opening remarks

H
ello again, and welcome to our second edition of Midwest Building! In today’s
market, new construction financing has become more critical than ever, in
part because of interest rates, banking changes, security issues, and overall
market concerns. So for this issue, we concentrated on our pre-engineered building
expertise. Highlighted in this issue are buildings that are efficient to build, multifunc-
tional, and can even be designed to limit potential future obsolescence. Whether you
are a small business just starting out or a large business that is expanding, we can
customize an engineered building for you.

Steve Kuepers
Executive Vice President
Kuepers Inc., Architects & Builders

MN LIC 0002599

Doug Kuepers
President Jeremy Adams Project Management
Steve Kuepers Property Management & Bruce Weaver
Maintenance Manager Dan Kennedy
Executive Vice President
Cale LaVoie
Dan Kuepers Ray Austin Paul Reier
Production Manager Field Operations Manager Mike Hays
Jennifer Solseth Todd DeChaine Roger Lorenz
The Hearth Room Landscape & Irrigation Supervisor Eric Halbert
Nate Holzer
Executive Vice President
Dan Richter
Michael Patrick Joe Klemmetsen
Controller, CPA Project Development
Kristopher Solseth
Leah Heggerston Eric Carder Interior Design/Showroom
Director of Marketing Amy Collins The Hearth Room
Sean Kaneski Lee Wangstad
Director of Project Development Dale Ditter Sara Raimann
Ryan Blank Gwen Burggraff
Mark Cross
Architect, AIA, NCARB Genevieve Kec
Architecture Alyssa Barkley
Michael Angland Eric Larson Paula Kovatovich
Architect, AIA Sam Koob Catherine Deutschlander
Andy Waletzko Kendra Johnson
Chris Raimann
Sarah Goodrow Laurie Meller
Architect, AIA
Sarah Schmidt Kate Johnson
Michael Carpenter Sarah Rutz Anna Struss
Mechanical Engineer, PE

14643 Edgewood Drive, Suite 115 • Baxter, MN 56425 • (888) 829-0707 • (218) 829-0383 fax • www.kuepers.com
 in this issue

Features
Minnesota Inboard Water Sports
An industrial building that
doesn’t look industrial .............................................. 5

Tanner Honda
Redefining the pre-engineered
steel building .......................................................... 12

Bear Pause Theater

Uncommon construction for the
ultimate movie-going experience ........................... 19

Industry Reports
Operating Kuepers Green
Environmental protection goes
beyond just building ‘green’ ..................................... 8

Taming the Elements

Excellence in heating, cooling, and
ventilating by Kuepers ............................................ 11
About the Cover:
When Tanner Honda in Brainerd/ A Change in Scenery
Baxter planned to renovate an exist- Kuepers’ landscape design blends
ing structure for its Honda dealer- nature and construction ......................................... 16
ship, it called upon Kuepers Inc. to
construct a new facility that would
combine elements of the owner’s
overall plan with the automobile
manufacturer’s Honda Dealership
Image Program.

5 12 21
Midwest Building is published by QuestCorp Media Group, Inc., 885 E. Collins Blvd., Ste. 102, Richardson, TX 75081. Phone (972) 447-0910 or (888) 860-2442, fax (972)
447-0911, www.qcmedia.com. QuestCorp specializes in creating and publishing corporate magazines for businesses. Inquiries: Victor Horne, vhorne@qcmedia.com. Editorial
comments: Darren Nielsen, dnielsen@qcmedia.com. Please call or fax for a new subscription, change of address, or single copy. Single copies: $5.95. This publication may not be
reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of QuestCorp Media Group, Inc. To advertise in an upcoming issue of this publication, please contact us at
(888) 860-2442 or visit us on the Web at www.qcmedia.com. April 2008

