Comments Off on Recent Completed Division 6 & 12 Projects
COVID-19 made 2020 an extremely difficult year for everyone and especially commercial construction. Because of the perseverance of our teams, ASST was able to make 2020 a successful year. Because of sites being closed down, material shortages, travel restrictions and more our backlog has been a moving target. Our project teams have been able to jockey our projects around like trailers at an Amazon distribution center. Thank you to our trade partners, distributors and our vendors for being a part of this success during a difficult time. This short video displays a few of our recent and unique projects.
At ASST, one of our Core Values is PERSEVERANCE: Willing to keep working until we succeed. ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your casework, millwork, solid surface and quartz projects. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project!
Comments Off on Commercial Construction Cost ~The Cost of Saving Lives and Providing Hope
Most patients will never know the process to construct a building that is providing hope and a healing space. Patients do not know that before building starts there are government requirements that the health system must show a need for a new hospital. Most patients do not know that the construction of a large new hospital will include as many as three or four General Contractors, as many as 10 or 20 subcontractors and subcontractors to those subcontractors. All the patient knows is that they are there for healing and hope.
The average cost of new hospital construction, which is four to eight stories, in the United States is closing in on $300 per square foot and takes as long as three years to complete. This means that a 600,000 square foot hospital is going to start at $180,000,000.00. Some new hospitals being constructed are exceeding the million square foot mark and some are exceeding $1 Billion dollars to construct. What can you get for a Billion dollars? You could buy the White House twice; you could buy two Airbus A380s (with change for fuel); you could even buy a couple large islands including staff and housing. Health care companies that are spending this kind of money for a new hospital want to make sure that their new hospital is a beacon of hope for the community like a lighthouse guiding a ship to shore during a storm. They want to make sure that mothers want their children to be born there. They want to make sure that when a family member is diagnosed with a serious illness, their health system is the light that will provide hope and healing.
At ASST, we have been providing Division 6 and Division 12 millwork, casework, solid surfaces and quartz for large healthcare projects for 22 years. We understand that to become a beacon of hope for an entire community, the healing space must be innovative and constructed with the highest standards. We have the experience to provide project scope on time, in budget and we do it safely. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards, you expect.We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us today at info@asst.com or visit our website at www.asst.com.
Comments Off on Division 6 Custom Installation at JFK Airport
Installation of commercial construction projects is a tightrope act juggling logistics, dynamic schedules, site conditions and more.
At ASST, we have experienced Project Managers that understand what it means to successfully complete our projects on time. Our Project Managers always follow our process from contract agreement to completed installation. From large Divisions 6/12 new construction projects to medium renovation projects, our teams are always willing to Go Beyond for our customers.
At ASST, we have the capability to relieve the stress of managing surfaces, millwork and casework fabrication and installation. By adding Quartz surfaces to our line of services, we have become the nation’s premier fabricator of commercial surface products. Steve Stoddard is heading up our Quartz division. Steve has an award-winning resume of commercial surface experience and is the keystone of our Quartz foundation. ASST is your full package fabricator for Division 6 and Division 12 Healthcare, Education, Corporate/Public Space and Retail surfaces.Contact us today at info@asst.com or visit our website at www.asst.com.
Comments Off on Senior Living Cool with Quartz Countertops
In an aging world, our senior communities are no longer the last in line to receive the best in countertops. There are currently more than two million people living in some type of senior facility and this number will continue to grow. These communities require infection prevention as much as any community and the choice of countertops is paramount in reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses. Until recently, senior communities had to choose between bacterial resistant materials and aesthetically pleasing materials. Thanks to engineered materials, senior communities can now have the best of both worlds. Enter quartz countertops in senior living.
Many senior communities are requiring the same amenities that their communities had before retirement and some would even like an upgrade. While granite is a beautiful and durable material, there are some inherent problems with using it. The first and foremost problem with using granite in a senior community is that the material is porous. This requires a granite countertop to be continuously sealed to maintain any non-porous attributes. Another major problem with choosing granite for a senior community is consistency. Mother Nature is beautifully inconsistent and if you are aiming to maintain the same theme or color palette, a natural product will not work.
Quartz countertops are consistent in color/design and can have the look of granite. Quartz countertops are non-porous and never have to be resealed. This reduces the risks of infection and the amount of maintenance required. Our seniors deserve the best that retirement has to offer. This should include reducing the risk of infection and the feeling that a well-appointed home delivers.
At ASST, we have the capability to relieve the stress of managing surface, millwork and casework fabrication and installation. By adding Quartz surfaces to our line of services, we have become the nation’s premier fabricator of commercial surface products. Steve Stoddard is heading up our Quartz division. Steve has an award-winning resume of commercial surface experience and is the keystone of our Quartz foundation. ASST is your full package fabricator for Division 6 and Division 12 Healthcare, Education, Corporate/Public Space and Retail surfaces.
