Press ReleasesGANDER MOUNTAIN AND WAUSAU HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP USE FABCON'S SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- December 1, 2005 SAVAGE, Minn., Dec. 1, 2005 ? When commercial building contractor Horizon Construction, a design-build general contractor headquartered in Verona, Wis., needed a flexible and cost-efficient building material supplier for adjoining Wausau Harley-Davidson and Gander Mountain retail facilities in Wausau, Wis., Horizon representatives looked to precast wall supplier Fabcon. The leading precast concrete wall supplier worked closely with Horizon representatives to tailor a fast-track, design-build construction schedule for completion of the two facilities. Originally scheduled to open in the spring of 2004, Gander Mountain asked Horizon to move the opening date to the fall of 2003 to take advantage of the annual retail surge that occurs during hunting season. While a retail facility of this size takes roughly 24 weeks to erect, Horizon used 33,000 square feet of Fabcon's load-bearing panels to create a fast-track schedule and complete the 97,000 square-foot facility in a mere 18 weeks. Using the load-bearing panels allowed for simultaneous roof and wall panel erection, which was critical in helping Horizon meet Gander Mountain's desire for a November grand opening. Completion of the Wausau Harley-Davidson facility came next, with the Fabcon crew arriving on-site to erect approximately 27,000 square feet of its VersaCore panels in September 2003. Horizon finalized the 50,000 square-foot facility in February 2004. "This was our first project with Fabcon, and we were very impressed with the company's responsiveness and ability to help us make informed decisions," said Chuck Heath, president and CEO, Horizon. "Fabcon's expertise throughout construction ? from making sure the manufacturing process could accommodate our designs in the beginning, to delivering the panels on time and installing them efficiently ? helped us rapidly build quality facilities for our customers. On time delivery is critical in the retail business, as it helps ensure the retailer can stock its shelves and open for its key purchasing season and start generating sales." While fast-track schedules were important for both building owners, the ability to create custom-designed facilities also was a priority. Featuring a flat, steel form wall panel finish, the Gander Mountain facility incorporated a special panel configuration above the main entrance to support the signature triangle archway. The Wausau Harley-Davidson facility incorporated an exposed aggregate wall panel finish with accent side panels to create visual appeal and enclose the front vestibule. "Our customers at Gander Mountain and Wausau Harley-Davidson were considering masonry but left the final building material selection up to us," said John Thode, managing partner of Horizon Construction. "We evaluated our options and selected precast concrete wall panels from Fabcon because the cost was approximately two-thirds that of masonry, and we could still incorporate the design elements needed into each facility to reflect our customers' unique brand images. If the opportunity arises, we'll definitely use wall panels from Fabcon again." Company Background For Further Information Return to Press Releases |
