The Journey of Lute Olson’s Statue to the U of A Campus

Posted on June 18, 2018 by flywheel transfer

Lute Olson is a man who needs no introduction to University of Arizona basketball fans. The legendary men’s coach has 46 NCAA tournament wins under his belt, ushered many of his players into the NBA and transformed the Wildcat program into a basketball powerhouse.

After it was announced that a statue in his honor was to be erected, Kappcon was brought on to prepare the location where the statue would sit at the McKale Center. Once the foundation was ready to support the tremendous weight of the statue, it was time to get Lute in place.

Lute Olson Statue Installation — How does one move a statue no one is supposed to see yet? *Very* *carefully*.

Lute Olson Statue Base Prep — Foreman Victor Pallanes putting the final touches on the statue’s base. Kappcon Superintendent Pete Staroska said, “*the most challenging aspect of this job was accurately locating key points to the main floor from the maze like basement underneath without any reference points*.”

The Unveiling

Lute Olson Statue Unveiling Dream Team — **The Dream Team:** Artist Jessica LoPresti of Rotblatt-Amrany, Ralph Banks, Jared Logue and Henry Tom of Line + Space Architects, Kappcon President Nathan Kappler and Omri Amrany of Rotblatt-Amrany

The life sized statue was unveiled at a touching ceremony on the Eddie Lynch Pavilion at the McKale Center on April, 2018. In attendance were former and current players, Wildcat fans, and the man of the hour, Lute Olson himself. Kappcon was thrilled to be a part of this special University of Arizona project honoring a true sports legend.

See more photos of the ceremony at the Arizona Daily Star.

Project Details

Owner: University of Arizona

Architect: Line + Space Architects

General Contractor: Kappcon Inc.

Artist: Jessica LoPresti of Rotblatt-Amrany Studio

We would like to thank our trade partners Parsons Steel Builders, Sturgeon Electric, Penhall Concrete and Marco Crane for their assistance with this project.

655 N. Alvernon Sneak Peek

Posted on March 1, 2018March 1, 2018 by flywheel transfer

Kappcon has a long history of partnering with the University of Arizona; our latest project at 655 N Alvernon is no exception. The University purchased the 1970’s building for Health Sciences staff, but first the property needed serious love before the team could move in. We gutted the building (very quietly, some tenants were still there) and started from scratch.

Goings on at Alvernon

We aren’t quite finished yet, but the first interior shots were too good not to share. It’s very exciting to watch the progression from “gutted old building” to modern, cheerful work space. We hope the medical personnel will be happy in their new home.

Before (above) and After (below)

Alvernon Sneak Peek — Furnishings by Knoll

More to Come

Kappcon will be completing lab spaces, work and communal areas, and exterior updates for 655 N Alvernon in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to see the finished project! (this is the before…)

As always, these photos were taken by the great folks at openform.

We recommend them for any of your brand strategy and design needs.

ASM Roland Basketry Gallery Remodel

Posted on August 21, 2017September 20, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

Kappcon acted as the General Contractor to complete the remodel of a 1,000 sq foot Arizona State Museum gallery designed by Line and Space. The Arnold and Doris Roland Basketry Gallery, a part of the Woven Through Time exhibit, houses over 200 Native American artifacts from the Southwest. The renovated exhibit space effectively communicates the storied history of basketry’s ancient roots.

Upon entry from the lobby, visitors gain a dramatic line of site to the vault display, creating a powerful sense of arrival.

A compressive, abstract woven ceiling entrance marks the beginning of the visitor’s path. The woven steel conduit suspended from above creates a dynamic ceiling plane that echoes the weaves of a basket and ties the individual spaces within the gallery together.

Movement through the collection is an integrated flow between the past, present, and future of basketry.

The Gallery project will provide much needed public access, display, education and interpretive space for the Arizona State Museum’s Basket Collection, recipient of the Save America’s Treasures Award.

Photos by Line + Space

Self Performed Construction Services – Working with Non-Profits

Posted on July 11, 2017September 20, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

Catalina Terrace (CT) is a semi-public pool that has served families for 55 years in mid-Tucson…and it needed a restoration.

The Catalina Terrace Athletic Program community rallied under the leadership of a dedicated and passionate Not For Profit Board of Directors. They raised $220,000 for much needed improvements.

The project included complete pool shell renovation, pool plumbing renovation, electric, landscaping and perimeter fence/wall upgrades.

Kappcon was able to help the community by self-performing the pool deck and other concrete repairs, and perimeter wall masonry services.

Here is a look back at the work from the CTAP website posting:

http://ctapmarlins.org/wp/capital-campaign/renovation/

CTAP Board & Foosball, pool floor during reconstruction, 2017.

2017 Cornerstone Foundation’s General Contractor of the Year

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

We thank our customers and industry colleagues for nominating Kappcon as a top General Contractor in Tucson; and we thank the Cornerstone Foundation for awarding Kappcon with this honor.

We will keep up the good work and continue making professional relationships by delivering our quality construction services.

Ramada Dedication

Posted on April 6, 2017April 6, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

We are happy that one of our Parks and Rec projects will have a dedication this weekend. It really turned out nice and we look forward to more of these…

Midtown neighborhood to dedicate new Ramada surrounded by history

Tucson Rodeo – Vaquero Club Structure

Posted on March 3, 2017March 3, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

Kappcon, Inc is a Tucson based General Contractor that provides Public Parks construction.

We were happy to see this article in the back of the this year’s Tucson Rodeo Program.

It was a great team and the new structure provided both shade and rain shelter for the first weekend of the Rodeo.

Thanks to the Tucson Rodeo Committee and Tucson Parks & Rec!

New museum construction at Arizona State Museum

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Nathan Kappler

Museum construction is in progress now.

Kappcon is very proud to partner with the Arizona State Museum, on the University of Arizona campus, for their new exhibit – Woven Through Time.

Exhibit opening April 7, 2017.

Arizona Daily Star and Tucson’s Historic Neighborhoods

Posted on November 28, 2016September 27, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

A nice write up in the Arizona Daily Star about the park construction we are working on and the neighborhood history surrounding it…

We are near completion of this park construction project – just waiting on artwork to embed into the columns that will tell the story of the salvaged roof tiles and the salvaged foundation stones.

Here is the follow up to this post.

From the archives…Arizona Stadium Video Board!

Posted on October 21, 2016October 20, 2017 by Nathan Kappler

We re-discovered this video while preparing for our next CMAR presentation.

In 2011, Kappcon, Inc was the General Contractor for the University of Arizona in charge of installing that serious structure that holds up the Arizona Stadium Video Board.

And here is the structure finished with all of us proud team members.