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The article presents an update on the investigation into the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 1, 2007. It states that engineers probing the disaster are anxious to disclose their findings, but federal officials with the National Transportation Safety Board are just as eager to keep them quiet until the review is complete. Several sources suggest engineers are looking at the stress that seized bearings, construction loads, truss corrosion and hot summer weather placed on gusset plates that were underdesigned from the beginning.

A federal district court judge in Minnesota on August 4, 2003, decided not to impose contempt-of-court penalties on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the court fight over Missouri River flow levels. Judge Paul Magnusson rejected environmentalists' requests to lift the stay of the contempt order by a federal judge in Washington (D.C.) because he hadn't yet received needed information from the Washington (D.C.) court. Magnusson did agree with environmental groups that the Washington (D.C.) court's order requiring low Missouri flows was the only injunction in effect.

Reports on the US Army Corps of Engineers' installation of a large box culvert beneath Highway 41 in Chaska, Minnesota, which was repaired as part of a flood control project. Culvert installation as a means to avoid disrupting traffic; Use of hydraulic jacks to push each culvert section under the roadway.

Focuses on the job description of Roy Earl, a senior mechanical engineer at Property Services Corp. in Minnesota. Importance of monitoring energy expenditures of extensive facilities and buildings; Maintenance of an acceptable level of comfort for the buildings' occupants.

In a March 24 announcement of new steps to keep state contractors from sending work overseas, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, revved up the rhetoric. The rhetoric is flying in this election year as governors, members of Congress and lobbying groups of all political persuasions, not to mention engineers and contractors in the U.S. and abroad, square off on one of today's fastest-growing global work force trends — offshoring. The cost-influenced move to send or subcontract design and other tasks to overseas locations with cheaper payrolls, from India and the Philippines to Ukraine and Poland, is not new. Large contractors such as Bechtel Group, Fluor Corp., Jacobs Engineering Group and Washington Group International, have been offshoring for private owners for years, often at clients' request.

Profiles John A. Clark, mechanical group manager at Bakke Kopp Ballou and McFarlin, Minneapolis. Educational and training background of Clark; Organizational affiliations; Career highlights; His view on what is the most immediate heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) concerns.

The article reports that the International Code Council (ICC) has agreed to adopt structural insulated panels (SIPS) with polyurethane cores into the 2009 International Residential Code during the Final Action Hearings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The move will reportedly allow builders using polyurethane core panels to construct homes without the approval of a licensed engineer as long as the structure fall within the applicability limits of the code.

The article focuses on the Visitor and Education Center for Como Park Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota. The center has integrated all the essential features of sustainable architecture. HGA Architects and Engineers has integrated the modern architecture with sustainable design strategies. The center has been constructed at a low cost. A renewable and durable wood known as Epay has been used for deck planks, trellis and the windows of the second-floor.

The article reports that specialty-glazing contractor Harmon Inc. recently completed a glass curtainwall renovation for the Minneapolis Lake Harriet Bandshell. Harmon collaborated with glass fabricator Viracon, Minneapolis engineering firm Braun Intertec Corp., and other partners. In early June 2004, Harmon's renovation team led a forensic investigation of the band shell's existing hollow metal wall system. The team met with Braun's engineers to confirm the wall system was structurally sound and required remediation on about half of the horizontal members.

Describes the archival library at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Exact location; Dimensions; Use of expansive vaults; Juxtaposition of a storage cave and pavilion; Awards won by the library; Architects and engineers behind the structure.

This article presents information on the design and construction of a building at Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Julie Snow Architects. Little more than a 100 years ago, the shores of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis hummed with a booming flour-milling industry. The 148,000-square-foot Humboldt Mill Annex is Brighton's latest project here and combines lofts created within the historic Humboldt Mill with a new Modernist structure on the site of a former train shed. Sandwiched between the Mill City Museum on the west and Jean Nouvel's Guthne Theater on the east, the project needed to bridge old and new architectures, in terms of massing and materials. But before anything could be built, the mill's burned-out masonry shell had to be stabilized. When pigeons flew off of the windows, bricks would tumble to the ground, remembers Julie Snow, FAIA, who designed the project. Snow respected the character of the old building as she converted it, retaining its deep-sill windows and the empty timber-frame pockets in its brick walls.

