News

Recently Fluhrer Reed took to the urban courts in downtown Raleigh to put on a basketball skills competition the likes the City of Oaks has not witnessed in a long time…nor should it again anytime soon!  Nothing quite compares to watching some guys that haven’t run up and down a basketball court in awhile try to pretend it isn’t getting to them…there were quite a few balls that ended up out of bounds.  Vertical leaps were very challenged and fouls were plentiful.  Fish took the rock to the hoop on numerous occasions and occasionally scored.  Michael’s powerful horizontal arc shot was viewed with awe and fear due to its firm rebound.  Keelor, the tallest, who was camped in the low post was found to be constantly muttering “I haven’t played like this in years!”.  Well, you probably haven’t played at all in years.  Ashley documented the good times with pictures and video and spent a good deal of the time chuckling at the “game” being played.  All in all, a rousing good time.

Mitch Fluhrer, PE, recently volunteered through ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) to help students at Brentwood Magnet Elementary School here in Raleigh as part of Engineers Week.  The first grade class was studying structural engineering and was assigned the project of designing a structure that could withstand wind loads.  Mitch was greeted by all the students wearing nametags that said “Hi, I’m (name) and I’m a Structural Engineer”, which was great!  The wind loads in question were from an electric fan and the structure was to be built out of cardboard, tape, rubber bands and popsicle sticks.  Each team of students had a project book where they had to sketch their proposed structure and then make a list of materials for the structure.  Mitch went from team to team to assist with the implementation of taking their sketches to a structure.   He also participated in a question and answer session from the group where the students asked questions such as “How much money does a structural engineer make?”, and “What is the biggest building you have designed?”.

At Fluhrer Reed, we have worked on many projects deemed as “fast track” by the building’s contractors.  We have designed foundations before designing the building and thought up ways to speed construction when it comes to structural design, but never have we had a project quite like this one.

In Chansha, China, workers built a 15-story hotel in a mere 6 days.  That’s right…6 days.  From AHN:

The Ark Hotel, constructed with optimal energy, material and time savings, was reportedly not only more efficient but cheaper to make. Industry experts said there was only 1 percent construction waste.

The sustainable hotel already had its foundation so construction workers only took 46 hours to finish the building using pre-fabricated columns and modules as well as modern construction techniques. Once the main structural components were completed, only another 90 hours were required to finish the building enclosure.

According to a video chronicling the construction, no stationary cranes were used in construction and there wasn’t a single injury among the site’s workers.

So, congratulations to our fellow engineers to the East…well done.

To see a time lapse video of the construction of the Ark Hotel, click below.

 

One of the projects listed in the ‘On the Boards’ section in the Portfolio area of this website is ‘The Point’.  So…what’s The Point?

The Point is the brand-spankin’ new home of NC State University’s Chancellor.  Fluhrer Reed’s very own Principal, Mitch Fluhrer, was lucky enough to serve as the Structural Engineer for the new residence. 

This grand home is being called a “residence for the university” and there is even a blog entitled “This Red House” that follows the progress of the construction and gives insight in the process of the design of the project.

From “This Red House”:
”Designed by College of Design Dean Marvin Malecha, “The Point” is a “structure that represents NC State as well as the state of North Carolina,” he said. “We wanted it to not only be beautiful and adaptable to the ways it will be used, but also be built using sustainable practices. Our new chancellor residence should reflect our land-grant ideals. It will be approachable, yet will have the proper level of dignity,” Malecha said.” 

To learn more about our work on The Point click here and to read more about the house from “This Red House” click here.

As a firm that is chocked full of proud Alums of NC State University (close to 90% of our employees are graduates of NCSU), we would like to officially welcome Tuffy to Raleigh and more importantly, to the sidelines of Wolfpack athletics.  Tuffy is the new live mascot of NC State and is a 2-year-old Tamaskan Wolfdog.  The addition of Tuffy ends countless rounds of conversations around Fluhrer Reed’s conference table weighing the benefits of having a live wolf at home at athletic events.

