Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin

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The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin has closed $610 million in senior secured credit facilities to finance the construction of its new casino resort in Beloit.

The financing supports the development of a $705 million casino resort, which will feature more than 1,500 slot machines, 40 table games, a 312-room hotel, three restaurants, a 2,000-seat convention center, a concert venue, and extensive parking facilities.

Construction began in October 2024, with the casino expected to open in September 2026. The hotel and convention center are slated to open the following year.

The project received approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2020, followed by state approval from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in 2021. Once complete, it will expand the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin brand, which currently operates six casinos across the state.

STRONGIRT® is the ideal cladding attachment support system for continuous insulation (CI) applications. This all-FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polymer) pultruded composite features a custom fire-retardant resin system and a proprietary laminate design, delivering exceptional pull-out strength, outstanding thermal efficiency, and versatile compatibility with any non-proprietary insulation—no routing or fabrication of rigid insulation required.

A 2” STRONGIRT® Insulated Rainscreen Attachment System was selected for the project, allowing for the addition of 2.5” of mineral wool insulation to the exterior wall assembly. STRONGIRT is a 100% fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) system that is lightweight and highly thermally efficient, it serves as an advanced alternative to traditional metal cladding attachment systems.

Learn more at www.strongirt.com.

Let Arcspec support your team on its next project! Contact us today at (847) 362-1590 or visit www.arcspec.us to learn more.

Preservation of 208 South LaSalle with GFRC

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The Continental and Commercial National Bank Building, located at 208 S. LaSalle Street in Chicago’s Loop, is a historic 21-story office building constructed between 1911 and 1914. It was originally built for the Continental and Commercial National Bank, which was one of the largest banks in the nation at the time. Designed by architect Daniel Burnham in the Classical Revival style, the building reflects Burnham’s affinity for classical architecture.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 14, 2007. In 2010, the JW Marriott Chicago opened on the building’s first 12 floors, and The LaSalle Chicago hotel followed in 2022.

The historic preservation of 208 South LaSalle has been a project many years in the making. As part of the effort to recreate a water table that was originally included in the building’s design, the architect considered GFRC as a solution, since reinstalling traditional terracotta on-site would be challenging.

By using steel framing anchored to the structure behind the existing brick, the architects collaborated with the ARC team to develop a design that allows GFRC panels with integrated framing to hang from the new steel structure.

In addition to the water table, approximately 170 individual units needed to be replaced around the building’s vast facades. There were many types of units—about 60 different variations—but some of the most unique featured lion’s heads atop scrolls, visible from the ground.

Let Arcspec support your team on its next project! Contact us today at (847) 362-1590 or visit www.arcspec.us to learn more.

WindCreek Hotel & Casino

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CASTWORKS™ Architectural Forms

Wind Creek Chicago Southland was designed to be a premiere mixed-use destination on the south side of Chicago. The 50,000 SF project features a casino, a food hall with eight bars and restaurants, an entertainment venue with outdoor dining terrace, and a 16 story, 226-key room hotel with indoor pool, luxury spa, and a fine dining lounge

Castworks™ Architectural Forms was selected as the manufacturer for the GRG in the Hotel Lobby and the Casino. CastWorks™ GRG (glass fiber reinforced gypsum) is an ideal interior application for compound curves and unique dimensional designs.

GRG can be cast into any shape or compound curve and replicates the look of natural materials. It is low maintenance and extremely durable. CastWorks™ created custom cutouts for TVs on the columns and custom lighted column caps that were painted to match the aesthetic of the casino.

CastWorks™ created custom texture for all the columns on the project

Let Arcspec assist your team on your next project! Contact us today at 847-362-1590 or visit our website at www.arcspec.us for more information.

Phenolic Panels & Strongirt come together at Field Elementary School - Elmhurst

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Field Elementary School was more than 90 years old, had flooding issues, was not handicapped accessible and had the library relegated to the basement. After school ended in summer 2022, work was started to replace it with a new 81,000 SF building including 24 dedicated classrooms, several flexible spaces, main entrances and outdoor instruction areas.

Wight & Co Architects worked with Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 for the design and build of the new school

A 3” Strongirt Insulated Rainscreen Attachment System was selected, which resulted in 3” of mineral wool insulation added to the exterior wall structure. Strongirt is a 100% FRP system with superior pullout strength. It is light weight and is a thermally efficient replacement to metal cladding attachment systems. https://www.strongirt.com/

The facade system was finished with Abet Laminati phenolic rainscreen panels in 3 custom blues, white, gray and wood finish.