MIDWEST BUILDING   3
4   MIDWEST BUILDING

Minnesota Inboard
Water Sports
An industrial building that
doesn’t look industrial
By Mark W. Anderson
F
or Pam and Joe Mueller, build-
ing a store in Baxter all began
with a sketch on the back of a
napkin. The couple owns and operates
the Excelsior, Minnesota-based boat and
marine equipment dealer Minnesota
Inboard Water Sports. When they
decided to expand to a second location
in the fall of 2005, they settled on the
Brainerd Lakes Area, a popular boat-
ing and water sports region in North
Central Minnesota. The area is home to
a large number of the company’s cus-
tomers in the summer months when the
population of outdoor recreation enthu-
siasts explodes.
As operators of a successful busi-
ness, the Muellers knew what they
wanted and went looking for a build-
ing in the area that would serve their
needs. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find
an existing structure that was right for
them, so they decided to start from
scratch. They found a suitable piece
of land, and on the afternoon that they
closed on the property, Pam and Joe
went to lunch at a local restaurant to talk
about their plans.
Excitedly, Pam began drawing a
sketch of what they wanted their new
building to look like on the back of a
napkin. “If we didn’t have this business,
I think I would be a designer because
I love working with how things are laid
out and the design of buildings — both
inside and out,” she said. The Muellers
had some clear ideas about what they
wanted to see in their new location, such
as a large stone fireplace in the main
showroom. “I had in my mind exactly
what I wanted, and I actually drew it on
a napkin,” she said.
After lunch was over, Pam kept the
napkin and the couple went looking for
an architect and builder to help them
turn their second location into a reality.
One of the firms they talked to was Kue-
pers Inc., Architects & Builders.
The Muellers chose Kuepers for a
number of reasons, not the least of
which was its ability to match its designs
with what Pam had in her mind — and
on her napkin. “I brought the napkin to
Kuepers and said this is what I want. I
came back a week or two later, and
“We created a hybrid
system, integrating post-
and-beam construction
with a conventional
continuous concrete
footing system, and that
really worked well.”
-Mark Cross
Kuepers architecture plans were right
on,” she said. “There was hardly any-
thing we needed to change as far as the
design.”
As it turns out, Pam and Joe’s
experience matches up with the very
approach with which Kuepers prides
itself. “We have a philosophy at Kuep-
ers that ‘we’re not the ones who live in
the building, our customers are,’” said
Mark Cross, the architect at Kuepers
who designed the Mueller’s building. “As
a result, we don’t shoehorn projects into
a design style. We are custom builders,
and with that in mind, we design what-
ever fits the customer’s needs.”
The 7,211-square-foot building Kuepers
created for Minnesota Inboard needed
to meet two key requirements simulta-
neously: it needed a large showroom
space yet had to be easy to convert into
another type of business should >>
MIDWEST BUILDING   5
the Muellers decide to sell the build-
ing at some point in the future. As the
exclusive dealer statewide for the popu-
lar and respected line of Malibu boats
and other water sports equipment, Min-
nesota Inboard also wanted the best
possible showroom for its products.
And Kuepers delivered.
“When a customer wants a building that
can be remodeled, it means that structur-
ally, we think about it as if all the interior
walls will be torn out and it can be one
big open box,” Cross said. “As a result,
you design it in an entirely different frame
of mind. In this case, we created a hybrid
system, integrating post-and-beam con-
struction with a conventional continuous
concrete footing system, and that really
worked well for the project.” The building,
which boasts approximately 5,000 square
feet of showroom space, had to meet the
city’s architectural guidelines that called Minnesota Inboard was built as a post-and-beam structure so that it could easily be remodeled for a
different purpose if need be.
for an “up north” feel for the exteriors of
new buildings. As a result, the new build-
ing has log siding and a green roof, which Finally, the Muellers also had some clear For her part, Pam Mueller says every-
is what the Muellers wanted as well. The ideas about how they wanted to position body at Minnesota Inboard Water Sports
building site contained part of a wetland, their display boats around the property. is pleased with the result. “The folks at
which required Cross and the rest of the “So we created some multi-dimensional Kuepers — from Steve Kuepers himself
Kuepers team to build a storm water sites for the boats to sit and built up some to everyone who helped construct the
containment system and design an eco- landscaping so you can see the boat and building — were so easy to work with,”
logically sensitive parking scheme. not the trailer,” Cross said. she said. “Everything went smoothly.
From the very beginning, I walked the
site with the guys and they always
listened to my ideas.”
Pam and Joe were so pleased, in
fact, that they ended up asking Kuepers
to do some remodeling work on their
vacation cabin. “I think you can genu-
inely tell the employees enjoy working
there,” Pam said. “We built the new
location throughout the winter, and
despite how cold and miserable it got,
everybody I talked to genuinely loved
their work. It was a really good experi-
ence, and I have recommended them to
many people.”
And the napkin? As far as Pam
knows, it stayed with Kuepers in their
project files, an integral part of the com-
In the spring of 2006, the Muellers opened a dealership in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Minnesota In-
munication necessary to build a good
board, open year-round, provides residents with a diverse selection of direct drive inboard boats. building.