Comments Off on ASST Solid Surface Modular Vanity System™ is ADA Compliant
Designing restroom spaces that are both attractive and durable is a challenge. Properly designed public restroom facilities can enhance the experience for those who use and maintain their appearance. Restrooms in public spaces must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). Studies have shown that proper design and planning reduces bacterial growth, queuing issues, and facility vandalism.
Traditional plastic laminate vanity countertops and drop-in sink bowls provide an opportunity for moisture to destroy a particleboard substrate. This creates an optimal environment for bacterial growth. We have all witnessed restroom countertops with laminate surfaces that have swelled from exposure to water.
To address this common problem, ASST developed a wall hung solid surface vanity system. The 30” wide modular units utilize a sturdy aluminum and polyethylene support structure with a removable solid surface front panel. The front panel is removable allowing for easy access to plumbing. The Modular Vanity system™ is available in 30” wide increments and includes a solid surface top, backsplashes, side panels, and your choice of an integral mounted sink. The system is available in all solid surface sheet products. Without wood that can rot and grow mold, the system is perfectly designed to handle rigorous public restroom environments.
At ASST, we have been fabricating solid surfaces for 22 years. We have a solid surface fabrication facility in McSherrystown, PA, and a quartz fabrication facility in Corry, PA. Whatever your needs, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the finest quality standards, you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251. WWW.ASST.COM
Comments Off on Future Proofing with Solid Surface: Why Solid Surface is the Choice for the Long Term
Durability and value are words that continue to resonate with design professionals and customers alike. Future proofing is a recent buzz phrase that describes a product, service or technological system that will not need to be significantly updated in the near future. This is extremely relevant for healthcare design in particular. The selection of materials for healthcare projects are a large part of the future success of a building as it ages.
One of the past truths about healthcare design was that hospital buildings had a life span of 50 years. This means that after about 50 years, the cost of ongoing renovation to a facility equals or surpasses the cost of a full replacement building. Hospital construction can take more than 7 years from planning and design to construction and occupancy. Design professional’s material choices can be proven to be incorrect even before the first patient ever arrives.
Past experience has shown that the long term life cycle benefits of solid surface provide a better value over other materials. Solid surface is nonporous, easy to repair, resistant to bacteria and resistant to chemicals. ASST has worked on numerous large healthcare system projects throughout the United States. We can share experiences and knowledge to assist professionals during the design development phase. The goal of healthcare is to heal and to encourage smarter choices for the creation of supportive healing environments.
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us today at 717-630-1251/ info@asst.com or visit our website at www.asst.com.
Comments Off on ASST Quartz: Quartz is a Commercial Building Material
Quartz has been popular in residential kitchens and bathrooms. Now we are seeing a surge in quartz specifications in commercial construction. Why? Quartz is heavy and expensive right? Yes, and no. Quartz may be heavy but it is very durable. Quartz is actually engineered stone. When compared to the total cost of natural stone, quartz engineered stone is less expensive.
How is quartz engineered stone actually “engineered”? No, manufacturers don’t recreate magma under the same conditions as volcanic activity created by the earth’s crust. Quartz engineered stone is made with ground quartz, other natural materials and resins. Natural quartz and other materials are ground into a dust or aggregate. The natural materials are mixed with resins and even glass to provide unique colors. Once the material is mixed it is baked at high temperature and the final step is polishing. OK we probably oversimplified the process.
One of the benefits of quartz engineered stone is the look of natural stone with quartz being much more consistent. Imagine having to find consistent natural stone slabs for 100 tops in a commercial building. Owners and designers don’t have to worry about whether or not the stone tops will match the rest of the building design and quartz tops don’t have to compete with the rest of the esthetics. Quartz engineered stone can be the focal point or complementary to the overall look and feel of the surrounding space.
Is quartz engineered stone a green construction material? Simply put yes. No natural stone is quarried for the purpose of producing quartz engineered stone. All of the natural material used in engineered quartz are byproducts of other manufacturing processes. Even the resins used in manufacturing quartz are becoming more bio friendly. These facts with the consideration of the amount of energy required transport natural stone from the quarries makes quartz engineered stone the right solution for commercial stone tops.
Here are some quartz engineered stone facts: Quartz is harder than granite making it resistant to impact damage. Quartz is non-porous which makes it resistant to bacteria, stain resistant, easy to clean and low maintenance. Quartz is made of 90-95 percent natural stone and 5-10 percent polymer resins. Quartz material does not have to be sealed.