Exterior Grade Phenolic is an excellent material for use as a rainscreen system. Compressed under high pressure, it offers a non-porous material that is graffiti resistant and impact resistant while offering a greater degree of tensile strength and dimensional stability than other available materials.

Let Arcspec assist your team on your next project! Contact us today at 847-362-1590 or visit our website at www.arcspec.us for more information.

Mackson Corners Redevelopment and CERACLAD®

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Mackson Corners is a visionary project led by Merge Urban Development Group to redevelop the former industrial waterfront along the Fox River in Oshkosh into a vibrant and active streetscape.

The development sits on the former Cook & Brown Lime Co. property – a brick manufacturer incorporated in 1874. It was established the year before a fire destroyed much of the wooden structures in downtown Oshkosh which the city then decided to rebuild in brick. The company quickly grew as a result and began using boats to bring limestone from the east side of Lake Winnebago to the industrial plant via the Fox River and there the company manufactured brick, lime, and mortar. Over the years, the site also housed multiple other commercial and industrial properties, including a sawmill and railroad station.

This mixed used project puts a walkable, urban lifestyle front and center while connecting separate areas of Oshkosh. The site’s river-facing fitness center and walk-up residential units connect the building to the surrounding neighborhood, encouraging pedestrians to flow through the site to the river. There is also ample space for gathering as well as storage for recreational equipment to promote an active lifestyle for tenants.

SENSE OF PERMANENCE AND PRIDE

The project draws inspiration from the site’s industrial history and the sculptural geological forms of the Niagara escarpment. Materials selected for this site are timeless, durable, and maintain their quality throughout the seasonal extremes experienced in Oshkosh. The CERACLAD® Rainscreen Exterior Siding System used is an advanced ceramic-coated construction assembly that incorporates proven rain-shielding technology. Developed for use in commercial and residential buildings, the system consists of pre-finished siding panels and innovative mounting clips and accessories that are manufactured and designed for durability, flexibility, and ease of installation. Consisting of approximately 45% recycled material, the panels are 100% recyclable, factory finished with no VOC, and contain no asbestos. CERACLAD’s, proprietary Triple Coat Finishing System maintains the original vibrant color with their UV Blocking Ceramic Coating, while their photocatalytic coating provides self-cleaning performance that eliminates virtually all maintenance needed to keep the panels looking new. https://ceraclad.com/

The cool Sho Sugi Ban black panels gives the building a sleek timeless finish https://ceraclad.com/ceraclad-ceramic-coated-panels#sho-sugi-ban.

Let Arcspec assist your team on your next project! Contact us today at 847-362-1590 or visit our website at www.arcspec.us for more information.

Renovation of Willoughby Tower with FRP

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Located on Michigan Avenue, opposite Millennium Park “Willoughby Tower” building was built in 1929. It is cladded with limestone and originally had cast iron spandrel panels and window sills and a cast iron storefront. The old decorative iron spandrel panels had deteriorated over the years and were beginning to fail so it was determined to replace all the panels and sills with replicated FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic), manufactured by Plasterform

Central Building & Preservation removed numerous cast iron panels and window sills for sample and forwarded to Plasterform in developing the replacement FRP panels and sills. A mockup was prepared to ensure the new support system worked and to understand the installation means
As this is a landmarked building, Central Building had to ensure the sills and spandrel panels matched the original color. This was done by reviewing historic drawings and photographs and performing an on-site analysis of the paint finishes using field microscopy of the building.
Plasterform sandblasted the cast iron parts and cast rubber molds from them. These rubber molds were used to create the models and new molds. Plasterform then cast 319 fiberglass sills and spandrel panels and then primed and painted the gelcoat with a polyurethane paint in the approved finish.

The project to remove the spandrels and sills began in mid-March 2022 and was finished late December 2022

Plasterform utilizes the industry’s best methods throughout every step of the process – from design, to estimating, to production. Whether you need to maintain a historical aesthetic or wish to establish a new one, Plasterform has a product that fits your purpose. Let Arcspec assist your team on your next project! Contact us today at 847-362-1590 or visit our website at www.arcspec.us for more information.

Swisspearl and Strongirt Team Up For The Perfect Retrofit

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In the heart of Fitchburg, Wisconsin lies one of the biggest employers in the area. This biotechnology company established their headquarters in Fitchburg over 40 years ago. The main buildings were originally built using an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS).

