Friede Versatility: Award-Winning Residential Construction
2013 ABC of Wisconsin Project of Distinction Award Winner
Although Friede & Associates is well-known throughout Wisconsin for its commercial and industrial construction, we have been known to build a residence or two. This executive residence and carriage house is just one of the high-end homes Friede has constructed. Located in picturesque Lake Delton, Wisconsin, on top of a hillside that frames the view of the nearby rolling countryside and Wisconsin River, sits the 11,300-square-foot home.
The lower level of the wood frame structure contains a storage room, a one-car garage with space for lawn maintenance equipment, a mechanical room, a family/recreational room, children’s game room, theatre, sunken bar, guest bedroom, full bathroom, and a covered patio. The main level includes an entry foyer, a family foyer, and pantry, laundry and mudroom, kitchen, dining room, great room, office, children’s workspace, four-car garage, and patio. The second level has a master bedroom, master bath, laundry room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and an exercise room. The residence is topped with a 12-sided observation tower with a circular staircase, 360˚windows, custom wood trim, wood ceiling, and an outside deck with glass railings so as not to impact the view. The exterior façade is highlighted with EIFS, natural stone, and timbers.
The project consisted of two sections: the three-story residence (completed in November of 2010) and a three-level carriage house (a 9,000-square-foot concrete, masonry, precast, and steel structure completed in May of 2013) with a 120-foot glass and timber bridge connecting the two buildings. The bridge starts at the back yard of the residence and ends on the upper deck of the carriage house where there is a pool, covered exterior kitchen, and dining and lounge area that offers stunning views. The lower level of the carriage house incorporates an eight-car garage, workshop, and a basketball/racquetball court that incorporates an adjustable basketball hoop with remote operation. The intermediate level houses a lounge, restroom, shower, and the mechanical and pool equipment rooms.
Friede & Associates worked closely with Steve Shulfer of Shulfer Architects and his team of consultants to skillfully carry out the design documents while incorporating the owner’s required aesthetic and functional elements. Friede self-performed the concrete, wood framing and finish carpentry work.
The location created several challenges—excavating and building in glacial till, steep and restricted access, and tight workspaces. Difficulties to overcome during construction were numerous, as the construction of the residence began in November with a snowy and wet winter. Access was by a tightly winding road rising 120 feet from the street to the house site making general accessibility, deliveries of equipment, precast, and trusses quite challenging. The glacial till subgrade was prone to sloughing and contained random boulders and rocks. The hillside grades and slopes along with the owner’s desire to keep as many trees as feasible minimized access around both the residence and carriage house for construction.
In addition, the slopes and subsoil materials made the placement of traditional footings and piers nearly impossible for support of the bridge. Helical piers were placed from both above and below the bridge location utilizing articulating arm lifts with specialized heads. This allowed placement of the supports without any excavation or disturbance to the hillside. Engineering the perfect plan also required a balancing act between daylight and scenery. The number, size, and locations of windows were determined to maintain views while minimizing solar gain and heat loss. Solatubes were incorporated to maintain the home’s light and airy interior as well as reducing the electrical usage.
The structural requirements of supporting a full-size pool called for large structural masonry, steel, and precast concrete components and with limited space, required careful planning and execution. The heating and cooling system combine the advantages of both geothermal and wood. Heating is distributed with in-floor heating and cooling through a high-pressure system. Even with heated sidewalks and garage approaches, the cost of operating this system in the residence, including the electricity, is only $300-$400 per month.
In the end, this highly-detailed project resulted in owners who are greatly appreciative and who proudly show off their home to family, friends, and associates. For Friede, that, along with winning a coveted Project of Distinction Award, illustrates to us that we did our job right.
About Friede & Associates:
When you select Friede & Associates, you are buying more than our quality-assured construction services. You also get the performance and reliability of some of the top suppliers and subcontractors in the area. While other contractors may be cutting quality to remain competitive on price, Friede is forging relationships with members of the project team to bring you the best value and highest quality for your investment.