At ASST, our quartz facility is dedicated to quartz alone. At this facility, we do one thing and we do it well. Steve Stoddard was the 2015 ISFA fabricator of the year and he leads our quartz offering. Contact ASST to find out how we can take your quartz engineered stone project Beyond the Surface Level.
Comments Off on SCULPTCOR ® Surfaces: Solid Surface Has Been Vertically Challenged for Too Long
Durability and beauty are unlikely partners. It is rare when both are exclusive specifying vertical surfaces. Even rarer still is the challenge for design professionals to use solid surface textures in a variety of vertical applications. From operating rooms to airports, finding unique surfacing solutions is difficult. Many of these wall finishes are designed for residential use only and will not perform well in commercial spaces. With solid surface the design opportunities are endless.
Public spaces demand durable surfaces. High performance surfaces should not be plain or unattractive. They should perform beautifully. Many vertical surfacing solutions in the marketplace today are focused only on aesthetics. Performance is usually an afterthought. Few surfacing products today combine both aesthetics and durability in one vertical solution. Solid surface can be thermoformed with textured patterns and CNC machined to size. Painted MDF or molded plaster cannot offer the same value.
In response, ASST created SCULPTCOR ® textured wall surfaces to provide an attractive durable solution unlike anything on the market today. Manufactured with 100% solid surface acrylic, Sculptcor ® is resistant to bacteria and is made to last.ASST’s proprietary mounting system allows for field adjustment and individual panel removal for maintenance. It is ASST’s legacy to continue supporting design professionals with project challenges other fabricators avoid. Be sure to contact us with your next solid surface project!
Public seating in high traffic applications can
take quite a beating. Design
professionals are under increasing pressure from clients to provide seating
solutions that are both durable and comfortable. Many are unaware of the
flexibility solid surface provides to create seating that conforms
ergonomically. The inherent performance characteristics of thermoformed solid
surface materials provide an amazing opportunity to increase the longevity of
public seating.
Design professionals today are bombarded with a
plethora of furniture seating solutions.Unfortunately, many of these “seating systems” are poorly
manufactured with planned obsolescence. Constructed of cheaper plastics,
many of these systems fail soon after warranty expiration. This is hardly a
strategy for clients looking to be environmentally responsible. Design
professionals need to provide smart ergonomic seating solutions addressing both
performance and value. These challenges seem insurmountable when industry
standard public seating systems don’t fulfill your specified requirements.
ASST has the capability to help. With a state-of-the-art
thermoforming studio, we can create ergonomic seating to your exact design
specifications. We can share past solid surface project case studies to inspire
your creativity. Working in concert with your team, we provide design
assistance and credible information to present to your clients. Tailored
services to meet busy design professional’s needs are what we do!
Comments Off on Extreme Solid Surface Thermoforming
Forming solid surface into complex
geometric forms is still a relatively new topic to many design professionals. With advancing computer technologies, the future looks
bright for those looking to push the boundaries of design with solid surface
materials.
Although thermoforming has existed for
years, advanced technologies to assist with fabrication have not. 5-axis CNC
machining is an essential tool used in creating the molds necessary for
thermoforming. Many fabrication businesses are focused on flat solid
surface countertops and/or quartz. They may only have a small oven or vacuum
table to form simple curves. The equipment costs and learning curve for
thermoforming are out of reach for many of these fabrication businesses.
To address this issue, we
focused our business from the beginning around thermoforming. ASST created a truly “niche” business, catering to advanced
projects requiring fabrication solutions for commercial construction. ASST
invested heavily in the necessary equipment and training required for
thermoforming. ASST’s headquarters includes both offices and fabrication
facilities, as well as a large thermoforming workshop. The workshop
features three thermoforming ovens and two vacuum tables, as well as a 360-ton
proprietary press and a vacuum press related to patented ASST technologies. It
also has three CNC machines: one 5-axis CNC machine and two 3-axis CNC machines
which allows us to reintroduce thermoformed parts to the 5-axis for final size
machining. For cutting parts, ASST also has a Schelling panel saw. The shop is
set up into typical “line work” areas for more common flat countertop fabrication
work and has various open workshop areas for custom projects. Custom projects
that frequently feature thermoformed solid surface parts. It is ASST’s
legacy to continue assisting design professionals with thermoforming project
challenges other fabricators avoid.
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. Our EMR safety rating is outstanding at .793! We look forward to Going Beyond to address your exciting project challenges. Contact us today at 717-630-121 or visit our website at www.asst.com
Most patients will never know the process to construct a building that is providing hope and a healing space. Patients do not know that before building starts there are government requirements that the health system must show a need for a new hospital. Most patients do not know that the construction of a large new hospital will include as many as three or four General Contractors, as many as 10 or 20 subcontractors and subcontractors to those subcontractors. All the patient knows is that they are there for healing and hope.