6   MIDWEST BUILDING

MIDWEST BUILDING   7
 Environment

Operating Kuepers Green

Environmental protection goes beyond just building ‘green’

O
perating “green” whenever possible is as important There are many other ways that Kuepers prevents construc-
as building “green.” Kuepers continues to take steps tion waste
in its day-to-day functions to maintain and promote •U
 sing durable products, such as stone and ceramic tile
green operations. We recycle as much waste as possible in the •U
 sing building products made from recycled material
office and on jobsites. •U
 sing salvaged or reclaimed building materials
Materials such as •M
 inimizing the use of products with excessive packaging
cardboard, oil, scrap •B
 uying locally produced building materials, which reduces
metal, and copper energy use and transportation pollution
are always separated •P
 rotecting trees and topsoil during construction
from the rest of con- •C
 entralizing cutting operations to reduce waste and simplify
struction waste on sorting
jobsites for recycling. •E
 ducating our crews about recycling procedures
Kuepers will recy- •D
 onating salvaged items to local organizations like Habitat
cle anything at the for Humanity
request of the client; however, it may be at additional cost and Kuepers continues to look for more economical ways to oper-
time. In the case of a demolition for remodels, a project has to ate green, from purchasing recycled office supplies to providing
be taken apart piece by piece, dramatically slowing down the project managers with fuel-efficient cars for driving to and from
building schedule. jobsites.

8   MIDWEST BUILDING

MIDWEST BUILDING   9
10   MIDWEST BUILDING
 Energy Efficiency

Taming the Elements By Michael D.Carpenter,

PE Mechanical Engineer

Excellence in heating, cooling, and ventilating by Kuepers

T
he unpredictability of Minnesota weather won’t affect your Kuepers’ Heating, Cooling, and Ventilating
comfort level when you work or live in a building environ-
ment with a heating and cooling system from Kuepers • Commercial and Residential
Inc., Architects and Builders. Our in-house mechanical experts • New Construction and Remodeling
design heating, cooling, and ventilating systems (HVAC) with your • On-call Service Technician 24/7
year-round comfort in mind. • Seasonal and Preventive Maintenance Programs
There are many benefits to having an in-house mechanical
team. As a mechanical engineer I am involved early on in new Types of Equipment/Systems
construction and remodeling projects. I work alongside our Numerous options are available at Kuepers:
architects to ensure that each building’s climate and moisture Forced Air Furnaces — Multiple or single zone furnaces heat
control needs are properly addressed. The sizing of equipment, and circulate air through a ductwork system. They are rated
placement, and number of supplies and returns are all factored for energy efficiency by an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
into the design. We install equipment known for optimal perfor- (AFUE) percentage. The higher the AFUE rating, the higher the
mance, reliability, and energy efficiency. system’s efficiency.
Kuepers will learn your heating and cooling needs, assist you In-floor Radiant Heat/Hot Water Boiler System — Water
with any challenges, and customize a mechanical system so it is heated by a boiler through flexible tubing beneath the floor.
works for you. Heat Recovery Ventilators — Today’s tighter buildings are
designed to improve energy effi-
ciency by eliminating heat loss
around doors, windows, and other
areas prone to drafts. Without a heat
recovery ventilator (HRV), pollutants
can be trapped inside, creating poor
indoor air quality. HRVs provide
better ventilation by bringing fresh
outside air into the building while
expelling stale polluted air. The core
transfers heat from the outgoing air
to preheat the incoming fresh air.
Central Air Conditioning —
Central air works with a furnace
or air handler to remove heat
from indoor air. Cooled air is then
transferred throughout the build-
ing through ductwork. The level
of energy efficiency is mea-
sured by the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The
minimum SEER standard is
currently 13.
When your HVAC system is
designed by Kuepers, you can be
assured that we have looked at the
big picture without overlooking the
smallest of details.

