Department of Energy funding nuclear research at UW-Madison

With more than $5 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers are leading 10 cutting-edge research projects that will advance next-generation nuclear energy technologies.

In addition to their lead role on 10 projects, UW-Madison engineers also are collaborating with Texas A&M University on two other projects. The UW-Madison research projects fall primarily under two DOE thrusts: Advanced fuel-cycle initiative and next-generation, nuclear plant/generation IV nuclear systems. The research includes studies of nuclear fuels and fuel coatings, nuclear waste separation technology, reactor analysis, reactor cooling technologies, advanced reactor concepts and advanced reactor materials.

“The Wisconsin Institute of Nuclear Systems and the faculty and staff involved in the funded projects are uniquely positioned to provide both basic science and applied engineering research studies for generation IV nuclear reactor technologies and their associated materials and fuel cycle development,” says Michael Corradini, a UW-Madison professor and chair of engineering physics.

Wright Meeting House addition receives LEED gold certification

J.H. Findorff & Son has completed a 20,000 square foot addition to the First Unitarian Society Meeting House, an original Frank Lloyd Wright design and National Historic Landmark. The project has earned LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The project included demolishing part of the existing structure, renovating two wings and adding new spaces for classrooms, music rooms, offices, an auditorium and courtyard spaces. The building was constructed with a number of sustainable building elements and green features including a green roof, geothermal heating and cooling, rain gardens and dual-flush toilets. The demolition process was enhanced with major recycling efforts.

J.H. Findorff & Son has offices in Madison and Milwaukee, and currently employs an average of 600 construction professionals and tradespeople, completing more than $300 million in construction annually.

MOVERS

>> Deb Houden, Ph.D., has been named Center Director for the UW Family Business Center. In addition Eric Schwartz of Sara Investment Real Estate and Brian Donley of Thompson Investment Management have joined the center’s Advisory Board of Directors:

>> Joe Eck has named the new general manager for Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort. In this position he will be responsible for overseeing all resort operations.

>> Joyce Maly has been promoted to chief financial officer at Park Towne Development Corp., a Madison-based real estate company. Maly, who was previously accounting and data processing manager, is celebrating 25 years with the firm.

>> Craig B. Larson has joined Community Business Bank in the role of retail loan officer at the bank’s Sauk City location where he will focus on consumer and residential lending.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

MADISON: American Printing Co. has acquired The Printing Partners and will retain employees from both staffs to take advantage of the organizations’ unique strengths and exper-tise. The two firms, based in Madison, serve business clients throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. Vance Kapalczynski, president and chief executive officer of American Printing, says combining the two firms brings more ser-vices under one roof and creates opportunities for growth. The company’s client base includes customers in La Crosse, Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee, Rockford and Chicago. After the merger is complete, American Printing will employ a total of 90 at its headquarters in Madison.

>> Annually Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine ranks the largest 500 design firms — publicly and privately held — in the nation. Madison-based Mead & Hunt rose from a ranking of 300 to 240 in just one year. ENR’s ranking is based on revenues for design services performed in 2008. Mead & Hunt’s gross revenues exceeded $52 million in its last fiscal year which ended Oct. 31, 2008.