One employee pointed out, “I know that wolves are ‘dangerous’ but LSU has a live tiger…why can’t we have a wolf?”  Excellent point.  Although Tuffy may not be as ferocious as a live tiger or even a “real” wolf…we are excited about her addition to the Wolfpack family.

So, to you Tuffy, Fluhrer Reed welcomes you with pride and says, you’ll always have a water bowl at Pilot Mills.

 To read more about Tuffy, see the Technician article here.

Fluhrer Reed is a proud Silver Sponsor of the Triangle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  For the first time, AIA Triangle is hosting a Homes Tour to feature 10 award-winning homes in and around the Triangle.  Over the years, Fluhrer Reed has had the opportunity to work with quite a few of the architects with homes highlighted on the tour and we congratulate each of them on being recognized for their work.

 From the Homes Tour Website:

Discover architect designed and inspired living spaces on the AIA Triangle Homes Tour October 2, 2010. Ten award homes, nine featured architects and a clear demonstration in the value of working with an architect on a residential project of any scope and size. This year’s award homes represent a variety of structures, designs and living spaces. An architect provides insight and direction into a positive living environment, the importance of materials used, cost-effective management and delivery, and sustainable options that work now and grow with an individual or family into the future.

 If you are interested in attending or supporting the tour, visit the Homes Tour website for more information.

Fluhrer Reed announced today it has been selected as structural engineer of record for the addition and renovation of the White Oak Manor senior living facility located in Rock Hill, S.C.

The project adds approximately 17,000 square feet to the existing skilled nursing center along with renovating the existing buildings.  Included in the addition/renovation are new residence rooms, therapy rooms, administrative areas and dining and laundry facilities.  When completed, the construction will meet the regulations and standards of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) for Licensed Nursing Homes.

“We are seeing that as the number of seniors in the United States grows and changes, our facilities must expand and improve to meet the needs of this population.  We are pleased to be a part of these changes in the market,” stated Banning Reed, principal, Fluhrer Reed.

White Oak Manor-Rock Hill is one of the 14 senior living facilities that the Spartanburg, S.C. based company, White Oak Manor, Inc., owns and maintains in North and South Carolina.  Fluhrer Reed is working in conjunction with Charleston, S.C.-based CRG Engineering, Inc. on the project.  CRG’s President, Christopher Constantine noted, “We are very pleased to be working again with Fluhrer Reed on the White Oak Manor project in Rock Hill, S.C. This important project entails some key structural challenges associated with the addition of a new pitched roof over an existing building, as well as a substantial addition of new living spaces for elderly care residents. As always, Fluhrer Reed’s engineers provided the highest quality structural analysis, design, and detailing services. We have come to regard Fluhrer Reed as our go-to firm for any project, small or large.”  The architect for the project is Goff D’Antonio Associates of Charleston, S.C.

Recently, Fluhrer Reed Principal Banning Reed participated in a charity “cook-off”. We are pleased to report that his famous Chipotle Avocado Burgers took home the top prize!

The staff was more than willing to give Banning their honest opinion on his grilling skills in preparation for the contest. From the results, it looks like our thoughts were right on the money.

Congratulations, Banning!

The Saxapahaw Village was featured in the May issue of Our State Magazine as the magazine’s “Tar Heel Town”.  Fluhrer Reed worked with Clearscapes, PA to provide the structural engineering for the adaptive reuse of one of the mills in the Village into high-end condominium units.  Currently, the project is under construction.

To read more about the project and the revitalization of this unique village, located northwest of Raleigh, click here for a .pdf of the article from Our State.

On July 20, Mitch Fluhrer and Ashley Parker attended the Grand Opening of the Keystone Science Center located on Centennial Campus of NC State University on behalf of Fluhrer Reed.  Fluhrer Reed provided the structural engineering for the 72,000 square foot Class-A office and lab building.

Currently, the building is 98% leased with the anchor tenant being the FREEDM Systems Center.  After a presentation from NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson, College of Engineering Dean Louis Martin-Vega and Keystone President and CEO Pat Gavaghan, tours of the facility were held and ice cream from the NCSU dairy was served…it was a great way to beat the heat and celebrate the opening of a successful project.