MIDWEST BUILDING   11
 Tanner Honda
Redefining the pre-engineered steel building

12   MIDWEST BUILDING

T
anner Companies in Brainerd renovated an existing auto
dealership for a new facility that would conform to the
Honda Dealership Image Program (HDIP). The theme of
Honda’s design philosophy was to “redefine the Honda experi-
ence” with the following goals:
• Establish a consistent image where there was no
consistency.
• Create a customer-friendly environment where there was
apprehension.
• Enhance dealership efficiency and capacity to prepare for
the future.
• Create a unique shopping experience and inspire loyalty.
John Tanner was not convinced, however, that Honda’s proto-
type HDIP blueprints would fit with the needs of his employees
or customers. While Tanner was contemplating his options, he
learned that a major road construction project would be tak-
ing place during his dealership construction. This would result
in road construction on three sides of the Tanner Honda prop-
erty. Construction plans were put on hold until it was determined
how much of the owner’s property would be lost to the road
construction as the Minnesota Department of Transportation
and the City of Brainerd negotiated the right-of-way boundar-
ies. The owner ultimately decided to take advantage of the road
construction and eliminate several older buildings on the prop-
erty and proceed with a new Honda building that would provide
better visibility and customer access.
According to Honda, “other than our great products, there is
no clearer way to show off our quality than through our dealer-
ship facilities.” It was evident, however, that the majority of the
HDIP prototypes were intended for larger markets and simply
would not fit the owner’s property or operating methods. In the
car dealership business for 30-plus years, Tanner had specific
ideas regarding the design, layout, and features he wanted incor-
porated into the new building, which would be constructed as a
pre-engineered steel building. It was the goal of Kuepers’ archi-
tectural staff to create a plan that would please both the owner
and Honda. The architectural staff received an HDIP manual to
provide them with design ideas and planning guidance. Essen-
tial elements of the HDIP design included
• the entry cylinder with Honda “H” logo
• the Honda Wave, a curved edge canopy with upswing
“smile” at the end
• curvilinear shapes to create a unique image and define func-
tional spaces that flow easily to one another
• a color palette of specified colors for interior/exterior walls
and furnishings to complement the Honda Blue
• roadside signage designed for consistency in design, color
scheme, and curvilinear shape
• building signage with specific guidelines for placement
and fascia type/size. Patterns and materials used at >>
According to Honda, “other than our
great products, there is no clearer
way to show off our quality than
through our dealership facilities.”
MIDWEST BUILDING   13
 the building exterior were chosen to showcase the signage
by providing a suitable backdrop highlighting the essential
image elements
• service center placement near front of facility to give the
same degree of courtesy, respect, and professionalism to
the customers as demonstrated in sales areas
• showroom areas, reception, information center, kids’ play
area, vehicle displays, and sales consultation stations
designed to create an inviting, nonthreatening customer
environment
The Kuepers’ architectural staff came up with a preliminary
design for the pre-engineered steel building, tailoring the HDIP
design elements with Tanner’s requirements. Negotiations
between Honda’s architect in California, the owner, and Kuepers’
architectural staff went back and forth until the parties involved
arrived at an agree­able design.
Obstacles to Overcome
Zoning — During the preliminary plan review process with the
city, it was discovered that the previous dealership did not have
the necessary zoning classification changes to the property.
The property was zoned industrial rather than commercial. As a
result, formal rezoning process resulted in a one-month delay in
the start of the project.
Steel Crisis — Financial strife in the chosen steel building
supplier’s company changed initial delivery time from six to eight
14   MIDWEST BUILDING
weeks to more than 14 weeks. This instability of the company led
to a last-minute decision to find another steel building supplier
who could fulfill the contract and meet the timetable. Design and
engineering processes previously initiated with the first company
had to be repeated with the subsequent steel building supplier.
Site Work — One of the early goals was to complete the
exterior concrete and base course of paving prior to winter.
Before this could begin, extensive site work had to be accomplished.
An existing 50x100 pole building on the property was dismantled
and donated to a local nonprofit group. Originally, the site had been
used as a concrete ready-mix plant (thus the industrial zoning), and
one corner of the property had been used as a dumping ground for
unused concrete — 2,907 cubic yards of concrete rubble had to be
removed from the site. A fiber optic line also had to be moved before
site grading and building excavation could begin.
Construction Phase — Concrete work began in the fall.
By the end of September, the storm sewer system was being
installed and underground rough-in utilities and inflammable
waste system were under way. By October, the concrete slab
and sidewalks were being poured. When the steel building con-
tractor’s progress in setting the steel began to lag, it had to
increase the size of its crew to get back on schedule.
Rains and early snows also put the paving contractor behind
schedule, but by the end of October, the base course of paving
was placed. Landscaping crews were planting trees and shrubs
at the perimeter of the parking lot. This gave the owner more
 Kuepers’
architectural staff
came up with a
design for the
pre-engineered
steel building,
tailoring the HDIP
design elements
with the owner’s
requirements until all
parties arrived at an
agreeable design.

