American Transmission Co. (ATC) needed to modernize the Uninterruptible Power Supply supporting its data systems. So it hired Roman Electric to install two new UPS systems for redundant standby power.
Jason Shaver, ATC system operations project manager, said Roman did ample pre-planning with ATC to successfully manage and limit the number and length of power outages during installation. Roman also performed a detailed arc flash analysis coordination study to insure system reliability and safety.
"What Roman achieved was quite remarkable," Shaver said. "Roman's approach was most suitable to what we wanted to do." He said much of Roman's work had to be done late in the evening when there was less activity on their system if an outage was required. Then the facilities would have to be quickly re-energized.
Roman replaced ATC's older UPS equipment with two new identical UPS systems which facilitate power transfers. When one is activated, power is transferred to the ATC system in milliseconds so the switch is not even noticeable.
"Roman was very patient and highly skilled," Shaver said. "We're extremely happy with the work they did for us. With multiple generators and two new UPS systems, we now have a very impressive, very redundant electrical system with a higher level of reliability."
"Great Job"
JohnsonDiversey's meticulously planned new 550,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Sturtevant is a highly energy-efficient, LEED certified building. General contractor on the challenging project was Riley Construction. Roman Electric was design/build contractor for the electrical systems, a $1,700,000 job.
Dave Riley, president of Riley Construction, was very impressed with Roman's work. "Roman's very easy to work with and they're a great team player," he said. "We were really pleased with the leadership of both their office and field people. Phil Rose was the project manager and made things happen. Kevin Schlax was an exceptional foreman for Roman. It was just a great job from Roman's standpoint!"
"Good at tough jobs"
With a major refurbishment, Marcus Corporation converted the Wyndham Milwaukee Center into the posh Intercontinental Milwaukee Hotel, a luxurious 220 room hotel downtown. Marcus hired Roman Electric to handle power and lighting, a $500,000 job.
Craig Rambo, Marcus corporate director of engineering, said Roman's work was challenging. "We asked the impossible for scheduling, which is what Roman usually gets handed," he said. "They handled it very well. They always do. That's why we do business with them because they're good at dealing with the tough jobs we throw at them! They do good work."
"Impeccable Attention to Detail" "Great Job" "Fantastic"
The old First National Bank Building, constructed in 1915, has been converted into an opulent new jewel, The PrivateBank at 743 N. Water St. Building owner and manager Compass Properties LLC completely rebuilt the building's first floor for the bank. The general contractor was Selzer-Ornst Co. Roman Electric handled the electrical work.
"The beauty, detail and high quality finishes were unusual for a bank," said Robert Ornst Jr., president of Selzer-Ornst. "Roman really did a nice job helping us achieve that impressive look. Their lead electrician Erich Eirschele was very, very good and had the impeccable attention to detail we needed."
Mark Lemke, managing director of The PrivateBank, also liked Roman's work. "Gabe Rose and his people really did a great job," he said. "Their lead electrician Erich proved to be skilled, knowledgeable and experienced. He's good. Roman delivered."
Sheldon Oppermann, regional manager for Compass Properties, said they had a window of about 60 days to build 18,000 sq. ft. of upper level office space for tenants prior to building out the bank. He said, "Roman was instrumental in getting that accomplished.
"Retrofitting existing buildings is extremely difficult. There's always unknown conditions and Roman responded to each challenge every time we ran into one. Roman's guys are fantastic. They're a great example of a contractor who belongs in commercial construction."
"Fantastic Job" "Excellent Job"
With the creative investment of $68 million, the moribund Kenilworth Building has been transformed into UWM housing and art studios, revitalizing the area. The huge structure, one of the largest buildings on the east side, covers an entire city block from Prospect Ave. to Farwell Ave. at Kenilworth Place.
The original conjoined buildings, constructed in 1914 and 1943, were rebuilt into two facilities, each with 250,000 sq. ft. of space: Kenilworth Square Apartments on Farwell Ave. and Peck School of the Arts on Prospect Ave
Weas Development Co. developed the complex project for the UW system and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee. RACM is the owner from whom UWM leases the buildings. KBS Construction was the general contractor. Roman Electric was the design/build electrical and voice/data/security cabling contractor.
Scott Weas, one of the developer's partners, said, "The job was unusual in many ways, both in the public/private development structure for the UW System, and the architectural solution implemented. We cut a huge monolithic building in half to construct two attractive buildings. And we did it all in a short time frame to make the housing available for UWM's fall semester. Our team certainly exceeded all of our expectations."
Weas was pleased with Roman's work. "Roman Electric did a fantastic job," he said. "We put a lot of trust into a contractor under a design/build model. We get married early and if they can't deliver we're kind of stuck. Roman performed from beginning design, early budgeting and preconstruction services through managing and designing the overall project.
"Too often what we hear from our partners is, 'we've got a problem, how are you going to solve it?' Roman would say 'here's the problem, here are your available solutions, help us choose the best option.' They did very well at meeting overall performance specs and quality standards." Roman project managers were Bob Czajka and Greg Blaney.
KBS Construction project manager Dave Rhoda said the project was a difficult job requiring structural demolition to separate the existing building into two, then design and construct each to fit its respective function.
"Roman did an excellent job," he said. "The buildings were designed with unique exposed features including conduit, bus duct and cable trays. Roman did a great job working with the architect to make all the exposed fixtures and infrastructure fit esthetically. I can't say enough about the work of president Phil Rose and foremen Kevin Schlax and Dave Broz."
"Excellent Job"
The eight story 875 E. Wisconsin Building has 200,000 sq ft of office space with a three level, 200,000 sq ft parking structure below. General contractor was C.G. Schmidt. Roman Electric was the electrical contractor, and assisted with design.