The article reports that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has finished repairs to dozens of bowed and corroded steel gusset plates on Cleveland's Inner Belt Bridge, a crossing with a 2,722-long steel-truss main span of similar design to Minnesota's collapsed Interstate 35W bridge. The $2-million repair job will now be followed by an expedited planning process for a $140-million deck replacement. During an annual inspection, ODOT engineers using an ultrasonic thickness gauge discovered a disparity of thickness in the gussets.

The article reports that a $243 million contract for rebuilding the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis has been awarded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to a team including Flatiron Constructors, in joint venture with Manson Construction. Also on the team is Johnson Bros. in a support role, and Figg Bridge Engineers as lead designer. Flatiron-Manson project manager Peter Sanderson says that the team hoped to start work on the new St. Anthony Falls Bridge, as it is called, by November 1, 2007 and complete work by Christmas Eve 2008.

Mayo Woodlands, a unique residential development featuring modernist-style homes on a wooded bluff overlooking the Zumbro River Valley near Rochester, Minnesota, is now taking shape, as of February 2004. One hundred twenty innovative homes will be built on the 220-acre site. Reflecting on the family's heritage of innovation in medicine and agriculture, the Mayo heirs brought in landscape architect Shane Coen of Coen and Partners in Minneapolis, to enhance a plan originally developed by local engineers. Coen has assembled a forward-thinking design team including architect David Salmela of Salmela Architect and architect Tim Alt of ALTUS Architecture. Each house in the complex is purposely modern and light-filled, with a Midwest farm character, yet sparked by original, emphatically modern features like smooth lines, lack of adornment and boxy shapes.

Highlights the rapid injection molding process developed by Maple Plain, Minnesota-based Protomold Co. Inc. Features of the technology; Capabilities of the company's proprietary Web-based price-quote and design analysis system; Software used by the firm in developing the technology.

Deals with the mid-river recreational site created by architects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Harza Engineering Company between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Way to reach the park; Design of the park.

The article focuses on the renovation of old Wayzata Mall in Wayzata, Minnesota.

The article presents updates on the federal investigation conducted on the Minneapolis, Minnesota I-35W bridge, which collapsed on August 1, 2007. Forensic engineers probing the collapse have not yet found all the bridge's gusset plates but have seen enough damage in some gusset-plate locations that warrants further investigation, according to Mark V. Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) in a testimony to Congress.

The article focuses on the federal investigation of the collapse of the Interstate-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The National Transportation Safety Board noted just a week at the bridge's collapse on August 1, 2007 that investigators have observed a design issue with gusset plates at particular locations, calling into question the original design of the 40-year-old-bridge. The agency also is looking at stresses on the plates and the types of materials used to build and fasten them.

The article offers information on the 72th Annual Conference of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) to be held in Bloomington, Minnesota from October 27-31, 2009.

The article reports that School of Environmental Studies (SES), a magnet high school of Independent School District (ISD) 196, located in Apple Valley, Minnesota, strives to provide students with real-life experience via authentic, relevant projects; professional skills guidance; writing and analysis development; and early environmental career exposure. it mentions information needed for each step in the certification process.

Designed by Austrian engineer William de la Barre and built in 1878 at the site of a former mill destroyed by an explosion, Washburn A Mill was the largest, most technologically advanced facility of its time. In 1928, the A Mill was rebuilt after another explosion. Following the decline of the milling industry after World War I, the A Mill closed in 1965. As its shell smoldered, Nina Archabal, director of the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, convinced local authorities to move the fire hoses that were pushing against the stone walls, threatening their structural integrity. By 2005, the Mill City Museum complex will stand alongside the Guthrie Theater.

Focuses on architecture of Minneapolis, Minnesota-based office of RSP Architects. Overview of the office architecture; Cost of the project.

Describes how BKBM Engineers helped develop a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for the Rochester Library in Minnesota. Fuel source for the library's heating-cooling system; Space constraints; Indoor air quality; Controls.

Focuses on the Minnesota-based Red Wing High School's design, which allows it to be energy efficient and meet indoor air quality requirements. Integrated approach to design problems; Persons responsible for the design; Air distribution equipment; Use of TRAQ dampers; Sensible-latent heat transfer.