usable space for displaying car inventory during the remain-

der of construction.
Changes to materials and design were implemented
throughout the project. The architectural staff was concerned
that decorative tiles specified for the exterior of the building
could pose a water penetration issue. Due to the fluctuating
weather of northern Minnesota, water penetration and freez-
ing temperatures could cause the tiles to pop out of place.
Plastic architectural panels in gray were substituted for the
tiles. Routers were used to create grooves in the panels and
the grooves were filled with grout for a simulated tile effect.
Another concern was the design and structural support of
the Honda Wave. Changing to a tubular steel construction will
prevent snow from accumulating on the canopy.
By   midwinter, interior work was well under way. The proj-
ect had been designed to meet Uniform Building Codes, but
changes were required during construction when the Interna-
tional Building Codes went into effect.
Owner-requested changes were also made during con-
struction to the service department area. The size of the oil
storage room was increased, and insulation was added to the
walls to reduce the noise of the air compressor. An oil and air
distribution system was also added to each service bay.
By early spring, the new state-of-the-art Honda dealership
was substantially completed. The final numbers for this cost-
plus project were within less than 1 percent of the original
cost estimate.

MIDWEST BUILDING   15
 Environment
A Change in
Scenery
L
andscaping your home or commercial property makes
an impressive statement and is an important investment.
Additionally, a key focus of landscape design and mainte-
nance today is about promoting and protecting the environment.
Landscaping is both science and art, requiring good observation
and design skills. A good landscaper understands the elements
of nature and construction, and blends them accordingly.
At Kuepers Inc., Architects & Builders, our in-house landscape
design and irrigation specialists are Minnesota Landscape Asso-
ciation (MNLA) certified. Their training and continuing education
ensures that they are abreast of changing methods, techniques,
original design, and environmental regulations.
From perimeter plantings to outdoor kitchens, shoreline res-
torations to swimming pools, recreational courts, or fire pits, the
design and implementation of each Kuepers landscape project
is a combination of creative planning, accurate estimating, and
beautiful workmanship. Furthermore, Kuepers offers spring and
fall maintenance, lawn care services, and general property main-
tenance — ensuring that your lawn, plantings, and focal points
will continue to thrive and look beautiful for years to come.
Landscape planning at Kuepers can occur before or after a
home or building exists. Kuepers has all the options available for
16   MIDWEST BUILDING
Kuepers’ landscape
design blends nature
and construction
By Todd DeChaine,
Landscape and Irrigation Supervisor
you to consider, including retaining walls, stone, rock, ponds,
water features, swimming pools, decks and patios, driveways
and sidewalks, pavers and timbers, pergolas and trellises, nat-
ural screenings, sod, irrigation systems, landscape lighting,
flower beds, trees and shrubs, fencing, beaches, rip-rap, and
more. If you can envision it, we can design it. When planning
your landscaping project, let the experts at Kuepers manage
and coordinate the details. Kuepers’ landscaping department is
equipped to handle all aspects of a project, including:
• irrigation/lawn maintenance needs
• drainage and storm water runoff issues, ground water
quality, and topography
• impervious coverage limitations
•b  each and shoreline guidelines
•p  ermitting requirements and processes
Kuepers will learn your needs, assist you with challenges, and
customize your landscaping project so it works for you. Kuepers’
Landscaping Services will ultimately save you time and money,
and provide you with a fun, creative planning experience, result-
ing in a beautifully completed project.
MIDWEST BUILDING   17
18   MIDWEST BUILDING
 Bear Pause Theater
Uncommon construction for the
ultimate movie-going experience
W
ith a year-round population
of 285 residents, the small
community of Hackensack,
Minnesota, and its surrounding area
swells to approximately 100,000 during
the summer months and on weekends
year-round as people flock to nearby
cabins and resorts. A four-season tourist
destination, the town boasts 127 lakes in
a 10-mile radius, attracting fishing, boat-
ing, and snowmobile enthusiasts.
To take advantage of this population
explosion in 2005, the Bear Pause The-
ater was built. The location of the theater
required extensive research. Choosing
the Hackensack area for its “Up North”
atmosphere provided the opportunity for
permanent and seasonal residents alike
to enjoy the big screen without having to
drive 45 to 60 miles. After choosing the
Hackensack community, the owners took
their research a step further and asked
the Minnesota Department of Transporta-
tion to perform traffic counts to see how
many vehicles traveled the road going Scheduling issues and setbacks were a
past the proposed building site. challenge throughout the project. From
The owners wanted to create a state- a bad shipment of concrete to weather
of-the-art theater, so they traveled issues and delays, the project manager
throughout the state visiting other the- and foreman were busy juggling con-
aters and experiencing for themselves the struction crews to meet the schedule.
Pre-engineered steel eliminated the load-bearing walls
commonly associated with theater designs, reducing
the amount of functional obsolescence if the building is
converted to another use in the future.
features they thought their patrons would Winter’s early snows and ice, fol-
enjoy. A great deal of planning went into lowed by spring’s soupy mud made
the Bear Pause Theater project by its maneuvering equipment tricky. Keep-
owners prior to the design and construc- ing the project moving forward was
tion of the building itself. The owners’ goal adroitly handled by Kuepers’ Project
was to provide the ultimate movie-going Management staff, who brought the
experience in the region. project to completion on schedule, with-
Site work began in August 2005 and in budget, and, most important, to the
involved bringing in 10,000 yards of fill. customers’ satisfaction. >>
MIDWEST BUILDING   19
 After discussing different types of theater equipment contractor because •T
 he building features a Simple Saver
building construction, and with the there were few comparable pro- Roof System®.
owners’ overall budget in mind, pre-engi- jects in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area to •S
 pecialty sound control panels pro-
neered steel construction was chosen. learn from. vide additional soundproofing.
•T
 here are two layers of gypsum board
on each side of the common walls.
Décor inside and out was carefully coordinated •T
 he HVAC ductwork was insulated to
with the interior designers at The Hearth Room, eliminate air rattles.

