What's your favorite holiday movie?

By Stephanie Kohl
Customer Experience Manager

In all my life, there has never been a Christmas movie (or any movie really) that I have loved more than It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s something about sweet little Zuzu Bailey so confidently uttering the words: “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,” and knowing in my heart of hearts that George Bailey’s guardian angel Clarence has received his wings in that exact moment that makes me tear up every time. Has anyone ever not teared up by this point of the movie?! By the time they sing “Auld Lang Syne,” I’m officially a blubbering mess. But we can’t help what we love and what I love about this movie is that it reminds me that even in the darkest of times, hope is not lost; that what we do matters; and that even though we might think something is “no big deal,” it can have a profound impact on a person. Don’t give up. Appreciate what you have. One person can make a difference. When It’s a Wonderful Life opened in theatres in 1947, it fell far short of breaking even, leading to its declaration as a box office failure. When the owner of the film’s copyright failed to renew its rights in 1974, the film entered the public domain, making it fair game for cable networks to play over and over again at no cost to the networks, catapulting it to the Christmas season staple it is today. Hope need not have been lost.

Whether your favorite Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Love Actually, The Santa Clause, or Die Hard (which every year leads to the argument of whether Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie) - or you celebrate a different holiday with different holiday films entirely - make sure to slow down and refill that hot chocolate, enjoy the chill in the air and the magic of the season surrounded by loved ones and reminisce about all the things that make life wonderful.

”You see, George, you’ve really had a wonderful life.” - Clarence Oddbody.

What’s your favorite holiday movie?

From our families to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Extensive experience in concrete solutions for educational institutions

Experience:
Your educational institution project is important. It’s more than just a building or addition. It’s the auditorium where children discover their love of theatre, the gymnasium where children learn to shoot three-pointers, and the science lab where future scientists find their passion.

That’s what makes Mid-States Concrete Industries’ extensive experience in concrete solutions so vital to your project. From auditoriums to natatoriums, gymnasiums to safe rooms, classrooms to computer labs, and everything in between, Mid-States has completed hundreds of educational institution projects. That means you get the exceptional experience you need most when the stakes are this high.

Innovation:
At Mid-States, we turn innovative concepts into structural reality.

Precast concrete is known for its inherent sustainability and energy efficiency benefits, making it perfect for school settings. Mid-States has the unique ability to get even more out of precast concrete with our innovative building solutions.

  • Achieving large open spans through our total precast system of beams, columns, hollow core, and wall panels;

  • Matching the decades-old brick of an existing structure;

  • Attaining the look of your dreams with unique and personalized form liners and graphic concrete technology;

  • And more!

For a full look at some of our projects, visit msprecast.com/education-institutional

Expertise
Design/Engineering Expertise
When it comes to educational institution projects, trust is important. Your completed building is a place where children will learn, grow and play for years to come. We know that and we don’t take it lightly.

At the beginning and throughout the build process, our Design and Engineering Team will ask questions and listen to your objectives and goals. Then, we’ll apply the latest precast concrete products and techniques to your project, adhering to the strictest safety standards in the industry.

Learn more >>

With Gratitude at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite times of year. I love baking four different pies, setting the Thanksgiving table, spending time with my family, and laughing over way too much turkey, stuffing, and candied sweet potatoes. Controversial opinion here, I know, but I also really love cheesy corn casserole, which we generally only make at Thanksgiving and sometimes Easter.

It’s also a great time for some reflection. As I think about the past year, I realize just how quickly it flew by.

On a personal level, we experienced some major changes at home. In January, my parents moved in with my almost-seven-year-old and I, and we spent the first half of the year transforming my basement into a home for my parents. We’ve had our ups-and-downs as we adjusted to our new living situation, but looking back over the past 10+ months, I am so grateful to be able to share my home with my parents. We take care of each other. And my son has been able to grow an already amazing relationship with his Boda and Papa to a level of closeness he’d never have gotten to without them living with us. One of my favorite habits we’ve developed since my parents moving in is sitting down to dinner together. We are so blessed that my mom is not only an amazing cook, but enjoys cooking. I am endlessly grateful for my mother’s daily nourishment of not just our bodies, but our hearts. The woman cooks with love. And at that dinner table, my son’s favorite way to start the meal is by going around the table and requiring everyone to share their favorite part of the day. There’s nothing better than a daily reflection to recognize at least one positive thing that happened each day.