Discusses the design approaches for the Interdistrict Downtown School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Provision of open resource areas or communal spaces; Multi-grade level grouping per floor level; Open-ended classroom areas; Variable classroom configuration.

Information about the events that took place and topics discussed during the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society's (RSES) Annual Conference & HVACR Technology Expo held in Minneapolis, Minnesota is presented. RSES executive vice president Mark Lowry discussed some of actions taken by the association to continue to function successfully in the future. Several executives were also awarded during the conference including Bruce Kamperschroer, Loren Shuck and Chris Van Rite.

The article discusses the use of sonar imaging technology in inspecting underwater bridge components. North Dakota and Minnesota Transportation departments are employing such technology to detect risks of floods. Terry Browne of Collins Engineers Inc. explained that it is only now that sonar scanning produces high-resolution images under a broader range of water quality and flow conditions. This technology is reported to be the subject of the Transportation Pooled Fund Study in 2010.

The article reports that the Minnesota Department of Transportation has reaffirmed its selection of a design-build team led by Flatiron Constructors Inc. in joint venture with Manson Construction Co. to rebuild the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge. Also on the team holding the contract is Johnson Bros. and Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. as lead designer. The bridge will have four 70-feet-tall piers supported on drilled shafts into bedrock, and it will be over 180 feet wide, allowing room for potential bus-rapid-transit or light rail.

The article informs that Trans-Alarm Inc.. Burnsville. Minnesota, cosponsored an all-day training event on fire protection. Trans-Alarm, founded in 1966 is a provider of security systems, system integration, alarm monitoring and lock and door control. "The Basics of UL-listed Fire Alarm Systems" seminar had more than 100 attendees, including fire protection engineers, inspectors and safety consultants. The featured speaker was Art Black of Carmel Fire Protection Associates, who talked about the current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for commercial fire alarm systems. Co-presenter Tom Presnak, senior alarm system auditor for UL, gave an overview of UL services and the UL alarm and central station certification process.

Reports on the formation of Camp Marston Associates Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation which aims to raise funds for the renovation and maintenance of the Polaris House in Camp Marston Retreat at Browns Bat, Rainy Lake as a national historic site. Two reasons for interest in Camp Marston and Polaris House; Historical significance of the site.

The article describes the design created by architect Christine Albertsson of Albertsson Hansen Architecture for the barn and garage complex at the eastern part of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The local municipality prohibited utility structures of more than 2,000 square feet, which led Albertsson to break the project into three separate buildings, placed around a court, creating a surprisingly urban space in its bucolic setting at the edge of a meadow, next to woodland. Each of the three buildings serves a separate function and embodies a distinct identity. The visitor arrives at the complex down a gravel road, going around a group of trees to what appears to be a small village. A one-story barn for tractor attachments and smaller vehicles stands to the left and features overhead doors that provide easy access.

The article focuses on the remediation of the St. Louis River/Interlake/Duluth Tar Superfund Site (SLRIDT Site) in Minnesota. It mentions the Superfund allocation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1983, which uses federal funds for the cleanup of toxins including cyanide, mercury, and hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the SLRIDT Superfund Site cleanup became successful with the help of GNSS equipment which demonstrates the potential use of GNSS technology.

The article reports on the significant role played by surveyors in gathering information concerning the collapse of Interstate 35W bridge in Minnesota on August 1, 2007. The utilization of surveying technologies, such as real-time kinematics global positioning system, three-dimensional (3D) scanning technology and ScanStation, have helped authorities and surveyors generate accurate information concerning the cause of the failure. Information on the bridge's reconstruction is also provided.

The article focuses on 47 million dollars Minnesota project that uses PEX tubing for its plumbing and hydronic systems of Episcopal Homes. It is stated that Benson-Orth Associates Inc. was the general contractor for this complex project. It is mentioned that with the underground parking, underground rough-in, the project kicked off in spite of an especially severe winter.

This article reports on the complaints concerning the design-build procurement methods for the rebuild of the collapsed I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The complaints were made by two of the four bidders after the highest-priced proposal made the grade as the best value, even though it rang up 32 percent over the lowest bid. However, the contract is still being negotiated, and construction is set to start by October 15, 2007.

