MG McGrath - Architectural Surfaces + Architectural Glass & Glazing

UMN Fraser Hall : Installation Once the copper panels are fabricated, they are shipped out to site and ready to be installed by our field teams. The flat-lock design on these panels features a slip connection with integrated clips and are installed from the bottom up in an overlapping sequential pattern. We are fabricating and installing over 15,000 sqft of these custom-copper panels, and so far they look great. We hope you enjoyed seeing the lifecycle of the copper panels on this unique project this week. Make sure you check back when Fraser Hall is completed to see the final photos along with the additional metal and glass work we are doing on-site

UMN Fraser Hall : Bending After the metal is embossed, its time to fabricate and bend the metal into panels. The copper is loaded into our folding tables which bend and press each piece to create our own custom S-Slip panel system

UMN Fraser Hall : Custom Stamping This project is very unique because we actually used a custom-made metal stamping die to create the panels. This die gets loaded into our machine, and the flat pieces are pressed in the die to give it this ribbed, embossed texture

UMN Fraser Hall : Laser Cutting Fabrication always starts with sheets of metal. For the Fraser Hall project, we are using 16oz sheets of copper and first running them through our fully automated fiberoptic laser. This state-of-the-art CNC laser uses pre-programmed files to cut the metal to the size we need and the cut pieces are loaded onto a cart for bending

Currently, we are fabricating and installing custom copper panels for the new Fraser Hall Chemistry Undergraduate Teaching Lab at the University of Minnesota. Check back all this week to see the unique fabrication process for this project, our custom-made metal stamping die, and what the finished panels look like on the building

Zinc naturally patinas to a grey, but we pushed the aging process to give way to more color and heavy, mottled marbling. Patches of grey show through, but the brown, gold, and white tones take center stage in our custom Merapi Zinc finish.

We hope everyone participated in this year’s Women In Construction Week and learned a lot. We value each and every one of the women we have on our team and know they play a valuable role in bring new perspectives, sharing strong skillsets, and advancing us into a successful future. Just like the buildings we help create, together, we can rise to new heights

The theme for Women in Construction Week this year is “Together We Rise”, celebrating the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry

Today is the start of Women In Construction Week! Since 1998, WIC Week has been celebrating and promoting the role of women in the construction industry. Be sure to visit the National Association of Women in Construction to see all the amazing events, tours, presentations, luncheons, and virtual events they have planned for you to participate in.

Today is our 40 year business anniversary! A lot has changed since 1985, but our commitment to providing creative solutions and master craftsmanship has always stayed the same. Our company has grown from a handful of sheet metal apprentices in a garage, to one of the top architectural surfaces contractors in the nation. We have developed our own building envelope systems, software applications, and custom finishes, as well as successfully taken on some of the most complex projects in the country. Our great people have always made us who we are, and we wouldn’t be here today without them and everyone who has supported us along the way. We couldn’t be more proud of where we have come in the last 40 years, and we look forward to even more success and growth in the years ahead.