a division of Kuepers. A decibel test was conducted to mea-

Pre-engineered steel eliminated the
load-bearing walls commonly associ-
ated with theater designs, reducing the
amount of functional obsolescence if
the building is converted to another use
in the future. As a money-saving alterna-
tive to the concrete block construction
typically used for movie theaters, the
pre-engineered steel building presented
its own set of unique challenges. Find-
ing solutions to those challenges was
a challenge in itself for Kuepers and the
A major challenge was sound trans-
mission. A combination of inventive and
unique steps were taken to address
this:
• Sand-filled concrete masonry walls
separate common areas and theater
bays. An expansion joint allows for
movement of the steel building with-
out adversely affecting the stability
of the block walls.
• A ll seams were sealed with a rubber
membrane.
sure sound transmission between theater
bays, proving these additional construc-
tion techniques to be successful.
The theater’s total seating capac-
ity is 495 including a handicap seating
capacity of 16. Although the size of the
building remained the same, the number
of theater bays was changed from three
to four during the design phase. Safety
concerns related to the stadium seating
were addressed by providing adequate
lighting, handrails, and two exits to meet
handicap accessibility requirements.

Pre-engineered steel was chosen for the building construction. This method
eliminated the load-bearing walls commonly associated with theater designs,
reducing the amount of functional obsolescence if the building is converted to
another use in the future.

