Parking Garage Final Pics

The seventh picture down (24 N. Main Street) is remembered by most as the “old Montgomery Ward” building, and of course I remember it as that from when I was a kid. But I wax nostalgic every time I see it and will forever remember it as the downtown office of Kaiser Engineers, Inc., from about 1965 to 1970. Project management and project engineering for “Project 600” (Arnco Steel’s major expansion totaling over $600 million in 1964 dollars) was handled from this building.

It was there that I began my career in heavy industrial engineering and construction in January of 1966 as a junior draftsman for the princely sum of $75.46 per week!!! Many of the best and brightest people in the industry were assembled here for this project, and it was there that I began receiving my “real” education from these wonderful people who always took time to “bring along” an interested “cub”. I also spent about a year and a half in the field on test and start-up of the new hot strip mill and slab mill. During that period I found out the results of sloppy engineering and the “real cost” of “minor mistakes” that some people in the office didn’t think it was necessary to check over. I always considered that period my “advanced degree” studies.

Project 600 was a fascinating and world-renowned project. Many of those involved went on to stellar careers. For at least ten years afterwords, the mere mention of having worked on it could virtually guarantee you an interview at any engineering, construction, or construction management firm in the country.

The people who worked on this project were not only technically excellent but, for the most part, the were also really fine individuals. Many of us still keep in touch today, forty years later. The group gets smaller though. When I hired on, at that point I was the youngest kid on the project. I am now 62