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Jul 27, 2021: TOUR, PICNIC and ANNUAL PLANNING: Dinosaur Park – Kalamazoo
A dinosaur park, dreamed up by the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, is drawing enthusiasts to campus of Western Michigan University from across the area. It turns back the clock, allowing visitors to walk among titans of the Triassic, juggernauts of the Jurassic and creatures of the Cretaceous.
Located behind Lee Honors College, on the northeast side of Rood Hall, the park currently features favorites like stegosaurus, triceratops, parasaurolophus, spinosaurus and a pair of utahraptors, as well as ferns that existed during the time they walked the earth. It will soon have a new resident: a 17-foot-tall brontosaurus, which is in storage right now waiting to be erected at the entrance to Rood Hall.
Feb 19, 2020: TOUR: The Milton – Battle Creek
The tour began by climbing temporary scaffolding in the 46-ft high main lobby to reach the area where the dome and barrel skylights are being restored.
Our own NAWIC member, Kate Shields, a project estimator with glazing contractor Blackberry Systems in Kalamazoo, worked on the project. She says, “The Milton has been one of our most comprehensive restoration and replication projects that we have undertaken in the past 30 years. The 90-year-old project required us to not only restore historic metals, decorative skylights, and the original historic storefront, but the steel windows also had to be completely replaced due to the poor condition they were in. The original steel windows had a unique design of a two-lite casement over a lower fixed transom with narrow stile sight lines, posing a challenge to replicate.”
The 19-story mixed-use redevelopment project is in various stages of renovation. sSome of the completed apartments are now occupied.
Speakers and tour guides: Jeff Mann, project manager and Kate Shields, NAWIC Member- Blackberry Systems, Inc.