20   MIDWEST BUILDING


For the concession stand awnings, Kuepers’ personnel literally dug rusted tin from beneath a snow
bank. The distressed look of the material turned out to be exactly what the owners wanted.
The platform seating system was made
up of foam block with a metal edge form-
ing the platform risers. The size and
configuration of this platform-type seat-
ing meant pumping the concrete in to
each theater from the concrete truck,
taking eight men to perform the task.
Technology by 1Better, LLC, offers
professionally produced full-motion
movie screen advertising complete
with voice narration and background
music. Innovative Hitachi audio, digital,
and video technology presents multi-
purpose opportunities at Theater Bay
1, including gaming tournaments, train-
ing programs (currently utilized by the
Department of Natural Resources), and
local church services.
A VIP room with an individual sound
system, two rows of stadium seating,
couches, a kitchenette, and restrooms
for private groups overlooks Theater Bay
1. The 24-foot-long concession stand
offers more than the standard popcorn/
candy fare. A private room located near
the lobby and concession area is avail-
able for small parties and events, and
an arcade room keeps kids entertained
between movie starting times.
Décor inside and out was carefully
coordinated with the interior designers
at The Hearth Room, a division of Kuep-
ers. Rustic “Up North” touches — stone
wainscot, log and stone columns, log
trusses and trim — soften the stark
appearance of the steel at the building’s
front facade.
Interior walls feature warm v-joint pan-
eling and log accents. Reclaimed tin
roofing material used for the awnings
above the concession stand and ticket
booth areas adds an old-time camp
For Hackensack and surround-
i n g    c o m m u n i t i e s    o f    n o r t h e r n
Minnesota, moviegoers are able to
watch first-run films in a state-of-the-
art cinema theater without having to
drive 45 to 60 miles out of the way.
Bear Pause Theater is a 144-foot-
by-90-foot building with four theater
screens. The largest theater seats 189
people, another 123 people, and
the two smaller theaters seat about
90 people.
Bear Pause offers many other ame-
nities including a party room and a VIP
room that can be rented for special
events such as birthdays,   anniversa-
ries,   Christmas parties, etc.
flavor. After locating a supplier for the
roofing material, Kuepers personnel liter-
ally dug the tin out from beneath a snow
bank, all the while wondering how the
owners would react to the tin that had
rusted from the moisture of the snow.
Fortunately, it was exactly what the
owners were looking for and no addi-
tional aging or distressing techniques
were needed.
A path leading from the ticket booth to
the concession stand was ground into
the stained concrete flooring. Stained
a darker color to resemble a well-worn
dirt trail, closer inspection reveals a set
of bear tracks. The authentic bear tracks
were created with a mold of the paws of
a real mounted bear owned by one of
the theater owners.
Much attention was given to the
project by the community and local
media. Excitement and anticipation built
along with the construction progress.
The Grand Opening, held on March 31,
2006, was a gala event as community
members, business leaders, and silver
screen fans eager for buckets of hot,
buttery popcorn welcomed the new the-
ater with open arms.
Features:
• Open seven days a week
• Four theater screens
• Seating capacity 497
• Top of the line stadium seating
complete with cup holders.
• Large lobby
• Refreshments
• Arcade room
• Private party and VIP room
• The latest film projection
technology
• Digital sound
• Handicapped seating and hearing
impaired devices
MIDWEST BUILDING   21
 Directory

Acucraft Fireplace Systems ................................................. see page 17

Aitkin Glass Service . ........................................................... see page 22
Brainerd Glass, Inc. . ........................................................... see page 18
Brainerd Waterproofing . ..................................................... see page 18
Bremer Bank . ...................................................................... see page 18
Brothers Fire Protection . ..................................................... see page 9
Detroit Drywall . ................................................................... see page 7
Electrical Systems ................................................. see inside back cover
Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. ..................................................... see page 7
First Federal ....................................................................... see page 17
Holden Electric Co., Inc. . ................................................... see page 18
JBerd Mechanical Contractors, Inc. . .................................. see page 17
Jim’s Electric Co., Inc. . ......................................................... see page 8
Kurilla Real Estate ............................................................... see page 4
Les Jones Roofing Inc. ......................................................... see page 17
Marco Business Products . .................................................... see page 9
Midwest Security & Fire, Inc................................................. see page 18
Nardini Fire Equipment ........................................................... see page 4
North Country Plumbing & Heating...................................... see page 18
Positive GMAC Real Estate.................................................... see page 9
RRC Specialties ................................................................... see page 10
Scenic Sign Corp.
PO Box 881
Saint Cloud, MN 56302
(320) 252-9400 (320) 252-4260 Fax
www.scenicsign.com

Schwartz Redi-Mix. .............................................................. see page 22

Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. . ........................................... see page 15
Simonson Lumber.................................................................. see page 10
Stellmach Drywall, Inc. . ....................................................... see page 4
The Hearth Room . .............................................................see back over
Twin City Acoustics
2655 Cheshire Ln. N.
Plymouth, MN 55447
(763) 535-6697 (763) 535-5309 Fax
www.tcacoustics.com

W W Thompson Concrete .................................................... see page 10

22   MIDWEST BUILDING

Kuepers Inc., Architects & Builders
14643 Edgewood Drive, Suite 115
Baxter, MN 56425