On a professional level, we also experienced some major changes at Mid-States. In January, International Concrete Products and Mid-States Concrete Industries joined forces through an acquisition of the former. And in April, Mid-States acquired Architectural Precast, Inc. of Browntown, Wis. This growth brought so much excitement as we got to welcome new team members into the Mid-States Concrete Industries family, team members who offer an incredible amount of expertise, dedication, and love for precast concrete and thrive on helping customers’ projects succeed. With these acquisitions came expanded opportunities for precast building solutions for our customers. We are so grateful to all of our customers for trusting us to be part of such amazing projects making a difference in the communities in which we live, work, learn, and play. There’s nothing like driving by projects we’ve been a part of and pointing them out to our passengers… every time we drive by (haha). I’ll never forget being part of the Wright & Wagner Lofts Riverfront Building project. Located right in the heart of downtown Beloit, my son would request at least weekly drive-bys of the project while on our way home from work and daycare. He was so excited to watch the project progress from nothing but an empty lot to the beautiful building that overlooks the river today and provides 83 units that individuals and families now call home.

We all have so much to be grateful for. I encourage you to take a page from the book of a six-year-old and take a moment every day to name the best part of your day. Even when things seem dark, you can almost always find at least a flicker of light. Reach for it and encourage it to burn brighter. With gratitude this Thanksgiving, we can’t wait to see what the next year brings.

Cheers!

Stephanie Kohl
Customer Experience Manager

Mid-States Concrete Industries now offering double tees

While customers know Mid-States Concrete Industries for its precast hollow core plank, beams, columns, and wall panels, the organization is excited to announce it has added precast concrete double tees to its range of products.

Double tees are a versatile and cost-effective precast product that can be used for a variety of projects, including parking garages, long span roofs/floors, gymnasiums, bridges, industrial facilities, and manufacturing facilities, among other uses.

As the name suggests, double tees resemble two capital letter T's placed side by side. The two vertical leg sections are called webs or stems, and the horizontal section is known as the deck or the flange. Double tees are prestressed prior to casting with high tensile strength cables, so they can be used as both horizontal and vertical load-bearing members.

Double tees are ideal for long, column-free space and can range from spans from 40-feet to well over 100-feet and come in a variety of depths. They can be produced pre-topped, which creates the wearing surface, or field-topped.

Manufactured in a quality-controlled environment, precast double tees, as well as all precast concrete components, will meet the strict quality guidelines set forth by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

Like other precast components, double tees are versatile, resilient, and efficient.

Benefits of Precast Concrete Double Tees:

  • MAXIMUM STRENGTH: Double tees are unique in that they can cover long spans of 100 feet or greater, yet still provide incredible strength to any structure. Double tees can achieve this level of strength without the need for columns in the design.

  • FAST CONSTRUCTION: Precast concrete double tees are manufactured in a controlled environment held to strict standards and with just-in-time delivery, double tees are delivered to the site and erected as they arrive. Utilizing precast concrete double tees removes uncertainty from the construction process allowing for better time management and a more accurate timeline for projects.

  • SIMPLIFIED DESIGN OPTIONS: The uniquely engineered quality of double tees make them ideal for creating simple construction designs that include features like open floor plans, long column-free spans and layouts that improve the overall functionality of a structure. They also dramatically reduce the number of joints present and reduce or eliminate the need for columns.

  • COST SAVINGS: Fast fabrication and erection times, less lifetime maintenance and built-in protection from natural disasters make using precast double tees one of the best ways to reduce and control overall project costs.

  • EXCEPTIONAL DURABILITY: Precast double tees are a smart choice for any project because of their high level of durability. Along with being resistant to direct impact, double tees are also remarkably strong and flexible. This makes them less susceptible to natural wear and tear. The strength and durability of precast double tees make them more resistant to potential damage from natural and manmade disasters, like fires and high winds.

Just how strong is a precast double tee beam? The National Precast Concrete Association tested the strength of a 10-foot-wide, 60-foot-long precast, prestressed double tee beam against multiple 4,400 lb. barriers placed on top. What happened?

Check out this video to find out:

Learn more about the test here >>

Mid-States Concrete Industries offers early design assistance to customers - including layout, design, and value - as early as the schematic design phase. Getting Mid-States on board early, and working through the early design phases together, aids in cost efficient element sizing and helps to limit issues during final design, saving time and money. If drawings are already underway, the Mid-States team can review them and provide any cost-saving comments to ensure an efficient and economical precast layout that achieves the goals of the project.

Do you have questions about how double tees, and other precast concrete components, might benefit your next project? Mid-States Concrete's goal is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for your projects. From preconstruction assessment to design and engineering support through construction and completion, Mid-States Concrete Industries is a true project partner through and through, committed to the success of your projects.

Contact Mid-States Concrete Industries today at sales@msprecast.com or reach out to your favorite salesperson at 800.236.1072.