New Look at Prairie Construction

Prairie Construction has a new look – online! Check out our new website!

We are really excited about the launch of our new, updated website. Each page includes beautiful photographs of projects we are particularly proud of, showcasing the range of our expertise.

Visitors to our page can easily learn about the services Prairie Construction offer, including New Construction, Renovations, Tenant Improvements, and Maintenance & Repair.

The Projects tab includes photos showcasing a variety of categories, including Civic, Commercial, Educational, Maintenance & Repair, Renovations & Tenant Improvements, and more.

The News section contains articles about recent projects, and the Careers tab makes it simple for potential candidates to take the first step in joining the Prairie team.

We would like to thank JM Online for building our new website. We hope you will visit our site often to stay up to date on the Prairie Construction team!

 

Creighton Hall Renovation

Creighton University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2028. Prairie Construction has begun work on a significant renovation of the campus’ original building – Creighton Hall – in anticipation of this momentous milestone.

The project involves retrofitting the old building with a modern infrastructure, including updated heating and cooling, water, mechanical, and fire suppression. Creighton Hall’s renovation is part of Creighton’s initiative to achieve more sustainable practices across its campus.

The renovation will also include ADA-accessible restrooms, a new gathering space, and offices and meeting spaces,

This phase of the project involves system upgrades to the south wing of the building. The north wing will be upgraded in a future phase.

The building has undergone many changes over the last 146 years, but this project represents the most significant. This is just one of several projects the Prairie Construction team has completed on the Creighton campus, and we are grateful for the continued partnership with the University. The Prairie Construction team expects to complete this project in 2026.

Elkhorn High School Auditorium Renovation

The Prairie Construction team has been busy renovating the auditorium at Elkhorn High School.

A crucial step in the project was the installation of a beam that serves as a primary support for the structure. The beam was so large that bringing it in three pieces was necessary.  The pieces were then bolted together inside the building and the beam was installed with the help of the ironworkers.

A hole in the roof of the building was made so a large crane could access the beam and pull it up into place.

Click here to watch the installation of this impressive beam:

 

It has been our pleasure to partner with Elkhorn Public Schools for more than 20 years. We value your trust in us and look forward to future school projects in the Elkhorn school district.

Welcome to the Prairie Team, Ben Gordon!

Prairie Construction is proud to welcome Project Manager Ben Gordon to the team!

In his role, Ben will oversee all aspects of the construction process, ensuring they are completed safely, on time, and within budget. Meeting client expectations and quality requirements are top goals of Ben’s!

Ben graduated from UNO with a degree in Construction Management in 2015. His first job was as a Project Engineer and has worked for both small and large firms’ general contractors in Omaha. He has a solid background in a variety of types of projects.

Ben is excited to join the Prairie team, saying it is unlike any other group he has worked for. “Prairie has created an environment that encourages collaboration and support both in the office and the field, which allows us to work truly as a team,” he said. “This teamwork ensures the success of each project while fostering strong relationships with our trade partners and the overall satisfaction of our clients.”

Ben likes the challenges associated with the ever-changing construction industry. “Whether it’s the continuing supply chain and labor issues, or an increase in security and technology requirements, the constant evolution and the need to adapt quickly keep me interested and motivated.”

Ben manages the project at the new Elkhorn Elementary School #13. Prairie recently broke ground on the school, which will welcome students for the 2025/26 school year. The 72,000 sq foot elementary school will be located at 204th & I St. and is a precast concrete and steel framed school. The new school will consist of 4 classroom wings, one of which will serve as a storm shelter, and new administrative offices, a gym, cafeteria, and kitchen.

He is also managing the renovation of the auditorium at Elkhorn High School and the remodel and expansion of Elkhorn Public School’s warehouse.

“I am excited to be a part of the Prairie team and contribute to the growth and success of the company,” said Ben.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage

The Omaha metro area has been hit by numerous devasting storms this season and many homeowners are still dealing with the aftermath.

The tornado that hit the Elkhorn area in late April left devastation in its path. Many homes were completely destroyed, leaving residents homeless and needing to rebuild their homes.

While most homeowners’ insurance policies will cover the cost of rebuilding damaged or destroyed homes, many people are discovering significant costs that are not covered. Debris must be removed before rebuilding can begin, and this cost is often not a covered expense for policies. Depending on the scope of the damage, this can be extremely costly.