Location: Fitchburg, WI
Products Used: Swisspearl, Strongirt
Architect: Ramlow/Stein
Year Retrofitted: 2022
Products used on this system:
Swisspearl – Carat 7030, 7031, 7032, 7020, 7060
Strongirt – FRP pultruded System – 4” girt size
The owner of the company was looking not only to expand, but also to enhance their energy efficiency and improve the overall aesthetic and design of their buildings. The best option for the owner was to do a complete retrofit of the existing building, along with the construction of the new buildings. This process involved removing the EIFS system and installing a complete Rainscreen Attachment System with mineral wool and a non-combustible façade. But first, the appropriate materials needed to be selected.
A 4” Strongirt Insulated Rainscreen Attachment System was selected, which resulted in 4” of mineral wool insulation added to the exterior wall structure. The 4” of mineral wool significantly increased the building’s energy efficiency. With the help of Arcspec, it was determined the subcontractors could use their own carpenter crews to install the Strongirt, which saved time and money.
The façade system was finished in five different colors of Swisspearl Carat fiber cement panels. The Swisspearl panels are non-combustible, durable, graffiti resistant, and meet the desired aesthetic.
Let Arcspec assist your team on your next project! Contact us today at 847-362-1590 or visit our website at www.arcspec.us for more information.

Custom Castings by Plasterform; Innovative Projects, Complex Design

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When the new Loews Hotel opened at 455 N. Park in Chicago last March, one of the many fine details that reviewers marveled at were its floral ceilings. The project, designed by local Chicago architect Simeone Deary Partners, included a floral ceiling pattern in the lobby and prefunction areas.

Plasterform was contacted to handle this important piece of the project. The ceiling was ultimately manufactured out of GRG and is just one of many stunning details carefully included in the project’s execution.

Founded in 1987, Plasterform is one of the world’s largest custom casting manufacturers. Arcspec has represented Plasterform in the Chicago architectural community for over 20 years. With installations as familiar as Soldier Field and McCormick Place and as innovative as Harrah’s Casino and the new Loews Hotel, Plasterform’s appeal is evident throughout the region.

The experts at Plasterform have been linked to some of the most impressive, creative, and iconic projects around the globe. They provide consultation to architects, designers, and contractors to ensure that the manufacturing process proceeds in a smooth and cost-effective manner. Using CNC (computer numeric control) routers for pattern making allows them to achieve tighter tolerances than traditional pattern making.

Plasterform utilizes the industry’s best methods throughout every step of the process – from design, to estimating, to production. Whether you need to maintain a historical aesthetic or wish to establish a new one, Plasterform has a product that fits your purpose.

Old Building Gets New Look with Swisspearl Retrofit

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Pekin Insurance recently opened its new office located at 120 N. Parkway Drive in Pekin, IL. Since its beginnings in 1921 after the introduction of the automobile, Pekin has grown from providing auto insurance solely to Tazewell County to offering a complete line of Life, Health, Auto, Home, and Business coverage to six states. Pekin bought the 28,740SF building in response to their growth and a need for more space.

Designed by Dewberry Architects in Peoria, the new Property/Casualty Claim building was renovated and retrofit with TerraClad terra cotta panels and two different colors of Swisspearl’s cement composite panels – Carat Sapphire 7060 and Black Opal 7021. The integrally colored cement composite panels were supplied by Arcspec and installed by Zobrist Construction based out of Morton, IL.

New Argonne Facility Contributes to Solving Nation’s Energy Challenges

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The Argonne National Laboratory’s new Energy Sciences Building (ESB) provides a facility for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science to fulfill its mission “to deliver the remarkable discoveries and scientific tools that transform our understanding of energy and matter and advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.”

Committed to sustainability, the design team of HDR Architecture lived up to the task with the help of Curt Finfrock who has extensive experience in designing research laboratories and other advanced technology facilities. In the early stages of designing the Argonne Energy Sciences Building, Finfrock consulted with Arcspec and investigated several façade products, including TerraClad terra cotta rain screen panels, Swisspearl cement composite panels and aluminum plate wall panels which were ultimately chosen.

Currently under construction, the façade of the ESB includes a copper and clear anodized finished dry joint metal panel system supplied by Arcspec and is being installed by G & L Associates of Des Plaines, IL. Click here to hear how the Energy Sciences Building will be helping the DOE and Argonne address the nation’s energy challenges.

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Libertyville, IL 60048
847-362-1590
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