Newsletter:  August 2006 a "The fire sprinkler business is booming" – Joel Meyers, LeDuc & Dexter Fire Sprinkler Project Manager. Oliver & Company has completed over 1,000 buildings in Northern California and they are now building the Shomrei Temple in Santa Rosa. "This building didn't cost us very much because of all the great help we got" – Allan Brenner, Director for the Earl Baum Center for the Blind in Santa Rosa.

Joel Meyers, Fire Sprinkler Project Manager

Residential

The residential fire sprinkler business has become a big business in Santa Rosa since the zero tolerance ordinance passed stating any new residential homes being built must have a fire sprinkler system. Every city in Sonoma County with the exception of Petaluma has passed a fire sprinkler ordinance now.

JOEL MEYERS Fire Sprinkler Project Manager for LeDuc & Dexter.

Norberto Suarez, Residential Fire Sprinkler Foreman for LeDuc & Dexter, gluing pipe for fire sprinkler head connection. (click image to enlarge)

Joel Meyers is the project manager for the residential fire sprinkler department at LeDuc & Dexter. "The fire sprinkler business is booming," says Meyers, who, previous to becoming department manager, had been installing fire sprinklers for eight years. "It's a great trade," says Meyers, "regardless of the economy there are always new homes being built and they all need fire sprinklers."

Meyers has seven installers in his department. "It works out good because of my experience in the field I'm able to relate to the challenges that come up for the installers," says Meyers, "When they call me with a question or situation they haven't dealt with before we can usually work through it over the phone because I've probably seen it before."

LeDuc & Dexter's Fernando Gomez attaching fire sprinkler head to ceiling rafter. (click image to enlarge)

This flow control switch triggers the alarm bell when water sprays out of the sprinkler heads. (click image to enlarge)

The biggest challenge for Meyers is common for many people who move into management from the field – experience. "I've been very lucky in my new position because I have a lot of support from the company," says Meyers, "Jim Kempers (Residential Manager) has really helped me understand what a project manager should be and Tom (LeDuc) and Arty (Dexter) have helped me a lot. It's been a great experience."

Finished fire sprinkler head cover, between entry hall lights, pops off at 135 degrees and sprinkler head drops releasing water spray at 155 degrees. (click image to enlarge)

Congregation Shomrei Torah's New Temple

Commercial

Shomrei Torah temple has 360 degree view of Santa Rosa. (click image to enlarge)

The Congregation Shomrei Torah's new temple is now under construction on Bennett Valley Road across from Waterfall Towers in Santa Rosa. After months of delays due to heavy spring rains the hilltop temple has all of the retaining walls that line the driveway in place and the temple walls and roof are being completed.

With a 360 degree view of Santa Rosa from the temple's hilltop location it's somewhat surprising how tranquil the setting is with mostly the trees of Santa Rosa visible to the viewer's eyes. A few landmarks stand above the tree line such as the small cluster of taller downtown Santa Rosa buildings, but other than that and the adjacent Sonoma County Fairgrounds the view is mostly of trees and surrounding hills and mountains.

The walls and roof are under construction. (click image to enlarge)

The peaked roof has a steep 12 & 4 pitch. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter Inc. has completed the under slab plumbing for the commercial kitchen and restrooms including the domestic water system and sanitary system. LeDuc & Dexter will also be completing the roof drainage system. This is phase one of the temple, which features a circular wall and a clear story above it along with a 4 & 12 pitch roof.

Oliver & Company, Inc. is the general contractor for the project. Oliver & Company was founded by Lloyd H. Oliver and Charles E. Coburn in 1946 nine years after Mr. Oliver had helped complete construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then Oliver & Company has completed over 1,000 buildings in Northern California. Some notable projects include the San Francisco Film Institute, Spinnakers Restaurant in Sausalito and the Pyramid Ale Brewery in Berkeley.

The roof rafters at the point where they tie in together. (click image to enlarge)

The curved brick wall. (click image to enlarge)

A rendering of what the finished temple will look like. (click image to enlarge)

Earl Baum Center for the Blind

The Community

The original home of Earl Baum was the first office. The new office is directly behind it. (click image to enlarge)

Six years ago Earl Baum donated his farm to the Center for the Blind. His farm house, located on Occidental Road in Santa Rosa, became their office and a number of surrounding buildings were added. The staff has grown to 15 people and they have recently moved into their new office directly behind the old one, which is now a common area.

The new office was built with the help of donors and volunteers from the construction industry including LeDuc & Dexter Inc. The Friends of Earl Baum, a support group for the Center, went to work gathering construction companies willing to donate their time to help build the new office.

The new office was built by volunteers and donors. (click image to enlarge)

Allan Brenner, Director of the Earl Baum Center for the Blind, cleans up in the kitchen area of the break room. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter was one of many companies who answered the call to help build the new office. Leroy Carlenzoli, of Carlenzoli & Associates, a civil engineering firm in Santa Rosa and a charter member of The Friends of Earl Baum, contacted LeDuc & Dexter, who ended up donating time and materials to the project. The plumbing included the restrooms and kitchen area for the break room.

Allan Brenner, Director for the Earl Baum Center for the Blind, coordinated the project, "This building didn't cost us very much because of all the great help we got," says Brenner. Some of the other companies who donated to the project were Siri Grading & Paving, Roofing Services Inc. and Coker Architects. Brenner is already working on the next project for the Earl Baum Center for the Blind. It will be a 10,000 square foot multi-purpose building. "The building will have a commercial kitchen and a lot of other features. We'll have to double the size of the parking lot," says Brenner. Brenner is working on a capital campaign this time to raise money and plans to hire a general contractor to build it. He estimates the cost will be around three million dollars. Earl Baum would be proud.

LeDuc & Dexter donated time and materials for the plumbing of the building including the bathrooms and kitchen area. (click image to enlarge)