Focuses on the Project Razor technology used in the production line at the Schwan's Convenience Foods plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Features of the production line; Benefits of the technology for the plant; Efficiency in the production.

The article presents information on the Red River of the North which bisects the city of Fargo located in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. The 395 miles of the river among the 550 miles are located in U.S. It has annual floods. Expansive clays include 30 meters of its sediment under Fargo-Moorhead topography. They expand by absorbing moisture from the spring flooding due to which the infrastructure engineering and construction becomes very difficult.

The article offers news briefs related to the manufacturing industry worldwide in 2012. Sussex, England-based Lloyd Instruments Ltd. has expanded in Great Britain and Ireland. Plymouth, Minnesota-based ASI Datamyte Inc. has founded ASI Datamyte France. New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based West Penn Testing Group has projected an increase for testing of surgical-implant materials.

The article reports on proposals being sought by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission to repair the roof panels of the Minneapolis Metrodome which were damaged during the blizzard in December 2010. The estimated budget that will be needed for the repair is 18.3 million U.S. dollar. The deadline set for the proposals is February 23, 2011, while the target deadline for the repair is on August 1, 2011.

This article reports on the repair of the Minneapolis Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota after it was damaged by heavy snow and ice on December 12, 2010. This has affected the National Football League game of the Minnesota Vikings football team and other sports events. According to the stadium's owner Steve Maki, the timeline and repair costs are still unknown. However, the Minnesota Vikings is planning not to renew their Metrodome stadium contract after the 2011 season and wants a new stadium.

The article announces the installation of the Duro-Last roofing system on the Merrick Inc. building in Vadnais Heights in Minnesota. At the end of August 2008, the project was completed and is the largest solar electric application in the state. It also notes that the said installation complements the buildings many sustainable building features including geothermal energy system and energy-efficient insulation.

The article reports that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) officials has shut down a 51-year-old continuous steel-deck-truss arch bridge after inspectors found bent gusset plates. The officials are now working to expedite an estimated $30-million bridge replacement originally scheduled for bid letting in 2010. According to MnDOT Commissioner Bob McFarlin, the 889-foot-long, 70-foot-wide Minnesota Highway 23 DeSoto Bridge, is classified as fracture-critical but is not rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The article announces the addition of two security market manufacturer by Emcor Enclosures in Rochester, Minnesota. The two companies are Burhans-Burhans and KBR Marketing and would be responsible for enhancing Emcor's network. Burhans and KBR would combine synergistic selling and leveraging established relationships with security equipment dealers, integrators, architects and engineers.

The article focuses on the humidification control of the Target Field Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota which was installed by M.A. Mortensen Co. The stadium had specifications for humidity that need to remain below 50% and temperature below 80 degrees Farenheit to protect the wide variety of wood and laminate installed in the building. The article describes the installation of the combined cooling and desiccant dehumidification system designed by Munsters Control Services for the stadium.

The article informs that Rogers, Minnesota-based Flame Metals Processing Corp. has also become a certified supplier of carburized gears for wind-turbine applications. It came into this market as one of its customers, which is a large international manufacturer of wind turbines, was looking for a commercial heat treater capable of meeting its performance standards.

The article focuses on the completion of the new twin-span concrete crossing, called the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The design-build contractor team, led by a joint venture of Flatiron Constructors Inc. and Manson Construction Co., will earn the maximum bonus of $27 million on its $234-million contract if the bridge opens to traffic on September 15, 2008. From quality control/assurance to community outreach, every aspect is meticulously orchestrated.

Features the design and construction of Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Description of the church; Estimated budget for the first phase construction; Integration of all building systems.

Expounds on the strategy implemented Pillsbury Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to contain its energy costs. Contracting with Summit Energy Services Inc. to manage the energy needs of the company's plants; Gaining of favorable rates for long-distance and local gas distribution; Enabling of company to focus on food production. INSET: Green power converts grapes into wine..

Presents news briefs from the home appliance industry as of April 2000. Strategic alliance between Maytag Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co.; Intertek Testing Services' opening of a testing laboratory in Oakdale, Minnesota.