an existing (former restaurant) building in the City of Elko New Market.

Elko New Market is located just four miles south of Lakeville and two miles west of I-35, with a growing population, in one of Minnesota’s fastest growing counties (Scott County, Minnesota).

The Firehouse Grille, located at 7875 Old Towne Road, has been purchased by new ownership and is currently under renovation by APPRO Development, Inc., as the design build, general contractor. The new owners have been pouring over every detail of this building from the ceiling to the bar to the floor and have chosen some unique materials…

[gallery]

You will have to wait and see how they have used these materials in the design-build process when you stop on out for a bite to eat!

As a result of all of this work, the Firehouse Grille will surely be Scott County’s best new culinary refuge and preferred stomping grounds for area firefighters and community members alike.

So, go ahead – pack up your hoses, silence the sirens, park the trucks, hang up the gear, and slide on down to the new Firehouse Grill in Elko New Market! Opening early 2013!

APPRO & CERRON have been providing property solutions to meet the unique needs of each of their clients for more than 25 years in the South Metro area of Minnesota and across North Dakota and Montana. Give us a call today to discuss your unique needs – it would be our honor to help you find the perfect solution for you and your business. Feel free to contact us at any time.

APPRO Development, a commercial design and construction company in Minnesota, is celebrating our 25th Anniversary

APPRO Development has been active in land development, design, and construction services since 1987. For the past 25 years, we have helped businesses with their remodel, renovation, building addition, and new construction projects.

We would like to thank all of our clients, subcontractors, friends and family who have made our success possible.

Looking to remodel, expand or build a new commercial, industrial, warehouse or manufacturing facility? Contact APPRO Development for all your design & build needs