Mark Lillesand, project manager for C. G. Schmidt, was very pleased with Roman's work. "Roman was brought in on the job early so they were an integral partner in the whole process," Mark said. "Phil Rose managed the job for Roman and Tony Foti was their foreman. They both did an excellent job.
"Tony is one of the best electrical foremen there is. He was requested by our superintendent, Tom Pagel, who's worked with Tony before and has a good relationship with him. We were fortunate Tony was available. He offered a lot of foresight, made suggestions for changes or improvements, which was great to have, and he met our schedule.
"The job was an extremely difficult project. Construction took place on a very small site so we had extremely tight working constraints. Roman and the material suppliers had to schedule in detail because there were limited windows for them to bring materials to the building. We didn't have the usual spacious field office and job trailers.
"Roman's work is one reason why things went right and we got the job done on time. I was very impressed with Roman's work on this project and look forward to doing the next project with them."
"Super Job"
American Transmission Co built a two-story, 58,000 sq. ft. facility at Ridgeview Office Center II on Highway J near I-94 in Pewaukee. Roman Electric handled design/build of the electrical system.
Mike Texley, site superintendent for general contractor M.A. Mortenson Co., was very impressed with Roman's work. "Roman's people did a super job," he said. "I really appreciated their hard work and dedication. Roman's foreman Sam Kozaczok, project manager Barry Dickenson and design engineer Phil Rose were very cooperative, excellent at coordinating activities and got all the elements in place as needed.
The electrical inspector said we were lucky to have an electrical foreman like Sam because of his intelligence, knowledge and desire to get things done right."
"Total Commitment"
Barry Mandel, whose Mandel Group has developed hundreds of high quality apartments, had this to say about Roman Electric's work on his elegant 109 unit Lake Bluff apartment complex overlooking the lake near downtown Milwaukee. "Roman Electric not only does excellent work, but they also recongize that customer service is an important component in a total commitment to do a professional job."
"Just A Prince!"
Burt Cohen, owner of the new 169 room Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Milwaukee was very happy with Roman's design/build work. "Phil Rose, who served as Roman's project manager and designer on the job, was very professional and easy to work with," he said. "And Roman foreman Kevin Schlax was just a prince! His crew knew what needed to be done and did it. I'd never hesitate to use Roman on another job."
"Read Each Other's Minds"
Pat McAdams, owner of several Pick 'N Save grocery stores, likes working with Roman Electric. "This is the third time I've worked with Roman," he said about his 61,000 sq. ft. store under construction in Wales. "We can almost read each other's minds now. Roman does a great job. When we finish this store we'll build another Pick 'N Save in Sussex with help again from Roman."
"Excellent Quality"
At Gardetto Bakery, the company that grew from a small family-owned bakery to a large producer of popular snack foods, president John Gardetto likes working with Roman Electric. "Roman handles all our electrical work," he said. "We feel real comfortable with them. The quality of their workmanship and service is excellent, and their prices are fair. What more can you ask?"
"Ideal Contractor"
Describing the rush to finish the Embassy Suites Hotel on Moorland Rd. at I-94, hotel project manager Wallace Vance said, "Roman's people were here almost around the clock at the end. They're super people and impeccably honest. They handled change orders without a complaint and at reasonable cost. They literally saved us thousands of dollars finding better ways to do or redo things. It was a delightful experience working with them. I've never had a contractor as ideal to work with as Roman Electric."
"Very Good Service"
Roman Electric has wired and maintained a number of buildings for developer Trammel Crow Company. Talking about his experiences working with Roman, Fran Brzezinski, then a Trammel Crow partner, said, "The same thing we think we provide our clients, Roman Electric provides us…service. We expect contractors to work hard on the main structure of a new building. But it's often difficult to get good, quick service for tenants. That's where a contractor earns his stripes. Gerv Rose, Roman's president, served as project manager on several jobs. He's good on the base building price and service. But he's also very good on tenant service. Plus I like the guy. And you need to enjoy people you do business with."
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A fleet of 50 Service and Bucket Trucks
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Wisconsin's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Experts
"Patient and Highly Skilled"
"Great Job"
"Good at tough jobs"
"Impeccable Attention to Detail" "Great Job" "Fantastic"
The old First National Bank Building, constructed in 1915, has been converted into an opulent new jewel, The PrivateBank at 743 N. Water St. Building owner and manager Compass Properties LLC completely rebuilt the building's first floor for the bank. The general contractor was Selzer-Ornst Co. Roman Electric handled the electrical work.
"The beauty, detail and high quality finishes were unusual for a bank," said Robert Ornst Jr., president of Selzer-Ornst. "Roman really did a nice job helping us achieve that impressive look. Their lead electrician Erich Eirschele was very, very good and had the impeccable attention to detail we needed."
Sheldon Oppermann, regional manager for Compass Properties, said they had a window of about 60 days to build 18,000 sq. ft. of upper level office space for tenants prior to building out the bank. He said, "Roman was instrumental in getting that accomplished.
"Fantastic Job" "Excellent Job"
Scott Weas, one of the developer's partners, said, "The job was unusual in many ways, both in the public/private development structure for the UW System, and the architectural solution implemented. We cut a huge monolithic building in half to construct two attractive buildings. And we did it all in a short time frame to make the housing available for UWM's fall semester. Our team certainly exceeded all of our expectations."
"Excellent Job"
"Tony is one of the best electrical foremen there is. He was requested by our superintendent, Tom Pagel, who's worked with Tony before and has a good relationship with him. We were fortunate Tony was available. He offered a lot of foresight, made suggestions for changes or improvements, which was great to have, and he met our schedule.
"Super Job"
"Total Commitment"
"Just A Prince!"
"Read Each Other's Minds"
"Excellent Quality"
"Ideal Contractor"
"Very Good Service"
