Bracing for the future

Workers slide and shim a 40-foot I-beam into place on July 15 during Lake Superior State University's R.W. Considine Hall renovation project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Crews from Howard Structural Steel (Saginaw) and Hallmark Construction (Traverse City) are taking through mid-August to install about 48 beams throughout three wings, from basement to second floor, of what was called South Hall until last year. The steelwork replaces wooden beams installed when the U.S. Army raised South Hall during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, ca. 1901-09. Hallmark's Ken Breithaupt (right) verifies a shim placement as Howard's Dave Wilcox makes tiny adjustments with a chain lift. The 44,000-square-foot Considine Hall will be home to LSSU's Lukenda School of Business when it opens for classes in fall 2016. Run a Web search on "LSSU Considine" for more about the project. A search on "ustream Considine renovation" lands on live construction site video.