SCS Explorers!
The SCS Explorer group traveled to our warehouse in Kronenwetter for the 5th installment of our program titled: Maintenance. Nathanael Popp, SCS Operations Manager, taught us about the complexities of keys – driver pins, sliders, springs, and more! SCS makes hundreds of keys annually for tenants. The Explorers were tasked with disassembling and assembling a door lock while being timed! Other topics included fire suppression and monitoring systems, as well as HVAC. I think we all walked away with a lot more knowledge of these systems (employees included)!
Our Exploring Group has just one class left in April before their May graduation ceremony! Time certainly flies when you’re learning as much as we do each month. This is a testament to our students who are always ready with questions and are eager to learn more about each topic.
ART EXHIBIT AT URBAN WEST – 2/26/2020
S.C. Swiderski had the incredible opportunity to work with a local artist’s family to showcase his artwork at our Urban West Apartment location in Wausau, WI on February 26th, 2020.
An open casting call was held for local artists to submit their work. Out of over 10 applicants, we chose Easton Shryne. His high intensity use of color evoked an emotional response from each of us.
Easton Shryne was a self-taught painter and sketcher who had fulfilled his dream of opening an art studio shortly before his untimely death in 2011 at the age of 22. The artwork he left behind is extremely unique, enchanting, and thought provoking.
Easton’s family selected 27 pieces to showcase on the walls of Urban West. Each piece was framed and ready for purchase at the gallery event. Visitors could purchase his artwork straight off of the walls, or go directly online to order prints in various sizes. Easton’s Mother, Mary, and her sisters also brought in several original pieces, carefully placing each one in the common area for viewing. Guests enjoyed refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while taking in Easton’s collection at their leisure. Easton’s family as well as several SCS staff members were on hand to help guide guests and answer any questions. Our intent was to make this an interactive exhibit where people could get to know each other, get to know a little about S.C. Swiderski, and of course - get to know Easton.
After working on this amazing gallery exhibit with Easton’s family, each of us feels as though we knew Easton personally - this is a testament to his art.
Easton’s gallery of artwork is available for purchase and can be found here: https://www.eastonshryneart.com/home
SCS Explorers!
Our Explorer Group has been hard at work in 2020! In January, we learned about interior design. So much thought and effort goes into choosing interiors for new apartment buildings. Key factors in choosing interiors are your target rental market: what would your demographic prefer for their counter top surface, kitchen cabinets, and flooring, for example – and how much rent is appropriate? The higher the rent, the more the tenant will desire in terms of finishes. We also have to keep up with our competitors! It’s a very important part of the process, but also rewarding - you’re choosing something beautiful for your finished product. Our Explorers had a blast choosing interiors from our samples and picking out the best options for future tenants!
In February, we learned about site plans. Site plans are created and adjusted many, many times during the development process! Our Development team researches land by delving into the soils, wetlands, setbacks, prior land use, and demographic. Taking all of these into consideration, we develop a site plan that best positions the buildings on the property in order to get the most out of the land. The goal is to balance the number of units needed for profitability, while also keeping the density at less than 12 units per acre. We work to ensure our development will truly be a community by including an abundance of green space and recreational areas for our tenants to enjoy. Our Explorers had the task of situating their buildings onto their site plans while being mindful of setbacks, retention ponds, and wetlands.
We only have 2 classes left before Graduation! We can’t wait to learn about Maintenance and Grounds keeping next month!
