A few weeks ago, we volunteered our glazing services for a truly deserving, Las Vegas-based organization. The Shade Tree is the largest shelter of its kind in Nevada, as the only 24-hour-accessible shelter designed specifically to meet the needs of women, children and seniors. With 364 beds, The Shade Tree provides 100,000+ nights of shelter, as well as 165,000 meals and over 3,200 life-skills classes, and has generously helped over 5,200 families last year alone.
This non-profit organization started in 1989, and has grown, thanks to donations, to its present 38,000-square-foot facility of residential areas with sleeping rooms, libraries, training rooms, restrooms, and children’s playrooms on upper floors. The main floor has a “dayroom,” kitchen, laundry, restrooms and showers, and other services for victims of violence.
We worked on two parts of their campus: Noah’s Animal House and the Main Shade Tree Building. Our scope of work was to replace the front entryway with new front door and sidelites. Security is, understandably, a top concern, and the secure door requires staff to electronically grant access for visitors to enter. We also installed new mirrors in the restrooms, and another interior door.
I acted as Project Manager on this project, with the much-appreciated help of my other Giroux Glass colleagues: superintendent, Jesse Grubbs and estimators, Daniel Rodriguez and Debbie Barris. My thanks go out to Eugene Cornett and Richard Kelly for shop logistics, to Derek Shead and Kenny Sharpe for fabricating, and to our talented field installers: Jonathan Perez Jr.; Keith Olson Sr.; Kawlo Mckeague; Johnny Johnson; Brandon Johnson and Joel Marin.
Big thanks go out as well to all of our wonderful vendors and customers who generously donated 
all necessary materials. For the Noah’s Animal House Door Repair, we are, as always, grateful to CR Laurence and US Aluminum, and specifically, to Tony DePalma. On the Shade Tree Main Building, we thank Arcadia for storefront framing, doors and hardware, as coordinated by Mark Knutson. For the glass, a huge thank you to Aaron Walton, at Trulite Glass and Aluminum Solutions.
The Noah’s Animal House portion was led by Shawmut Design and Construction. The Main Shade Tree Building component was led by , Penta Building Group, and Tutor Perini. Wynn Design and Development generously sponsored both projects.
It truly does take a village, and working as a team, we completed installation in less than one full day. I’m grateful to have been a part of this worthy effort, and know that I speak for the whole Giroux Glass team, when I say that we are all thankful to have had the opportunity to help so many victims of domestic violence and abuse.