Several recent rainstorms have caused significant property damage due to flooding. Damage can include flooded basements, damaged foundations, and collapsed garages and structures. Many insurance policies only cover certain water claims – be sure you know what is covered.

The lesson for homeowners – understand your insurance policy so you aren’t caught off guard by damage and destruction that is not covered.

Prairie Construction is Hiring!

Prairie Construction has immediate openings for full-time construction positions. Openings include Laborers and Carpenters, and seasonal Construction Workers.

Prairie Construction offers full-time employees competitive wages (based on experience), health, dental, and vision insurance, 401K, and paid vacation and holidays.

Commercial construction experience is preferred, but Prairie Construction is willing to train qualified candidates. Candidates must be at least 18, have transportation, and be willing to work a minimum of 40 hours/week. Work is local and will begin immediately.

If interested, please apply in-person at Prairie Construction 13316 B St. in Omaha, Monday – Friday 7 am to 3:30 pm, or send a resume to tom@prairie-construction.com.

Updates at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School

It’s not unusual for projects to start small, and morph into a much bigger job. That was true for the scheduled addition of a security entrance upgrade at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School.

After further assessment, the decision was made to revitalize the interior of the entrance through multiple architectural and mechanical upgrades. While this extended the initial time for the project, the result was well worth it!

After the upgrades to the interior, the focus turned to the school’s exterior. The change of color gave the school a refreshed, updated appearance. Add a complete roofing system upgrade, and the entire exterior looks newer and more modern.

 

The updates to Elkhorn Ridge Middle School may have been more than originally planned, but the result is a refreshed, updated school that is ready to welcome the future’s brightest minds through the doors in the Fall!

 

Prairie Construction Welcomes Joe Barnhart

We recently welcomed Joe Barnhart to the Prairie Construction team. Joe will serve in a Project Manager/Business Development role.

Joe brings more than 2 decades of experience and an extensive skill set to the Prairie team. During his career, he has worked as a project manager for an engineering company on several projects, including work on the ATF headquarters in Washington DC, and the Santa Clara Crime Lab in San Jose. Before joining the Prairie team, he spent the last 16 years at a mechanical contracting company in Omaha.

Joe has been a great addition to the Prairie team. “The cultural environment of Prairie Construction is built around intellect, passion to be the best, and personal and professional respect,” he said.  “All while marching in the direction of bringing clients’ vision to reality.”

Joe points to loyal customers who continue to contract with Prairie as a sign of our dedication to quality service.  “The repeat business is a testament to Prairie Constructions’ vision, core values, and the character and abilities of each member of the team,” he said.

“I cannot stress enough that it’s great to be at a company with great people!  I see people helping where needed, hearing people discussing trade techniques, strategizing on how to accomplish a task, discussing past experiences, and genuinely enjoying working together as a team.  This is not just inside the walls of Prairie Construction but at owner meetings, at lunches, or company/client parties. I am honored to just be a part of a team that is willing to teach, advise, and guide a 22-year mechanical guy like me.”

Welcome to the Prairie team, Joe!

Prairie Completes First Splash and Dash

Commercial construction continues to boom in the Omaha metro area.

Prairie Construction recently completed the remodel construction of Omaha’s newest dog grooming business – Splash and Dash, Dog Grooming and Boutique.

 

The project was a remodel of an existing space in a commercial strip mall. Demolition of the space began in December, followed by a complete custom rebuild to fit the needs of this unique business.

 

 

Located at 2517 South 174th Plaza in Lakeside, the store is the first of four planned Splash and Dash franchises in Omaha, and the Prairie Construction team is looking forward to our continued partnership with the family-owned franchises.

Splash and Dash welcomed their first canine customers last week!

 

Creighton’s Skutt Student Center Ribbon Cutting

After months of construction at the V.J. and Angela Skutt Student Center on the campus of Creighton University, Prairie Construction was proud to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marketing the official end of the project.

The Skutt Student Center is one of the more popular buildings on campus, so our team needed careful planning and coordination with the University to complete this project in the least intrusive way. We shared an update about this project last Fall shortly after construction began.

Renovations included bathrooms, ballroom, and ground level. Space was reconfigured for new dining vendors, and new seating options were included to make the space more welcoming.

 

The Prairie Construction team was happy to partner with Creighton University on another project. We hope the students enjoy the update space as much as we enjoyed being on campus!